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