Leaving the scenic route.

Yesterday was a travel day. We came down highway 101 through the Redwood forests in thick morning fog which obliterated any opportunity for photos and kept Rick' attention riveted on the curves ahead. After a long twisting journey, we abruptly left the fog behind and followed a route of very pleasant rolling green hills. It seemed the epitome of California to me, and very pleasant for the end of January.

We turned off highway 101 and cruised around the north edge of the reservoir called Clear Lake and both of us remarked on how similar it looked to the view across our Lake Chapala in Mexico. The north shore cuddled against rising hills at its back, and houses snugged around the lake shore facing into the southern sun. We stopped for a brief Molly-walk and snapped a few photos...Here's one of them...


By afternoon we were back on Interstate 5 heading south through Sacramento and Stockton. The experience was a shock to the system. It was our first freeway portion of the trip and we quickly decided it was a most unpleasant experience compared to our enjoyable meanderings down the coastal route 101. As we learn more about this RV lifestyle, we need to re-think a lot of prior assumptions and behaviour patterns concerning freeway versus secondary roads. Freeways may be the excellent choice for cars wanting to get somewhere efficiently. But for towing a fifth wheel, where getting somewhere efficiently is not the priority, it is uncomfortable (jolting the body from the many overpasses and bridges), and stressful. In addition the views were horrible compared with the many little towns and villages and curves and dips of the coastal highway.  We learned another element about us and the RV life. Small and slow is more fun than fast and triple laned.

We pulled into a full service overnight stop at Santa Nella, California. This morning we have more valley fog lying like a blanket over the earth. We have a day ahead with not much to break the monotony of the Imperial Valley and traffic. But tonight we expect to be within striking range of Palm Springs for noon tomorrow. One day of discontent is well worth tomorrow's reward.

Clear Lake

 on the highway west of Williams Ca.