Yes there's quite the smog layer going on, but look at the two trains passing near Mojave. Okay, maybe that was the most exciting thing to happen on this drive. Next time I'm making this into a four or five day trip. I DO like to get there, but 6-7 hours driving three days in a row is too much for little old me.
Heading south on 395, the first ten miles or so is now divided. That's a good thing unless you're in a car trying to go fast. At least you won't end up dead on the side of the road while passing someone at an unreasonable rate of speed. There is only one small section left that allows passing. I was happy for THIS construction work.
Is it me or are the wind turbine companies exploding with their installations. I don't remember quite so many windmills.
Cruising right along, I was in Indio in no time. Actually it took 4-1/2 hours, but who's counting? Wait ... what's this?? Tail lights again!! From here on, traffic was unreasonable. We never got over 40 mph all the way through town and up the big hill at the East.
I might say I rather enjoyed the fact that my rig passed all those trucks and cars without overheating. Thank goodness for fourth gear. For you truckers that thanked me with a flash of your lights (I flashed mine so they knew when to pull over) you are welcome. For the rest of you, where are your manners? That's been a courtesy all my life. Seems it's going by the wayside.
Click on this picture and you will see just how the traffic was the entire rest of the way to Quartzsite. I've never seen anything like it. Maybe it's the July Fourth hoard heading to Havasu, but they are going both ways! Just enjoy the journey Nancy.
I certainly enjoyed crossing the State line, even though it was 84 degrees in the rig. I even fueled up so I'd have enough diesel to run the generator the entire trip.
At long last, hot and tired, we arrived in Quartzsite. It was only 102, better than the 106 predicted. We literally hunkered down with both AC units blasting away until it was cool enough for the puppies to go outside. I was rewarded with this amazing sunset.
On the trip back, I'm taking four days to travel. That means I'll have to spend a night in Indio. It's a shame there's a quilt shop there, but in the interest of enjoying the journey, I'll take a hit for the team.
And we are off to Tucson ... after I get fuel to make sure I STILL have enough diesel for the AC units.
That is quite the Journey you had yesterday. Amazing how Construction slows things down.
ReplyDeleteJust checked Quartzsite weather and it should be cooler today.
Be Safe and Enjoy the rest of tour trip.
It's about time.
This time of year, Quartzsite is hot no matter how you look at it.
DeleteArny has a retired trucker friend, retired last year. I asked him about the 'blinking of lights' a couple of years ago. He said that many company drivers are NOT ALLOWED to blink their lights, even in appreciation. Apparently SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE sued someone for blinking their lights indicating it was 'ok to merge back'...but it was not ok, there was a wreck...etc. etc. etc. So company lawyers have told these companies to write into their manuals that they are NOT to blink lights in case it is 'miss understood' so that the companies won't have any liability. Now, is this true??? Not sure, but that is what he told me...and he worked for a national well known trucking company.
ReplyDeleteWell that's interesting, and I see their point I suppose.
DeleteThose are long driving days! It's hard to balance the desire to get there vs. killing oneself in the process. We had originally planned to to Torrey to Brigham City in one day, and ended up stopping in Nephi in the middle. Good decision, it's a slow drive out of southern Utah.
ReplyDeleteWe're in Walla Walla for two days. The front a/c came on at 8 am today, it's already warm.
Safe travels to you the pups and the bird.
WAY too long driving days. I really have to break it up next time. Keep those AC's going!
DeleteOne time we stopped at an RV park in Calif City. Then our next stop for the night was Needles. 200 miles or so? The next leg of your trip should be better for awhile. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThere is an Elks RV park in Hesperia. I think I'll stop there next time. Not that it will be cooler, just not as long a drive.
DeleteEnjoy the journey is what it is all about, we normally take about 6 weeks to get to Arizona and about the same coming back home. And sitting in slow traffic is relaxing for me after the hectic travel days can at least look around even more. We are comfortable in our coach whether moving or parked no matter to us.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't too unhappy about the slow traffic. It does give you time to relax and gives Jonathan's feet a rest from hanging on for dear life!! LOL It just makes for a L O N G day.
DeleteNo matter where you go, whether the U.S.A. or Canada, summer means construction time. All you can do is grin and bare it. I bet Quartzsite is sure quiet this time of year compared to the winter months. Safe travels Nancy.
ReplyDeleteI guess you're right about the construction. I never thought of that. Quartzsite has absolutely NO one. The big tent and flea market areas are just big empty fields. It's weird to see.
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