SUNDAY - 136-miles driven - We've started our "slow roll" back to Florida today by leaving the National Parks up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains at 6700' and dropping down to the valley floor at 700' elevation.
That did wonders for our gas mileage today, but I'm not sure how much of my $100 slotted disc brakes pads I have left now that we've reached the bottom.
We took the much less traveled route CA-65 south along the Sierra Nevada foothills, rather than the more traffic congested CA-99 down the center of California's Central Valley.
This route took us through only one major city. Visalia is where we visited the Home Depot to purchase a new smoke alarm for THE POD, also a visit to Staples where we picked up the Amazon packages we ordered.
We then visited two different Walmarts trying to refill all four of our drinking water bottles and ended up just purchasing a single gallon to hold us over for a day. Then it was Costco for the cheapest gas in town before heading over to Tractor Supply to refill 2 of our 3 propane tanks.
We were running low on everything after two weeks up in the mountains, gas, propane, water and food. So it ws nice to be able to get everything we needed within a few square miles. Tomorrow night will be staying at a Walmart where we will refill the fridge and pantry, plus hopefully refill our drinking water bottles.
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK TO SUCCESS LAKE
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We were nearly back on the valley floor before Tricia took her first photo today. I wonder if she was just too worried about my driving to think about anything else?
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Previously, when I thought of California, this isn't what I pictured in my mind.
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This is more like it, rows and rows of orange trees.
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These are not quite ripe enough for harvesting.
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The view from the highway near our campsite in Tule Campground on Success Lake.
MONDAY - 103-miles driven - We left behind our COE campsite with electricity at 9:00AM with our batteries fully charged. That's a good thing because it will be 12-days before we plug in again.
By sheer coincidence, camping tonight at this Walmart is our 200th night of camping in California and also our 300th night of FREE camping over the last 8-1/2 years. On a side note, we've camped at this particular Walmart once before, early last year when we were making our way up to Sacramento, to fly out to Hawaii from San Francisco for a 9-week visit.
SUCCESS LAKE TO WALMART IN TEHACHAPI
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Success Lake is no different than all the other lakes in California, near drought conditions.
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Traveling down today's stretch of CA-65 we saw all kinds of crops being grown. Tricia and I are pretty sure these are olive trees.
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It looks like today's the day the oranges in this field are going to be harvested.
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This entire field had a different kind of crop, these were all solar panels.
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Just a little bit further up the road they were drilling for oil.
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These oil rigs seemed to go on forever.
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Here we begin our climb up to just short of 4000' in Tehachapi.
We traveled south on CA-65 for 50-miles until we reached the large city of Bakersfield (pop.442,000+) where we located a Costco to start purchasing food to refill the nearly empty Fridge/freezer and pantry. While there we grabbed a cheap $4.03 lunch outside on the patio.
What could we possibly get for just over $4.00? Well I got a footlong hotdog and soda for $1.50 and Tricia got a $1.99 slice of cheese pizza and a 25¢ half liter bottle of water. Gotta luv Costco for a decent tasting inexpensive lunch.
Leaving Bakersfield we started heading east on CA-58 towards Tehachapi. When we came through here last year we were in kind of a hurry to make our flight to Hawaii so we skipped visiting a nearby National Monument and vowed not to do it again if we were ever in the area again.
Well, we're back in the area and have plenty of time this time around. Just 10-miles short of reaching our Walmart is the César E. Chávez National Monument.
César Chávez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's first permantent agricultural union. His leadership brought sustained international attention to the plight of U.S. farm workers and secured for them higher wages and safer working conditions.
César E. Chávez National Monument
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You might think the entire Monument is decorated for Halloween, but it's not!
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It's decorated for Dia de los Muertos, a Latin American celebration.
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From outside the entrance of the Monument you can see the central fountain.
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The fountain is the focal point for a very extensive garden setting.
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More decorations and the entrance to the Visitor Center and Museum.
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This room depicts what life was like living here back in the day. Throughout the museum there were photos and news reports from César Chávez's work.
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Tricia was a big fan of the large wrap around porch.
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A view of the fountain and garden from the museum's exit.
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The Memorial Garden
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Both César and then later, his wife Helen, were buried here.
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Lots of history here, too much to try and convey in a simple blogpost.
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY - 100-miles driven - Today's scenery wasn't much different than yesterdays.
The only difference is we ended yesterday's travels by climbing up from the San Joaquin Valley to the top of the Tehachapi Mountains and today we started out by leaving the Tehachapi Mountains and dropping down into the Mojave Desert. It was quite a roller coaster ride!
Fortunately we timed it right and there was a lull in the Santa Ana Winds during our travel day.
We wouldn't be down on the desert floor for long, because we finished today's travels by climbing back up to an elevation of 7300' in the San Gabriel Mountains to our Angeles National Forest campsite at Table Mountain.
WALMART IN TEHACHAPI TO THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST
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Leaving Tehachapi we saw a lot of trains...
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...and then a lot of wind turbines.
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Once we arrived on the desert floor we saw trains and wind turbines.
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A little bit up the road it was all solar panel farms on both sides of the highway.
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Finishing up our drive we saw chair lifts for the winter ski slopes here on Table Mountain.
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From the campground we have a view of the desert floor, way down below us.
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Lots of sun and lots of sky, just what we need when unplugged.
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We've got two nights here before moving on to the next stop.
In case you missed it in the news, Chiricahua National Monument just became America’s newest National Park on Tuesday.
I know what you're thinking! We just celebrated visiting all 51 of the National Parks in the Lower 48 States and now there is this new one in Arizona that we'll have to figure out a way to squeeze in on our way home.
Well the good news is, we don't have to, because we visited there back in January of 2023 when is was still a National Monument.
Quite honestly, it was a wonderful place to visit, but now that it has become a National Park they are in for a battle to get ready for all the visitors that will now want to visit.
In 2025, Chiricahua National Monument only had 60,000 visitors. With National Park status, I predict that number will increase tenfold over the next couple of years. I just hope this doesn't take a wonderful National Monument and turn it into a crowded subpar National Park experience.
THURSDAY - FRIDAY - SATURDAY - 122-miles driven - Near the middle of our drive today we stopped and did some real sightseeing along the route.
In Palm Springs, CA we drove up to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and rode it to the top of Chino Canyon near San Jacinto Peak, where we then ate an expensive and very delicious gourmet prepared lunch at Peaks Restaurant.
ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST TO THE PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY
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We had a short break in the weather and decided to leave our campsite a little early.
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We dropped down from 7200' to the highway at 3000' and the bad weather returned.
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It would remain dark and cloudy for another hour of driving...
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...before blue skies would again start to break through the overcast.
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We stopped for gas at a station on the Indian Reservation and purchased our last California gas at a very reasonable $5.09, reasonable for California that is.
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We then sun broke through the clouds we had a spectacular rainbow leaving the station.
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Somewhere up in those mountains is where we are having lunch.
ROVER was not happy when we tasked him with pulling the TWO PEAS and THE POD up to the tramway station.
The elevation change was only 1875', from 675' in the valley to 2550' at the tramway station. The problem was there was nowhere to pull over along the short 4-mile distance, except a brief rest at the Entance Station at the 3.5-mile mark.
When we parked ROVER the transmission temperature was 25°F higher than I've ever seen it. We left ROVER running for a few minutes until the temperature dropped back down to a more reasonable 220°F, around 205°F is normal for ROVER when towing on flat ground.
Once again, ROVER didn't fail us, but he's definitely getting a transmission check up when we return to Florida.
PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY
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Even before we reached the Valley Station we could see the towers and cables of the tramway.
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In 2000 the Tramway retired their original style tramcars for new and improved round ones.
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These new rounds ones rotate two complete revolutions during the 10-minute ride to the top.
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To think, this tiny creek created this enormous canyon we'll be traveling in today.
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Here comes our unique to North America 18' round rotating tramcar now.
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I'm not sure the capacity of this car, but we have a crowd getting ready to load.
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It didn't take long to get passed Tower #1 and leave the Valley Station behind.
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Approaching Tower #2 now.
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Towers #2 & #3 have helipads on the top for dropping off service technicians.
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The longest gap is between towers is between #3 and #4.
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Looking ahead, is doesn't appear that we're going to have a view from our dining spot.
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That's a long way down. Like I said the Valley Station is at 2550' elevation.
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Here comes the other tramcar heading down, when we pass each other we'll be halfway there.
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The Mountain Station where the restaurant's located is at 8516' elevation.
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Their tramcar didn't seem to have nearly as many occupants as ours does?
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We're more than halfway there now. There goes the other tramcar headed down.
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Time to start taking in the scenery before we get hidden in the clouds.
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Chino Canyon sure does have some pretty interesting rock formations.
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It almost looks like someone threw white paint on the side of the mountain.
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We're getting close to the top, here comes the cloud cover.
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Here's the cloud obstructed view from our dining table.
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The third tier of the dining room has three tables, but we had it all to ourselves. Notice how the building was built right into the side of the mountain.
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Outside the back of the Mountain Station are trails in Mount San Jacinto State Park.
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The 34°F temperature, 90% humidity and 30MPH gusty wind explains why no one is hiking.
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Time to hop onboard the tram and head back down to the Valley Station 6000' below.
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I left the audio on for this one so you could see how loud it was in the crowded tramcar.
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Below the clouds you can see how slow the tramcar rotates as we descend.
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Did you notice the open window? Yes some of Tricia's photos were from outside.
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ROVER's ready to roll, downhill this time. That's an old style tramcar at the exit.
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I gave a little TOOT TOOT goodbye as we passed the Entrance Station.
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It's a lot easier going down this road than it was coming up. Just ask ROVER!
With today's In Route sightseeing all completed, it's time to finish up the last 40-miles of today's trip. ROVER will once again be tested by rising from just 250' elevation to just over 4000' over the course of the final 13-miles on CA-74, a stretch of road called The Pines to Palms Highway.
The biggest difference this time the elevation is stretched over a greater distance and there are pullouts where ROVER can catch his breath before continuing on. I'm happy to report he did just fine!
PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY TO THE SAN BERNADINO NATIONAL FOREST
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Still on the valley floor we passed by a huge wind turbine farm.
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Leaving the town of Palm Desert behind we began our climb up into the San Jacinto Mountains.
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Lots of switchbacks in this road helps keep the grade to a minimum.
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ROVER made it up to the campground without any issues this time.
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We felt our Site #14 had one of the better views in the entire campground.
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From here we'll be visiting the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
FRIDAY - Today we're heading back down into Palm Desert to the Jiffy Lube to get ROVER an overdue oil change. It's the first time we haven't taken him back to a FORD dealership to get the service work done. I hope everything goes OK!
On our way down to town we'll stop at two overlooks and then on the way back we'll visit Trader Joes and the National Monument's Visitor Center.
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
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The morning glow really lit up the mountain behind our campsite at 7:00AM today.
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By 8:15AM we were arriving at the first of two overlooks for today.
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The parking lot was tiny, but we were the only ones there.
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I don't understand the physics of why the clouds hug the mountains, but I like it.
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Tricia just loves to photograph the cholla cactus in the morning sun.
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I started up the trail to the overlook while Tricia was taking photos.
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Time to head back to the truck and continue up the road.
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One more photo before we leave the parking lot.
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The Coachella Valley Vista Point had a much larger parking lot.
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With all the moisture in the air the ocotillo are all leaved out.
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Looking southeast from here you can see the Salton Sea at 227' below sea level.
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The Pines to Palms Highway makes it's way down into the Coachella Valley.
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The ocotillo really comes alive when there is moisture in the air.
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Could that be snow over there on top of the mounatins?
After one week of our Coast-2-Coast Eastbound Repositioning I know it doesn't look like we've made much progress, heck we haven't even made it out of California yet. Our next stop will be in Arizona.
I promise you'll see more eastward progress in the post next week. Until then we'll try to keep our travels interesting!
Looking for our Visited States Map and Data? How about our State by State Bucket Lists or Visited Campgrounds List? If so, click on the sign below to be taken to our other website.
We were nearly back on the valley floor before Tricia took her first photo today.
Previously, when I thought of California, this isn't what I pictured in my mind.
This is more like it, rows and rows of orange trees.
These are not quite ripe enough for harvesting.
The view from the highway near our campsite in Tule Campground on Success Lake.
Success Lake is no different than all the other lakes in California, near drought conditions.
Traveling down today's stretch of CA-65 we saw all kinds of crops being grown.
It looks like today's the day the oranges in this field are going to be harvested.
This entire field had a different kind of crop, these were all solar panels.
Just a little bit further up the road they were drilling for oil.
Here we begin our climb up to just short of 4000' in Tehachapi.
You might think the entire Monument is decorated for Halloween, but it's not!
It's decorated for Dia de los Muertos, a Latin American celebration.
From outside the entrance of the Monument you can see the central fountain.
The fountain is the focal point for a very extensive garden setting.
More decorations and the entrance to the Visitor Center and Museum.
This room depicts what life was like living here back in the day.
Tricia was a big fan of the large wrap around porch.
A view of the fountain and garden from the museum's exit.
The Memorial Garden
Both César and then later, his wife Helen, were buried here.
Lots of history here, too much to try and convey in a simple blogpost.
Leaving Tehachapi we saw a lot of trains...
...and then a lot of wind turbines.
Once we arrived on the desert floor we saw trains and wind turbines.
A little bit up the road it was all solar panel farms on both sides of the highway.
Finishing up our drive we saw chair lifts for the winter ski slopes here on Table Mountain.
From the campground we have a view of the desert floor, way down below us.
Lots of sun and lots of sky, just what we need when unplugged.
We've got two nights here before moving on to the next stop.
We had a short break in the weather and decided to leave our campsite a little early.
We dropped down from 7200' to the highway at 3000' and the bad weather returned.
It would remain dark and cloudy for another hour of driving...
...before blue skies would again start to break through the overcast.
We stopped for gas at a station on the Indian Reservation and purchased our last
We then sun broke through the clouds we had a spectacular rainbow leaving the station.
Somewhere up in those mountains is where we are having lunch.
Even before we reached the Valley Station we could see the towers and cables of the tramway.
In 2000 the Tramway retired their original style tramcars for new and improved round ones.
These new rounds ones rotate two complete revolutions during the 10-minute ride to the top.
To think, this tiny creek created this enormous canyon we'll be traveling in today.
Here comes our unique to North America 18' round rotating tramcar now.
I'm not sure the capacity of this car, but we have a crowd getting ready to load.
It didn't take long to get passed Tower #1 and leave the Valley Station behind.
Approaching Tower #2 now.
Towers #2 & #3 have helipads on the top for dropping off service technicians.
The longest gap is between towers is between #3 and #4.
Looking ahead, is doesn't appear that we're going to have a view from our dining spot.
That's a long way down. Like I said the Valley Station is at 2550' elevation.
Here comes the other tramcar heading down, when we pass each other we'll be halfway there.
The Mountain Station where the restaurant's located is at 8516' elevation.
Their tramcar didn't seem to have nearly as many occupants as ours does?
We're more than halfway there now. There goes the other tramcar headed down.
Time to start taking in the scenery before we get hidden in the clouds.
Chino Canyon sure does have some pretty interesting rock formations.
It almost looks like someone threw white paint on the side of the mountain.
We're getting close to the top, here comes the cloud cover.
Here's the cloud obstructed view from our dining table.
The third tier of the dining room has three tables, but we had it all to ourselves.
Outside the back of the Mountain Station are trails in Mount San Jacinto State Park.
The 34°F temperature, 90% humidity and 30MPH gusty wind explains why no one is hiking.
ROVER's ready to roll, downhill this time. That's an old style tramcar at the exit.
I gave a little TOOT TOOT goodbye as we passed the Entrance Station.
It's a lot easier going down this road than it was coming up. Just ask ROVER!
Still on the valley floor we passed by a huge wind turbine farm.
Leaving the town of Palm Desert behind we began our climb up into the San Jacinto Mountains.
Lots of switchbacks in this road helps keep the grade to a minimum.
ROVER made it up to the campground without any issues this time.
We felt our Site #14 had one of the better views in the entire campground.
From here we'll be visiting the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
The morning glow really lit up the mountain behind our campsite at 7:00AM today.
By 8:15AM we were arriving at the first of two overlooks for today.
The parking lot was tiny, but we were the only ones there.
I don't understand the physics of why the clouds hug the mountains, but I like it.
Tricia just loves to photograph the cholla cactus in the morning sun.
I started up the trail to the overlook while Tricia was taking photos.
Time to head back to the truck and continue up the road.
One more photo before we leave the parking lot.
The Coachella Valley Vista Point had a much larger parking lot.
With all the moisture in the air the ocotillo are all leaved out.
Looking southeast from here you can see the Salton Sea at 227' below sea level.
The Pines to Palms Highway makes it's way down into the Coachella Valley.
The ocotillo really comes alive when there is moisture in the air.
Could that be snow over there on top of the mounatins?
