Life in SLO

This trip has been one treat after the next, here’s a few more from yesterday and today.

Ernie Ball
Nancy’s husband, Jim, has been working for Ernie Ball for about 30 years. He took some time yesterday afternoon to give me a personal tour of the Ernie Ball guitar factory. Anything that is backstage or behind scenes I love to see, and anything about how things work or how they’re put together. It’s cool to see how a guitar goes from wood to the final product and just about all handmade. And these are some beautiful guitars, most of which are custom built. If only I knew how to play.

Cycling Class
I’ve been staying with Nancy’s boss, Larry, the last couple nights. Well, his wife Lisa teaches a cycling class at the gym a few days a week. Part of this trip is being a good sport and saying yes to just about everything. So I got my butt up early this morning and headed to the gym. Now let me just say that I love working out, but being on the road doesn’t do much for me. Lots of eating, lots of sitting, I’ve been gaining some weight. It was a one hour cycling class and wow! Did I ever get a work out. I haven’t worked out that much in a long, long time. It was very good for me. But tonight, Lisa made me a batch of oatmeal butterscotch cookies (one of my favorites) for the road. I must have earned them this morning at the gym, and this is coming from a former body builder.

2002 Porsche 911 Turbo
A portable roller coaster. All you need is a curvy road (in California, and a sunny day is optional, but recommended) and one of these cars. Now I know what a flat rollercoaster feels like. Before this trip started I said I wanted to get a fun ride in a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. Well, a 2002 Porsche 911 Turbo is just as good. This is Larry’s car. Larry is a former body builder, contractor, stock and real estate investor, restaurant owner, amazing barbecuer, and maybe you could say racecar driver. Well, a professional racecar driver can make this car do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. I took a few looks over at the speedometer, but I won’t confess to any of the numbers from the afternoon. But let’s just say that car has a rocket in the back. Just listening to the rumble gets your adrenaline pumping. Thank goodness I don’t get car sick, but my stomach was being thrown all over the place while my body was pushed into the back of the seat. Talk about a ride of your life. I wish I had that coming down Highway 1.

Drive-in Movie
Going to a drive-in movie theatre is something I’ve wanted to do for ages! Tonight it’s another wish come true. The lack of drive-in theatres around the country is sad. It’s as good as I expected it to be. I really wish it were a live and happening trend. I think that era when my parents were growing up and got to go to these was a special time in American culture. I’m absolutely thrilled that I got to bring the invasion-mobile to the drive-in theatre. We watched “Deck the Halls” which is appropriate for all the Jeeps in the movie. I have to say that the Compass stereo system rocked out while watching the movie. Impressive sound with the Compass, sounded just like we were in a regular theatre.

This trip continues to prove to be a huge collection of unforgettable moments. It’s all these series of small things that really pull this trip together. That’s what the trip is. All these 50 states that make a country. All these small interests that make my passion for this trip. All these small donations and contributions built into a collective effort. I continue to view this trip as a collective experience, between everywhere, everyone, and everything.