free digger
Monday, June 09, 2008
On the Road
I’m on a road trip from Los Angeles up to my brother’s house in Sacramento. I’m writing this at a flea bag hotel near the start of Highway 99. When I checked in, the woman at the front desk (60ish with lots of tattoos) asked if I was from out-of-town or not. I told her I’m from Brooklyn. She said, “Good. I’ll give you one of the better rooms. The locals tear things up too much.” Across the street is the legendary Buck Owens Crystal Palace.
My route here was 101 to a canyon road that took me to Malibu, where I followed Highway 1 up the coast to just past Ventura where I caught Highway 33 up through Los Padres National Forest. That was an amazing road. Hairpin turns, rugged mountains, and banks of Matilja poppies in full bloom. However, it was distressing to see all of the dying oaks.