[2000cs]

Mom turned 90 on Friday, and with the airlines shenanigans (my sister is a flight attendant so I got some inside scoop) and cancellations, etc. we decided to cancel our flights and drive from the Atlantic (Florida) to the Pacific (Newport Beach) to celebrate.

We left on Saturday (8th) and drove I-10 the entire way, arriving just after noon on the 11th. About 34 driving hours total, not bad. Stayed in hotels, ate in restaurants, etc.

Interestingly we found as we moved west people became more and more covid-engaged, for lack of a better term. Here in So Cal we saw lots of people move away from anyone without a mask, even outdoors where many are masked. I got a sense of an atmosphere of fear and anxiety, angst I suppose here in CA that we don’t have at home. But along the way the other travelers seemed to be comfortable with standard precautions and unfazed by it otherwise.

Mom had a great birthday, although the fearful participated via Zoom instead of coming in person. Was great to see her again. It had been three years because of travel restrictions and work requirements; so now that I’ve retired and have no restrictions, we were able to drive out.

Then Saturday morning we were alerted to a tsunami risk. This was particularly amusing as people were streaming to the bluffs and beach to watch - until the sheriffs helicopter and harbor patrol “encouraged” them to move off the beach. Here it was not big enough to observe (we were watching from a third floor window overlooking the beach). However I hear there was some minor damage in harbors along the cost of CA - haven’t heard anything about Mexico, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia or Alaska.

We’re heading back tomorrow; will take a side trip to Hoover Dam as my wife hasn’t seen it. Probably a stop at the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, and then pedal to the metal on home.

Its a great country and nice to get out and see it again. I hope the covid-fearful start to relax a bit more and enjoy life, such as it is, again.