They can't get that many Brits over here. They go nuts as soon as you talk!

.................... on ROUTE 66!!!!

It had to happen sometime. Been waiting for it ever since Grumpy declared that the tickets I bought for the Italian Grand Prix as a wedding present were a bowling ball. Today he got his own back!!!

(For the uninitiated, a 'bowling ball present' refers to an episode of the Simpsons where Homer has forgotten Marge's birthday. He tries to pass off a bowling ball he has bought as her present. It has 'Homer' engraved on it. Just to spite him she takes the ball and takes bowling lessons.......... It's a great episode.)

We travel a bit further south before turning onto a highway that is headed east (inland). U2 is still playing on the iPod, and I have not the energy to argue.

At this point Grumpy tells me that we're headed for the Harmony Motel in a place in 29 Palms called Joshua Tree. Sound familiar? It's the name of a U2 album.

And U2 stayed at the Harmony Motel when they were writing and recording the Joshua Tree album. (Apparently Bono stayed in the room we're in, but they could say that about every room!)

This morning started early. This is the longest day of driving, so we needed to be on the road ASAP. It's Columbus Day over here too, so we were expecting lots of holiday traffic.

Got off to a good start - heading south on Highway 1 for a couple of hundred miles towards Los Angeles. Grumpy told me we'd be having a picnic lunch in a park on the way.

What a fab day!!! Grumpy had researched the local wineries (there are several hundred) and decided that a trip to www.justinwine.com was the thing to do (the actual winery, not just their site!).

We were booked in for lunch, a winery tour and then a tasting session. Took a good hour and a half to drive the 40 miles to the place - these roads are seriously wiggly - where we were given a warm welcome. Our table came with hot and cold running labradors and retrievers (well, one of each), so I was happy!

I broke my own rule. I just couldn't bear to wait 2 weeks to find out what happened at the Chinese Grand Prix. And stupid American telly doesn't tell you :-s

Poor Lewis. Still, looks like the last race will be an awesome showdown! Hopefully my jetlag will align with the race timetable!!!

Okay Mum, you have to move here. Seriously. If you can bear the fact that there are about a million golfers then a house in Pebble Beach's 17 Mile Drive is the place for you. It's faaaaaaaaaabulous!!!! We even saw an Evo there (we were too busy photographing the waves crashing over the rocks to capture it though).

Step 1. Take one lovely car.
Step 2. Put Dire Straits on the iPod.
Step 3. Cruise south on the freeway for a couple of hours.
Step 4. Arrive at the Jabberwock Inn in Monteray Bay. (http://www.jabberwockinn.com/the-borogove.htm)

WOW.

This hotel ROCKS. Big time. For starters, it's in one of the most gorgeous places in the entire world. Secondly, it's all based on the books of Lewis Carroll (duh). And last, but not least, it is owned 2 of the nicest people on the planet.

Cos it can be flipping painful, that's why!!!

Finally found the hire car desk. Now, Grumpy spent WEEKS researching cars. Of course, he couldn't choose one without me, so he made a website with details from several different hire companies (so I wouldn't know which one he was using). After another few nights of research we chose the Ford Edge. Reasons? Roomy but not overly huge, AWD (so good for most kinds of road) and classed as a FUN car. Ooh, and it could take the iPod too :D