Sept 22 – 26, 2011 Headed for Bakersfield, CA to visit my brother, Bill. We’re almost there and the transmission in Old Bessie starts to act weird. We’re thinking if it had to happen at least we made it to Bill’s and not somewhere in the middle of the desert. We take Old Bessie to a “Transmission Doctor”. She needs minor surgery, but they can’t do it til Monday. It’s only Friday and Bill doesn’t drive, so we rent a car. One of the things we wanted to do was “cruise” the Pacific Coast Hwy. Don and his wife (from the Mojave Campground) had recommended “scenic” Rt 58. David’s worst driving nightmare yet. Thank God we’re in a car not Old Bessie. We got lucky again. Route 58 is scenic, but it would have been a challenge even for Mario Andretti in an RV. Again, David did extremely well.
Along the coast was wonderful. One of the locals that we met, he was collecting buckets of sand and putting them in his car to take home for his kids sandbox, recommended Moonstone Beach. It has a long boardwalk that goes for a couple of miles along the ocean. Seals lounge along the beach and rocks. More beautiful ocean views.
A little farther up the road I spot ZEBRAS! David thinks I’m seeing things. It’s the Hearst Castle grounds. We drive up to the Castle, thinking maybe go for a tour. It was closing time, but the tours were $25. We enjoyed the grounds and seeing the castle from afar. We also missed eating at a restaurant that was recommended, Sebastions, across from the Castle. It’s only open until 4:00 p.m. Next time! We found another restaurant and sat ocean side enjoying the sights, smells and sounds. We took an alternate route home to Bills, through wine country. Another nice day.
Sept 24, 2011 Bill has to work so David and I head off to spend the day at Famoso Drag Strip, about 20 miles north of Bakersfield. It’s a very, very old track with lots of drag racing history. We have a cook out with Bill and spend a nice evening catching up.
Sept 25, 2011 Hang out in Bakersfield shopping and running errands with Bill. He works the afternoon and then we go out for authentic Mexican, delicious.
Sept 26, 2011 We are up at 6:00 a.m. and take Old Bessie to the transmission shop. Thinking positive, we head back to Bill’s and say our goodby’s. It’s sad leaving Bill, but we are ready to continue our adventure. Old Bessie needed an electronic shift selector module $335. “Phew!” She’s running good as new. We head down I 40 and spend an uneventful night in Needles, California at The Desert View RV Resort, right on the Arizona border. We’re headed north east now.