Monday June 20

The kids all got up and saw us off and we went directly to the Bagel Bakery at 7:23 AM (don’t tell the kids that we did that because they will be mad) for breakfast. 

It is a beautiful sunny morning in the Salinas valley. The mountains are all standing in brightrelief against the summer sky. Patches of rich black soil alternate with the green of broccoli, lettuce and the vineyards. Sprinklers are turning the sunlight into rainbows and Gods creation shines its glory and praise. 

California’s hills have already transformed to gold.  Driving on highway 46 over to highway 5, we cut through shining hills of dry grass.  The river bed trees are green against the dry pasture land.  The vineyards are heavy with fruit and potential just like this trip.

Then it up and over the grapevine and down into the smog of LA.  As usual, we are once again convinced that we made the right choice to move to Salinas. 

The phone rang and it was Bob and Sally Stockton who knew we were coming through.  They wanted to meet us for lunch.  They worked out the particulars and we both met up at Tom’s Farms, a farmers market with a restaurant.  Had a great lunch with them, catching up on this year’s activities and making plans for them to come up and visit. 

Then it was off to Grandpa Dan and Nana Joyce’s house in Temecula.  We arrived there at 4:30 and after an awful parking attempt by yours truly and not falling of the edge of the driveway,  we went in for a beer. 

We had a lovely evening of talking, catching up with them and telling stories.   We then walked outside (after the sun and gone down) and viewed their new cactus and succulent garden.  This garden is supported with drip irrigation, a bird bath, rattlesnakes, and eye catching desert plants. 

After Banana Cream Pie we headed off to bed.

We will be up in the morning and head for Apache Junction. 

Remember.  Become a follower and help us find interesting places to visit along the way.  Bill S already sent us the dates for a Renaissance festival.