California - Part 1

 Northern California:

I think the best way to introduce my travels from Denver to California is with Led Zeppelin's "Going to California."  I realize not everyone may be a fan of theirs, and apologies that there are no pictures (but you can also see live versions on YouTube) but I think it's fitting.

After finally getting out of Denver, I spent my first night in Rock Springs, WY and the second in Elko, NV.  While neither of those knocked my socks off, I must say that the scenery was, for the most part, beautiful and rugged. John Wayne country, for sure!  I arrived late afternoon/early evening at the Berkeley Marina. It was 3 long days of travel, and Lady and I were both grateful for a couple of days in one place, without too much time in the car.  I spent my first day with my lovely friend, Devon, to whom I owe so much!  She took me in when I left Kansas just after turning 17, and was kind and generous and let me find my way in the world. I was there for 8 months the first time, and returned about a year later for another 4 - 6 months (can't remember exactly).  It was there that I joined the Navy in search of self and a college degree, and she was most supportive and encouraging!  True friends do that.  

After I picked her up in Oakland, we went over to San Francisco to see her son, Cosmo, who I've known since he was not even 2 years old.  When he was little one of my favorite things to do with him was to sing along (and pantomime) to Paul McCartney's "Admiral Halsey/Uncle Albert" - such a sweet kid! We had a great time catching up, and went to lunch just down the street from his apt. Before we left the city to return to Oakland, I took him to pick up his daughter from Middle School - she's lovely!  I only got a couple of pics, and the one of Cosmo and his daughter he took for me after we left.  I'm pretty bad at remembering to get selfies - having too much fun and conversation!  Here are pics of me and Devon, and Cosmo and Espy:

I also met my cousin, Linda, and had a great couple of hours with her.  I didn't get a selfie of us, but here's a pic she took of me and Lady on her back deck.  She has a great house - lots of windows, and a wall of (mostly her) artwork - also pictured below:

My friend Christine, a former student from Queensbury HS, came over to where I was staying in Berkeley and we enjoyed a drink by a fire in the bar. After, she told me it was the first time she'd been in a restaurant since the pandemic first shut things down, so was glad it was a quiet evening, with nobody sitting near us.  On my way out of town, I stopped to visit Judith, a friend of Devon's who I knew from the 70's - also a wonderful artist! - and have recently gotten reacquainted with through Facebook.  Love her posts!

Next post - heading to Southern Cal!