Day 6: The Home Stretch

Woke up around 3 AM on Saturday morning, my final day on the road. Maybe this extra early rising was due to final day jitters. Maybe the train tracks running directly behind the Kingman Ramada had something to do with it. Either way, up I was. Let’s just say it was a long wait until sunrise. But sunrise finally arrived. By 7:30 we were on the road. Goodbye Arizona; California here we come!

Drove through a pretty stretch of AZ before reaching the border and crossing into my new home state via an agricultural inspection check point where I was asked if I was carrying any fruit, plants, or animals other than “the dogs”.

I pondered for a sec before replying, “Well…I have a banana from Love’s [preferred service station plaza], and that one [pointing at Clyde’s infamous crate] is a cat.”

“Bananas and cats are not what we’re looking for, Ma’am,” said the lady, waving me through. (I wonder what they are looking for?! Anyone know?)

Once in California, my GPS (did I mention I want to marry my GPS?) connected me from Interstate 40 to Interstate 10 via an absolutely gorgeous stretch of US Route 95. This simple 2-lane road passes through the most beautiful sandcastle mountain range I’ve ever seen. I think it may be called “The Needles” but I’m not sure—at any rate, from Needles (the town) to Blythe I was in total awe and so, so happy to be on a quiet road with hardly any other cars around, serenely rolling through magical fairyland.

Alas, pleasant US 95 ended and I was back on crowded superhighway for the final stretch of driving before OMG, getting off the highway FOR REAL, and landing in a place I actually recognized! At that point it started to hit me, what I had just accomplished. I drove myself and my animals ALL THE WAY across the country! Me in my little Prius, bopping along for 2,919 miles.

As I pressed “End Route” on the GPS, I started feeling pretty emotional. Turned on the radio, found the local classic rock station and a great tune was playing: Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon, followed by the live version of Start Me Up. Wow wow wow. Total elation. This Odyssey (thank you, Sarah, for naming it as such) has been completed. We made it. 🙏🏼🌵OBC🦉🧡