Sunday, March 19 and Monday, March 20,2023 (Our trip back to BC - PART 1)

Sunday (Mar.  19) morning started off with a pretty sunrise...

After getting some help from Darrell and Kelly with our slideout slickers we use to protect our new carpet and flooring when retracting our slides rooms, we gave them big hugs and they left us to hitch-up. Thanks for your help...great seeing you again! Safe travels as you head north!

We pulled out of Carefree Village Resort at 10:00...it was a cloudy, windy day. We made our way over to highway 95, and followed it north, giving Quartzsite one final wave goodbye as we passed through. The wildflowers on the sides of the highway as you approach Parker are beautiful!

We ate our lunch and fueled up at the Running Man Fuel Station on the south end of town and as we continued through Parker, it started sprinkling...no major downpour, but it rained a little off and on as we headed towards Lake Havasu. A very pretty drive along the Colorado River, even with the clouds...

A yellow bloom at the base of the mountains...

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge...

Approaching Lake Havasu City...

When we hit I-40, we headed west towards Needles...crossing the Colorado River into California...

I got a shot of these 4 helicopters flying over...

We arrived at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner just after 4:30 and although a semi was where we usually park, there was enough room in front of it. Because we need assistance with the slideout slickers we are only putting out our bedroom slide on our trip home, so we cleared the bed and relaxed for a bit before going for dinner.

Steve took a few pictures...

The US Marine Core Logistics Base is across the street...

There's rows and rows of military equipment loaded onto rail cars...

At about 7:00, we wandered over for dinner. View to the right as you enter...

...and ahead...

To the left a large gift store...

The place is packed with memorabilia!

The waitresses are also in 50's diner attire...this was Vera, our waitress. The meals are large and reasonably priced...

A very cool spot for an overnight stop with large parking areas on either side of the diner making it a favourite for RV'ers and truckers. So it can be a little noisy at times with truckers coming and going.

Monday (Mar. 20) we were up and at the diner's door when they opened at 7:00 for breakfast. 

I really had a shock when I went into the ladies restroom! There was a man standing over a urinal with his back to me! Well, it turned out to be a statue...but holy cats, for a split second I thought I was in the wrong restroom, until I realized it was a mannikin. Steve had a good laugh when I told him! Just too bad I didn't take a picture...sheesh!

After a hearty breakfast, we were back at the rig getting everything ready to carry on. Steve cleaning the windows...

We pulled out at 8:15 and took I-15 until just south of Barstow where we exited onto highway 58 west.  We have never seen water in the Mojave River crossing before!

Wind turbines ahead as we continue thru the Mojave Desert near the Edwards Airforce Base...

A mining area...

Mojave Air and Space Port...

The drive over the pass through Tehachipi heading to Bakersfield was beautiful...so green and lush with spring flowers! 

Unfortunately, a train had de-railed...don't know when this happened...

Grazing cattle...

Bakersfield, CA in the distance...

Our stop-over destination for today was originally Harris Ranch but it would only have been 1:00 when we arrived and with another atmospheric river heading into California tomorrow, we decided to push through to our next stop...Rolling Hills Casino in Corning, CA. It would make for a long day but worth it not to have to drive in heavy rain tomorrow.

More beautiful colour...

HUGE Stockyard that you can smell long before passing by!

These photos don't come close to showing how large this stockyard is...

So much water in California! We've never seen so much flooded areas...from ditches to fields to swollen rivers...

Flooded Discovery Park in North Sacramento...

Notice the building submerged in water...

More beautiful yellow fields...

Crossing the Sacramento River...Alamar Marina down there...

So much water in the fields as we continue on the I-5 towards Woodland. We have to slow down on this bridge because it sets up a rhythmic bounce...

In the distance you can see a line of rushing water...

It was after 6:00 when we pulled into Rolling Hills Casino in Corning, CA...a long 10 hour travel day but we are glad to have that behind us! By staying ahead of the atmospheric river we should have 3 more dry travel days.

We parked between a couple of other RV's in the truck stop Travel Center, put out the bedroom slide, cleared off the bed...and then headed right into the casino for dinner at 'Rock and Brews' restaurant. We ordered beer that is brewed right there in the Paskenta Brewery...when the waiter asked what size we wanted, Steve said we've had a long day...make it 32oz! Look at the size of these steins! Needless to say, one was enough!

I managed to get a picture of this robot waiter...

They had a beer and pizza special on today...Steve enjoyed his Supreme pizza but the waiter got my order wrong and instead of a Barbeque Chicken pizza, he gave me a Margherita which was rather boring. What was bothering to me was that he really didn't apologize...just "oh gosh, how did that happen?".  

After paying the bill, we walked backed to the trailer and settled in for the night...don't think it was long before we (or at least me) were fast asleep!

That concludes our first 2 travel days...stay tuned for the rest!