“Having traveled  
initially to get away,  
ultimately we travel  
to come home.”   
Mary-Lou Weisman

“All good things must come to an end” is a proverb that dates back to the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 1300s. The saying reminds us that nothing lasts forever — that all things and situations are temporary. It is often used to express regret when something that brings us happiness comes to an end. The expression also urges us to consciously savor the good times in life, with an awareness that such happiness may not exist the following day.

I had this sense of awareness on Saturday as Kathy and I drove from Eureka to Willits. Driving through the redwoods, I was fully aware of what we were experiencing, knowing that with each passing mile, we were moving away from the grandeur of the redwood forests toward the chaos and congestion that awaited us in San José. 

I continued to embrace that awareness yesterday on the final leg of our brief journey. After a week of brilliant sunshine, we awoke to a blanket of fog resting upon the tops of the redwoods in Willits. After breakfast, we hit the road. Again, we were treated to spectacular scenery along the way.

When we got to Cloverdale, we decided to stop for lunch. We happened upon Pick’s Roadside Restaurant, which claims to have the best burgers in Sonoma County. We were impressed. The food was superb and the service was excellent.

After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, which offers a very different kind of spectacular beauty, we stopped at Java Beach Café for a visit with friends and a scoop of ice cream. After enjoying about an hour of conversation, we began the final leg of our journey — one which took us over 700 miles from start (last Saturday) to finish.

So yes, after traveling to get away, we are grateful to be home. As much as I enjoy being on the road, there’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep in one’s own bed.