When I travel anywhere, trains, planes, automobile, or even a cruise, I need to take some sort of needlework with me. Over the years I have travelled for both business and leisure, and have always carried knitting with me. On my business trips to China, I had to explain to my driver that this was essential. With family in California, I have knit my way through many traffic jams on the 405, and on the Pacific Coast Highway. A good book is a comforting entity, but sometimes if there is a delay, I need to reduce my anxiety with some of the work in my hands. I found over the years that a car trip and knitting are perfect. Cross Stitch in a car is difficult, too many bumps, especially if it is a small scrim.
Last summer, we went from Tucson, Arizona to Irish Beach, California to beat the heat. My husband likes to see things along the way, so this meant we were four days in the car, till our final destination, with our dog Goldie, in tow. Our route took us up through Nevada, the first stop on the outskirts of Vegas. In the morning, we stopped at Hoover Damn, but it was too hot to go to the strip for lunch. Our destination at the end of that day was Mono Lake, just above Mammoth Lakes. A much-needed stop on the way is at Shat’s Bakery in Bishop. If you are on a road trip and see Shat’s don’t miss it. I hadn’t been since my escape from Hurricane Katrina almost twenty years ago. The bakery had gotten much larger, and my mouth was watering upon entering. My husband stayed in the car with our dog Goldie while I ran through a mobbed bakery picking some amazing confections. About an hour later, we arrived at Mono Lake and a wonderful cabin with some delicious local barbecue and a setting to watch the sunset by, while an amazing lightning storm lit up the impending night sky. In the morning, we munched on delicious bread from Shat’s and then hit the road over the mountain pass to Route 1 to find our lovely vacation home on Irish Beach.
On a road trip, only one person can drive at a time. My husband loves to drive and see things, so I am rendered a co-pilot. After the allure of being in the car wears off in less than an hour, I need something to do. Engaging in knitting or sewing is a much healthier way for me to ease my boredom and anxiety compared to smoking cigarettes. I prepare a small knitting or sewing kit before we leave, especially if we are flying.