Well, I, Hans that is, is writing this being quite pissed on beer. Well, why is he pissed, you may ask? Good question, sir. I aim to answer to the best of my... Well, again, I can't say understanding or effort as that seems.. kinda of wrong, but to the best of my recollection...
We packed up and drove all day from Buellton to Joshua Tree, the small settlement at the north western edge of Joshua Tree National Park. A good 600 km of driving, starting at 8am and finishing at 4.30pm or so.
After packing up and checking out in Buellton, we travelled first north to Santa Maria then east towards Bakersfield and then further south east towards Barstow.
Here is a pic of route 166 between Santa Maria and Bakersfield... A really interesting drive. Lots of nothingness. Kinda just like Australia at times...
L
We stopped for a coffee in Maricopa at Tima's cafe and... were sort of stuck there for some 40 minutes which could easily been the whole afternoon if we wouldn't have paid attention.
A fun phillipino lady called Fatima has owned the place for close on 44 years after marrying an American pen pal. She's buried him, and one other husband and now onto her third! Boy can she talk! plus endless coffee was $1 each. We gave her a $1 tip and one of our stuffed little koalas, a huge success. If anybody would travel past there in the future, check out the Australian section, a stuffed koala is bound to be there somewhere. She's finished up by holding up a photo of Steve Irwin - she's a fan.
According to Tima, Maripoca's main businesses are mining, farming and... kitty litter. Yep, that's what she said.
Back on the road for 90 minutes and we take a break to eat our lunch of bread rolls and fruit. This was the only place for miles and miles and lots of bikers were in the diner. We sat outside.
Bakersfield and Barstow are boring functional cities. Between them is the Mojave desert and long straight stretches of road and nothing. Road Signs are not always helpful here. You must know your planned route number to know which exit and direction to take. Most signs don't list towns or destinations. And if they do they are miles beyond the exit. A few u turns and we made it to Safari Inn at Joshua Tree.
We stopped past the Joshua Tree national park visitors centre to get a permit and ideas of walks. Then a few beers outside our room and reding of maps and info.
At 6.15pm we headed for the local saloon, Joshua Tree Saloon Bar and Grill, just a few minutes walking down the main drag.
Now it all becomes clear. More beer, a rockabilly band and sharing a table with 5 rock climbers about our age and it became a fun night with more drinking than intended.
The food was pretty good, the band was rockabilly but played well and the company was hilarious. A few hours later we staggered back to the hotel after declining the invitation to kick on with them. I think the head and liver was saved by that decision.
Going home, not by helicopter but by foot... Just some 5 minutes or so. Good night
L
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