SNOW???

 SNOW, THERE'S SNOW!!

Just kidding!!!  It was dark when I took off, traipsing around the neighborhood trying to get to the freeway without DRIVING on the freeway.  It's a disaster in Merced and WAY too narrow for a big trailer.  Thirty minutes later I was finally headed south under seriously cloudy skies.

There was snow, but on top of the Sierras where I was NOT going.  Traffic wasn't too bad and I just cruised along.  It's not the driving that bothers me ... it's all the other stuff.  Did I lock the door, did I close the garage, did I turn the gas on for the fridge.  

That one I know I did because this time I disconnected the 50 amp cord while it was still semi pliable.  Thank goodness I heard the beep beep.  It took me ten minutes to figure out what the heck it was.  Whenever I disconnect the gas for a refill, I have to light the stove and let the gas come through the lines.  Once that was done, the fridge finally lit too.   Whew!!!

Then of course it's always a rat race trying to get the kids in the truck.  Getting them OUT is even worse.  

About halfway to Bakersfield, traffic came to a screeching halt.  It took an hour to get through the mess where four lanes went down to one.

We sailed right along after that, right up and over Tehachapi where there was no snow to be seen.  There was a bad driver from Maine going 40 mph in the fast lane, who finally passed me before slowing down to 35.  

In no time I was over the hill and headed to Barstow.  New friends had advised me to take Hwy 15 South instead of 395, my usual.  For some reason I seemed to be a little short of fuel, so I decided to go that way, stopping for diesel.  Except my credit card wouldn't work.  Fifteen minutes later I get a text message ... oh, were you trying to use your fuel card?  Well yes, I WAS ... but now I'm mad because you wouldn't let it go through.  Thank you they said ... you can use it now.  Grrrrr ... go figure.

Let me just say that Hwy 15 South out of Barstow is like driving in L.A.  NEVER AGAIN will I go that way.  Good grief, it was steeper than Tehachapi!!  At long last (after 6.5 hours) I pulled in to the Hesperia Elks Lodge.  It's so weird ... they only do things during the week.  There never seems to be anyone around on the weekends.

The second I took Cooper out, these guys came screaming over barking up a storm.  Mean barking.  I'll be sure not to go that way again!  

It's rather tight in here as I didn't put the slide out.  I'm not level, I just took a little weight off the hitch.  Bill Richards will be proud I remembered that!!  However, I did spend twenty minutes outside trying to figure out why my power went off.  Apparently I cannot have the fridge, the electric water heater and Jon's heating pad on all at the same time.  I only have a 30 amp hookup.  

The great idea of a heating pad for Jonathan's new cage fell flat.  It's not near warm enough.  That meant either keeping the jet engine running, or using my space heater ... the not QUITE as loud jet engine.  I was up all night long.  No sleep is a bummer.

I wish I had something that would tell me how many amps I'm using ... it would certainly be a BIG help!!  Because now although the lights work in the bedroom, the plugs do not, nor does the TV work.  I checked the circuit breakers and they appear to be fine, so it's probably a fuse.  Which one I've no clue.  Hopefully I can find an electrician at the rally to figure it out.  I'm praying I didn't fry something.

So much stuff to figure out.  It was so easy with the Class A ... I never had to worry about electricity or heat.  

And so I'm waiting for morning light.  It's only a two hour drive, so I won't be leaving any too soon.