blogging, basking (?), baking in Bakersfield

We've been having problems with our transmission for a couple years. And we've supposedly had it repaired...So as we approached Needles, CA, we were surprised to have our transmission "code" and the speed drop down to 30 mph. Norman went under the bed and under the RV and jiggled wires...took apart modules and put them back together...added some dialectic grease to some connections. All to no avail! We limped into Bakersfield at 30 to 50 mph and into an Allison repair center.

They've been working on the transmission and wiring for 2 days now...still getting "error" messages.

We've both read a book...watched an old movie...baked brownies...gone out for a great steak dinner...shopped at Wally World...played on the computer...and are running out of things we would like to do. Because we'd both like to be 'on the road'.

Norman has been keeping track of everything that has been done to the coach. Most he understands, but some is new and interesting.

At night it's really quiet despite Highway 99 and the Golden State Highway right beside the facility. We are surrounded by a barbed wire topped cyclone fence that is locked at night (we have a key) and locked garages in front and back. On one side is one of several oil refineries (?). This is a picture of it just as dawn was breaking.

We are hoping now to be leaving in the morning.

300th Cache Found

We out into the bombing range for probably our last quad ride and geocaching find before heading home. We walked about 2+ miles through the desert doing the Jackass Golf Course. Here is Kathy holding up the top of one of the caches.One of us carries the Good Sam red tote bag, and we haul some of the trash out of the desert. That's Bill, Kathy's husband, with the beard.

And we found our 300th cache. This is the top of the 19th hole of the golf course. Sure had fun...but it was really hot!

Took the quads straight to the mini-mart for soft ice cream cones!

Couple days with Diane

Di and I met at Tucson Electric Park and watched the Mariners lose *B-( to the Diamondbacks yesterday. It was a fun game, and, NO, Cole, Ichiro and all the other big names didn't play. Drat the luck! Both teams played their rookie and wannabe rookie players...But the hot dogs, beer, game and crowd made for a great time... The crowd got into the Mariner rookie pitcher's apparent headshot to the Diamondback catcher. But really the guy didn't even have to dodge or duck, and the catcher caught it easily. The umpire jumped in front of the catcher and threw the pitcher out of the game. Both teams crowded near the mound...they seemed to come out of the woodwork...but no fight took place. The crowd hooted, hollered and laughed!!! Whadda joke...later a Diamondback pitcher did the same thing and the umpire just looked the other way...

We checked into a motel that was really a dive...yukko...It was a Days Inn even, but we checked out the room for clean beds and said "oh well"...Then hurried down the freeway and caught "Alice in Wonderland" in 3D...drooled over Johnny Depp as we gorged on popcorn...Later we skipped the tacos made with calf cheeks or pigskin and opted for shredded beef and chicken...lol

This morning we took in the desert museum...How do you like our version of "Batwoman"??

We saw lots of beautiful desert plants and cactus...hmmm, guess they're desert plants also...lol...Read about the beginnings of the Earth and ancient Arizona...saw fossils

a bird in its saquaro nest...

a couple of bobcats...

turtles in a pond...

and many other desert critters...

HAD A GREAT TIME!