1523 Miles from Home

We left  the Travelodge in San Louis Obispo this morning, first stopping to see the Mission that is right in town.  It is not the original mission started by Frey Junipero Serra because that one was destroyed in an earthquake, but the museum inside this new, earthquake proof mission has great artifacts and the church has beautiful original oil paintings.

The photo below I took in the museum. It shows how the altar most likely looked when it was originally built. 

 It took us 5 hours to get to Pasadena (192 miles) with the longest, most tedious stretch between Thousand Oaks and here.  My Friday fragments around today's travels:
The hills look progressively browner the further south you drive.
There are more palm trees.
There are less rock formations in the water.
The ocean looks immense but not as dramatic.
The horizon always has a layer of dust.
The drivers consistently drive 10 miles over the speed limit in southern California.
My skin is much dryer; I'm using lots of chapstick. 
Staying with friends is a welcome relief to nights in hotels and Air BnBs. I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight!