HOORAY!

 Marianne had her last treatment! All went well, and it seems Cancer Bitch has gone to hell where she belongs! So, what do we do? WE ROAD TRIP! 

It was gonna be 98 here in Monrovia, so an escape plan was needed. And, just for giggles, I was looking on Hotels.com (our go to site for finding places to stay--it's easy to navigate and when we had to cancel our plans for France, we had no problems!) and found the Silver Surf in San Simeon, CA for under $100--in JULY no less! So, off we went. 

Didn't leave at the usual 0'Dark-Thirty--we had plans to meet long time friends Dudley and Julie at their campsite on the coast at Rincon. Didn't think they'd want visitors at the butt-crack of dawn. 

Naturally, we stopped first for breakfast in Ventura, at the Busy Bee, one of our go-to breakfast stops. Excellent as usual. Here's a tip. Since covid, Ventura had made Main St. a pedestrians only street, so you can't park in front of the restaurant. Getting off the 101 at California (and we naturally took CA126 to avoid Da Valley) turn right instead of going straight up the hill. Turn left at the next signal (Chestnut) and continue past Main. There's a public parking lot just north of Main and in front of the Ventura Courthouse. It's perfect for early morning, but will get full up as the day goes on. Just walk down the hill to the Busy Bee. 

Ah, coffee!

WAFFLES! 

After great waffles, we trudged back up said hill (oof) and off to Rincon. Dudley had left us a spot to park and we had a great time catching up. We hadn't had a chance to see them in FAR TOO LONG! 

Rincon

Yers Truly, Marianne, Julie and "Le Quack" 

From there, along PCH (and memories of it being 101--and driving the TR3 along it to Carpinteria and getting splashed by the surf!) back to the 101. We were hoping to stop at the Gaviota Rest Stop, but it's STILL CLOSED! Come on CalTrans, we NEED that pit stop! 

We passed on going to Bob's Well Bread in Los Alamos (they're closed of Wed/Thurs), so we kept jetting up to Morro Bay and Giovanni's Fish Market. Their BBQ oysters in garlic butter are FANTASTIC! Marianne had their equally good clam chowder. Add GARLIC fries and a glass of 805, and what more could you want? 

You takin' a photo of ME? Again? 

AH!! OYSTERS! 

From there we cruised up CA1 to our digs in San Simeon. 

The Silver Surf is a nice place. Dating from the heyday of Motels, it's been nicely maintained and features an indoor pool and spa (no, we didn't use them--afraid someone would think a pair of sea-elephants had waddled over from the Friends of the Sea Elephant place across the highway) and rooms that are neat and clean. What more do you really want? One nit to pick, however. They have succumbed to that ridiculous trend of having beds that are so high off the ground that even I need a step stool to get in! All 5'2" of Marianne has the devil of a time with it. Luckily, she remembered that she had said step stool in the truck of the Honda for just that reason. No worries.

At my Birthday Party the previous week, Dear Daughter Meaghan had given me (well, US) a bottle of Champers! Naturally, being a celebratory Road Trip, we brought it along! 

Kinda average

But first, dinner. We walked next door to the Big Sur Restaurant for a very average plate of fish and chips. The Gordon Fisherman seemed to be the source. At least the host was VERY friendly. Ah well, you can't have everything. 

Back at our digs, we popped the cork to Marianne's initial misgivings. The Treatments had really screwed with her appetite and she "just wasn't sure" she'd be able to handle the bubbly. Half a glass later, however, it was "POUR ME SOME MORE! THIS IS GREAT!" 

WHOOPPEEE! 

So we finished to bottle while watching the last episode of "Line of Duty" (great show on Acorn. Incredibly tense cop show. The Brits REALLY do those well). 

Next morning it was up---slowly--and off for breakfast further up the coast to Ragged Point. 

But first a warning. CA1 is again closed as they are AGAIN trying to fix the landslide damage. This time near Lucia. So, you can't take CA1 to Monterey...AGAIN. SIGH.

The benefit is that, especially at 8AM, there's no traffic. Setting the Honda in Sport Mode, I was really hauling the mail...even in the fog. That section of CA1 is one of the most delightful roads to drive. Long steady sweepers, a few whoop-ti-doos, great Esses, and a few tight spots to keep you honest. No, I didn't hit 100 (like we had one time slipstreaming an Aston Martin DB4 Dropped on the old Iron Bottom driving the TR--he was a bit upset I was hanging with him!) but...Anyway, an incredible drive. 

Ragged Point is a great Inn on the coast. It's also REALLY expensive to stay (double the cost of the Silver Surf!) but the breakfast there is fantastic. Again with the waffle. Marianne opted for Crunchy French Toast. And it cost about the same as breakfast at the Busy Bee. 

Great View! 

More Waffles! 

Heading for home, we stopped in Cambria for a cruise through some antiques stores, a pee, then up over CA46 to the 101.

Needing another break, and knowing the rest areas were STILL closed, we hit Solvang for a lunch of pastries and a quick nap. 

Marianne thought she could help with the driving (she hadn't done ANY during her battle--too much fatigue) and she did a great job, all the way to Carpinteria. Another pee break, then home via CA118 and the 210. 

So, a great Victory Road Trip. And a huge thanks for the VERY kind folks at USC Keck/Norris. We've NEVER had a medical experience with the king of kindness and empathy ALL these people showed. An I mean ALL. Not only the doctors and nurses, but the office staff and right down to the janitorial folk. It was amazing. 

The REAL HERO of all this is, of course, Marianne, my BEST FRIEND and Navigatrix For Life. What a (as one friend from the old Iron Bottom dubbed her) BAD ASS WOMAN! 

Now, let's start plotting next summer's make up trip to France! 

45 Years...and Counting!

 Yep. We've been married for that long. Thinking about it, these days, that's a REALLY long time. Of the people at our wedding, I think that there are only three couples who are still together, other than us. 

Were we really that young? 

And now, we have a new challenge. As I reported last time, Marianne has cancer. She's been undergoing chemo and radiation for three weeks as of this posting and the GOOD NEWS is that the (as she calls it) Cancer Bitch is shrinking. The doc is quite pleased. She still has a lot more, including four rounds of "internal radiation" treatment. Since it's in her Lady Bits, I'll leave it to your imagination just what that might entail. It not gonna be much fun. 

And what, you might ask, does that have to do with Road Trippin'?

A whole lot, of course. 

First, there's planning how to get to USC/Norris down by LA County Hospital. NOT the best location to get to by 7AM on a weekday. This is where my years of driving buses for Embree back in the '70s comes to the fore. 

The gal at the desk of our treatment place in Arcadia was trying to give me directions: "Take the 10 to LA..."

"No I don't."

She looked at me funny. 

"You take Huntington Drive to Mission and turn left on Soto." 

Her jaw dropped. "Uh, really?"

"Yeah," I replied, "never drive the freeway into DTLA on a weekday morning."

She'd never heard such madness. 

heeheehee...

Then, there was what to do for our Anniversary. Chemo/radiation whacks your immune system...HARD, and going out to a packed restaurant  to eat is a VERY BAD IDEA. So...

Marianne had a memorial service to attend in the afternoon, so we couldn't make our usual getaway, so I had to get creative. 

On our wedding night, after a monumental reception that involved champers and TWO bottles of Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky and a continuation of the reception at the auld Loch Ness Monster Pub, we were, uh, just a little tired. Our hotel for the night was in Pasadena so off we went. Now, I don't know about your weddings, but when you're the star attraction, NOBODY lets you eat the magnificent repast laid out in front of you. EVERYONE want's to congratulate you, you have photos to be taken, the first dance, the toasts... You don't get to eat much. So, we "napped" and went out and found a place to have a hamburger. 

Now, remembering this, I thought we could just go get In-n-Out. No eating with a crowd, no unmasking, no risk. 

But, hell. Why just go to the local one? So, I searched the web and hit on San Clemente. Great, a short jaunt, we could eat at...lessee...AH, a parking lot at the beach! By the Metro Station! 

Then I spotted the Beach Hut Deli, right there by the station! EXCELLENT! 

So, with The Association's "Cherish" (our song!) blaring away, we set out into the usual LA freeway traffic (yeah, ok, we took the freeways. I know, but...) and an hour later we pulled in, ordered a pretty tasty pulled pork sandwich, parked at the beach by the station and listened to the surf and watched the sun go down. 

Coming home, we slogged along PCH, into the setting sun, to about Corona Del Mar and up to the freeway and home. 

We were saluted by a Dragon on the way home! 

To a bottle of Moet, a slice of chocolate ganache cake, and "Casablanca." Yes, we killed the bottle and cried as Rick told Ilsa to get on the plane. 

So, the point of all this is no matter what the circumstances, all it takes is a little planning and a little imagination. 

Why We Go Road Trippin'

 For SO many reasons, but chiefly because it helps bring sanity and calm to our lives. 

We need it about now. This is REALLY hard to write, but Marianne, my Navigatrix For Life, Love of My Life was just diagnosed with cancer in her lady parts. We have a good team at USC/Keck/Norris and prospects are good. It means a long few months of treatments and such, and we're trying to keep a positive perspective, but...sigh. 

We're pretty lucky that our daughters, their hubbies, and some extremely good friends are helping us out. A LOT. 

Our deepest thanks to them!!!!

So, where, you may ask, does Road Trippin' come into play? Well, I'll tell ya. We took what Marianne has now dubbed the "Big Yellow Anti-Anxiety Pill" up to one of our favorite spots, Bob's Well Bread in Los Alamos last Thursday. 

I got the idea, as I often do, when I got up, feeling restless. Marianne was ALL on board with it. We NEEDED to see what we find is not only THE most beautiful part of the world (especially at this time of year) but a drive that is for us, the most calming. 

The scenery, the hills covered in green and yellow velvet, the ocean, the open spaces, the utter familiarity of it all. 

As usual, we took the I-5 up to CA126 (nobody in their right mind takes the 101 through The Valley!) and as usual, needed a pee break near Fillmore.

What better place to stop than Bennet's Honey Farm?  It's on Honey Lane just off CA126. I've written about it beefore. (see what I did there?) The honey is excellent and mostly local. Always worth a stop. 

Happily relieved, good old St. Serendipity gave us something to chuckle about. Who knew there's a business up there that regularly hosts a caravan of pedal-driven railroad carts? They're called https://www.sunbursttrain.com and are based in Santa Paula at the old train depot. They had traffic stopped and the gates down while 6 or 8 of 'em came trundling by on the tracks, happily waving at us all! It looks like a real workout, but check 'em anyway!

The Fillmore/Santa Paula Valley is spectacular in April. Constant reader will note that we were just through there for Marianne's B-Day just a few weeks ago, but this time, the yellow mustard was out in full force, giving a soft, fuzzy look to the surrounding hills. 

This theme carried on all the way up the coast, past Gaviota, and up to Los Alamos. 

Lunch at Bob's was, as always excellent. Prosciutto and Brie with greens and fig jam for me, ham and cheese for Marianne--all on a mini baguette. Add a couple of 805s and...perfect. 

The drive back was just as nice, and we didn't want to get home too soon (might miss rush hour on the 210) so we took a detour on Santa Rosa Road. Again, we'd just done it a few weeks ago, but I wanted to find a good spot to take some pix of the Yellow Submarine amid the yellow mustard. 

We found a couple of places and St. Serendipity rewarded us again. This time with newly growing vines adding their young green shoots to the mix. Perfect. 

A quick pee at the Gaviota Rest Stop (yes, it was ACTUALLY OPEN!) and the usual PM slog through Santa Barbara then home. 

All-in-all, the relaxing, rejuvenating, restful day we needed. 

So, dear readers, send us some good vibes, prayers, thoughts and if you can, find a cancer group to donate to. We do "Hockey Fights Cancer" https://donate.v.org/give/527045/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=vfn_brand_conversion_national&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAApFuIjOJ38ZsPF1expC01y_A8HCQp&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiLLABhCEARIsAJYS6ukUcdt-uyr3ENZn3oR0e5w98vSrG015j-VtjZqZF91AF8oeLQE1dJgaAt9rEALw_wcB#!/donation/checkout but find whatever group you can. 

THANKS! 

Hippo Birdie Marianne!

So, April First! Marianne, my Navigatrix For Life's Birthday. No foolin'! So, we took a little overnighter to Morro Bay, one of our favorite places on the Central Coast. We also used it to scout out the route for the Citroen Rendezvous Drive in October. Aw, you mean we HAD to drive some backroads? Awwwww. 

We took the Honda, just 'cause, but the drive was great anyway. Breakfast in Ventura at the Busy Bee. I've mentioned the place before but I'll reiterate. It's a REAL '50s diner from back-in-the-day and do wonderful breakfast. We of course came across CA126 and it's beautiful green right now, so make the trip while it's California at its best!

From there, a stop in Buellton for gas and a pee, then some backroads.

Santa Rosa Road is a great one! Winds through the back country, wineries (of course) and ranches and narrow and twisty and vacant...mostly. Our kinda road. BTW, Marianne took the pix,

It connects with CA1 so you go right to Lompoc, then drop into La Purissima Mission. Interesting place! It's a State Park, so there's a fee but worth it.

Beyond there, it's over Casmalia Hill and to Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Inn. That's where the Rendezvous will be staying, but we had our sights set on Morro Bay.

We beelined it to another favorite there: Giovanni's Fish Market and THE BEST BBQ/Garlic Butter Oysters!!! Marianne of course, had her Clam Chowder.

Next it was play "Find the Little Hotel." On the Boardwalk of Morro Bay are a BUNCH of happy-crappy giftie stores and eateries. Many now sport Boutique Hotels (a term coined to mean fancy tiny places) in what were once attic space. Now, don't give me that look. They are REALLY nice. Some are also REALLY expensive. The place we booked through www.hotels.com our usual source was FANTASTIC!

A wonderfully quirky place with well thought out decor that was whimsical while not being cheesy or kitschy. We had the Octopus Room, and while not one with a view of the harbor (those cost a lot more) it was filled with nice octopus related decorations, including paintings by a local artist. Nice touch that. The gal who runs the gift shop checked us in. She's Ms. T (no, no plethora of gold chains) and was extremely helpful, pleasant, and great to talk to. She showed us up to our room and all its amenities.

After our nap, we went walkabout, cruising the shops and buying a few things for Marianne's B-Day.

Then it was off to dinner at Tognazzini's Dockside. It was highly recommended, but, sadly a bit disappointing. The food was under seasoned and only lukewarm. The good part was that THEY were celebrating THEIR B-Day and drinks were free! And when Marianne asked them about it, she coyly mentioned it was also HER birthday and the server promptly comped our dessert! So the staff was great.

Next morning we slept in a bit and had breakfast at Frankie and Lolas. Marianne had a HUGE scramble in a puff pastry and I had the much-touted cinnamon roll. Not as good as the place in Pismo, but good. 

From there we drove out to Morro Rock and its fantastic views, then Hit The Road...to Solvang and lunch.

Now Solvang is where the Rendezvous will meet up for lunch so NATURALLY we had to scout out the drive I was planning.

That meant two things...1) Foxen Canyon Road (my absolute favorite road in the world!) and Zaca Mesa Winery (one of our favorite wineries. REALLY good wines and REALLY friendly people who LOVE cars!). You can check out our YouTube video of Foxen Canyon Road using the link in the righthand column! 

We wound around from there to Solvang and lunch at the Solvang Restaurant, home of Arnies Aebelskiver!!! What? You don't know what Aebelskiver is? Think a kind of pancake batter in a ball and cooked in a dimpled cast iron pan (oh, so THAT'S what those are for!) until golden brown and crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside then covered in raspberry jam and powdered sugar! We shared the Smorbrod Plate (4 open face Danish sandwiches--Tilset Cheese, Roast Beef, Ham, and Liverwurst) and the Aebelskiver. So, we ate, for Batter or Wurst (waited all day to drop THAT one). 

From there it was a straight shot home, managed to avoid the Santa Barbara Crawl, but of course got jammed on the 210 through Pasadena.

It was a lovely couple of days. Restful, good food, great roads, beautiful scenery and my best friend at my side. What could be better?