Day 9: Long Beach (The end)

Thanks to a noon check out I was able to take my time in the morning. I checked out at 11:30 a.m. and headed to the nearby mission called La Purísima Concepción, or The Pure Conception for you non-Spanish speakers. This mission was reconstructed in the 1930s.

Most of what I know about missions is what I learned in 4th grade history lessons, like most school kids from the State of California. The park ranger gave me a quick rundown of things to see here as I paid for parking. He ended the conversation by saying, "Once you cross one of the two wooden bridges, you'll be in 1821." I crossed a bridge to see sprinklers running in a pasture area. I doubt Franciscan missionaries or the Native Americans would have mastered water irrigation that well.

I thought I would spend at most an hour there, but I was there for more than two. There was much to see and much to think about. The first place I visited (I didn't have a map of the complex, I just went were I wanted) was the mission cemetery. There were no markers so I wondered about the people who were buried here and where they were from.

The church was also stirring. It was big and cool inside. I was in there by myself and could hear the echoes of my steps.

The mission also showed other types of working and living conditions from soldiers to the natives. There really was more than I expected to see and if I had more time, I probably would have seen it or gone down more trails.

I left here to go to Jamala Beach. It was 14 of the twistiest (if that is a word) miles away from PCH. It took about 20 minutes to get there when I realized you had to pay to get in. So I immediately drove back.

As I drove down PCH, I found out that California Highway 1 actually ends when it meets up with the U.S. Highway 101 south of Buellton. I found this weird because PCH in Long Beach is CA-1. A few miles later I saw a turnout for CA-1, which puzzled me even more.

Anyway, I kept on PCH through Oxnard to Point Magu where I made my last stop of this trip. I got out and looked at the beach and the waves crashing against the rocks. I could have also sworn to see dolphins, but it could've been seals, which I did see.

I got off of PCH at the California Incline in Santa Monica, had dinner with friends and then came home by way of the freeways. Then I decided to get on PCH on more time and got off the 110 onto PCH next to San Pedro and drove west. In little time, I was in Long Beach and turned for home.

Over the past couple of days I have been lucky enough to drive and spend the past week seeing family, friends and things I ordinarily wouldn't have seen. I estimate that I took more than 1,200 pictures.

I strongly recommend this drive to anyone who is thinking about it. I would do this drive again. The only thing I would change is to have company.

And finally, for those of you who have been reading these blogs, thanks. I hope it wasn't boring in any way.

Miles traveled today: 205

Miles traveled total: 1,278

Day 8: Lompoc

I backtracked a little today, 6 miles, to get to Hearst Castle. The media mogul William Randolph Hurst (who, a legend as it, told his photographers during the Spanish-American War: "You provide the pictures, I'll provide the war.") built the castle in the foothills overlooking the San Simeon Pier.

The castle is now owned by the State of California and the tour costs about $25, but I decided to pass. Besides, I had visions of me yelling out when I got up to the castle "Where's Patty, I am the rebirth of the Symbionese Liberation Army!" I don't think they would have found that funny as me.

I drove down the road a bit to Cambria to look around mostly. I did find the greatest title to a child's book and I want to know why I am just now finding out about this.

Driving into the Morro Bay area you can't help but notice Morro Rock. There are two different theories about how this rock came to be: It was either a volcano that petrified or liquid hot magma (said like Dr. Evil) pooled at that location and erosion formed the rock. Either way, the damn rock is huge.

I followed that by going to Morro Bay State Park. There is a museum there that costs $2. It's interactive and fun.

Less than 20 minutes away is another state park, Montaña del Oro. It's bigger and has access to the beach in a couple of places. You drive through a forest of dry trees and hope that a forest fire never finds this place. My second stop at this park was a beach were there where cliffs on the left and a rocky area on the right with a pebble beach in the middle. The rocks were like shingles that were part on land and part in the ocean. The rocks were also home to small water life including hermit crabs.

On my way to Lompoc – pronounced LOM-poke – I drove through San Luis Obispo and Guadalupe. I found Guadalupe more interesting since it was town that needed the highway more than SLO. Guadalupe had murals on building, one was a map showing you where you were on the coast and a chart showing you how far cities are away from there. I wish I had taken a picture of it.

I am sort of getting tired from the driving and checked in to my hotel early. The Quality Inn here is being renovated and I am experiencing high definition television for the first time and 25 inches of it. Everything else just looks like crap now.

I get a late checkout on my return to Long Beach. With the noon checkout time, I am going to make the most of it. After checkout, I am going to the local mission, La Purisima. I would have gone today, but I got there as they closed down. I am also going to go to a few beaches between here and Santa Monica where I am going to get dinner with a friend, and it will be the first time I talk to someone in person with a familiar face since Tuesday.

Miles traveled today: 131

Miles traveled total: 1,073

Day 7: San Simeon

It had been 18 years since I had been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was the end of school year field trip in the fifth grade, so I didn't remember much. What I do know now is that this aquarium is far better than the one in Long Beach.

There is so much to see, the exhibits are bigger, and they have penguins – my favorite. The first thing I did was watch the staff feed the penguins.

I walked around the aquarium for the next couple of hours. They have exhibits featuring fish from the deep, sea otters, shore animals and jelly fish.

As I left the Monterey Bay area, I stopped off and got gas. In hindsight, it was the smartest thing I did. One of the next signs I saw was a curves ahead warning sign that said they were for the next 70 miles.

I was never happier that I had a manual transmission because for the next couple of hours it was some of the most intense driving I've ever done. Mountain drives are usually the best and I thought my drive up to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear on California Highway 18 would never be topped. But driving from Carmel to the Monterey-San Luis Obispo county line was exhilarating.

Danger and beauty was around every corner and driving with a manual only added to it since I was shifting constantly. Those of you lucky to ride with me while I am driving know there is only one way I take turns: aggressive. This drive kept me on edge.

The sights are just as amazing. The Bixby Creek Bridge shows the beauty of Depression Era architecture.

There are many turnouts so you can take pictures, too many to choose from to be exact. One of the best stops was at the Los Padres National Forest picnic area located at Willow Creek. There is a drive down to a pebble beach, which is secluded. It was a nice break from the driving.

But the drive is not all on the coast; it turns inland at Big Sur where the trees and mountain range give you the feel that the beach is miles away. And just as you think you are, the coast reappears.

Then the road straightened out as San Simeon was about 6 miles away. By the way, Los Angeles is 256 miles away from that same post.

The hotel I stayed at was just off the highway and the beach was a short walk away.

And again, another great sunset.

I've decided to make one more stop on this trip and it will be in Lompoc. I am also planning on visiting a state park called Montaña del Oro.

Miles traveled today: 102

Miles traveled total: 942

Day 6: Monterey Bay

When I began planning my vacation, I knew this day would be the longest and I had wondered if I packed in way too much. Well I am tired.

I left my sister's house before 9:30 a.m. and almost a half an hour later I reached the Bay Bridge and paid the $4 toll. Traffic was going to be a problem since the Major League Baseball All-Star game was in San Francisco. Before I got on Highway 1, I had to take my beloved car on Lombard Street, the most twisted road in the world.

After that, I went back on U.S. Highway 101 to get on the Golden Gate Bridge. I made a stop at the vista point and remembered there is no summer like a summer in San Francisco and Marin Counties. As soon as I looked up at the flagpole, I knew how cold it was.

I walked around and decided to do something a little bold. I don't like being up high so walking on the Golden Gate Bridge was bold. Making things worse, there were holes every 100 feet in the concrete in the bridge. But it was worth it.

I called friend and co-worker James Melroy to let him know that if he heard a story about me jumping off the bridge today, to let the world know it was foul play because there was no way I would get close to the edge. As I walked back, I saw emergency phones that I first thought were call boxes you see on the freeway. But as I got close, I saw that they were also suicide help lines.

I got back in the car and began my journey home on Highway 1. There was really nothing much I wanted to do in San Francisco except to get a photo of a street named Cardenas.

It didn't take long to feel you were out of the city. Unlike the Los Angeles area, it is not hard to escape the city in Northern California. Within minutes, I was in Pacifica and it was easy to forget I was in San Francisco.

I learned my first lesson of PCH: You don't need to stop at the first beach you see. There are so many state beaches you will come across that are not as busy.

I also stopped off at Pigeon Point Light Station. The lighthouse is no longer in service but you get great views of the ocean.

I then realized I was running behind. I had to make it to the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz before it closed. Unluckily for me, Santa Cruz traffic is horrible, there was street construction and, for some reason, two streets near each other have the same name. For a while, I thought the mystery was getting there. But once there, it was really fun. While I don't drink, walking in that shed made me feel drunk. So for those of you that want me to let loose and drink, that is as close as I am going to get.

I was going to go down to the boardwalk in Santa Cruz, but that city does not like to let you know how to get place so I gave up and worked my way South.

I was struggling around the Monterey Bay looking for my hotel, but I finally found it. I was tired and just wanted to stop driving. 20 minutes later, I was hungry. The first place I found was a Round Table Pizza so I got that.

When I got back I remembered I wanted to take a photo of the sunset. Then for all the problems I had towards the end of my day, walking on the beach and seeing the sun go down made up for everything. The beach was beautiful. I have never seen white sand; it is so fine, soft and clean. The sunset was striking with the red color in the sky.

Tomorrow, I'm going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and, by the end of the day, I should be in San Simeon.

Miles traveled today: 183

Miles traveled total: 840

Day 5: San Leandro

Getting back to the farm reset my internal clock because I got up at 6 a.m. My dad is in mostly retirement (I'll get back to that later on) for the most part and doesn't get up that early anymore. Plus I was cold, which sounds strange if you knew that the temperature the day before was in the high 90s. In the San Joaquin Delta temps can drop to the low 60s, however.

I used the shower and you realize once you have been away for a long time from home, you feel a lot bigger than you remember. Almost like you can be the Incredible Hulk and destroy things.

My father was outside watering the ranch owner's plants, it's the only work he does now. My mother was there as well and they were talking while I was looking around. I came back and found my parents as they always were from when I remembered them at home whenever they were together outside: watering plants and talking. So it's fitting that I left them this way, they'd be doing that regardless.

Before I drove to San Leandro to see my final family member on this trip – my sister Rosa and her family – I stopped off at my other hometown Tracy. I saw my grandfather's old home.

I also stopped my high school, Merrill F. West High School. The school is much more complete than when I left it.

Then I hit the road again. I drove over the Altamont Pass, where the Hell's Angels and hippies beat the crap out of each other in 1969. The pass is now known for its windmills that can be seen the entire ride from the climb to the drop.

Shortly after I arrived in the East, Eastbay I hit something familiar to me: traffic. However, traffic in the Bay Area is far worse than traffic in Southern California.

I arrived at my sisters after 11:30 a.m. to see my brother-in-law and nephew, Paul, to greet me. Paul was excited to see me, but that soon wore off. He is an energetic kid and got on his tricycle and peddled like no two-year-old as ever peddled before.

My niece Marissa, Mary's daughter, was also here riding a bike next to Paul.

We walked to lunch at a local Mexican food restaurant for lunch and just relaxed when we got back.

Later on, my brother-in-law said he was going to the store and I said I would go and help out. He is environmental and said we'd be taking bikes and I said that was fine. I keep forgetting that the only shape I'm fit for is doing what I am doing right now. It was rough going at first but I made it back or else you wouldn't be reading this.

We had dinner at home and I was able to do laundry here before I head up to big trip down PCH. I was trying to meet up with a friend and former co-worker Diamond Leung, however we are both on a tight schedule, so I'll catch him when comes home from covering the Dodgers.

My plan is leave San Leandro at 9 a.m., but no later than 10, to drive over the Bay Bridge into San Francisco and drive down Lombard Street. The do a quick u-turn and drive North to the Golden Gate Bridge. Stop off and take a few pictures and make my way down South towards Long Beach. There should be a couple of stops along the way and I have a AAA map, which I paid for even though I am a member, showing good places to stop and see. I am considering making a stop at the Mystery Spot – even though I know what the mystery is – in Santa Cruz and would also like to see the Boardwalk there. My overnight stop will be in Monterey.

Miles traveled today: 55

Miles traveled total: 657

Day 4: Stockton (home)

Probably the best deal in hotel/motel continental breakfasts goes to the La Quinta. Well let me clarify since most, if not all, are complimentary. Usually you get danishes and donuts with milk. Here you can make your own waffles, how cool is that. They give you the batter and just pour it onto the waffle maker and in less than 3 minutes, you have waffles.

I began my drive home by first dropping Miguel off at the airport in Sacramento. About 90 minutes, after I drove by my K-8 school of Delta Island, I made the turn down Clifton Court Road and as soon I got past the asparagus packing plant I saw the familiar reflection of the giant red barn with its tin roof from less than 5 miles away. Next to that barn is my house.

As I got closer, I noticed something new – the 21st century moved into the neighborhood. Next to my house is a cell phone tower located about 150 yards away from my house. Those of you with Nextel can now get full bar reception by my parents. I asked my dad about it and he said the ranch owner rented out the land for $600 a month and free service.

I spent the day taking a lot of photos in the 90-plus degree weather and before I got to my parents I started to feel a little ill. Apparently I failed to take into account not being used to the hot weather and air conditioning at my sisters. I developed a huge headache and wouldn't let it stop me from taking as many pictures as I could.

My sister Mary and her husband stopped by to say hi and talk. She was only here for an hour before she had to go back to Stockton. We made plans to go out to dinner at a Mongolian BBQ restaurant in town. Now, this is not the mall version of Mongo, it's an all you can eat place.

I took more photos before I couldn't take anymore and came inside.

I tried to relax as much as I could before I took my parents to town for dinner, but couldn't because of my head. I may not burn since I was born with a natural tan, but I can retain a lot of heat.

But I couldn't afford rest because this was my only day at home. So I got my parents to town. Before we went to dinner, we had to make a quick stop at Walgreen's for medication for my mother. I found out she is taking 11 different pills for a variety of aliments: diabetes, high blood pressure, ect. My father said he takes 7, but he also said that the government pays for most of it.

After that we went to dinner with Mary and talked. I just wished I were feeling better.

Before I went to bed, I walked around the house just to see things as they are. I stepped into the laundry room and as I moved back, felt something squishy. It turned out to be a slug; at least I hope it was a slug. Yes, I kind of freaked out and immediately washed that feeling off my foot.

And to think, I was missing this in my life.

Next Stop: San Leandro

Miles traveled today: 139

Miles traveled total: 602

Day 3: Sacramento

I was able to have breakfast with my sister Carmen and her family before I left to Sacramento. I showed Dominique and Serna the photos I took of them the day before. They liked the photos that showed themselves right before they hit the water, especially the ones that showed them as if they were walking on water.

I left at 9:30 a.m. to pick up friend and co-worker Miguel Lopez at Sacramento Metro Airport, north-northwest of Sacramento. I arrived there around 11 a.m. and Miguel had been there for more than a half an hour. He said JetBlue must be the official airlines of the Simpsons since he was able to watch three episodes while in flight through the plane's DirecTv.

We drove back into Sacramento and I showed Miguel what I knew of the state capitol of California. The first place was obviously the capitol building. After driving around it, we parked on circle near the front of the building. We got out and walked towards the front. He was amazed that there was stuff going on. There were two wedding parties there for pictures, music all over, banquets and a bikers group setting up for their own picnic.

After the capital, we went to Old Sacramento, which Miguel said looked like driving through Knott's Berry Farm.

We drove across the Tower Bridge three times, it kind of looks like a smaller version of the Golden Gate Bridge; it looks like it was made of Legos. The reason why we drove over it three times was because I got lost again, what's with me.

I interrupted my vacation to help cover UFC 73 at the ARCO Arena with Miguel. But being noon and another three hours before media could even check in, we went to check into our hotel; the fabulous La Quinta Inn located right next to the American River. Miguel stayed at this hotel the last time he covered a UFC event in Sacramento. There is a fence there and he said he was thinking about checking out the river but had read that homeless people still there.

To pass the time, we watched Wladimir Klitschko successfully defend his heavyweight title against Lamon Brewster. It wasn't the greatest of fights and Brewster's corner threw in the towel in between the sixth and seventh rounds.

We went to the ARCO Arena and it was business as usual for us at the UFC event; Miguel writing the story and me updating the blog live. I'm all writing out about the UFC event, so don't ask. But you can go to www.presstelegram.com/mixedmartialarts to find out what happened.

We wanted to gamble a bit since that's what we do when we leave a UFC event in Las Vegas and it was 7/7/07, but we were in Sacramento. So we bought $5 worth of lottery tickets. We both won a free ticket.

I'm excited to go home and see my parents. I drop Miguel off at 10 a.m. and then I go home and that red house next to a red barn never looked so good.

By the way, no update tomorrow since my parents have no computer and thus no Internet access, but I have a feeling no one is reading this anyway.

Next stop: Stockton

Miles traveled today: 132

Miles traveled total: 463

Day 2: Turlock

I woke up at 7:30 a.m. to the sound of children eating breakfast. I spent the night on the couch with only five hours of sleep. But I'm not complaining, it was just another chance to spend time my sister Clemencia's children. I watched them have breakfast and listened to Antonia tell her favorite joke over and over again: "Why did the cow cross the road?" … Think about it … "To go to the mooooooovies."

I watched "Night at the Museum" with her kids before I left for Turlock. I filled up the gas tank in my Scion Xa and, in case you are wondering, 35 MPG from Long Beach to Fresno.

I arrived in Turlock to find this town has changed considerably in the 26 years my sister Carmen has lived here when she first attended Cal State Stanislaus. Housing and shopping developments have sprung up all around her home, which they have lived at for more than 10 years.

Now I have a good sense of direction, as many of you know. Tell me where to go, and I'll usually know how to get back. But I admit I turned down the wrong street.

As soon as I arrived at my sister Carmen's house we, along with her husband, went out to lunch at a local Italian food place. Later, she took me to her kindergarten class to pick up some items. Sitting on a chair meant for a 5-year-old at a table and walking around her classroom decorated with a bid calendar that is changed every month made me feel a bit nostalgic.

Later on in the day her children, Dominique and Serena, are excellent in the pool and of course were doing everything for my attention, especially a camera.

Her kids were happy to see me, but were worn down from spending the day at a church camp so they were only up for two hours while I was there.

By the way, the electricity was on all day here so I didn't have to deal with the 103-degree heat during the day.

And that was in the garage.

Next stop: Sacramento

Miles traveled today: 101

Miles traveled total: 331

Day 1: Fresno

I could hear you laughing, but you probably didn't know why. Maybe it was an out of body experience you had at 7 p.m. on the first day of my vacation.

It could be taken as a sign of things to come. Or maybe it can show that even when the unimaginable happens, you can still make the best out of the situation.

Never would I have imagined that on my first night on vacation, at my sister's home in Fresno that the power would have gone out right before 7 p.m. and lasting until 1:10 a.m. during one of the hottest days of the year when the temperature reached 110.

But you make the best of what you have. Her children had one of the longest play days of the year. At 7 p.m. the temperature was still in the mid 90s, but they're used to that and they had a kiddy pool. They also were dancing with their shadows.

I got to play with both of my niece Antonia and nephew Francisco a little extra today. In a way I kind of felt that I was making up for lost time since I rarely see them. They were excited to see me when I arrived at this afternoon. They didn't know me as well as my brother, but they were not going to let that stop them.

They both were excited to show me their rooms and Antonia was eager to show me her reading abilities.

Francisco may have shown me an early sign of having fun anyway you can by finding comfort in a laundry bin.

And the youngest, Sophia was eating her afternoon snack.

The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau sited in an essay that the fall of civilization began when the first caveman decided to fence off a piece of land and call his own. After visiting Fresno on my first day of vacation, I'm sure Rousseau would have said the founders of Fresno are not only uncivilized, but also foolish. Especially after visiting on a hot July day, with no power.

Well I know not all of the people of Fresno aren't all uncivilized or foolish. My sister, her husband and three children have a beautiful home with a dog in a big back yard, with air conditioning, when it works.

They have found what we all want.

Next stop Turlock.

Miles traveled today: 230

Miles traveled total: 230

Day 0: The prologue

When I last wrote, I was excited about the trip I am about to take up and down the state of California. Priorities, however, can quickly change.

My mother was recently admitted to the hospital for what discovered to be fluid in her lungs.

She spent three nights there as doctors also treated her for anemia by performing a blood transfusion. I talked to her on Tuesday and she sounded as if nothing had happened. In fact, she was full of energy thanks to the new blood.

But I still worry. Going home now has a new aspect to it since this is the second time in a year where she has been admitted to the hospital due to complications from her diabetes.

My last night in Long Beach gave me a reminder of my last night at home before I moved. It was Independence Day and before I left for Southern California I was able to see the fireworks show in Tracy, Stockton and a white flight community called Discovery Bay.

From the Press-Telegram offices on the 14th floor of the ARCO Center I was able to the show next to the Queen Mary. It reminded me of that last day.

Tomorrow, I begin my trip. I'll update with thoughts on that day. So far, I'm already sort of dreading it. I'm looking forward to get away from work, don't get me wrong. Especially after I worked 10 of the last 11 days (quiet Feenstra) where I had to design special pages and make adjustments to new guidelines set in place by my company.

What I am dreading is the weather. My first stop is Fresno (insert your own joke here) to see my sister Clemencia and her family. The high tomorrow is expected to be 111. The stop after that is Turlock, where my sister Carmen and her family live. On Friday the temperature will level off at 101.

The high in Long Beach today was 77.

But that is what family is all about.

Miles traveled today: 0

Miles traveled total: 0