Doug and I took a quick trip to California to take Robin, Campbell, and Penny home. We have really enjoyed having them with us for the last month. Thanks Nate, for being willing to share them with us. We decided in the end to take my RAV4. She did pretty good. We put on 1976 miles. Going down we were pretty tight:
The kiddos were amazingly good. We drove straight thru with an hour stop in St. George at the water park. They loved getting their feet wet, even if it was 106 degrees. I have had enough McDonalds during the last 4 days that I don't want to see another one for a while!!! On the way down we saw this amazing lightning storm. I tried really hard to catch the "strike" but the clouds were impressive.
Just before the sun went down there was this beautiful sunset.
I've always wondered what Robins "Home" looks like. Here is a picture in the complex. Each tower is 12 floors and that is where Robin and Nate's apartment is. Not sure how many there are, but at least 37. There are also "town houses" in the complex. It is a very secure area and right across from a big park with several playgrounds. She saw Gwen Stefani and her kids there one day. Robin and Nate will be here thru September.
Kiddy-corner from her Apt. is "The Grove". It is a mall where there have been movie star sightings. It is the place where Mario Lopez films "Extra". We visited the "Farmers Market" and ate breakfast at "Johnny Rockets".
Saturday Robin, Kids, Doug and I did a "Drive By" on Hollywood Blvd. It was very crowded....saw lots of stars...the kind on the sidewalk. The whole thing was surreal and reminded me of the " large and spacious building dream" if you get my drift. Later in the evening we all went to dinner at a hamburger joint. The food was excellent. It was by the "Tar Pits" and "Ralph's" which is Robin's grocery store. I took this picture:
Note: Nate went to school and he was a little early and so he went over to "Golds Gym" which is by his school and he had a "celebrity" sighting. Will Ferrel...Elf....you know. He was much too polite to bug him but not everyone was that way..... Sunday Robin and I had a nice walk early in the AM and then Doug and I packed up and left for home. Thanks Robin for the tour and the hospitality. Love you so much. Doug and I decided to take the loooong way home. We drove up the Pacific Coast Highway [Hwy 1] for a ways and I took this picture of Doug
We wove our way up to Santa Maria . This was an hour delay as our "GPS" took us on an unscheduled tour of the "wine" country! I decided to take a picture of the vines:
It was beautiful farm country so the delay was not that bad. We took the 166 to Maricopa and then Bakersfield and then took the 178 which is a beautiful mountain pass that goes to Lake Isabella and then to the 395. This pass was so beautiful. It reminded me of Ogden Canyon and the North Ogden divide combined
This is "Lake Isabella" from the road. We did not stop much. Once we hit the 395 we headed North. Just before the sun went down there was this beautiful cloud formation:
We made it to "Bishop" California which is the "Mule Capitol of the world". It reminded me of Pinedale, Wyoming a little recreation/cowboy town we stayed in on a hiking trip. We stayed in Bishop that night and then headed up the 395 until we got to the 167 and then took off there and made our way to Fallen, Nevada and then you know the rest of the story......
It was a great trip and a nice diversion from normal life. We lived on gas station food and when we could not look at Golden Arches any more we opted for "Jack in the box". I have spent this morning vacuuming sunflower seeds [Doug's keep-me-awake snack] from my car. Now I have to work on the ugly bugs all over it. Life goes back to normal tomorrow.....ahhh
