Driving Home for Christmas… in the Sun!
Mari
My all time favorite holiday song? Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea. Such an upbeat, evocative melody and lyrics. Conjures up images of good cheer, joy, merriment, family, and friends – always leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy!
Over the past several months, Ty and I visited many different locations in western US (and tidbit of Canada). Some awe-inspiring, some intriguing and enchanting. Yet, there’s no place like San Diego (so far!)
We started our southbound leg from Seattle on the stunning Pacific Coastal Route (Highway 101), and made it as far as Florence, Oregon. Here are a few shots - I’m fairly sure this is Oregon coast. 
For more pics, see this album on Facebook.
Then, much as the drive is spectacular in many parts, we chose to pick up the I-5 in the interests of time. (Ty’s eager to get back to our mountain property in Twin Peaks, CA to continue with some remodeling projects.)
I thought the coastal drive would be mostly all at sea level. Huh. Little did I know sections of the 101 are quite mountainous, with narrow windy roads, and sheer craggy drops in places. Several times, I found myself white-knuckled. Hmm. (I’m High Tranquility on the Reiss Desire Profile - translates to a desire for emotional calm.)
Still, we found Mount Shasta a feast for the eyes. Such pristine snow. Like a giant confectionary creation, all covered in powdered sugar.
And, we thoroughly enjoyed the fibre optic Christmas lights of Grants Pass, OR.
"The oversized murals weigh 400 pounds each and include automatic sound systems to play the old-fashioned Christmas music emanating from them. The murals are 12 inches thick, ten feet tall, five feet wide, and wired with miles of fiber optic cable and thousands of points of lights.
They flow and blink so that snow falls and accumulates, bells ring back and forth, gifts collect under the tree, and aurora borealis shimmers in the night sky. Each mural takes 20 to 30 seconds to tell its "story". They were manufactured by Fiberoptic Lighting, Inc., of Grants Pass, and cost an average of $12,000 each!" Source
What do you love about this time of year? Do you have a favorite holiday song too?
Posted on: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 5:06 pm 
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Gee I love the word picture that you paint, and with Chris Rea singing while I was reading, it was as if I was on the road with you! I must say that it is a contrast with the Aussie Christmas as we’re well into a hot summer season here…
December 15th, 2007 at 1:15 amI love Elvis Presley’s Blue Christmas. We used to sing that one together as a family. If I hear it in the malls I still sometimes feel like crying because I can still feel my Dad.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:43 am@Allan - Glad you enjoyed the musical post!
Oooh, I’m jealous of the hot summer Aussie Christmas. Might have to get our RV on a cruise ship and come on over. LOL!
@Sandra - Ahh, great song too! Thanks for stopping by and sharing. Many blessings to you for a very special Christmas.
December 15th, 2007 at 11:16 pmHey guys…if you are coming down I-5, you’ll go right past Lodi. I’m a very new reader, but that’s where I’m staying at. If you think you might stop there, if only at the Flying J, please give me a holler. I’d love to come out and say howdy to a fellow RVing blogger and Brit.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:46 pmOh…never mind. I just found your map. Like ships that pass in the night.
We stayed at that park also…but I love the trains.
December 16th, 2007 at 8:52 pm@Linda - awesome to connect with you in the blogosphere. Love your blog too… sure sounds like we have a similar lifestyle!
We’re off to Mission Beach in San Diego for the next six weeks, then headed east across the sunbelt. I look forward to meeting in person at some point! 
December 17th, 2007 at 9:58 am