For Mother’s Day my mother came to visit me! Here are my parents with AJ. Isn’t AJ’s bib cute? Grandma made it for him. 🙂 It was great to have them visit and look forward to our next visit.

On Tuesday May 13th we went to visit the Mojave National Preserve. There we collected more stamps and saw lots and lots of desert. At the Kelso Depot Visitor’s center AJ got a chance to get into the saddle for the first time.

Both before and after the trip to Mojave we spent a little time in Barstow. Barstow is an interesting city. It’s been a way station for lots of people over lots of different trails. We stopped at the town’s welcome center, part of which was sponsored by a company we are very familiar with in our family. There were lots of murals in Barstow, including one about the “”Southern Route of the Mormon Trail””.
There were lots of Route 66 insignias and it was interest to note the ways that this vibrant city is adjusting. One sign made us laugh, but we couldn’t resist eating dinner there.
It was pretty good! The interior was an odd mix of the old Mexican Restaurant and the new Sushi Place. Now, of course, Barstow is a major stop on the 15 freeway. One sign informed us that Barstow is home to the very first Del Taco. Tragically we didn’t stop, leaving this cullinary treat for another time.

On our way home, we confirmed that the Pacific Crest Trail does pass within 15 miles of our home, passing under the I-15 at the 138 hwy exit. John is very excited about hiking this portion of the trail this summer, when he’s out of school.

Happy Trails!”