Beginning of December we thought of going on a family road trip for a week at least on Christmas shutdown, as my daughter also got 2 week school winter break. On family demand we decided to go some where. my first option was Grand Canyon and i was bit skeptic about weather conditions in grand canyon, from my past experience i had very heavy snow experience inside grand canyon and on the way to grand canyon. So, kept an eye on grand canyon weather forecast for Christmas period 5 before and after. two weeks before the Christmas there was snow showers (1+ inch at least) near grand canyon region on Christmas Eve night to till Christmas some time.
I thought of driving on CA-1 from San Diego to Bay Area stopping and doing lite day activities on the way reach bay area in 5 days. must stop is Slovan, Ca for Christmas Eve and Christmas celebration is must in list. Decided 2 days before the trip thought of deciding it.
last week of the year in office was pretty much a sort of hell for me, i pretty much did not sleep for 2 days, work. work, work...some how i finished my commitments by Friday noon. the rest of the day was some follows and making notes to remember myself after i come in first week of Jan.
Friday night i was exhausted and slept too early, got up next morning before sun rise and decided we leave as soon as we pack and dump everything in trunk and be on road. i checked weather conditions in grand canyon and decided we go to Grand Canyon, as my daughter did not visited any national park outside California. we started packing for the trip and almost till 1PM we still packing, packing. finally we gave up and decided lets dump and lock the house.
by the time we left house it was 2 PM and lost another an hour and half for picking some desi snack, quick lunch and pick dinner from the same place. Finally we were on I-15 by 3:40PM we hardly has an hour light left. i don't prefer to drive in nights, so i decided where ever we will be by the time of sunset, look for near by accommodation and call the day off.
We started driving on I-15, then to 1-8, as soon pine valley is crossed, my daughter started asking "Are we there" and "when we will be in hotel". I-8 drive till was fun after mount laguna pass, it was down hill till it was dropped to sea level. It was sun set by the time we reached Mt laguna pass and decided to stop at next coming place and it was El Centro, CA. I Am happy we left home and covered 2 hours at least. Just after sun set on west, we started seeing Full orange moon on towards east. we were debating what is it, is it a MOON or some Advertisement board, crazy, but finally concluded it is a moon, as it full becomes dark moon is turned to while. it was beautiful drive watching color fun moon, driving in not hot or not cold breeze. surprising my daughter and my self were walking in El centro without jacket still we feel warm air outside. we liked the place instant. we never experienced this type of nice weather in any of our winter trips. we always struck in snow and few ski trips became adventurous, waiting for avalanche to clear always in shivering weather conditions.
El Centro shopping, it was like a holiday shopping we bought tons of dresses, pretty much for our daughter from Burlington. we were there in Burlington for more than 2 hours thanksgiving and Christmas combined shopping is done here. we liked the place and it is bit different vibe in shops.
Year end Christmas break, 10 days shutdown.
