Monday, March 17, 2014 (Travel to Bakersfield, CA)

It was just before 9:00 when we pulled out of our site at Indian Waters RV Resort and, following Serena's directions, we found our way to the I-10. We took the ramp heading west...right into traffic that was backed-up for miles and barely moving! There must have been an accident...so much for getting an early start...

The traffic finally started moving and were soon nearing the windmill farm...

These "creatures" are along the highway at Cabazon....

The landscape changed dramatically as we approached the San Bernardino Valley...

Pipeline coming down the mountain...

We took Highway 210 to 215 that eventually made it to I-15 north...

...and up into the mountains...

Once through the mountains, we took highway 395 that headed northwest while the I-15 veered northeast. It is a rather desolate, flat highway...we drove through the City of Adelanto...

Pretty yellow flowers...

When we reached highway 58, we headed west. It was getting very windy out...blowing sand in the distance...





The wind was gusting up to 50 mph...

 Joshua Trees...

These appear to be stored aircraft on the Mojave desert...

The high wind gusts blew the trailer steps partially out twice so Steve had to bungee-cord them in. This has never happened before...

Leaving the Mojave Desert...up into a mountain pass with lots of wind mills...

"SS Minnow"...too funny...

Lots of blowing dust...

A green oasis in the brown surroundings...

The highway took us through Tehachapi on the way to Bakersfield. Although there is some green, it is not nearly as lush and green as it was last year when we came this route. It has definitely been a dry winter for California.

Down we go...

As a comparison to show how dry it is, the following 2 pictures were taken last year (February 24, 2013) as we went through the same area...quite a difference...

We arrived at our destination at about 3:00...Walmart in Bakersfield, CA...yup, for a night of "Wally-docking". We got ourselves squared away in an area to the west that seems to be for RV and semi-trailer parking. After putting the sliders out and unpacking the bare essentials for the night, we relaxed for a bit before walking across the street to the Original Roadhouse Grill...

...time for a green beer...Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We had our beer and dinner and then walked home. Steve took this picture of our camping spot for the night...



The first leg of our journey home is complete. We have decided to have a few travel days and get ourselves into Oregon where we can slow down and take our time before our appointment at Guaranty RV in Junction City.