Hound Dog Traveler: Tehachapi to Stockton, California

Here I am in the In and Out Burger Drive Through

By Guest Writer: Cinnamon (Canela) Rose
This is now day number three on the road. It is becoming tougher and tougher to remain interested in this moving process.

Last night we stayed in a very mediocre La Quinta Inn behind a gas station and across from an interesting field. I slept well as the motel was quiet but I suspect that was because they didn't have too many paying customers.

In the morning, we went for another walk in the field across the road. And then, much to my surprise, we went looking for the community dog park. Boy, was I excited! We turned into the park and saw some ball fields but were not sure where the fenced dog park was. We gave up looking and decided to follow a trail. It was a great trail for two reasons. One, I saw a Jackrabbit hopping across the trail and into the brush. And second, the trail actually led to the dog park. We went through the gate and I was off my leash. I loved that but where were the dogs? I spent my time in the dog park alone... eating grass and sniffing around. Why don't the dogs in Tehachapi, California come to the dog park? I am missing my friends from the dog park in Santa Fe. Snif..... snif.

And then it was back on the road. As we went through the mountain pass I saw some of the beauty of California... green rolling hills. But all too soon we were down into the valley... the Central Valley of California, where all that food is grown. It was kind of overcast, or was it smoggy. The roads were in poor condition so I laid down and snoozed. Yes, some of the orchards were in bloom but I was feeling down. The ride was not too different from yesterday and it was just too much for this hound dog to remain positive about.

About mid-day, I had had enough of the trucks (no mas camiones... no mas!), and the bumpy roads. But we decided to stop and try an In and Out Burger. I got a few tastes and that bouyed my spirits a bit. By afternoon, it was back to the same.. trucks, traffic and poor roads. I don't want to live in California!

There was a place where you could stop and go wine tasting and nut tasting. Pistachios were their specialty. But we didn't stop. Grrrr. We did stop at a couple of Rest Stops but I wasn't sure what I should do there. We walked around, but that's about it.

Here I am in the motel on my own bed with my fav toy.

I was getting pretty depressed when we pulled into the next La Quinta. We were in Stockton, California (the town that is going bankrupt) and the area where the motel was turned out to be rather nice. There was a rose garden, grass and pine cones. We got a room on the first floor with no hallway. Best of all, she brought in one of my "long lost" toys for me to play with. That helped my spirits. After writing this, I'm going to lay on my bed and play with my squeaky toy. Life is only OK. I will be glad when this is over. If I could, I'd go back home to Santa Fe. Enough of this "adventure!"

Later,
Cinnamon

Hound Dog Traveler: Flagstaff to Tehachapi leads to a strike!

I was at a rest stop admiring the Ocotillo. I decided I didn't want to live here.

By Guest Writer: Cinnamon (Canela) Rose

Yesterday I was "the watcher" and I worked hard. I thought, since I loved the pine woods, that Flagstaff was to be our new home. I found the Flagstaff La Quinta really plush. They had windows where I could look out and see the parking lot and the arriving dogs. Then in the morning they provided a continental breakfast in a spacious lobby. At dawn we went hiking in the pine woods near the motel. I think I would like to stay in Flagstaff.

But oh no! She checked out and we were off down the highway again. I started out in my "Watcher" role and saw some cows and a huge crow. As we left the beautiful pines, I was sad. I put my head down and dozed. Soon we were pulling off to Williams, AZ. I perked up a bit. I saw a sign, Bearizona. I thought I might like to go visit the bears. There was also a deer farm in the area. But we didn't get to go there either. I won't even mention the Grand Canyon. I was getting depressed at that point.

Here I am nosing around the engine at the Grand Canyon Railway.

But then she pulled off onto old Route 66 through Williams. I had fun looking at the old buildings and sniffing around the old locomotive at the Grand Canyon Railway. After gassing up with over-priced gas, we were off again.

Soon, the beautiful mountain forests gave way to flat desert and then to sandy desert. The only saving grace there was that it had rained recently and the ocotillo were leafed out and the wildflowers lined the road. I liked those butter colored little flowers.

We drove and drove. Finally we were in California and stopped for lunch. It was hot out. I needed the a/c on and drank more water. At a Dairy Queen I sat up with my front paws at the ordering window. I thought, perhaps, I would like an ice cream cone. But a treat like that wasn't in the cards.

We headed out toward Barstow and I went on strike. I quit being the "Watcher," and just curled up on my seat. Being a "Watcher" was really boring since there was nothing but dry desert and trucks to watch. I was bored and I went on strike. I just dozed. As I dozed, I dreampt that this was my life... on the road all day, every day and no home to return to. We were homeless!

Once through Barstow we stopped for gas and I went walking in the sand. Boring!

I perked up when I saw those wind turbines on the hillsides near Tehachapi. Now that was interesting. Soon, we headed off the freeway to our home for the night... the La Quinta at Tehachapi. Now more experienced, she asked for a first floor room. Our room was smaller and more worn than the home last night in Flagstaff. I don't think I want to live in Tehachapi.

We unpacked and I had my dog food (I won't dignify it by calling it dinner) and then we went walking in the field across the road. I liked hearing the birds in the reclaimed water reservoir there. Then it was back to the room and to bed. I was tired again. When will this lifestyle end?