This time we were driving on 5 and got to a point where we were spent. I was trying to make it to Tracy because I have a friend who lives there and figured it was probably OK because I know she wouldn't live anywhere too disturbing.
It was just me and my daughter and we were just tired. We knew we couldn't make it to Tracy and starting looking to Yelp. It pointed us to a town called Los Banos. It said it was about ten miles off 5 but worth the drive and a few decent hotels to choose from.
We get off the exit and we are in big farms. Beautiful, well kept, massive farms with farm houses. But, there wasn't a soul around, no cars, no sign of human life other than the fact that everything was well maintained.
So, we are driving. Driving. It's getting really eerie. Like a neutron bomb went off and just left everything in it's place.
Suddenly a car pulls out from the side street. It's following for a long while. Now I am getting a little anxious. Thinking it's some gang members or something who target unwitting tourists off the highway. I am sweating a little. Every block or so, I ask my daughter if it's still there.
I feel like I am driving forever with nothing and no one in sight. Seemed like 100 miles not ten.
Finally, I hit a stop sign and this cute little (normal) town of Los Banos. I ended up paying out the a$$ for a room becuase most rooms were booked up because there was a parade in town that day.(:
Life in the modern day USA.
Btw, +10 on your comment regarding Jefferson/separate state!