5. A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOOP
Day 17: Tuesday, March 27
. It was quite cold during the night -- 41F -- but when I crawled out of my sleeping bag around 7 AM to turn on the furnace, a bright sun was coming up and it quickly made the thermometer climb. By the time I had enjoyed the morning shower, swim in the heated pool, and 15 minutes in the whirlpool, it was 70F.
Was under way by 10:45 AM and did some exploring of the Cleveland National Forest. Took SR 94 to Campo (south of I-8), then north on CR S1 to Old Highway 80 to the Sunrise Highway to go to Julian. I had taken the Sunrise Highway back during my 1999-1 trip -- and it was as spectacularly beautiful as I remembered.
The road climbs from abt. 3,000' to 6,000', is easy to drive, and offers great vistas of mountains and valleys. It was still a bit hazy at the higher elevations, so the photos didn't turn out well. Definitely will have to do this road again.
Headed south again on curvaceous SR 79 into the beautiful Japuta Valley and the equally scenic Lyons Valley (both south of I-8). Then backroads to Imperial Beach, where I treated the Westy to a car wash. It's just amazing how much dust one picks up after just a few miles on dirt roads.
The road from Imperial Beach to Coronado (SR 75) is a short stretch along the ocean -- a beautiful beach. Unfortunately it had clouded up, the temp dropped from 85F to 65F once I got to the coast, and the Pacific Ocean was anything but sparkling blue.
Coronado is the home of an internet friend (DrDan) of about 10 years' standing. We met face to face for the first time during my 1999-1 trip, and since he had not followed through on my invitation to come and visit us in New Jersey, I figured it was about time for me to see him. My campsite -- his driveway -- was waiting, and it was a lot of fun catching up -- and especially to observe how his great kids had developed. We tend to forget that a mere two years mean huge changes in a young person's development.
Daughter Dana is just as beautiful and cute as she was in 1999 (unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of her then)
and son David has progressed from skateboard to driving his mother's van -- and is impatiently waiting to turn 16 so that he can get his driver's license. Here are "then and now" photos:
David, 2 years ago
and now
Went out for dinner with Dan and friends of his that I had met two years ago. Just a great evening of catching up and sharing stories and experiences. Thanks!!! It's just great to visit old friends, and I'm looking forward already to my next trip to Coronado.
Drove 235 miles today and was en route for 6 hours. Bought gasoline in Imperial Beach and paid $1.799 per gallon. Only averaged 15.7 mpg on the last tank.
Day 18: Wednesday, March 28
Woke up at 6:30 AM after a very good night's sleep. After breakfast and some shopping to restock the pantry, went to visit a very dear old friend -- Chuck A. -- who had offered me my first management job about 35 years ago, when I was stuck in a staff position in Cleveland, Ohio. Moved to the Los Angeles area to join him at what today would be called a "spin out". Shortly afterwards, he transferred back to the parent company in Cleveland, I stayed in LA, and the rest is history. Anyway, we kept in touch over the years, he and his wife visited us in Denmark, Antje and my daughter Stefanie visited him (by then retired) and his wife in Coronada ten years ago, I missed him during my 1999 Coroando visit, but this time we connected. Spent an hour catching up. Hope to visit him many more times in the future.
Was on the road again by 11:00, headed north on I-5 and, whenever possible, on the roads hugging the coast. Unfortunately there was a lot of morning fog and haze, so didn't really get good vistas until I hit Capistrano. Then the sun came out and the Coastal Highway all the way to Huntington Beach was most enjoyable. Skipped the Los Angeles beaches -- too crowded -- and took the San Diego freeway north to the Ventura freeway and US 101 north along the coast to Santa Barbara and my destination, Refugio State Beach. $10 got me a dry site not far from the beach. The setting, right by the beach, is quite attractive. Took a little walk to get some photos and settled in for the night.
Temperatures today ranged from 59F early in the morning to 75F midday and 60F in the evening. Drove 255 miles today and was en route for 5 3/4 hours.
Day 19: Thursday, March 29
A mixed day. Beautiful sunshine while driving north along the coast and on the way to Sequoia National Park, then fog and clouds in the park, and mostly sunny again for the rest of the day.
Woke up at 5:30 AM to an outside temperature of 60F, the night's low. Stayed in the sleeping bag for another hour while the furnace raised the interior temperature to a comfortable level. Was on the road by 8:00 AM.
Headed north along the coast on the mostly scenic US 101 to Gaviota, then inland through ranchland and vinyards to the Pismo Beach area, then inland again to San Luis Obispo. Followed beautiful, narrow county roads to make my way to Avenal and then SR 198 through the Central Valley. Especially enjoyed driving through miles and miles of orange groves.
SR 198 leads into Sequoia National Park, Sequoia National Forest, and Kings Canyon National Park. Low clouds and fog deprived me of the spectacular mountain views I had enjoyed last year. No photo opportunities this year -- but it was still fun to see the huge trees pop out of fog banks.
Left the park on SR 180, but quickly turned onto SR 245. Scenic but incredible curves -- not recommended if vehicle length exceeds 22'. Made my way to Woodlake, Exeter, and Lindsay and then SR 65 to Bakersfield and the Bakersfield Palms RV Park, where I had stayed during my 2000-1 trip. $16.00 got me a full hook-ups, including cable TV and a phone line at the site. Enjoyed the super-clean bathhouse and half an hour in the whirlpool. Called home -- winter temperatures still prevail in New Jersey.
Was on the road for 10 1/4 hours and covered 430 miles. Bought gasoline in Hanford for $1.699/gal. Again averaged only 15.5 mpg -- I wonder whether the additives they put into gasoline in California has something to do with that.
Day 20: Friday, March 30
Woke up at 4:30 AM to a morning temperature (and the night's low) of 57F. Dozed off for another couple of hours and got up at 7:30F and a temp of 62F. Used the phone line to handle e-mail and finally was on the road by 10:00 AM. Beautiful sunshine, brilliantly blue sky, and 85F. It sure heats up quickly.
Crossed the fertile San Joaquim valley (altitude 100') and climbed up into the Tehachapi mountains. Jumped off SR 58 to take a magnificent side road, the Tehachapi Loop Road. It brought me to an overlook of the famous Tehachapi Loop - one of the seven wonders of the railroad world. Don't ask me what the others are -- but I would guess that the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark near Altoona, PA (see my 2000-3 journal) would be one of them.
The Tehachapi loop is at about 3,000' and a freight train of 86 or more cars will loop over itself.
Backroads took me to Mojave, a little railroad town, where I got an $8.00 haircut. Then through the Antelope Valley to Palmdale and on the Pearblossom Highway (SR 138) to Phelan. Occasional vistas of snow covered mountains, however most of the time it was too hazy. The drive to Crestline on SR 138 was very scenic.
Then picked up SR 18, which soon turned into the incredibly scenic Rim of the World Drive. The view into the huge San Bernadino valley was mostly spoiled by haze and smog. The Rim of the World Drive brought me to Big Bear Lake -- at 7,000' there was still plenty of snow for the skiers.
Picked up SR 247 at Lucerne Valley for the drive to Barstow. From there, I-15 east to the Baker exit, and then SR 127 north to Silver Lake and Tecopa. I had visited the hot springs at Inyo County Tecopa Hot Springs campground last year (journal 2000-1) after driving through Death Valley, and liked it.
$6.50 got me an unimproved site. At 7:00 PM, my arrival time and about an hour after sunset, the desert temperature was still 80F, down from the 90F I had experienced two hours earlier in the Lucerne Valley.
Drove 390 miles today and was on the road for 10 hours. Bought gasoline in Barstow at $ 1.679/gal and averaged 17.1 mpg on the last tank.
Day 21: Saturday, March 31
Woke up at 5:30 AM to a temperature of 50F -- the night's low. Was on the road by 7:15 AM, and it was already 10 degrees warmer. Backtracked on SR 127 to Baker, crossed I-15 and continued on Kelbaker Road into the starkly beautiful Mojave National Preserve. Passed by the impressive Kelso Dunes and visited Kelso - a former railroad depot that is being restored to its 1920s glory. The road is flanked by the Kelso Mountains.
I really liked the drive and thought it to be more scenic than Death Valley. Still going south crossed I-40 to get to Amboy. Then took the National Trails Highway to connect with SR 62 and the north entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. Drove through the park, enjoying the vistas, the trees at the higher elevations, and the wildflowers.
South of the park jumped on I-10 west to Indio and then headed south on SR 195 to Salton City Beach. From there the absolutely stunningly scenic Borrego-Salton Sea Way to equally gorgeous SR 78 and the former mining town -- now tourist trap -- of Julian. Then a quick but attractive drive around the Cuyamaca Mountains and the Cleveland National Forest back to the DeAnza Springs RV Resort, where I had started my Southern California loop last Tuesday.
Fixed shrimps and strawberries for dinner.
Was on the road for 10 hours, drove 460 miles, bought gasoline for $1.859/gal at the Circle K in Ramona (it was $1.699 at a station two blocks further down the road) and can't calculate an average fuel consumption because the stupid pump stopped at $50 -- so I didn't get a full tank.
Day 22: Sunday, April 1
No traveling today. Slept late, spent the morning cleaning the interior of the van, talked for a while with another GTRV-Westy owner, swam in the heated (88F) pool, soaked in the hot tub (110F), caught up on the journal, and just generally enjoyed a lazy day.
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