Day 12: AZ >> CA

I drove from Phoenix to San Clemente, California the more southern route because it was about the same time and distance as the northern option but went by San Diego so I thought I’d stop there. The drive was just desert and some mountain views in Arizona and again nearing San Diego. I drove along the Mexico border and went through a checkpoint. Rachael had told me this route would be cool because I got to drive through sand dunes near the Arizona/California border. They would have been cool had it not been so windy. I could feel the lid of my cargo box bouncing around. I happened to look in my rearview mirror as a little towel that was not secured in a bag flew out from the cargo box and into the windshield of the car behind me. I couldn’t believe the lid was bouncing so much and opened enough for the wind to steal something. I drove white knuckled through the rest of the wind waiting for the entire lid to blow off. But I made it through without losing any more belongings.

The mountains near San Diego were odd. They looked like huge piles of pebbles and I was an ant. It was a relief to get out of no where and start seeing pretty California homes. When I got out of the car in San Diego, my hair blew up and I was quickly missing the dessert weather. Apparently this isn’t typical, though, and I’m just bringing horrible weather with me everywhere I go. I didn’t know where to go and didn’t really care. I just wanted to be at the coast immediately so I had to stop. I parked at Mission Beach so we could walk a bit. I guess it wasn’t the best choice --   it was Atlantic City style -- and then I couldn’t go on the beach with Henley anyway, but there it was, the Pacific. I could happily get back in the car.  


We drove a quick one hour up to San Clemente, California where I was staying with my friend Sarah. Sarah is from San Clemente. She moved out to Boston all on her own for nursing school. I met her at the transfer student orientation two years ago. I quickly and easily became obsessed. She is what people are talking about when they say a person can light up a room. She is a fun, gorgeous, glowing light brightening every room she walks into. I was so excited to see her and this place she is always raving about. 
 


Well it’s worth every good thing she ever said about it. I haven’t even seen much yet but I already believe it. Sarah’s old play house, which looks pretty close to a tiny house I’d build, is still in the yard. I’m trying to talk her parents into letting me live in it. We took a walk on the beach, had dinner with her parents and friend, and drank wine in the hot tub under the palm tree.  


<3

My happiness after touching the Pacific for the first time