McFarland, CA was actually a pretty cute town and we grab a picture at the welcome sign.
Then we go to Valvoline and spend over 1 hour there (yes, really). We needed an oil change, tire rotation, radiator flush, transmission fluid flush and air filter replacement. A lot of monies and a lot of time later, we are out of there with a van who is feeling much better. Adam is still driving and thank goodness for that because LA roads and drivers are insane. The highway are sometimes 7 lanes wide and there are other highways coming in and out everywhere and people cutting each other off constantly. And the TRAFFIC. UGH. We have about 2.5 hours in traffic but push through to get to the plaque that commemorates the original end of Route 6. When we are getting close we have to merge off one highway onto another. There are three cars in front of us doing this when suddenly they all come to a complete stop. Now we weren't getting off on an exit where our speed would have significantly slowed, no, we are merging onto another road so Adam was going about 50 mph. He slams on the breaks and veers to the left a bit, but we are stuck between the old highway and a barrier. Everything flashes before my eyes as I see that we are going to rear-end the car in front of us. I wait for impact but Adam had smooth moves and we missed that car by about 4 inches. Then I realize we are probably going to be rear-ended, I brace for impact and to my right a black SUV is screeching to a halt trying not to hit us or the barrier. Somehow we ALL make it out without hitting each other. So what caused this? Well, the car at the front of the line decided they didn't want to merge on the road we were getting on so they stopped completely, and then drove through cones and two barrels to get back on the main highway. Wow. And they say Boston drivers are tough? I disagree.
All the excitement woke Abby up from her nap and she is in dire need of a bathroom. Of course, because we are finally in LA where we DON'T want to stop. Oh well, she says she can hold it while we find the plaque. We head down to where the plaque should be and there is a triathalon AND a COVID immunization clinic going on. We drive by a few times but never find the plaque. This, mixed with Abby's bathroom problem, we gave up. There was also construction covering part of the walls so the plaque could have been covered there. Now it is LA so it is a struggle to find a bathroom or parking anywhere. Adam finds a starbucks with some parking so I head in with Abby, but nope, no bathroom. We leave and see a store called "El Super" which I am almost 100% sure is the place where the Delta variant started. It is a supermarket and we brave it and go in. We both use the bathroom and get out of there as fast as possible.
It's worth noting the two restrooms we used while on the road today included:
1. A dead cockroach on the floor - Valvoline bathroom
2. Toilet paper tied to the metal bar next to the toilet by the plastic bags you put produce in - El Super bathroom
Adventure continues...
We finally get to our hotel for the night and decide to update blogs before bed. Tomorrow is another travel day and the REAL start to Route 6 and I get to drive it!
Summary: LA traffic is just as expected, Adam is a good driver, Alice feels a lot better. Ended the day at Marriot Courtyard in Palmdale, CA