Back on the road again

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  Victorville, California, United States
Monday, April 7, 2008

Back on the road again. Monday and we are packing again ready to depart Barstow, but not before we tour some of the local services. Breakfast with our hosts. The food keeps coming, they pile it up, we eat it. We are all together today.

9.00am we meet at the National Parks Office and have a detailed explanation from Linda about Mojave National PArk, the 3rd biggest park in the 48 states. More desert (not dessert, but that won't be too far away), and a good overall picture from a DVD. We don't venture into the park as it is too far away and we have shopping booked in for later in the day.

Next stop - Barstow Sheriffs Department - they police the outlying areas, not the city. A good tour of the police complex including jail, and are greeted by some nice inmates as we knock and enter their lovely rooms. TV's and computers to keep them occupied. Some prisoners can come and go onto the street to raise the flag etc.

Exchange of gifts and off to the City Police over the road. About 38 staff, which includes all usual departments, SWAT, Detectives, traffic, CSI and more. Excellent tour, lots of info provided by Sergeant Tim, who loves to talk.

A quick visit to the local tax agent where my host works with his brother. A busy time of year as they are nearing the completion of tax time.

Lunch at another restaurant, Quigley's, as the anticipation is building for a action packed 2 hours of shopping. Lunch a bit smaller this time with no added chips, salad, potatoe, corn bread etc.

Into the outlet malls!! Lots of good shops, excellent prices, stacks of purchases. A new bag purchased by me to allow for clothes and shoes for the family (now it's paying off that I only bought one bag over).

Met by new hosts at shops, Paul Courtney and Jose. All the gear thrown in the back of his pickup and 45 mins to Apple Valley. A bit more greenery, some trees, wow! We are slowly leaving the desert. These cities have been like plonking a city in the middle of the Australian outback!

A "heavy" snack, as they describe it for afternoon tea, which includes pizza, salads, brownies and fruit and pepsi. Collected by hosts and all gearing up for the following morning at the GUN CLUB!!! We are seeing lots of guns over here.

Observation: The difference in hosts families for me has been remarkable, in a good way!!

Bye for now.

GSE Team (Tim)