WHERE IS {IT}~Searching For What We Need; Corning-CA

April 13th: It was time to leave CA, and head back up North; so, we got everything ready to move out - and I shot a text off, before locking the front door and settling in Betsy's cab ;-)

We were expecting warmer temperatures at lower elevation: so, we wore shorts and sandals … Holland had a tee on; I had a sleeveless pullover.

Not "winter storm" clothing :-(

Goals moving forward …

Stone ruins - I like seeing stuff like this ;-)

Destination pinned down ;-)

Les Schwab; #3012 Buck Owens Blvd, Bakersfield, CA

NONE of the roadways in CA make any sense at all!

Warming our burritos on the sunny dash ;-)

3 hrs. later, we get a severe weather warning.

'Winter' Storm Warning IN THE SPRING!

Tumbling tumbleweeds; they are fun to watch.

Train Tunnels - 3 in a row - thru the Tehachapi Pass Summit; 4,064 ft. elevation.

You can literally see large chunks of the blacktop missing …

The hillsides are pretty with color, now.

Coming into Bakersfield, I smelled a wonderful scent that permeated the immediate area: kind of a citrus-floral blend - it was strong enough to linger miles into the distance, yet delicate enough not to overwhelm the senses … or our lungs.

We learned a bit further down the freeway, that the scent was from high winds blowing through the Orange Orchards, lining the roadway.

It smelled refreshingly like Spring :-)

Bakersfield had surprises in store for us, too: after waiting an hour or so - and finishing off our chunky burrito's … we were told there were no tires of the size we needed (we'd have to have them attended to in WA); so, we hit the road again, and we prayed they would hold up that long.

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK-CA; Pt. #2~'Strong Wind' Post: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/04/death-valley-national-park-ca-pt_10.html

And a blinding sand storm blew across the landscape :-(

I was worried about Holland's nerves & Betsy's pretty red paint being roughly sanded off her, in patches … Holland was worried about my lungs.

We arrived at the junction of our destination; in the middle of a blinding sand storm.

Holland's Breakfast Burrito; bacon, fried egg, tater tots in a large tortilla. YUM!

While we ate, we watched the storm rage from inside Betsy's cab.

Holland is used to crazy - I am not; I expect roads to lead somewhere logical, and without wasting precious fuel at CA sky-high prices; the endless looping is ridiculous.

I'm convinced CA roadways were designed by hookah suckers. Seriously.

There is only a very small window of opportunity to jet across the lanes … traffic is not forgiving, so you hold your breath-pray-and step on the accelerator, hoping no one T-bones your vehicle.

CA freeways are a madhouse affair; I could feel a few of my hair strands turning white.

The sand storm blowing across the freeway, was blinding.

Holland cracking jokes at my expense … bless his heart ;-)

As the Day progressed, WA was looking very good to us.

Along the road route, we were treated to a double rainbow, and a pretty sunset.

A double rainbow; between Lodi & Galt ;-)

Sacramento sky at dusk.

Sacramento skyline.

The roads were bad enough in the daytime - night driving was downright dangerous: we spent the night in a Rest Stop, in Corning-CA

The roads were so bad, we pulled over, for the night …

Corning-CA from Barstow-CA; 8 hr. 2 min (524 miles) via CA-99 N and I-5 N

The night was cold and rainy; low 30's.

We can't wait to get to WA, where we have been told by friends that the weather is a beautiful 70-degrees :-)

'ONE MORE DAY'; Barstow-CA

We stayed 2 days; Skyline RV Park, Barstow-CA

April 11th: We had rested, but I still woke with a sore chest and aching ribs the next morning (from all the choking activity the day before); so, we paid for another day's stay here at Skyline RV Park - and we're going to do nothing but take it easy … and recoup our energy.

Last night, Holland & I made a decision to forgo all of the places we had planned to see in CA, due to the high altitude - we've visited a lot of high altitude places already, and have both been feeling lethargic, winded, and a little ditzy.

We have visited with Aunt Gaye, but we will not be visiting with Holland's Colorado cousin: 6,000+ elevation just is not doable for us; Holland has COPD, and I have severe asthma flareups - we have noticed that high elevation causes our lungs acute stress; not just in AZ & CA; but also in other various elevated places we have been touring.

It was my thought that if we drove across America so our lungs would have time to acclimate … our lungs wouldn't cause our bodies too much stress. Apparently that is not true - Holland has been coughing up a lot of thick mucus, and I've been having severe asthma flareups.

On our way to Barstow from Kingman, I had the worst flareup I have ever experienced; not only did I feel like a plastic bag was tied over my face … my heart felt like it was about to burst; my arm and chest hurt for a good half hour after I was finally able to use my emergency inhaler (if I can't suck air in, I can't use it - all I can do is stare at it, knowing it's my link to life or death). Holland was driving and there was no place to pull over, so he put his left hand on my chest and prayed: that's what I needed more than anything.

But these flareups are coming more frequently, and they are scary for him to go through with me. They are a course of life for me - and I know where I'm going if my breath actually is stopped … but I'd rather not KNOW that I am dying, and I'd rather Holland not watch my body go into the struggle to live: it's horrible.

It's horrible to experience.

It's horrible to watch.

It's a helplessness that grips a person (asthmatic person, and the stander by) until breath is restored.

Diamond Rio - 'One More Day' lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuE1XJ_uqOs)

It's 11:41 PM … and my face still looks like it's gone through a meat grinder; it will look like this for a few days until the strain marks disappear: these are the worst my face has ever looked after an attack.

I'm praying for relief - for myself, and for my husband. I know Yeshua is able.

I know my healing was secured 2024 years ago: please join me in prayer that it becomes a reality in my New Life, with my new husband. I do believe 100% in divine healing, and Elohim knows my Life is His to do with as He Wills.

********************

April 12th: I was enjoying my morning coffee, and liking what I saw on my Peak Flow Meter reading: I was in the {safe zone} this morning; so, I didn't need to use my emergency inhaler :-)

My Peak Flow Meter & Asthma Relief Plan.

Peak Flow Meter: 

(https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20354268)

But I did check it periodically during the day, so Holland wouldn't be unduly concerned (I promised him in Yuma-AZ that I would be more vigilant; and I will be): 

'DESERT HOLIDAY RV RESORT; Yuma~AZ' Post: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2023/10/desert-holiday-rv-resort-yumaaz.html)

A wind storm kicked up as Holland was getting his morning coffee:

A huge windstorm blew through.

I don't think we'll be going outside today … and Holland said he'd prefer I didn't flirt with flying sand grit either, given Friday's scary episode.

Even though the flow meter gave me a good reading this morning, I agreed - and apologized, pulling my head back inside & closing the front door firmly.

Holland sipped his coffee, and said, "We should be breathing a lot easier tomorrow when we get out of this high altitude; we'll be dropping from 2,000 ft. to 200 ft., in Bakersfield."

The elevation of Barstow is 2,178 ft.: this portion of the San Bernardino County, is Mojave High Desert region. The area around Barstow has an elevation range from 2,051 ft. to 2,919 ft.; depending on where you go … and we've been all around Barstow, in every corner of the Mojave desert region, at much higher elevations.

No wonder our lungs are in full-out revolt.

CA High Desert: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Desert_(California)#:~:text=The%20region%20encompasses%20various%20terrain,and%20Little%20San%20Bernardino%20Mountains.)

Touching on another topic while I finished off my coffee, I mentioned to Holland a.g.a.i.n. that I seriously need to lose weight. I said, "either I need to stop eating the delicious fatty meals you lovingly cook … or I need to share kitchen time, and prepare some leaner, healthier meals": He said he needs to lose weight too, so he'd be happy to share kitchen time with me ;-)

I also researched COPD because I don't know as much about his lung issues, as I do my own. We agree that we will make sure each of us stick to our inhaler relief plans given to us by our Dr's. (mine given with my 1st severe asthma attack in 1996, that landed me in ER after I passed out and nearly took out a glass storefront-door; & Holland's given to him in 2012, when he ended up in ER fighting for his life)  … and we'll include natural home remedies, too.

I'm finding that the safe guards for COPD is similar to those for Asthma.

Natural Remedies for Asthma: (https://www.webmd.com/asthma/natural-cure-asthma)

Natural Home Remedies for COPD: (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323649)

(1) Work towards a healthier body weight. The heart is a muscle: I need to get back to walking again - at least a mile/daily … this is hard to do living on the road, as we are; but where there is a Will - there is a Way, and I'll find it.

Holland can't walk a mile a day - but he says he will walk as much as he can, as far as he can. Daily.

(2) Consume omega-3 fats (EPA+DHA): I need to get back to eating more fish; Holland likes beef and pork … and lots of sugary snacks: but my body NEEDS fish in my weekly diet, and he is consenting to including tuna and salmon in our monthly meals - I'm not crazy about salmon, but I will choke it down if it will relive asthma stress.

Holland loves both … and wants to can both; to take with us when we go South, again.

He makes a delicious tuna steak; and recently made a tuna-egg sandwich that I raved over. He is a marvel in the kitchen; and cooking relaxes him - I don't mind sharing kitchen time with him. When he cooks, I'll just scale back on what I eat and drink before suppertime :-)

(3) Eat more plants: I'm cooking more, and doing more grocery shopping - green leafy items are coming home and getting included in our meals.

And Holland is finding out that {diet food} does not need to be "yucky", or "boring rabbit food" ;-)

(4) Reduce intake of bad fats and sugar: we're working on this - Holland is a big-time-snacker: cutting back on empty calories, and sugary toxins, will take time.

(5) Exercise regularly: again, this is hard to do living on the road, but I am working on it - and I hope Holland eventually joins me, at least in the weights department ;-)

(6) Bleu has been rehomed, and is enjoying his new digs … so pet dander is no longer a concern for either of us.

Early on in our new marriage, Holland set up a air-filtering thing in the bedroom to keep the air flow as clean as possible (we need to get one for the livingroom area, too); and we bought a mattress lifting bed frame for the RV, to keep our heads elevated when we lie down - this benefits both of us (I had a electrified bed in my previous marriage, so I didn't have to sleep sitting up in the recliner).

Air Filtration System

Electric adjustable mattress lifting bed frame base.

'OREGON~OUR NEW BED & Hudson-Parcher County Park' Post:

 (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/05/oregonour-new-bed-hudson-parcher-county.html)

Around noon, I went back to bed: my poor body was totally exhausted.

Staying alive is hard work.

I think I slept about an hour and a half, when I was shaken awake by whistling winds slamming against Independence's sides, and rocking her so hard I thought she'd be forcefully moved off the stabilizing legos - if she wasn't still hooked to Betsy; we left them connected because our stay here would be short-lived.

The whipping wind gusts shook Independence - and woke me from a refreshing, and much needed nap.

Watching the sand being whipped up and blown across the Park's landscape, I wished the desert's beauty wasn't so deadly.

Hopefully tomorrow will be clearer, and we will both be breathing a whole lot easier ;-)

LORD, PLEASE~I Need A Touch; Kingman-AZ to Barstow-CA

April 10th: This morning we pulled stakes at Zuni RV Park, in Kingman-AZ … with a stop in Bakersfield-CA planned before aiming Betsy towards WA

But first, we wanted to make a short detour drive to Aunt Gaye's before leaving Kingman - we love this lady; we're gonna miss her :-)

Woke up to cheerful birdsong :-)

Ponderosa Pine; Kingman-AZ

Ponderosa Pine/Pinus ponderosa:

 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_ponderosa)

Pulled stakes in Kingman-AZ

Stopped by Aunt Gaye's, 1st thing; the Harris's love Holland. Holland says his Aunt looks like his Mom; the Native America features are very prominent. Holland's mother must have been a very attractive woman.

The drive from Kingman-AZ to Barstow-CA was filled with roadside color - the desert looks so beautiful when it's in bloom. There were plentiful patches of yellow flowered bushes - in several of the median {draws} I spotted desert rose cactuses (aka, 'prickly pear cactus'); ocotillo cactuses were beginning to green up, and bud with bright orangish-red 'flames'. The roadsides were also hosting bushes with pretty little pumpkin-orange corkscrew flower stalks … as well as patches of bright orange california poppies, and little clumps purple lupines.

Today's road route to Skyline RV Park in Barstow-CA, from Kingman-AZ~This stretch of the highway is new to me - not to Holland: he's been all over the place in this region, but he took this route to show me new scenery - he's the greatest guy :-)

Interstate 40~I-40: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_40_in_Arizona)

It was a lovely, warm, enjoyable drive.

UNTIL …

A sudden asthma flareup threw everything into chaos :-(

I am not encouraging a breathless relationship with asthma - I want it to go away and stop it's infatuation with my lungs!

The breathlessness asthma causes is not a flirtation I want to experience; and it is a burdensome worry for my husband.

It was unexpected - and it happened when I was laughing; apparently tripping my funny bone will also trigger my faulty lungs.

My face was on fire with broken blood vessels; tears were blinding me when my body went into automatic spasmatic overdrive (not quite convulsions, but close) in the struggle to keep me alive; my chest ached from the coughing and strenuous attempt to suck air in; my heart felt like it would burst; and my throat was so sore from swelling up due to all the strenuous activity of trying to get my rebelling lungs under control … choking on mucus while trying to suck breath down a throat that is closing very rapidly (similar to anaphylaxis = which I also experience when stung by wasps) because it is raw from coughing, and trying to expel the asthmatic mucus.

Lord … I need a Touch.

What Is Athma? 

(https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/what-is-asthma & https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323523)

This can be hidden behind sunglasses … until it fades.

It's very strenuous trying to breathe with faulty lungs: this strenuous attempt to stay alive, can't be hidden at all. I hate being the object of curiosity 😕

It's an awful experience to undergo.

My poor husband - all he could do was watch, pray, and calmly talk my overdriven body down to a relaxed state whereby the emergency inhaler could effectively be utilized.

I feel most bad for him when he has to experience these flareups with me. They are very scary to watch.

It could have been a thousand little things that led up to the big thing; the "thing" with asthma is that you never know exactly what set it into motion. In this case, my lungs were no doubt already in trouble before I started laughing hard - which caused a major asthma flareup.

My chest and left arm ached a good half hour following that strenuous asthmatic episode.

Poor Holland.

Asthma takes it's toll on relationships when worry sets in.

Entering CA, from AZ

Tomorrow, we'll be heading to Bakersfield-CA to get tires fixed; then off towards WA

Desert carpet of gold; apparently we are enjoying our USA Tour during the Mohave Superbloom Period - which only happens every 10 years ;-)

Superbloom:

 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superbloom#:~:text=The%20rare%20concatenation%20of%20these,due%20to%20persistent%20state%20drought.)

Asthma takes a toll on relationships.

Barstow Drive-In Theatre: #31175 Old Hwy 58, Barstow, CA

Overnight rest; Skyline RV Park, Barstow-CA

Silver glitter-speckled rock; I'm always looking for the 'silver lining' in everything ;-)

I don't let my limitations handicap me: life is for living, not worrying about dying.

I asked for prayer from my close friends that are also on FB; I asked them to please pray that Holland can find some humor in bad situations - not in a morbid way, but in a way that relaxes him as it does me.

Pray also for a healing of my lungs 🙏

#Yeshua said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

##"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

###"I will bless Yeshua at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in my Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify Yeshua Ha'Mashiach with me, and let us exalt His name together.

I sought my Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:1-4)

####Yeshua said, "Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)

I am praying Elohim will lead me to a Fellowship that believes in divine healing, like I do: I need Yeshua's Healing Touch.

"Is any sick among you? let him/her call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him/her, anointing him/her with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him/her up; and if he/she have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him/her." (James 5:14 thru 16)