California!

The plan was to stay at Kingman, after the day at the Grand Canyon, and drive a short next day to Bakersfield, where Basque food awaited us. So I didn't mind as much that the breakfast the hotel offered was pretty slim pickings.
We'll gas up and check the tires at Needles, says Gary, before we take off across the desert. The first exit had a big Shell sign, so we pulled off, and ... you know that feeling in the horror movies when the what-turns out to be the horrible axe killer, sweetly and innocently asks the car's occupants - "so, where'r from?" And, to make it creepier, it was the same station and the same guy as 2 years ago when we had a similar encounter. That time, Gary let him look at the tires, and he promptly said they needed air. Then, he has a conversation about the treads, and how we ought to replace them before they blow up on us the desert ... Gets you thinking, about 30 miles east of Needles, when you see a bunch of pieces of tires by the side of the road. Turns out he had indeed, put too much pressure in them - on purpose?

So this time, it was "the sequel". "Don't make eye contact" "don't give out any personal information" and above all - Don't let him touch the tires! The guy tried, but while Gary could hardly keep a straight face, he wasn't going to let the guy touch the tires! Turns out his initials are "LD", so we named it Lucifer Devil... we laughed a long time, after we were safely back on the freeway.

Lunch in Ludlow at the Dairy Queen, " the best place to meet" according to the sign on the side of their truck. apparently, also the only place to meet. It was doing a land office business at 12:30 when we pulled up. It was hard to make a healthy choice - especially now, with the calories printed beside each menu offering.

Unfortunately, the combination of the road food and the heat and the change in altitude/pressure, made us sufficiently queasy that we never made it to any of the Basque places. something to look forward to the next time we're in Bakersfield - god forbid.

The rest of the ride home was beautiful across 58 and down 101 - green, green, water, lush earth, green - did I say green? - . we do live in a special place.

the end.