OK, so the Barstow Elks Lodge was not for us last night. Not the nicest part of town and we both decided that the Home Depot parking lot was much more acceptable. Yes, they let us park in their level lot across from the main entrance, but far enough away that only the parking lot lights and the security cameras kept us company. Probably as safe as any RV park. With a view of the colored lights of the big rigs flying by us on I-15, we also enjoyed watching the news and a movie while dining at home.
This morning, we connected with niece Jane in Palmdale. Somewhat off our direct route to home, we couldn't pass the opportunity to see a favorite relative, and one who lost her very special (to all of us) dad this past summer back home in England.
What a great time we had! Busy as ever, she was so appreciative of our visit. Of course, we had to have lunch, but this time, Doris served it in our coach ... in front of Jane's house, a la "Meals on Wheels".
With little time to go before the local school provided traffic jams of frustrating levels, we headed off to grind up & over the Techachapi Mountains towards Bakersfield and the southern end of California's "Big Valley", AKA the San Joaquin Valley, provider of a major part of our vegetable diet, along with cotton, dairy, beef, you-name-it. Oh, oil too. AND Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. Those guys alone should give all of you a clue as to the importance of this area.
But, getting there over the mountains also meant dealing with viscious cross winds that attempted to turn our 18 ton coach into a sailboat. With only 12 feet to keep our 8+ wide vehicle in its lane, this was one of the more challenging afternoons. In spite of the occasional drama of mountain curves and nasty winds, we made it to our favorite orange processing plant and loaded up on citrus before parking at the Bakersfield Elks Lodge for the night. Ready for a gala farewell to our almost 3-month odyssey, we instead decided to dine one more night at "home". At least that's now how we feel about our coach. It's served us well, in spite of a few minor (tho' they seemed major at the time) issues that were easily corrected by a third mortgage on our other house.
After dinner we'll watch the Country Music Awards show from Nashville, a city we enjoyed 4 years ago. And, having traveled 8,237 miles of our country's highways & byways these past 87 days, with more to add tomorrow, country music has become something more than what big rig drivers and cowboys listen to. Once again, it speaks to us as we enjoy the panoramic view of the US, meet its people from all walks of life while living and working in the 32 states we've driven through, walked, toured, stayed and studied ... and enjoyed immensely.
As I sit here at the dining table, on this our last night on the road, I must say that I'm so very proud of this country. We've learned again that some of its history, even some of its present conduct is to be condemned. Yet, we have, and continue to be a beacon for most of the world that can only imagine the freedoms that we experienced on this trip. Then, from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back again, there is this country's natural, phenomenal, ever changing beauty and abundance, the latter created by this land and our people who work it to our benefit. Too, every person we met was good to us ... as Americans are noted for 'round the world. Yes, there were drivers that earned our expletives, but tens of thousands more were courteous, some unexpectedly so, and it has been to a true pleasure to return the favor and share the road with our fellow travelers.
Fellow travelers? The very most special ones have been Tom, Sheryl, Joleta, Tony, Bill, Ginny, Al & Debbie (and Buddy, the cat) who trusted Doris and me to lead them through New England's autumn foliage for 3 weeks. What a honor. What a wonderful time all of you gave us. Thank you for being so enthusiastic, so accepting, and such good friends.
And, to a special fellow traveler: my wife Doris ... You actually stayed true to the adventure, added special requests that made the trip better, helped by driving about 1,000 of the miles and got better at it as you went along. You are absolutely the best "backing up guide", even in the dark. No one that's lived with me in a box on wheels has ever cooked as well as you (and appeared to enjoy it). Yes, you occasional bouts of homesickness made for some "moments", but you overcame them and stayed the course, allowing both of us to share great times to the end of the trip. Times that you would have missed ... and been missed. How great it is to look back and know that we did it all ... together.
But, dear friends and family, there is more to learn of this country. More to see, to enjoy. That's why the nucleus of our "next trip" has already been conceived. It''ll be awhile before we set out to explore and experience another part of the US, but it'll happen if we continue to be graced with good health and a zest for learning.
So this is it. The last full day on the road. I'll think about this overnight and wrap up the blog tomorrow. I'm already beginning to think I'll miss the opportunity to share our experiences with you. Maybe not the sense of obligation that set in when I was days late in relating our travels and travails, but certainly the sharing of an unbeatable experience. Someday, I might even read this blog and say, "Wow, Doris! We really DID have a good time during our 2010 odyssey."
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| A traveling chef produces the best end-of-odyssey dinner in Bakersfied, CA. |
