*April 3rd*
Salinas, Ca. Waiting to get loaded so we can head to Texas. Austin Tx. Is the indy rock festival going on now? I'd like to avoid that crap. Hopefully from Austin we go never further east. Once I sit another 44 hours in the drivers seat, I'm going home. Whether I'm in Tennessee or Timbuktu.
Yesterday was different. Had a rare day off in Oakland. I took that opportunity to knock the dust off of my Uber button and check out the area. First, I went to Amoeba Records in Berkley. It's alright. I breezed through it pretty quick. For about an hour I stood around in the capital of Cool Town USA and contemplated whether or not to shoot on over to San Fran. I realized that if I didn't, my only real option was to go sit in the cab with El Hadj as he laughed at YouTube videos for another 9 hours. Nah. So...I had an Uber pick me up. (Btw...I frigging love Uber). As I get picked up, we run around town and pick up other Uber passengers also going to SF. We cross the bridge over the bay. I just assume it's the Golden Gate. As we drive into the city...it strikes me as probably one of the few places I'd like to explore out here. There's an East coast feel to it. It's not as flashy as LA. As we get deep into the city, I enjoyed the hilly downtown that reminds me of the movie 48 Hours. The destination I pick is the main flagship Amoeba location. It's located 2 blocks from the world famous Haight Asbury intersection. As we hit the historic neighborhood, I am sure the spirit of the folks who gave the area it's notoriety is dead and gone. Oh no...for sure there's plenty of tye dye bullshit and all manners of trinkets to buy. But it's just another tourist trap. Not mad that I went. But I was just another rube. Atleast I didn't join in with the dozen other rubes clicking pics of the intersection's street signage.
So I go into the main Amoeba. It's damn huge. But..it's just another record store. Really only a few things I saw I wanted. I picked up an elusive Taj Mahal record. And I bought an early Dead Moon record that was actually pressed by the band themselves in their home. Being that theyre from not too far away..its no surprise their records made their way to SF. I saw some other high priced shit. But responsibility took over and dictated otherwise. The interesting part of my visit came when a guy got really loud and confrontational with me when I tapped him on the shoulder to get by. He couldn't hear me when I asked because of his headphones. Well be flipped his lid when I touched his shoulder. He was about 60 and 5' nothing. I wasn't afraid....but embarassed. Everyone was looking. And he seemed to want to get more confrontational as I was trying to distance myself from him. When he got the feeling I knew better than to beat the horse piss out of an old man..he decided to really act like he wanted to do something. Luckily by that point the store itself took action and ejected him. Funny how people grow a real set of balls when they feel they're free from an ass beating. Anyway..I get my shit paid for and get gone. I hit a few more places looking for a gift for the wife. Nothing she'd want there. A shot glass from the next truck stop might have to do baby. (Kidding...I'm a slightly better husband than that). I go have coffee and recharge my phone for an hour as I call a buddy to see how he's doing. Then an Uber I requested shows up to cart me back to Oakland. Before leaving San Francisco....a fight breaks out on the street close to the bridge. What the hell?! I thought this town was all peace an love an shit. Go figure. Anyway, I get back and El Hadj is doing exactly what I predicted..YouTube. It's really his only past time that I know of. He's in a pretty good mood. Being free of me must of done wonders..haha.
Really though, it was good for me too. It was nice to be away from a truck for a whole day. Really nice. I hope I get more days like this over the next 5 months.
*April 4th*
Los Angeles County, CA. It seems when I come to the West Coast, I end up being here for several days. No good. When I'm solo, that will translate into less money. I need these wheels rolling. Actually, I need them rolling now even though I'm on trainee salary. Trying to get home. I'm in the homestretch and can just taste the Bojangles and vinegar based BBQ. The plan is to try and get me a route home or close to home by the time my hours are completed. So I'm hoping that when we hit our destination in Austin, they tell us our next delivery goes to NC..or an adjacent state to it. My employer's stance is that they are not in the travel industry..but the transport industry. I get that. It doesn't help me out, but hey, it's their business and that's the choice they made. I knew their policy. My only move now is what to do after Austin. If they dispatch us East, then I'll stick around until we get close to NC. If for some reason they send us back out West or North...then I'm on a plane soon after getting my hours. Not even joking or bluffing. I'm not quitting. But I'm also not sitting around for no reason when I can be back in NC with my wife at our home.
*April 5th*
I-10 East....an hour from Las Cruces, NM. Heading to Austin. It's a shame, Las Cruces is the location of a favorite Southwestern Mexican joint for Dusti and I. We discovered it on our honeymoon. Won't be stopping in...but I'd like to. Half an hour past that is the Whoopie Bowl in El Paso. The Bowl is an indoor/outdoor junk and antique stop. One of the biggest I've ever seen. And one of the coolest. The front entrance is topped with an old WW2 twin engine bomber whose propellers still turn with the help of the constant Texas twisters. The place is dry, dusty, and everything rattles and creaks. It's stereotypical Texas. I bought my much coveted bootleg aluminum Rat Fink statue there. I promised my brother Peter and great friend Jeff that I'd pick them up one when I go there. Sorry fellas, it'll have to wait until I'm traveling stag.
I drove 6 hours yesterday and was assured I'd get 10 hours today. That should put me up around 24 driving hours left. As I get closer, I'll be better able to plan my exit from this truck.
And none too soon.
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