Monday: (12/02) About 0900 I headed off in the van to get gas and do some shopping. The cheapest gas was in Sunnyvale at the Great Gas station on Matilda and Maude, only $3.73/gallon. The cheapest nearer me was $3.93 but most were $4.29-4.59. Next stop was Lowe’s. I got some hinges and hitch pins for the van bed. Then I was off to Grocery Outlet on Fair Oaks. Avenue. Before leaving there I had brunch of a wiener and cheese sandwich. Then off to the Sunnyvale Walmart Neighborhood Market. Then I came back on El Camino Real with a stop at Smart and Final Market. Then I looked for a nice parking spot in a mostly empty lot. I decided the Mountain View Target store lot would do. I had planned on parking near a hardware store but that didn’t workout. While parked, I swapped out the gas struts on the Van bed from 70 lbs to 40 lbs strength struts. Seems to work better. I also installed the front hinges. It should be functional now for easier access to the side storage areas over the water tanks from the rear door side. Maybe sometime in the future I’ll add some struts to the front side so it can be opened for inside access. Baked white fish with rice and red beans and corn on the cob.
Tuesday: (12/03) A banana for breakfast. I pulled the inverter/charger out of the motorhome. I inspected it for any obvious reasons for why it died. No new burning at the output terminal nor on the jumper I installed last time. I assumed it might be a loose connection to the control panel because I had disconnected it during the last repair. And it might have bounced looser. Since I had the terminal block, I installed it in place of the burnt terminal block and I removed the unused and unneeded outlet from above the terminal block to provide more room for the repair. After reinstalling it it worked so hopefully it continues to work now. A ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. We all went to Redwood City with our neighbor Meili. We stopped at the thrift store, Costco for gas and shopping and then returned home. Dinner was a chicken bake from Costco.
Wednesday: (12/04) I had the last of the artichoke garlic bread as toast with ham and cheese for breakfast. Lou and I went shopping for a few things. Back home my lunch was a salad. I relaxed the rest of the day except for installing a new CO/Smoke detector in the Van. Lou made a stir fry chicken and vegetable dinner.
Thursday: (12/05) A slow start today due to my congested lower throat. I ate my usual unfrozen pancake and sausage sandwich for breakfast. I took a walk around the neighborhood in the morning. Later, I took off in the Van to get lunch at my Chinese fast food restaurant, Wok On. After lunch I took a nap then visited the Dollar Tree store before heading home. Lou made stuffed peppers with baked potatoes for dinner.
Friday: (12/06) I still have a congested lower throat. I ate my usual unfrozen pancake and sausage sandwich for breakfast. Later I made a big batch of enchilada casserole and had some for lunch and dinner. I was pressed into chauffeur duty and drove Dawn down to San Jose to a vision equipment presentation at the Vista Center.
Saturday: (12/07) I still have a congested lower throat. Granola and yogurt for breakfast. Leftover Chinese food for lunch. I was again pressed into chauffeur duty and drove Dawn down to San Jose to the main library to an authors event. I relaxed and shopped nearby before we returned home. Leftover enchiladas for dinner.
Sunday: (12/08) I started with a breakfast pancake sausage sandwich and a shower. After the Sunday morning shows, Lou prepared bacon and eggs with potatoes for brunch. I removed the kumquat tree stump. I had to remove the tree when I replaced the sewer line and after replanting it, it died. I also pruned a dead limb off the pomegranate tree because we can tell it is dead now but not later when all the leaves are gone. I went to the neighbors and checked a noise in her car, a crack in her wall and a new heater that didn’t work. The installer blamed the wire from the heater to the thermostat for the failure but it was actually the thermostat which a simple test of shorting the wires proved. Then I caught up with email and videos.Later in the afternoon I climbed on top of the motorhome and removed the satellite TV dish/dome that I smacked into a service station canopy. No damage to the innards, just a big dent in the cap. We all went to dinner in Los Altos at the Country Inn.
Monday: (12/09) Leftover omelet for breakfast. We went shopping at Walmart. I got some cough syrup to try and easy my cough. Per the instructions, I checked with my doctor before using it.The advice nurse and my doctor OKed it. I relaxed all day trying to get better. Lots of TV watching including the TV series Castle. Lou’s chicken soup for dinner.
Tuesday: (12/10) A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. I relaxed all day binging Castle shows. Hot and sour soup for lunch. Lou’s chicken soup for dinner. Lou and I went to Harbor Freight in the evening for a tarp and rope for the cottage roof. Leftover enchiladas for supper.
Wednesday: (12/11) Leftover enchiladas for breakfast. I cleaned off the cottage roof and installed the new tarp. A salad for lunch. Afternoon delight of leftover ambrosia and chicken salad from a party Lou and Dawn attended. Leftover enchiladas for dinner. I took Lou and Dawn to a Nativity Scene at a nearby church.
Thursday: (12/12) A lot of rain last night. Leftover enchiladas for breakfast and lunch. Hot and sour soup for dinner. Relaxed all day. My cough and congestion is about the same.
Friday: (12/13)A few showers today. Hot and sour soup for breakfast. I relaxed all day. My cough is a little better today. Leftover enchiladas for lunch. Artichoke chicken breast and rice for dinner.
Saturday: (12/14) Hot and sour soup for breakfast. Chinese food for lunch from Lucky Bistro. This is their grand reopening with a new menu and it was half off. Frankly, it was better before. Leftover clam chowder for dinner. I relaxed all day.
Sunday: (12/15) Leftover Chinese food for breakfast. I prepared scrambled eggs with ham and cheese for brunch. Dawn now has what I have, a congested throat. I’m coming out of it now. Lou took brunch over to Dawn at her apartment. I relaxed at home most of the day. It was too wet to work outside. I took a drive in the Van in the afternoon. I got gas in Sunnyvale. Stopped at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Santa Clara. Picked up a cheap lunch at Panda Express, a $5 two item plate. I then went to the REI parking lot and had lunch at about 1500. I relaxed there for a while then looked around the store. I did find a nice chair I may get later. Then I returned home. Lou complained yesterday evening that the TV in the living room wouldn’t get any channels. I suggested she unplug and replug it to see if it came back. Evidently it didn’t. She came out to the motorhome, my man cave and mentioned it wasn’t working still. I went to check it, which I didn’t do last night. I found there was no power to the TV. It wasn’t connected fully to the wall. Evidently this is because of her unplugging and replugging it because the TV did have power for her. When it was powered up there were no broadcast channels. So, I checked another TV and it didn’t work either. I went outside to the utility cabinet and found the door open, not good. Lou had plugged an extension cord into the pug strip in the cabinet for the lighted pig in the front yard. It wasn’t on either. So I reset the GFCI outlet and power returned for the TV antenna amplifier, the storm pump and the pig. We were lucky that the water didn’t back up into the rear yard. I found a board to brace the cabinet door closed. All should be OK now.
Monday: (12/16) Leftover Chinese for breakfast. I called my dentist to cancel today's cleaning appointment. I’m sure he doesn’t need to catch a nice virus. Hamburger for lunch. In the afternoon Lou and I took a drive up in the hills around Portola Valley. On the way home we picked up dinner at Tocos El Grullense. Dawn is still sick so we delivered her dinner. Lou shared her usual super nachos with Dawn. I had a veggie burrito. A few showers today.
Tuesday: (12/17) Leftover veggie burrito for breakfast. I got a call from Clark Pest Control for our quarterly termite inspection. I arranged to meet the inspector after I can drive down to San Jose. I was there just before 1000. About 1130, I called the inspector back and he returned after his lunch at noon. It only takes a moment to check the sacrificial stakes for any infection. On the way home I stopped at La Victoria Taqueria for lunch, a nice carnitas burrito with their wonderful orange sauce. Then I stopped at Walmart Neighborhood Market for some cough syrup for Dawn and at Dollar Tree for a few things. Scrambled eggs with cheese and a bowl of hot and sour soup for dinner.
Wednesday: (12/18) Leftover veggie burrito for breakfast. Relaxed inside much of the morning. Later, I went to my shop and pulled out the gas welder and repaired the base to our christmas tree that had one and a half legs break off. Salads for lunch. After lunch it was nap time which lasted until 1700 and it was dark already. I had left my table saw out to cut some boards for the van. It was now dark and there are no outside lights to light the saw. I got my 170 degree headlamp out and it worked extremely well while I cut the boards. Then I had to put everything back into the shop due to likely rain.Baked potato with chicken for dinner.
Thursday: (12/19) Hot and sour soup for breakfast. Lou and I headed off to the Milpitas Walmart SuperStore to get a few things. Lou found some sheets she had been looking for at Ross’s. I restocked my van freezer with some more breakfast sandwiches and we got some $3 eggs. Cheapest elsewhere is over $5. I got another pair of cargo pants and we got Dawn a hand vacuum cleaner at Walmart. A frozen chicken sandwich for lunch. On the way home we stopped at Sprouts Market for more things and World Market looking for mincemeat. Baked potato chili size for dinner.
Friday: (12/20) Hot and sour soup for breakfast. I cleaned up some remaining leaves from the gutter in front of our house then got carried away and cleaned most of the leaves from the neighbors gutter and front yard as well. It was the only yard with large quantities of leaves and I didn’t want them to blow into our yard when they dry out. I tinkered on the computer al day. Later, about 1630, Dawn needed to visit the Stanford Hospital emergency room because she had a fever and was having trouble breathing. Lou stayed with her and I dropped them off and returned to pick them up. Lou doesn’t like to drive at night. I had wieners and hash browned potatoes for dinner. I paid all our online bills.
Saturday: (12/21) A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. Lou made chili rellenos for lunch. I made pork with sauerkraut and potato for dinner. I relaxed all day.
Sunday: (12/22) Lou made fried sauerkraut potatoes with ham and eggs for breakfast. I tinkered on the computer much of the day. Our neighbor across the street delivered their dog to stay for a few days. Leftover artichoke chicken with green beans for lunch. Leftover sauerkraut, potatoes and pork for dinner.
Monday: (12/23) A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. I took the van out and visited Redwood City. A stop at Grocery Outlet added some food items to the van including some artichoke bruschetta, which I used for lunch on toast with cheese. I also explored a Best Buy, a Home Goods and Redwood Trading Post. I relaxed in the van otherwise and returned home before dark. Leftover pork with sauerkraut and potato for dinner.
Tuesday: (12/24) Some good rain last night and some showers today. A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. Lou and I made a run to Walmart for a few things. Our dog sitting ended and the neighbors picked up their dog. Artichoke bruschetta and cheese toast for lunch. Lou made fish with tater tots and corn on the cob for dinner. In the evening we took a drive through some of the decorated neighborhoods.
Wednesday: (12/25) Nice dry morning. A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. I prepared fried sauerkraut potatoes with ham and eggs for brunch. I took a walk in the afternoon out to Bol park to see the donkeys. Then back to the San Antonio Shopping Center and then home, about a 5.8 mile loop. About the only business open was Safeway Market and a Starbucks. Leftover pork with sauerkraut and potato for dinner. After dinner about 1715, we headed down to the Willow Glen area in San Jose to look at all the Christmas decorations in the neighborhood. One of the best areas for such viewing. Then on the way home we stopped in South San Jose and picked up a chicken brooder for Dawn.
Thursday: (12/26) Lou prepared boysenberry waffles with bacon for breakfast. Lou gave me the OK to hit the road for a few days. I had to do a couple of projects first. I repaired the latch on one of Dawn’s compost bins. A little grinding, installation of a new bolt and lots of WD40 did the job. I also had to move Ernie’s new bike inside the tent. Now it has a tarp clover and a tent until the weather clears long enough for him to make room in his shed. I also checked the inventory in the van, adding some things and removing others. Next fill the water tank and empty the gray tank. And finally a shower and beard and haircut for me. Lou fed me a late lunch of artichoke chicken over rice. I stopped for gas in Cupertino and at Walmart Neighborhood Market in Santa Clara before getting on freeway 85 to Highway 101. Traffic was pretty good until a mile North of Cochrane Road in Morgan Hill so I turned onto Monterey Highway down to Gilroy. I stopped at a Grocery Outlet there then on to Hilister where I picked up a burrito at Super Taqueria for dinner. Then on to my campsite for the night, beside the road just outside Pinnacles NP. Ita was raining pretty good from Gilroy.
Friday: (12/27) Up at 0500. Had a frozen sausage and griddle cake sandwich. Drove in to the park at 0600. I relaxed at the Pinnacle s View Point parking lot until about 0930. Then I took a walk out the South Wilderness Trail to the Pig trap then up the hill toward Mt Defiance. Then I hiked down the ridge to find where an easier ways is for the trail. It meets at the confluence of the side creek. Then I hiked cross country back to the van. After more burrito for lunch, I drove South on Highway 25 then onto Highway 198 to the Parkfield Grade Road. I got a call from Lou when I got the to top of the grade. Evidently our sump pump decided to have a fault and is tripping the GFCI. I headed back toward home. I stopped in Greenfield to pick up some flan at the Ranch San Miguel Market and to stretch my legs. Then on to Salinas where I stopped at a Harbor Freight to buy a new sump pump. I couldn't count on our local store to have what I needed. Another stop in Morgan Hill for some gas, then home about 1900. I had some leftover artichoke chicken over s baked potato for dinner.
Saturday: (12/28) I had a frozen sausage sandwich for breakfast. Then I got to work on the pump replacement. I pulled out the old pump. Separated the parts I needed to reuse then went to the ACE Hardware to get the fittings to match the new pump to the old output line. After the new pump was installed I cleaned out the sump to get rid of the roots and debris. All good again. Then it was shower time. I also washed my clothes and the laundry in the van. About 1130 I was back on the road heading South again. I filled the gas at my cheap gas station in Cupertino. Then I ordered a pizza from House of Pizza in San Jose and picked it up on the way out. There were three traffic backups on Highway 101. I bypassed a lot of it by taking Monterey Highway then was back into the backup leaving Gilroy on Highway 101. Then another backup in Prunedale. Next stop in Soledad at the Grocery outlet for a leg stretch. Lou and Dawn went to Harry’s for prime rid after I left. I stopped for the night as it got dark at San Lucas, Highway 198.
Campsite at the junction of Highway 198 and Highway 101, 36.121396, -121.024916
Sunday: (12/29) I left my overnight spot about 0630 heading East on Highway 198. I turned onto the Parkfield Grade Road and on to Parkfield. Leftover carnitas burrito for breakfast in Parkfied by the Parkfield Cafe. Quaint spot with ornate grounds around the cafe and Lodge. The highlight is the steel fence surrounding both with warning signs to keep the gate closed to protect against the wild pigs. You can see their rutting all along the outside of the fence. They have a Bluegrass Festival each year on Mothers Day Weekend. We’ll have to return for that sometime. I continued South to Chalame then took Highway 46 into Lost Hills where I stopped at a nice Mexican market for some cookies. Then I checked where the cheapest gas was and it was at Walmart in Shafter, just ahead. It was $.20 cheaper than the cheapest anywhere else in lost hills, Shafter or Bakersfield. I took a walk in Walmart and bought a replacement bowl for the van. Then on to Highway 99 into Bakersfield. I stopped at the Rice Bowl for lunch at 1230. Nice BBQ ribs, shrimp, fried rice and chow mein. I headed out of town on Highway 178 through the Kern Canyon. My trip almost ended near the mouth of the canyon at the most narrow part of the road passing a power plant. A fifth wheel trailer pulled by a big truck was passing around the corner just before the narrow spot as I was entering. I had to stand on my brakes to stop in the road so his trailer could proceed back into his lane more. It was 1.5 feet into my 10 foot wide lane and my van is 8.5 feet wide. The car behind me was tailgating me and sounded his horn. I’d like to think he was honking at the truck but like he was honking at me. Better to be rear ended than to have a questionable blame side swipe. I continued East past South Fork onto Kelso Creek Road and into Jawbone Canyon. I passed a couple of wrecked side by side ATV’s. A guy there was worried if the people returning to ket his damaged ATV and pick up himself and his girlfriend might be too late since it was getting cold. I got some info from him and headed to his camp to let them know he was concerned. I passed his ride about 5 miles further up the road. With the need for my message delivery relieved, I stopped at the top of the mountain for the night about 1600. A bit windy here on top but the view should be nice tomorrow morning. leftover Chinese food for dinner, and still more leftovers. Wow! 68 mph winds now and for the next few hours dropping to the 50’s. There IS a reason why there are so many wind turbines on the tops of these mountains. What was I thinking?
Dispersed campsite along Jawbone Canyon Road. 35.344386, -118.111726
Monday: (12/30) Up before the sun. The wind had died down but it was still cold. I prepared some cheese blintzes for breakfast. I watched a nice sunrise before I hit the road again. I wanted some light to be able to avoid a few bumps and sand pits. I headed North on Highway 14 from Jawbone Canyon Road to California’s Red Rocks State Park. I paid my parking fee and headed off on a hike. It was only 3.5 miles because I had to turn around. I’m too old to be trying to walk the knife’s edge of the trail along the crest of the bluff. I did it 15 years ago but now my balance is nowhere near good enough. After coming down on the back side I did a loop hike around in Hanson’s canyon. I had leftover Chinese food for lunch. I called the Dentist and confirmed my appointment for next week. After a good rest, I took another hike in the other direction. I got a good look at where the knife's edge ended up and there was no way to get past where it met a cliff at the far end. I swear I hiked across it a few years ago successfully but can’t see how that would be possible, even if i had good balance. Maybe erosion has modified the path. After the second hike I left the campground and went to the Red Cliff parking area. After another rest, I took a hike out a nature trail there. All together I hiked about 8 miles today. Leftover pizza for dinner. I park beside the road just outside the park for the night.
Campsite beside Highway 14 South of Red Rocks State Park: 35.318219, -117.980255.
Thursday: (12/12) A lot of rain last night. Leftover enchiladas for breakfast and lunch. Hot and sour soup for dinner. Relaxed all day. My cough and congestion is about the same.
Friday: (12/13)A few showers today. Hot and sour soup for breakfast. I relaxed all day. My cough is a little better today. Leftover enchiladas for lunch. Artichoke chicken breast and rice for dinner.
Saturday: (12/14) Hot and sour soup for breakfast. Chinese food for lunch from Lucky Bistro. This is their grand reopening with a new menu and it was half off. Frankly, it was better before. Leftover clam chowder for dinner. I relaxed all day.
Sunday: (12/15) Leftover Chinese food for breakfast. I prepared scrambled eggs with ham and cheese for brunch. Dawn now has what I have, a congested throat. I’m coming out of it now. Lou took brunch over to Dawn at her apartment. I relaxed at home most of the day. It was too wet to work outside. I took a drive in the Van in the afternoon. I got gas in Sunnyvale. Stopped at the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Santa Clara. Picked up a cheap lunch at Panda Express, a $5 two item plate. I then went to the REI parking lot and had lunch at about 1500. I relaxed there for a while then looked around the store. I did find a nice chair I may get later. Then I returned home. Lou complained yesterday evening that the TV in the living room wouldn’t get any channels. I suggested she unplug and replug it to see if it came back. Evidently it didn’t. She came out to the motorhome, my man cave and mentioned it wasn’t working still. I went to check it, which I didn’t do last night. I found there was no power to the TV. It wasn’t connected fully to the wall. Evidently this is because of her unplugging and replugging it because the TV did have power for her. When it was powered up there were no broadcast channels. So, I checked another TV and it didn’t work either. I went outside to the utility cabinet and found the door open, not good. Lou had plugged an extension cord into the pug strip in the cabinet for the lighted pig in the front yard. It wasn’t on either. So I reset the GFCI outlet and power returned for the TV antenna amplifier, the storm pump and the pig. We were lucky that the water didn’t back up into the rear yard. I found a board to brace the cabinet door closed. All should be OK now.
Monday: (12/16) Leftover Chinese for breakfast. I called my dentist to cancel today's cleaning appointment. I’m sure he doesn’t need to catch a nice virus. Hamburger for lunch. In the afternoon Lou and I took a drive up in the hills around Portola Valley. On the way home we picked up dinner at Tocos El Grullense. Dawn is still sick so we delivered her dinner. Lou shared her usual super nachos with Dawn. I had a veggie burrito. A few showers today.
Tuesday: (12/17) Leftover veggie burrito for breakfast. I got a call from Clark Pest Control for our quarterly termite inspection. I arranged to meet the inspector after I can drive down to San Jose. I was there just before 1000. About 1130, I called the inspector back and he returned after his lunch at noon. It only takes a moment to check the sacrificial stakes for any infection. On the way home I stopped at La Victoria Taqueria for lunch, a nice carnitas burrito with their wonderful orange sauce. Then I stopped at Walmart Neighborhood Market for some cough syrup for Dawn and at Dollar Tree for a few things. Scrambled eggs with cheese and a bowl of hot and sour soup for dinner.
Wednesday: (12/18) Leftover veggie burrito for breakfast. Relaxed inside much of the morning. Later, I went to my shop and pulled out the gas welder and repaired the base to our christmas tree that had one and a half legs break off. Salads for lunch. After lunch it was nap time which lasted until 1700 and it was dark already. I had left my table saw out to cut some boards for the van. It was now dark and there are no outside lights to light the saw. I got my 170 degree headlamp out and it worked extremely well while I cut the boards. Then I had to put everything back into the shop due to likely rain.Baked potato with chicken for dinner.
Thursday: (12/19) Hot and sour soup for breakfast. Lou and I headed off to the Milpitas Walmart SuperStore to get a few things. Lou found some sheets she had been looking for at Ross’s. I restocked my van freezer with some more breakfast sandwiches and we got some $3 eggs. Cheapest elsewhere is over $5. I got another pair of cargo pants and we got Dawn a hand vacuum cleaner at Walmart. A frozen chicken sandwich for lunch. On the way home we stopped at Sprouts Market for more things and World Market looking for mincemeat. Baked potato chili size for dinner.
Friday: (12/20) Hot and sour soup for breakfast. I cleaned up some remaining leaves from the gutter in front of our house then got carried away and cleaned most of the leaves from the neighbors gutter and front yard as well. It was the only yard with large quantities of leaves and I didn’t want them to blow into our yard when they dry out. I tinkered on the computer al day. Later, about 1630, Dawn needed to visit the Stanford Hospital emergency room because she had a fever and was having trouble breathing. Lou stayed with her and I dropped them off and returned to pick them up. Lou doesn’t like to drive at night. I had wieners and hash browned potatoes for dinner. I paid all our online bills.
Saturday: (12/21) A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. Lou made chili rellenos for lunch. I made pork with sauerkraut and potato for dinner. I relaxed all day.
Sunday: (12/22) Lou made fried sauerkraut potatoes with ham and eggs for breakfast. I tinkered on the computer much of the day. Our neighbor across the street delivered their dog to stay for a few days. Leftover artichoke chicken with green beans for lunch. Leftover sauerkraut, potatoes and pork for dinner.
Monday: (12/23) A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. I took the van out and visited Redwood City. A stop at Grocery Outlet added some food items to the van including some artichoke bruschetta, which I used for lunch on toast with cheese. I also explored a Best Buy, a Home Goods and Redwood Trading Post. I relaxed in the van otherwise and returned home before dark. Leftover pork with sauerkraut and potato for dinner.
Tuesday: (12/24) Some good rain last night and some showers today. A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. Lou and I made a run to Walmart for a few things. Our dog sitting ended and the neighbors picked up their dog. Artichoke bruschetta and cheese toast for lunch. Lou made fish with tater tots and corn on the cob for dinner. In the evening we took a drive through some of the decorated neighborhoods.
Wednesday: (12/25) Nice dry morning. A frozen sausage and egg sandwich for breakfast. I prepared fried sauerkraut potatoes with ham and eggs for brunch. I took a walk in the afternoon out to Bol park to see the donkeys. Then back to the San Antonio Shopping Center and then home, about a 5.8 mile loop. About the only business open was Safeway Market and a Starbucks. Leftover pork with sauerkraut and potato for dinner. After dinner about 1715, we headed down to the Willow Glen area in San Jose to look at all the Christmas decorations in the neighborhood. One of the best areas for such viewing. Then on the way home we stopped in South San Jose and picked up a chicken brooder for Dawn.
Thursday: (12/26) Lou prepared boysenberry waffles with bacon for breakfast. Lou gave me the OK to hit the road for a few days. I had to do a couple of projects first. I repaired the latch on one of Dawn’s compost bins. A little grinding, installation of a new bolt and lots of WD40 did the job. I also had to move Ernie’s new bike inside the tent. Now it has a tarp clover and a tent until the weather clears long enough for him to make room in his shed. I also checked the inventory in the van, adding some things and removing others. Next fill the water tank and empty the gray tank. And finally a shower and beard and haircut for me. Lou fed me a late lunch of artichoke chicken over rice. I stopped for gas in Cupertino and at Walmart Neighborhood Market in Santa Clara before getting on freeway 85 to Highway 101. Traffic was pretty good until a mile North of Cochrane Road in Morgan Hill so I turned onto Monterey Highway down to Gilroy. I stopped at a Grocery Outlet there then on to Hilister where I picked up a burrito at Super Taqueria for dinner. Then on to my campsite for the night, beside the road just outside Pinnacles NP. Ita was raining pretty good from Gilroy.
Friday: (12/27) Up at 0500. Had a frozen sausage and griddle cake sandwich. Drove in to the park at 0600. I relaxed at the Pinnacle s View Point parking lot until about 0930. Then I took a walk out the South Wilderness Trail to the Pig trap then up the hill toward Mt Defiance. Then I hiked down the ridge to find where an easier ways is for the trail. It meets at the confluence of the side creek. Then I hiked cross country back to the van. After more burrito for lunch, I drove South on Highway 25 then onto Highway 198 to the Parkfield Grade Road. I got a call from Lou when I got the to top of the grade. Evidently our sump pump decided to have a fault and is tripping the GFCI. I headed back toward home. I stopped in Greenfield to pick up some flan at the Ranch San Miguel Market and to stretch my legs. Then on to Salinas where I stopped at a Harbor Freight to buy a new sump pump. I couldn't count on our local store to have what I needed. Another stop in Morgan Hill for some gas, then home about 1900. I had some leftover artichoke chicken over s baked potato for dinner.
Saturday: (12/28) I had a frozen sausage sandwich for breakfast. Then I got to work on the pump replacement. I pulled out the old pump. Separated the parts I needed to reuse then went to the ACE Hardware to get the fittings to match the new pump to the old output line. After the new pump was installed I cleaned out the sump to get rid of the roots and debris. All good again. Then it was shower time. I also washed my clothes and the laundry in the van. About 1130 I was back on the road heading South again. I filled the gas at my cheap gas station in Cupertino. Then I ordered a pizza from House of Pizza in San Jose and picked it up on the way out. There were three traffic backups on Highway 101. I bypassed a lot of it by taking Monterey Highway then was back into the backup leaving Gilroy on Highway 101. Then another backup in Prunedale. Next stop in Soledad at the Grocery outlet for a leg stretch. Lou and Dawn went to Harry’s for prime rid after I left. I stopped for the night as it got dark at San Lucas, Highway 198.
Campsite at the junction of Highway 198 and Highway 101, 36.121396, -121.024916
Sunday: (12/29) I left my overnight spot about 0630 heading East on Highway 198. I turned onto the Parkfield Grade Road and on to Parkfield. Leftover carnitas burrito for breakfast in Parkfied by the Parkfield Cafe. Quaint spot with ornate grounds around the cafe and Lodge. The highlight is the steel fence surrounding both with warning signs to keep the gate closed to protect against the wild pigs. You can see their rutting all along the outside of the fence. They have a Bluegrass Festival each year on Mothers Day Weekend. We’ll have to return for that sometime. I continued South to Chalame then took Highway 46 into Lost Hills where I stopped at a nice Mexican market for some cookies. Then I checked where the cheapest gas was and it was at Walmart in Shafter, just ahead. It was $.20 cheaper than the cheapest anywhere else in lost hills, Shafter or Bakersfield. I took a walk in Walmart and bought a replacement bowl for the van. Then on to Highway 99 into Bakersfield. I stopped at the Rice Bowl for lunch at 1230. Nice BBQ ribs, shrimp, fried rice and chow mein. I headed out of town on Highway 178 through the Kern Canyon. My trip almost ended near the mouth of the canyon at the most narrow part of the road passing a power plant. A fifth wheel trailer pulled by a big truck was passing around the corner just before the narrow spot as I was entering. I had to stand on my brakes to stop in the road so his trailer could proceed back into his lane more. It was 1.5 feet into my 10 foot wide lane and my van is 8.5 feet wide. The car behind me was tailgating me and sounded his horn. I’d like to think he was honking at the truck but like he was honking at me. Better to be rear ended than to have a questionable blame side swipe. I continued East past South Fork onto Kelso Creek Road and into Jawbone Canyon. I passed a couple of wrecked side by side ATV’s. A guy there was worried if the people returning to ket his damaged ATV and pick up himself and his girlfriend might be too late since it was getting cold. I got some info from him and headed to his camp to let them know he was concerned. I passed his ride about 5 miles further up the road. With the need for my message delivery relieved, I stopped at the top of the mountain for the night about 1600. A bit windy here on top but the view should be nice tomorrow morning. leftover Chinese food for dinner, and still more leftovers. Wow! 68 mph winds now and for the next few hours dropping to the 50’s. There IS a reason why there are so many wind turbines on the tops of these mountains. What was I thinking?
Dispersed campsite along Jawbone Canyon Road. 35.344386, -118.111726
Monday: (12/30) Up before the sun. The wind had died down but it was still cold. I prepared some cheese blintzes for breakfast. I watched a nice sunrise before I hit the road again. I wanted some light to be able to avoid a few bumps and sand pits. I headed North on Highway 14 from Jawbone Canyon Road to California’s Red Rocks State Park. I paid my parking fee and headed off on a hike. It was only 3.5 miles because I had to turn around. I’m too old to be trying to walk the knife’s edge of the trail along the crest of the bluff. I did it 15 years ago but now my balance is nowhere near good enough. After coming down on the back side I did a loop hike around in Hanson’s canyon. I had leftover Chinese food for lunch. I called the Dentist and confirmed my appointment for next week. After a good rest, I took another hike in the other direction. I got a good look at where the knife's edge ended up and there was no way to get past where it met a cliff at the far end. I swear I hiked across it a few years ago successfully but can’t see how that would be possible, even if i had good balance. Maybe erosion has modified the path. After the second hike I left the campground and went to the Red Cliff parking area. After another rest, I took a hike out a nature trail there. All together I hiked about 8 miles today. Leftover pizza for dinner. I park beside the road just outside the park for the night.
Campsite beside Highway 14 South of Red Rocks State Park: 35.318219, -117.980255.
Tuesday: (12/31) A frozen sausage and cheese sandwich for breakfast. I decided to head South today. I drove down to Mojave and looked around at the Space Port. Then I continued on down to Agua Dulce and visited the Vasquez Rocks County Park. I took about a 6 mile hike including part of the PCT. I then went about 10 more miles West on High 14 stopping at Lang Station to get some photos of old Lang signs. When I got to I5 the traffic was really heavy so I decided to head North On I5 rather than continue West to the coast. I stopped in Gorman for gas. I was very close to totally empty. I got $10 worth of $5.69/gallon gas. I had checked and there was cheap gas in Frazer Park about 10 miles further but I was too far empty to not get some gas. In Frazer park I added 22.5 gallons more. My tank is only 24 gallons. However, for some reason my gas gauge only said it was half full. I figured the gauge was the problem because I got the quantity of gas I expected. After about 20 miles the gauge was finally reading correctly again. I stopped for the night alongside Hudson Ranch Road West of Frazier Park.
