THE MOJAVE AND INTO THE BAY AREA

Saturday December 19, 2009

Just under 500 miles to go as I leave Kingman after sunup. This will be be a rather leisurely day. Over the Colorado and into California for a 2500 climb with the little engine that has thus far been working pretty hard this morning.

The desert has it's own expansive beauty and it's perhaps the only place in California without lots of people and traffic.



Leaving the Mojave you do see the most impressive wind farm that I've ever seen. Hundreds of wind-generators. A very impressive sight on the side of the mountain. It's sort of surprising that wind is still only 2% of California's electricity.


Through Bakersfield and over to I5. Lunch and a car wash in Wasco. I couldn't stand the salt anymore!! Finally through the Pacheco Canyon and over to 101 for the last 50 miles! About 2580 miles and well worth the drive! Have a great Solstice or Christmas... but not both!

THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND BEYOND

Friday December 18, 2009 Activities

Weather continues to be perfect and the roads are as dry and you would want. I started on good ole I40 and continue to roll west. I woke up in Albuquerque and headed west but I'm only 1000 miles from Mountain View, can't make it in one day, so I have some time to waste.
































First you have the continental divide. I mean you have to stop because it divides the whole
damn continent! The State of New Mexico has it's own unique way of telling you about it! First they tell you a mile ahead that it's coming. Then instead of just putting up a sign they make it an exit. First off, who can help but stop at the continental divide? I mean come on.. it divides the whole damn continent! Then they put a gift shop right their for your convenience! You gotta love those wacky New Mexicans!

So, on down the road with a side to the Grand Canyon. Fifty-five miles up the road expecting not to find anyone.. I'm taking an error on that one! First off Ranger Lee is not going to give me the old guy pass. He chose instead to miss my birthday for the sixty-second year in a row. He wanted his full 25 bucks. So what can I say but that it is a very impressive hole in the ground.






The Canyon was a hoot. Lot's of tourists and many of them having much difficulty traversing on all of the snow.

I ended my day in Kingman, AZ. I have under 500 miles in 2550 yet to go, and should be in Mountain View by dark tomorrow! That is of course if the rattlers don't get me!!

Thursday December 17, 2009

ADVENTURES (or lack there of) IN SOUTH-CENTRAL UNITED STATES

Yesterday was Wichita to Oklahoma City to Amarillo to Albuquerque on I40. It was another 700 miler with not a lot going on. The weather is spectacular for this time of year, up to nearly 70 and the roads are nice and dry. Perhaps the most interesting thing was how really crummy Oklahoma seemed to be. I found a total of one rest area and based on that one I didn't want to find any more. Maybe they could clean things once in a while!!Does it seem that the people with mobility problems are supposed to climb up top while the family has lunch? Is not spending anything to make travelers comfortable the community spirit that all that old oil money brings? No wonder the only thing you hear about Oklahoma is football .!

Contrast this to New Mexico, a small state without much money


Anyway it was a slow day for pictures and I'm not sure this is worth reading about. To summarize New Mexico nice, Oklahoma.... not so much!

RETURN TO CALIFORNIA

Wednesday December 16, 2009.

Well the little red car is back on the road and we're headed for California for the family Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa etc, etc and etc celebration!

I left this morning at 7AM and recorded a low temperature of -2 outside 0f Platteville. I'm now in Wichita where the temperature remains in the 40's and saw a high today outside of Kansas City of 50. So the weather has been good except for the wind which is blowing hard from the south and west. But the roads are clear and we're speeding along. 700 miles today in under 11 hours so I quit right after dark.

I'm on the most southern route to the Bay area because the weather in Utah and Wyoming doesn't look good. I suspect that the old wintry weather up there is at least in part the result of Dick Cheney, the American Prince cold and nastiness!

No pictures today but I will try to do better tomorrow. That's it for tonight!!