I should have listened to my instincts and not stayed in that hotel. It was noisy and cold all night, and to top all of that, when i woke up, I realized my phone didn't charge. This can be pretty bad because I use my phone to navigate: I have a bluetooth system installed into my helmet which allows me not only to chat with Julia when she's riding with me, but also to be connected to my phone. This means I can listen to navigation instruction from the Google navigation's feminine, yet somewhat strict, voice, which I fondly call "G-Lady", or sometimes "Gladis" (get it?). I can even take incoming phone calls!
So a charged phone is really important for me. Lucky for me, I follow...
Motorcycle roadtripping tip #7: carry plenty of juice
Not only do I carry an unnecessary amount of USB power adapters and cables, I am also equipped with:
- A cheap power extension cable, which is super useful in motel rooms, where the power outlet arrangement is often sub-optimal;
- A portable phone charger: this TYLT one is especially awesome - it has enough juice to fully charge my phone *twice*, and has a built in arm that replaces the need for a cable.
- A USB charger on the motorcycle. I'm not convinced it's not shortening the lifespan of the battery, but it's a nice-to-have, regardless.
After a terrible, loud breakfast, and some inspiring eavesdropping to some of the regular tenants ("...and the guy goes like 'say something black!', and I'm like, 'man, fuck you! I adapt to who ever I talk to. If I need to use proper English, I'll do that. If I'm talking to my ghetto cats, that's something else. You could say I'm bilingual'"), I drove to the Kern County Museum.
Most of the museum consists of house, real houses, that they brought from all over the county, and turned into a small town. They have everything from a drugstore to a jailhouse, from a school to a photography shop.
Since Kern county has a big oil industry, there's also a truly surprising and cool exhibition called "Black Gold".
Then I tried to go to the Natural History Museum, but it was closed.
I tried to check out the steampunk store, but it was too weird, and the lady at the counter was obnoxious.
I tried to go to the small park, but it is was infested with homeless people.
Bakersfield didn't want me around anymore.
I got a chicken sandwich and a beer from somewhere that was open and drove on.
I drove down the 58 and hit Tehachapi. It's tiny and cute, but that's not a reason to actually stop and hang out.
Next I drove by Mojave. I stayed a night in Mojave when I drove from Boston to San Francisco, and I'm happy to report that Mojave hasn't changed a bit - it's still a shithole.
Then I got to Rosamond. Now that's a good reason to stop - one of my favorite places in San Francisco is Rosamonde, where you can get sausages from elks and bisons and snakes. Not kidding.
So I stopped for a beer in Norma's Pub and had a beer with an old man and a dog named Shelby.
The old man told me Rosamond is a retirement town. He moved there eight months ago after being all over the place, including ten years in the navy. He was born and raised an orphan and was never married, so he just moves around. Fascinating character he is.
Next and last stop was Lancaster. It's pretty chill here.
I got a room and drove downtown. I found the Kinetic Brewing Company, and ordered, for the first time in my life, a veggie burger. I think my body is getting tired of crap being shoved into it. The guy next to me, however, realized it's Monday and yelled at the bartender "Meaty Monday!" The bartender began to specify that "this week it's with bacon, sausage and...."
- "I don't care. Bring it!"
It turned out to be a burger, with maybe four different layers of meat. It looks disgusting. I have to have it sometime.
We watched the football game, of which I understand absolutely nothing, and during the breaks we played "beer bingo".
America is so weird.
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