October 1, 2018: California Dreamin'

Day 24 | 30 Days of Writing

Windshield view
We started our day in Kingman, AZ and ended in Bishop, CA. Our travel odometer has now exceeded 2,600 miles and we have added state #9, California, to our states covered this road trip. Also of note is that our only driver continues to be Garrett. Larry has been holding down the passenger seat with Zeke and me in the back.

Although sad to wave good-bye to my parents and brother, the thought of a new adventure brought morning enthusiasm. Looking forward to our McDonald's senior coffee and McMuffin's, we were on the road again.

Death Valley National Park was our first destination. Ultimately we were happy we survived. My Frommer's USA told of the tales behind the park's naming. Many miners died trying to cross this treacherous stretch back during the gold rush. Temps hit 102 as we made it to the visitor center at sea level. Frommer's also noted that this is one of the hottest spots in the world.

We took it all in through the windshield and gave our furry pup a break from the heat he hates. Coming out of Death Valley, we had spectacular view of the Sierra Mountains. We all enjoyed the gorgeous views, including Zeke.

The stretch running north through eastern California was noted in my Rand McNally as a scenic byway and it did not disappoint. There was no cell service with just our conversation and some side puppy rubs as we took in the beauty of the western USA.

Our planned stay in Bishop, CA brought back memories for Larry as he had stayed in Bishop in the 1960's. Hearing stories of the past in times that were very different from today have been a highlight of this trip. It was fun to be on the sidelines listening to my parents contributed stories when reminiscing with Larry.

Once settled in to our dog-friendly hotel room, our next main objective was to find the Broncos game televised with food and drink available. After two fails, we found ourselves at the Bishop Bowling Alley. And it was surprisingly good, both the atmosphere and the food. There were even a few local brews on tap.

With post-puppy walk and a husband anxiously awaiting a wanted Broncos win, we are comfortable in our digs for the night. And I do have to say, we have this packing/unpacking thing down to a science. We each know our jobs from dog duty to car loading. Getting on the road again in the morning will be a breeze. With a Broncos win, it will be an even better morning (fingers crossed).













Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Own Your Shit

July 28, 2020: The New Normal