Day 15 (Tapo Canyon, CA)

(Tapo Canyon, CA): Just outside of Simi Valley in a county park. Due to prior years’ fires, there are few trees and intense heat!. A concrete slab surrounded by dirt. Only 3 other RV's there. By the time we backed in *^!@&#!, and set up, Boots totally lost it - an hour long crying jag. She calls it "Hell Canyon". It's so not our ideal spot!!!

Weak phone coverage and no WIFI access via the Air Card. Our refrigerator has not been able to keep our food cold in these temps so all mayo, milk products, etc are gone. The freezer is useless. Daily trips to buy bags of ice are necessary. We do everything necessary to minimize heat getting in but it's a losing battle. The one saving grace is that nights are cool. We don't even mind being awakened by the coyote kill/celebration routine around 2 every morning.

We do like the town of Simi Valley - 3 miles down a windy road. Easy to find what we needed – public transportation to LAX (getting Kassie), easy driving (oxymoron in LA traffic) into LA (to check out school and then drop Kassie off), food, movies, etc.

Gas costs spreadsheet for 14 days from Anchorage Alsaka to Los Angeles California available upon request.

Day 14 (Kettleman City, CA)

(Kettleman City, CA): Desolate, bleak, sad - we got in late, office closed so we spent too much time trying to figure out which space was moderately level and also had working hook-ups. We were able to miss any snakes but the gopher holes everywhere were a bit disconcerting.

From here to LA, straight down to the part of 5 that is called the Grape Vine. Very steep and curvy around Santa Clarita. Motorists advised to turn air conditioners off - Boots loved that part.

Day 13 (Oroville, CA):

(Oroville, CA): We're at River Reflections RV Park. John and Bodhi have been to visit. Bodhi was full of questions about our 'house'.

He thought Karma would be smaller. He remembered her from the webcam calls.

We're going to make a stop between here and L.A. but there's not much to choose from along that section of I-5. It's also a very boring area!

Just driving and driving and driving.

DAY 12 (Red Bluff CA)

(Red Bluff CA): Another nice RV Park but it was in the upper 90's as we were getting set up, which was truly awful. Have I mentioned Boots hates temps over 78!! She's not happy that we'll have days and days of these temps ahead. The smoke was annoying but not a problem.

We'll be able to have a leisurely start to our day since the park is a short straight road down to Oroville to meet up with son/grandson for visit. Bodhi (3 yo) thought Karma would be smaller. He remembered her from the webcam calls.

Other observations – The fires are surrounding Oroville so the smoke is pretty thick here. Though I can’t smell the fires, Boots can.

Karma checked out the Feather River tonight.

DAY 11 (Springfield OR)

(Springfield OR): OK, more twist and turns through Southern Oregon and Northern California. Again, we are moving to somewhat flatter, straighter roads!!!

As we head south on I-5, the fires are just west of us. The smoke blocks the sun. Otherwise, the 99° would be even hotter. We will need to acclimate pretty soon or we’ll melt.

Karma is going to need to be groomed with a shorter cut to endure this heat.

DAY 10 (Rochester WA)

(Rochester WA): Now that we are stateside there is less new/exciting to report. Biggest excitement today - finding a gas station with diesel that was assessible to a 45' rig. We wound up driving around Seattle (near 405) for 20 minutes or so before finding one. A problem we had not encountered before.
When we get to LA we’ll try to set up a blog that you can read at your leisure or not and save filling your email box. Then Boots can added her perspective.

Other observations – Portland rush hour is more bearable than Seattle’s. I think 205 does a better job missing the commuter in Portland than does 405 in Seattle.

Karma was able to play ball at the Rochester RV Park. That’s the first time since the beginning of April. Was she ever thrilled. She carried her ball back from the dog run by herself. This dog run was not as big but did allow her to run and run!

Even though we had washed tons of muck off the RV in Whitehorse, it was still pretty dirty. There was a truck wash near the RV park so we spent a couple of hours there, in line with the 18 wheelers and one other RVer, and got cleaned up.

DAY 9 (Hope BC):

(Hope BC): Goal was cross back into US. Interesting about the custom agents (CA) at both ends. Canadian CA asked: did we own guns-no, did we have guns-no, did we have Mace or pepper spray-no, did we have a Taser-no, did we have knives -yes, kitchen ones, did we have any self defense mechanism-no (we thought our personalities were enough). I guess he thought we needed protection from the people, vegetation or wildlife. American CA asked: did we buy any fruit while in Canada-yes, cherries, blue berries, and bananas. That was it.

Then we entered the US and began the real lesson in driving a 45 foot rig in super highway mode (50-60 mph). Tried to stay on the far right lane but with merging traffic there were a few panics. Boots thought this was bad but she was in the navigator seat. I thought it had its moments but over all was ok. I guess because I remember driving these types of roads and it seemed more usual than the mountain edges. Also, no height issues to deal with.

Other observations – no one gives an inch in rush hour traffic. Again trains, Karma doesn’t seem to mind. Karma is back to her usual self.