2009 Trip West
10/05/09 Monday
The alarm woke us up at 3:30am and we were on the road by 3:45. We took Hwy-1 to I-280 south and then Hwy-92 east across the San Mateo bridge and took I-580 east across Hwy-99 to Hwy-120. A short distance down Hwy-120 a flashing sign said the road was closed at Tioga Pass in Yosemite N. P. and Hwy-108 was closed at Sonora Pass. We turned around and drove back to Hwy-99 where we stopped at McDonald's and rested until it opened at 7am. After we ate breakfast, we drove across the street to a gas station and filled up. ($2.93/gal) The attendant said the roads were closed because of forest fires. We decided to head south on Hwy-99. We passed many citrus groves and saw trucks carrying tomatoes. We stopped at a rest stop near Kingsburg for lunch and made a sandwich out of some delicious prime rib that Steve sent with us. We continued south on Hwy-99 to Hwy-190 where we headed east into the Sequoia National Forest. We stopped for gas at Porterville CA. ($3.19/gal) and then continued on Hwy-190. The kettle corn that Dan and Carmen sent with us was a tasty treat as we traveled along this afternoon. We drove up the steep curvy narrow road with 10 mph hairpin curves. It was a very scenic drive with towering rock formations all around us. We finally stopped for the day at 3pm when we came to the Quaking Aspen National Forest Campground. The campground was at 7200 feet and it was already getting cold out. There were the usual bear warnings and lots of trees but none of the giant Sequoias we expected to see. We were the only campers in the campground. We warmed up more of Steve's prime rib and some of his rosemary garlic mashed potatoes along with some green beans for supper. A worthy meal by anyone's standards. We read awhile before going to bed.
Tuesday 10/06/09
It was 30 degrees at 11pm in the night and 32 when we got up at 7:45. We used three blankets in the night and the furnace, which was set at 50 degrees, came on a few times. We still had the place to our selves this morning. We left camp at 9am and continued on down the road. We headed east again and soon the road turned south. We finally started seeing some of the giant Sequoia trees. The road was narrow and winding and passed through mostly forests now. When we came to Weldon, we headed east on Hwy-178. We stopped at Walker Pass and had another great meal thanks to more of Steve's leftover prime rib. We continued on hwy-178 and then took Hwy-14 north to US-395. We bought gas at Olancha CA. ($3.19/gal) and headed east on Hwy-190 into Death Valley National Park. We stopped at Stove Pipe Wells Campground for the night. It was 85 degrees and there was a comfortable breeze. Pizza for supper. Later we went for a walk and stopped at the camp store for ice cream bars. It was a beautiful evening with the moon and stars shining bright. And it's quiet in the desert. We read before going to bed.
Wednesday 10/07/09
It was 65 degrees when we got up. We slept well. After getting around we drove through the park. We stopped at the site of an old Borax mining operation and looked around. Then we stopped at the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center. There we watched a slide show and checked out the displays. It was 94 degrees (at 130' below sea level) when we left the Visitor's Center heading east on Hwy-190. We stopped at the East park entrance and ate the last of the prime rib in a sandwich for lunch. At Death Valley Junction, we took Hwy-127 south to I-15 and took I-15 east to Hwy-164. We continued east on Hwy-164 till we came to Searchlight CA. where we bought gas ($2.77/gal). Going south on US-95 we came to a small town called Cal Nev Ari, in the very southern point of Nevada, where we stopped for the night at the Cal Nev Ari RV Park. After we set up and looked around the camp store, Dan and Carmen called to wish Bonnie a happy birthday. Floyd and Sue also called with birthday wishes. Later, I gave Bonnie a birthday card and a pack of Rollo candies. Then we went out for a birthday dinner at the only restaurant in town, which was a combination small casino and airport restaurant. It was a nice little diner with homemade food and good service. We had hot turkey sandwiches with mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry jell. We played the slots for a short time but it was too smoky in the casino so we walked back to the motor home. The temperature was 61 degrees when we got back. We were tired so went to bed early.
Thursday10/08/09
It was 45 degrees when we got up at 7am. We only needed one extra blanket last night. When we left the campground, we took US-95 south to Hwy-163 and then drove east to Laughlin NV. Then we took Hwy-68 to Kingman AZ where we bought gas ($2.46/gal). From there we headed up old Route-66. We stopped at Hackberry AZ and looked around a great collection of old cars, old car parts, and old memorabilia. We continued up the road till we stopped for lunch at historic Seligman. We ate hamburgs and fries at Delgado's. This place was built by the Delgado family out of scrap wood in the 50's. They had old vehicles and other displays around the yard. Good food and great fun. We checked out some more stores before starting back on the road at 2pm. We had to get on I-40 occasionally before getting back on old Route-66. At one point the road turned to dirt and then was posted as private property with a 15 mph speed limit. We enjoyed seeing parts of the old road we haven't been on before and we decided to follow old Route-66 home for a while and see how it goes. Just before Winslow AZ, we stopped at the Meteor Crater RV Park for the night. We have been there before and like it. They have wi-fi so we were able to catch up our log before going to bed.
The alarm woke us up at 3:30am and we were on the road by 3:45. We took Hwy-1 to I-280 south and then Hwy-92 east across the San Mateo bridge and took I-580 east across Hwy-99 to Hwy-120. A short distance down Hwy-120 a flashing sign said the road was closed at Tioga Pass in Yosemite N. P. and Hwy-108 was closed at Sonora Pass. We turned around and drove back to Hwy-99 where we stopped at McDonald's and rested until it opened at 7am. After we ate breakfast, we drove across the street to a gas station and filled up. ($2.93/gal) The attendant said the roads were closed because of forest fires. We decided to head south on Hwy-99. We passed many citrus groves and saw trucks carrying tomatoes. We stopped at a rest stop near Kingsburg for lunch and made a sandwich out of some delicious prime rib that Steve sent with us. We continued south on Hwy-99 to Hwy-190 where we headed east into the Sequoia National Forest. We stopped for gas at Porterville CA. ($3.19/gal) and then continued on Hwy-190. The kettle corn that Dan and Carmen sent with us was a tasty treat as we traveled along this afternoon. We drove up the steep curvy narrow road with 10 mph hairpin curves. It was a very scenic drive with towering rock formations all around us. We finally stopped for the day at 3pm when we came to the Quaking Aspen National Forest Campground. The campground was at 7200 feet and it was already getting cold out. There were the usual bear warnings and lots of trees but none of the giant Sequoias we expected to see. We were the only campers in the campground. We warmed up more of Steve's prime rib and some of his rosemary garlic mashed potatoes along with some green beans for supper. A worthy meal by anyone's standards. We read awhile before going to bed.
Tuesday 10/06/09
It was 30 degrees at 11pm in the night and 32 when we got up at 7:45. We used three blankets in the night and the furnace, which was set at 50 degrees, came on a few times. We still had the place to our selves this morning. We left camp at 9am and continued on down the road. We headed east again and soon the road turned south. We finally started seeing some of the giant Sequoia trees. The road was narrow and winding and passed through mostly forests now. When we came to Weldon, we headed east on Hwy-178. We stopped at Walker Pass and had another great meal thanks to more of Steve's leftover prime rib. We continued on hwy-178 and then took Hwy-14 north to US-395. We bought gas at Olancha CA. ($3.19/gal) and headed east on Hwy-190 into Death Valley National Park. We stopped at Stove Pipe Wells Campground for the night. It was 85 degrees and there was a comfortable breeze. Pizza for supper. Later we went for a walk and stopped at the camp store for ice cream bars. It was a beautiful evening with the moon and stars shining bright. And it's quiet in the desert. We read before going to bed.
Wednesday 10/07/09
It was 65 degrees when we got up. We slept well. After getting around we drove through the park. We stopped at the site of an old Borax mining operation and looked around. Then we stopped at the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center. There we watched a slide show and checked out the displays. It was 94 degrees (at 130' below sea level) when we left the Visitor's Center heading east on Hwy-190. We stopped at the East park entrance and ate the last of the prime rib in a sandwich for lunch. At Death Valley Junction, we took Hwy-127 south to I-15 and took I-15 east to Hwy-164. We continued east on Hwy-164 till we came to Searchlight CA. where we bought gas ($2.77/gal). Going south on US-95 we came to a small town called Cal Nev Ari, in the very southern point of Nevada, where we stopped for the night at the Cal Nev Ari RV Park. After we set up and looked around the camp store, Dan and Carmen called to wish Bonnie a happy birthday. Floyd and Sue also called with birthday wishes. Later, I gave Bonnie a birthday card and a pack of Rollo candies. Then we went out for a birthday dinner at the only restaurant in town, which was a combination small casino and airport restaurant. It was a nice little diner with homemade food and good service. We had hot turkey sandwiches with mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry jell. We played the slots for a short time but it was too smoky in the casino so we walked back to the motor home. The temperature was 61 degrees when we got back. We were tired so went to bed early.
Thursday10/08/09
It was 45 degrees when we got up at 7am. We only needed one extra blanket last night. When we left the campground, we took US-95 south to Hwy-163 and then drove east to Laughlin NV. Then we took Hwy-68 to Kingman AZ where we bought gas ($2.46/gal). From there we headed up old Route-66. We stopped at Hackberry AZ and looked around a great collection of old cars, old car parts, and old memorabilia. We continued up the road till we stopped for lunch at historic Seligman. We ate hamburgs and fries at Delgado's. This place was built by the Delgado family out of scrap wood in the 50's. They had old vehicles and other displays around the yard. Good food and great fun. We checked out some more stores before starting back on the road at 2pm. We had to get on I-40 occasionally before getting back on old Route-66. At one point the road turned to dirt and then was posted as private property with a 15 mph speed limit. We enjoyed seeing parts of the old road we haven't been on before and we decided to follow old Route-66 home for a while and see how it goes. Just before Winslow AZ, we stopped at the Meteor Crater RV Park for the night. We have been there before and like it. They have wi-fi so we were able to catch up our log before going to bed.