In my previous blog post, Cross-Country Trip, I describe our prior trips to California and how we decided to go again this year. What follows is the anatomy of a cross-country trip.
We planned our trip for months. We went to Pismo Beach in 2024, so we had made the trip before. However, we wanted to do a few things differently this time. My husband, being the careful, methodical one, worked out logistics while I researched places to eat and things to do in every town along the way—at least the ones where we would stay overnight.
Preparation
On February 5, 2026, Gary made reservations in Pismo Beach at the hotel we had stayed before. He even asked for the same room! This was done in faith. We did not really know at that point if we would or could go. I told him that we could always cancel. Of course, we ended up going!
We are not the most experienced travelers by any means, but we plan the best we can and then play it by ear as we go. Gary decided on the daily driving distances and made reservations at the hotels. He decided we would have separate luggage that we would use for the trip out and back—and other luggage for when we were at Pismo Beach. On our previous trip, we did not do this and had to take everything in at night. This time we could leave most of the things in the car until we reached Pismo Beach.
I prepared a notebook with possible places to eat and attractions to see. Of course, there were many interesting things to do—but we did not have that much time along the way, so I chose carefully. We wanted to go to the Grand Canyon for a few hours and would be very near the South Rim. We wanted to travel various parts of Route 66. And I found several interesting museums along the way, too.
Driving out west, you can’t help but notice that the rock formations are bare and visible. Volcanic activity, tectonic upheavals, and ancient seas created deep canyons, mesas, and red rock. Because of this, there seems to be a greater interest in rocks, geology, and paleontology.
I had recently worked on making a word search puzzle book about rocks, minerals, and gemstones. This informed several of the places we wanted to visit.
I made a huge list of music for Gary to put on a USB. We already had one from our previous trip that has songs which mention California or have a California vibe. This time I made a list of 60s and 70s songs (and some later) that I enjoy from back in the day. The trip seemed like a good time to reminisce. There are over 240 songs on the USB.
I had to buy a few items of clothing. Living in Alabama I don’t have much need for a casual jacket or raincoat. We had booked a whale-watching trip and upon reading the website, it suggested having something warm and waterproof to wear. Thankfully, I was able to find both items!
Day by Day
To give you some idea of my daily log, here are the entries for our first day from the notebook that I kept next to me in the car.
Wednesday. 07.15.26 – Birmingham, AL to Longview, TX
car mileage: 77,348
73°. Hot and humid.
Alabama
6:13 am Leave Birmingham.
6:34 Light rain.
7:45 Road Construction. One lane road.
7:48 Two lanes again.
7:50 Tenn-Tom River.
8:11 One lane road.
8:14 Two lanes again.
Mississippi
8:15 “Welcome to Mississippi” 77,474
8:55 Exit 109 Rest stop and gas at Shell Station. 77,519
9:59 Jackson
10:30 Traffic is stopped. Roadwork. One lane again.
10:31 Moving very slowly.
10:47 Out of construction.
Louisiana
11:00 “Welcome to Louisiana”
11:15 Exit 171 Rest stop.
Ate lunch in the car. (We brought meat, cheese, and Wheat Thins.)
11:48 Stopped and put stuff back in the cooler. Store is called “U-Pack-It”
Mile 145 Saw a white heron in flight.
12:25 Monroe
1:01 One lane road again.
1:53 Moving slowly.
They were cleaning the overpass which was really dusty. We got off but did not stop.
2:02 Hard rain before Shreveport. Limited vision.
2:08 to N 220 We got off the interstate.
Stopped at a Circle K. Overheard when we stopped. “Nice day for the ducks.”
Texas
2:50 “Welcome to Texas”
3:18 More rain.
Traffic has stopped. Lurching along slowly after a bit. A tree had fallen on the interstate.
We saw two police vehicles and a car. Perhaps the car was hit by the tree?
3:40 Back to speed.
3:57 Arrive at our hotel in Longview.
The hotel is next to a service station and Panera Bread. We ate dinner at Panera and afterwards drove the car over to the station and filled it up with gas.
It was a nice trip today. Fairly uneventful except for roadwork, some rain (some very heavy), and a tree across the road which slowed us down as well.
Here are excerpts from the following days notes:
Thursday. 07.16.26 – Longview, TX to Amarillo,TX
car mileage:77,865
Still in Texas
6:15 In the car waiting to go.
6:17 We’re off.
6:27 Gary is getting breakfast for us at McDonalds.
7:23 Saw a field of white cows. Looked online and maybe they are Charolais Breed.
Signs: “Farm Fresh Food”, “Tators, Mators, and Watermelon”
Speed Limit 70—police had a sporty BMW pulled over.
Note: Texas is filled with historical markers (Audie Murphy, Methodist Brush Arbor Camp Meetings, etc.)
8:30 Greenville.
Road construction. Had to wait for a while.
8:57 Lots of “Wide Loads” on the road.
Saw a house a few miles back being moved.
Hay!! [something we say every time we see hay bales…]
About 9:33 turned onto Hwy 82 at Bells.
Rest stop and got gas.
[On Hwy 82:] Lots of dry, brown cornfields on the last stretch of road.
Still seeing lots of wide loads.
10:31 Saw first wind turbines in the fields.
11:30 Stopped at Jolly. Rest stop. Got ice for the ice chest. Got food out.
Ate lunch in the car (meat, cheese, and Wheat Thins again).
We had thought about stopping at McDonalds, but they did not get very good reviews in the town we are going through.
12:40 Some rain around Vernon.
12:48 Got off at a picnic area to put food back in the cooler.
Stretched our legs. Took a picture. Cooler and windy here.
Saw “Wrinkle Road”
We saw a sign for the John Sanders McJunkin Ranch. I looked up information and found this:
George McJunkin (c. 1856-1922) born a slave on the ranch, was an African American cowboy, amateur archaeologist, and historian. He taught himself to read, write, speak Spanish, play the fiddle and guitar, and eventually became an amateur archeologist and historian. In 1868, McJunkin went to New Mexico where he would later become a foreman on the Crowfoot ranch near Folsom, New Mexico. After a flood in 1908, he was patching a fence and entered an arroyo where he discovered remains of several giant prehistoric bison and a distinctive type of stone tool, now called a Folsom point. His discovery at this site changed New World archaeology. It showed that people inhabited North America since at least 9000 BCE, some 7000 years earlier than previously thought. What particularly interested me was that the Folsom point arrowheads are named for Folsom man due to this discovery.
2:01 Begin to see a few mesas.
2:07 Memphis (not that one!) 78,265
2:18 Heavier rain.
Have had some rain on and off. Sky is light ahead.
3:16 The Plains of Texas – flat as far as you can see.
Traffic slowing down—one lane. “Work convoy” painting lines on the new asphalt.
I have seen three pyramidal roofs today on houses.
3:41 Arrived at our hotel in Amarillo, TX.
Went to Saltgrass for dinner. It is near our hotel.
6:01 Back at hotel after Saltgrass and Love’s Truck Stop to get gas and drinks for tomorrow.
car mileage: 78,357
[In Amarillo:]
Amarillo-Helium Heights a new project. In the old Amarillo Helium Plant. Very interesting old building with lots of windows. I meant to take a picture but did not.
We had considered driving to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It is thirty minutes from downtown Amarillo. After driving much of the day, we did not feel like any more traveling.
Friday. 07.17.26 – Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque, NM
car mileage: 78,367
Note: Albuquerque is approximately halfway to Pismo Beach.
FINALLY heading out of Texas
7:11am In the car ready to go.
7:16 Leaving.
8:00 Stopped at Midpoint Café on Route 66.
Looked around the gift shop. Gary bought a Route 66 t-shirt.
The cafe has cute formica tables and chairs in various colors—dating from the 1950s possibly earlier.
The Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop in Adrian, Texas is exactly 1,139 from both Los Angeles and Chicago. It’s the oldest continuously-operated eatery on Route 66 in Texas and has served travelers since 1928. It is also the cafe that inspired Disney’s character Flo in the movie, Cars.
8:20 Back on the road.
The Lone Cow
Landscape suddenly changed dramatically from flat, open terrain to mesas and cows.
New Mexico
8:37 Crossed into NM.
Time change in NM. It is now 7:40.
Phone could not locate GoPro. Gonna stop and check it.
7:47 Back on road after checking GoPro.
8:00 Rainbow!
8:11 Rain.
8:13 Double Rainbow!
The rainbow was directly in front of us, welcoming us ahead.
We got some good GoPro footage of it. I don’t think I have ever seen a double rainbow.
8:18 Stopped at Loves’s rest stop at Tucumcari.
8:34 Back on the road. Still light rain.
9:07 Stopped at rest stop.
Fixed GoPro again. I took a few pics.
9:45 Stopped at rest area.
10:07 Back on the road.
11:20 “Welcome to Albuquerque”
Noon Lunch at La Cocina Azul in Albuquerque, NM.
The service was slow, but the food was very good.
1:24 Headed to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
Dinosaur Bones and Rocks
The southwest US is known for its interesting rock formations, gems, crystals, and geologic history. There are many sites to visit. I narrowed it down to The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque.
Located in Old Town Albuquerque, the museum is very near La Cocina Azul and our hotel. This made it easy to find. The parking lots were almost completely full. We found a spot and walked to the nearest entryway. We found out we were in the wrong building when I asked about the theater. I told the lady I wanted to see some rocks and dinosaur bones! (Especially since I had just done the Rock, Minerals, and Gemstones Word Search Book.) She directed us to the building next door which has huge replicas of dinosaurs out front.
The museum was filled with historical information, fossils, rocks, and dinosaur bones. The displays trace the beginnings of ancient life and dawn of the dinosaurs—through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods to the volcanoes, rise of the mammals, and more.
We explored the origins and geological history of the American Southwest through displays including dinosaur models, ice-age cave replicas, a naturalist center, and a walk-through volcano.
The Paleontology exhibits show the history of life as recorded in the fossil record of New Mexico and the American Southwest. The museum contains one of the region’s most significant fossil collections. It is the single largest collection of New Mexico fossils and preserves many unique and scientifically significant specimens.
They even had a room of rocks! The museum’s rock collection contains over 3,000 specimens from New Mexico and representative mineral species from around the world.
Needless to say, this museum is awesome. I saw dinosaur bones and rocks! There was so much to see that we need to go back and spend more time there on our next trip.
3:00 Checked into our hotel. (La Cocina Azul and the museum are very near our hotel.)
After getting up to our room, we were hot [outside temperature was 109°] and exhausted. We took a nap and then ate peanut butter crackers and a Danish pastry for dinner.
Saturday. 7.18.26 – Albuquerque, NM to Flagstaff, AZ
car mileage: 78,651
Leaving New Mexico
6:56 am In the car ready to go.
7:00ish Ate breakfast at La Cocina Azul where we ate yesterday.
Gary got a burrito. I got a waffle, one egg, and bacon. Delicious! We are both FULL!
8:07 Stopped at Walgreens to get a few things.
8:18 Back on the road. Route 66 begins here in Old Town Albuquerque (where we are).
Lovely day. 76°. Sunny.
8:31 Stopped at Love’s.
Cleaned windshield. Got ice. 78,660
8:51 Back on the road.
8:55 On Interstate 40.
Tried to take Route 66 several other times today, but signage was not good and was confusing so ended up back on the interstate.
In New Mexico, we found ourselves on State Route 124 (formerly US 66). The road borders parts of the El Malpais lava fields and offers views of rock formations, mesas, and high desert landscapes. Nicely paved. Wonderful mountain scenery.
10:35 Continental Divide in NM
10:45 Stopped and stretched legs. Gary got water out. Could not use restroom unless you buy something in the store. So we left.
Sign: “Gusty Winds May Exist”
11:07 “Welcome to Gallup”
Arizona
11:27 “Welcome to Arizona”
Time change going across the Arizona state line. It is now 11:00.
11:03 Stopped at Navajoland (Shell) station.
Restroom. Gas. Snacks (lunch). Saw huge black birds.
11:09 Back on the road.
11:57 “Welcome to Joseph City” Route 66
Route 66 was not very long. Abruptly ended.
12:19 “Welcome to Winslow”
Drove into Winslow on Route 66. They have turned it into a one way street, so after we got through the town and did not see the famous corner, we circled back around to the one way street going the other direction.
Paying tribute to the Eagles’ song, we found the spot memorialized from the Eagles’ lyric “I’m a-standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona” and took pictures. So exciting!! The power of a song. There were quite a few people there taking pictures and walking around. Gave me tears of emotion.
Continued on Route 66. Took a giant curve but 66 was no longer there.
Turned around and got on Interstate 40
12:55 On I 40 to Flagstaff.
1:26 Winona.
Starting to rain.
Can see Humphries Peak (or the mountain range) in the distance. (It is by Flagstaff.)
1:32 Exit 204. Route 66.
We traveled Route 66 into Flagstaff.
Gary: “All those false turns worked out really well.” Meaning we arrived at good a time, missing the rain that was in Flagstaff before we arrived.
1:53 Arrived at the hotel. 69° and nice.
We were able to check in early. 78,985
3:00 Ate at Fat Olives.
Slow service. Food was good. Bruschetta and pizza.
5:01 Back at hotel.
We did not have as much time in Flagstaff as anticipated. We considered visiting the Museum of Northern Arizona which is near Flagstaff. This museum maintains a specialized geology and paleontology collection of about 150,000 specimens. We also wanted to drive up to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. We realized we did not have the time or energy. Next time we need to schedule an extra day for these!
Sunday. 7.19.26 – Flagstaff, AZ to Barstow, CA
car mileage: 78,987
Leaving Arizona
5:52 am In car ready to leave.
56°. Cool and nice! Firefighters parked next to us from Alta Pacifica firefighter company.
5:57 Pulled out of hotel parking lot.
Woke up early. So we got up early. Went to Northern Pines for breakfast at 6:00. I had a mushroom, bacon, cheese omelet with hash browns, and toast.
6:59 On our way!
7:12 Tire Pressure light came on. (TPMS)
Stopped at Chevron to check it.
Gary went in to buy a tire pressure gauge. Tires were fine. Warning light went away.
You can smell the pines and junipers here!
7:20 Back on the road.
7:26 Arizona Divide.
7:35 Got off at Exit 178. Route 66.
After leaving Flagstaff we got on the interstate for a few miles and got back on Route 66 west of Flagstaff at Exit 178. The road takes you through high-altitude pine forests and quirky roadside stops. There is still a stretch of the original 1930s concrete!
[Took the Crookton Rd exit]
8:08 Route 66
8:14 Saw Burma Shave Signs.
8:33 Seligman
8:45 Stopped and got gas and ice. Cleaned windshield. 79,067
8:50 Back on Route 66.
9:41 Stopped to change GoPro battery.
Missed recording a little bit of 66.
Still having the tire message.
10:17 Kingman, Arizona
We stopped at the Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman’s Historic Powerhouse. It depicts the history and evolution of travel along the 35th parallel that became Route 66.
Murals, photos, vintage cars, and life-size dioramas capture each of the groups that have traveled what came to be known as the Mother Road. Native Americans, the U. S. Army, wagons, and dust bowl refugees are included in the many displays.
Since it was Sunday, some other places we wanted to see were not open. Maybe we will stop on our way home. Kingman is known as the Turquoise Capital of the World.
11:13 Back on I 40.
California
11:50 “Welcome to California”
12:10 Stopped and got snacks (lunch). 107°.
1:36 105°.
The breadth and vastness of the landscape and topography is incredible.
It is interesting to see how it changes from state to state . . .
1:38 Ludlow exit.
Rest stop. Got on Route 66.
1:50 Found Route 66. 108°.
It was a long stretch and we traveled past the Bagdad Cafe.
[Arrived in Barstow]
Drove around and finally found the hotel.
3:04 In hotel parking lot. 79,367
Room was not ready. Drove around. Stopped and got gas.
109°. 79,368
Ate dinner at Chili’s. Had chicken fingers, fries, and rice.
The TPMS light kept coming on throughout the day. Gary made an appointment for tomorrow (Monday) morning at 8:00 at a tire place in Barstow. They say they can check the tires and sensors. Hope they are quick and have any part we need. Would like to be on the way to Pismo as soon as possible!
Two homeless people were outside the window of the restaurant where we sat. They left before we did. I had hoped to give them some money when we left, but we did not see them anywhere.
7:30ish back in room
Monday. 7.20.26 – Barstow, CA to Pismo Beach, CA
car mileage: 79,377
6:23 am In the car. Pismo here we come!! 83°
Going to Dunkin’ Donuts and then to car place to get tire sensors checked.
Lovely mountains. Took pics.
Waiting on G to get checked out of hotel. Guess they are slow.
6:46 Finally got away from hotel.
[Had to wait to get into the room yesterday. Now wait to get out. I’m not impressed.
Plus no hooks in our room to hang stuff!!]
7:12 Finished breakfast.
Drove next door to gas station and got ice for ice chest.
7:27 Pulled up to the tire place.
It opens at 8:00. Our appointment is at 8:00.
They found nothing wrong.
Stopped and got Chex Mix and drinks for later. Cleaned windshield.
8:23 Back on the road.
9:02 Boron, CA
10:48 [Between Alvin and Maricopa] Stopped and got gas and went to restroom.
Went through a lot of agricultural fields!
Stunning drive this morning through mountains.
10:58 Back on the road.
11:21 “Maricopa City Limit”
11:27 Road work. Traffic at a stop.
11:40 Moving slowly. One lane road up a mountain.
11:51 Moving but still slow. Up hill.
11:59 Entering San Louis Obispo County.
“Ventura Highway” is the song playing now on the USB.
“Welcome to Cuyama Valley”
12:04 Slow traffic.
The drive was gorgeous. Large mountains and winding roads. Also, lots of road work.
Growing up in the shadow of a mountain. (I wonder what affect it has on who you are.)
1:13 Passed under Hwy 101.
1:22 Stopped for road work.
Just past Santa Maria on Division St.
1:24 Moving again.
1:51 Grover Beach!
We drove in above Santa Maria and drove up Hwy 1 through Guadalupe, Oceano, Grover Beach, and then Pismo Beach.
Pismo Beach
Made it to Pismo Beach! 68°
2:05 Dinosaur Caves Park. 66°!
3:00 Got a text that our hotel room is ready.
We got the same room as last time!! (Which we had requested when we registered way back in February.)
Walked to Brads and ate. I had fried shrimp, fries, and clam chowder. It was all delicious. Perfect. Then we sat on the Promenade a bit and walked to the end of the pier, stopping to look around and then sat on bench near our hotel.
7:01 Sitting in the hotel room with the sliding door open.
There is a breeze and the sound of the ocean.
It is cool and breezy. Feels wonderful. I am very tired, but I am looking forward to watching the sunset tonight. I am looking forward to spending nine days in this beautiful place!
Route 66 Historical Information
Route 66 was commissioned by the US Department of Transportation in 1926 to connect communities in the west with metropolitan towns, such as Chicago, St. Louis, and Tulsa. It was formally decommissioned in 1985 after being replaced by interstate highways. Many segments of Route 66 have been preserved as Historic Route 66, a National Scenic Byway.
Accept Where You Are Now
Being in the car for hours brings out conversation even between introverts. On Thursday, in an effort to make conversation, I asked Gary what he had learned so far in life. He said it is like the Norwegian guy (introvert and dog) on the YouTube channel that we follow. Gary said, “Be happy with what you have now.”
As you get older, there are opportunities you may have missed, or maybe people (friends) passed you by. It is OK to simply accept where you are now. You know you should/could have exercised and taken better care of yourself at a younger age. But you can start now.
Start Now
That is what this trip is about—getting out and seeing other places. The United States is a huge place with diverse people and customs. Travel changes you. As Anthony Bourdain said:
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body.”
My next blog will describe our time in Pismo Beach—along with some great pictures.
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