Abandon all hope of a different past, said a sage I used to work with.

Priorities are more important than seeing things.

Murder mountain, the area up around Garberville. We've done a ton of riding up in that area. Northern California has some of the best riding anywhere. In fact, ill be riding that area in June for a 5 or 6 days. There's some sketch areas, but we've never had any issues. Definitely some of the off the beaten path areas I wouldn't ride alone. But there is usually at least 5 of us and we never travel alone, if ya know what I mean.

Zeke, so what would you like to see that you haven't. Sounds like to me, the things you have seen have just been a big disappointment anyway. Why go to Death Valley? it's just a bunch of sand. Why leave the house, it's horrible out here.... You really are the epitimy of Stay off my lawn....bah humbug

Well, that's our state for ya. Everyone wants a piece of it or at least want it for the weekend. I dislike the tourist towns just like many of us here but way it goes. We would drive up to Mammoth, ski for the weekend, share a condo with 6-7 people sleeping on the floor and ate at the local pizza that sold by the slice. The ski bums are no longer, its the new flashy designer clothing, 50.00 / person restaurants now. Last time we were there was about 6 years ago during the summer. Mass amount of people on their mountain bikes and new SUVs. We peddled Lake Mary, enjoy what we can and let others do their thing. Sure we ate at a couple of those nice places and I was glad we did instead dinner at the Pizza by the slice for three days. Just like any mountain resorts on this side of the Rockies, they are well, resorts. If they all look and feel like the typical mountain town of the pass, it would be somewhat boring. They still exist like you said, up river on the Kern but there's nothing up there but a bunch of pine trees and shrubs.

You been to Julian (same with Idyllwild, Big Bear and the list goes on) lately? First time I was there was my first year of college. We went up there for some camping with some friends that went off to UCSD. Talk about a mountain town. Now, there's no parking anywhere on any given weekend. Maybe due to the apple pie sales? All are crowded so go during the week. Nothing opens during the week due to lack of people.

Funny, I'm meeting a buddy in Fallbrook tomorrow and we are riding to Julian for lunch. It's been probably 10 years since I've been there. I'm thinking middle of the week won't be bad.

Sorry, man. I do look forward out of the windshield more than the rear view mirror. But it is undeniable that I grew up and lived through my 30's, 40's and even 50's in a much better place and world.

While a crew member on a race team, we crossed the U.S in 1969 and saw quite a bit of the country. We parked the truck in Williams and took the train to the Grand Canyon mid week. I'll bet there weren't 100 people in sight anywhere. This was typical of the day.

Try that today. Back in my camping days reservations didn't exist. Now you book a campsite months in advance.

That's not very adventurous to me.

No one's there during the week.

We have gone up there in summer months during the week when my boys were young and we escape to Julian from camping for some much needed ice-cream. We return happy campers.

I sometimes question if those times were better back then. I was born in the later 60s, so have no real knowledge of the years previous to that. I bearly remember the 70s but remember it to be a simply time. As kids, nothing is complicated.

I agree, no tour buses in Yosemite, buy tickets at the pier, see Alcatraz the same day. Wait a bit, get on the ferry after breakfast and go see Statue of Liberty and the best was no real traffic in west LA. East of the 605, set cruise control and get moving. This is during the week at 6:30pm with light traffic. I accept that all ended 20 years ago. It will never be the same again, ever. With that said, that brought lots of wonderful things. New business, foods from every corners of the world. Its a trade off. IF you ask me, I rather have the old days of the early 90s but I will really miss all the foods from around the world which we have today instead of the typical dinners and burger joints.

Milt, I had to reread your first post but just out of curiosity, why wouldn't you visit Observatory, Huntington Library or Death Valley. Go during the week, there shouldn't be too many people there. I rode my bike up straight up the Observatory this afternoon at 4pm, suffered like hell, but there were few tourist there and there's even empty spaces in their lot. Of course, I rode by and kept going. What's wrong with restaurants in Long Beach or places near by? If they aren't good, don't go back?

Jeff, I don't have the answer. I can't really leave my wife much and no one seems to be available to take her for a bit. Her kids, 50 and 55 are too busy to accommodate their mom. A few years ago we went to Mt Wilson and she was dicking with her phone for the most part, even when we stopped at a look out point.

A little later in terms of months I needed to make a trip down south. We got as far as Huntington Beach and she was car sick. Had to come home. She might be better now but I don't take the risk.

Now all of that sounds like I'm blaming her (or the nasty meds she takes) but I'm really not. I could find a way if I had to. However, going to Griffith alone is not so appealing. Completely out of nowhere last year the daughter got tickets to the Greystone and the 3 of us went. I drove. I had a wonderful time. I'm sure I saw 10 times as much detail and interesting things there. I don't take pics when I visit places, I just soak everything in. I don't need pics to remind me of what I saw and did.

But guess who was asked to take pics of mom and daughter? I think that's fine. The daughter someday might look at the pics when her mom is gone. It took my wife a few days to recover from that outing.

So those are the circumstances. She's tough to travel with, even locally, and I'm not keen about setting out alone. I used to be always on the run to see everything. Maybe I burned out. Traffic and crowds seem to be the biggest problem anymore.

And costs. These days we live on a fixed income which is not enough so retirement savings are being drawn down monthly. I can still work but not 8 hours on a construction job. Can't be gone all day anyway. My work as a restorer has come to a halt just like construction did on '09 and '10. Those days I spent my mornings in a donut shop with a group of regulars. They are all gone, mostly died. That's over.

So if I want a tank of gas, I either have to earn it or draw from savings. When it costs the better part of a hundred dollar bill to fill up, I just stay parked until I have to get groceries.

However, in spite of what I just said, I still maintain that after 60 years of traveling around the state when it came up, that I've seen quite and bit even though I've missed a few iconic landmarks. Maybe that is because I don't gravitate to the most popular spots favoring more interesting lesser known places. If you find my thread "Back in Black" where I brought my '88 Carrera down from San Jose, I stopped at some great places and had an absolute ball. Everything was extemporaneous. Not a plan whatsoever other than to keep moving south.

That kind of thing I can do alone. But the circumstances mentioned above prevent me from doing so. But I will state here and now, that if I were to reprise that trip from SJ to home, I would not take the same route. Once seen, I've BTDT and need a new route. If I marked every road in CA that I've traveled in red, you'd see a lot of red. I've done a lap in AZ too and I think I saw what they have to offer. No need to go back and retrace those steps. Sedona is Sedona. If I need more Sedona I'll look it up on Google. Didn't really do that much for me when I was there.

Enough. I'm done here so yeah, get off my lawn. I haven't been stuck in some little place all my life and not seen a lot of this country. I hate Long Beach but I can't live in Santa Barbara. And I wouldn't live in 99% of the places I've been out of state.

And then there are my wife's kids. Ball and chain. I'm devoted so I do what I need to do.

I say this knowing how sideways the written word can be interpreted, but I humbly suggest you get your Testosterone level and/or thyroid levels checked and consider bumping them up if they're on the low side. As my peer group has approached 60, two of my close friends were exhibiting roughly similar sentiments as yours and they had T-level and thyroid-level issues respectively. Not saying their entire situation was identical to yours (no ill wife, particularly) but their overall outlook jumped by 10x once they got themselves sorted "hormonally". Nothing else changed but they sound like their own selves and find enjoyment again in the simple things.

And not that it needs to be said, but kudos for you hanging in there "for sickness and health". There's probably nothing worse than someone who taps out on a loved one that needs them.

Just saw the doc and blood panel was good in his opinion. Now I don't know all that he checks. Having been through prostate cancer, that ship has sailed. Wife is good with that as well.

You think I need a boost at 78? I ride a bike a few days a week. I'm not touring guy, just a ride around the neighborhood or there are 2 of my dealers a mile away and I ride over there when I can. I walk some of the other days but this last year my hips has started to complain at a mile. Tried different shoes. Don't need to wear those hips out. No more surgeries after the 3 shoulder surgeries on one shoulder (replacement, infection, removal, replacement).

For the record, I'm 6' 165 lbs. 33 waist.

Long day, But the riding there and the company was great. Had a great lunch, then walked to Moms for some great pie. The Bumbleberry with the flaky crust was delicious.....

Well everyone won't agree that it's a better place, but I can understand why YOU might feel that way.

I agree that dealing with the crowds can be a real PITA and a turn off sometimes.

That was really my original question as well, only because you brought it up.

There shouldn't be that many people THERE but getting there is another story. On the way back from the day trip to the Greystone it took us 1hr 45 min to go 33 miles. Going south from LB is a bit easier.

Milt, I think that sums it up. It's funny I tend to not take pictures either. I'm trying to change that. It brings me alot of joy though, sometimes a little sadness when i look back on them.

I imagine you have a lot of interesting stories of your travels around the country. Like GSXRKEN said. Not that you need it or care, but much respect to your dedication to your family. That is what a real Man does.