So we set out on our first road trip at midnight on Thursday evening just as Kevin finished doing time at work. Straight after work we came to pick me up. I stood outside of my apartment and waiting with a bag in hand and eagerness to drive for hours to get fucked up as far away from home as I could stand to get. arrangments have been made to visit our friend Brandon in Santa Cruz on our way up to humboldt. I'm sick of this town. The rich suits and ties and gas-guzzling engines that walk around this place with their chins high in the air, looking down to you having the bridge of their nose spilt their vision. The stern looks of disapproval as I walk down the street with one of their own. Or better yet, come over to their empty house with their daughter and take what I want from her, so willing to please. It's got me sick of this town.
So Kevin comes screeching up the driveway stopping just a few feet in front of me. Dust continuing the momentum set forth by the Honda Element I would become so well acquainted with for the next 4 days. So I pack the back of the car with my bag and expectations of this trip, hop in the front seat, and jump on the road. Before we get on the freeway we stock up on snacks, energy drinks, booze and cigarettes.
The highways and freeways we take past LA, Bakersfield, and the Grape Vine seemed to go on forever. Not very scenic but they have these ramps on either side of the freeway filled with loose gavel and very steep inclines that were designed to stop an 18-wheeler who's brakes have gone out and could not stop. So needless to say, we looked for 18-wheelers who were headed for these ramps with the hopes of this to work, and if they didn't, they would fall of this high cliff onto the city. We were, however, very let down.
Fatigue got the best of Kevin around 4 in the morning no matter how interesting the conversation topics were. So he pulled over at the next exit and we both got out to stretch for a little bit, take a piss on the tires for good luck, and down a few beers. We saw a highway patrol car park at the Denny's across the street as we were doing this outside of the car. He got out of the patrol car and walked forward to the diner and didn't even look at us. A sense of relief came over us so we finished the rest of the beer and got the hell out of there searching for gum to mask the scent of cheap 40oz cans.
The 5 freeway is so desolate and the desert is so vast the further north you go on it. Kevin is sleeping in the back of the Element in a makeshift bed of a sleeping bag, two blankets, and four blankets. The sun is coming up and more and more cars join me on the highway. It's becoming a race through the desert with huge semi trucks hauling trailers filled with cargo and with people who make this commute day by day. I see a sign ahead that says "San Jose - 240 miles." I am nowhere near Santa Cruz and the CD in the car is one I made with a few songs that would keep me awake, but even that was losing it's power to keep me going. So I reach down and drink one of the energy drinks I bought. Instantly I felt a rush of energy and my vision become clearer. Making my heart pump blood quickly through my body and making me hungry. I had begun to sing along to the music again. And we were getting closer.
The directions were sent to my email which I receive on my phone. I opened up the file and look to see what progress we have made. I had a few miles to the next interchange so I woke Kevin up to navigate through the rest of the details. He climbed up to the front seat trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. I hand him the phone as he's strapping in began to read me our next move. I turn off and things around us begin to change. From brown, dry desert to lush green crops on acres and acres of farmland and a four-lane freeway to a two lane road. The sky was overcast and the air was thick with moisture. On the other side of the road a pair of cars kissed and the owner's were standing outside talking it over waiting for assistance. The on-coming side of traffic was moving slowly past the scene as we drove with no hesitation past.
We drive on this road for about another 15 minutes and merge to the 101N and hit traffic. We turn to a radio station to listen for traffic updates and find that Whoopie Goldberg has her own very unstimulating morning radio show up here. Not funny, not interesting, only entertaining in how terrible it was. Crawling through traffic for about 10 miles the traffic info finally comes on and lets us know that we were almost done with the only thing keeping us from sleeping.
As soon as the congestion lets up I start flying up the 101 and fighting the tiredness that begins to set in. the highway empties into a small town filled with people on the streets walking and riding bikes. Smiling and pursuing the day earlier than I ever do. We were finally here in Santa Cruz and we are close to parking and sleeping.
So Kevin comes screeching up the driveway stopping just a few feet in front of me. Dust continuing the momentum set forth by the Honda Element I would become so well acquainted with for the next 4 days. So I pack the back of the car with my bag and expectations of this trip, hop in the front seat, and jump on the road. Before we get on the freeway we stock up on snacks, energy drinks, booze and cigarettes.
The highways and freeways we take past LA, Bakersfield, and the Grape Vine seemed to go on forever. Not very scenic but they have these ramps on either side of the freeway filled with loose gavel and very steep inclines that were designed to stop an 18-wheeler who's brakes have gone out and could not stop. So needless to say, we looked for 18-wheelers who were headed for these ramps with the hopes of this to work, and if they didn't, they would fall of this high cliff onto the city. We were, however, very let down.
Fatigue got the best of Kevin around 4 in the morning no matter how interesting the conversation topics were. So he pulled over at the next exit and we both got out to stretch for a little bit, take a piss on the tires for good luck, and down a few beers. We saw a highway patrol car park at the Denny's across the street as we were doing this outside of the car. He got out of the patrol car and walked forward to the diner and didn't even look at us. A sense of relief came over us so we finished the rest of the beer and got the hell out of there searching for gum to mask the scent of cheap 40oz cans.
The 5 freeway is so desolate and the desert is so vast the further north you go on it. Kevin is sleeping in the back of the Element in a makeshift bed of a sleeping bag, two blankets, and four blankets. The sun is coming up and more and more cars join me on the highway. It's becoming a race through the desert with huge semi trucks hauling trailers filled with cargo and with people who make this commute day by day. I see a sign ahead that says "San Jose - 240 miles." I am nowhere near Santa Cruz and the CD in the car is one I made with a few songs that would keep me awake, but even that was losing it's power to keep me going. So I reach down and drink one of the energy drinks I bought. Instantly I felt a rush of energy and my vision become clearer. Making my heart pump blood quickly through my body and making me hungry. I had begun to sing along to the music again. And we were getting closer.
The directions were sent to my email which I receive on my phone. I opened up the file and look to see what progress we have made. I had a few miles to the next interchange so I woke Kevin up to navigate through the rest of the details. He climbed up to the front seat trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. I hand him the phone as he's strapping in began to read me our next move. I turn off and things around us begin to change. From brown, dry desert to lush green crops on acres and acres of farmland and a four-lane freeway to a two lane road. The sky was overcast and the air was thick with moisture. On the other side of the road a pair of cars kissed and the owner's were standing outside talking it over waiting for assistance. The on-coming side of traffic was moving slowly past the scene as we drove with no hesitation past.
We drive on this road for about another 15 minutes and merge to the 101N and hit traffic. We turn to a radio station to listen for traffic updates and find that Whoopie Goldberg has her own very unstimulating morning radio show up here. Not funny, not interesting, only entertaining in how terrible it was. Crawling through traffic for about 10 miles the traffic info finally comes on and lets us know that we were almost done with the only thing keeping us from sleeping.
As soon as the congestion lets up I start flying up the 101 and fighting the tiredness that begins to set in. the highway empties into a small town filled with people on the streets walking and riding bikes. Smiling and pursuing the day earlier than I ever do. We were finally here in Santa Cruz and we are close to parking and sleeping.
last summer, i drove from the top of washington, down to LA. it was a long trip, but the most beautiful part, was when we drove down pacific coast highway, down the coast.
we saw the gravel side ramps. those kind of creeped me out!
i'm glad it was a good time for you, x.
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