September 5, Day 12 - Vacaville & Los Angeles

Our last morning at the campsite starts early. So early that not even Basti plays his wake-up call.

Breakfast is served at 7 a.m., and then all the stuff, the tents, air mattresses, and kitchen utensils are packed up and loaded. When everything is done, we say goodbye to Pete and Shelly and can - oh wonder - actually leave at 9:45 a.m.

On the final stretch, the paths of the two yellow school buses separate because Franz's bus, including the trailer, is exchanged for a rental vehicle for logistical reasons. Meanwhile, the big school bus drives to the outlet center in Vacaville. However, we are stuck in traffic a lot because it's a holiday and there are even more Americans on the roads. In the heat - it's over 40°C again - we almost melt in the non-air-conditioned bus. Only the scorching warm breeze and enough cold drinks make it bearable.

In Vacaville, we then have about an hour to shop and get something to eat. Then we continue towards Los Angeles in scorching hot 45°C.
For most of the journey, you can hardly hear anything on the bus. Everyone is dozing off, the heat drains all our energy, and apart from bathroom breaks, there is little activity.

In the evening, the air finally cools down. Instead of air that feels like it's burning on our skin, a gentle breeze comes in through the open windows. Still not cool, but really pleasant.

Everyone gets dinner individually at a highway rest stop, and then we continue. We still have a 3-hour drive ahead to Los Angeles, and it's now clear that we won't have a refreshing dip in the hotel pool tonight because it closes at 10 p.m.

Instead, everyone jumps in the shower at the hotel before we spend the very last evening together in L.A.