Cross-Country Vacation 2023

Week 2, Day 1 - Started our morning at Menlo Park Bungalow Airbnb . This is a beautiful place and we spent the morning sitting in the garden bird watching. (Click on any photo to enlarge) Pygmy Nuthatch California Towhee Foxglove French Rose Garden Getaway Garden Getaway Hybrid Tea Rose Painted Indian Mallow Roses Spotted Towhee Then off to The Palo Alto Creamery for breakfast, then time with family. The morning was about taking care of the car. Since we had driven cross-country we wanted to change the oil and get a car wash before heading back. I went to Oil Changer for the oil change. It was quite different than anything I had been to before, no appointment required and you sat in your car while the oil was changed. Then Ducky's Carwash for a good wash and a hand dried experience. We went to Rossotti's Alpine Inn for an afternoon lunch. It's a nice place with outdoor seating. After, we went to Palo Alto Foothills Nature Preserve. Vi...

  Day 43 - Today's plan is to drive 396 miles in 7 hours. We stopped at Manresa Bread for coffee and treats before hitting the road. Our drive started on South Valley Freeway (Rte 101) for about an hour to Gilroy, then we took Leavesley Road to Pacheco Pass Highway where we soon found Mamy's Fruit Stand . We bought huge chocolate dipped strawberries and some other fruit.  We drove through some beautiful country finally reaching the West Side Freeway (I-5) to Bakersfield. This highway was busy and went through mostly large open farmlands. Really not much to see along this route. At this point I still hadn't learned the different features of Google Maps, which includes avoiding highways and toll roads. After a couple more hours we turned on the Stockdale Highway towards Bakersfield, then got on the Barstow-Bakersfield Highway. We stopped at the Big Red Barn , but didn't stay long. We filled up with  gas and continued on to the Keene Cafe (conveniently located in the mid...

Day 44 - Today's plan is to drive 400 miles in 7 hours. After a nice standard breakfast at the Best Western in Barstow, CA we headed towards Flagstaff on Needles Freeway (I-40). We soon turned off the highway at Newberry Springs to fill up with gas, then follow Historic Rte 66 to Ludlow, California. We stopped at the Ludlow Cafe and were the only customers. We enjoyed listening to stories of all the famous people that have stopped by over the years. (Click on any photo to enlarge) From here we followed Rte 66 to Amboy, CA. Mohave Desert view from Rte 66 Rte 66 The drive to Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark was interesting with evidence of lava fields as we approached. We stopped here with an intention of hiking to the crater. This was another special place that deserves its own page . To see more  https://travelingvtjs.blogspot.com/p/amboy-crater-natural-national-landmark.html We wanted to stay on Rte 66 but there was road closed signs so we had to t...

Day 45   - Today's plan is to drive 245 miles in 7.5 hours. This is an exciting day for me because we are visiting Monument Valley. (Click on any photo to enlarge) We started our day in Flagstaff with a delicious breakfast. Again, Tripadvisor and Julie selected a perfect place near to where we stayed Brandy's Restaurant and Bakery .  On this May 31st morning the temperature was 38 degrees. We started out on Rte 66, then took Highway 89, it was a short drive to Elden Pueblo Archeological Site  where we enjoyed meandering through the ruins. Elden Pueblo is a site of the Ancient Sinagua People for around A.D 1070 to 1275. Continuing on Highway 89 to US 160 was a beautiful drive with evergreen trees, valleys and winding roads. These hills reminded me of the Painted Desert. Near intersection of Hwy 89 and US 160 Turning on US 160, then US 163 we found Amigo's Cafe . I was curios to try Navajo Bread, so ordered the Navajo Burger and Julie ordered ...