Made it to Citrus Heights

So we left Bakersfield around 7:30 am...a 300 mile route by going via I-5.  Both US-99 and I-5 have their problems...but on the advice of Nancy Kissack, we went I-5 because the condition of US-99 in and through Atwater, where she lives, is REAL BAD due to construction where, as she says, the concrete barriers are on both sides of your vehicle with just inches to spare...which has lead to many wrecks over the past few weeks.  Well, I HATE the concrete barriers on both sides...one side is ok, but both is something I try to avoid even in a car.

We arrived just before 2 pm, shook up from the numerous spots along I-5 that need desperately to have work on them.  Let give you one example.  I see a sign which says, "Road Work Ahead" (and I immediately think someone needs to change that sign to "Road Work Needed" because the road is in bad shape.)  I see another sign about 2 miles up the Interstate which says, "Road Work Ahead".  I see another sign about 3 miles later which says, ""Road Work Ahead".  I think you get the drift.  About 10-12 miles down the Interstate from the first sign, and now passing 3 or 4 more signs, we come to the 'Road Work'...it was a REST AREA which has been torn down, and in the process of being rebuilt.  THAT is the ONLY road work we came across during this 12 miles stretch...all the while, getting shook up from bumps, potholes, and even what seemed to be frost heaves in an area where it does not snow, it does not have hard freezes, but there are dips in the roadway which are just like frost heaves of Alaska Highway fame.  How does the state which boasts to be the world's fifth largest economy have such crappy roads???  I am embarrassed by my "home state", and it just goes to show that they are more concerned about a rest area, than 12 miles of crappy roadway.  And EVEN when the road is in good shape, it seemed that each time we came upon the smallest bridge over the roadway, that they can't make the roadway and the bridge meet...so it is a BANG as you get on the bridge, and a BANG when you get off the bridge.

In a few days I will try to write a blog to include pictures from the past two days of travel.  We are just glad to be back in my sister's backyard, and looking forward to someone's 92nd birthday next weekend.  🙂

ps: Indy was very happy to be back in the green, lush backyard, and among her Aunts and Uncle and of course, Cousin Parker.

Bakersfield by Nightfall

We were on the road by 8:45…shooting for 9 am, so I felt good about that.  Traffic, at first, was not bad at all.  We decided to go I-5 instead of US-99 not only because of construction along 99, but mainly because of the Flying-J (gas and propane) and the Blue Beacon Truck Wash next door (to get the squirrel droppings off the RV – only downfall to staying in the backyard).   I also wanted to top off the tires which needed their winter adjustment…but I had to go over to Love’s across the street from Flying J because for some reason, Flying J had mostly broken hoses, and low pressure in the air department.  At Blue Beacon we had nearly an hour wait, which meant getting to Bakersfield by nightfall was going to be rough.

One thing about California is you never know what type of vehicle you will see out on the streets.   I have no idea what this is…a mixture of this and that from what I could see….

…Bubba, who uncharacteristically was sitting up on Marcia’s lap, gave me a look like, “I don’t think Arny would ever put a car out on the street looking like that piece of Sh….”   BUBBA, WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!!!

Bubba stayed up on Marcia’s lap for a good 30 minutes…wow, that’s a record for sure!!!!   Skruffy had been on her lap for a good hour or more, so Marcia had a good doggie day. 

Yes, we did make it to the Orange Grove RV Park in Bakersfield, but it was dusk, and I needed a flashlight to get everything hooked up.  Can’t wait until morning because there are MANY oranges on the orange trees, and they don’t mind (even encourage) you having a few to eat on the premises.  I will try and get my camera out, because all of today’s pictures were with my cell phone.  Not sure how far we will get tomorrow…guess you will have to check back and see.