Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

Aug 4, 2004

Thursday

Filed in Landmark-Hunting, Monterey 2004, Raven's Quest

Woke up with a jolt at 5:30 - couldn’t get back to sleep, too much sunlight through the window. Sorted out a blocked toilet, yay for my hosts’ foresight, I found a plunger in the closet under the sink, and away go troubles down the drain. I had visions of having to lug a plunger on the back of my motorcycle for a while.

This is home from home. ;-)

Was ready to leave around 9:30. The whole process of preparing my bike took longer than I thought. It was misty and I was a bit nervous about that, given my previous fog experience (I crashed getting away from someone who was tailgating me), but it got better as I went along.

I snarfed a Santa Cruz landmark along the way, and then amused myself by thinking how hard people contrive to not look at me when I’m at large, arranging my penguin for his portrait.

The ride down seemed very long, both because it was my first time and because I was cold and it was windy. It’s mostly a freeway, though I did take much pleasure from the straight plunges down steep hills and up even steeper ones - they look a bit daunting when you face them like that, but my Arnie has a strong heart and didn’t let me down.

Or, in other words, “Wheeeeee!” ;-)

The area from Salinas down to past Moss Landing is a two-lane road and slower. I saw people bent double working in the fields I passed, and thought about “The Grapes Of Wrath”, even though I’ve never read it. Maybe I should, but “so many books, so little time”.

I also passed some wetlands (Alcorn Slough, I think), and Moss Landing which reminds me of my first visit to California - hubby and I stopped nearby to have lunch on the way to meeting a pal in Carmel, and I had mahi-mahi and chips because I’d never heard of mahi-mahi and I was enjoying eating lots of food I’d never heard of before. It sounded exotic.

(Gee, the sprinklers down here are making a racket - you’d think there was enough moisture from the fog. The sky is rather cloudy, almost as if rain is coming in.)

I arrived in about an hour, taking the “wrong” exit but landing without fuss at Fisherman’s Wharf. I arranged to meet my friends down there, rather than lugging tons of books the block or two.

About 11:15 we had our reunion. I hadn’t seen Lissyvigeen (LV) and Lios for years, and it was very comfortable, just a renewing of old friendships. They were among the first people I met in California. Then I got to meet Bluefinch from Australia, and her friend S. whom she was visiting, and that was lovely too.

We took a stroll down the wharf and tried to explain snarfing to Bluefinch and S. who were a bit bemused by our frequent cries of “Wildcard!” (an unexpected historical plaque). I have no idea if we got the idea across - there was so much to catch up on in a very short period of time that everything became a real jumble.

We had lunch on the wharf - I enjoyed a chowder bowl and some good conversation. By now the fog had burned off and it was pleasant - too pleasant, given the amount of red on my face when I got home, but it wasn’t hot - we didn’t know it was happening - and you’d think I would know better.

We got gifts and postcards in a touristy shop, and then decided that we would go in search of sea otters.

(OK, my wrists hurt now, so I’ll adjourn for the night.)