Before I forget, here’s a pix of daughter, Jenn and granddaughter, Guiliana on Sat. 4/20 at the Farmer’s Market.
4/23 – Made our way from Blythe, CA on “the 10” to Redlands, CA…about 3 hrs. Very hazy, so I didn’t take photos. Beautiful temps – 70’s. Got settled in at the Elk’s Club RV parking.
Enjoyed pizza dinner with Jenny (Daughter-Daughter) – so named because as she and daughter, Sarah, were growing up, Jenny spent a lot of time with us…thus like another daughter. Jenny’s daughter Eva is so darling. Kicking myself I forgot my camera so no pix of them.
4/24 – had a relaxing am and then about 3 PM went to the post office and grocery store. Made parmesan crusted chicken to take to Jenny’s for dinner, along with salad and French bread. She bought a strawberry-rhubarb pie, so we were in food heaven a bit later at her place. Her hubby, Ben was there tonight and we had a great visit.
4/25 Up and on the road by 10 am. Headed up I-15 and made it up the longgggg grade. Here’s a pix of a huge mansion out in the middle of no-where.
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Here’s a pix of the Cajon summit area at 4105’. Stopped just south of Victorville for fuel $4.299/gal. Knew it was going to be higher in CA – had paid $3.73 in AZ before leaving that state. Really windy here today. Here’s a scenery shot just before Boron, CA. There a lot of Joshua trees growing here in the high desert.
At Boron, noonish, we met, for the first time, some “Kissin Cousins” that I found on Ancestry.com. They are part of our Vinall tree (by marriage in the past) and live in Lancaster, CA. They had suggested we meet at Domingo’s in Boron. Boron is an interesting small town just outside of Edwards Air Force Base. It is a favorite restaurant for the Astronauts. Lots of pictures around the restaurant walls like the one below showing various astronauts dining here…one was of eating here as their first meal after being up in the space station. Scott and Marilyn were telling us they saw 5 of the first 9 space shuttle landings here at Edwards AFB. How thrilling that was for them and their children!
Domingo’s is located on Twenty Mule Team Rd. and Scott gave us a sunset picture he took (prior to the huge sign being torn down) of the 20-mule team –the transportation method used to haul the borax mineral on a torturous two-week trip in the 1880’s from Death Valley where it was originally mined and processed, to the Mojave, CA railhead (Mojave is a nearby town.) The mule trains traveled near Boron and ironically drove over one of the two largest borax deposits in the world. Today the well-known Borax mine works this deposit. We went past it as we left town – Huge!
We had a delicious lunch while exchanging life’s info and a lot of genealogy stories. When going to pay our bill, Jerry discovered I had not returned his VISA card to him after getting fuel. Oh oh.
Our waiter took our pix with “Domingo” as we were leaving.
Outside the restaurant.
I immediately called the gas station and they had our card. I apparently dropped it on the way to the truck and someone found it and turned it in. He said it was right after we left, so he is sure no-one had used it. He will mail it to us at the Santa Maria Elks where we will be 4/26 for a few days. I will check with Merrill Lynch to be sure no one has used it. Egads.
2 pm on the road again. Lots and lots of bikers going the other direction. Lots of longggg downhills with some uphills mixed in for interest. LOL Lots of windmill farms on the hills as we go down towards Bakersfield.
Went past (though couldn’t see it without pulling off) the hlghway, the Tehachapi Railroad Loop – the elevation so steep that they had to build the railroad tracks in a loop he grade wasn’t so huge…the trains end up going over themselves. Would be interesting to see if you could catch a train doing the loop-de-loop!
We are finally out of the mountains and into fruit growing areas. Signs for farmers markets (below), u-pick fruits, cherry festivals and fruit stands abound. (not open yet, though – darn.)
We see a few blooming trees and these gorgeous yellow roses.
Orange groves with the trees shaved off in squares for easy picking. Other fruit trees and grapevines are abundant.
Finally to Bakersfield about 3:30 pm. Stopped at the BMW shop to get the starting problem fixed but they didn’t have the part. Traci in their office located one and we will get it in a few days when we get north in San Luis Obispo. Easily found the Bakersfield Elks not that far away, went in to sign in and pay for our parking, had a beer and set up camp.
Solved the water problem we had had all day with water gushing out of the inpipe when we turned on the pump. After much to-do and putting in a new water pump – under the kitchen sink in all kinds of contortions due to the cramped conditions under there – we determined it wasn’t that. Finally checked the water inlet filter and when Jerry had cleaned it out this morning after unhooking the water hose, he had inserted it backwards, and the metal screen filter was pushing on the valve – duh! Oh well, a learning experience! LOL Had light supper as we had a big lunch and relaxed with TV.
A very busy day but very interesting and fun. So glad to meet you,Scott and Marilyn Shackelford! And so awesome to have two evenings of visiting with Jen, Ben and Eva! Life is so full of blessings!
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