Route 66, Roadside Oddities & Back to LA

Time to leave Las Vegas and begin the drive back to Los Angeles.

> Breakfast First (Obviously)

Breakfast was at Keke’s Breakfast Cafe.

I went for scrambled eggs with cheese and grits… a corn-based porridge a bit like mieliepap.

Simple, filling and exactly what was needed before a long day on the road.

> Alien Jerky & Desert Heat

First roadside stop:

Alien Fresh Jerky

A shop decorated like a giant spaceship… very much giving Star Wars sandcrawler vibes 😂

Inside was a chaotic mix of:
• alien-themed everything 👽
• bizarre snacks
• strange drinks

Absolutely right up my street 😂

Next up… the famous World’s Tallest Thermometer.

It was big.

It was hot.

And it was in Fahrenheit… which didn’t help me much 🤔😂

> Calico Ghost Town

We then stopped at Calico Ghost Town, a recreated old mining town.

Walking through the dusty streets felt like stepping back in time, with wooden buildings, old shops and a proper Wild West atmosphere.

By this point… we had worked up an appetite.

> Lunch at Peggy Sue’s

Lunch was at the wonderfully retro Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner.

This place was heaving and it’s easy to see why.

Rock and roll music, walls covered in memorabilia, pies, milkshakes… the full 1950s experience.

What more could a girl growing slightly sideways want? 😂

> Route 66 Moments

Back on the road and officially ticking off parts of Route 66 ✅

As we passed Bakersfield, my mind immediately jumped to “Bakersfield Massacre”… film geeks will understand 😂

> Freight Train Geek-Out 🚂

Another highlight for me… freight trains.

Long, powerful and seemingly endless, cutting across the desert landscape.

At one point near Helendale, Alex detoured down a dusty road towards a crossing so I could get a proper view.

Dust flying, camera out… full geek mode activated 😂😂

> Bottle Tree Ranch

One of my favourite stops of the day:

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch

An outdoor art installation made from glass bottles and old insulators.

The way the light passed through the different coloured glass, casting reflections and shadows, created a really calm and almost magical atmosphere.

Also spotted:

✅ a road sign with bullet holes in it 😂

> Back Towards LA

As we drove into the hills via Angeles National Forest, the landscape slowly changed.

The desert tones gave way to richer greens.

At first just scattered trees… almost skeletal… then gradually more and more vegetation as we climbed.

Power lines stretched across the mountains, cutting lines through the scenery.

> Entering Los Angeles

Crossing into Los Angeles, we passed the wide concrete drainage canals…

Instantly reminding me of the chase scene from Terminator 2: Judgment Day 😂

Then came the names we all recognise:
• San Fernando Valley
• Mulholland Drive
• Malibu
• Santa Monica
• Sunset Boulevard
• Wilshire Boulevard
• Bel Air
• Beverly Hills

And of course…

✅ a giant doughnut on top of a building 😂

> End of the Day

After a long day of driving, exploring and ticking off roadside Americana, we checked into a simple motel near the airport.

Early start tomorrow… so it was definitely time to rest 😳

Another brilliant road trip day… full of random stops, unexpected highlights and proper American vibes.Read more