I am at the hotel, and the folks from the Eastern Time Zone are already sleeping, Deborah and Jeanne. I have just returned from a short visit to The Cove Hotel in Long Beach (not near any water) to use their excellent charging stations. I learned that while in a sketchy part of town, it is inexpensive and very secure, with an excellent pool. Often a stopover hotel for cruising folks. I felt very safe in their modern-looking parking lot using new 350kW charging machines to charge Evie to 100%. I then returned, burnign 3% (!) and a most convoluted way back to the Hilton. Still, we are now ready to use the Air VW the Gray for some local trips.
Before this, Jeanne, Deborah, and I headed to California Pizza for Happy Hour appetizers and drinks. Our lunch at Chili’s was late and heavy, so nobody was ready for dinner. We chatted and talked about our plans and just enjoyed each other’s company (having known each other since elementary school). We had worked out that we needed to allow 1:15 travel time to Universal during rush hour. We also need to be thirty minutes early as stated on the tickets. We would need to leave at 7! Another early morning for me.
Before this, I was waiting at the cell phone lot at John Wayne Airport while they collected their luggage (Deborah and Jeanne). Their plane from Detroit was on time, and I arrived just as they did. I had reached the airport after traveling for more than four hours. The last restroom was across the mountains in the San Joaquin Valley, as all the others were closed. The parking lot was across from Grueggers Bagel’s, and I got a cup of coffee there and used their restroom, yay!
(Don’t slow down, even in construction, I learned, or you will become a hazard.)
I had started in Fresno at another IHG hotel and rose at 5:30, dressed and all that, and grabbed some complimentary breakfast, and was on the road by 6:15. It is nearly a straight shot out of the valley, and I drove 75 mph (120 kmh) for most of the trip with cruise control on. Only slowing for the Sheriff and construction. It was hard-charging driving with the traffic and often aggressive drivers. It required extreme attention for most of the time. I did call some folks at quieter times and put on the local radio stations to cover the road noise.
It is already a blur, but I did enjoy it and never felt scared. There were some rock hits, but none cracked the windshield (so far none have starred). I did argue with Nav about when to charge the car, and finally we both agreed on Walmart on the other side of the mountains.
I climbed the mountains on Highway 5 and soon burned through 20% of my charge (glad I had plenty) to reach 4144 feet at Tejon Pass. I stopped after the pass at a familiar Walmart (having used it on my last trip), charged to 100%, and used their restroom (as, again, nothing was available in the mountains, as they were closed). I watched some Battleship New Jersey videos on WW2 paperwork that was recently rediscovered in the National Archives. I then had Nav suggest an alternative route through Pasadena, since Highway 5 was experiencing issues, and I agreed. We then spun around the LA area in the hills. Finally reaching the airport rather unexpectedly, there were only a few signs before I hit “Welcome to John Wayne Airport.”
I made two laps until they had all their bags, and then I was happy to see them, and we loaded up the car. Deborah found the Nav voice annoying (I was used to it after days of travel), and I was ordered to a toll road, which I would have rather ignored, but we thought it was another traffic issue; we made good time, as did the other lanes, some going faster than the toll or HOV-3. We arrived without issue about thirty minutes later. The valet held the car while we checked in. Deborah could get the rooms early, and I had the bags delivered (for a large tip), including the bags of food and cases of shelf-stable milk. The rooms are suites and great.
And I think that covers everything. I wish I could make a story out of the road trip. It is now just a bunch of flashes and the farms in the valley. The pass is a hard drive with a warning about overheating your car’s engine. But it was lovely up there. Again, just flashes of memory and experience. Towns flashing buy.
Thanks for reading! Off to Universal tomorrow!
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 