California Trip

Marissa , part of the reason for my trip to California. She looks like a sweet little 10 year old. Don't let the smile fool you.. She is a card shark and a no holds barred Monopoly player.
Back to the trip. Left Cascabel around 9 am. Friday 27th. We headed north, 30 bumpy miles on the dirt road to San Manuel. Thank goodness for a paved road the rest of the way to Oracle, passed the Biosphere, joining the I 10 north of Tucson. Thought we would bypass all the construction and detours in and around Tucson. Not sure if we saved any time but we sure took the more scenic route. We changed onto I 8 at Casa Grande and followed that Highway

to Yuma. Desert all the way and temp in the high 70's. Transfered camping equipment into Paul's car and went off to a well deserved lunch at the Olive Garden around 2.

I left Jacquie shopping until Paul got off work and I headed north. Lots of R.V. sites in Yuma but lots of campers scattered around everywhere in the desert. Looked pretty hot out there to me, but the price is right... I. 8 highway runs parellel to the Mexican border, so of course the border patrol has a checkpoint. Traffic stopped back a couple of miles. On each side where large sand dunes. Gave me something to look at as I inched along.

Drove alongside a lake named Salton Sea. Lots of agriculter in this area. Almost got sprayed by a crop duster plane that was flying back and forth over the highway, at one point it flew so low over the highway that it went under the power lines . Passed Palm Springs and a few Malls and Casino's. I didn't stop, honest. It was starting to get dark so stopped for the night in Beaument.

Left early the next morning as was a little worried about the drive through San Bernardino. A really busy highway that winds up through a mountain pass. A pretty drive but unfortunately had to keep my eyes on the road. Boy , drivers are nuts in Cal. Had arranged to meet Paula and Jim at a mall in Lancaster. I was 2 hours early, and that was a good thing as it took me almost that long to find the mall. Turns out it really is in Palmdale. I know that area very well now... Spent the rest of the day following them around while they got there grocerys , etc.

Sunday was hot, had a lovely day with the family and of course played Skip Boo with Marissa and lost. Thought I would be sneaky and give her a new game she wouldn't know (but I would) I won the first game of Rummy Cube but that was all.... Then it was on to Monopoly . I was bankrupt in no time.

Left for Yuma Monday morning . This time came home a little different way from Cal City. Passed Edwards Air Base , through another desert area with lots of cactus and no passing areas. The drive down to San Bernardino was a bit scary, Seems like mileswinding down hill at 45 mph but only me and a few trucks were doing that. I stayed in the truck lane all the way down. Car drivers are nuts... Had planned on shopping in Palm Springs but after that drive just wanted to get back to some small highways with saner drivers.

Joined up with Paul and Jacquie later that day, (they never did camp )and we had an early supper in Yuma and Jacquie and I headed towards Phoenix. Arrived at Pauls sister's place about 9 that night.

Next day ,Tues, we drove the hour to a Phoenix hotel that Jacquie had a few meetings to attend.

I went to one session and decided it was boring , so sat out by the pool and read. We left there in time to hit the rush hour traffic. Stopped for food half way to Tucson and walked out of the restaurant after waiting for a waiter for a long time. ( (((D0 we sound grumpy and tired ))) got a sub instead and hit the road again. Decided to drive through Tucson, detours and all and head for Benson. That way we would only have 10 miles of dirt road to deal with on the way home.

Well , in the few days we were away,the road went from bad to downright undrivable. Top speed was 5 m.p.h. Everything shook. We were glad to get home...