Starting Mileage leaving Valencia: 9228
Ending Mileage arriving Barstow, CA: 9360
Miles Driven: 132
Avg. MPG: 9.2
Gas Price: $4.29--Calico, CA
Overnight: Barstow, California
Barstow/Calico KOA
Travel Day
Today was a travel day through the desert--not our favorite place to be. Here's some picture of the terrain. Very desolate and dry.
When we lived in Los Angeles, one of the areas that our family would drive to (a loooooong drive at the time) was to Vasquez Rocks for a picnic or a day for the boys to climb around. This area is where the bandit Vasquez really used to hide out. But, during this drive today, we were there in a no time. The new freeway has made the drive quick and painless. Also, there seems to be homes almost all the way from Valencia to Vasquez Rocks--I can't believe the growth--and into such desert terrain.
Dave and I used to go fishing near Pearblossom at an area called Big Rock Creek. As a matter of fact, that's where Dave proposed to me. After we were married, we use to go camping at a very primitive campground. Yes, I used to "tent it." This was where we camped before we had children, and we continued to camp here--among other places--until we left California.
One of the times we went camping at Big Rock Creek, we all got so grubby, we drove to Pearblossom (a VERY small area with 1 store and 1 motel) and begged to rent a motel room just so we could all shower. The motel still stands. I should have taken a picture of it because I couldn't believe how primitive it was/is. All made of stones and rock.
We drove or another hour or so and stopped at a Denny's for lunch.
I forgot to tell you that while we were in Pasadena, the window on my side of the car quit functioning. So, that's going to be a costly fix. I can't roll down my window to take those great terrain shots. Bah Humbug! But, I shall survive. Meanwhile, Dave is working extra hard to keep my window spotless and dust free!
If you have not really traveled in the true desert, you won't know about the desert dips. Because the desert has numerous flash floods, the road follows the contour of the land so that it is not washed away. It's always fun to leave your tummy at the top of one of these dips. Needless to say, our hanging clothes in the RV's closet were no longer hanging when we arrived at the next campground!
See how the road dips, almost like a roller coaster ride. The kids used to love for us to take this road at a relatively fast pace! Whooopppeee.
When we arrived at the campground, the first spot they gave us was much too small. So, we had to be escorted out and around the campground to get a second spot. We had good WiFi and just chilled inside as it was very hot outside--102 degrees.
I have included more campground pictures than I usually share, just so you can see how desolate this area really is.
We didn't have dinner tonight, but had another great helping of Launa's friendship bread and ice cream. Yum. After dinner, worked on the blog and watched a bit of TV. Tomorrow is another desert drive onward to Las Vegas. So, nighty-night.
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