Indio California, November 14th,

IT WAS A SHORT, pleasant (seemingly all downhill) drive from the best rest stop in all of Arizona to Indio, California. First stop, of course, was a Starbucks (I'd been to this exact Starbucks last time I passed thru about 2 years ago). Three hour trip, that's all it took. Driving thru the California State line, where there's a California Inspection Station, where stationed gaurds typically ask about the fruit you may or may not be bringing in, the official asked me what I had in the trailer. "It's a travel trailer," I said. But instead of stopping there, I kept going. "I built it myself."

AND I SMILED, realizing too late that it's best to keep things strictly perfunctory, to volunteer nothing, when dealing with officials with naturally suspicious attitudes and firearms at their side. Lucky me. The guard smiled back (like he meant it) and said, "Really?" This time I just nodded, and, still smiling, he waved me through. I spent all of the morning and the early part of the afternoon updating this blog. I've given Starbucks about 5 dollars for coffee and re-fills since I've been here (left for a little while, and came back). I left to re-fuel. I knew this from my previous California trips, so I was prepared - but damn, gasoline in the Golden State is expensive! Like a dollar more expensive per gallon than in Austin, or close to it. From the gas station I drove to a nearby Walmart and bought some food supplies. On a positive note, the cheap bottles of wine at Wallyworld are every bit as cheap as back home (same lousy brand!).

Before I left the Starbucks I called 2 local Walmart's, and they too, like the Tempe/Arizona Walmarts, do not allow overnight parking in their enormous lots. I already knew this from internet research, but called anyway to confirm (hey, maybe they had changed their policy - HA!). Called a couple of RV parks, but their nightly rates equal or surpass a night at your typical Motel 6. But I remembered reading that the casino here, Spotlight 29, allows *boondocking in the rear parking lot, so I'll head there tonight (10 minutes, 4.3 miles) If I have to, I can also drive 15 miles to a nearby rest stop.

*Boondocking = Dry Camping (parking anywhere without or with limited amenities).

I'll be here at my fav Starbucks planning the rest of my California stay. I plan to visit Joshua Tree, 29 Palms, Desert Hot Springs, all located in what I think is referred to as the high desert. Also, gonna try and get to San Diego to visit a friend, and LA to visit with my daughter Hannah. Maybe head to San Francisco for a day. Maybe.

Hey. HEY. I think I'm detecting a pattern with my days On The Road... and it's terrifying! My GOD ---- no matter where I am, I eventually end up at a Starbucks and a Walmart!

November 15th

FOUND MY WAY TO SPOTLIGHT 29 (the casino) as the last (and only) option available to me for free, overnight camping in Indio (altho it's technically located in Coachella, 10 minutes, 4.3 miles from the Indio Starbucks I sit in this very minute). Getting there was a piece of cake, navigating to the parking lot, easy as pie - and as far as overnight stays while dry camping Gratis, it was perfect! Plenty of other RVs were already there, lots of Semi's, too. The hum of idling trucks and the steady woosh of highway traffic, like the AZ rest area the night before, had no effect on falling asleep and staying asleep. White. Noise. Before calling it a night, I listened to an audio book (Zero K by Don Dellilo) for a good long while. I had 2 glasses of Shirazz in one of my plastic cups, ate you-know-what, and turned in.

Like the night before, it was pretty damn cold. I supplemented my covers (primary cover is a damn warm Pendleton Blanket) with another cover that I threw into the Forester as a last minute addition before I left Austin. It made a big difference. Again, I completely covered myself all night long from head to toe. I slept so well that my iPhone alarm woke me up. One cool thing about "living" in such tiny quarters is every single thing you could possibly need is within arm's reach. Everything is just there. The dimension inside the ATXBreeze are 4'X8'. And if the tops not popped, it's only 4' tall (popped, the little trailer is 6' tall, which allows me to stand. Awake, dressed, I opened up the trailer and was putting everything away, strapping things down, getting ready to rock and roll. A big pickup pulled up next to me and rolled it's window down. A sunglassed gal leaned out and said, "Hey, that's a really cute trailer!" I gave her a thumbs up, and smiling, she roared off.

November 16th (tgif)

SPENT ANOTHER SOMEWHAT CHILLY NIGHT at Spotlight 29. Wholly tolerable temp, never went below 48. I even popped the ATXBreeze top and the extra room felt great. I was able to stand up, stretch out, extend my tiny table, and dine in a way that didn't require I keep a bowl on my lap and balance a piece of cheese on my knee. My sister Sally texted me, asked whether I was gonna wander into the Casino and do a little gambling. But she was just kidding, she knows I don't like gambling. Never have. I won't even play the penny slots (they have them here! ye olde bait and switch methinks). Yesterday afternoon while I snacked inside my trailer at the Starbucks parking lot, flies got inside and began to dive bomb me. Later on, I went to the CVS to get a fly swatter, which I bought for a dollar. While there, I discovered something I did not know. They sell BOOZE at drugstores in California. Next to the Head and Shoulders is a bottle of gin for 20 bucks. In Cali, it's never been easier to get hammered and high, which is nice, and I'm sure, greatly appreciated by many of the substance abuse clinics across this great state.

Heading to Joshua Tree later today, and San Diego on Sunday, stay tuned! - Max