Friday, March 23, 2018 (Travel to Walmart, Rosedale Highway, Bakersfield, CA)

When we got up this morning, Steve mentioned that he'd like to be on the road by 8:30...and it was 8:28 when we pulled out of Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area and headed south down Needles Highway. We definitely did not want to go all the way to I-40 on the Needles Highway again because of the condition it is in on the California side, so we turned off at the Avi Casino and headed over to Arizona 95 south...

As you approach the casino, there is a KOA campground on the right-hand side...

And on the left-hand side, behind the casino is a huge parking area where RV's are allow to park (for free)...it's very busy!

There is also a beautiful golf course...

Crossing the Colorado River into Arizona...

Crossing the river again heading into Needles...

We had an absolutely gorgeous day to travel...clear blue sky and not a cloud in the sky!

Okay...a few clouds here and there...

We welcomed the "Rest Area Ahead" sign...good timing for a biffy break...only to find it closed! As are so many in California, year after year...geez! Steve decided he couldn't wait any longer so pulled off near the off-ramp for it. Luckily we brought our own bathroom with us!

This lone cloud looked really cool over the mountain...

Snow capped mountains in the distance in the direction of Palm Springs...

Lava beds...

Just past Barstow, we took highway 58 west...

Not much water in the Mojave River!

A huge solar farm....from a distance it looked like a lake..

Mohave Desert...

This is at the junction of hwy 58 and 395...Kramer Junction. They were obviously hit hard by the big rain storm yesterday...lots of flooding...

We started seeing Joshua Trees...

In the distance is a huge windmill generating area...

Mohave Air and Space Port....

Approaching the pass to Tehachipi....

"SS Minow"...too funny!

Cool trees at this cemetery...

I happened to glance over as a pickup with a yellow kayak on it pulling a Big Horn Fifth-wheel went by in the opposite direction..."Hi Harry and Vicki!" (No photo) They are heading to Nevada...and the RV-Dreams Reunion Rally being held in Puhrump...the one we really wanted to go too but was being held too late for many of us Canadians. Yikes, we have a cloud bank ahead!

There are a few train tunnels in this area...

And the countryside gets green and the sky is now grey...

And greener...

A train tunnel down there...

The rolling hills are so beautiful. Last year when we came through everything was brown from the drought California was experiencing...

Down we go in a 6% grade...

Fertile farmlands below...

Down...

...and down...

One of many orange groves...already picked...

We pulled into the Rosedale Highway Walmart just before 3:00. We parked, and as usual, walked into Walmart to get their okay to camp overnight. I think this is our third or fourth time stopping here but we always like to ask permission. They said no problem parking for 24 hours...so we went out and got better situated (i.e. as level as possible) and after the slides were out, I got the bed cleared off so we'd have someplace to sleep...

We like to park here overnight because there is an Original Roadhouse Grill adjacent to the parking area. So, after chilling for a bit, we headed over to partake in their happy hour specials and have dinner.

A blurry backwards selfie. There is a can of peanuts on every table, you just throw your shells on the floor!

We had a lovely time...drinks and dinner...and then headed home. That's when our lovely evening came to a screeching halt. A security guy pulled up and told us that overnight parking at this Walmart is no longer allowed. What?! But we asked and had been given the okay by 2 employees at 2 different times (I had popped back into the store a little later and confirmed with another employee). He explained that Walmart sold the parking lot and the new owner has decided as of March 21st there would be no more overnight parking allowed. Steve told him we weren't moving because we didn't know about this change, were given permission to park and just had drinks with dinner. The fellow said we had until 11 pm and if we were still there, he'd write us a ticket. So we immediately went back into Walmart. The staff at the customer service desk were just as surprised as us so went to locate a manager. Not the manager but somebody just a little lower on the food chain and in the know also explained that the parking lot had recently been sold and it's a new policy of the new owner. He said not to worry about getting a ticket as it is just a warning and there is no fine. Well if he new this why doesn't the customer service staff know this?!!!.

With that, we returned to the trailer to await another visit from the security guy. At 9:30 there was a heavy knock on the door. We were in bed and said hold on and they pounded the door again! This time, there were 2...with a woman telling Steve, in no uncertain terms, we had to leave or be charged with trespassing! Steve told her that we had been given the okay by Walmart to park there before knowing of the new rules and was in no condition to drive after drinks with dinner, so we're not moving....she said she was calling the police...Steve said go ahead!

Well, a little while later, the police arrived. Steve explained our situation and even volunteered to have a breathalyser test done to prove he shouldn't drive...and was told it wasn't necessary. They were very nice and apologetic, were told we had been drinking, telling us they too, thought the new rules ridiculous...RVer's have been overnighting here for years! They said that Steve made the right decision not to drive since he had been drinking...and allowed us to stay for the night. They said have a good night and safe travels.

Geez...what an ordeal! Guess we won't be stopping overnight here anymore...and visiting our fun little bar and grill...their loss!