Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
January 2025 - Palm Springs CA
Texarkana TX
Saturday we enjoyed our hot breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn in Conway. There was a lot of snow on the ground!
Our load is getting lighter!
George Tobolowsky is an American sculptor from Dallas, Texas. Tobolowsky creates steel and stainless steel sculptures by welding together “found objects,” discarded machine parts, industrial parts and scrap metal. He lets the original shapes of the discarded steel pieces determine the form of each sculpture by balancing its compositions with each “found object” or piece of scrap metal.
Back on the road we had protein bars for lunch after our big breakfast.
Click here for a more detailed post Conway AR to Plano TX.
Settled for the evening at the Hilton Richardson (Plano).
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We were the only people "dining" in the Hilton Richardson's restaurant. It was freezing and very brightly lit. We ordered medium done burgers with fries and sweet potato fries. The burgers came well-done. The server apologized saying that the chef forgot! It took forever to get new burgers. The server was sweet and we tipped him in cash as we know tipped servers earn a terrible wage in Texas. He was tickled pink.
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Sunday we slept in and got on the road around 9. We had coffee and cranberry loaf in our room.
Getting out of Dallas was a challenge but GPS Guy (GG) came through.
Although we planned on 11 for Cracker Barrel, the first one we passed at 10:30. The next one was Abilene. And it was packed at 12:02 on a Sunday. We had wanted to avoid the after church goers but, we waited and got a table at 12:30. We both had eggs, bacon or sausage, tomatoes or hash browns and BISCUITS!
We arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn Odessa around 3:30. We like our downtime. John watched his recorded football games on his laptop. I updated my blog and read.
We had dinner at the bar, Andrea was our server and was delightful. John had a chicken Caesar and hated the chicken, dry and rubbery. I had salmon Caesar which was very good.
Monday and we took our time leaving in the morning as we gain another hour. We have breakfast included (courtesy of Andrea).
Before we get on the interstate we make a stop in Odessa.
The University of Texas Permian Basin Stonehenge replica was built in 2004 by members of the Art Department. The original Stonehenge in England took about 1,500 years to build. The replica took about six weeks.
Stonehenge landmarkThe 30-to-40-thousand-pound stones were donated by TexaStone Quarries. The replica is the same length as the original horizontally, but slightly shorter vertically.
On the road.
We made a few stops. Click here for the day's recap.
Pecos claims to be the home of the world's first rodeo.
Van Horn, John had a coffee in the hotel.
We had also stopped in Sierra Blanca, not much there and at Love's for a bathroom break and to pick up salads for dinner. We got gas in Pecos.
We checked into the Hampton in Las Cruces. Very nice and got settled in.
Tuesday we had yogurts at the Hampton Inn complimentary breakfast.
We were then on the road by 9, another sunny day. It starts out cool but warms up nicely.
We did a quick bathroom stop at Akela Flats.
We had planned on a stop in Deming, but missed it.
We stopped in Lordsburg for a Mexican lunch at Ramona's.
It is a popular local spot, busy even at 11:30. We had Mexican coke, so good as it is not as sweet as American/Canadian.
The red salsa was good and John loved the bean dip. I said I would make some when we got home.
I was so looking forward to huevos rancheros as I love them in Mexico. I had asked for no beans, but got them anyway. I couldn't find the eggs, they were buried under beef in tomato sauce. There was also another large serving of beef with green sauce in the middle. When I questioned it she said we also add beef. There is no mention of meat in the menu description. I did not want meat. We both agreed there red and green sauces had no spice, they were flat.
John had the chimichanga with ground beef which he enjoyed. We both agreed the rice was mushy.
We almost missed the Ramona sign!
Other than a stop for gas in Lordsburg, we did a quick drive through the ghost town of Stein's but it was all boarded up.
We crossed into Arizona and checked into the DoubleTree in Tucson at 3 PM.
We got settled and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.
Dinner at the hotel. I had cod fish tacos and was surprised to also get rice and beans. At home I would only get the two tacos. John also had tacos.
Wednesday morning, Day 8 Tucson AZ to Palm Springs CA.
Walking to breakfast.
Packed up and on the road by 9.
The hotel was next to the Reid Park Zoo.
We had breakfast at the Congress Hotel in March 2014. We will probably stay a couple of days on our homeward bound trip.
Tucson was easy to get through to I-8, bypassing Phoenix.
A stop in Yuma AZ.
Clock in 2004 and 2025.
Back on the road, we enjoy our smoothies while crossing into California.
Palm Springs
We get settled in, pick up groceries, just enough for today and Thursday.
It amused me at Ralph's, grocery chain.
Raspberries 12 oz $ 7.49
Raspberries 6 oz $ 2.50 6X2 = 12 $2.50X2 = $5.00
BTW 12 oz raspberries at Costco (AKA the zoo) $5
Whenever I am quoting prices it is in US dollars, we have to factor in the Canadian exchange rate to compare apples to apples. However, groceries are still a lot cheaper here.
Thursday and you're supposed to sleep in on your first day, right? No, some A$$hat had set the alarm for 6 AM? I've said this before, why doesn't Housekeeping check this?
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So we were up at 6:40!! No plans for today, we have enough food (and wine).
We will probably go to Costco tomorrow. I started a grocery list and a menu plan.
We unpacked, did laundry.
John booked golf for Tuesday.
I booked Tucson hotel for two nights on our way home.
We took a walk to the office to check on something and took these.
We also took a nap, something we never do.
Photos around the resort.
Our balcony.
From the bedroom window.
Friday we were up at 7. We headed out at 10, first stop car wash. Then we realized we didn't have shopping bags with us so we came back to the condo. Next stop, Costco, and it was a zoo!
Then we find out they only take Visa cards (we don't have). Our Canadian debit cards should have worked, but they didn't. The cashier said there is often a problem with the Canadian cards. Considering this is Costco and they get a lot of Canadians, you think they could make it work. I did have cash. Out of there and we both said never again, it isn't worth it for the 20 minute drive. We still had to go to Ralph's as we didn't want bulk stuff.
Back home we unloaded and had lunch. I made a pot of chicken soup from the leftover rotisserie chicken and vegetables.
John went to work out later and I walked over and enjoyed the sun. Even though it was 19 C it was not really warm as the air is so dry here. Oh oh, John left his phone in the fitness centre! No worries, it was still there.
Grocery comparison - we got 4 thick steaks (approx 4.5 lbs at $12/lb) for $50 at Costco that will do us for 8 meals.
At St. Lawrence Market I get 2 steaks (not as thick) for the same price.
I have to walk over here and get a good photo!
Costco - we can't get alcohol in Ontario, they just introduced wine and beer back home.
Drive back from Costco.
They weren't kidding about the price of eggs down here, at Ralph's. I can get a dozen at home in Longo's for $4 CDN. Eggs at Costco was two dozen for $7.50 US.
I was bitching at New Year's that I couldn't find crab legs. I found these CANADIAN crab clusters here in Ralph's for $22.
ON THIS DAY (OTD)
A random lookback at what we were doing this day/week in the past.
COOKING
Saturday on the road Plano TX burgers
Sunday on the road Odessa TX chicken and salmon Caesar's
Monday on the road Las Cruces NM salads
Tuesday on the road Tucson AZ tacos
Wednesday Palm Springs rotisserie chicken and bread
Thursday leftover rotisserie chicken
Friday steak and broccolini
WATCHING
While on the road we mostly watched/read whatever we wanted on our separate devices.
Gangs of London is a British action thriller crime television series. Based on London Studio's 2006 video game for the PlayStation Portable.
The city of London is being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of the international gangs that control it, as well as the sudden power vacuum that's created when the head of London's most powerful crime family is assassinated.
READING
Yuma AZ
Not much reading this week. I did finish The Killing Kind, another Jane Casey. A good scary story.
I started The Serial Killer's Wife.
What an interesting road trip. Oasis Resort looks nice. Have a wonderful stay in Palm Springs. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
ReplyDeleteYou zipped right across my state. I don't envy you going through Dallas. We are always shocked to see that every small town in East Texas has a dollar store, a Baptist church, and a liquor store. That's America for you.
ReplyDeleteThose boots look so cool! I can imagine them being spread around a town all painted differently, but that's because I love doing a scavenger hunt for that kind of thing!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your trip.
Whaaaat? We had your crab legs???? Oh no! LOL
ReplyDeleteReally interesting photos. Soo many I want to say something about but I'll just remark -- THOSE COWBOY BOOTS! How big are they? Human height? Bigger?
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny to see a fake Stonehenge. I went to Texas about two years ago but we were nowhere near UT. But I do see another Stonehenge replica between San Antonio and Austin...I'll note to check it out next time.
ReplyDeleteLooks like some great travels. I love traveling vicariously through others, especially to places I may not visit myself.
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots.
ReplyDelete