With daylight savings just ended getting up before eight [the site formerly known as nine] a.m. was no problem; I ran out first thing to see if the cherry little Cinquecento might still be parked on the corner [it was];

We packed and waited; with no call after awhile I went outside and saw a black SUV already there, so we said our goodbyes and were schlepping the luggage down the hall as Linda’s cell began to ring…couldn’t answer [it wasn’t the driver anyway; he was irritably trying the wrong number, on which he kept loudly and repeatedly insisting throughout a nearly indecipherable non-stop monologue about his absolutely uninteresting life until, nearing the airport, he switched, doubtless expecting a generous tip for being so entertaining, to yelling about what an upgrade this SUV was, usually costing at least thirty bucks more] but the call turned out to be Carmel Car calling us; no blame except for their insufferable driver, whom we suffered…in silence, as they say…

Once rid of the fool [worst ride to any airport anywhere, EVER, not to mention it was first thing in the morning, last minutes in New York] things could not but improve, and did; we were easily inside, caught the highly recommendable last and then first scenes of “La Dolce Vita” during breakfast and, although our terminal lunches ended up being neither better nor cheaper than what was on offer onboard, were soon settled in and headed west…

…given the prevailing winds the flight was an hour longer, but similarly spent; I read, dozed and from time to time pointed the little Lumix out the window into the glare;

 

Just past the Rockies we flew directly over Rabbit Valley’s “Trail through Time” and soon after that Green River, Utah, both of which we’ll experience terrestrially in little more than a month.  Soon, unaccustomed as I am to the southern exposure, the topography became increasingly unfamiliar until hazy California swam into dusty view…

…to drop into that pellucid Bay light;

…landed feeling grubby but not too bad to await baggage in a situation quite reminiscent of our long lonely wait for the B the exact same time yesterday [only yesterday!], but eventually, unlike the B, it came, we trekked outside to soft airs, mild breezes, the SkyPark bus and…

…home on Sunday’s highways to happy dogs, many laundries, and dinner outdoors at Lucca on peaceful First Street before downloading what turned out to be, despite my ruthless editing all week, the 466 images remaining in the camera before bed, sleep, many many times awake and rain from midnight to morning;

And a vulture morning in Auld Benicia, so…

 

Californ-i-yay, a hey hey.