Dad had an appointment on the 7th - so we waited until he was back from it to complete our 'load-up' and leave sequences. It was quite the trip! We traveled thru several different 'weather zones' in just our 1st night of travel! Our first stop was in Barstow - where Keith purchased a much needed windshild wiper (I turned them on and the driver wiper just shredded to bits!) and while trying to install that ~ It HAILED~~ on us... In the desert - in April!! So we got the wiper on - rested a bit - stoked up on a huge cappachino and headed back out. I turned on the vcr for Dad and Keith to watch since it had gotten dark and there really wasn't much scenery to watch...
Our next weather system was the blizzard that we drove thru on the Tehatchapie Pass. I was amazed at the huge, giant snowflakes that absolutely coated our windshield - and was doubly glad that Keith got the new wiper installed for us! Dad dozed and Keith laid on the couch - and by the sounds that reached me - I think he dozed also! Of course, Chato was in his element for the whole trip!
Along about Modesto or so there was an accident that took us completely off of I5. I followed a semi to a dead end - took a long, long time getting turned around again - and then followed another down a bunch of country roads - and wa-la!! came out back on I5 - north of the accident (at least I'm assuming so since we didn't see it again) LOL
Along about 5 I pulled into a Flying J - got my face washed and laid down for a bit. Dad tried to crash on the couch - boy - that had to have been really uncomfortable - I wish I'd been awake enough to pull out the bed for him - I honestly didn't even think of it!!
About 8 am or so - we were back on I5 - apple fritters and coffee for us - a snackie for doggie... all happy if not sore and tired campers ;-) Dad took care of walking the dog at each stop - it gave him a chance to stretch his legs and have a cigarette or two. He didn't even bring up the subject of having one in the Bounder - we brought one of his smokeless ashtrays just in case - but it wasn't necessary!
Keith had work that he needed to get done - so he spent several hours on his computer back at the table while we put away the miles!
Dad and Chato just kept each other some great company!
I'm not absolutely sure - but I think they may ha been growing rocks here in this field up in the Siskiyous..
There was evidence of snow - there had been snow warnings - but we were terribly blessed in that it was on the all clear for us!
This is the slide that closed Hwy 42 between Camas Valley and Myrtle Point for several days. You can't see the boulders that are still waiting to be blown up - but there are some there bigger than the Bounder!!
And we dropped Dad off at the scales in MP at about 6 pm - just a scant 26 hours and 1200 miles after we left Bullhead. We got the car off of the dolly and he was gone before I could give him his things that we'd stored in the sink (a favorite storage place of mine, at least while traveling!)
We went on for home - makeing Coos Bay at about 7 or so - unloaded just enough to make it thru the night and just cozied up in the nice warm house that Clint and Sallie had opened for us. Good friends are such a blessing! Fridge on, door unlocked, hot water all ready to have a nice shower with... mmmmmm.... wonderful after a long hard journey! Got the knots out of my shoulders and slept like a baby!!
So glad to be done traveling!
Until July anyhow!
