Day 6( 4/6)
On to Scottsdale . . .
After packing up, we stopped at the Visitors Center to ask how far we would have to go to see an actual Joshua tree. 40 minutes in the wrong direction prompted talk about how we’d go through the park from north to south during next year’s trip.
The day had dawned clear, but a haze began to develop and increase and soon we were watching range after range of sharp edged hills rise up from the horizon in varying shades of muted grays resolving eventually into darker grays and browns as we skirted by or between them. The day finally did clear up and after a couple of hours, we crossed the line into Arizona.
The first thing I noticed was that we just passed 411th Ave. Apparently, the entire state is crisscrossed by avenues (N-S) and streets (E-W). The next thing was that we were driving through the kind of hills we’d been driving past. Pretty, but soon we were in flat, uninteresting, ugly desert on a road that varied from straight by no more than two degrees. Soon, Megan said Maya had to pee. I said we’d pull off at the next overpass, Meg said “she squirming”. So, we stopped on the shoulder of I-10 with cars, vans, pickups and semis screaming by, pulled out the port-a-potty and Maya took care of business. Had Lila been awake she would have insisted on doing the same having wanted to since she discovered its existence.
We were all hungry for lunch and not too much later the endless highway provided the small town of Tonopah. The Family Diner showed its age and the food was a little strange (Connie’s vegetarian pizza was covered with broccoli and cauliflower), but at least we had a break and a little to eat. As I left I noticed the vast bar and dance floor. Obviously the place didn’t survive on its sparse luncheon patronage. On to Phoenix!
The suburbs start 30 miles from Scottsdale. The Phoenix area reminds me of an updated LA, though not as big. The freeways are easier to drive (change lanes, enter, exit, etc.), well signed and all of the interchanges are works of art with a different design impressed on the colored concrete at each one. And, on the surface streets, every quarter mile is a major road, often with 4 lanes, that allow the traffic to flow swiftly and smoothly and diverts traffic from the intervening neighborhoods.
Not long before we got there, Marian texted that if we could make it in time, she would be performing with a little dance troupe at he Scottsdale Civic Center. Within 10 minutes of exiting I-10, the five of were being seated in a nice, air-conditioned theater, watching a revue of senior citizen singing and dancing acts. The audience favored the elderly though younger family members were spread among us. We did get there in time to see Marian’s act. They did a synchronized tap number all dressed up like bell hops with top hats. The acts varied from an a cappella aria to a hip trio folk group with several dance numbers interspersed and emcee who was the king of groaner jokes. It was an unexpected and delightful way for all of us to decompress from the long drive.
That night, Stan and Marian feasted us with grilled steak and salmon, rice and their famous salad. Julie and Daniel came by for dinner but Kim and John couldn’t make it that night. After dinner, Megan and the girls went home to stay with Julie and Daniel. It had seemed like a long day, but it’s always nice when you’re getting together with family.