Day 21: California, here we come!

The 170 mile trip today got us into our final and 10^th state, California.  I could almost smell the sea at Pismo Beach!  We have been on the road for three weeks now, and the scenery of the last several days has not changed much. 

Once again, as we left Williams, the day was sunny and bright, perfect for traveling, with the sun at our backs.

Forest-covered hills continued for several miles beyond Williams and through the Kaibab National Forest.  

As we approached the downgrade taking us to the Coconino Plateau, Ginny warned, loud and clear: Steep downgrade ahead.  It was a 6% downgrade, which we descended for five miles, bringing us down to the plains.  

We passed a volcanic peak around mile post 135, Granite Mountain.  There was more evidence of burned rock from a previous eruption.

Route 66 ran parallel to the highway through to Seligman. We saw a cattle ranch here, something alive and moving for the first time in a long while.
I pulled out my knitting and we continued listening to our book.  Ten miles further, we began to twist and climb.  The road now took us through hilly terrain, through the Cottonwood Cliffs. It felt like we were driving among the peaks. 

We were at 5,000 feet, peaks surrounding us, a few upthrusts indicative of the turbulence that occurred here as the earth continued to form and shape itself.

  

Eighty miles from our destination at Needles, we dropped a thousand feet in elevation.  The scenery was breathtaking and I noticed that this early, the moon was still visible overhead.

area of strange rock formations

We went through some road construction, yet again.  Ginny makes a point of alerting us well in advance: Construction ahead in three miles.  

It made me think about the workers whose job it is to repair roads in this vast wilderness.  And it made me think about the men who initially laid this road out mile by mile, so that we could travel across this vast country. 

We saw more mesas, and in the far valley lay Kingman. We had now been on the road for close to three hours and stopped at the Flying J in Kingman to fill up. Every trucker on the road seemed to have the same idea and we had to wait our turn at the pump. We also noticed a truck wash next door and took Alpine in for a well-needed wash. It turned out to be a great idea because we would be going through the California border inspection station soon. 

The truck wash was a new experience. We sat in the coach as five or six men power washed every nook and cranny of the outside, the undercarriage, and the roof. Alpine had the full works and never gleamed so brightly.  It was certainly a well-deserved spa treatment, considering the terrain she has taken us across.

We left Kingman, sparkling and clean, and almost immediately started on a 1% down grade for a mile.  The scenery was incredible. 

 

wind turbines appeared on one of the hills

more spiky ridges began appearing

We had a good laugh as we crossed Holy Moses Wash.  The torrent of water rushing by must have surprised someone a lot.

At around 2,600 feet, we began to see cacti, ocotillo and palms. It looked like a true desert scene.

Soon after entering California, and the Pacific Time Zone (which meant we gained yet another hour), we approached an inspection station.  California is very strict about inspecting all vehicles for pests and also has a list of fruits and vegetables that are not allowed to be brought in to the state.  Our Virginia license plate was a red flag to them.  We were thoroughly inspected, the inspector lying on a dolly to look at the under carriage and in the wheel wells.  She was so impressed with how clean everything looked that we were given a certificate valid for a year. Too bad it is valid for the Virginia license plate because as soon as we reach Washington we need to register Alpine there.
Then the inspector came on board to check what fresh fruit and vegetables we had with us.  Having been through California inspection stations previously, I was aware of the no-no list and we passed. 

Within about 15 minutes we were through and on our way again.

The road wound down to the Colorado River in Needles, where we stopped for the night at The Palms Resort.  
Later after setting up (and a cup of tea), we headed to gaze at the Colorado River.  We caught the sun setting just in time and it was a spectacular sight.

We also chatted with a couple who come to stay in this resort for several months.  They lived in Pennsylvania until they retired, bought themselves a 5^th wheel, sold their house and everything in it, and have now been vagabonding about for the past 18 months.  We listened to them with great interest.  They have no regrets and love the freedom to be able to travel and stay as long as they wish wherever their fancy takes them.  They also had a great story to tell about their house sale.  It just so happened that a family won a million dollars in the lottery, and this gentleman had wanted to move back to the area where he grew up.  So when this couple put their house and land up for sale, the new millionaire snapped it up, cash in hand, and bought the house with everything in it.  What luck!  I touched the woman’s arm hoping some of that luck would rub off on us when it’s our turn to sell soon.