"ONE DAY UP NEAR SALINAS"

"One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away,
He's looking for that home and I hope he finds it,"

A few days ago while in Santa Rosa I got on craigslist and looked at rooms in the San Luis Obispo area to rent for a month. I wanted to stay put and really check out the county. I made one inquiry with no response. In the meantime, as my Santa Cruz couchsurf fell through (surprising me - the new dates didn't work) I arranged one night in Salinas with an artist who's profile I had bookmarked months ago, and then three nights with Los Osos hosts that my Argentine friends Maty and Denise had stayed with in November. Los Osos is on the coast of SLO county.  I also contacted my San Luis Obispo host Keith from my October stop and he granted me four more nights in the city. I thought FANTASTIC, I could search for a room while in the area and if I didn't find one decide from there. It is in the hands of the divine.

AND THE DIVINE MAKES MAGIC!

HAHN WINERY - STEINBECK REGION

Backing up... Rain and lots of it, hard and soft and not what I would choose to drive in. This turned out ok as Anne, my CS house/dog sitting gig - owner was back from traveling and not feeling well. She had no problem with me staying at her place in Santa Rosa until a nice travel day. In fact, I could have stayed longer but she needed the rest and private time and I needed to go exploring again.

SALINAS VISITOR CENTER BATHROOM

I called around for where I could get a new camera, stopped and got one on sale and got on the road to Berkeley. I had thought to stop there on the way to Salinas but when I got near the city I decided not to stop. Maybe I will visit there someday but I could already tell that a place with that many over and underpasses and boxes on hills was not where I want to live. With clear skies to the west and dark clouds to the east over the hills I headed south, slowly enjoying the drive. I arrived to Salinas at 6pm and met my hosts. Trish and Dan own the visitor center there and are so much fun. We stayed up until midnight and all agreed that we should meet again for more playtime in the future.

The next day was still cold but there wasn't any threat of rain at all. There was sun! I decided to bypass the Steinbeck Center and be more outside. Trish told me about the scenic River Road which was the inspiration for Steinbeck's novels. It was a much better choice on a sunny day. I went to the Hahn Winery (also by suggestion) to get a clear view of the valley. There are now so many fields with fresh tilled dirt and beautiful hills finally green after a long hard drought. It smelled so fresh through my lowered car windows. The darker clouds started to roll in just as I was rejoining HWY 101. I joined up with the side route to the coast and arrived to warm hearts and home just in time to go to the shore for sunset.

MONTANA DE ORO BEACH - LOS OSOS, CA

Susan, Mike and daughter Kim are active couchsurfing hosts and are instantly like family. A more welcoming group is hard to find (though Trish and Dan have a similar more urban vibe). They live in a small knotty pine house with a wood burning stove and five dogs and a cat but nothing feels cramped. It feels big. That's what good vibes do. They expand the energy in a good way.

I knew I was going to be sleeping in the living area which can sometimes be a little uncomfortable but not here. It was perfect. I was right in front of the hearth and with electric remote control luminaries to light my way in the middle of the night.

Lets get to the really fun magic...

While viewing the sunset Susan, Kim and I were chatting about travels and Susan told me about Hawaii. They have a relative living there and her nephew was going to visit the islands for two weeks. He happens to live in the apartment over their living space. I didn't even know there was a second floor yet. So... in their minds they could double up on couchsurfers with the additional space. I am already confirmed with Keith for the first four days of her nephew's absence and I do want to check out the city of SLO more deeply.  This morning I asked if I could take the apartment for the last 10 days of Jesse's trip. OF COURSE. (insert happy face). Then we spoke of how Jesse's back has been out of whack with sciatica. He has been in pretty bad pain. I begged to let me help. It had nothing to do with an equal exchange. I have it listed on my CS profile to please let me help if you have pain. I travel with everything that I need to do treatments. Soon after Jesse stopped in. We were introduced and Susan piped up that I am a therapist. I explained that I work with a Japanese version of...well it's like physical therapy. Wincing in pain he asked me what I charged. I replied, "Ten days in your apartment while you are gone." Susan and I were laughing because we could both see how perfect magic is. Magic is always WIN WIN WIN WIN.

And that is where I am at right now, writing and waiting to give a treatment. Rain is on its way and... believe in magic. Be OK to let it in.

And for your musical pleasure today's title is from Me & Bobby McGee. Here's Janis' version.