there and back again

two day trip.

drove down the five, and back home on 101.

saw five colleges. quickly witnessed a bit of

football (very well played) on skateboards.

let it be noted that the last week of school

makes a university campus (especially one

on the beach) look awfully good. bikes lined

up in candy-colored columns. kids in swim-

suits sauntering toward the water. nary a

book in sight. happy faces all around. just

sayin'--one of those moments when living

in our sunny state seems like the best of all

possible worlds--but before you get all starry

eyed about being in the best of all possible

worlds, make sure you've gassed the car up

as you leave Santa Barbara and head north

on 101. it's a long, dry drive 'til you get thru

the Gaviota tunnel & cruise into Buellton

(location of the next gas station you'll see).

don't ask me how i know.

all in all, it was a simply magnificent and

unexpectedly memorable trip. love this

sweet state of ours. it's good to remember how

remarkable (& astonishingly beautiful) it is.