After our adventures of the previous days, it seemed like we should do something exciting on Tuesday, so after a fine breakfast of fruit and cereal, we hopped back on the road, and headed out to Yosemite. The first section of the drive was very "Big City" for a while, but later things thinned out, and we ended up on some nice two-laners (the kind of driving that I really enjoy) wandering around the hills. Pulled in to Yosemite early afternoon, and had a nice toe wetting in a river there, hiked up to Bridal Veil falls, and rode around on the buses there for a while, then headed southward with the original intent of "starting home" and taking pictures along the way.
Got as far as Fresno, and pulled in to a funny little RV place, where the office was also the residence, and their kids were still up watching TV when we pulled in at 9 ish (fortunately, our kids were all sleeping by that time). Another strange place that was mostly "full-timers", with a few spots for transients like us. By now, we've gotten a good rhythm to things, and we just let people assume that Kim and I are married, that the kids are all brothers and sisters - albeit a year apart each... Easier than explaining and you don't get the funny looks and questions that way.
Pulling out of Fresno in the AM, the decision started out "which way do we want to go home", with me leaning towards the faster inland route, and Kim leaning for the longer, but much more scenic coastal route. After some hemming and hawing, and some smooth talking and deal making by Kim (she found out the her husband wouldn't be back for another day), I was coerced (arm behind back) to take an extra day, and stay in the South Central coast. The RV Park description actually had "Santa Barbara" in the name, but ended up being in Buelton (you know, where the Anderson Split Pea Soup place is...). Nice place with a great pool, jacuzzi and play lot. Long day contributed to some somewhat grumpy kids all around so after an Anderson's dinner, they got an early bedtime, and Kim and I chatted into the wee hours about how to solve some of the worlds more vexing problems - like how to make Republicans and Democrats get along :)
Last day of what I would call "Phase II" of the trip included a jaunt down to Santa Barbara to see the mission there, and then a lunch at a favorite beach front cafe there, while the kids played in the sand. We were mostly blessed with light traffic (due partly to our early departure - out of Santa Barbara before 1), save a few annoying "California Driver" moments, a good return trip. Managed to get Kim and Kids home in time for her to rescue her wayfaring cat, and meet up with Barbara at a friends for dinner with D before finally heading home to decompress.
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