5.1.

As I did the last and only other time I went to Victoria Gardens, I followed the excursion with a trip down the Historic Route 66. Hardly the romanticized image you might have from book, song, and film. It's just a long long road with a million Starbucks locations along it.


The last time, it was with an old friend and we were just taking a leisurely drive. We happened upon a sweets shop around the Upland area. Not a whole lot to look at from the road but inside, it was filled with handmade candy as well as old-timey treats. I bought a few sugar sticks in herbal flavors. My friend bought a handful of chocolate covered strawberries. The caramel apples looked great and we both bought one. They offered to slice it for free and I let them. The entire affair, stick and all, was neatly packed into a cardboard box and the smell and taste were unbelievable. Another great feature, a huge selection of fresh made ice cream. I had to have a scoop of the Gold Medal Chocolate and it was very creamy--real, fresh cream was not the best choice, but it was worth it.

This time, I missed that shop--wasn't looking for it--because I was looking for a donut shop instead. Well past the Pioneer Woman sculpture in Upland...I had no idea what I was looking for. I had to call the office. It was a Tuesday after all, and I knew that a coworker of mine once wrote an article on the place. Actually, I think that's where I originally heard about it. The donut guy is Jim and he's in Glendora. Much farther than we wanted to drive initially--I thought he was in the Inland Empire, not San Gabriel Valley (L.A. County). I was using a Thomas Bros Guide hoping we wouldn't pass it. My mother, at that point, was surprisingly into this trek--she doesn't usually like driving so much or exploring cities she doesn't know very well. I kept telling her about this Japanese American guy [Jim Nakano] that makes these legendary (I guess?) donuts that have fresh sliced strawberries. He makes peach ones too, I add, trying to add to the allure but also fearing that the season has already passed. If we ever find Jim, would he have fresh donuts this late in the day? Would the place even be open.

OH MY GOD THERE IT IS TURN TURN TURN RIGHT HERE HERE IS THE PARKING LOT.

It is a small shack-like building. Nowhere to sit or anything. Just a little window to order from. We park and I feel the need to lock up the computer I'd just purchased in the trunk although we seemed to be the only people in the area besides the lone youngish guy working inside.

We walk up and I my senses are overwhelmed by donuts. I've had an unexplained obsession with donuts for the past 3 weeks. No peach or strawberry to be had--the season ended early the guy tells me. I don't suppose Jim is back there hiding? Nope. Gone for the day. But it wasn't too bad. The guy working was really nice and helpful. I start picking out a few donuts to take away. My mom only wants the plainest thing they had, a sugar. The guy and I were more enthusiastic about the oversized varieties; the elaborate ones. He suggests something called "the Tiger Tail" which is an enormous twist that had to be bent to fit in the standard box. I ate it in the car.

My mom and I both want to go back as soon as possible. Not much other reason to go to Glendora.