A totally stellar DAY 8!

What a day! It had it's ups and downs, but all in all, it was pretty rad! (I started to write this last night, but kept dozing off, so finishing this morning!)

Woke up eeeeearly in Vegas to get out of town before the heat (it was 86 degrees at 6 am!) and to get closer to Marine Bear. Since Jiffy Lube didn't open until 8, we decided we would just stop on the way to Pendleton. Tried to find someplace to add fluid in Baker,., the only guy who could was really nice, but his garage just flooded last week and he was just there repairing. He tried to find the tools to do it, but no luck. We pressed on to Barstow. We saw NO LESS THAN 12 repair places... All closed on Sunday, including a Midas and the car dealerships! We finally found a place at a gas station, but it would have been an hour wait and the guy was rude. So we went on to Apple Valley/ Victorville area,.. Jiffy Lube!!! NOPE, they "couldn't do it without a transmission service"... And neither could the other one in town owned by the same guy!! ARGH! So we went across the street to Goodyear, who charged $70 to do it, but we had no choice. And it was now 100 degrees :/ The same service that was free in Billings, $11 in Colorado Springs, $17 with a suspension inspection in Gallup was $70 and not even filled all the way and they broke our door panel they were specifically told not to touch. Awesome... That area of CA can... Well... You know. Oh well, it got done I guess. 

Hopped back on the interstate and started to make our way through the awful traffic. We were starting to think we weren't going to hear from the boy, but at 2:15, we finally heard from Marine Bear on liberty and we were still 1 hour away!! Or so we thougggghhht... 

He said Camp Pendleton North. We routed our way there. Marine Bear was no help with directions, and we ended up driving through the Navy side of the base, and taking forever to find our way to the bear. CAMP PENDLETON IS HUUUUUGE! After our unintentional tour of the base, we finally got to see Marine Bear...

We spent a few hours there, chatting it up, then when his liberty was up we drove north to Anaheim. (The much closer route off of I-5!!) This sealed the deal... I think I may be an Orange County and on down to San Diego kinda girl. It was a pleasant 81 degrees!!

We found our hotel about 7:15, and it has been interesting.... Lol. Old but clean and great service from the owners. AND 5 miles to Disney and 5 miles to the beach...

Headed out to Downtown Disney, scored seeing the fireworks from the plaza between the parks! It was even free parking until closing because we went late :) The hardest part for Padre Bear and the Cubs was being there without going in the parks- Disneyland is their favorite place. Just kept trying to focus on the positive: a taste of Disney for free! We got churros (they have flavored ones outside the park!!) and shopped World of Disney. When we were there in December, they had NO regular Disney coffee, and no Frozen merchandise!!!! I got an Olaf ornament for my Disney tree, a small stuffed Olaf, and a can of Disney coffee this time. Yay!!

A late dinner at Earl of Sandwich rounded out a great day. Outside on the patio at night... 

I could get used to this... 

Well, a hard LONG day that turned out great! Totally worth it. Now it's Santa Monica Pier and we turn north toward home.... 

I feel like I'm already home here in the OC..... :)

Until later today, lol...

Mama Bear

Day 7 already!

I'm not gonna lie... I almost skipped blogging tonight. It is Too. Damn. Hot. 

But, it was such a great vacation day that I just can't skip :)

Got up this morning about 6 am in Williams, AZ. I made a cup of Javita coffee, took a shower, and rounded up the laundry. Then I walked the 7 blocks down Route 66 to the only laundry in town. The town was soooooo peaceful and quiet... Just like you think a small "frontier" town should be! While the clothes were washing, I dropped some postcards in the mail and wandered up and down the main street, reading historical markers and taking pics, before the shops even opened.

It was perfection. I got a local newspaper, and read that while I waited for the washer to finish, then walked down to get coffees for myself and Padre Bear at a little cafe while the clothes dried. I woke  up the Bear and the cubs, got them going, and put the top down in the car to cruise down to pick up the clothes. We loaded up the car and headed for the Grand Canyon a little after 10 am. It was 75 degrees. 

By the time we made the hour drive to the GC, it was 88 degrees. Still not miserable, but warm indeed. THAT was a lot of fun (and we found a Hawaii plate! Only 2 to go!!)... 

And at the Rim....

It almost seems like a backdrop! We visitor centered and gift shopped, and has lunch by the car just outside the park.... Then had ice cream in McD's and enjoyed the A/C ;)

Off to Hoover Dam! Thank goodness we dawdled, because it was 100 by the time we hit Kingman for gas a few hours later, and was a horrid 106 by the dam at 7:15 pm. We made the damn dam a quick stop... 

Because we wanted to be sure we made it to the Pawn Stars shop before 9... And had a beautiful sunset drive on the drop into Vegas. 

Just made it on time! It was cool to see the store in person! Here I am at the Pawn Stars pawn shop... And the car in their side lot with the sign...

After that we made the cruise down the strip to our hotel off Tropicana. Giant Cub's commentary on the drive was hilarious... 2 quotes of the day.... Upon seeing the marquee type sign for McDonalds, he exclaimed "that McDonald's is FABulooooous" with a tone usually reserved for drag queens!!! Then, somewhere around Treasure Island, he said "If the internet was a real place, this is what it would look like." Hahahaha!! He's right!!

Got to the Americas Best Value Inn to blessed air conditioning at about 9:30 pm, then walked to the strip to find food. Too Hot. (104) and too crowded with a fight tonight at the MGM. Ugh. Settled for 24 hour food court food, and lots of drinks for our dehydrated bodies. Did I mention it's HOT?! 

I should not be eating in this heat, just drinking beverages, since with my stomach surgery I can't eat and drink at the same time, and I should have opted to hydrate. Now I'm trying to put down water before bed, since everyone is asleep with the A/C turned to "meat locker".... Lol! 

Tomorrow is early so we can drive to SoCal to visit Marine Cub... And this family can't get away from this heat fast enough!!!! 

Well, time for more water ;) adios!!!

Mama Bear

Day 6 in the books...

Ahhhhh... 9 hours of sleep makes a HAPPY Mama Bear!! 

In Gallup this morning, Padre Bear took the car to a local shop to have the suspension looked at. Broken inner tie rod, but the nice owner Leo (Discount Tire on Route 66!) said it would be fine until we got home. They topped off the tranny fluid since it was up in the air- total? $17. :) Padre Bear had a great chat with him for about 45 minutes, and we left with a great idea of "retiring" owning a restored Route 66 motor lodge. It's always been a dream of mine, and now Padre Bear is on board. Super excited!!!

After breakfast in the room (no espresso ANYWHERE in Gallup!!!), we headed west to the meteor crater. It was pretty cool.... I wasn't super excited about going to see a big hole in the ground, but it was pretty awesome. A nice tourist offered to take a pic of us.... 

That thing is masssssssive! Well, we got back on the road with the plan to go to the Grand Canyon. We found out the visitor center closed at 5, so we opted to go to Williams, AZ and check into our hotel and have an early dinner. We found a RAD place online, and called and made reservations for 5:15... Let me explain why...

The restaurant is called The Singing Pig... It's a BBQ joint owned by a husband and wife who slow roast everything, they serve everything, and when the food is gone, they close!!! Usually they sell out!!! So, we got a bunch of BBQ... Hands down the best BBQ I've ever had, and Padre Bear agrees. The cubs made quick work of almost a rack of baby backs, a half chicken, and a POUND of fries! We shared a pulled pork sammy that had been roasted for 14 HOURS. Simply amazing food and service, and a really groovy place! 

We saw the cowboy gang shoot out show in the street, the boys had I've cream from a shop and we bought some fudge. Then they headed back to the room and I did a little wander shopping ;)

Got my kicks on Route 66!!! I love this little town. :) I even bought a small dreamcatcher from a real Navajo... Can't wait to hang it up at home!

Finished the night with a walk a block over to the grocery store, got a night snack for the boys and lunch tomorrow, and a couple Lime-a-Rita's for sitting outside and writing postcards. It's a beautiful night.... This is the beetle hanging out with me... 

Tomorrow,  going to get up early and do laundry and have coffee, so we can head to the Grand Canyon about 9-ish, then roll on to Hoover Dam and the bright lights of Vegas! 

Catch y'all tomorrow!!

Mama Bear