We were tearful (or was it just gas?) as we left mighty Beaver under the weight of a motel discount bacon and egg breakfast (proof once again that you get what you pay for).
But we were also looking forward to a trip across the desert - the first in many years for everyone. And we were not disappointed - but that might also have had something to do with the functioning A/C in the car. St George, Vegas, Baker, Barstow, you name it - dry river beds as far as the eye could see. Even got to see the somewhat famous "Cronese Cat" - a unique sand dune that was formed by wind blowing UP the side of the Cronese Mountains. (See http://www.jstor.org/pss/30071553. Former UCSB geology students may recall that Bob Norris had a photo of this outside of his office for years. Decades, perhaps!)
But wait, a short side trip to say hello to sister Cathy and her dog Bob. Below, some of Cathy, most of Bob:
Ever the festive one, she offers some refreshments. Who were we to refuse?
(BUT, we had some distance to make yet, so being responsible travelers, we put the Padron in the cooler, ate the ginger snaps, and made our way westward along the 210.) The reports from near and far indicated that the beastly traffic was not yet materializing, so we changed plans and headed straight into the belly of the beast - (Traffic Olympics, part 2) west along the 210, crossing over to the 110 via Orange Grove, straight into downtown LA,
to I-10 to Santa Monica and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).
And we saw:
And we got to gaze into the eyes of the culprit, the curiously empty 405 freeway as we crossed over it on I-10 (aka the Santa Monica freeway). Good time to make an apocalyptic LA film:
Sizzled out onto the coast and right along up the PCH:
Felt the cool ocean breeze, and said, "Ahhhhhh...."
Greeted by Barb and Frans with a beer, comfy chairs, and good old fashioned relaxation.
Next up: LAX at 6am.
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