Bakersfield, CA

California is big. Really, really big. R says it's as big as the UK, and I believe him. We started out in Corning this morning at 8:30, and we arrived here in Bakersfield at about 4:00. We've still got a whole lot of California to traverse tomorrow, but meanwhile we're nicely situated at something called the River Run RV Park. We saw the sign from Hwy. 99, but we had quite a time actually getting to the park. There was no sign at the side of the freeway reading "This Exit" or such - just the big lighted sign on the grounds. So we took the next exit, doubled back, turned in, and found ourselves in a maze of hotels - Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Red Lion Inn. It took about ten minutes to sort out which little road would actually bring us to the park, rather than leading us in circles around the various hotels. Never mind. We'll know next time. We like this place, and it's on our route. $28 gets us full service (except the wi-fi failed a few minutes ago. I told the computer to repair it, and all seems to be well now).

There's even a hot tub on the grounds - and a swimming pool, not that anybody would consider using it. It's cold here. I swear it's colder than Canada.

Anyway, when we were in Corning we had no wi-fi, so I wrote the following for later posting:

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Corning, California

By the time you read this, we're no longer in Corning, but that's where we fetched up on Sunday. I'm sorry to say we drove right by the Olive Pit, looking for a suitable place to spend the night. We ended up at an RV park adjacent to the Rolling Hills Casino. It isn't actually affiliated with the casino, and it doesn't have much in the way of amenities, which is why I've written this entry without benefit of wi-fi. However, we had had enough driving for the day, the price was not bad, and a stroll to the casino sounded like a good idea. It wasn't, really, except that we got a little exercise. It was a chilly stroll, and we donated $17 to California's gambling industry.

When we arrived in Corning at around four in the afternoon, it was about 12 degrees out, and getting quickly foggy – quite a change from the sunshine we had experienced all day. By the time we prepared and ate dinner, cleaned up, and sauntered out, it was definitely fleecy vest weather. I'm very glad that the good weather held long enough for us to get over the mountain passes. They were easy-peasy this time.

The best part of the day was shortly after we came into California. Robin was driving. I managed to stay awake until we got over the border, but then I dozed off. When I woke up, Mt. Shasta was shining in the sunlight to my left. It was fabulous.

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So that was Corning. Apart from our little park, Bakersfield is very ugly, as far as I can tell, so we won't be hanging around tomorrow. We'll head southeast in the morning. In all likelihood we'll end up somewhere near Phoenix tomorrow night, if we're lucky. I hope it's warmer there.