L'Envoi

Yeah, that's the last stanza of a Victorian sonnet -- and this is the last entry on Southbound. If anybody is still reading, give me a shout; I'm considering giving up blogging for a while.
Anyway, we had a good respite on the trip back home: two days in warm, sunny, clear an beautiful Carmel Valley. We are again convinced it's the perfect location for family R/U gatherings. When will we have the energy and courage for the next one?
It's great to be home!

Laborious Day

It's a national holiday; and yes, we are on vacation, as you might say; and since we are such lucky people, I feel guilty about griping. But the weather down here in Santa Barbara (and that goes double for Pasadena) is The Shits. It's partially overcast; warm, but not hot; and the humidity makes it feel like one is walking through a steam bath.

However, we are having some good visits with friends: Pierskallas had us over for dinner last evening; and I had two good visits today with my dear friend, Sarah B. (this evening we had dinner with her and husband Steve) and a discussion with both of them about their Ghana project work. I've met with a couple of St. Mark's friends too; and tomorrow I'm having breakfast with my old nemesis, Fr. Tomas -- no longer a nemesis to me, of course, just a tired, overworked, sick old guy who was very, very good to me in the end.

We'll spend time with Frank and Melissa tomorrow afternoon and evening, and then we're off early on Wednesday morning -- look for a much more upbeat entry here when we get to Carmel Valley that afternoon!

Soule Clan RU

We're back at 333 Old Mill Rd., after a 24-hour sojourn in Pasadena. Lots of pictures taken, too much food and drink partaken, some good catching up with everyone. Pasadena was the pits, though: hot, humid, overcast. Marie's good and kind hospitality aside, it was a bit of a hard go. However, after a traffic-crazed drive back north, we got as far as Mussel Shoals and pulled off to sit by the Pacific shore at Cliff House and have a salad lunch -- something we can't do in the redwooded mountains. I'm about to put my photos into a Kodak Gallery album and will send you all a link.

Home?

Entering the first stretch of the Big South, just below Carmel Highlands, the first eye-catcher for me was the different coloration: brilliant orange field poppies against the deep blue-violet Pacific waters. After all the green-mansions of our new home, that pallette seemed to signify a flag of entry: "You are now entering Southern California!"

Our meandering way down the Sur was accompanied by many fingers of coastal fog, as the ocean tried to mate with that beautiful land and was constantly repulsed by the Sun-god who rules the Golden State.

As we drove into Santa Barbara in the late afternoon, I realized that I knew this part of the world in the depths of my memory. It seemed odd to be navigating the off-freeway roads without any thought or pre-planning; just so, it has seemed very strange in our northern home, these past couple of months, to need to seek carefully for every road's turning as I've driven about the valley and the Santa Cruz coastal towns.

We find life in the old Trailer Park environs to be, well, same-old same-old. This morning I hear the garbage trucks lumbering about, and the roar of the 101 Freeway in the distance.

Melissa has made us very comfortable and welcome; Frank came to join us for dinner last evening; and we slept as well as one may in a new bed-environment.

Later today we will be heading to Pasadena for the big Soule Clan Reunion; stay tuned. Later this weekend I will post photos, either herein, or in a virtual photo album with a link for you here. Right now John and I are headed for a Starbuck Pickup and a planning (yes, list-making) session to start the day.

Wagons: Ho!

For you inveterate blogger-floggers, this will keep you current on the next (short) phase of Granny Franny's adventures: our eight-day summer 2008 vacation trip to Santa Barbara, Pasadena, Carmel Valley, and home again.

We leave in a couple of hours, departing the beloved Santa Cruz mountain home and headed south (El Sur) toward that highlight of all California dreams: the Big Sur.  Meteorologists tell us that this should be one of the most splendid days ever to grace that magnificent stretch of seacoast scenery.   "High of 84 F., sunny and clear" -- so saith NOAA, and Noah knows.

So follow the bouncing ball, and we're off on yet another adventure.