Having spent 37 years (Ruthi) and 26 years (Boots) in Alaska the biggest state in the union, we are both surprised at the size of California. With the kids here, we have spent more time here than any other state. It is amazingly large and could easily be divided into 3 distinct states – Northern, Central, and Southern. There seems to be different terrain, economies, and personalities for each section. And, the big surprise is that it is hundreds of miles between our preferred locations. While in Alaska the driving is basically the triangle between the 3 Central cities – Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Valdez. You have to fly into Bethel, Dillingham, Nome, Kotzebue, Juneau, Ketchikan, Cordova, etc. etc. etc.
Driving from San Diego area through central CA and then up the Sierra mountains to Quincy took us through Indio (desert), Acton, Oceano (Pacific beaches), Delta Shores (CA development history), Reno and then Quincy. Granted it wasn’t a straight line. We always tend to roam to see the various parts of this very diverse state. Anyway, back to the miles to get from Santee to Quincy – around 1,200.
