Barstow, CA

We really like Barstow, CA. So much so, that we drove past it, and 60 miles later turned back around and went back only to stay the next two nights.

In all actuality. 60 miles past Barstow in Ludlow, CA (which is just a gas station) the passenger side rear wheel bearing went out and the wheel almost fell off. The closest tow truck was from Barstow. 90 minutes later we were on our way back to Barstow, where we slept in the lot of the tow/auto shop in 50 mph winds next to a big, loud, clangy, metal garage door.

Yesterday we spent all day at the shop, while they looked for a new axle at wrecking yards. Breakfast consisted of scramble eggs with Kale and Smoked Salmon(thanks David and Cirkl for the salmon) Barstow has a nightly drive-in theater, so we saw "Knowing" while sitting in Pam: Weird movie. We parked in an old truck stop lot and set up shop. Today is a new day and we are hanging out in Starbucks of all places for the internet access. Off to Mojave National Reserve for the day, maybe two.

Thoughts on Barstow:

This place must have been crazy when rt66 was a main road, now its barely there. Staying a float with fast food and other services and maybe a little money from a near by military base.

Lessons for today:

Stay under 55mph. Old bearings don't like to travel fast. Not to mention my trailer probably doesn't like it either.

Here are some pics

If anyone is interested, poor Nat still has hives :(

Not yet

The scheduled departure time was Thursday morning. After hours of packing and cleaning I filled my truck and drove to Nat's house. The only problem was that there was no room for her stuff.

I have a full sized pick up truck with a camper shell. A friend donated an old futon{thanks Ian}, which I modified to sit mid way up the bed; storage below, sleeping space above. My truck (Pam) is a new addition to my life, for the last four years, my only mode of motorized transportation was Gloria, my scooter. With no intention of leaving Gloria behind, I bought a motorcycle trailer to bring Gloria with me.

My truck was full and Natalie still needed room for her stuff, we had some problem solving to do. So with the help of Greg and his awesome shop, we spent Thursday afternoon/evening modifying my motorcycle trailer to have more room for stuff in the truck. We widened the surface a foot and added 18 inch side walls. Now my motorcycle trailer has more space and there is enough room for everything...maybe. Its got too dark to try and pack, so we planned to pack in the morning and head out.

Pickup truck tetris turned out to be more time consuming than one would think, and combined with the time to rewire the trailer lights, which turned out to not work, far too much time passed and we would be leaving too late.

Departure has now been pushed back to Saturday morning, the Mojave National park awaits as well as two ethanol stations.

Stay tuned, pictures too come, pending internet access.

Here we go

Ten thousand, five hundred, sixty-one and six tenths. The reading from the odometer of my truck. One might say, "Wow, that truck is barely broken in", but alas, my odometer stops at the ten thousands place. All things considered, my 1971 Ford F100 probably has rolled over once, maybe twice. Be shes got a lot of life left in her.

After four years of California living I am moving back to West Virginia to finish my masters degree. California is quite far from West Virginia and there are several ways to make the journey. I've decided to take the most entertaining and broadening method that came to mind.

Road trip.

I am taking to the road and seeing the country on the way. My girl is coming with me and together we are going to experience the thrill of the US country side.

I've got my love, my truck, my scooter and my map of ethanol stations.{by the way my truck does not run on gas, it runs on clean burning, American made ethanol}

Stay tuned for more updates.