As such, we've been given the chance to renew or upgrade our drivers license with the option of something they call "Real ID." If you hold a valid U.S. passport, then a Real ID isn't critical to get since getting a passport requires essentially the same documentation and showing it positively identifies you. When renewed with the proper certifications, anyone not holding a Real ID will not be able to enter a Federal facility (like a military base), or board an aircraft in the United States after October 1, 2020. You can get all of the facts by Googling "Real ID" when you get a chance. Normally I'd be happy to do it for you, but I do have a blog post to write...
Here in California, people are rushing to obtain their Real ID drivers license. Because of the high demand, appointments at DMV offices throughout the state have been hard to come by. My own license expires this summer, but I didn't want to wait till the last minute to renew it. I have no plans to get on a plane any time soon, but you never know. I'd rather have the required ID and not need it than the other way. So I took myself over to the local AAA office to find out when I could get an appointment. Unfortunately—and not at all unexpectedly—there were no appointments before August at any DMV office in Ventura County. The guy at AAA did find an open appointment at the Santa Maria DMV office on the afternoon of June 4. A little early, but that's better than waiting and missing out, so I took it.
Santa Maria is about 120 miles northwestish from my house. If nothing else, it leaves me some room for...you guessed it...an ADVENTURE! You know I can't take such a trip and not find something interesting to see or do.
On the appointed day, I got my oil topped off (you have to do that with older cars like mine), topped off the gas tank, and was northwestish-bound in no time. Traffic was nonexistent and I pulled into the parking lot of the Santa Maria DMV at 2:30, about a half-hour early for my appointment. I'm used to DMV offices that are quite large, but this one was really small. There was a long line of folks waiting to get their licenses renewed, and I thought I'd be stuck in it, but because I had an appointment, not only was there was no wait for me, but they went ahead and took me early. I got my form filled out on the computer, got my photo taken (without breaking the camera, saving even more time!), paid and received my temporary documentation. It wasn't even 3:00 when I left the building, so I was actually finished before my appointment time. It pays to get to where you're going early.
With the first part of my adventure behind me, it was now time for the fun part.
Everyone from here to Copenhagen knows that I'm quite the railfan. If it has anything to do with trains, I'm probably there. Out on Highway 1 on the outskirts of the metropolis of Oceano CA, it just so happens that there are a couple of old passenger railcars hooked together to form a restaurant: the Rock & Roll Diner. Similar to Carney's in Los Angeles, the two cars are decorated inside with memorabilia from the 1950s. There's a jukebox available to play your favorite tunes, and a phone app is available to connect your phone to any jukebox on the network and select tunes to play.
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| The Rock & Roll Diner. Notice my car parked here. |
I did take a few more photos of the outside of the Diner, but this was the best one. Next, here's one that I took inside, right from where I was sitting. I tried not to get anyone else in the picture, but you'll have to settle for a half-stranger here. But it's OK. He didn't bite.
I didn't go into the other car, but from the pictures on their website, there are tables and chairs instead of booths.
The menu is interesting. In addition to the expected burgers, fries, etc., they also serve Greek and Mexican food. You'll find the menu on the website. It's actually quite extensive, so anyone coming here will find something that they like to eat, and no one will leave hungry unless they want to. Doing so would be unsmart in Eric-speak.
One regret is that I didn't get a picture of my waitress or even her name for the sake of this post. It's possible that she is one of the owners or related to one of them—there was just that...vibe. A real sweetheart for sure, which only adds to the overall experience at the Rock & Roll Diner. The five-star rating I gave them was well deserved. And looking at the reviews, I wasn't the only one who clicked on all the stars.
My license renewed, my belly full, it was time to head back home. I ran into a little traffic near Santa Barbara, but the drive back to Camarillo was OK and I got home by about 7, just in time for dinner.
