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