I know, I know...I said I would have my road trip wrap up soon. Well, my Christmas shopping and holiday activities got in the way of that! But, now that I've caught up on things, I'm ready to relive my good times with some number crunching and fun things that may not have made it into my previous blog posts. So, let's get started!Total miles driven on my road trip = 3037 miles. Yes, I kept track every day!
Most miles driven in one day = 535 miles, Sacramento, CA to Salem, OR. Sometimes you gotta do this when there's so much to see in one place...and not a whole lot in between!
Cheapest gas: $2.59/gal in West Linn, OR (and they pump it for you, too)
Most expensive gas: $3.03/gal in Bakersfield, CA. I planned to fill up at a Mobil, but passed when they only accepted cash or their own gas card...what's the deal with that?
Biggest GPS mistake: When I punched in the address of West Coast Game Park near Bandon, OR, my GPS accepted it, but steered me in the wrong direction...literally! Instead of SOUTH of Bandon, it took me a spot NORTH of town. I knew something was not right because I had been there before in 2008 and remembered driving south. You also can't miss the place...there's a directional road sign when you're getting close and a HUGE sign in front of the zoo!
Number of car washes visited = 1. I can only stand so many days that my groupie mobile is less than perfect. And, after a week on the road...and braving one stormy day in Oregon...my Blazer was unacceptably dirty. I went to a hand car wash...they don't have those where I live...and got my ride back in fighting shape. Five For Fighting shape, that is!
Total number of times I stayed at Super 8 = 3. I may reconsider next road trip...the Days Inn, Econo Lodge, Ramada and Chariot Inn were much better!
Worst weather day: Visiting Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, OR and the drive south to Roseburg afterward. Just as I got to the museum, it started raining...then pouring...then wind and hail! All was fine...until I had to walk to the other building to see the space exhibits. It's a good thing I had my super cool Shedrain Windjammer umbrella with me! Still, I managed to lose my water bottle during my brisk walk through the downpour...I was too occupied trying to angle my umbrella toward the sheet rain to notice! The rain was still coming down hard as I left the museum and drove down I-5. Strangely, it made what would have been a boring stretch of road, downright intense!
Most challenging road driven: On my previous road trips, I took on the curves of Hwy 1 from Leggett, CA to the coast, and the famous Lombard St in San Francisco. Well, this time, I asked my GPS for the quickest way to Malibu from U.S. 101 in Los Angeles. It took me down Hwy 23, through the Santa Monica Mountains...down, down, down and curve after curve after curve! If I had known the road taken would be like that, I would have picked a longer, easier route! On a more positive note, by the time I got to Neptune's Net, I was SO relieved to just sit, relax and enjoy my scallop and shrimp basket! Next time, I review my route itinerary more carefully before I actually drive it!
Most interesting road: The Singing Road in Lancaster, CA. As far as I know, there is only one road like it in the U.S., maybe in the world! As you drive the short stretch of pavement, your tires roll over grooves in the road, which plays the William Tell Overture...better known as The Lone Ranger theme song! So cool!
Best fast food: Pink's Hot Dogs in Los Angeles. Ha! You thought I was going to say In N Out Burger? There was never one conveniently near my activities, even though I wanted to eat there. My last chance was Redding, CA and drove into town before it was open. Oh, well...next road trip.
Best meal overall: Lunch at the Warner Brothers Studios fine dining commissary. This is where the bigwigs have their power lunches. The meal was included in the price of the 5-hour VIP tour I took that day. Sirloin steak, fingerling baked potatoes with sour cream, sauteed spinach and coconut cream pie for dessert. I chose the most expensive item on the menu! And, no, I didn't see anyone famous, although I thought I may have recognized a director...or maybe it was a producer?
Most rewarding animal experience: Holding the 5-week-old Bengal tiger cub in my arms at West Coast Game Park. How many opportunities does one have to do something like that? It's something I will never forget. Kimbo was such a cute little guy! When he grows up, he'll weigh 400-500 pounds! Needless to say, I plan to visit this zoo again...hopefully next year!
Most rewarding people experience: John holding me in his arms...okay, it was just ONE arm...during our Kodak moment in front of the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco. When John arrived, he couldn't miss me...I was blocking the only entrance into the venue! Since the front door was locked...and there was no one to let John in...I rang the door bell. In the meantime, John proceeded to greet other lucky fans waiting in line when his manager finally came out of the building and had to retrieve him. Note: always better to try to catch John BEFORE a show!
Best celebrity sighting (other than at a Five For Fighting show): Seeing the cast of the CBS-TV sitcom Accidentally On Purpose during the live taping of their TV series. I didn't get to meet them personally, but watching them perform and the whole filming process was interesting and exciting. Yeah, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien...and seeing Al Gore in the flesh...was cool, too. But, being a big television addict, I've always been partial to actors and TV shows. And, witnessing the talented cast of this comedy series plus special guest Michael Rappaport strut their stuff was something I would love to experience again in the future!
Most museums visited in one day = 3 in Sacramento. I would have gone to more, but I ran out of time...this city has a LOT of museums!
Toughest museum admission policy: I've been to a lot of museums in my life, but never have I had to go through what I had to at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. The museum is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and encourages awareness of racism and bigotry around the world, and to understand the Holocaust. Given the persistance of anti-semitism and those who choose to preach hatred and intolerance, it's understandable the need for security at such a museum. But, things were challenging before I even left home. I discovered that I had to buy a ticket ahead of time to guarantee admission. Not only that, I had to pick the exact day AND time I wanted to attend...for a museum! Then, on the day of my visit, I find out that the museum's parking garage opens when the museum itself opens...not a minute sooner! Why? Because security has to inspect your vehicle before you're allowed to park! That was interesting, considering my Blazer was full of my road trip belongings...we're talking a lot of bags! Thankfully, the guy checking me out didn't think I was much of a threat...he let me go after a cursory look. Once I was parked, I took the elevator upstairs to the entrance lobby...to stand in line to get the ticket I reserved. That didn't take very long, but I wasn't done with lines...there was another one for the metal detector! While I was watching the process and waiting my turn, I discovered yet another restriction...no gum allowed! Now, I wasn't aware of this silly rule ahead of time, and reluctant to lose 2 full packs of gum, I transferred them from my mini-backpack to my pants pocket. It didn't work! The foil set off the metal detector, and the security guy used the wand on me, which beeped over my pocket. Luckily, as I pulled out the gum, he didn't make me throw it away. At that point, I was all ready to see the museum. Not so fast! First, I had to listen to an introduction to the museum. Then, I HAD TO go through the Holocaust presentation as a group, section by section...no wandering off ahead! By the time I finished all of this, I had to leave to make a lunch date with a friend. At least I was allowed to come back later on to finish seeing the rest of exhibits. Oh, don't get me wrong...this museum is well worth visiting. I just wish things were not so regimented, necessary or not.
Museum magic moment: At the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, CA, sharing the awesome sight of U.S. Air National Guard F-16 doing touch and go landings at the nearby March Air Reserve Base with an Air Force vet. The old-timer was a volunteer docent working the P-38 hangar...the Lightning is my favorite World War II plane! We both stood there silently admiring the jet as it dropped down to the tarmac, then pulled back into the sky on afterburner. Such an impressive sight!
Coolest thing I got for free: Pretty much every time I go to a Five For Fighting concert now, I come away with a freebie or two. On this groupie road trip, I picked up a setlist from the stage at the end of the San Francisco show. Usually, I ask the stage crew while they are breaking things down. But, on this occasion, there was no one there...so, I just helped myself! But, my best acquisition came during the Portland show intermission. Well before doors opened, I asked the guy working the ticket booth if there were any extra copies of the Five For Fighting posters gracing the front doors. He replied there were not, but suggested I check after the opening act...they usually take them down then. I followed his advice, and sure enough, I was able to grab not one but TWO different posters! One featured the Chances Mustang pic, and the other was the more coveted poster with John's handsome visage! Yowsah!
Coolest items I got for $10: While waiting for doors to open at the Five For Fighting Largo show in Los Angeles, I perused the merchandise booth. At first, I didn't see anything new, but then the sound of music caught my ears. The guy staffing the booth was showing a couple of greeting cards to a lady. Initially, they looked like ordinary cards with Sandra Boynton's whimsical artwork. But, when the cards were opened, one featured John singing a few verses of 100 Years, while the other played I Just Love You! Awesome! I was immediately hooked! I bought both cards at $5 apiece, but I probably would have been willing to pay a lot more. I mean, where else can you get something cool like that? By the way, it was no surprise John's songs were coupled with Boynton cards. John and Sandra are friends, and he worked with her on two of her music/book projects... Dog Train and Blue Moo!
Well, I think that's enough for now...at least for THIS road trip. I'm looking forward to creating new road trip memories in the future...like next year! 2010, here I come!
