This is the beginning of another cross-country roadtrip; this time to get Caleb’s siblings together in Virginia, where Kris lives and Caleb is currently in school, for their dad’s 60th birthday (even though it’s not until December). Jessi will fly out with her family (and drive our car, Mazda Tribute, home so it doesn’t suffer another Bahrain summer). We booked Robert’s flight and hotel room using Caleb’s points earned through traveling for work.

I returned Russ’s books, filled the car with gas, got my teeth cleaned, bought three new undies, got my eyebrows threaded, and bought almonds from Rite Aid (since it’s in the same parking lot). I packed food for the road and put the bedding in the wash. It takes me four hours to get to San Bernardino to the Historic Original McDonald’s Museum, leaving me forty-five minutes to explore the murals outside and the memorabilia inside.

There is a version of Evil Grimace, but not the four-armed milkshake thief introduced in 1971, that was quickly redesigned, from scaly to fluffy with two arms, after scaring children. There are employee pins promoting the Olympics and recycling, as well as international Happy Meal toys from France, the Netherlands, Indonesia, and Thailand. The property was bought in 1998 by the founder of Juan Pollo, after a feud in the 60s and 70s, closed this building, The Big M, and the new McDonald’s just a block away. This explains the giant chicken.

A few miles north is the Arrowhead Viewing Spot and Monument, where a visitor can see the 7.5-acre mountainside formation. The white sage that grows on the inside contrasts with the darker chaparral surrounding. Check dams were constructed and bushes planted to slow the erosion process. There are many places (hospital, bank, country club, hotel, and hot springs) named after this landmark, which is on protected tribal land on a slope deemed unsafe for hiking.

I take the old Mormon Lumber Road, built by over one hundred men from the Sons of Utah Pioneers, starting in 1852, over a thousand days to bring timber to one of their six sawmills to build San Bernardino and other parts of Southern California, up to Lake Arrowhead Village. I admired the trees, ducks, fish, and one lizard. I take a brief look inside a clothing store, founded in Big Bear Lake under the name Le Roy’s Bootery and Toggery, and when the parents retired in 1976, the kids went on to expand to nine locations.

I stop at a gas station at dusk to refuel at $3.59/gallon, so I can make it through Death Valley tomorrow. I got a veggie patty with guacamole and mozzarella on herb-cheese bread. It might not sound like much, but I prefer soft cheeses, and this made the upgrade price feel worth it. I deal with high beams for two hours, as many drivers aren’t aware that they shouldn’t be used within 500 feet of another vehicle, and that the constant contrasting is work on the eyes — instant adaptation to bright light, but 5-10 minutes to regain low-light sensitivity and 30-45 minutes to reach maximum sensitivity.

My eyes never stood a chance, and once I got to Fossil Falls, I let them leak down my cheeks under the expansive stars and bright moon while the wind whipped around me, and all the memories from this place came rushing back. I think of bringing Sparky and Piggy here, mountain biking on a hybrid, hiking among the rocks, sipping hot chocolate, watching the jackrabbits, embracing the rain, and waiting while Caleb sets up the tent.