Ridgecrest, Ca to Yuma, Az

 We were up early again yesterday as we had another 400 plus miles to go.  Had breakfast by ourselves up at the office.  Pretty quiet in the motel.  I asked why there were so many motels in such an out of the way place and the young lady said there is an airforce base there and lots of contractors and workers stay in the motels...who knew.  The night before we ate at the Casa Corona Mexican restaurant and it was quite good.  It wasn't the one we'd planned to go to but it was down the highway in the dark with no sidewalk.  Casa Corona was up the well lit street the other way.  When we arrived  we couldn't believe how busy it was.  Lots of birthday parties and families with kids eating.  We both had a Mexican plate with a chili relleno as part of the meal which we both love.  Eric's was spicy and had his eyes watering!  When we went up to pay Eric commented on how busy it was and the  owner/manager said that it was hugely busy every night.  He'd been there over 40 years and said it was time to retire after 3 heart attacks.  Eric said that maybe he shouldn't eat his own restaurant food...big laugh!

 On the road at 7am and travelling down 395 south.   As we drove along there were lots of small partly derelict mining towns.

 Betcha it was bustling here in the old days.

A pretty morning and just around freezing.

We could see an observatory off in the distance.

I wonder if they've spotted any aliens!

Farther south and we thought it was fog.

Turns out it was dust from trucks roaring along side of the highway.

Solar panels out in the desert.

So...we managed to get from 395 south to the new 58 east which didn't have the best signs and then onto I 40 east towards Needles.   There was a huge amount of truck traffic on I 40.  Speed for trucks is  55 mph but they were likely doing 60 mph.  We like to be slower than the trucks so we don't have to pass but that didn't work out.  We passed them and they passed us.  At some points trucks were in the passing lane that didn't have enough power to make it.  Not a relaxing drive at all.

We stopped in Needles, Ca to get some fuel and and I spotted this guy waiting for RV repairs.  Wheels were off and tires were off wheels etc. etc......not going to miss that!  We stopped here to take on a bit of fuel as it's a ways to Parker Az  where it will be cheaper.

Heading south on 95 towards Vidal Junction.

Quiet today.  On many trips south on the highway there are lots of trucks.

That's quite the skyline.

The ribbon candy highway with it's endless ups and downs.

Here we are in Vidal Junction having lunch.  It's about 28C and windy.

Eric was having lunch and he still had his wool sweater on.  It was about 28 C and it didn't take more than 10 minutes and the sweater was off.  It will be packed away until we head home next spring.

Coming into Parker.

Here we are in Quartzite fueling up.  $3.17 a gallon and it will get cheaper in Yuma.  We saw a high of $5.50 per gallon in California.....just ridiculous! 

Quartzite is a major boon docking area.  No power, no water and no sewer where you are parked out in the desert.  You have to run a generator, use solar power, drag your rig to a dump site and then pick up water there as well.  Did a bit of that years ago but it wasn't for us.

Love the sky.

Another thing to amuse yourself with while you are out in the desert.  Riding quads.  Lots of noise and dust....again not our thing.

Coming into Yuma and the cotton is in bales.

Ready for planting. 

Here we are at about 100 ft. elevation after being up as high as 8000 ft a day or so ago.  Huge vegetable crops growing here.  Lettuce and all sorts of cabbage, kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts which go in after the cotton is finished. 

I haven't managed to figure out how to embed a map into blogger. It was easy when I used Open Live Writer which no longer works for me.  So...here is my cell phone map from our off line Navmii map. 

We checked into the Howard Johnson in Yuma yesterday around 3:30 pm and decided to stay a couple of days.  Eric could use a rest and we needed to go down to San Luis to get our paperwork today as well as ....do laundry etc. tomorrow.

Last night and again tonight we had dinner at the Asian Star which is just across the street from the motel.   It was good and...cheap both times. 

Tomorrow I'll tell you what happened today.