It’s roughly 400 miles from Marin County to Pasadena, a trip I take nearly every month because my daughter and two of my grandsons live there. To pass the time on the boring, straight, Interstate 5, I watch YouTube videos. Yes, it’s safe. The iPhone is propped up at eye level and I watch things that require more listening than looking. I’m addicted to the videos about Tiny Houses. I don’t know why except that I’ve always been interested in architecture, fitting things into small spaces, and living minimally.

Not only did I want to see my family before departing on a six-week road trip across the country, but I wanted to deliver to them their dog, Basil (pronounced like the name Basil Rathbone). He had been with me for a couple of months while his family was on vacation.

Basil was happy to be home, and I had a great time being Nanna. The LA Zoo is a lot of fun to see through the eyes of a four-year-old.

Tomorrow I drive through the tough part, miles and miles of lonely desert. I take the same road east toward Zion National Park that I took a few months ago heading west from Death Valley National Park. The desert has its own beauty, but driving through it can be hot and tedious. YouTube may not be an option if my cell service doesn’t work.

BTW. Before I left home, I upgraded my AAA membership to ‘premium,’ just in case Ramsey breaks down far from a service station.