The truck has become a secular sanctuary for the individual, his shrine to the self, his mobile Walden Pond.
- Edward McDonagh
The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
- Noelie Altito
Leaving San Diego was hard.
Not because we were sad to be saying good-bye to Robb and Cat, although we were. It wasn't due to leaving the ocean, we hadn't seen much of it through the dense fog anyway. And not because we weren't sure when we'd be back. We'll be back, we know it.
It was hard because I got turned around on El Cajon, and we got sucked into the vortex of SDSU morning traffic. With a cup of 7-11 coffee in my hand and a mouthful of words my Mother never taught me, I proceeded to violate more than one 'No U-turn' warning sign, as we sliced & diced our way back to the interstate....
This day would be a driving day, all day. It is roughly 300 miles from Robb's house to Death Valley, our next destination. We were headed north on I-15 and Rt. 395. We exceeded the 75mph speed limit through towns like Temecula (
which still makes me think of young Polly Klass, every time I hear that name), Hesperia and El Cerrito with little interest. The only time we stopped was in Corona, but not for some half-assed Mexican beer. We had bigger fish... uh, chicken... to fry.
Before we left San Diego, Cat had thoughtfully found online in Corona, a Chick-fil-A. I make no excuses or apologies when it comes to our choices for lunch. We live in a small town with few appealing eateries. Our trips are often highlighted by where we get to eat, as much as our chosen destinations. Mia's craving for a box of those salty, sweet chicken nuggets matched my own and neither could be denied. We pulled in the parking lot promptly at 11am, as giddy as two kids on Christmas morning.
Spied in a parking lot in Corona. Love the utilitarian 1st gen 4Runners -
When you only get your favorite fast food tasty treats once a year or so, these things matter. We were lucky (there's that word again...) to time our lunch just as they were wrapping up breakfast. Due to our ridiculously large lunch order, the counter gal offered us a couple of leftover breakfast sandwiches at no charge. We were in deep fried Heaven.
Things I learned on this trip #5 -
Don't buy six boxes of chicken nuggets to take with you "for later", even if you have plans to add them to some pasta "later". Five boxes is plenty. Nothing sadder than having the sixth one go bad and tossing it out.
On course to a potential triple bypass, we shoe-horned our swollen selves back into the truck and continued north. With my foot firmly planted on the skinny pedal, we pass San Bernadino and the turn-off to my friend Vince's house.
I have only one regret from this trip and it was not being able to visit Vince, when we were so close. He has extended numerous invitations and I promised myself that if I was ever in SoCal, I would take him up on his offer. A ridiculously tight schedule prevents us from having time as I am hell bent on making it to the hot springs in Saline Valley by nightfall. Vince understands. If there is one excuse to justify not stopping, it's getting to the springs with the lady on time. Fortunately, Vince understands these things. He's a man's man and a ladies man, nuff said. Next time, I tell myself....
Shoulda been a pic of Vince's Tacoma & Flip Pac.... 
The remainder of the afternoon is spent behind the wheel, mile after mind-numbing mile. Stopping only for several road construction delays, we followed an endless row of power-lines and sagebrush, holding the steering wheel cocked to keep us from being blown off the road. The map showed Red Mountain just ahead. Sounded nice since I had a visual of Red Mountain, Colorado in my head. However the California version is no Colorado. I thought we would need a tetanus shot just driving through the place....
Finally we're on the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway portion of 395 approaching Death Valley and we're singing out loud with Johnny Cash on the radio,
"You'll know it's me when I come through your town
I'm gonna ride around in style
I'm gonna drive everybody wild
'Cause I'll have the only one there is around"
On the long straightaway approaching the turn-off for Saline Valley and the hot springs, I can see something parked off the road in the distance. It was barely visible as the sun had dropped behind the Sierras, taking with it most of the light. As we get closer I can tell it's something with a camper on the back, which always gets my attention. It's parked at the turn-off we're looking for and I immediately recognize it from a unique build thread here on this forum. Mia laughs saying it's cute that I recognize it, but probably thinking she's on a road trip with the world's biggest internet nerd.
It's a classic IH Scout II, with a rejuvenated Four Wheel Camper on the back. It's unmistakably cool. I stop and with no better opening line, introduce myself as having seen his truck on ExPo. The owner, caught off guard by my revelation makes an introduction. Even though he clearly has no idea who I am, we chat for a few about the trip he and his wife have just finished and the beginning of our trip into the valley. I'm losing the very last of the daylight, with 40 miles of washboards still to go, but these opportunities to connect are valued.
Phil and his wife were gracious and accommodating. They had nearly as far to go in the dark as we had just come. It was a huge bonus to the day, seeing up close a one of a kind outfit and in such a perfect environment for it. Maybe next time, there will be more time...
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