March 27, 2019 - Travel to Indio

Title: March 27, 2019 - Travel to Indio



Hike Info : Description : Background 

Hike Info:

Type: Car

Description:

We do not have the hang of an early start. We were still packing in the morning and so we took off around 10am. Sherri took the first shift driving to Bakersfield. I jotted down some notes while we traveled. In Bakersfield, we stopped for gas at Costco.

Since it was noon, time for lunch at Black Bear Diner. I had Bruce’s Meat Lover’s Omelette. I have had better, but this was not bad. Just expected a bit more cheese to hold everything together instead of just chunks of meat as a filling.

My Sweat with Our Sweats

Then going down California Ave in Bakersfield, could not figure out how to get on Highway 99 going south, so we continued on east. But this is sort of proof that an unplanned adventure can still be fun. I quickly recognize that we are in the land of Dewar, that is Dewar Ice Cream. Good stuff. So we stopped and split a child’s size sundae. Why only a children's since we split the sundae? Remember, we were at Black Bear Diner, some of the large portions. It just seemed like a crime going so close to Dewar’s and not stopping in.

Now it is my turn to drive. We head out towards highway 58 and go towards Tehachapi. When we get to Summit, instead of going on towards Mojave, I head us off south on Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road. The idea is towards the end of the road is Antelope Valley. While we are way too late to stop and gawk at the poppies there, I am hoping to see a sea of orange from a distance.

But no such luck. But the drive has been enjoyable-greenery of the grass with some smattering of wildflowers. Plus some interesting looking rock outcroppings. When we hit highway 138 we head east for a shortways until we get to highway 14. Now we head south to Lancaster.

Here we fit our first traffic jam of the trip. It was stop and go for over a mile until we got beyond an accident. Once we clear that we get to Palmdale and head east on 138 again. We take this all the way to I-15, then 215 and then head into San Bernardino-another slow down-very slow. Once through San Bernardino, we take I-10 east to Palm Springs. Here we fill up with gas at Costco, of course. By the way, this Costco has a great sunset view-see below. Then head on to Indio. Where we hope to find lodging.

Our first attempt was at a place called Royal Plaza Inn. We decided not to stay here. Not because of the hotel itself-we never got out of the car. But because there seemed like there was a lot of people just hanging around there. We had passed a Days Inn coming in. So we went back and tried it. We got the last room. We even scored it for three nights-the length of our stay.

Two queen beds and pretty spacious, at least more than what we would need. Walls seem to be quiet. By the time we got settled it was scaring up 8:00pm. Our lunch was still with us, for the most part. So we just munched on a few things rather than leave the comfort of the hotel room. After reading a while, it was time for me, and Sherri to lay down and go to sleep-around 10:00pm. I am pretty tired.

Background

Trip Advisor Reports

Black Bear Diner-Bakersfield. This was my wife and I first time at this Black Bear Diner-we have been to several others. We had lunch here, even though I had a Bruce Meat Lover’s Omelette. The service was what we would expect at BBD, good. The helpings are ample and tasted OK. This is a bit of a come down as I usually find their food pleasing. I think on this particular omelette, it felt like there was only meat which had been cubed, but no or not very much cheese. So the flavor of the omelette lacked a richness I would normally expect. My wife’s lunch was satisfying.

Dewar’s Ice Cream. Just plain old good. My wife and I shared a child’s sundae-we were already full. Taste is very good, especially the fudge sauce. There was a medical crisis going on after we came in which caused the service to be a bit slow. But that is not a reflection on the staff, just the circumstances-believe it or not, there are more important things in life than ice cream.

Days Inn, Indio. We stayed here for three nights while visiting Anza-Borrego Desert State Park(AB). While it is a bit far from AB, it was a good place to stay. The beds were comfortable. The room clean. The walls had enough insulation which kept sounds from out rooms out, except for two items. 1) There was something which caused a screeching noise in the shower next door to us-we were awake so it did not matter. 2) The doors are very solid. So when the door next door closes, you can hear it.

The only real let down was the continental breakfast. I wish they had something like a waffle or pancake machine. The oatmeal and cold cereal got a bit tiresome by the third morning.

Would I stay here again? Yes.