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 :-)