I-10 Diaries

Chronicling my trip across the country to Los Angeles via Interstate 10.
May 27

Made it.

So we made it to LA. Too tired to write much, but we’ve checked into the hotel (we’re in Koreatown…I think) and after procuring some food across the street, I’m going to pass out now. Excited for the morning.

May 26
Wind turbines outside of Los Angeles

Wind turbines outside of Los Angeles

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“ Welcome to California! Road sign
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We’ve finally passed Phoenix and have about 300 miles until we reach Los Angeles!!

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The spicy food at Chino Bandido in Tempe, AZ

The spicy food at Chino Bandido in Tempe, AZ

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Boulders in Arizona

Boulders in Arizona

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Multitasking

  • Me: Man, you are an awful driver, aren't you?
  • Katie: (while fiddling with iPod) Well when I'm not paying attention I am.
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Heading out of NM into AZ.

Heading out of NM into AZ.

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The desolate terrain of New Mexico.

The desolate terrain of New Mexico.

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Adios, Texas

So we’re finally out of Texas. Took so long to travel through it we couldn’t even make it in a day.

The drive was, contrary to popular belief, not at all soul numbing. From the Louisiana border to San Antonio feels like driving through almost any other state. The foliage is a little scrubbier and seems a bit more dead, but the drive is dotted with exits, towns and strip malls (in Texas there really doesn’t seem to be a difference between the two), so you’ve got options for gas, food, caffeine and relieving yourself — and that’s really all you need on a trip like this.

West of San Antonio, though, the towns are few and far between. Most of the exits are country roads that wind off into the distance without any sign of civilization beyond a stop sign. However, there are pretty, brush-covered hills as far as the eye can see, and every once in a while the road will take you through a blasted-out one of these, with sheer rock rising up on either side of the car. As the sun sets and its rays strike the striations in the stone, the effect is breathtaking.

Compared to driving through the flatness of Florida, I’d say the Texas terrain was a lot more interesting.

So now we’re in New Mexico, and the area so far is more brown and barren than Texas ever was. Even the mountains and hills in the distance are seemingly devoid of plant life. With signs like “DUST STORMS MAY EXIST,” we are definitely entering desert territory.

We plan on stopping in Phoenix to eat at Chino Bandido, a Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” The menu sounds delicious and bizarre, and I can’t wait to check it out. After that, we’ll probably just shave a day off our journey and power straight on through to Los Angeles. I think I’m ready to see what that town is all about.