Having said this, the Tehachapi area and 3,970-foot pass through the mountains offered interesting views and subject matter. The pass connects the rather bleak Mojave Desert with the beautiful and fertile San Juaquin Valley. The Eastern slope is the birthplace of the wind energy industry and is covered with more than 3,300 giant wind turbines. The picture shows a small fraction of those visible along the highway. Not the best picture, but hopefully you get the idea.
If you look closely at the picture above, you might notice the tail sections of hundreds of aircraft stored at the Mojave aircraft boneyard by Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed, and Airbus. Some reach the end of their useful lifetime and are scrapped here, while others are refurbished and returned to active service, I'm told. Well, I don't know about you, but I sure would like to know which are returned to active service ... before I board?
This is your Captain speaking, "Pay no attention to that desert critter slithering across the floor of the cabin." Yikes!
A storm had passed by the day before, so there was a sprinkling of "white stuff" in the hills. West-facing slopes looked deep enough to ski on, but the roads were completely dry as we passed through at 10am.
Yes, there were a lot of trucks out as Hwy 40 to 58 to 99 is a major commerce route across the USA. We passed many trains along the highway, as well, with engines in front and back pulling/pushing, respectively, more than 100 cars sandwiched in between, caring new autos, lumber, oil or gas, and yes, Borax, and many unknowns.
This is your Captain speaking, "Pay no attention to that desert critter slithering across the floor of the cabin." Yikes!
A storm had passed by the day before, so there was a sprinkling of "white stuff" in the hills. West-facing slopes looked deep enough to ski on, but the roads were completely dry as we passed through at 10am.
Yes, there were a lot of trucks out as Hwy 40 to 58 to 99 is a major commerce route across the USA. We passed many trains along the highway, as well, with engines in front and back pulling/pushing, respectively, more than 100 cars sandwiched in between, caring new autos, lumber, oil or gas, and yes, Borax, and many unknowns.
So, any pictures taken were quick and not the best, as it takes a lot of concentration to squeak by when the opportunity presents itself with only a few feet between our mirrors. If you get stuck behind a truck while in the bumpy slow lane ... it will take much longer to get to your next stop.
As we descended the pass and headed west to Hwy99, the road got better as did the traffic, as trucks stopped trying to pass each other ... You know, the old "my Kenworth is faster than your Freightliner races!"
I missed taking a picture, but the first crops you see entering the valley are thousands of acres of orange orchards. In fact, one of the places we like to overnight is the Orange Grove RV Park, where all the sites are pull-through, flat, and in between the trees of the grove. You are allowed and encouraged to pick oranges during your stay. This is a very large and friendly park, link: Orange Grove RV
We typically stay at Orange Grove when coming or going, but on this trip I chose to travel a bit further towards home to overnight at the Elks Lodge in Fresno. The Lodge is away from the highway about 6 miles, but worth the side trip. $35/night, water and electric.
The view out the front of the bus window is of a 3-acre storage basin and bird sanctuary, full of all kinds of water fowl. At night, the reflections of lights from businesses across the pond offer a private, peaceful and tranquil setting. The picture was taken during the day, of course, so you'll have to use your imagination.
From Fresno to home, the trip went quickly with only one stop to walk the doggie. The RV needs a major interior cleaning, and a maintenance service and safety-check, as all that bumpy road caused "something" to come loose, causing a rattling noise in the front suspension during the last 50 miles. I'm thinking (hoping?) shock absorber mount (cheap), or trailing arm bushing (maybe not cheap!)
As we descended the pass and headed west to Hwy99, the road got better as did the traffic, as trucks stopped trying to pass each other ... You know, the old "my Kenworth is faster than your Freightliner races!"
I missed taking a picture, but the first crops you see entering the valley are thousands of acres of orange orchards. In fact, one of the places we like to overnight is the Orange Grove RV Park, where all the sites are pull-through, flat, and in between the trees of the grove. You are allowed and encouraged to pick oranges during your stay. This is a very large and friendly park, link: Orange Grove RV
We typically stay at Orange Grove when coming or going, but on this trip I chose to travel a bit further towards home to overnight at the Elks Lodge in Fresno. The Lodge is away from the highway about 6 miles, but worth the side trip. $35/night, water and electric.
The view out the front of the bus window is of a 3-acre storage basin and bird sanctuary, full of all kinds of water fowl. At night, the reflections of lights from businesses across the pond offer a private, peaceful and tranquil setting. The picture was taken during the day, of course, so you'll have to use your imagination.
From Fresno to home, the trip went quickly with only one stop to walk the doggie. The RV needs a major interior cleaning, and a maintenance service and safety-check, as all that bumpy road caused "something" to come loose, causing a rattling noise in the front suspension during the last 50 miles. I'm thinking (hoping?) shock absorber mount (cheap), or trailing arm bushing (maybe not cheap!)
A few statistics (approximate):
Miles traveled = 1,402
13 nights, 14 days away
230 gallons of gas consumed
6 mpg average (those hills kill mileage; the bus averages 8 mpg on the flats)
New, 300 amp/hour Lithium coach battery (overdue) = $1,200
New tow bar (unexpected) = $550
Good times, good visits with friends, good food = PRICELESS!
I hope you've enjoyed riding along on our adventure to Quartzite, AZ and back. I'll wrap this post up with well wishes to you and your families, and I'll be sure to copy you on the next trip, possibly to UT in the Spring.
So, until the next trip, God bless and stay tuned ...
