Captain & Co-Captain's Log
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Julia & Mia's Log
Week 1, The See U Laters
Saturday 6/25
2pm Party @ Fort Mac Arthur Air Force Base. Mia's friend, Kyndall Green, has sis who graduated high school. Girls exchanged good-byes & so did moms.
Sunday, 6/26
6:30am San Luis Obispo, CA. Mia, my friend and massage therapist, Shelly Thorne & I went to The Madonna (no relation) Inn. This place has it all: restaurants, shops, bars, a dance floor and a phenomenal pool set up like a beach. No 2 rooms are decorated the same.
Hung out @ pool w/breathtaking views. Made a new friend, Elisa Sepulveda, who'll be in NYC in Sept. & so will Shelly, both single & ready 2 mingle w/Jersey Boys.
Monday, 6/27
11:30am Elisa met us @ pool, where we ordered Mojitos and Mai Tais (except Mia) w/our meals. It was all good. Parted ways, but not before exchanging contact info. Dinner @ Olive Garden, dropped off Shelly & continued home.
Tuesday, 6/28
10:30am Last training session w/my friend & trainer, Lenda Murray. Good work-out, as usual. She's an awesome woman. We agreed to keep in touch.
12:30pm Met Yavaun Swanson @ Farmer's Market in LA for lunch. 1st friend I made when we moved to Cali. Mia shopped @ Forever 21 while Yavaun and I chatted. Took pix & parted company.
6pm Arrived home. Time to clean. Felt like Mom, who loves cleaning. Lol. Mia did last laundry load.
Wednesday, 6/29
8am Final massage. Will need it for this long trip.
11am Had late breakfast @ Rex's Cafe in San Pedro. Then home to wait for my friend & fellow Veteran, Darwin Laidley, who rented a U-Haul to pick up our washer/dryer for his daughter, Darlinda. When he's done, I'll pick him up in LA & he'll shampoo carpet/cut lawn grass.
6pm Picked up Darwin @ U-Haul. Rented carpet machine @ Von's Supermarket. Darwin got right to it. Bless his kind soul; it's lots of work. True friends are priceless! Can you believe he even primed our house for $100? It was getting late, so I told him to crash & finish tomorrow. Nothing to sleep on, but the carpet would do. No big deal.
Thursday, 6/30
10am Darwin finished work on house then we drove him to LA. Lil' bro (31) Reiser, met us @ home to go w/us. Had to hurry; base home inspection @ noon & LA is a pain in the rear w/traffic. Dropped off Darwin.
11:30am Put pedal to metal back to base & made it. Padlock on door: it was now final. It was sad; living on base was fun & safe (hard to get that combo). We didn't even lock our doors; where can you do that?
1pm Grabbed bite @ Mickey D's. Bro exchanged good-byes w/Mia & I. "Stay focused," is what I said. We'll see each other sooner than we think.
3pm After eating, but before driving, we prayed, as usual, before any trip. God would be w/us. Don't know why we had to leave Cali now, but we knew it was the right time. So, off we drove.
6pm, stopped to eat @ Panda Express. Yummy. Met 3 soldiers: Roberts, Solomon and Anderson, from 1st Armored Division, who were going back to Afghanistan for their 3rd tour. Yes, their 3rd tour! "God be with you," is what I said. Spoke until they were told it was time to go. Exchanged info, hope to be in touch.
7pm Took off again. Started getting tired @8. Last couple of weeks of go, go, go, were finally taking it's toll. Stopped @ next lodging exit, saw it was across from a truck stop, opted out of staying there. Bought coffee @ convenience store; many sketchy characters present. Mia was uncomfortable. Already dark & we were in the desert, so there weren't many lights or cars on the road. My intention had been to get to Needles, border of Cali & Arizona & rest. So that's where we went.
10:30pm arrived @ Needles. Checked in to Rio del Sol Inn. Gracious host gave us new room w/tile floor, 2 queen beds & a later check-out. Fell asleep as soon as head hit pillow.
Friday, July 01
12:30pm Checked out of Inn. Breakfast @ Juicy's River Cafe where Tim waited on us. He was a funny guy. Once done, continued to Williams, VA. Drove on famous Route 66 & took pix.
5pm Checked into Red Garter Inn, an 1800's saloon/bordello now a bed & breakfast. Had room #1, "the best gals room." Could envision entire ambience of that culture. Boy, if walls could speak, I thought...Rested a bit.
6:30pm Ate next door @ Pancho McGillicuddy's (Lucy's last name from I Love Lucy). Afterward, took horse & carriage ride w/Chris who was gallant & gave me a law enforcement discount. Thanked him w/tip.
7:30pm Got in our car & drove to buy coolant. The level was dangerously low. Bought some & filled it up, but not before showing Mia how to do it. It's essential for a girl to know.
8:30pm Back to Inn to start blog, then sleep.
Saturday, July 02
7:30am Actually awoke early. Had breakfast downstairs while speaking with John (owner) who informed us of Inn's history. Fascinating. Love learning new things. Went upstairs to rest before going to Grand Canyon.
11:30am Checked out. Got best directions to Canyon & 4 Corners (where Az, NM, Ut & CO meet). Want to spend night in Utah. Haven't been there yet.
Travel continues...