Well, I headed inland today. I wasn't looking forward to it because I thought it wasn't going to be nearly as pretty as by the ocean, but it was! Heading down the 5 was so pretty. It reminded me of our trip to see Ray & Eleanor in Tennessee. We took a drive out to Penny's house and the view was awesome. Very very green, lots of grass and trees, with these great farm houses and barns along the way. Very pretty. I noticed a political change in this farm country. On the coast there were a million Obama signs, in every town...Obama, Obama, Obama. Nothing for Clinton or McCain. Here is different. Suddenly there were lots of American flags and bumper stickers making statements about patriotism. I stopped at a gas station and talked to a guy there (actually good ol boy would be more appropriate). He was in a pick up truck with an American flag proudly flapping in the wind. I told him I was heading to Ashland and he said "Oh, it's more ritzy there, with lots of shops and stuff". The look on his face told me he didn't plan on going there anytime soon. He said he's lived in Glendale, OR for 41 years and has no plans to go anywhere else. He mentioned "those Californians" that come up here and ruin their small towns. Shortly after that statement he asked me where I was from. ha! So, I headed out, heading for Ashland when I saw the best bumper sticker ever. It said "SAVE AMERICA - VOTE REPUBLICAN". It struck me so funny. Like "if only there were a Republican in office, then this war would end, gas wouldn't be $4 a gallon, etc...".
Ashland is everything that I've heard. It's a perfect little town. Great shops, charming homes, very pretty. There were a bunch of kids hanging out on the main street. They reminded me of the Seattle grunge thing in the 90s, dread locks, facial hair, their clothes. These are not farmers. It's definitely different here. The people are pretty. And guess what? Obama is everywhere! I did a little shopping here and got back on the road. I'm getting anxious to get home.
Back in California! I saw this mountain in the distance and as it got closer, it got more spectacular. I didn't know what it was. I didn't know I was in California yet. Then I realized this is Mount Shasta. I haven't seen it for a very long time and I've only seen it totally covered with snow. From one side of it, it looked striped. There were streaks of snow and where there wasn't snow, it was just dark, almost black...no trees. It looked very cool. I snapped a ton of pics from the freeway, through my bug gut smashed window. They didn't come out very well. I stopped in the town of Mt Shasta to get a bite to eat. I got one picture of the mountain that is pretty good.
Soon the scenery was kind of blah... flat and boring. I drove and drove and drove, stopping for the night in Sacramento. I'm ready to get home and I'm going to try to make it home tomorrow (Wednesday). We'll see how that goes.
Missing you all lots! Sangria Sunday this week! What do you think?
Lots of Love,
Jan
