I made it to San Francisco! I came via a winding route that proved both stunning and challenging. I got seriously cold in central Oregon and northern California. My first night was 22 degrees in Shaniko and my second only 12 degrees in Dorris. That's sleeping in a freezer! Rather ironic considering I am snowbirding and ended up in way colder temps than I ever had to contend with in Seattle for the past two winters! I spent a few days with family in Redding and then headed southwest to Noyo Harbor for the night. The following day I ran Highway 1 all the way to San Francisco. What a road that is! Absolutely gorgeous and full of history, and immensely challenging to drive in an old heavy military vehicle with manual steering and brakes! But, Hella and I persevered and managed to not fly off any cliffs. I spent my first night in San Francisco at the North Battery overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. What a sight and quite the accomplishment considering the state of this truck just four years ago. In 2016 I was nervous driving it across town in Ellensburg and now I'm in California with the thing! That's quite the wow for me! Dreams do come true if you're willing to do the work and make the leaps.
So here I am, writing this blog at Ocean Beach Park with the Pacific before me reaching to the horizon. Surfers are riding the waves in the early sunshine. It's absolutely wonderful seeing and hearing real ocean waves build and break over and over. You just don't see anything like this in Puget Sound and I find it endlessly inspiring. I am slowly learning my way around the city. Hella is definitely a handful on these streets. I've gone up a couple extremely steep ones and I was definitely nervous. But, with a carburetor modified for off road hill climbing, she powers right up them without complaint while setting off the occasional car alarm or two!
I've found a couple solid places to park for the night and have had no problems with being harassed or moved along thus far. The only hiccup has been a leaking axle seal that I replaced yesterday with a spare I carry. All in all, everything is going well. I have random moments when I am amazed I am actually here.
I wish you all a blessed and healthy Thanksgiving!
