DAY 10 - HOME!
We made it!
Home on a non-rainy day.
Saw regular under $2 at one station.
So now shelter in place.
We'll be busy as weeds abound.
Quarantining at home is a
great way to practice social distancing
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Social Distancing today:
We were heading to Redding Elks today when we were denied access due to city constraints. You mean we can't even park in their parking lot? Yep, that's what they meant. So we punted and ended up here at Red Bluff Elks. Again the lodge is closed but the RV Park is open. They ask us to mail our night fee to them. This lodge is using their time to super clean the lodge: drapes and floors, and more. Their roses and lawns are in perfect shape. Pretty. 3 RV's here - no fraternizing.
Social distancing:
4 RV's going our direction (1 passed us twice and the other 3 times and had parked with us last night, but that is a story for another time.) 8 RV's heading south
And, the rough patches in US 99 noted yesterday, were replaced by three lanes of quite new concrete --- smooth as a new baby's butt. (The driver says "oh, really?")
At one town we saw at least a four-block line of cars going to (we guessed) a food bank. That was depressing.
We buzzed along at our legal 55 mph (or a nearly legal 58 or so). Lots of cattle feed lots, orchards and grassy fields. In the towns we passed, truck stops, farm machinery stores, lots of (closed) malls and restaurants.
Staying at Flag City RV in Lodi. All information was gathered over the phone. Our receipt and campground map were given to Dean (with face mask) through an open door and over a wide table.
So now shelter in place.
We'll be busy as weeds abound.
Quarantining at home is a
great way to practice social distancing
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DAY 9 - EUGENE,OR TO KELSO,WA
Getting out of Eugene was about as difficult as getting in.
First, we had to try not to awaken the homeless fellow who was sleeping in the stairway of an outbuilding on the Elks property. Then, we found that streets that looked promising on the map did not go through to the “beltway” (where we needed to go) when we looked more closely at the map.
But once back on I-5, things were quite smooth. Rain held off all day. Elks lodge here closed, with nobody onsite. Ah, well we have their address – another check in an envelope to be mailed.
From here, its just a chip shot to home.
All in all, the trip home went more smoothly than we had hoped. Now quarantine and shelter-in-place (aka weeding and other household chores) and so thankful that we've stayed healthy.
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All in all, the trip home went more smoothly than we had hoped. Now quarantine and shelter-in-place (aka weeding and other household chores) and so thankful that we've stayed healthy.
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DAY 8 - ASHLAND TO EUGENE
Nice quiet night at the Welcome Center. Rain started before we got on the road and continued off and on (mostly on) the whole day.
Off and running early to Costco for fuel. Got lost on the way back to I-5. The GPS was trying diligently to get us on the way again but we ended up one exit south of where we left the freeway. Fuel prices $2.15 for regular; $2.29 for diesel.
Up and down minor mountain passes. Dean driving and seeing how well the RV handles the hills. Roads were pretty cruddy but the worst was an unavoidable strap? hook? that took out the front tire of the tow car. The tire monitor ALERTED US (scary when that happens) and we scrambled off the road and found the tire not flat yet. Also found we were 9 miles from our favorite tire pros, Schwab Tire. Still losing air slowly - will we make it or not?! Yes, thankfully. And an hour later and a few bucks we were back on the road.
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| FACSIMILE OF FLAT TIRE (No, Earl, not a Ford CMax tire) |
Social Distancing: In Oregon your fuel is pumped for you. The attendant had gloves and a mask on. No need to get out of the RV. Credit card may be germy.
New tire. Schwab workers all wore masks and gloves and stacked a row of tires between them and the public. Dean wore his mask. Credit card and new tire may be germy.
Tonight we are in the college town of Eugene, Oregon (6 colleges within 25 miles). Many free souls wandering and we are parked next to a pot shop. Plenty secure. If it wasn't raining, we'd hike over to Applebees and get a meal to go. (We are so NOT running out of food stuffs aboard.)
(green text for mossy Oregon)
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Day 7 - Red Bluff, CA to Ashland, OR
Yea! Getting closer to the green and rain of Washington. Today's drive consisted of touring through the Siskiyou mountains up and down. Temperatures hovering near 70 and lots of sunshine. Mt. Shasta has plenty of snow. Lake Shasta was fuller than we've seen for a few years.
We are now seeing more Washington license plates. 3 RV's with Washington license plates passed us.
Social Distancing: we talked to no one.
Think most RV parks who cater to monthly tenants are not interested in one-nighters who may bring in virus germs. All government (fed, local, county) campgrounds are closed. The few campgrounds that are open where we want to stop have "resort" rates (approx $60). Not in our budget for overnight.
Tonight we are in the new I-5 Oregon Welcome Center. Everything closed. No signs. No commercial vehicles allowed. 3 RVs here.
DAY 6 - LODI TO RED BLUFF, CA
Easy peasy drive. The commingling of I-5 and I-80 was a breeze. Little traffic.
Social Distancing today:
Filled propane tank in RV before we left RV park. They used the VISA we had on file from last night - so didn't need to get the card out. Talked to campground host through an open door blocked by a table. Dean with mask stood 6' away and talked with "propane filler".
We were heading to Redding Elks today when we were denied access due to city constraints. You mean we can't even park in their parking lot? Yep, that's what they meant. So we punted and ended up here at Red Bluff Elks. Again the lodge is closed but the RV Park is open. They ask us to mail our night fee to them. This lodge is using their time to super clean the lodge: drapes and floors, and more. Their roses and lawns are in perfect shape. Pretty. 3 RV's here - no fraternizing.
Passed by many rice fields. Don't know much about rice but thought that it grew in wet paddies and much of this area was dry...at the moment. More info below:
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| Rice Paddies Sacramento Valley |
From https://beeinformed.org/2011/07/18/rice-country/ by Kathie Lee
A couple of weeks ago, ...took a tour of the rice industry in Northern California ... with the rice farm advisor at UC Cooperative Extension, Butte County. According to www.calrice.org, 95% of the state’s rice is grown north of Sacramento. About 2 million tons of rice is produced annually. Driving around the area always made me wonder about rice production, especially because of the oddity of seeing fields of standing water. Northern California is notorious for the lack of rain in the summer, so it was a curiosity of why rice growers ended up in this region. However, rice takes about the same amount of water as a walnut orchard of the same size or a grass lawn. The region is ideal for growing rice since the soil is heavy clay and does not readily absorb water.
We followed the path of the water going into the rice patties starting with Lake Oroville) down to the Feather River, canals, and then the rice patties. We saw a rice cooperative in Richvale, where the harvested rice is taken to be dried, hulled, and packaged. We saw conventional and organic rice paddies. The most interesting place was the Rice Field Station in Richvale, where they breed different varieties of rice by doing crosses and then testing the crosses. They had plantings of 25,000-30,000 different varieties. It is astounding to think that there can be that many factors in rice to come up with 25,000 different varieties. Each of the new varieties were hand-planted and had to be hand-weeded. The workers have to wade in the water all day to weed.
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An idea I read today: Set up a "RECOVERY CORPS" to assist those who have lost their jobs and are looking for work like WPA or Job Corps? To get local area government tasks done. Hmm.
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An idea I read today: Set up a "RECOVERY CORPS" to assist those who have lost their jobs and are looking for work like WPA or Job Corps? To get local area government tasks done. Hmm.
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5th day --- Visalia to Lodi
Hey! We're getting better at this travel thing. Because it's Sunday, and because of the "Stay Home" advice being given to everyone, there were few cars on the road, and for the first time, fewer trucks. Many Amazon Prime semis.
Social distancing:
Laurie shopped at Winco early before we left. She didn't want to be caught in the line-ups waiting for entry. Wore mask. Wore gloves. Rang up her own groceries. Winco did not clean their carts. They had many signs saying stay 6' apart. No toilet paper.
4 RV's going our direction (1 passed us twice and the other 3 times and had parked with us last night, but that is a story for another time.) 8 RV's heading south
And, the rough patches in US 99 noted yesterday, were replaced by three lanes of quite new concrete --- smooth as a new baby's butt. (The driver says "oh, really?")
At one town we saw at least a four-block line of cars going to (we guessed) a food bank. That was depressing.
We buzzed along at our legal 55 mph (or a nearly legal 58 or so). Lots of cattle feed lots, orchards and grassy fields. In the towns we passed, truck stops, farm machinery stores, lots of (closed) malls and restaurants.
Staying at Flag City RV in Lodi. All information was gathered over the phone. Our receipt and campground map were given to Dean (with face mask) through an open door and over a wide table.
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CV TREK HOME - DAY 4 - CALIFORNIA: LANCASTER TO VISALIA
Still a mighty west wind but no problem. Reminded again of the terrible bouncy ride on California Hwy 99 - potholes, uneven and broken pavement the whole way. (Of course, I was reminded by the other person I am quarantining with that we used to have an RV with air shocks.and we would not be noticing this)
At the top of Tehachipi Pass we were in the clouds. Strange to see the bottom of windmills, with turning blades showing periodically.
We've noticed this before: Visalians are consummate shoppers. The malls have always been full of cars. Not this time. Malls are closed. So that left Target and Costco along our path. NO room for more cars at either place and at Costco they were limiting shoppers in the store. The line of potential shoppers at Costco went down one side of the building then wrapped around down a row of parked cars.
Social distancing:
Dean with mask and gloves fueled the RV up. Price for regular fuel for $2.39 at Costco. Their diesel price is $2.89. Saw many signs along the way for diesel with 20% bio.
In our travels today, we find that there are more face masks being sold on the street corners than are being worn.
Dean with mask and gloves fueled the RV up. Price for regular fuel for $2.39 at Costco. Their diesel price is $2.89. Saw many signs along the way for diesel with 20% bio.
In our travels today, we find that there are more face masks being sold on the street corners than are being worn.
Again at an Elks Lodge which is closed. 3 RVs occupying the 17 sites. No fraternizing.
No drop box for payment so will need to drop it in the mail. Have heard that in Oregon no facilities for transient RVers are open. May be more challenging to find a place to park for the night. We have been expecting thus.
No drop box for payment so will need to drop it in the mail. Have heard that in Oregon no facilities for transient RVers are open. May be more challenging to find a place to park for the night. We have been expecting thus.
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Day 3 – 4/17— California: Indio to Lancaster ----
Heavy winds were forecast on our I-10 route this morning. Most the masses of windmills in San Gorgonio Pass were turning. Pretty much on our nose at 20 – 30 mph, but no difficulty steering. Laurie is pleased with the way the Vista is handling and performing.
Definitely more cars on the road, but still more semis than cars. Rest areas had few cars, but had room for the "big rigs" like RVs, but no RVs were seen resting there. About 10 RVs passed us heading east - each pulling a boat or a dune buggy. Think they were heading to the Colorado River area to "quarantine".
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| San Gorgonio Wind Farm |
From I-10, we followed I-215 to I-15 where we cut across the mountain range north of LA. Then followed CA 138 (Pear Blossom Hwy). Traffic was not heavy at all, and since the CA speed limit is 55 for any vehicle towing anything, not many trucks passed us. (We even passed a couple of them going up a medium grade!)
Fuel prices now are about a buck per gallon more than the Mesa area.
Very few masks being worn. Dean now has a new homemade one.
Since most of the private and all of the public RV parks are closed, we have a handful of options of alternates: Elks Lodges (we are members), and lots at WalMarts, Home Depots, Casinos, and malls. But today when passing the mall and casino at Cabazon, both were barricaded.
Social distancing:
Lancaster Elks is closed, but reportedly has a host in one of their many sites. The host wasn't found, so just left a check under the door for their regular fee, as the site we took had both power and water. No fraternizing.
Lancaster Elks is closed, but reportedly has a host in one of their many sites. The host wasn't found, so just left a check under the door for their regular fee, as the site we took had both power and water. No fraternizing.
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COVID-19 TREK HOME - DAY 2 (INDIO, CA)
Fuel seems to be about 40 cents higher per gallon in California over Arizona. We expected that and were surprised there wasn't more of a difference.
We had 4 RVs pass us today.
Semis outnumber passenger vehicles 10 to 1. Amazon Prime semis pass by about every 5 minutes
We had 4 RVs pass us today.
Semis outnumber passenger vehicles 10 to 1. Amazon Prime semis pass by about every 5 minutes
We were waved through the California Agricultural Inspection Station. The agent had a face mask on.
.
One knew the way and hightailed it, the other got nervous, turned around and got squished.
.
We usually are not still in the SW at this time of the year and are enjoying the desert blooms. Particularly the ocotillo. Such vibrant color - no wonder the hummingbirds seek them.
From the Forest Service:
Ocotillo means "little torch" in Spanish. Plants bloom once in the spring from March through June depending on latitude then sporadically in response to rainfall during the summer. Hummingbirds pollinate the flowers. ... The stems are sometimes cut and planted close together for living fences.
BLM Arizona (Bureau of Land Management) has posted this COVID-19 Update: Long-term Visitor Areas (LTVA) are open and at capacity; services may change in the future
"Currently, the La Posa North, South, West, and Tyson Wash LTVAs south of Quartzsite, Arizona, and Imperial Dam LTVA in California, remain open to the public, but are at maximum capacity. Capacity is determined in coordination with local, county, and state health and safety officials and on the ability to provide services. Dispersed camping areas near the LTVAs are also full. You should look for alternative camping locations."
Nope. Nothing full. Full was in January. "Few" is a good description of the BLM lands in Quartzsite mid-April this year.
Wildlife: saw not much - what should you expect on the freeway. 2 crows, 1 butterfly, and 2 desert lizards hiking across the freeway.
Social distancing:
Indio Elks Lodge is closed but their RV park was still open. 3 RVs in their 50 spots. No fraternizing.
Indio Elks Lodge is closed but their RV park was still open. 3 RVs in their 50 spots. No fraternizing.
Here in time for afternoon naps. Works for us.
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Mesa to Quartzsite in a COVID-19 Environment - Day 1
Our first day out was uneventful. Traffic on I-60 and I-10 was not noticeably less until we were well past Buckeye. From there to Quartzsite things were pretty peaceful. We traveled about 60mph, and lots of folks passed us, but none seemed to be travelling the 75mph speed limit. We saw two very large rest stops with some cars stopped, many trucks, and space for many more, --- but NO RV's, neither seemingly parked for the night or just visiting!!!
.
.
In spite of BLM's website notice that Quartzsite camping areas were closed, that was not so. Our favorite (free) Scadden Wash sites at the east end of town are wide open, with no host on duty, and no sign-in required.
.
Social distancing:
Fueled up. Dean attired in mask and gloves. Fed VISA into pump.
.
Gas at the Standard station on the north side of I-10 exit 19 was $2.19/gal; diesel was bout $2.50/gal.
.
Social distancing:
Fueled up. Dean attired in mask and gloves. Fed VISA into pump.
.
Gas at the Standard station on the north side of I-10 exit 19 was $2.19/gal; diesel was bout $2.50/gal.
Score so far: Wandering Singers 1 – Boogeymen zero.
Mystery of the day: Where's Dean's face mask?
