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