Thursday, June 19, 2025
Our 12 day odyssey to the Pacific Northwest was coming to its logical conclusion, the 390 miles from Sacramento to our home in Camarillo.
As we were loading up the Blueberry II for one last time, Laurie noticed a plaque on a building next to our hotel's parking lot.
Interesting
We also espied this statue
on the school's grounds
But, who was it?
To start our morning constitutional,
we walked through this gate . . .
. . . to get a closer look at the statue of
Dr. Sun Yat-sen
The founder of the Republic of China was only 58 years old when he passed away 100 years ago.
His revolutionary movement of 1911 overthrew the Qing Imperial Dynasty, giving more power to the people of China.
As our hotel was located on the edge of Sacramento's Chinatown District, the nearby school and statue made perfect sense.
A marker as we continued to walk
No idea what this work of art represents,
but I liked its bold size
An artsy clocktower
Sacramento likes murals
of a spiritual nature
Sacramento's skyline is growing
with eye catching buildings
After our brisk morning walk, we drove over to Sacramento's Old Town for a visit.
One of the drawbacks of driving vacation has been timing. We have tended to arrive to our various daily destination cities in the late afternoon when most stores are closing. Similarly, when we get ready to leave a city where we have spent the night, most stores have not yet opened.
Our morning visit to Old Town would be more of the same today.
Old Town's Pony Express statue
greeted us on a still cool morning
This plaque commemorated the
short life of the Pony Express
After the start of the California Gold Rush in 1849 and California becoming the 31st U.S. state in 1850, there came a growing need to improve the speed of communications.
Thus, on April 3, 1860 the Pony Express launched its revolutionary service.
A lone rider with a mail sack would leave St. Joseph, Missouri and start racing on horseback west towards Sacramento at breakneck speed.
Every ten to 15 miles along the route, the rider would find a Pony Express station where he could change horses, have a quick bite to eat if wanted and proceeded posthaste. This process would continue for all of the 1,900 mile/3,100 km journey that typically took only a jaw dropping ten days to complete.
The Pony Express was a wild, romantic success but only operated for 18 months. On October 24, 1861, the first transcontinental telegraph opened for business improving the speed of communication between the two coasts exponentially.
Time and technological progress both march on non-stop and now we have the internet to contend with in our lives.
This plaque is located just across from . . .
. . . the said B.F. Hastings Bank Building
which still stands
Sacramento's Old Town has
lots of old buildings
The Visitors Center proclaiming
its accommodating attitude
Old school shipping boxes
In the old days, boxes like these were constantly being transported to or from San Francisco via the deep water Sacramento River.
Sacramento's Old Town sits on the banks of the Sacramento River.
Wooden sidewalks and tattoo parlors
add to Old Town's charm
Catchy store name
After all of the driving the last
12 days, I could use a good massage
Laurie cuddling up to a 49er
I could use a good doughnut before
starting the final phase of our adventure
Easily the best railroad museum
that I have ever visited
But not today as it didn't open for another 90 minutes.
How long has that "Boss of the Road"
been on this old brick Morelos Hotel wall?
As I said, the Sacramento River is
deep water from here to San Francisco
95 miles to the southwest
Farewell Sacramento!
Hello, Coalinga, California
Population: 17,199
There are only two reasons to take the mostly desolate Interstate 5 south from Sacramento towards Los Angeles as opposed to either Highway 99 through the San Joaquin Valley or Highway 101 along the Pacific Ocean's coastline which both feature lots of cities for exploration, gasoline and/or dining experiences at various price ranges.
Reason #1 is speed. The speed limit is 70 mph but the California Highway Patrol turns a seemingly blind eye to drivers using this two lane freeway as an audition for a spot driving a Formula One race car someday.
Reason #2 is the Harris Ranch Resort in Coalinga for a great meal.
By the way the word Coalinga comes from the area's old railroad history when trains stopped to refuel at "Coaling Station A." Over time the area's city morphed into Coalinga. I like historical side notes.
The Harris Ranch Prime Steakhouse specializes in high quality USDA Choice and Prime steaks, seafood and more. I had promised myself at least one good, high quality steak meal somewhere along our long roadtrip. This was my last chance.
I opted for their USDA Prime ribeye steak with Harris Ranch's signature hickory salt and brown sugar rub.
"Rare. please."
The steak came with a bowl of fantastic clam chowder, a delicious baked potato and for some unknown health related reason I'm sure, steamed broccoli and carrots.
Much more sensibly, Laurie ate only half of her fine hamburger, taking the other half home for lunch tomorrow.
My meal was so good that about 30 miles down the road after consuming every ounce of this fabulous lunch, I began sliding into a dangerous food coma.
Thus, for the first time in 12 days, Laurie took the wheel for the final three hours of the drive home while I passed out.
DAMN GOOD MEAL!
We made it home to Camarillo with no further stops, delays or drama.
It was an interesting 12 days on the road that saw us still committed to our marriage which was no easy feat given our close proximity in the Blueberry II for much of it.
DAMN GOOD ROAD TRIP!
News from the net . . .
Big DII Playoff Game on Sunday,
Brescia Bengals (6-3) at
Catania Elephants (8-0)
Italy's DII Semifinal Playoff games
The Padova Saints (7-1) host the Torino Reapers (8-1) in Saturday's other DII Semifinal contest.
Who doesn't love poking the bear
from time to time?
After our Adventure's conclusion, we are more than ready for a return to the tranquil life that sleepy Camarillo offers.
Still, we had a wonderful time visiting both new and old sights in California, Oregon and Washington plus meeting new people and rekindling memories with old friends.
GOOD TIMES, INDEED!
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