I left clean air Marin to head to Los Angeles on I-5, and was reminded that I never know what gems and toxic hotspots I may find while chasing clean air.
Like great people, dirty water, and reminders about the importance of respecting each other by not dumping garbage on unsuspecting others.
Chasing clean air, finding dirty water is my new category to organize the countless areas where I found clean air but dirty water.
I stopped on I-5 enroute to Los Angeles at this Mobil, and found billboards about the area's dirty water along a good portion of the road.
I was in King and Kern Counties around the almond groves with low-flying planes doing pesticide rounds reminding me to buy organic.
When I paid my bill, the attendant told me that no one he knows drinks the water.
My 386-mile door-to-door drive went smoothly under blue skies, which I timed to avoid the next storm.
I passed mostly cars with Washington and Oregon State license plates and listened to Zig Ziglar, remember him?, tapes I found when cleaning out my old stuff. He was talking about goal setting. List all your goals, after two days revisit list, pick top two goals and work at them every day. Set a timeline. List the obstacles to overcome. The people to involve. Only tell those who will naturally want to support you with your goals or risk discouragement.
I pretty much relaxed until I reached Los Angeles.
Within 1/4 mile of my place, I felt the nervous city energy, saw the congestion, dodged angry drivers, and quickly pulled my car up the driveway, put my bags inside, and headed to more spacious Santa Monica.
As the sun descended in Santa Monica, the sky turned rich in pinks, blues and gray. I parked the car and walked, and walked, with palm trees and the ocean to my left which stood still like an impressionist painting. I stepped into the pedestrian walkway when I had the green light and a slick-looking man driving a porsche turned the corner almost hitting me. When I gave him a look of fear he shouted, "Bitch!" Welcome to L.A.
