Heading Home - It's been a great trip! 3/29/18

Yes, I missed posting yesterday.  Here's why:  we spent 4.5 hours traveling on the freeway through LA instead of the 2.5 hours it was supposed to take us.  Consequently, we did a little too much wine tasting with our good friends Bob and Brenda Parry and Lisa & Brian Wallach.  Basically, that was all we had time for.  Here's our friends -- just plain proof. 


Everytime we go into a metropolitan area like this I thank God that I live in Reno!  The little slow downs during rush hour here are so pitiful -- there are only 2 freeways - 80 and 395.  I do, however, have a tremendous amount of respect for whoever has continued to design the freeway system in this area.  It begs the question, "how do they do it?", even after the population has filled in.

Anyways,  this morning we woke up to fog at the ocean.  This is what it looked like yesterday:


This morning -- like this:


Before we left the LA environs to push onto our next destination, Bakersfield, we visited Brian and Lisa's shop in Simi Valley.  Brian is a mechanic who specializes in modifying off-road vehicles. His company is American Offroad & Performance. Here are some of his projects:



He is a master at his job, and what an incredible shop he has.  So tidy!!  If you are ever in need of this type of work -- he's the man.  Like my brother Fritz Kramer, who is a perfectionist at his job -- woodworking on boats, Brian doesn't come cheap but you won't have to do it over again.  Trust me.



We are now in Bakersfield, camped at this wonderful campground ($35 a night water & electric) in the middle of an orange grove. What a smell.  The orange blossoms.


The next couple of days will be spent reminiscing and pow wowing with the family in an attempt to mourn and celebrate Teddy Mann who died a couple of weeks ago.  I may not get to the posting so just know, it has been another great trip!  







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