AUG. 1, Carson City, Nevada, to Sonora Junction, California, 66 miles via U.S. Route 395. Average speed today, 12.1 mph. Total trip mileage to date, 3,699. Average daily mileage since June 1, 59.7.

Today we returned to California and to our family for the first time since flying east to Philadelphia on May 29 to begin this trip.  We crossed into the Golden State at Topaz Lake, where U.S. 395 turned from a busy semi-freeway linking Carson City with Minden, Gardnerville and points beyond to a winding, two-lane road running through the Walker River canyon. The slow climb was beautiful, but the scenery was not the highlight of our 62^nd day of the road.

Instead it was my wife , Suzy’s, arrival in Bridgeport for a night with her wayward husband and older son. She pulled into the Bridgeport Inn at about 5 p.m. It was wonderful to see her and catch up with all that had happened with our family since we had left.

Two more of Ben’s friends, Megan and Julie also drove up from Sonora and all seven kids slept – or tried to sleep – in a single motel room.

But no account of today’s ride would be complete without mention of The Wrong Turn. Ben and I had no idea there had been a wrong turn until our ride to Sonora Junction was over, but we knew something was amiss.

After all, noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. all passed and, increasingly hungry, we saw nothing of Adam, Stephen, Garin and Dana, who had promised top deliver water and lunch. At first we cursed them ads malingerers, reckoning they had slept late after staying up too late the night before. But as the afternoon wore on, we began to worry. Had on e of them become sick?  Had they gotten into a wreck? Or worse?

We had no way of knowing, since the whole area was cell-free zone. But when we pulled up to Sonora Junction (the intersection of U.S. 395 and California 108) we noticed a pay phone by the side of the road. Just as we were dialing up their number, they pulled up looking sheepish and shamed.

Turned out they had, for reasons unclear, gone west on California 88 and, a good hour later, found themselves in Kirkwood. Only then did they realize they were miles off our route.

But, as Ben’s friends delivered us foot-long Subway sandwiches, all was forgiven. After wolfing them down, we rode to Bridgeport and our coming reunion.

Tomorrow we will return to Sonora Junction for our assault on Sonora Pass.