Night 2 - Tehachapi, California

Well, to say it's already been an adventure
would be an understatement.

 After changing all my plans because of SNOW
on the Northern route,
I'm being chased by a FREAK HEAT WAVE
on the Southern route!

I had plans to stay with my mom's friend
in Hanford, California tonight,
but upon checking the weather,
discovered there was a freak heat wave pushing through
and the temperatures there would be in the 90's!!  

I'm carrying my son's prized guitar
and a 'hatch-kitchen' full of food that wouldn't survive
being shut up in the van while I lounged in the air conditioning . . .
so I decided to drive further up the trail.

I went to the Cemetery in Armona

and put some of mom's ashes 

with her mom and dad. 

She had asked me to do that, 

so I am happy to have been able to do it.

Then I headed to Bakersfield,

and up the hill.
  
I stopped for the night at a Flying J in Techachapi
because it's about 20 degrees cooler here tonight.
It won't be comfortable but it won't be unbearable.
By 8 pm it will cool down into the low 60's. 

I am pretty sure I can pay for a shower here,
so that will be nice!

I plan on getting up around 4 am and heading to Flagstaff,
where it will also be a bit cooler.
Hopefully, by then, I'll be ahead of the heat wave.
I may hunker down in Flagstaff for a couple of days
before heading to Holbrook, since I'm ahead of schedule anyway.


 I'll just have to play it by ear.
A few days camping in the pines actually sounds nice. 
I don't have any reservations anywhere until Sunday,
May 5 at Tucumcari - so I have some flexibility.

That's all for now.
Want to save my Hot Spot. 

Happy Trails!

Annie

Night 1: Williams, California

Note to self:  

It takes about an extra hour to get to I-5 going through Corvallis.
Next time, just go through Salem. But the drive was pretty.

I left about 9 this morning and just arrived in Williams, CA
 about 5 pm.  I was originally going to sleep in Yreka
and make a short day of it, but it was early when I got there.
In addition, there's a heatwave headed this way
and I want to try to get ahead of it.
So I drove twice the distance I planned. 

I'll get up at O-dark-thirty in the morning and go to Hanford,
hopefully getting there early enough to escape the heat.
 I have to drop by the cemetery to put some of mom's ashes
on her parents' graves, then to mom's friend Marlene's house,
where I'll also meet up with MARLA! 

 Marla joined my group starting out on the Camino last year,
and she had such a great time,
I think she was there about 3 months!
I can't wait to hear all about it.

Gas in California is crazy expensive!
In Yreka, I paid $4.99/gallon!!!

On the brighter side, my van is getting 23 mpg,
even as loaded down as it is.
So hopefully as I head East, the price of gas will go down.

I'm staying the night at a motel we often stop at.
 It's called Traveler's Inn.
For the price I'd pay for two nights at the Elks,
camping in my van, I have a nice room,
with air conditioning, a shower, a microwave, a TV, internet,
and a fridge! Can't beat that! 
And it's clean as a whistle.
I love this place!

There's a cute little bathroom and a desk as well.

All for about $89.

I'm going to do my best to stay on Keto once I get past Hanford,
but I know Marlene is cooking,
so I'm going to wait to be strict.
Plus it's hot as Hades.
So I'm enjoying a root beer tonight
along with my two 1/4 pound burger patties from McD's
(just patties and pickles).

I guess that's it. 
Gonna go watch some tv.

Life is good!

I'm happy!

Love,

Annie

Gas today:  $81.41
Hotel:     $89.00

Changing plans

 As always, fate steps in and reminds us that nothing is set in stone (Pardon the pun, son.)

So, in January I ordered a new headstone from Santa Barbara Monument Company for my mother's grave at the cemetery in Cayucos, California, where her husband and son were buried.  I paid up front and it wasn't inexpensive, but I thought it was very pretty.

Since then, I have called and called to see if the stone was finished and delivered to the cemetery. 

Two and a half weeks ago, I called again, asking WHEN the stone would be delivered. I planned on visiting mom's grave with a few friends and taking flowers, then heading down the coast from there to start my backwards Route 66 trip. He told me, "It's on the truck right now and we're delivering it today!"

"Great," I thought.

Well, yesterday I called the cemetery to be SURE the stone had been placed only to find out it still had not been delivered!!!

Upon calling the Monument company, I was told, 'I don't know WHY it didn't get delivered but I promise it will get there tomorrow."

Well, now it's only 4 days until I was going to visit the gravesite, and doesn't look like there will be enough time for the cemetery to schedule the placing. They have to remove an old gravestone as well as placing the new one.

So, I'm changing my plans. I am going to put off visiting Cayucos until I leave for the desert in the Autumn. That means I won't be staying in the Tipi Motel in San Bernardino (bummer) but I'll also save $$$$. Instead, I'll head straight to Barstow and Calico Ghost Town and pick up Route 66 there. It also gives me an extra day or two in the Painted Desert. 

These days, it pays to be flexible...

See you on the road,

Annie

Stocking the Pantry for my Trip

 

Heading East on Route 66

Then back home

I started stocking the pantry for my trip today. 

I'm taking a lot of dehydrated and freeze dried food this time,
hoping to save a bit of cash on the nights I'll be camping.

I ordered a few items from Auguson;
Chicken Fettucini, Creamy Chicken Rice, and Broccoli.  

I am taking other food I freeze dried this year: 

roast beef, chicken, eggs.

I'm taking canned chicken and coconut milk to make curry 

and canned corned beef to eat with eggs. 

I cooked about 2 pounds of bacon today. 

I roll it up and put it in a tea canister and it keeps forever.  

I can pick up tomatoes and lettuce for BLTs and salad.  

Grabbed a few cans of tuna.

I'm also taking beef jerky, quest brownie bars, and snack olives. 

I'm taking my small ice chest with 3 pounds of linguica 

(to take to my son) 

and some boiled eggs for egg salad. 

I can keep some Tillamook cheese sticks in there,

 some yogurt, and a cold drink or two.

I'm only taking 4 gallons of water on this trip 

as there will be plenty of places to fill my jugs. 

Just a few things to add and I'll have all the food packed. 

I packed up the inside of the van except for my clothes, 

which I will put in on Wednesday. 

I got my Elk's membership card today 

so I can stay at the Elk's Lodges when they're available. 

(Thanks Karylee)

I'm taking this great lightwood TOGO 100 Watt solar panel to charge my Jackery, my phone, my shower, and my laptop:

I've made reservations all along the way, 

and I'm getting pretty excited!

It's been a while since I took a van trip -

this will be the first one since my mom passed away.

My first stop will be to take some of her ashes

to put on her parents' graves,

and then to visit the gravesite in Cayucos

where her husband and son are buried, 

and where I put the remainder of her ashes

under a new headstone. 

I hope she is happy with it.

And then I head down the coast to Santa Monica

to take my photo at the end of Route 66,

and I'll be on my way East.

I hope you will follow me!

See you on the Road!

Love,

Annie

New Tires!

 

I took my van to Les Schwab today to have them do a trip check and to check the tires. I haven't been getting very good traction and I want EXCELLENT tires for my trip.

Turns out the wheels were not aligned and two of the tires that looked good were almost bald on the inner side.  So I am putting four new tires on for my trip.  I had two choices and decided on the best quality with a great guarantee.

Total for 4 new tires, rebalancing and adding siping for better traction:  approximately $800

Ouch!  

However, it was time for new tires and I want to feel confident on my trip, so I'm satisfied with that. 

Just another reason you should have a repair/emergency stash if you are a van dweller.

Changed My Plan - Doing it Backwards

I worked for two days on my van trip plan, only to call Martin's Cove for a camping reservation and found out there were still FEET of snow on the ground. Brrrrrr!

So I decided I'd better start in the south and come home on the northern route in June.  I spent another couple of days making changes and was grateful I was able to change all of my motel/hotel reservations fairly simply.  

I've joined the Elk's Lodge so I'm able to stay in their lot occasionally, which will help with lodging costs. I went to my orientation last night and had a great time. Wonderful group of new friends!

Here is my current plan:

Joe will be home around the 19th or 20th so I won't have to leave the house empty.

I'll take off around the 27th. 

I'll head down to Hanford first to put some of mom's ashes with her parents' graves, see the Portuguese exhibit at the museum there, and visit a friend or two. Then over to Cayucos to take flowers and see the new headstone I bought for mom and Ken. The fellow who made it assured me it would be set by then.

From Cayucos I'll head down to Santa Monica to see the End of the Trail Route 66 sign. Since I'm going backwards, I want to start at the very end. 

From there I'll head to San Bernardino and the Wigwam Hotel. I've always wanted to sleep in one of those wigwam hotels! When I was younger, Lance and I bought an 18 foot tipi and loved camping in it. This should bring back some memories!

From San Bernardino I'll follow Old Route 66 all the way to Springfield, Missouri, where I'll take a detour to visit my cousins who live there. 

Then down to Georgia to visit my son for a few days. 

Then to Annapolis to visit my grandson.

From there, I'll head up to Vermont, New York to visit some LDS sites. I'll stop for a night at Niagra Falls. Then to Chicago and down Route 66 back to where I left off at Springfield. 

From there, I'll shoot up to Nauvoo and see Winter Quarters, Martin's Cove, and Salt Lake City. Then back home. 

I figure the trip will take about 6 or 7 weeks. 

For those who'd like to follow me, just save the blog address and check in every few days. I don't believe Blogger still notifies you when I make a new post - which is annoying as heck - but I don't have time to change platforms.  Can someone who is following please let me know? Thanks.

Happy Trails!

Annie

Repairs and Listening to your Gut

 So last week, I got tired of sitting around the house 

and decided to drive to Portland. 

I got in the van, headed out the back way 

and got as far as Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 

a goose refuge near me. 

For some weird reason, 

I pulled into their waterbird viewing area 

and sat there a few minutes, thinking, 

'Do I REALLY want to go to Portland?'

I thought, 'Maybe I should just turn around and go back home?' 

I mulled it over, going back and forth,
and finally decided yes, I wanted to go,
so I got back on the Highway.

Well. . . about 2 miles before the turn off to I-5,
the check-engine light started flashing
and the van engine started missing. 

I did a U-turn and headed back to Dallas, Oregon,
about a 20 mile drive.
I limped into my mechanic's - and told him what happened.
He said repair appointments were
THREE WEEKS OUT!!!

Holy cow!

Oh well... nothing I could do about it.
So I called my son to pick me up,
left the van there, and hoped for the best.

My mechanic called a few days later.
He had been able to look at the van earlier,
due to a canceled appointment.
He ended up changing the spark plugs, wires, and coils.
It was about a $700 fix.

But you know? That's ok.

I'm grateful it happened here at home,
and not on my upcoming trip.

I had him completely check the van over
and as far as he could tell,
everything else was in good working order,
so I'm hoping for a non-eventful trip.

And I learned, again,
that it's worth listening to your gut. 

This coming week, I'll be super-cleaning the van
and deciding what I do and do not need on my trip.
I bought a car-top carrier
because I need to take some items to my son in Georgia.
I'll probably leave it there once it's emptied.
I'd like to travel light.

So that was my excitement for the week.
How has your week been?

That's it for now!

Happy Spring Equinox World!

Love,

Annie

Cross Country Trip

 Spring is on its way and I'm planning a HUGE trip across the country! I've visited most of Western Europe and I've seen some of the Western United States but except for short stints living in Florida and Georgia, I've never seen the Eastern side of the country.  My son, Rob, moved to Georgia last summer, and I miss him like crazy, and that is what started this trip plan.

I'm hoping to start around April 22 after Joe returns home from the desert. I don't want to leave the house empty, and anytime before that will be too cold.

I love genealogy and part of the trip will be seeing my ancestor's digs, part will be visiting cousins, part will be seeing ancient mounds in America, and part will be visiting LDS historical sites. 

I also want to visit my grandson who is at Annapolis! He's very excited because on May 17, the Naval Academy is holding the Herndon Climb, and I'll be there to watch him climb! (Oops!  He just informed me that it is the Plebes that climb and he is not a Plebe!  lol!). So we will watch the Plebes climb. 

Learn more about the Herndon Climb here:
About the Herndon Climb

I'll begin my trip from my home in Dallas, Oregon. I'll drive to Salt Lake City and spending a few days as a tourist there. 

From Salt Lake, I will travel to Martin's Cove in Wyoming. This is where the Martin Handcart Company and the Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Companies sheltered while awaiting rescue in the Fall of 1856.

From Martin's Cove I travel to Nauvoo, Illinois. Nauvoo was the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1839 to 1846.  There are over 20 historic homes to visit as well as concerts, dance and theatrical vignettes. 

After Nauvoo, I'll visit my cousins, Vonda, Doug, and Steve, who live in and near Harrisonville, Missouri. Then Vonda and I will spend a few days visiting Branson!

From Branson, I'll visit my cousin, Millie, who will show me around the old Hall ancestral homestead in Ash Flat, Arkansas. 

Then on to the Cato homestead in Cape Girardeau. 

From there, I'll shoot down to Chatsworth, Georgia to visit my son, Rob and my ex-husband, Joe. 

PART 2

From Chatsworth, 

it's up to Annapolis to see my handsome, brilliant grandson, Hiathan:

Next is Sharon, Vermont

to see the birthplace of Joseph Smith.

Then to Palmyra, New York, site of the Sacred Grove.

After Palmyra, I'll spend a couple of days visiting Niagra Falls.

Then down to Kirtland, Ohio.

From Kirtland, I'm heading south again

to see the Serpent Mound. 

I'll camp here to rest a couple of days at Mineral Springs.

I also want to see Fort Ancient,

another set of ancient mounds.

It is on my way back up to Chicago.

I'll stop in Chicago just long enough 

to get a quick photo of the beginning of Route 66,

then down to Joliet to start Part 3,

and my trip back home.

Part 3 will be along Old Route 66 

from Joliet all the way back to California.

As some of you may recall,

I started traveling 'backwards' on Route 66

right before my mother fell.

I got as far as Carlsbad Caverns.

This time I'll travel the way it was meant to be traveled.

I will be taking a couple of side trips,

maybe to Painted Desert and Grand Canyon.

I hope some of you will follow me!

Just click the follow button in the upper right corner.

I'm getting excited!

Love,

Annie

My New Shelter!

 

Last week I purchased a Kelty Backroads Shelter for my van.

Today I set it up and it was soooo easy!

I'll mostly use it in the desert this winter for shade and privacy.  It's plenty big enough for a chair or two, or a table, and as you can see, it's high enough for Joe to stand up in, so I can use it for changing clothes. 

The sides drop down and can be staked out tight and there is a door complete with window on the front (see photo with Joe).

It should be good and sturday in the wind. It can either be strapped to the van cargo rack or there are longer straps that can go all the way over the van and attach to the tires on the other side.

At only $160, it's cheap rent, and can be replaced yearly if needed.

I can't wait to try it out!

Photo from Internet to show sides down

Got My Seat Turned Around!

 I'm so excited!

I finally found someone to turn the passenger seat around in my Toyota Sienna and TODAY WAS THE DAY! 

HooRAY!

He only charged me $50. What a deal!

So... tomorrow I drive to Portland to get my hair cut and to pick up some of Joe's stuff. He's moving into the rooms that were mom's. 

Once I unload, I can clean up the van and reorganize for my Spring trip.

If you go back to my posts from September 2018, and then June 2019, I completed a couple of sections of Old Route 66 before my mom fell. I had to put the rest on hold while I cared for her. 

In April I'm planning to pick up where I left off. I want to revisit a few places in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Then I plan to drive Route 66 through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. In Missouri, I'm hoping to stop to see my cousins Vonda, Doug, and Steve. Then I'll drop down to Georgia to visit my son. 

Depending on how tired I am, I may pop up to Illinois and work my way back West. Time will tell.

Here is a dark photo of my seat.  And below that, a photo of what my last Sienna looked like when I was finished. This will allow me to put my battery behind (in front of?) that turned passenger seat, along with a cooler. Plus I love being able to sit in that turned seat to eat or work on my computer. It's also a great place to put my clothes at night when I'm sleeping. It's just so much more convenient.

Sorry it's so dark.

Stay tuned!

Love,

Annie