Then I continued on into Sacramento. Friend Clay was in town for meetings, so we'd planned to meet for dinner so that I could get the Ultimate European Vacation Report, Deluxe Edition. He and Tyler, freshly graduated from high school, had a 26-day adventure in the Old Countries in true Clay fashion. Before he left, he sent out detailed itineraries, so that, at any given moment, it would be possible to pinpoint a near-exact location and sight-seeing agenda. And, with a few minor exceptions, they kept to the program: Rome, the Dalmation Coast, Slovenia, Paris, D-Day Land, southern England.
Actually, a couple of Tyler's friends joined up with them, toward the end, and Clay went off on his own for nearly a week in England, hoofing it from village to village, through copse and hedgerows, sheep and cows, finding whatever accommodations that were available. The boys did their own thing elsewhere, for awhile. A lovely way to travel, I think. Only once, did he almost have to sleep on outside under a tree.
I heard the great stories and saw the pictures (he'd brought the laptop) as we hung out at a sidewalk table at Paesano's for nearly four hours. I had been prepared for typical summer inferno, but it's been quite temperate AND NOT SMOKY in the Valley for a few days, and it was perfect weather for sitting outside under the trees (have I mentioned that Sacto is "City of Trees"?). I took the camera, but completely spaced. No pics of Clay :o( Here's a picture of Dubrovnic I found that was similar to one he took.
So, after some deadly chocolate torte, I got Clay to the airport in the nick of time. We're not doing a backpacking trip together, this summer, so I'm glad we got to hang out for a bit, anyway.
It was a lovely drive home, sunset to stars, singing along with the Jennys...
