Smog not optional - desert to coast

Yesterday was really the end of our desert holiday; but before the start of our coastal trip we had to make our way back west - and a very long way it is too! When I was planning our journey I remember being surprised that there really wasn’t anywhere significant to stay between Grand Canyon and Palm Springs, so that’s where I booked us for a night, but it did mean a drive of about 6 hours. We just reminded ourselves that it’s not just about the destination. However, it wasn’t too long before we’d decided that that theory didn’t hold up too well in this instance! Having stopped, yet again at a trusty MacDonalds, for coffee and a break (we ate our sandwiches in the car park before we went in!)  we tried to get fuel but for some reason our card wouldn’t work in the pumps, so we continued back onto the highway, heading for the next little town. (Town, ha!) Fuel stop successful, navigation a little awry (sorry, sorry, sorry!) When you’re already driving 6 hours, an extra half an hour is a looong time. It was because to get fuel we had to continue, just a little bit, past where we should have turned off. Apart from the time, it didn’t matter at all - it was one of the suggested routes to take, just continuing along the Interstate. Oh, but it was boring! Goodness know how many lollies I fed Steve just to keep him entertained! Oh, I tell a lie, we did pass some peculiar looking little triangular piles of earth, natural, but looked manmade they were so regular - Cadiz Sand Dunes, I think.

And, more excitingly, we did a little stint on Route 66! How rundown the few roadside places were we passed. It was kind of neat that Billy Connolly had driven along the same route as us, though! Then we dropped down into Wonder Valley; we wondered why on Earth anyone would (or could) live there! Google maps showed all these little roads off to the left and right - roads? sand tracks more like! Not too much of a worry, just laughable, until it suggested that we take one as part of our route! No bloody way! We pulled over, onto the sand at the side of the road, and had a look to see if there was another way (please!) Of course there was! Stupid map, I don’t know what it was thinking, there was a perfectly good tarmac road just ahead which would have been a much better suggestion in the first place! And so we were driving through Twenty Nine Palms, and Joshua Tree. 

Joshua Tree - with joshua trees

We couldn’t quite work out why songs have been written about them! Or maybe they’ve just lent their names to songs without having anything to do with their meaning - yes, that must be it! Dropping down towards the outskirts of Palm Springs we were amazed to see in front of us an ENORMOUS wind farm! Not quite what we expected! 

And this was only a tiny bit of it!

Brilliant driving, Steve, you’re an absolute star xxxxxxxxxxxxx
We checked in at Las Brisas Best Western, just as the sun went down behind the hill - bugger, no sitting in the evening sun by the pool. But hey, it was still 98˚ so who cares about the sun! A couple of laps of the pool, a sit in the spa, shower and a little stroll down the made street. Came across a huge statue of Marilyn Monroe; would have had my picture taken with her but there was a queue, so we just found a nice little spot for dinner instead. Just love this heat!

These 2 photos taken this morning before we left

We really should have got up early to have a swim before breakfast, but we didn’t! Breakfast was included, and what a lovely one it was too - the usual cereals and porridge available, and toast and muffins etc, but the cooked part was an omelette or scrambled eggs cooked to order right in front of you, with ham, cheese, gherkins, capsicum, tomatoes and mushrooms - as many as you wanted. Oh, and great coffee. 

We set off, about an hour later than we had intended, with the top down - had to make the most of it before we hit the Interstate; apart from it being quite unpleasant having your hair whip your face at 75mph (that only applies to me, of course!) it’s none too healthy breathing in all the exhaust fumes. And were there a lot of those! Oh my! What a drive the first part was! As we drove through San Bernardino there was so much traffic, and the SMOG! We knew there were hills there somewhere, and not very far away, but could we see them? Can you?

The lanes are really narrow so everyone seems to drive really close to each other. Not a problem, says Steve, as everyone’s driving at the same speed, until you get some numbskull in a flash car weaving in and out of all 6 lanes! For a while I wondered if we were in a movie set or even a gangland chase! Not for the first time in our travels did music seem to know the mood - I turned on my iPod and what should start up from my driving playlist but ‘Highway to Hell’, followed immediately by ‘Killer on the Loose’! 

The smog cleared as we drove to the north of LA. Steve had suggested that we make a detour off the planned route to drive up Topanga Canyon Boulevard to the sea, as he had made this trip almost 22 years ago - just as our niece Eve was born in fact! He never imagined then that he’d be back on the trip of a lifetime. The canyon road was a lovely drive, - the Titirangi of LA! (Sorry, only meaningful to those who’ve been to the west coast in Auckland!) Happily it was lunchtime as we got to the sea and Malibu Beach :-) Found a fab restaurant right on the water’s edge, and even got valet parking; had to pay $3.00, mind! Bet Jim Rockford never had to pay for his car to be parked!

Setting off again Maps calculated still 3 and a half hours to drive before we got to our hotel for the night. Still, Steve had had a good break. You may be wondering why I am not helping out by sharing the driving; well, the top and bottom of it is, we’d like to get to the end of this road trip alive - I know that, in all reality, his driving is the only option! He’s a star.
We’d chosen a little seaside town along the Pacific Coast Highway, Morro Bay, and a beautiful hotel, Estero Inn, right on the waterfront. We’ve kept our accommodation pretty reasonable for most of our nights away, so this was a bit of a splash out. And when we got here, were we delighted! They’d even upgraded our room for some reason, and we have a spot overlooking the whole bay, right on the waterfront. 

And what attention to detail - check out the towel dog! Rachel and Stephanie take note - I’m expecting one of these on the end of our bed when we get home!! 

We took a stroll out to watch the sunset, got there in time today, but no need for dinner - massive breakfast and big lunch - just had to find the bottle store so we could sit on our balcony and enjoy the sights and smells of the sea, something we’ve rather missed about home. And here we now sit, happy as sandboys. Up for a run toward the Rock tomorrow morning, potter around the place a little more before continuing on our journey up the Pacific Coast Highway to Monterey.