Monday: Nobody Walks in LA.

This was a largely unplanned day from the get go, so we decided to try to get a spot at Trader Sam's. While we couldn't sit down inside (reservations would have been good), we were still able to enjoy delightful food and wonderful libations. You know the mugs went home with us. We also checked out Downtown Disney for a bit, but the crowds and the heat made things a challenge, and we headed back in relatively short order. Not after getting two more pressed pennies, however.

We had planned for an evening in 70s gear at Good Times at Davey Wayne's, but an outdated listing of their hours led us to closed doors. We recouped, and went to The Mermaid in downtown. This was a good call, even with their Siren Night/Deadly Night/Christmas in July theme. Fun!

Moment of Serendipity: I did not realize it until later, but it was also the 68th anniversary of Disneyland's opening, July 17th, 1955. Timing!

Tuesday: Now, onto the main event!

Just a couple more stops in LA, then back on the road. First was the obligatory stop at The Donut Man, which has some amazing donuts. Even if I tended towards the more classic, glazed buttermilk bars. Still, it's a must-visit for us.

We then got some time to visit with Gwen's mom, and Bon's parents, had a surprise stop at the Bunny Museum, and then grabbed a shot at our old College lunch choice on our way back onto the road.

There were two more tourist trap stops to be had along the way, including Hadley's Orchards for Date Shakes and other sundries, then the Cabazon Dinosaurs, made famous by, among others, Pee Wee Herman.

Finally, it was time to hit our main event, the Trixie Motel in beautiful Palm Springs. It's more wonderful than either of us imafgined, and we had some high hopes. That first night, though, the most important thing was the bed. And the air conditioner.

Moment of Serendipity: The Bunny Museum! It used to be a different location, so it was cool to come across it on Lake Avenue. Why the bunny museum? Because Elijah Wood, of course.

Wednesday: Pink Flamingos

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention that this trip coincided with some of the hottest days of the summer (so far), with Palm Springs going up to 109-115° throughout the course of our visit. This led to some changes in plans as a walking tour of downtown wasn't entirely in the cards. Still, we did do some shopping, scoring some books -- and some dole whips, as well as a much-enjoyed supper at Sherman's Deli. Super tasty.

Still, much of this day was spent at the Trixie Model, both enjoying our amazing room and partaking in fun around the poolside both during the day and into the evening.

Moment of Serendipity: We were exiting the pool, when we spotted the strangest thing in the sky. Turned out that SpaceX had a launch that night, which just so happened to be the day before the 20th of July. The photo below isn't ours, but is pretty much what we saw from the pool.

Thursday: The Voyage Home

We packed up and grabbed the continental breakfast at the hotel which, I may add, I'd recommend. They pack some yoghurt, some granola, a croissant, jam, and an orange juice container in a pink picnic basket. It's actually quite tasty and a bit of a delight. Of course, both coffee and even some morning cocktails are available as well.

We hit the road, taking a path that veered off onto Highway 138 rather than going back the whole way on Interstate-5. This gave us some lovely desert vistas, including plenty of Joshua trees and some up-close views of the Mormon Rocks. Also, a tasty lunch at the Neenach Cafe & Market before making it back to I-5.

That, of course, means passing through Santa Nella, which surely means a stop at Pea Soup Andersen's. Yes, another bit of a tourist trap, but the food (yes, including pea soup) is good. And they have a pressed penny machine.

Moment of Serendipity: Some of my friends read the word "Neenach" and may have wondered something. Yes, Neenach was founded by Dutch settlers who came from Neenah, Wisconsin. We spent some time in Neenah 23 years ago that day, so the stop seemed somehow appropriate.