Let's Talk with Terry Ambrose
May 26, 2022
On the road again…
Today, we were supposed to be on the road somewhere between Bakersfield and King City, California. I say supposed to be because I strained a ligament in my right knee six weeks ago and am still in physical therapy. As a result, the trip this post was based on has been postponed. However, I’ve decided to go ahead with the post anyway. For those who aren’t familiar with California or that part of the state, let’s just say it’s a very ‘interesting’ area. The irony here is that we’re driving our Nissan Leaf (a fully electric vehicle) through the heart of oil country.
Bakersfield—uh, seriously?
I’m sure you’ve done the same thing at some point. (No, not drive an EV through oil country). I’m referring to planning a trip to a great destination, and then realizing what you have to do to get there. As I was doing research on Bakersfield, I came across a news story about the area having some of the dirtiest air in the country. How wonderful, just what every traveler wants to hear—we’ll be driving through oil-country hell.
My big question was, how fast can we get through? The snarky side of me says, ‘not fast enough.’ The more compassionate side tells me I’m being unfair to Bakersfield. There are plenty of people moving there these days (mostly because it’s a cheaper place to live). Apparently, Bakersfield is also becoming a big arts center (who knew, right?) Anyway, all I am saying is I’ll give Bakersfield a chance (sounds like it would make a catchy song).
King City—finding food
After leaving Bakersfield, our route takes us across the state to King City (not exactly another tourist Mecca). The great thing about King City is…uh…it’s close to Pinnacles National Park? Yeah, that’ll do. And the good news is that we’ll only be there one night—unless the trendy little Mexican restaurant I found poisons me with gluten. In that case, I might wind up writing a country song about being stranded in King City (not nearly as catchy as that Bakersfield tune).
Pinnacles National Park
The pinnacle of our trip (sorry, couldn’t help myself) is Pinnacles National Park. After a couple of days at our destination, we’ll be taking a much more scenic route home. (Yay!) Kathy has talked about wanting to visit a lot of national parks, so this trip is our ‘big test.’ If we like the idea of a road trip, we’ll be planning another in the fall. Somehow, I have a feeling we’ll face the same dilemma then.
So what’s your favorite travel story? I’d love to hear from you! Plus, don’t miss out on my Book Birthday Month contest for Lies, Spies, and the Baker’s Surprise. Enter the bonus code “#TravelStory” in the May 26: Booklovers Bench entry option for three bonus entries. Also, leave a comment on the blog post to gain another entry.
Book Birthday Month Contest for Lies, Spies, and the Baker’s Surprise
The contest will run through June 1. For additional entry options and bonus entries, visit my website page Introducing Lies, Spies, and the Baker’s Surprise.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Terry Ambrose • Tags: BLB Discussion, Contests, Lies Spies and the Baker's Surprise, On the Road again, Terry Ambrose | 11 Comments
I traveled with my parents as a kid so I had wanderlust in my veins when I got married. I’d already traveled around Europe on a Eurailpass and visited the British Isles. Our honeymoon was the most memorable trip ever. We spent 35 days in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti and Papua New Guinea. A couple of years later, we went to the Orient – Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand. This was all B.C. – Before Children. Thereafter we focused our trips on Caribbean cruises and Disney World. Since Covid, that’s narrowed even further to the home territory. I still have no desire these days to stay at a hotel so our vacations are staycations.
We would have liked to do another cruise this year or the trip to Hawaii, but Covid has made that not a good choice for us.
We took a land/sea cruise to Alaska to celebrate an anniversary years ago. That still ranks as one of our favorite vacations.
We’ve wanted to get back to Alaska, but it won’t be happening anytime soon, if at all.
Hi Terry, I have to say our 25th Anniversary bicycle tour has been our favorite. We cycled from Jackson Hole through the Grand Tetons and in Yellowstone Nation Park for a week. We stayed at landmark resorts and were pampered every minute. We still talk about that one.
The pampering part sounds great, Cheryl. Not so sure about the bicycling part, though! 🙂
I am so sorry. I hope you heal well. I grew up in CA. First nine years was in Pasadena and the rest in Apple Valley (Mohave Desert) on a ranch. Forty years ago I moved to Illinois and met my husband.
Thanks, Lori. I’m getting there. What a move it would have been going from the Mohave Desert to Illinois! Sounds like it worked out well for you!
Terry, hope you are better by now. One of my favorite vacays was over Christmas one year when my husband and I put the dogs in the RV and drove down to the Big Bend area of Texas. We stayed at an RV park in Marfa (home of the lights!) and we went gem hunting at an out of the way property that let you go dig on their land for a few bucks. Then down to Terlingua to check out the cemetery at the ghost town. And a quick look at Big Bend National Park. It was COLD…we had to buy extra heaters for the RV for the night. But somehow it was a perfect trip
We have had several wonderful trips, but I think the escapades associated with our trip with two good friends to China made that one of our best trips — then again, there was that time in Scotland……
I have been on short trips and long trips with destination travels and family visits. I’m almost to the point where only a family visit will pry me out of my home! I’ve never traveled particularly well so it is a big deal for me to take a long trip now. I just completed a long trip to Oregon, to visit family, and I enjoyed the visit, but I hated the travel part of it. Here’s hoping the kids will either move closer to us or will swap traveling with us every other year!