Yesterday, we took a drive up the California coastline. Well, at least part of it anyway. We took highway 12 out to Bodega Bay where my favorite Hitchcock movie, "The Birds" was filmed. People said it was a spectacular view when you came into the area. NOT! It was pretty, yes, but I think coming North on US-41 in Sarasota as you round the curve towards Sarasota Bay there is 100 times prettier! The seals should be migrating north right now, but we didn't see any. Maybe another time. I did see a gorgeous church in Sebastopol, which isn't very far from here on the way out there, that I'd like to go back and shoot. I didn't take my camera with me on this drive. I surely will in the future.
We continued North on Highway 1 along the coast. It was very pretty. You could see the waves of the Pacific hitting the boulders and spraying their water 50-75 feet into the air. I'd like to set the video camera for about an hour to make a DVD that you could play for going to sleep, if you're one of those people that love listening to the ocean washes and find it as soothing as we do. However, it got to be kind of monotonous driving after awhile. We decided to cut back over to highway 101 when we reached the little town of Point Arena. I saw a little road in the atlas that went towards Boonville. When we saw the sign to Boonville, we whipped over and took the road. WOW! What a wild, exciting ride that was. Twenty-seven miles of windy, up, down, narrow, shoulder less road. In a car, it can be exciting. In the Motor Coach, I would surely have been in tears again and probably reached the point of "just let me out, I'm not going anywhere on this road." Nevertheless, as I said, in the car, it was exciting. I love those kinds of roads, and so does Jim. I think we both might have just a little daredevil in our blood. Jim more than me, much more than me! After the ride here in the Coach, I realized I wasn't nearly as daring as I always thought. There is a road in the Chattanooga, TN area that goes up to Signal Mountain called the "W" road. It has V shaped turns, but it's a full two lanes wide, with shoulders and guardrails. (For the most part) The road we were on yesterday makes the W road look like an Interstate. There were V turns, U turns, S turns, other shaped turns, and most of them in triplicate. Jim just loves running the car through those kinds of roads. I only had to fuss at him once or twice to slow down. 25 MPH feels like about 75 but it was fun (in the car). Oh, if you're wondering, the GPS said we were on Mountain View Road. We came to 8%, 12% and even 16% grades! Along with all the tight curves and the narrowness of the road, it would have been a dream for a road course driver.
On the way back we stopped to get groceries. Talk about Sticker Shock!! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Though, after going out the other day for just a few things, I should have expected it. Jim loves those boxed meals made by Betty Crocker. His two favorites are the beef Stroganoff and the Chicken Alfredo. I've always paid $2.98 for those - cheap meal - and it's pretty good for a quickie, but here, it was $6.25! Eggs were $2.99 a dozen, the bucket of Kitty litter that I pay $8.00 for was $11.99. Cottage cheese is the same price here for the small container as we're used to paying for the big container. Jim's Crystal Light drink mix was $5.29 for a 3 pack as compared to $3.29 for a 5 pack. I like Lloyd's pork BBQ and it was $6.99 for the container that should be $4.48. Frozen French Fries were only $1.00 more than we're used to paying. It wasn't a week that I needed a WHOLE lot at the store, and the only meat I bought was turkey which is 40¢ more per pound. I don't know how people out here can afford to feed an entire family. I did find a Super Wal-Mart 55 miles away. If they stay consistent with all their other stores nationwide, (I'm hoping) then the drive there to buy groceries would be well worth the extra gas. We're going to try that next week.
Now, to the Fairgrounds RV Park where we are being required to stay. (A first for us) Gee, I really dislike being told I have to stay somewhere that I don't want to stay. The company is not very cooperative on this job when it comes to lodging. Only 10 miles from here is a park with all the amenities that would have been a lot more suitable at the same or less cost, probably less since they advertise group rates. They offer activities, a clubhouse, bus trips and more. It would have been a more acceptable park for all of us to be there. As it stands now, I feel like I'm in a women's prison camp during the day. All the techs have to take their cars in the morning. They are each dispatched to different areas, so there's no car pooling, thus leaving the women stuck at home with no transportation. I'm used to that, however, I'm not used to being told not to go outside the park fence because I am in a dangerous neighborhood.
It makes me very unhappy to know that this company just doesn't seem to care about their people. I guess that's just Corporate America. Who cares about the employee? Get the job done - it doesn't matter how the employee feels, or where we put them in their coaches. A morale breaker? You betcha! Keeping the techs and their families happy would make for probably double the production level, would get the job done faster, more efficiently, and quell considerably the moaning and groaning. Do they think about that? NOPE! They obviously don't give a hoot about these poor guys. I see these techs come home in the evening so exhausted that they have no time for their wives, or any relaxation. I see lights going out as early as 8-9PM. They're dead on their feet. They spend 10-12 hours a day walking, walking, and walking. They're tired, cranky, don't want to even think anymore, their feet hurt, their backs ache, their arms and shoulders are in spasms, and yet many of them say nothing and try to do whatever their wives want with no complaints. Do you think this company cares? NOT A CHANCE! I have so had it with the lack of compassion and caring shown by this company.... and I hope that Jim finds a different job very, very soon!
That is quite enough of my ranting and raving. I believe I'll just stop for now and go have a wonderful day!! In the meantime, until the next posting, take some time to shop with us so that we can buy those expensive California groceries!
1 comments:
You need to update your blog. I keep checking it for some new and exciting travel stories. I know you have got to have something adventurous to write about!! :)
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