Central California

We left Hayward, CA on December 28th to head towards our first campground host committment.  We drove through the central valley of California where we saw rice, grapes, lettuce, almonds, oranges and many other things growing in very dirty air.  The valley had poor air quality warnings posted, and the warnings were not wrong.  Everything was so hazy it was hard to see details and even harder to breathe.  I have to wonder what polution does to the food that grows in it.  What and how much of what are we taking into our bodies from the air?

When we got to Bakersfield at the Southern end of the valley, we turned east to head into moutains.  The moutains were only about ten miles away, but we literally could not see them from Bakersfield through the haze. 

Haze looking out of the canyon towards the valley

More haze.

We drove from Bakersfield into a canyon to get to the Kern River.  The road was very curvy and the rocks hung out over the road in many places just waiting to peel open our trailer.  We avoided catastrophy by only inches and escaped unpeeled!

I am sure some rocks were just waiting to fall on us!

We passed by Lake Isabella which is a resevoir formed by the Kern River.  We continued up the river until we came to a campground near Kernville.  We were able to camp right by the river and enjoy evening fires.  After dark, coyotes and owls lurked only feet away from camp waiting for our dog or cat to serve as dessert.  They weren't picky - they would have taken either one or both.  But they went to bed without any dessert from us.

O'Brien hot springs.

We relaxed in hot springs along the Kern River.  When we arrived about 15 twenty-or-so year olds were soaking and using a rope swing to jump into the river.  The river is freezing cold.  Why is it that when one reaches 30, one learns finally, that cold water is no fun?  I know a few sick individuals still participate in an annual polar bear plunge, but no matter how big, mean or rich you are, you won't get me anywhere near cold water!  We loved the warmer water.  And I must pay homage to the "mistress of the hotsprings".  One woman cleans the pools every Wednesday.  She maintains the trails, including building and repairing stairs down to the pools.  She isn't paid, court ordered or forced to do so, she just does, because.

After leaving the Kern River Canyon, we entered desert country.  We began to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into as we headed to our desert campground.  The immensity of the desert can be overwhelming when you are facing six weeks in a campground you have never seen!  But, we have committed.  Saddleback Butte or bust!