US 395 in Eastern California

US 395 has an extremely diverse landscape with respect to the geological aspects. Starting in the South there are ragged mounds of black charred lava chunks strewn all over the landscape. It really looks like the origins of the earth so many millions of eons ago. Maybe this is the result of the big bang / collision that started our planet. This goes on for miles with little other points of interest – no vegetation, no animals seen, not even snakes. Then the grounds begin to look like raw edges of the earth pushed up against each other like a long long fault line. The ridges crisscross the terrain between the Sierra and Inyo mountain ranges.

Eventually, we get to the glacial moraines of smooth rounded rocks as we approach central California. These rounded “rocks” are as large as houses or as small as bricks. The variations are really interesting to look at and speculate about. Still it’s high dessert with little useful vegetation. Locals have explained all of the political signs about water rights - that is an important issue for each election. Southern California has acquired much of the natural water flows from this central section of Eastern California. What use to be lush farm/ranch land is now VERY VERY dry. There is still some water in the valley’s river but Southern California still takes its share.

Then almost on some magical line cutting across California West to East, we drive into rich green fields with cattle munching here and there. And, like magic we are driving through farms/ranches up to we cross into Nevada and eventually to Reno. Every time we take this route we see more and more geological diversity and wonder about how it all came to be here so close to our Western coast. US 395 isn’t as beautiful as US 191 from Farmington, NM to Moab, UT or US 101 along the Northern Coast of California or Oregon but it’s up there in the top 3.

OK, here's some technical terms for the areas we passed through on US 395 (Boots did some research). There are cinder and black basaltic cones. There are lava fields near Taboose Creek. Most of that area comes from the Mesozoic period and include batholiths and igneous type rocks.

FYI, USA Weekend magazine put US 395 as 1 of the 5 Best Road Trips, check it (http://www.usaweekend.com/article/20130517/LIVING01/305170007/USA-s-5-best-road-trips) out! It covers the Northern section that we haven't traversed yet.

Traversing California (South to North)

While everyone talks about the size of Alaska, California is 3rd after Texas in acreage. Alaska has the acreage, but the limited road system (Anchorage to Fairbanks, Tok, Valdez, and back to Anchorage) really shrinks the feel of Alaska’s breadth. Having isolated cities like Juneau, Bethel, Dillingham, Nome, Kotzebue, Barrow, etc. with only air access (unless you count the Iditarod sled run from Anchorage to Nome (estimate of 1,000 miles)) really makes Alaska feel smaller than either Texas or California.
Coming from Santee, CA to Reno, NV, we take Interstate 15 to the starting point of California 395 about 15 miles south of Adelanto, CA straight up to Reno, NV. You can cross California South to North multiple ways - US 1 along the coast (though not recommended for RVs), CA 101 slightly inland from US 1 (works for RVs), Interstate 5 or CA 99 through the Central Valley or CA 395 on the Eastern side.

We have hauled the rig on each of these routes (except for US 1) as we have traversed California these past few years. We like CA 395 best because of the varied landscapes even though there are a lot of up/down in the valley’s route around the Sierra and Inyo Mountain ranges. We go from sea level to 8,000 feet and then back down to 4,000 in Reno. It makes for extra care of our air beds – need to remove air before we leave or we’ll be sleeping on bricks or burst beds.

Toilet Replacement - San Marcos, CA

Camping World replaced our 15 year old toilet on top of the 2 inch riser that we wanted removed because we had purchased a new high-profile toilet. The results of their installation meant we proactically needed a ladder to pee. Then we noticed they forgot to re-install the handy spray hose. So, what was an 3/4 hour job took 2 hours. We were a bit upset given that we had to continue on to Adelanto because San Marcos town laws doesn’t allow RVers to spend the night in the Camping World parking lot. the good news is that the Camping World Service manager comp'ed the labor costs ($134.00). So, we are smiling!!!!

Cottonwood Tree - Santee, CA

We were sitting in the RV enjoying the A/C as the temperatures are in the low 80s. There was a small breeze but not enough to cool us. Ah, Spring in the Lower 48!!! Anyway, suddenly we heard a swooshing noise and tree limbs/branches floated down to the back right of our rig. The cottonwood tree on the site next to us decided to shed a “branch”. From the size of the “branch” (about 12 inches in diameter), we aren’t sure that is the correct term.

Anyway, the branches fell on to the gazebo and surrounded his lawn chairs but the RV and extended awning were untouched. Talk about lucky. He, the neighbor that is, was out of town for the week-end and missed the entire event. The park crew came by and removed the debris. They said that this is a common occurrence for Cottonwood trees. It seems the various climate effects (drought, flooding, etc.) cause these “branches” to just drop off of the trees. It has happened to other trees in the park before. The “branch” looked healthy with lots of smaller branches and green leaves all ready for summer. The core of the branch was dried out and hollow about 2-3 inches diameter.

So, we are now looking at our site and wondering. The park staff said that the California Sycamore that we sit under doesn’t do that exactly but it does drop small branches (1/4 to ½ inch diameter) like leaves all year long - interesting trees here in the Lower 48. There’s even an evergreen that doesn’t appear to be a fir or pine. Ruthi hasn’t figured it out yet but it stayed green all winter and dropped no leaves. Well, that’s for another posting.

Rattle Snake Baby - Santee, CA

Ruthi was at the laundry facility and after loading the washer she moved a chair outside to read while she waited. Another camper came from the bike/dog trail behind the laundry and asked her, “Do you know anything about snakes, rattlers?” Ruthi’s first reaction was, at least it’s not a spider! But not knowing much about them she volunteered to call the office/park ranger. The woman wanted her to see the snake. Ruthi was unsure of how close she needed to get to see that it was a snake, rattler or not wasn’t that important.

The camper had hiking boots and jeans on while Ruthi was dressed in flip-flops and shorts. That’s not a lot of protections against snakes. She can’t even run fast in flip-flops. Anyway, she walked back with the camper and agreed that it was probably a baby rattler. Did you know that baby rattlers are more dangerous than adult versions. Why? You may ask. The Camp Host who came and got the snake for transport to the wild desert on the North side of the park said that babies don’t know how to stop pumping venom. So, getting bit by the baby is more lethal/deadly. The adults can control the amount and length of time they push venom through their fangs to the bitee!

Before walking over to the closest Camp host for assistance, Ruthi call the office. But she was on hold, 5th one in the queque. That wasn’t very helpful as the snake was slithering into the grass and heading for the building. When she finally got someone on the line, she recommended that maybe another option might be provided for calling the Ranger for animal issues: like when the coyote got a camper’s dog, or this snake incident. They weren’t very receptive to the feedback.

Karma's Grooming - Santee, CA

It was time to shorten the length of hair that Karma sheds all over the rig. For a Labradoodle, you would think at least it would be less shedding. We think, in fact, that she sheds more than a pure Labrador does. So, off to the grooming she was going to go. The last time we had used the local Pet Smart, we had been less than pleased with their customer service. They just didn’t seem to be as dog friendly as what we had experienced in prior years. So, we went looking for another option. We had stopped in at the groomers next to the local library and decided they would be ok.

On the day we dropped her off, the groomer came out to find out exactly what we had in mind – no bows in the hair, no kerchiefs, no cologne, really no frou frou and don’t touch the moustache. The groomer was really insulted because this was a dog “salon” and Karma deserved to be pampered. You would think that one look at us and our obvious lack of “salon” treatment would be a hint that we didn’t want our dog frou frou’d either. But no, she was insulted that we would so “cruel”. Anyway, we got out of there (before Boots attacked her) with the knowledge that at least Karma would get loving treatment. Then we began to think about the PRICE for a “salon” treatment for Karma.

When we arrived to pick up Karma, we were pleasantly surprised to find out the cost was even less than the Pet Smart rate. And, Karma had a good time and looked great with no frou frou or cologne – whew!

Canadian Neighbors - Santee, CA

Today our Canadian neighbors left for the 4 week saunter back up to Calgary, Alberta. We met them back in 2009 when they were parked next to us along the stream here in Santee Lakes. They have a little make Yorkie that’s about the same age as Karma. Taking Karma out for a walk, she always wanted to go across to their site and do a few sniffs with Jake first. In her excitement of meeting him she would rush at Jake. He’s a brave little fellow but Karma’s rush to greet him and size always makes him seek shelter with his owners. Eventually Karma relaxes and Jake comes back out for the exchange of sniffs.

We have developed a friendship with this 80+YO couple of adventurers. We even all went to Texas for last winter (2011). Unfortunately, we weren’t in the same RV Park but we did get a chance to see them while we were in the Houston area. They have been Camping/RVing since their 2 children were little. They have been coming to the San Diego area for at least the past 20 years. She really loves the Southern California weather and environment. They are the only RVers we know who drive shorter days than we do. So, they take a month to get here December 1st and then a month to get back by April Fool’s Day.

This year their departure was delayed because the wife had a heart attack about 6 weeks ago. He had her transported via ambulance to a local hospital and eventually to UCSD (University of California at San Diego) Medical Center. Their son had been down at Christmas time and the daughter came (as scheduled) just before she was discharged from the hospital. So, her recovery was helped having her daughter around. After the daughter returned to her home, Ruthi went with the husband (or both of them after she was discharged) to assist with getting her in and out of the truck. At first, it didn’t look like she’d be able to ride back and would need to be medivaced to Calgary but she did improve day by day.

By the time they left, she was even helping to stow things away. She was sad to leave Santee, knowing she might not be able to come back next year. But, she was very happy to be heading to the casinos in Laughlin, NV before heading north.