29 Feb - Leaping To Lake Havasu City, Arizona

As we were leaving the KOA this morning, Wayne says I think I remember this road.  Last year we had to stop for a long train crossing.  Guess what? It was deja vu all over again.

Train crossing same as last year

Lots of scenic vistas today:

Highway winds around the hills

Some signs you don't see everyday:

Wild burros live on this open range

Rattlesnakes live at rest stop

We drove around Lake Havasu City this afternoon.  We were checking out rv parks for future trips.  We also had lupper at Golden Corrall.  It's a buffet restaurant.  Our bill was less than $16 for the both of us.  Lots of selection and very tasty.

View of Lake Havasu

Crossing over London Bridge

The man who originally developed Lake Havasu City, bought London bridge in the 1960's.  He moved it here piece by piece and reassembled it.  I remember hearing about this when I was a kid.  Thought the man was crazy.  Guess not as this is a thriving community now.

After looking at several RV parks, we decided that the nicest one is Havasu RV Resort - where we are staying.

Our site

28 Feb 2012 - Barstow, California

After leisurely travel preparations which included a delicious breakfast at the resort restaurant, we finally headed out at 1030 am.  Short travel day again - less than 150 miles.  Only a few miles east of Bakersfield we began climbing towards the Tehachapi Pass.  It is quite high but the approach and descent are very long so the incline isn't too steep.

IS

THAT

SNOW?

Yes it is!

That's why we stopped in Bakersfield yesterday.  There were weather warnings, roads closed and today some school districts had a snow day.  But by the time we went over the pass the road was bare and dry.  It's funny - we were very concerned about running into snow at Siskiyou summit in northern California.  But we never dreamed there would by snow in southern California.  And a lot of it.

The eastern side of the pass opens into the Mojave high desert.  Edwards Air Force Base is located here.  At Edwards they do a lot of flight testing and also it was a landing site for the space shuttles.

Planes on tarmac at Edwards Air Force Base

We are settled in for the night at Barstow KOA.  It is right in the desert.  But there are services here such as gas stations, diners and I think a motel or two.

Desert shot

These are Joshua Trees

27 Feb - Bakersfield, California

Short drive today - only 150 miles.  However it started to rain about 30 miles from our destination, Bakersfield RV Resort.  The showers eased off long enough for us to set up.  We then had lunch in the resort restaurant.  Very good.

Office and restaurant

Pool

And hot tub

There were many miles of orchards on the route today.  We passed peach, nectarine and plum trees.  Also many vineyards.  The central valley contains the raisin capital of the world.

Peach orchard

Truck  full of oranges

I kept seeing oranges along the sides of the road.  Couldn't figure out where they were coming from.  Then this semi entered the highway.  It was full of oranges.  I guess they bounce out of the open top from time to time.

After lunch Wayne and I walked down the street to Camping World.  We spent a pleasant hour or two browsing the aisles.  Of course we bought some stuff too.  A couple of books, some replacement light bulbs and gadgets.

Our change in plans yesterday to stop here today was a good decision. Interstate highway 5 was closed about 25 miles south of here due to snow.  The area affected is called the grapevine.  We don't need to travel through this particular pass but we do need to go through the Tehachapi Pass on Highway 58.  It also got a fair bit of snow today but stayed open.  We don't want to travel when it is snowing.  Too dangerous.  All the mess should be gone by tomorrow and sunshine will rule again.

Lucas, Jeff, Jovana and Matt

26 Feb - Still In Chowchilla, California

Sunday - A day of rest.  And a restful day it is.  We took a break from travelling, choosing to relax, catch up on some laundry and just hang out.  I spent an hour reclining by the pool reading my Kobo and Wayne puttered around at our site drinking beer.  Now he's making sweet and sour pork chops for supper.  Life is good!

The Main Drag in Chowchilla

The Lakes Clubhouse

Our site

Nice clean laundry room

Checking out the flowering trees

Entrance to Golf Course adjacent to RV park

A weather watch has been issued for Tehachapi Pass for Monday.   There are high winds and snow in the forecast.  We must travel through this pass to get to Arizona.  So we have decided to add another stop to our itinerary - going as far as Bakersfield tomorrow.  Stopping at another fancy park.  Boy are we getting spoiled.  We will continue to Barstow on Tuesday.  The weather will have passed by then.  This new plan actually works better than the original.  We were going to have a long travel day tomorrow.  Now it will be two short days instead.

All the parents

25 Feb - Chowchilla, California

Agriculture is the name of the game today.  More specifically, trees.  We travelled through the central valley which is mainly farm land.  Miles and miles of almond and olive groves.  We did pass through Sacramento (think it is the state capitol)  Traffic was quite light this morning building a bit in the afternoon.

In addition to the trees, we also saw lots of wild life.  There were lots of hawks, and several white storks.  I couldn't get a photo.  There was even a rabbit hopping along in the ditch.  Man, it was going fast.

We are set up at The Lakes RV and Golf Resort.  It is a very beautiful park with iron gates that open by remote control.  The park has a pond with fountain, heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and club house.  Golf  fees are included in your site fees.  Great except we don't golf.  We stayed here last year on the way home.  It was full in late March but this year not so full.  We are here a month earlier this year.  Being ready for a break from the road, we've booked to stay 2 nights.  It's a little cool but I might try the hot tub tomorrow.

No mountains today

Almond trees in blossom

Olive trees

Palm trees

Crab apple blossoms at rest stop

Grapevines

Wedding party

24 Feb - Red Bluff, California

Today seemed like a long travel day.  We were in the mountains pretty much all day.  Fairly draining.

Mount McLoughlin

 This is a volcano.  It is located in southern Oregon and is 9,495 feet high.  Its very beautiful.,

Summit of Mount Siskiyou - complete with snow on the hills

Siskiyou

 Siskiyou summit is at 4,310 feet.  We travelled up to it very slowly.  Quite the climb.

Mountains, mountains, mountains

Mount Shasta

 Mount Shasta is another volcano.  It is in California and is 14,179 feet high. The volcano is covered by glaciers.  This volcano last erupted about 200 years ago.

Lake Shasta

Beautiful lake with gorgeous coloured water.  It is very popular with boaters and vacationers.

Finally we escaped from the mountainous terrain.  We are staying at Durango RV Resort.  We stayed here last year as well.  It is a beautiful park.  A small shopping centre is right next door.  We had supper at Shari's - a western  restaurant chain that is known for its pies.  Good supper but we didn't have pie.  Trying to be good.

Clubhouse at Durango RV

Landscaping includes a series of fountains

Sacramento River

The Sacramento River runs along the edge of the campground.  So pretty.  Tomorrow we head further south.  We're ready for a break and we'll stay two nights at the next campground.  We couldn't stop before now as the weather is changing tonight and we needed to get through the mountains before the snow returned.

Brothers

Feb 23 - Seven Feathers Casino RV Resort - Canyonville, Oregon

Today we travelled 188 miles.  We are still in Oregon and have stopped at a fabulous rv resort.  It is part of Seven Feathers Casino.  Beautiful, modern and extremely well equipped resort.

www.sevenfeathersrvresort.com  Check out the website.

Campground nestled in a valley

Our site

Indoor heated pool

And hot tub

Outside of the casino

 We have really enjoyed this park.  Had lupper (lunch and supper combined) in the Creekside Restaurant, went for a swim and hot tub soak.  After showers we took the complimentary shuttle to the casino.  After losing our allotted slot money we had ice cream and then came home to relax.  So much fun.

We travelled for 3 to 4 hours today.  Fairly easy drive - no large cities or mountain passes.  Oregon is very pretty and very green.

Requisite farm shot

Lots of sheep farms

Lots of hills - fresh and green

Another wedding photo:

Tomorrow we're California bound.