Packing expands to fill the time you allow for it. We began packing this morning (well,I began by finding all my Alaska 2002 photos and putting them on this computer, making room for the new ones. There were last minute phone calls from people in trouble hoping I could get them out of it, or people wanting to be sure they weren't going to get into trouble, or people wanting the courts to say their trouble was over. And, of course, the '99 Volvo had broken yesterday - nothing big, just the passenger window, which is electric only of course, won't go up. So we're taking the '94 and drove the '99 to Sandera's where it will live during our vacation, getting oil changes, electric switch repair, and maybe even the dashboard squeak fixed. Sad note: Steve who ran the front desk is moving to Florida - he was really a warm and helpful person. We'll miss him, but fortunately he was there so we could say goodbye.

Then by 4:30 we pulled out of Fortuna to drive till we dropped. Well, except for the stop in Eureka at Costco to pick up a few essentials. Then, it was north and kidding.

The drive up 101 from Arcata to Crescent City is one of the most beautiful drives in the state. There are forests, sea shores, and flowers everywhere: lupin, scotch broom, and in the redwoods, azelias, not to mention roadside blooms. Some lawyers from Eureka don't like taking cases in CC, but I'm not one of them. For that drive I should cut my prices (just kidding folks - that's an expression of the intensity of the drive's impact on me, not a business thought.)

In Crescent City my sweetheart saw the Thai House (105 N St ) and it being dinner time we gave it a try. Out of 6 cars parked outside, 3 were Volvos. Inside it was a cross between a cafe and a restaurant, if you know what I mean. The wine came in 1/20th bottles but the Thai tea came in a colored plastic glass. The food was great. I had the shrimp on noodles with bok choy,a Syrah, and a Thai Tea (figured they'd average out). My sweetheart had wonton soup and vegetable rolls. We ordered a couple of pork buns to go, as breakfast. Then we had left overs anyway. So for about $40 we got dinner,breakfast, and lunch the next day- and that includes the tip.

As we neared Grant's Pass it began to sprinkle - just enough to show that the driver's windshield wiper had seen much better days. But we got to the Best Western, negotiated the internet price, and now we're snug as a bug in a rug, and going to sleep. Night all.