This doesn't top the worst weekend of my life, far from it. I had a really good time despite the almost constant driving for four days straight. I re-watched all three seasons of the office on my ipod--well, listened actually and I had some pretty unique experiences.
A friend of mine was getting married in Walla Walla, WA and wanted me to be a groomsman, so another friend and myself decided to drive all the way up from LA. We left on Thurs. at about 5 and made it as far as Sacramento and decided to stop at Flying J.
Why Flying J? My dad was a trucker for about 5 years and he used to talk about Flying J constantly--like he was sponsored and had some sort of conversational quota to fill. I thought it would be a shame not to stop and see what the fuss was about. It wasn't that bad as far as sleeping in the back of a durango goes. We had a 5 dollar shower and the safety of a well lit truck stop for sleeping. Plus, if you're really lonely you can have yourself a lot lizard of company. I thought they weren't even real at first, but when I saw one pull up at 11 pm with fake boobs and stretch pants I knew my dad hadn't been exaggerating all those years ago. Yikes!
Anyway, we made it to Walla Walla friday night and opted for the La Quinta this time. Not a bad room. The wedding was great the next day and I stayed long enough for the ceremony, pictures and high fives. Then I had to get back in the car and head for LA.
On the way home I decided to stop at all the places I wanted to see on the way up. So, we stopped at crater lake in OR and in the morning fed the squirrels. That night we made it only as far as Hearst Castle because of some nasty traffic in San Fran and decided to camp out next to the ocean. I thought it'd be cool to wake up and see the ocean.
I woke up instead to see tons of these gigantic birds flying around and when I got out of the car to see what was going on I saw a dead seal on the beach and a bunch of vultures picking at it. Even though that's kind of gross I was pretty fascinated and couldn't look away.
We were finally on the road after about an hour and I was home around 2 PM.
Well, I have my Flying J experiences too. I stop at one near my home sometimes because it's a convenient place to get gas before getting on I-90. Well, it never fails, if I have to go inside to get something at the store or the Subway Sandwich shop inside, I get hit on by the truckers. My daughter teases me that I am a "trucker-magnet". (At least I'm not a "lot lizard")
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
jon....all this time I knew that you would have some great, interesting, fun, and comedic stories to share. This one is a good one. I'm sure there is more to tell but what you shared was nice to hear. Thanks for stopping by to share that with us.
I have never stopped at a Flying J. Though I have always loved truckers I just never felt they were a safe place to stop for a girl on the road. Didn't want to be thought of or seen as a Lot Lizard! ;-)
And I would have stood and stared at nature in action too!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
LOL Loved the story.. We stopped at a Flying J on the way to Utah when my sister got married... Stayed in a hotel across the street.. They have good food.. But I could have done without the adult shop next door...
