Blogs from Barstow, California, United States, North America

The winter wonderland of the Grand Canyon had not disappeared when we drew back the curtains this morning and the icicles which had formed on the edges of buildings now only added to the feel of the area. I did not sleep well, which I mistakenly put down to a mix of Jamesons and Miller rather than the fact that we are at altitude. It is quite a weird sensation and you certainly feel the effects when you do any sort of activity. Walking down to the café where we ate had several of the party short of breath and the ice on the ground just made it more challenging; we had “one piper down” when one man went for a skate over a kerb. Thankfully he is still with us. The South Rim of the ... read more

On Monday the 22nd we took a “little trip” down to Joshua Tree National Park. Leaving the South Gate we traveled what seemed like for ever through endless desert and miniscule towns. As we came through Happy Valley and many street names reminiscent of Roy Rogers and Dale Evens we “discovered” their hideaway. Our camp host later told me that the heirs couldn't make a go of the museum and sold everything to the highest bidder. I can see why – it's in the middle of nowhere. The national park is very interesting with boulders, creosote bush (the oldest living thing in the desert) and spacious scenery. Coming back we stopped off at the HQ of Mojave National Preservation Area but avoided revisiting one of my least favorite Naval Reserve Active Duty For Training sites at ... read more

Yesterday we toured Sheels Sporting Goods store with fish tanks, presidential anamatronic manicans, magnificent taxidermied animals and the most helpful staff I've ever seen. It obviously helps to have an employee owned store. One last breakfast buffet “deal” at Fudruckers and we headed south. We decided to travel down US 395, although many of our “advisers” wondered “why” because of traffic, logging trucks, etc. We discovered a wonderfully scenic roadway with minimum traffic on the highway but chances to see National Forests, scenic visitor centers, and magnificent vistas of isolated lakes and mountains with glaciers. We saw some amazing sights of lakes, though drained by LA.'s quest for water, multitudes of people, though cramming themselves into Mammoth Lakes resort areas on Sunday (preventing us from taking a bus to see the Devil's Post-pile National Monumen... read more

22. august – ca 2/3 av reisen er foran oss S I-15 – siste kjøretur før vi når kysten «Når jeg drar tilbake til Philipinene kommer jeg ikke tilbake. Kanskje når jeg jeg har tjent opp 100 000 (dollar)» Taxisjåføren som kjørte oss til kasinoene siste kvelden hadde kjørt i San Fransisco også, der var det helt umulig å finne parkeringsplass. Her i Las Vegas er parkeringsplasser det eneste som er billig eller gratis. Når han slapp oss av ved Mandalay gav jeg han ekstra med tips, for ingen fortjener å måtte bo her lenger enn nødvendig. Vi gikk ut av taxi'en og i noen få sekunder var vi ute i kvelende varme før vi entret kveldens første kasino. Klokken var fem og kasinoene var fulle av folk som spilte. De neste seks timene gikk vi ... read more

Picked up the bike today, a harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic! A big brand new hog which is a real gas guzzler but very comfortable and stunning nevertheless! Finally made it out of L.A as the traffic was not quite as bad, it being a Sunday and all. Managed to get on to Route 66 at Victorville and then again at Barstow, but in between times used the I40 freeway just to mile munch! It really is so hot even on a bike doing motorway speeds! And, we're still in California; wait till we hit Arizona. Might do some early morning riding, before the sun is at its worst! Stopped in a one horse town called Ludlow, which has a gas station, a motel and a cafe! It's actually a very pleasent little town, (town could ... read more

The circle is complete, here I am in Barstow California, where we spent our first night heading out on the TAT seven weeks ago. Everyone is now back home safe and sound except for Dave and I, Tony is still somewhere??without his bike. Dave and I had a great ride west from Deadwood, checking out Custer's Last Stand Battlefield on the way. One of the best rides we had was following the Salmon River to Boise in Idaho, great roads. Leaving Boise, we took a road least traveled and ran into a pea soup fog for about half an hour. we then took a 'short cut' along a gravel road down to Denio in Nevada where we met up with some other bikers, I had a close encounter with a Harley rider named Fred....his wife was ... read more

The beginning of the second day (actually the first on the Dennis plan) began about 8:30 with a ice and food (OK coffee) stop and we were on the road. I-5 was as exciting as ever with feedlots providing aromatic stimulation. The day heated up quickly and by the time we got to Bakersfield, it was in the low hundreds. The rest of the trip was uneventful except for a stop at Murray Ranch produce facility. I don't agree with some of their caged attractions, but their farming method was A-list organic and it was reflected in their produce. Emily being an organic, sustainable gardener applauded their methods There is not much you can say about Barstow, but when it is 108, however an image is worth a sentence or two. Imagine a snake cooling off ... read more

A follow-up from yesterday. We checked into a RV park and went to do laundry (mostly because it was cool in there). We asked a young man what the temp was today. He said it was 123 degrees and that it would cool down to about 90 after the sun went down. I guess we never thought about going through the desert in JULY. DUH!!! We may bite the bullet and stay in a real Hotel tonight. Depends on how the day goes. No Gail, the heat does not abate by mid-day. it stays hot. Today, July 17, it was a little cooler - 105 degrees. We are stopped in another RV park in San Bernadino for the night. Today from Needles we went through goffs, Fenner, Essex, Danby, Cadiz Summit, Ludlow, New Berry Springs, Bagdad, ... read more