Meandering Southern California

I’ve spoken of the green velvet walkway

outside my back door, and as Californians often measure distance in time rather than miles,

know... 

Within forty minutes from Los Angeles City and the green velvet walkway.

 Know... 

All stated within the period

of the winters of Southern California.

All stated from November through March.

 All stated within times of decent travel time,

now I speak of what goes beyond my back door, beyond the green velvet walkway.

To the east, less than...

 Less than an hour and a half

from the green velvet walkway;

freeways to the east then a four lane road

upward, upward to small towns crossed with ski runs within snowcapped mountains.

 And further east yet

across barren desert,                              crossing the border into Nevada,

from the green velvet walkway

it’s but hours to Las Vegas.

However...

When tired of skis or toboggans   

or sledding with children,

after the cup of hot chocolate,

“Daddy,” or “Honey,”

your red-cheeked child or wife

or sweetheart may say,

“Let’s see the beach!”

So down the mountain onto the roadway

onto freeways from below freezing to the rising heat of a California winter within...

 Less than two hours from snow capped mountains rising above the knoll there,

for as far as the eye can see there,

white capped blue ocean is there.

There!

 The mighty Pacific shoreline ambling north and south for as far as the eye can see

with mile upon mile of ocean tossed sandy beach and now, though in the midst of winter,

now,

if prepared,

in the midst of winter warm enough,

the choice to swim is there.

From my back door beyond

the green velvet walkway,

to the south...

To the south three hours time onto one freeway then another then one more

now into the beauty of the city,

the city of San Diego,

Then!

 Then a half hour longer crosses the border

into Mexico.

From my back door beyond

the green velvet walkway

to the north...

North!

To the north into the mountains along the jagged Pacific coast the twisting roadway meanders through beautiful cites.

Through Santa Barbara then ambling hours further past Monterey past beautiful ocean front cities and in six hours time...

Six hours!

Six hours from the green velvet walkway

brings you to the city by the bay:

San Francisco.

From my back door beyond

the green velvet walkway

to the north, to the south,

to the east or west

no place else to live.

For me!

 For me

no place else to be

beyond the green velvet walkway.