Inside the Cabazon Dinosaurs

As far as tourist traps are concerned, the giant dinosaurs in Cabazon, California kind of became symbols of our 2009 and 2010 road trips through the Coachella valley. Providing an ample mix of shock and awe, the road side landmarks are cool for their novelty but are still so overtly campy, given the creationist views in the gift shop and exhibits, that you can't help but laugh about where you are.  I can't talk about the spot without mentioning the Wizard or Pee Wee's Big Adventure either.

The gift shop is inside the Apatosaurus which is free to enter, but you have to pay to go inside the T-Rex.  A concrete stairway in the tail leads up to a metal spiral staircase to go into the head.  From there you can look through his teeth and enjoy the breeze.  It's generally not that busy of a place, so we just chilled in the T-Rex for a bit before heading west to Palm Springs.  

I should also mention that we ate at the Wheel Inn before all of this - I think it helps to complete the Cabazon dinosaur experience. Click here to see why exactly. 

Baby Trashes Bar in Las Palmas

My friend Kelly sent me this video as inspiration to bring my Chico Bandito series back.  While Chico Bandito was never this funny, I can now see that a stumbling baby was exactly what the series was missing.  This video by Johannes Nyholm is sure to make you laugh - I certainly did.

Sliding in Style

And as the Canadian winter rolls on, my British saloon continues to chill. 

For the most part my Jaguar XJ8 has performed beautifully and been driven in all winter conditions, despite numerous wide-eyed reactions for my decision to do so.  However, the car hasn't gone without its share of maintenance to keep things ship-shape. New premium tires, the battery, radiator hoses, the water pump and the thermostat were all replaced over the last several months to keep things running smoothly and in premium condition.

As my first year of Jaguar ownership continues I often feel like there aren't enough excuses to talk about it, emphasize my euphoria, or share the quirks of the experience (like trying to charge a dead battery that's in a trunk that requires electricity to open). But then what are blogs for?  

While a Jag is certainly not the most agile or ideal winter vehicle, it's still been a blast to drive.  No doubt, I'm still anxious to get back to cruising on clear streets and having my car stay clean for more than an afternoon.  

I shot an experimental test video with my Flip HD cam while driving my Jaguar around town just a couple weeks ago.  Check it out HERE and don't be surprised when my car makes a few more cameos after the ice thaws.