California Dreamin

I grew up in Southern California and left 25 years ago for the East. Whenever I return to see family and friends I remember how nice it was -- the weather, the mountains, the beaches. But I have never been tempted to return until this weekend. My wife and I spent four days driving up the coast from San Francisco to Eureka and then back down through Sonoma and Napa valleys. Each town was quainter than the previous; each vista more breathtaking. The people were friendly and accomodating and so was the weather. While the East Coast was in the grips of a disabling heat wave, we enjoyed sweater clad mornings and evenings and temperate days. Stinson Beach, Point Arena, Fort Bragg, Garberville, Healdsburg, Loleta, Gualala, Fortuna, Ferndale, Eureka, Trinadad, Calistoga, St. Helena, Carmel, Monterey, Berkeley. Some were cities, some towns, some merely stops on a tourist map. All will hold great memories for the years to come.