Day Twenty One

The day started with a disaster, a predictable disaster, but one all the same. Watched Everton's first game of the season. Incidentally thirteen years ago almost to the day the blog from the first trip starts the same way! 

Had startled myself awake mid dream to watch the game. In the dream Dan Thomas had just arrived and done a handbrake turn in a clapped out Renault Espace. Very bizarre. Normally when he turns up on these trips it is his doppelgänger we see somewhere.

Eventually got ready and went for breakfast in the motel. It was the world's smallest breakfast room and quite busy. A family had helpfully put tables together in the middle which meant it was difficult to get to anything. Eventually managed to get something and sat in the extra seating area by ourselves.

Tidied the car and then packed up. Noticed a cricket on the curtains in the room. 

It was the second one I has seen in the last twelve hours. A black one attacked me last night just after I finished the blog.

We checked out and then headed just up the road to the Museum of Western Film History.  Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills have been used as a filming location in a lot of famous films, ranging from How the West was Won to Gladiator. We went in and paid the $5 donation they asked for. The lady on the desk said there was a fifteen minute short introductory film going to start in a couple of minutes in the small theatre. We looked at the first few things and then went and sat in the theatre. We were the only ones. We sat there for at least five minutes and nothing happened so we gave up and went back to carry on looking around. After about ten minutes an announcement said the film was going to start. We didn't bother.

At this point I will announce that Ann and I have different opinions about the museum. Ann said she thought it was great, really fascinating. I, on the other hand, do not concur with that view. Apart from one or two things which were ok, it seemed to be a museum of film posters. Also most of the exhibits were things like 'hat worn by an extra'.

A suit worn by Robert Downey Jnr in Iron Man 

Christoph Waltz's wagon from Django Unchained

Creature from Tremors

This 'might' have been used in a film

Only realised that Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower forty eight states, was right behind us when seeing the magnets for it in the shop and Googling it. Nothing in the shop seemed to be related to films.  We left and drove south for about an hour. Listened to Sound of the Sixties with Tony Blackburn. Stopped and got fuel having used a lot yesterday. Picked up a Subway for lunch. Saw the most stereotypical American trailer park family. She was young and inappropriately dressed for her size, he had tattoos under his eyes and their small son had a blueish mullet. 

Drove about another fifteen minutes south and stopped in a scenic lookout to eat lunch. Had video call with Paul, Helen and Alana. Didn't get out the car as it was 96. 

Carried on west bound. Didn't realise the journey was going to be as spectacular as it turned out to be.

Eventually arrived at Kernville to stay the night. We only chose to stay here as we planned to go tubing on the river. Unfortunately the snow melt this year was massive causing flooding in the town Severe flooding in Kernville. The river is still fuller than it should be and tubing is not running this year.

Checked into the Piazza's Pine Cone Inn. Room is great except for the big glass patio door which means people can see in unless you have the curtains closed.

Went out for dinner at cherylsdiner. I am going to break tradition and tell you Ann had two eggs scrambled, hash browns and toast. There was not much egg. As in barely any.  Told her that she should said to them if I realised I was getting quails eggs I would have ordered more. I had a Sprite which didn't taste of Sprite. Ann tried it and agreed. Asked them to check that the syrup in the machine had not run out as that is what it tasted like. Waitress came back and told me it was fine and the Sprite tasted normal. She asked me if I was getting confused with 7Up. Told her I wasn't. She offered me lemonade instead. I got flat lemon which was overpoweringly lemony like Sheila's lemonade in Detectorists. Ann agreed with me. Ann had wanted to go there for breakfast in the morning too, but by this point she was Googling alternatives whilst we were still in there. Did notice this painting in the diner.

Can you guess who it is?

That's right its a picture of Calamity Jane! Pretty sure I saw that hat in the movie museum earlier, labelled as 'Big hat which someone once wore'.

Walked back to the motel. Ann wanted some decaf coffee so we went to go to reception to get some as they said we could go and take stuff if we wanted it. As we went to cut across past the pool, we were warned there was a skunk by the gate by the family running the place. Apparently it always turns up there. They said make lots of noise to scare it off like banging the gate. I didn't. There was no skunk.

Ann has just watched An Affair to Remember. No plans to get up early.

States visited - 4

Skunk watch - low