Pleasantly surprised with the drive on hwy 99 through the central valley how much better the road is then many years ago. Rows of almond trees and lots of green things growing in this lush agricultural beauty of California.

The next day while my friends visited their family in Modesto, I drove many and various freeways to get to Woodside for my first BATW meeting. Held in Filoli Gardens, I met lots of great travel writers encouraging one another to keep writing and publishing. Filoli Gardens is something to experience with hundreds and thousands of blooming flowers which is just incredible to see. One million daffodils and thousands of tulips! Who could be depressed walking through the gardens?  It’s something to write home about…