So, some good news from the fires. Unhealthy air. It means Emily gets the day off today. I don’t. But get a rise and slow morning. For her. I have to go to work and get shit done quick and leave for home. Then pack and leave for Visalia. Will be a busy morning. I have got to get this day in gear.
Managed to get moving and left her for the day. Went to work and did everyone’s payroll. Got a cal, client wanted to come pay me. In an hour. I decided to wait around for that. I have learned, when money is offered you take it. And say thank you. In between payroll and money I made a few calls and tried to finish some things. Emily called, she wanted me to pick up the trailer from storage on the way home.
Left work early, went to Total Wine for a couple bottles of champagne. Hey, it’s fake Thanksgiving!! Then to the bank to deposit the money I just got. Then off to the Dixon storage unit to get the trailer. And, good news, it’s so early in the day that there is no traffic. So I get a fast trip to the trailer.
Once I arrived, I made short work of it. Pulled the trailer out and took out the contents, not anything we need. I pushed it to the car. Which is when I realized I did not have the hitch. Fark. Usually in the back of the car. Today, still in the garage. I called Emily and let her know. I decided to head home and pack all into the MBZ and drive back and pick up the trailer.
Home in fifteen. Took an hour to load up and off to pick up the trailer. Good news, now we have a place to sleep when we get there. In the driveway. Like white trash. I like it.
Hitched up in no time. Rearranged the car by packing more into the trailer. Off to Visalia. The drive was strangely fast. Had a 29 min slowdown around Manteca but otherwise a boring drive.
We finally found, after 40 years of drubmving up and down the valley, a place to stop for dinner. You need to understand, hwy 99 is lined with fast food joints at all off ramps. We don’t eat fast food. We always look, not so diligently, for someplace that is not a national chain to eat. Today we diligently looked. We don’t want to pull off and look around cuz it really slows the trip. And it’s super inefficient. So I tried more diligently to find a place this trip. And now I know why there aren’t many. Seems none have signs on the hiway. They just sit by the side hoping you see them. I saw three. In the rear view mirror. At Chowchilla, all those things ended. I passed Farnesis steak house about 10 seconds before the exit. I made the exit. The new lace had ample parking and it was PACKED. Turns out they have been there 50 years, and look it. But the food was awesome. Service too. It’s like making a new friend. Now I know where to go on my drive to Visalia. Only took forty years to figure it out.
We pulled into Visalia at about 10. Michael and Carly were already there. I enlisted Michael to help unload and set up the trailer. We are sleeping in it as I said. We got Thanksgiving unpacked pretty fast. Setting up the trailer was slower. I think because Michael helped. Once set up I made the bed. I got an extra comforter since it’s so damn cold tonight.
I went in and we had a quick conversation and headed to the trailer. With both dogs. Oh joy. We were tired. Oh yeah, a trailer in the driveway is tough. No bathroom and it’s somewhat rude to pee in someone’s front yard. Not quite like camping. But, still a little like camping. And I did not have to pay for the motel room. Will sleep soundly.