04-Sep-2006 -- Having suceeded at N34 W116 we were on a roll. Our journey from Joshua Tree National Park to San Francisco involved driving by Madera on highway 99, and as any fool will know N37 W120 is nearby. Turning on to road 400 and heeding the 10 m.p.h limit at the right curve we arrived shortly after at the turn off towards the CP. It looked private and weary of giving anyone a reason to shoot me (ok I've seen too many Hollywood films) I went to ask for permission. Before I had finished my request the owner saw the GPS device in my hand and knowing what I wanted said it was ok to drive to the CP. So we drove the few metres to the CP which practically lies on the dirt track. We took the usual photos and headed back. This was my first visit to N37 W120.

Driving back towards highway 99 I noticed the intense sunlight and realised I didn't have my sunglasses clipped on to my spectacles. I had taken the clip-on off my specs to take the photos and put them on the bonnet (or more correctly hood as we are in the US) of the car. We had driven off without noticing them. So we visited the CP for a second time. There was no sign of the clip-on at the CP (didn't understand this) so also checked the dirt road all the way to the tarmac road. Still nothing. Having given up we turned onto the tarred road and saw the clip-on lying in the road. It was rescued still intact and it looked as if only one car had driven over it. It was probably us!

So it was off to San Francisco to spend a final 2 days there before our flight back to Europe. One incomplete and 2 complete CP visits were not a bad tally for our trip.