SAYING YES TO NEW ADVENTURES; Coalinga-CA

Today we spent time with Holland's uncle George, & cousin Brenda: we wanted to especially make time for George because he's in his mid-90's, and we aren't sure when we'll be back again for a visit, once we leave CA.

We had a good visit with uncle George ❤️ - and met his wife; she wasn't there last time we visited him.

Then, we drove about 10 miles down the road to visit with Brenda, who is George's daughter.

Laton-CA from Coalinga-CA; 55 min (49.7 mi) via Mount Whitney Ave, CA-145 S and I-5BL

I like Brenda, and her husband Jeff - they are fun people to be around. I like people that have joy in their hearts and make laughter an easy thing … we laughed a lot this afternoon, and the hours flew by too fast; they are good people and I will miss them when we go north tomorrow 😔

On our way back to Independence, we had a good view of the Sierra Mountain Range, from the freeway: we are thankful we do not have to cross them tomorrow:

The Sierra Mountains got a record busting snowfall recently; glad we are not going that way, this trip northward …

On our way to the RV Park, Holland stopped to fill Betsy's tank with diesel - on my into the minute mart, I smelled the heady scent of roses hanging in the air; glancing around I saw these two large rose bushes with bright red roses. So, I stopped to smell the roses on the way back to Betsy 😊

Heady scent of red roses in full bloom; Coalinga-WA

Luke Combs - 'Forever After All, Love You Anyway' lyrics:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBaNuWi9FiM) 

When we got back to Independence, we unpacked the tasty Au jus sandwich supper that Brenda had sent home with us. SO GOOD 😁 😘 

Brenda sent us home with ready-made Au jus sandwich supper ;-)

Then, I went online to post a slipper pattern, and saw that my recent afghan pattern had been highlighted on the other side of the world - in Israel 👍

MOD Afghan was highlighted on Jewish Mom Craft School Sunday Blog Hop ;-)

Later, doing dish cleanup, I reflected on the changes coming into our life this year. We don't know exactly what we will be doing after we leave here, tomorrow, but we know that Yuma-AZ will not be part of things, as we had hoped.

We don't know what will be happening - or really where Independence will be parked a few days from now … but, Elohim does; and we can trust Him, and His purposes for us, in the next chapter of our road gypsy adventuring 😉

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.