I got up around 7 to the sound of Brenda using the blow dryer. I managed to get out of bed and started getting ready to go. We had 106.7 miles to drive from 29 Palms to Ontario, plus checking out the giant dinosaurs along the way. We weren't sure how bad the traffic would be or how bad the construction was in Yucca Valley.
We packed up the van and decided to stop by the Denny's in Yucca Valley instead of back tracking to the other end of 29 Palms. We all ordered the $4 Grand Slam again and wanted my eggs runny just like yesterday. This time service was really slow. We had a schedule to obey people! Get a move on!
We followed California 62 all the way towards Palm Springs. When we got in between Morongo Valley and the Springs it got awfully windy. To the point where it was kinda scary being in a van. We drove through the mountain range with the San Bernardino Mountains to the north and the San Jacinto Mountains to the south of us. We came to the I-10 junction and when we reached Cabazon we immediately saw the giant dinosaurs. We found the exit and when we got out of the van it was like being in a hurricane. It was 30 degrees cooler and crazy windy.
Information about the giant dinosaurs:
Claude Bell's giant dinosaur sculptures are icons of roadside America: while many have grown up with them along the highway in southern California, others may also remember them from various films and videos, perhaps most famously Pee-wee's Big Adventure. The site features two sculptures: a 150-ton building in the shape of a larger-than-life-sized Apatosaurus (begun in 1964, completed in 1975), and a 100-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex structure (built in 1981). The dinosaurs, nicknamed "Dinny" and "Mr. Rex" respectively, were originally built to attract customers to Claude Bell's Wheel Inn Cafe. The dinosaurs were purchased in 2005 from the Bell family for $1.2 million by developers.
We didn't get to stay long because we had a plane to catch around noon and we had to drop Jim off at his car at the hotel and we were still almost 70 miles out from Ontario. We got to Jim's exit and we messed up and had to do a large loop around on I-15. No harm, we still got Jim to the hotel and we got to the car rental place, dropped off the van (we drove that thing a total of 1180 miles), got on the shuttle and into the Ontario Airport with time to spare.
Our bags and ourselves were checked in very quickly...we actually had to wait around for a while at our gate, 405. Brenda and I used the restrooms and I grabbed a snack from one of the stores inside. I even wandered the concourse for a bit just to see what all this tiny airport had. We found our our airplane was 15 minutes late.
When it was time to get on the plane, I had a B boarding pass and Brenda and Ray got on with a disability pass, which allowed them to get on the plane first. I would have liked to sit with them but it wasn't a big deal. When I got on I sat almost to the back of the plane. I sat next to an Army guy and an empty seat and I just read my book to Sacramento.
When we got to Sacramento, Brenda waited for me to get off the plane and told me they were going to pay people to take another flight because the Sacramento to Seattle was overbooked. What I was going to have to do if I chose to do it was, give up my seat, fly to Phoenix and then to Seattle and arrive after 9 p.m., earn $300 plus a buddy pass for my next flight. I could have done it but I was ready to be home besides I had mom picking me up at 5 and Ben was waiting at the station in Rochester with my car. A little while later they had the same scenario except you would fly to Las Vegas and have a two hour layover and then arrive in Seattle around 10 that night. I might have done both if they paid for me to stay in a hotel over night and actually enjoy the cities while I was there.
Brenda and Ray's flight to Portland was about an hour before mine. We sat at a restaurant and ate some food before they had to take off. Brenda's best friend had won tickets to the country concert at the Tacoma Dome, so basically they would get off the plane, drop Ray off at home and head up I-5 to Tacoma as quick as she could. When they boarded I sat near my gate and talked to mom for a bit to waste time.
When it was time to board, I got on the plane...almost to the back again, sat down by the window seat and read my book. I sat next to this eccentric older couple from I think the Everett/Monroe area, he was decked out in Seattle Seahawks gear and she was dressed comfortably in baggy traveling clothes. We had a little bit of turbulence when we reached the Oregon border but nothing really to worry about. I watched the mountains pass by...Mt. Hood, Mount Adams, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier.
We made our descent into SeaTac and getting off the plane was quicker than I anticipated. I called mom and let her know I was landed. She was in the cell phone parking lot hanging out. My bags were one of the first ones off the plane. I walked outside the baggage claim and waited until I saw her car. She made me drive and it was smooth sailing. We stopped in Hawks Prairie because she needed to get a few things from the store. I was starving so I bought a Lunchable. We headed down towards Rochester and met up with Ben at the station. I gave mom her Joshua Tree bag and The Route Beer I got for Ben. Mom went home and I stayed and visited with Ben for a bit. He said I definitely looked tan. I was tired so I decided to leave since he was on shift. I got home around 9 and did a load of laundry. I fell asleep shortly after.
This trip was a great history lesson for me. I got to travel to a place I've never been to, cache our faces off and all in company with some good people. I hope to go again next spring break.
Next Adventure: A New Job and A New Opportunity
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