Not unlike the first day of a trip, the last is predominately a drive-until-you-drop
event. And we did just that, though not without poking our heads into
the Calico Ghost Town there about 10 minutes east of Barstow before making
our final trek back to the nest.
Property topped off with fuel, we headed out to Calico
Ghost Town. Of course, the place doesn't open until 9am (who knew?),
so we got in at a reduced rate.
8:31am
In retrospect of the reduced rate, I think we're better off... not
"open" simply means the glut of shops and merchants aren't
hocking their wares, and you could actually wander amongst a mostly
empty place. Not a single person blocking my view of the bottle
house, for example.
8:37am
Both the fire
bucket brigade and apparatus
were present, though given the era of the town and equipment, the
buckets would have been the primary firefighting equipment during
Calico's heyday.
8:57am
As the place began to open, and the mercury continued to climb,
it was time to hit the road for the home nest.
10:03am
There's nothing that says good eats like a snack break at a truck
stop. So as we passed Kramer Junction along Highway 58 between Barstow
and Boron, I stopped for
a Whatchamacallit and a soda. Yummy!
12:02pm
Passing through Bakersfield, we stopped for stuff's for lunch, and
to check out a
fire truck, of course.
12:41pm
And the stop for lunch to partake of those lunch stuff's... and
how could we pass up the rest stop around mile 210 of Interstate 5?
Couldn't -- exactly...
3:08pm
One last stop for fuel and nibbles before we pushed on home.
4:47pm
Arrival at The Destination. And darn the heat, the nest was waaayyy
too toasty, although a flip of an air conditioning switch remedied
that quick like bunny.
