Search for Sunshine – 2024

Day 1, Saturday, February 24, Home to Delano, CA via CA99: 184 miles

It had been six months since my last adventure, and it was high time that I got to bummin’ around the country again.

Why so long since the last adventure? I guess it was the combination of outrageous fuel prices and my advancing age. Having just turned 80 years old in December, I don’t seem to have the wanderlust I once had. Even so, I often dream of  open roads and wandering through them aboard Big Blue at a pleasant and leisurely pace.

This trip would be my usual wintertime trip south into Texas, perhaps across Texas to Louisiana, or south to Corpus Christi where it seems more like summer than winter in January – at least on the occasions that I wandered through. Or, I may decide at anytime that bummin’ around the country has become more work than pleasure. I’ll decide such things day by day.

I began loading the coach for this adventure after breakfast. Loading included the little electric scooter, and it was a mighty tough job lifting it into the lower hold where it rides along on some of these motorhome trips.

Although plumb tuckered out, I finally had the coach loaded. I pulled out of our little gated community about noon. The drive was entirely on CA99, so the traffic, even on a Saturday, was pretty heavy much of the time. My plan was to drive to Tulare, but I continued on about 30 more miles to the Walmart in Delano. I pulled in there a few minutes before 1600 hours.

Click on any photo to enlarge and read the captions:

Loading the coach for the trip includes installing the electronics such as the Garmin navigator and the dash camera, which I am doing here.

It’s almond blossom time in the great Central Valley. Kalifornistan has about 1,600,000 acres of almonds. Yep; we’re famous for our fruits and nuts.

A bit of SR99 traffic drama; I didn’t see what all the excitement was about.

Big Blue at rest on Delano’s Walmart lot. I was on the road again! Note the mobility scooter to the left.

My first Panda pigout in months, and I have to knock off such nonsense the rest of the trip.

I dawdled away much of the afternoon, which included a bit of shopping aboard the little electric scooter. My legs have gotten so weak and sore that walking to and from the store is a real chore. I prefer using the little electric mobility scooter over walking, no matter the distance. It’s a tough admission to make, but it’s just how things are for now.

The evening of the first day of this new bummin’ adventure was restful and pleasant. I watched YouTube videos much of the evening, and fought the sleepies as well. I finally called it a day and headed to bed about midnight.

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Day 2, Sunday, February 24, Delano, CA to Barstow, CA via CA99, CA58: 160 miles

I was up and around a few minutes after 0600 hours. It was a very cool night by my sissy standards, at just 40° outside. I turned on both heaters and the water heater, and went back to bed for a while as things warmed up. By both heaters I mean front area and rear area of the coach, as each has heating independent of the other.

Once I had the morning chores done, I headed to the store for some items I needed. I just couldn’t face the chore of wrestling the mobility scooter out from its basement storage, and decided to walk. I have discovered that walking at a very slow pace is much less painful. Once in the store I used one of Walmart’s electric scooters to get around the store.

Big Blue just looking very cool on the morning of Day 2 in Delano. In this photo, the chassis air bags have been emptied because the jacks are down, and the coach appears to be lowered. 

Back at the coach I put things away, then wrote more of this blog. I dawdled away the morning, but also cleaned my bug collection on the massive windshields, checked the tires, checked the fluids in both the main engine and generator, which has a small Kubota diesel. A few minutes before noon, I pulled out of the Delano Walmart lot and headed for the Mojave Desert and the not-so-beautiful town of Barstow.

I drove down CA99 to Bakersfield, some 35 or 40 miles, then headed east on CA58 toward the Tehachapi Mountains.

Bakersfield is proud of its native son, Merle Haggard, one of my all time favorite country singers. I sure do miss him.

I was treated to an unusually scenic drive through the mountains, thanks to our wet winter. The usually brown and ugly drive was green the entire drive up the Tehachapies, and then during my descent into the Mojave Desert, the landscape was as brown as summertime. Enjoy the photos.

Click to enlarge and read the captions:

The climb began with the hills rich in green growth, thanks to our wet winter.

I stopped along the way up the Tehachapies for lunch.

Unusually green and scenic Tehachapies.

Wow! As green and beautiful as I’ve ever seen these mountains.

I’m pretty sure the cattle enjoyed the green growth more than I.

It was amazing the difference between the ascent and the descent through the Tehachapies. While the west side was gloriously green and lush, the east side was as brown and ugly as ever. It must be that the storms don’t get beyond the summit, and I suppose that would explain the Mojave Desert just east of the mountains.

Once over the summit, the landscape was unchanged from the ugliness of the dry seasons. I thought that the train, chugging its way through the mountains, was a nice touch, though.

Next came the drive across the Mojave Desert to the scruffy town of Barstow, where I would spend the night at the local Walmart.

The Mojave Desert, although as dry as the mountains I just called ugly, has a beauty all its own. I always enjoy desert driving.

Fuel prices are outrageous in the desert. According to GasBuddy, one station in Needles, CA was charging $7.40 for diesel! I planned to beat those awful prices in Parker, AZ the following day. I could fuel there for as low as $4.10. It’s a pretty sad situation when I have to consider $4.10 to be a low price!

I pulled into the Barstow Walmart lot a bit before 1600 hours, and settled in for the night. It was good to be able to park securely for the night at yet another Walmart store. Thank you, Mr. Sam! (The founder of Walmart was Sam Walton, who welcomed RVers to park for the night many years ago – and fortunately, Walmart generally still welcomes us.)

Parked for the night at Barstow’s Walmart store.

Once settled in at Barstow, I began editing the day’s photos and bringing this blog up to date. For a change, I had no reason to head into the store, and stayed put in the coach the entire time.

After the blogging, I zapped a frozen meal for dinner, then settled in for a comfortable evening aboard Big Blue. Much of the evening was spent watching YouTube videos. It is surprising how much that outfit knows about my viewing preferences. They constantly present videos about silly pets, travel videos, and other topics that interest me, and they succeed all to well at keeping me watching. 

I had been closely following wind predictions along I-40, which can be very windy, that I would be driving to Parker. According to the morning’s prediction, I will miss winds to 35 MPH by one day. Whew. I should be driving in very light winds according to the predictions for Day 3.

I enjoyed a cool one as I continued my evening of video watching. My evening aboard was very pleasant, but a bit cool and I ran the heaters to stay comfy. I finally headed for bed around midnight, and slept well.

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Day 3, Monday, February 26, Barstow, CA to Parker, AZ via I-40, US95, CA62: 206 miles

I slept well on the Walmart lot in Barstow. If that’s not a classy way to spend the night, what is?! I awoke refreshed and looked forward to leaving Kalifornistan. Such a departure is always a treat for me, as any other state is a refreshing change from the People’s Republic of Kalifornistan.

What a great way to start the day!

I worked through the morning chores, readying myself and Big Blue for the day’s adventure. I pulled out of the Walmart lot about 0830 hours, and headed for Arizona. Parker, Arizona to be exact.

More scenic desert, and a fine section of I-40 through Kalifornistan. Beautiful!

If one likes desert scenery, the drive is a pleasure as it is nothing but desert – it could be said that the scenery doesn’t actually change during the entire trip.

The drive became pretty tedious once on US95 and CA62 as both are just two lane roads, one lane in each direction, and they were in pretty poor shape in some places. I tried to find how much federal, state, and local governments spent on maintaining Kalifornistan streets and highways in 2023, but couldn’t find an answer through all the gobbledygook.

Click for larger photos and captions:

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotives pull their share westbound and over the Tehachapies.

A beautiful view if not for the smoke or smog.

US95 in Kalifornistan. It’s just patch, patch, patch on too many well worn roads.

Crossing the Colorado River into Arizona.

I arrived at Parker’s Walmart store at 1500 hours local time, which is in the Mountain Time Zone. Arizona has a very screwy time zone situation, as shown here. Imagine living in the northeastern corner of the state!

Big Blue at rest for the night at Parker, Arizona’s Walmart store.

During the afternoon, I went shopping in the store for a new cell phone mount. I have my phone mounted at a very convenient location on the coach’s dashboard, but the mount broke recently. Perhaps it was from too much vibration over the years while aboard the coach. Whatever the reason, I believe I replaced it with a better one.

My evening unfolded as usual when bummin’ around the country. I edited the day’s photos that passed muster, clacked away on the ‘puter keyboard, and enjoyed my evening on the road. I headed to bed around midnight, and slept well.

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Day 3, Tuesday, February 27, Parker, AZ to Marana, AZ via US95, I-10, AZ85, I-8, I-10 (again): 269 miles

As I begin, for the third time, my travel tales for Day 3, I am so frustrated with myself that I am about to give up writing! I have lost probably what was about two hours worth of writing. Twice!

I apparently can’t remember to save my work as I write, no matter how many times I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. I have advanced age to blame, and I fear that really is the reason.

My day began at the usual 0600 when I rolled out of bed and turned on the heaters, including the water heater. An RV water heater is not left on as is done in homes. That would waste a lot of propane. An RV water heater is used only as needed.

After dawdling away much of the morning, I pulled out of Parker, Arizona a few minutes after 1000 hours for the day’s drive.

I drove through very scenic desert the entire day, and took way too many photos. I believe I was in the Sonoran Desert the entire drive. I read that there are four deserts in Arizona, but when driving through the state, it sure seems like just one very big one.

I was pleased to find diesel selling for “just” $4.23 per gallon in Parker. Now, that is just pathetic to think such a price was a good price. But, it seems that these days it is. I filled up at the above station, pumping on 65 gallons into the coach’s 90 gallon tank for about $240. Yikes!

I thoroughly enjoyed the day’s drive through the scenic Sonoran Desert. I took way too many photos, as usual, and sorted out the better ones to include here. If one wants to drive through the deserts of Arizona, I can attest to the fact that February sure is a better month to do so than is August. I was very comfortable with just the dashboard vents blowing outside air into the coach.

Click on any photo to enlarge and read the captions:

Another great start to my day!

There is no excuse for such rotten highway maintenance!

Sonoran Desert beauty.

Saguaro cactuses stand like desert sentinels.

I enjoyed such scenery nearly all day.

The mountain ahead is Picacho Peak, and is part of a state park of the same name.

I arrived in the town of Marana, Arizona about 1630 hours. I pulled into the local Walmart lot, and set up for the night.

There were restaurants all around me in the large shopping center that is anchored by Walmart. But I managed to stay put and zapped a low calorie dinner in the coach.

My evening at Marana’s Walmart lot was pretty much as usual. I spent most of my time on this blog, loosing work, re-writing, etc. I watched YouTube silliness for awhile before heading to bed at my usual midnight. I slept well, as usual.

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Day 5, Wednesday, February 28, Marana, AZ to Deming, NM via I-10: 225 miles

I’m getting pretty good and dawdling my mornings away. I didn’t hit the road ’til after 1000 hours. I did intended to delay a bit so as to miss the morning commute through Tucson. 

Tucson traffic was fairly heavy, but I was not delayed at all, cruising through the city at my usual 58 mph. Still, I was pleased when I finally had Tucson behind me.

I was surprised at how much the desert changed on the east side of Tucson compared to the beautiful west side where saguaro cactuses and so much green landscape was so beautiful. The day’s drive was mostly through scruffy desert that looked much like Texas brush country.

Such landscape as this could easily have been the brush country of Texas. I don’t find a lot of beauty there, but I do enjoy the solitude and emptiness of this type of desert.

Critical as I am of the maintenance of our interstate highways, I had plenty to whine about during the day’s drive. Arizona’s I-10 was mostly rough and I dodged potholes and worn out asphalt much of the drive. I should note that it’s almost always the right lane, the truck lane, that is so rough.

And that’s probably enough whining for the day. I did enjoy my drive anyway, and am pleased that I am still able to bum around the country aboard Big Blue.

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Dropping down into San Pedro Valley and the town of Benson, New Mexico.

Having lunch along side the big boys at the Texas Canyon Rest Area. The area is chocked full of boulders.

I passed someone! I passed someone! When bumming around the country at 58 MPH, passing someone is a pretty big deal!

It was raining as I entered New Mexico, but I was still welcomed with a big, splashy sign.

The price of diesel seems to drop more the farther one gets from Kalifornistan. This sign encouraged me, and I hope the price is even less in Texas.

I arrived at the Walmart in Deming, NM at 1500 hours. I don’t recall staying at this Walmart before, but for the many trips I’ve taken along I-10 through New Mexico, I may have.

The no overnight parking signs were posted, but I had my doubts that they were enforced. It likely was, yet again, a city ordinance that is not enforced by Walmart nor the local constabulary. If I get booted out, I’ll be sure to report it here.

Parked for the night on Deming, New Mexico’s Walmart lot. 

After I had set up Big Blue for the overnight stay, I headed into the store for a few more items I needed.  If not for those electric scooters that Walmart provides, I wouldn’t be able to shop. My legs have gotten that weak. I don’t understand why it is I can ride a bicycle for a couple miles, but can’t walk any distance at all.

Once back in the coach I took care of the evening chores such as dinner, a shower, etc. I bundled up as though I were going outside to stay comfortable during what turned out to be a very cool, wet evening.

Yep, I was treated to a very serious evening of thunder storms. They were the flashy, booming shows that I so enjoy. The rain increased during the evening, and I loved every minute.

I dug out The Proposal movie and watched it during the evening. There were times I had to turn the volume up to hear it because the heavy rain on the roof of the coach sounded as though I were inside a drum.

I headed to bed at midnight, looking forward to my continuing Search for Sunshine. I would be disappointed…

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Day 6, Thursday, February 29, Deming, NM to Parker, AZ via I-10: 487 miles

The rare February 29 dawned cool and calm in Deming, but weather forecasts were gloomy just about everywhere else. Texas forecasts were for cold and wind.

The weekend was predicted to be cold and windy just about everywhere, and some places warned of blowing dust. It was going to get ugly everywhere, and I decided my best strategy would be to head for home.

I would play it a day at a time, and for this day, Marana, Arizona was my best choice with quite nice weather predicted through Friday. No matter what, I was likely to get into windy weather enroute home.

It wasn’t the first time a Search for Sunshine adventure was cut short due to bad weather. Once underway, I decided to drive on to Parker, Arizona, and that made for a very long day. I’m too old for 500 mile drives in one day, but I managed it this day, anyway!

Click to enlarge some of the day’s photos:

The first day of my return home was warm and lovely, but a major winter storm was on its way.

A load of new cars, I believe, was headed west, very likely to Kalifornistan.

Welcome to Arizona. Again.

Entirely unnecessary artwork? Meanwhile the roads are going to pot.

The day’s drive was generally under blue skies and lots of sunshine. Wind was not an issue, and it was a fine day to drive.

More photos of the day’s drive (click to enlarge):

Picacho Peak in the distance.

Desert beauty.

Cruisin’ through Tucson.

A sample of some of Arizona’s rotten roads.

My night in Parker, Arizona was as usual. The night was mild, and there was little wind.

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Day 7, Friday, March 1, Parker, AZ to Delano, CA via CA62, US95, I-40, CA58, CA99: 374 miles

Mild weather wouldn’t last, according to weather forecasts. Dire predictions of windmageddon were forecast for the Sierras. this was the forecast for the Sierras at the time:

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Today (Friday)

Snow likely, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 18. Wind chill values as low as -15. Strong and damaging winds, with a southwest wind 45 to 50 mph increasing to 55 to 60 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 70 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tonight

Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -17. Strong and damaging winds, with a southwest wind 65 to 70 mph, with gusts as high as 80 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 14 to 20 inches possible.

Saturday

Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Temperature falling to around 9 by 9am. Wind chill values as low as -22. Strong and damaging winds, with a west southwest wind around 70 mph, with gusts as high as 95 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 18 to 24 inches possible.

There were predictions in the news of snowfall to twelve feet on the high peaks of the Sierras. That is just unheard of! There must be a real snowmageddon coming, too!

Of course, the weather in the Central Valley would not be nearly so bad as the Sierras, but we were to get lots of wind and some rain, albeit in much lesser amounts.

I hustled through the morning chores, intent on making the drive to Delano, Kalifornistan, which meant that I would be home the next day, Saturday. I pulled out of the Parker Walmart lot at 0800 hours, headed to Delano.

Before leaving Parker, I fueled up at the lowest priced station there. The price was “just” $4.02 per gallon. In Needles, Kalifornistan, the price for diesel was as high as $6.50 per gallon! Needles is about the worst I’ve seen and it seems to always be very high priced. I have suspected in the past that there might be some price fixing among stations in that town – unless one entity owns the majority of them!

The wind blew the entire drive, sometimes not bad, but other times very hard. While stopped for lunch at a rest area near Boron in the Mojave desert, the wind actually rocked the coach a bit. The drive included some rain, as well. I was reminded that I needed new wipers on the coach.

Click!

Minutes after leaving the Parker Walmart, one enters Kalifornistan. This sign always stirs mixed emotions, I don’t like the place at all, except the community in which we live. The trouble is that we both want to leave, but we’re just too darn old for such a move!

Beautiful desert view along the drive.

It seemed I had I-40 all to myself.

A view of the Tehachapi Mountains.

A view of the great San Joaquin Valley. It begins here, Bakersfield, and runs clear to Redding, California, a driving distance of over 400 miles.

Parked for the night at Delano’s Walmart.

I arrived at the Walmart in Delano about 1545 hours. It seemed a longer drive than it actually was due to fighting the wind for so many miles. Once settled in for the night, I began work on the blog. It rained on and off all evening, and I enjoyed the sound of raindrops on the roof.

After the blog was up to date, I poured myself a cool one, and settled back to enjoy some videos. Life is good aboard Big Blue.

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Day 8, Saturday, March 2, Delano, CA to home via CA99: 189 miles

The most frustrating day of the trip was apparently kept in reserve ’til the last day. Things began normally, and all was well. The day was a bit stormy with a bit of wind and a lot of rain – at times.

Click for the few photos of the day:

It rained during some of the drive home.

More white and pink almond blossoms!

The once baked grass of summer had been replaced with lush green literally everywhere.

I don’t recall just where I shot this flag photo, but she looks beautiful against the stormy sky. Long may she wave!

Weather was not the source of the day’s frustration. The closed freeway took honors for that! I was cruising along south of Tulare, when I drove by a freeway sign flashing “Freeway Closed Ahead”. What?! I hoped that it was an accident and that it would be cleared by the time I got to it.

But no. I even stopped at a rest area and enjoyed a somewhat leisurely breakfast, hoping that the added time would increase my chances of the accident being cleared. It was not to be. I had to exit the freeway on some backwater road and turn north soon as possible to get past the closure.

I came upon a small truck stop immediately after exiting the freeway. They were selling diesel for $4.02, not a bad price for Kalifornistan. I wanted to add more fuel so that I had plenty of fuel when I arrived home.

I stopped at the little place and pumped on $150 worth, about 32 gallons. I was hoping that the delay would add to my chances of avoiding the freeway closure. But again, no.

Upon joining the exiting traffic and going along with them on jammed city streets, it was clear that the freeway was still closed. I probably lost an hour or so poking along crowded city streets, and even getting lost for a while in the process. I finally followed the crowd to an onramp onto CA99 northbound, beyond the accident.

It never occurred to me shoot photos during the entire detour. hmmmm.

I finally arrived home at noon. I was mighty happy to greet my dear Lavonne with a big hug and kiss. It was good to be back home with her again. After our warm reunion, I began unloading the coach. By the time I had all the stuff unloaded, the tanks dumped, and the fresh water filled, it was 1500 hours.

My partially aborted Search for Sunshine 2024 covered 2100 miles. Although the drive was aborted before reaching my destination, whatever that would have been, I did enjoy the miles and the eight days on the road.

Our next scheduled adventure will be a visit to the kids in Denver in June, as is usual for us each year. Stay tuned…

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