Absolutely thrilled I made this stop!
The drive from Blythe to Alpine, CA was another quick and easy stretch, and I rolled into town around 10:30 AM. First order of business—laundry! I had one last item to wash after my previous load. Honestly, I didn’t forget—most of my clothes up to this point were meant to be tossed. I left Idaho traveling light, with just my trusty duffle (which will be my companion for the entire trip), my daypack, and a larger pack that I planned to leave behind in Alpine.
With laundry handled, it was time to fuel up. Oof—California gas prices hit hard at over $5 per gallon! And coming from Idaho, I was in for a rude awakening when it came to finding a restroom. Turns out, they’re not at every gas station, and even fast food places keep them locked up. What a hassle! But, silver lining—I found a meeting with both a restroom andcoffee. Win-win!
By 1:30, I arrived at my best friend’s house, where it was a glorious 70+ degrees—my kind of weather! It was amazing to catch up after more than a decade apart, even though we talk several times a year. We’ve known each other since first grade—how cool is that?
The next day was a bit of a washout with rain and cooler temps, but it was still a great, lazy day. And the highlight? Some incredible homemade tacos for dinner. Huge thanks to Mark and Debbie for everything—including the perfect parking spot!
Then, bright and early the next morning, it was off to the San Diego airport for my flight to Maui. Time to say goodbye to CONUS—next stop, Maui! 🌴✈️