DECISIONS * DECISIONS; Coalinga-CA

This morning we left Barstow-CA

I spent a lot of time memorizing the landscape.

I took a few pictures on the backside, as Holland aimed Betsy's nose for the freeway.

Leaving Barstow-CA for Coalinga-CA

Almond Tree Oasis RV Park, Coalinga CA from Skyline RV Park, Barstow CA: 3 hr 17 min (219.6 mi) via CA-58 W and I-5 N

I hadn't slept very well last night; knowing we would probably not be coming back this way again, kept my mind busy with memorization activities - I want to imprint every detail of AZ, and Barstow-CA into my brain's data bank:

We did go to bed early last night, because Holland wanted to be on the road early today … but all I did was toss and turn 😒, and eventually got up around 2 AM; creeping back to bed around 3 AM. The alarm went off at 6 AM, and we were on the road a little after 9 AM.

As soon as Betsy entered freeway traffic, I went promptly to sleep, and didn't wake up until we were coming into Tehachapi-CA - I knew where we were when I saw the cement plant through the passenger window 😉 

The route we took; a combo of Hwy 58 & I-5

The Tehachapi cement plant has been producing high-quality cement products in California since 1909. An abundance of natural limestone deposits in the area makes the region an ideal location for a cement supplier, and it is being dug behind the plant.

Tehachapi Cement LLC - UNACEM; #13573 E Tehachapi Blvd, Tehachapi, CA

Cement Production in Tehachapi: 

(https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=134506)

Tehachapi (tah-ha'tch-a-pee) Mountain still highlighted a snowy crown; it snows in Tehachapi; and there are strong crosswinds.

Tehachapi Mountain-CA

We've been through here before (many times), so I didn't get snap happy with the camera.

And I really didn't have much opportunity to get a lot of pictures because freeway driving is boring - and there wasn't a whole lot to see along the way 😕

Bakersfield got a little exciting for me when I saw the Merle Haggard Drive sign 😁 - no pic though, because we were under and through it in the blink of an eye …

I like Merle's music. Both of my husbands tolerated my listening to it, now and then.

I like this route ;-)~Merle Haggard Drive, Bakersfield-CA

Merle Haggard - 'That's The Way Love Goes' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_TrgdtxqJs)

Merle Haggard - 'Nobody's Darling But Mine' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAsm8voXWaA)

Merle Haggard - 'Can't Break The Habit' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li4ggQmdN1U)

Merle Haggard - 'The Fightin' Side Of Me' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP0K7xdM5Zk)

We passed through a place named Buttonwillow - I was curious about that kind of willow … so, I looked it up when we reached our destination 🧐

In the Home Stretch & a weird Town Name.

Buttonwillow = the town's name comes from a large buttonwillow tree:  (https://www.almostedenplants.com/shopping/products/9247-buttonbush-button-willow-honey-bells/)

When we arrived at our destination, we liked what we saw … Holland was impressed enough, that when he paid for our 2-day stay, he inquired about Winter Rates ❤️

It's small.

It's clean.

It's priced in our budget range.

We have arrived~Today's temperature; Coalinga-CA

Sun warmth & bird song; Almond Tree Oasis RV Park, Coalinga-CA

Winter Rates in case Brookings-OR does not work for us.

It has drive-thru spaces large enough for Independence, kinda: the over-sized yucca's make set up interesting, and Betsy's bulk hogs a piece of the space - but, those are details we can work around if and when we come back 🤝

Tight parking; in front, Betsy is barely off the blacktop …

And in back, Independence barely clears the blacktop. There is no way the bunkroom steps can be let down 😑

My plan was to get everything set back in place once we got set up; then do the hang-up laundry pieces - it's warm enough here that the clothing should dry quickly: it will be ready to be hung in the closet when we get back from visiting Holland's Uncle George & his cousin Brenda, tomorrow afternoon.

But first, I suggested we find some ice cream and relax, before I started doing laundry. So, that's what we did - there was a food market around the corner, so I nipped in there and grabbed some ice cream. While standing at the counter waiting to pay, the cashier asked, "Where's Gershem?" It took me a minute, and a quick glace to see where his eyes were - then I said, "Gresham. Oregon." He smiled, and said, "Oh. Are you on vacation?" I replied, "Yep - vacation for life". It was a friendly exchange between smiling strangers 😊

The ice cream drumsticks hit the spot. And are the perfect treat on this hot afternoon 👍

Holland relaxed with a short 🛌; and laundry was hung to dry:

Air-dry laundry was caught up & is drying nicely.

Today was a good day to enjoy Life.

We are making decisions on the fly, but what happens will be Elohim's will for His purpose to unfold. We are okay with that - no matter what is to be.

A MEDIOCRE LIFE IS ENOUGH~Shabbat Eve; Barstow-CA

All I really want is a small, slow, simple life.

A mediocre life.

A beautiful, quiet, gentle life.

I think it is enough.

The world is such a noisy place. Loud, haranguing voices lecturing me to hustle, to improve, build, strive, yearn, acquire, compete, and grasp for more: for bigger and better … sacrifice peace for chaotic political aspirations. Strive for excellence - according to the educated elite's view of excellence; go big, or go home - have a huge impact in the world (aka, "Make your life count!")

What if all the striving for the educated elite's concept of acceptable excellence leaves me sad, worn out, depleted … drained of joy brought on by their joyless joy pep talks designed to make all of us deplorables, feel less than.

What if I never really amount to anything beyond daughter, sister, wife, mom and grandmother … but these people in my primary circle of impact, know they are loved - and that I would choose them again, given the choice.

What if I never build an orphanage in Africa but open-handedly offer shelter to people here and there, to those who need warmth and a helping hand? What if I just offer the small gifts I have been blessed with, to the world and let that be enough.

What if I don’t want to write a DIY book, build a six-figure business, or speak before crowds of thousands.

Why can't it be enough that I write because I have something to say and I invest in a small community of women I care about - and encourage them to love and care for themselves, and their loved ones, well.

My Oatman-AZ Post, shared on this week's 'French Ethereal' Blog Hop ;-)

Bigger isn’t always better … and the individual matters.

I, and what I can offer, should be enough.

What if I just accept this mediocre body of mine that is neither big nor small: just in between. And I tend to it and keep it healthy, make peace with it, and decide that when I lie on my deathbed I will never regret having just been ME. The way Yeshua created - and designed - me, to BE.

What if I am a mediocre home manager who rarely dusts,  mostly maintains order, and makes real food - but sometimes buys pizza or tacos. A haus frau, who loves to menu plan and budget … but then breaks her own rules and pushes back against rigidity. Who doesn’t care about House Beautiful decorating and useless fancy things. A simple living woman, whose home is humble but safe.

What if I am not cut out for the frantic pace of this society and cannot even begin to keep up. What if I just want a beautiful, quiet, gentle life know that needs lots of solitude and calm, an abundance of rest, and broad bands of unscheduled time in order to be healthy. Body, Mind, Spirit healthy. That should be enough.

Since 2024, we been to all these places, on this Map - except the Grand Canyon, due to 2025's winter weather.

Route 66 Main Street, Barstow-CA

What if I am too religious for some; and not spiritual enough for others. To bold for some - and not bold enough, for the rest. Yet always willing to share in a gentle manner; in genuine 1-on-1-relationship … my deeply rooted faith. And to humbly share my doubts and insecurities. This will have to be enough.

And if I have been married years and love my husband more today than yesterday but break the “experts” marriage rules because our marriage suits us and not the experts world view of conditional marriage: is our marriage good enough?

What if I am just a plain woman who wants a simple life: a grandmother  who delights in her grandkids; a mother who needs time for herself and sometimes just wants to be first, and acknowledged as principal shareholder in familial hierarchy; a wife who loves, hugs, affirms, and supports her husband. A mediocre haus frau, happy in her little kingdom.

What if I embrace my limitations and quiet the world's railing against them. Make peace with who I am, and what I need to honor the Life Elohim has blessed me with. Accept that all I really want is a small, slow, simple life.

A mediocre life.

A beautiful, quiet, gentle life.

I think it is enough.

That is what Shabbat means to me.

An Island of Rest where I find respite from the world's pulling and grasping. A 24-hour period of time where I can tend to the needs and wants of my Body, Mind, Spirit.

Numbers 6:25

FENCING FACE-OFF

A fencing competition just became the latest face-off in the trans athlete debate: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/04/sport/usa-fencing-disqualified-transgender/index.html

This is the power of womanhood.

A TRUE woman KNOWS that she IS a woman.

There is no confusion about what … or who … she IS.

A true woman does not want to compete in woman's sports because she cannot cut the mustard in her true gender role.

On the other hand - a m.a.n. that OPTS to compete in WOMEN'S SPORTS, KNOWS he cannot compete with those of HIS own gender; so he will compete with women and totally blow women's sports scores out of the water: HE is SETTING SCORE RECORDS that A TRUE WOMAN will NEVER BE ABLE to overcome.

Whether mentally ill, sketchy freaky, or just mean spirited: these men passing themselves off a "a woman" should have their own sports categories, that they can compete against each other in. But, women's sports IS NOT THAT CATEGORY.

Males are NOT females. Mentally-ill MEN will NEVER BE a woman; political forums do not get to say who is what.

obama's freak show does not get to dictate how their homosexual fantasy plays out. A [trans] person is a homosexual lost in a tweaked fantasy that has no basis in reality.

There are 2 sexes - male and female: period. Anything & everything else is a mental illness. Granted that there are INTERSEX people born … but they are 98% of the time RAISED MALE, because their testosterone levels are male. And they are born sterile. There are NO in-between sexes, regardless of the 150+ sexes the wicked & evil barak and michael obama, created.

Also NOTE … a woman pretending to be a man is equally ludicrous. AND, there are NO women pretenders opting to enter a man's sporting arena - because THEY KNOW THEY CANNOT MATCH A MALE'S STRENGTH. Just sayin.

There is reality and fantasy.

Reality is where 99% of mankind lives. The other 1% does not have the right to force the 99% to comply and engage in their twisted lifestyle.

BESIDE YOU ALL THE WAY

Every second - every nano second.

The next breath is never promised.

Live like you will not need to apologize: no regrets.

LIVE IN THE MOMENT.

LOVE WITH EVERYTHING FIBER OF YOUR BEING - every second; every breath. No regrets ❤️

VICTORVILLE-CA's PHANTOM AIR FORCE BASE DAYTRIP; Barstow-CA

April 3rd: We are both breathing a lot easier, here in Barstow-CA; Kingman's elevation is 3,333 & Barstow's elevation is 2,175; not a huge difference, but it does allow our poor lungs to relax some - and get acclimated to the lower elevations of Coalinga-CA (our next RV Park hunker down = 673), Laton-CA (visiting relatives, on our way thru CA = 259), Ocean Park-WA (we'll set up here, thru the Spring/Summer months = 30), & then somewhere near the OR/CA border - Brookings (elevation 129), or somewhere close to there, during the Fall/Winter months.

Today's goal is a ghost town air force base, around Victorville-CA. This daytrip falls into Holland's Bucket List category; and I am game to go, because it's a Route 66 road trip 😉

Our Route 66 Daytrip this afternoon will take us through Barstow-CA, following the backroad National Old Trails Highway through D Street & 7th Street to Victorville-CA

Just stopped for a Red Bull … not hysterical bull.

Holland exited with his Red Bull & 2 candy bars; no one gave my bull-headed Taurus, any bull 😉

Our Route 66 Daytrip route to Victorville-CA,  from Barstow-CA

Victorville-CA from Barstow-CA; 32m (32.2 mi) via I-15 S

The National Old Trails Road = Route 66:  (https://www.americanroads.us/articles/Travel_1915_NOTR.html)

This had a lot going on -  stone, gypsum board, & adobe …

A bit down the highway, we stopped to ogle Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch; where the sunlit glimmer of thousands of green, blue, brown, and clear glass bottles caught our attention. There’s no admission charge for the Bottle Tree Ranch, which Elmer has dedicated to “those who have lived and died on the Mother Road.” But we had no time to stop - so, I just clicked pictures, and we kept moving on down the highway.

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch; Oro Grande-CA: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer's_Bottle_Tree_Ranch)

A colorful glass bottle forest.

There were several of these 'patch' boards along the fencing.

A gigantic, sprawling Cement Plant; #19409 National Trails Hwy in Oro Grande-CA

CalPortland Company:  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CalPortland_Company#:~:text=Taiheiyo%20Cement%20owns%20CalPortland%20through,Company%20on%20June%2020%2C%202008.)

Holland says they ship their cement mixtures all over the world.

Distinctive landmark; Oro Grande Golf Course clubhouse, which is a prominent, red, round building located near Oro Grande-CA

1957 Chevy Mural shot for my husband who is a vehicle informant 😊~Oro Grande-CA

Route 66 Mural; Oro Grande-CA

I like these old brick buildings; Oro Grande-CA

Funky Pizza Parlor - I was more interested in the vintage trailer  😉~Oro Grande-CA

VW Pizza Bus; Oro Grande-CA

Red caboose parked next to an antique strip mall - can't find any info on it; Victorville-CA

Antique Station; Victorville-CA:  (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32834-d20946292-Reviews-Antique_Station_Victorville-Oro_Grande_California.html)

Antique Station; Victorville-CA~Internet pic

The scrapped together strip mall didn't appeal to me, so when Holland asked, "Do you want to get a picture of that?", I said, "No".

Later on, doing research on the building - I saw that though it looked dumpy on the outside … it was a treasure house of goodies, inside! Good thing Holland did not encourage me to walk through it, because he would have been sitting in Betsy for hours while I walked the aisles in the various shops lining the boardwalk 😉 I enjoy walking through Flea Markets, thrift stores, and vintage shops. I couldn't have bought anything because there is no where to put it … but, Holland definitely would have been cooling his heels for a good 2 hours. Or better 😘

I was pleasantly surprised to cross an old metal truss bridge as we entered the stretch of Victorville that would lead us to the phantom air force base … I love these old bridges, and they are quickly disappearing from America's landscape 😟

We are usually out of sync on the road 😂🤣 Holland's mind is on traffic - mine, on the scenery; Victorville-CA

Old Trails Highway to Victorville, California: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ca-victorville/

What a view; coming upon the Victorville area we needed …

Finding our way to the phantom air force base was frustrating. Holland at one point was so frustrated, that I burst out laughing at the irony: GPS kept telling us that she couldn't find anything that resembled what we were looking for … and there was no address pin point found on my Tablet, either. Both phones frizzed out, too. Holland (no doubt having seen my hand gesturing frustrations play out over the 2 years), resorted to using Italian hand-waving gestures himself, saying, "This is ridiculous! We have 5 - F.I.V.E. - electronics with us … 2 GPS's, your Tablet, and both our phones … and they are fricking worthless!" I didn't mean to laugh, but his expression was like a little boy being told he couldn't have a cookie minutes before Supper 😂🤣

He finally jockeyed Betsy here and there until we could see what we were aiming for on the near horizon; turning Betsy in that direction and entering the military complex, we saw that the airspace was still being used - and that was why we were having such a hard time with our electronics: always, no matter where we are - if there is a military facility nearby, our electronics  get scrambled; or just plain shut down.

The road we were looking for …

An unfamiliar fuel station Name … Pemex, or Petróleos mexicanos, is a mexican state-owned petroleum corporation, and it operates gas stations in mexico and also has some stations in CA

Aha! We see what looks to be an airfield in the background 😊

We drove down Phantom W to Readiness Street …

Eureka!

George Air Force Base:  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Air_Force_Base)

George Air Force Base was officially decommissioned (retired from active service) in December 1992. Today, several of the old base buildings are still used by the Army and Marine Corps for urban warfare training. The airfield is now a part of the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) which is operated by the city of Victorville.

Entering the phantom zone …

George Air Force Base has had issues with radioactive materials, PFAS, toxic solvents, and many other chemicals. Those who lived at or near the base could have consumed water with multiple different chemicals, compounding their risk of serious health conditions.

Abandoned school = abandoned dreams.

A little less haunted aura …

A Contaminated Air Force Base Vacant For Over 30 Years: https://architecturalafterlife.com/2022/10/george-air-force-base/

My question is this: if the base water & soil was so contaminated that it had to be vacated and closed … WHY is it being "used as a filming location for movies and television shows; also been used numerous times as a place for airsoft and paintball; now the site of the Southern California Logistics Airport; and annual Memorial Day Weekend events since 2001"? Something is not adding up 🧐

That said, I'm glad Holland got to check off one of his Bucket List goals - he caters to my road gypsy wants so much, that it makes me happy that he carves out some time for his own wants along the route 🤝

On our way to the living phantom air force base from Barstow, Holland had driven the backroad route because it followed the Old Trails Highway/Route 66 route; on our way back to Barstow, he drove the I-15 freeway, "because you've never been on this stretch of the interstate - I have, but we've never traveled this way together: I want you to have the full experience before we head North." Isn't he a gem? 😘

The original Route 66 highway runs right through Main Street in Barstow-CA: Barstow is the only city that retained the main street name from the early nickname of Route 66 "The Main Street of America".

On our way to Independence, we stopped and grabbed some Del Taco burritos … and then drove over the new bridge to eat them in the parking lot of the train yard, below.

I wanted to see the marvelous vintage building up close & personal: and Holland was obliging ❤️

The vintage Barstow train station, also known as the Harvey Ho use Railroad Depot, is a historic landmark in Barstow, CA, originally opened in 1911.

The Barstow station was originally named "Casa del Desierto," which translates to "House of the Desert".

Imagine traveling men and women strolling along the porticos: upper balcony, as well as lower rail end … 

1910s Men’s Edwardian Fashion: https://vintagedancer.com/1900s/edwardian-1910s-historical-mens-fashion-and-clothing-an-overview/

Women’s Fashion from 1900 to 1919:  https://glamourdaze.com/history-of-womens-fashion/1900-to-1919

I like this color contrast: I can't explain the 'time-warp' aura I felt walking through this vintage corridor.

Harvey House Railroad Depot (Internet pic); #681 North First Ave. in Barstow, CA

The Barstow Harvey House:  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barstow_Harvey_House)

New grounds landscaping.

Walking back to Holland, waiting in Betsy, I inhaled deeply the sun-warmed scent of tarry creosote used as a wood preservative on the railway crossties (there are many childhood memories connected to that odor) - I like that scent - especially in the summertime where it hangs heavy in the air … and I don't care who disagrees with me. I've inhaled it most of my life, and I'm still alive and kicking 👌

We are amazed at the changes in Barstow since we last made a pit stop here: the place has really cleaned up, and there are visible improvements seen everywhere. Holland said they probably got a new mayor that has town pride … and he is right:

The City of Barstow welcomes Mayor Tim Silva and New Council Members! https://www.barstowca.org/Home/Components/News/News/4018/

We like it 😁

I always liked our layovers, here, and happily anticipated them - but Holland and his family never spoke well of Barstow. I'm happy to see the rebirth - and we are both happy to see the graffiti scrubbed and new businesses spring up; I just hope they do not jack the prices of everything sky-high and ruin the rural Americana vibe with touristy hoopla.