In the car, leaving Phoenix, Arizona.

A road crew out repaving the 10 freeway about 65 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona, causes us a 45-minute delay on our way to Santa Barbara, California to visit Uncle Woody and Aunt Ann.

North of Interstate 10, about 50 miles east of California, is the Harquahala Mountains, one of about eight ranges we drive by on leaving Phoenix, Arizona. Caroline and I have passed these mountains at all times of the year and at all times of the day. No less than 60 times west and 60 times east have we crept down this interstate to begin and finish a weekend. After ten years of following the more than 350 miles of road between Phoenix and Los Angeles, we still love the views this stretch of desert offers.

We seem to stop at Mix Bowl in Pomona a lot; that’s because they are great!