pecunium

Today was ok. Got on the road later than I wanted. Got to SLO just a bit after the end of Late Evening Nautical Twilight.

The Hostel was booked solid, found an inn with a room.

It's tourist season (sadly they are a protected species, they are not baggable). Also, SLO is a place which stops serving food after ten. By the time I got settled, I was getting takeout at 7-11.

On the other hand, I saw a friend from the days Maia and I were living here. She's in town for the weekend, escaping from Bakersfield.

We did some catching up, and I proceeded on, to the aforementioned failure of food. I did see some of the summering over college crowd, in various states of dress (shabby, to chic), at various levels of sobriety. As I was getting my gear on, to head back to my palacious digs, a fellow, (mid-forties) obviously drunk, began maundering at me. It was incomprehensible (and not helped by the helmet, and earplugs; then again, perhaps it was). As I got on the bike he seemed to suddenly realise I was about ride off on a motorcycle, then I was away.

Happily he didn't puke on me, which I was afraid was going to happen.

Tomorrow is the long day. 9-10 hours of saddle time, and much of that across the Mojave. I probably should have put the trip off a day, and headed to Bakersfield. Then again, I could have poked my eyes out with sharp sticks.

I have a cooling vest. I have a camelback, I am as prepared as I am likely to be. I plan to leave here early in the morning, and (with luck) be through the desert by about 1300.

If I can pull that off (call it fifty fifty) the rest of the trip to Tennessee is pretty much smooth sailing.