This would be a busy late-fall season. After our week on Tybee Island in October 2006, Gerry and I flew in to San Jose, California, to attend my thirty-fifth high school reunion in Merced. At least that was the plan …
While we were hanging out with Jill and Barry in Pacific Grove for a few days, we got around to …
>the Carmel Mission
>the 17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach
>then Point Lobos State Reserve
>the Monterey Bay Aquarium
At Point Lobos State Park, California, 2006
All this gave Gerry enough time to decide he’d be more comfy in PG with people he knew, so I set off for Merced by myself. (Who wants to go to a high school reunion unless they went there, anyway?) On my way into the San Joaquin Valley I stopped, of course, at the Casa de Fruta—one of my favorite places in the world.
Once in Merced I met up with my besties, spent a couple days, then came back to Pacific Grove. Went to the butterfly park to see the monarchs and the next day, on our way back to San Jose, Gerry and I stopped at Mission San Juan Bautista, which was founded in 1797.
So I’d been on both US coasts within three weeks. Enough, right? Nope: Gerry would go home to Ireland right after this … and soon Jesse would call, suggesting another trip (for me).
Wanderlustful 