Stage One Recap

Hooray for WiFi in the hotel lobby. Though I do feel akward overhearing some very private conversations of the desk clerks. So I will make this brief!

Today went great, better than could be expected. Up early (well, I didn't sleep much at all) for last minute packing, dog walking, and snack gathering. Off to breakfast at the Budget Cafe (a SLO tradition) and dropped the dog off the moment her "camp" opened up. Then we hit the road. Mom drove all the way to Arwin, CA.. middle of NOWHERE! But we found a cute gas station that brewed Dad a fresh pot of coffee. Love to see the little towns scattered about. I drove through the Mojave desert and all the way through Barstow to Ludlow, where Dad started his shift. We were worried about not reaching Needles in time, but shouldn't have feared, we arrived here (after scoping the "town" for a bit) around 4. Into the lovely, albeit over chlorinated pool for some serious swim action to get the kinks out. It is amazingly hot here. The night time low is supposed to be 84 degrees. Lots of trains carrying cargo and not much else going on. We retreated to our cool rooms after venturing to the Chevron station next door for beer and peanuts and Dad and Mom loved the appropriately middle aged "Something has to Give" movie on tv. We ventured out for dinner and photos. Discussed tomorrow (Grand Canyon!!) and Mom and I "urban adventured" for breakfast supplies. What would you eat if AM/PM was your grocery store of choice?? Fun game, try it sometime.

Planning on a swim tomorrow morning before hitting the road. Stage 2 is an easy 220 miles till the Grand Canyon (I've never seen it!) and then hotel reservations (our only on this trip) at 3pm. So it should be a very easy and relaxed day. Hopefully all our hotels will have WiFi, I love blogging this adventure!

Food: Breakfast at a place where they practically start cooking their orders before my parents get through the door. Lunch was Mike's Roadhouse Cafe, which is interestingly the same chain my Dad met my brother in King City, CA, to swap grandkids. Bad service, but good chilie. Dinner was the China Garden across the street. We were the only group there, Dad got Cashew Shrimp.. hope our stomachs can handle it. Educational though: Trent, Xiang-nian ni!

Music: A rousing sing-along to "My Fair Lady" is always a great way to start a long road trip. Followed up with discs 1-5 of Alexander McCall Smith's fourth installment of the "Number One Lady Detective Agency." This one is called "The Full Cabinet of Life" or something like that. Wonderful Botswanian names and accents, great for distracting you for arid nothingness landscapes!