every time we pass by, I snap a shot of this tower and text it to La Ley. She used to live in Salinas and worked in Gonzales and didn't like it up there.
Our next stretch break was in Paso Robles which we had the pleasure of visiting earlier that summer...
If the temperature wasn't 90+ degrees, we would have enjoyed ourselves more...
We enjoyed our snacks in the shade at Centennial Park, a classic town square type of park..
with our view of the historic Acorn building which houses the second location of the Brown Butter Cookie Company
The park's bathrooms are super clean and modern. The stalls are individual and very very nice. They don't reek of urine and there are sinks outside and Dyson hand dryers.
At the park's central edge is the Paso Robles Historical Society, which is a Carnegie Library and has the statue of Ignacy Paderewski (also mentioned in my previous post). We had a chance to revisit Powell's Sweet Shoppe as well as the Brown Butter Cookie Co. once more for snacks and gifts.
It's funny, looking at this now, I didn't notice the flavor choices like spice (which wasn't available anyways; I wouldn't like it but I have friends that would). The citrus was new at the time and has a bit of a spicy tinge to it. I also bought some bourbon cookies as gifts.
Bert's candies plus my two Pez (the Lizard from the "Spiderman" reboot and Sanrio's Batz Maru; I know the Lizard is ugly but he's GREEN and I wanted to add him to my collection for St. Patrick's Day).
We didn't stay too long since we still had some driving to do before our next stop.
We headed west on the 46...
and passed by the Jack Ranch Cafe where we had lunch for our summer road trip a few months earlier.
We saw the familiar white star of the next stop along with signs proclaiming "Fudge", "Nuts" and "Free Samples".
Yes, it was the return to Blackwell's Corner, the general store which is touted as James Dean's last stop before his fatal car crash. Gas is expensive here by the way, but they take advantage of the drivers who need to get gas while traveling this desolate stretch of freeway.
It was like stepping into a furnace. Man it was hot and windy out here! At least the store had AC within.
Our healthy snacks which were enjoyed while passing by the oil drills...
Somewhere past the San Fernando Valley is a town called Newhall where we stopped at Taco Bell. I only knew the town's name after checking the receipt.
Those crunchy tacos hit the spot after all that driving (or sitting, heh heh). It was super hot here too! We're talking high 80's. Ugh!
LA traffic is the worst. Of course, we hit some on our way down...
It was great to finally be back home during our three and a half day trip. This was almost one year ago, yikes.
SF gifts from my cousin in the Sunset. TC claimed the stickers already.
The chocolates of course, are long gone!
Day 4 in order (this is pretty short, amazingly):
The day's Highlights if you have a short attention span
plus:
Java Beach
Fosters Freeze, Salinas
and this last compilation post!
If you have just stumbled onto my blog, here is a recap of our Summer Road Trip 2014 when we went up to the SF for a wedding (Labor Day weekend):
Day 1:
SF Roadtrip Day 1 - On our way to a wedding...
More pitstops - Gorman and Kettleman City
Mamy's Fruit Stand, Hollister
Grinds Vines and Automobilia Cafe plus BookSmart
Nearly there
Taking the L to Taraval - First stop: Kingdom of Dumpling
Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream
and Eggettes
Day 2:
Just the Highlights
+ the full blown posts:
SF Roadtrip Day 2 - John's Ocean Beach Cafe (sadly, this restaurant was razed for development)
Scenes from the OB415
Andytown (where I had their signature drink, the Snowy Plover, their version of a coffee soda)
Golden Gate Park - Bison and Windmills
Beach Chalet murals at the Golden Gate Park Visitors Center
Scenes from Irving Street, Inner Sunset
Peasant Pies
Holy Gelato!
Day 3:
Highlights
and everything else....
Devil's Teeth Baking Company
Scenes from Noriega St plus Noriega Produce
Trouble Coffee
16th Street Tiled Steps
Grand View Park
Hidden Garden Steps
Win Fook (this restaurant is now closed)
Return to Pollyann Ice Cream
Velella Velella! Back to SF's OB
George's Zoo Liquor Deli
and OB415 Sunset
I still have to finish up my posts from the earlier part of last summer and a few weekend road trips from earlier this year. At least I can cross this off my "to-do"list! This was one of our most fun trips. We saw a beautiful wedding and visited so many different (and new to us) eateries, coffee places such...TC already wants to go back during Fall Break!
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