Needles California

 

There always seems to be certain places that we seem to stay at every time we in that area.  Fender's RV Resort/Park in Needles, California is one of them.  Since 2015 we have stayed here at least seven times.  It is not a great park, it is more out of convenience and price (Passport America just under $20).  It is an easy drive from Phoenix (although the highway at times felt like we were in the Yukon again).  If we are coming across I-40, which we have a few times, it is just over 500 miles from Albuquerque...a distance I don't like to drive any more.  But from Winslow it is not that bad either.  From here we typically stay at Bakersfield, then up to Sacramento area.The first time we stayed here there was about 35 sites and 8 motel rooms.  

Then they bought the park next door, and now they have about 140 sites and 8 motel rooms.  We always stay in the front by the motel rooms so that we don't have to unhook.  Today we came in during lunch break, so we just went to our normal site and waited until the office opened again.  When the young lady got back from lunch, she quickly found me in the computer, and shortly after I was walking out the door to our site...the one I pulled into.  (To be honest, a person affiliated with the park told me it would be ok to pull into our normal site).

We have had a relaxing afternoon, and after Blue Bloods, which is from 9-10 here, we will be calling it a night.  Only 560 miles to go, and Bakersfield is right around the half-way point.

How HOT is Too HOT?

We were awake by 5, got up before 6, on the road after filling with water and using the dump station before 7.  Temps were nice last night, mid to upper 60's, and we both slept well.  I knew we were headed into a FIRE STORM.  No, not a forest fire...just HEAT.  I hoped to travel the 245 miles by noon, and we just made it.  When we got to Needles, CA, it was already 102.

At first we had shade, but as the sun made its way westward, the shade was gone.  From 2 until 8 pm we had the motorhome house AC going full blast.  On the hour I would turn the engine on and the dash AC on full blast for 15-20 minutes.  That would hold us for the next 40-45 minutes.  Repeat.  THAT is what you have to do when it gets to be 111 degrees outside, and you are in partial to no shade.

YES, we took pictures...NO, you probably won't see them because I am too exhausted by the heat to deal with photoshope and blogger's new format to make it all come together.  Good news, when we arrive in Bakersfield tomorrow it won't be 100...not until 3 pm when it climbs from 98 to 102 with a high of only 103.  ONLY you say?  Well, it is 8:15 pm right now in Needles, sun is down, and it is 105 degrees according to Accuweather and Weather.com. 

Another night with AC running all night...

Note:  Yes, we thought about going up eastern side of Sierra, but with this extremely hot weather pattern, we are just going straight to Sandy and Arny's house...where it too, is HOT.