Roadtrip

Posted by Helen Whitaker at 11:58 on 23 Nov 2009

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I am just back from a mini Southern California roadtrip with my friends and utterly exhausted. Not because it was fraught, but because I anticipated that it would be fraught. Possibly due to being left to make all of the accommodation arrangements myself. Or possibly due to the fact that last time I was left to make the accommodation arrangements for a girls' trip everyone moaned. (OK I admit, it wasn't the greatest. To this day my friends refer to our digs in Newquay as 'the lean-to'). So when my two over-from-the-UK best friends left me with no other specifics to work with than "I want to go drive down a really long straight road in nowheres-ville" and "I want to see some desert", my stress levels ratcheted up a few notches.

Finally, via an intricate system of emails and disclaimers (Sample: "Here are several affordable hotels I have found in areas that include deserts and long straight roads. Pick one. Once you pick one you have no comeback to blame me if it's no good.") we had a three-day trip booked and headed off to San Diego (splashing out on drinks in the Some Like it Hot hotel), Anza-Borrego National Park and Glen Ivy Hot Springs. We were like Thelma and Louise, and er, someone else, only without any felonies happening or Brad Pitt turning up. And in a little Chevrolet rather than a glam convertible.

But brilliantly it was hassle-free (for me. They may disagree. I did have a couple of 'dad' moments when I had to turn the music down and reprimand squabblers so I could get my bearings while driving. Is this a sign of age?) And I can't recommend The Palms at Indian Head hotel in Borrego Springs more highly (palm trees, sweeping desert and a great restaurant called The Krazy Kayote). Even the Alan Partridge-esque chain hotel we stayed in on the last night in Corona went down a storm, and in my humble opinion every hotel should have a free 'drinks and nibbles' reception between 5pm and 7pm.

My organisational rep has been restored. Now someone else can organise the next one.

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