First stop: Murphys, CA (mile 148)

With friends and family sending me links to all the cool events I’ll be missing in the Bay Area, and articles warning of heat bubbles and monstrous crowds at my destination, I embarked anyway!

Lesson 1: You get there when you get there

This morning I awoke at dawn, loaded up in record time, cleaned so that I might be welcomed back at my most recent sanctuary, and hit the road by 9—or so I imagined. I’m no early riser, and getting out took time this morning. And then traffic did what traffic does. My map system took me south to go east, which confused and worried me , as I neglected to check the route before charging off. So, lesson learned there too. The drive was beautiful once I got off the big highways: Rolling golden hills of cows, spotted with the occasional scraggy tree. My first home away from home is a vintage Airstream, which I am totally in love with! Mark, my host and proud trailer enthusiast, greeted me with the Raveonettes playing on the sound system and a how-to on trailer workings. She’s plumbed, thankfully, as her road days are behind her, so it’s really more of a tiny home!

She’s all redone in retro style, with homey touches and chilling AC, which is great because its 101 outside! I fled to the pool immediately upon arrival and lazed on a partially submerged lounge set drinking bubbly and relaxing in beautiful pine rimmed quietude. I heard my phone dinging in the background, and didn’t care. The realization of space, solitude, and time is converging upon me and it feels great.