Days 11, 12, and 13 : Larry and Dana Bowden's Guest House

After spending 1 night at the Holiday Inn Express, we packed up to move to Larry & Dana's guest house for a couple of days. We had a few errands to run first, so headed out for that. Bought a couple of very cheap umbrellas and a pair of flip-flops.....all for $3 at the Dollar Store. As best I can remember, this is the first pair I have ever owned.....just never understood their purpose. Then on to the grocery store to pick up a few things. While there, this guy approached us, introduced himself as Larry Bowden, and asked what we wanted to eat that evening. We said hamburgers, he suggested steaks, so we didn't argue about that. This was our introduction to Larry.

Larry is the Recreational Director for 29Palms, CA, and Dana runs a picture/frame shop in the town. Dana is a native of the area, Larry has been there almost as long. Many years ago they bought two "needing repair" houses sitting on a hill, and after years of work, now have a nice home and guest house. From the grocery store, Larry drove our cart and stuff to the guest house, and we walked. When we arrived, everything was unpacked and we settled in. The guest house has 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bath, living room. Around 5 that afternoon we went next door for a dinner of steak, salad, baked potato, green beans, fruit, etc. Isn't this the way campers eat every day? We were joined at dinner by Liz Meyer, a friend of Larry and Dana's, and also a former mayor (like Larry) of 29Palms.

After dinner Larry turned out all outside lights and we watched the stars. Have you ever seen the Milky Way? It's like a big cloud in the sky, but the cloud consists of millions of stars. So, for the evening, the sky was our entertainment. We went to bed early to rest our aching feet and bodies.

The next day Larry left his house open so we could use their computers. We worked on the blogs, watched TV, and just chilled. The guest house has a pomegranate tree in the yard, never saw one of those. Also, quail everywhere, and doves flying over the house constantly. A bird hunter could get a daily limit of either without ever leaving the porch. Larry offered to cook dinner that evening, but we decided to walk to town and look around instead. Larry is the cook in the house, and a good one at that. Not sure how Dana worked that deal.

Our 3rd and final day at the guest house was mostly preparing to start walking again. It would be very easy to just stay here, but that's not what "walkingmen" do. Larry fixed a dinner of spaghetti, salad, etc., and we sat around and worked out arrangement for supplies during our trip thru the desert.

It's hard to adequately describe Larry and Dana's kindness and hospitality during our stay in 29Palms. They didn't know us before meeting in the grocery store, yet opened up their houses, fed us, and did anything else we needed. Larry told Mike K he would take care of us, and he did.

A big "thank you" to Larry, Dana, and Rollie for their hospitality. If you're ever in Virginia, you'll have a place to stay.