Following an hour wait inside Jack in the Box for a breakfast sandwich this morning in Fresno after checking out of the Taj Mahal priced Day's Inn, we were finally on the road heading east. By the way, I'm so convinced that drive through customers receive much faster and better service than dining inside the brick and mortar building. In EVERY case on this trip, when we've gone inside, we've had to wait forever compared to those in the drive through. Not a scientific study, but very annoying. Going forward, think we'll go inside to pee, and drive through for food or dad's sweet chocolate shake fix...of course, most of the time the bathrooms are disgusting also. Okay, enough of my rant and on to the gorgeous parts of the day.
We entered Sequoia National Park just east of Fresno on highway 180 at nearly sea level and drove to nearly 8000 feet after getting on 198 to Giant Sequoia National Monument. It was so cool because we were actually driving through the clouds for miles off and on, and then the sun would shine through these beautiful giant trees. With only 2 or 3 quick stops for photo opportunities, we landed at the bottom of the forest abut 40 miles outside of Visalia 4 hours after beginning the ascent. What a great experience.
We decided to drive on to Bakersfield where I found a very nice Courtyard by Marriott for 1/3 the price of last night's stay and we went to Benji's for dinner. Years ago, when I was working for Banfield, the Pet Hospital, Bakersfield was part of my territory and the teams from both hospitals got together and we all went to dinner at a Basque restaurant and I have fond memories of that dinner (with the only exception being the pickled tongue. I'm sure I turned green when I was bribed to try it). So, Benji's is a different restaurant than the one I was at years ago, but it is a French Basque Restaurant. They serve food family style, and a lot of it. It was delicious even though we couldn't bring with us what we couldn't finish because we have no means of storing it. To give you an idea of the volume of food, they start you off with a basket of bread and butter, then bring cabbage soup and home cooked pinto beans. Then they serve salad and a plate of fresh sliced tomatoes with chopped red onions in a delicious vinegary sauce. Finally your entree arrives-dad ordered grilled salmon and I had a shrimp and steak kabob over brown rice. Oh yea, there was also a plate of pickled tongue...a staple in the Basque food world apparently. It was all very tasty and prepared perfectly and 1/4 mile from the hotel.
Dad is sleeping soundly now...I think he had a pretty good day! Tomorrow we're headed up to Lake Isabella and then will drive through the desert over the Cajon Pass and land at my friend Jeanne's where we'll be at our 'home base' and make day trips as we choose. She has a lovely home so I'm certain we'll just hang out many days too. She loves dad and he and mom stayed there before and I think he feels very at home with her and her two cockers.
Unfortunately, my pictures haven't loaded yet, so I'll post those from today, when I can.
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