Big Truck Across America - day 7

Picking up where we left off, we peeled out of Lone Pine, CA at roughly 8am local time. Again, the morning ritual included a Randy Quaid (my euphemism for emptying the gray/black tanks), but this time we added an LP gas fillup as a kicker. Running our refrigerator for 7 consecutive days nonstop had resulted in less than $20 of propane. That could be outrageous, but when stacked against our growing pile of gas receipts it seems like a paltry sum.

RV parks are an interesting microcosm of society. There are the road warriors (we fit mostly there) who are just using the sewer, power, and real estate for a 'via point'.  Then you have the lifers who appear to have spent multiple years amassing trinkets, tiny picket fences, engraved wooden plaques with clever sayings, Christmas lights, 'Keep off the Grass' signs on their astroturf lawn, and my favorite, the neon plastic wheel chocks/leveling blocks/sewer hose cradles/septic hose fittings, etc.

It just shows how prevalent the modification/aftermarket gene is in the American male. "Honey, if I spring for the neon orange high performance sewer hose cradles, this thing can handle over 35 dooks per minute!" For now, I've been able to avoid this, but I am genetically predispositioned to start having Performance RV Weekly start showing up in our mailbox.

CA 395 is a pretty boring road compared to our recent scenery, but my interest piqued just after Kimberly talked to her brother in law David on the phone & told him where we were. He mentioned that this was the area where they rode dirt bikes, and for the next 50-100 miles it was a flashback to my redneck youth. Dirt bikes, pre-runners, desert repli-racers, all were just cruising across the desert like a Motorstorm intro. Here's where they get to ride - so jealous.

I spent the next few hours imagining/wishing the Ford E350 would suddenly morph into this:



When we got close to David & Sherri's, we saw another plume of smoke in the air, and assumed it was either another elderly RV couple or Matthew McConaughey's house. Turns out it was a wildfire, which it turns out is not altogether uncommon in these parts.

After finally arriving at their place, it was a very welcome sight. Their house, completed in '09, is absolutely beautiful.  A Spanish-style villa nestled in the foothills above Yucaipa and Redlands, it feels almost like a resort with the high ceilings, 8' doors, and open, expansive floorplan.  Not to get all archi-nerdy on you, but the use of the large entryway and the covered/open patio spaces allows the living area to spill outside and you barely notice the transition.  Here's the Big Truck upon arrival.

Days 1-6 have been pretty hectic and somewhat scheduled, so this was a welcome reprieve - some lazy time to catch up with the family, tour the house/property, tell a few stories, go for a swim - just what the doctor ordered. What the doctor did not order was 101 degree heat. I don't care how many times I'm told that it is a dry heat, to a ginger anything above 65 is some level of orange or tangerine on the terrorist preparedness scale.

In the early evening things cooled off a bit to a balmy 87 degrees, and after Jordan's not nearly long enough nap (more on that later - she was a combination of Chucky and all the kids from Daddy Daycare), we walked down to feed the neighbor's horses.  There's comedy, there's high comedy, and then there is seeing a 3 year old's reaction to a horse naying (? nighing? half sneezing?) for the first time. Here's Jordan with cousin Kelsey trying to mask the sheer terror.

Later on we returned to the house for some pizza and cards - Kim claims her embarrassing showing at Peanuts was due to the time change, or the altitude.  Definitely not her fault.  I retired to the Big Truck with Jordan, who had just solidified the worst 'kid in an away from home situation' behavior possible. For pretty much the entire day, she was what my wife and old people refer to as a 'pill'. At least she was cooperative enough for a quick family shot on the front porch.

All told it was a great visit, and David, Sherri, & family (and Matt - the boyfriend, you seem like a good dude, treat her right) we can't thank you enough for your hospitality, generosity, and patience. Kids - sorry we couldn't get you out of going to school Monday morning, we were close...

Day 8 brings together Legoland (I have to be more excited about this than anyone) and a potential campsite on the ocean.  Stay tuned.