Notes From the Road

We didn't get as early a start as I'd hoped, but still made it back to Los Angeles before the Grapevine became clogged with bumper-to-bumper traffic.

This particular road trip was the first time we traveled with both our college age niece and nephew in the back seat, which made it a little bit cramped for Megan, who got stuck in the middle. It did give her a little taste of what it would be like if she wasn't an only child. I think she's learning that maybe she isn't missing anything by not having an older brother and sister.

The halfway point is Harris Ranch, in Coalinga, famous for their beef. The stench from the cattle can be detected a good couple of miles before you get to the exit, even on a cold November day like this one. At around this time, my nephew stirred from his nap.

"Mommy! Alex just lifted his butt and farted at me! It smells worse in here than the cows!"

To prove her point, she rolled down the window to let in the fresh - if stinky - air. And she was right.