As drives go, Turlock to Needles is pretty easy. It's all long, flat freeway and highway. Even with a break for lunch on the east side of Bakersfield, we were able to do the drive in 8 hours. At dinner, we called Quanah (our son) in Indiana because Don wanted to claim bragging rights for the great mileage. We traveled 461 miles on 3/4 of a tank of gas. Not too shabby.
Dinner was at the Juicy's River Cafe next to the motel. Nice little place. Friendly waitresses and super good spaghetti and meatballs. Dessert was an also super good deep dish cherry pie with ice cream that we shared. Yum.
The road to Needles is not pretty, especially in the winter. Everything is brown and dry. But, it does have a particular beauty in its rough hardness. Trains run along the hillsides and go in and out of a series of tunnels; the wide open areas don't necessarily run in a straight line. For a world that looks like there is nothing there, it is remarkably full of obstructions that need to be avoided. Hence, long, sweeping arcs in the landscape provide pathways for freight travel.
Curiously, for a short time we find ourselves traveling through a green area. When all is dark, dry, rocky and covered in dust and decaying buildings, we discover an oasis of green and the town that lives there, appropriately enough, is called Newberry Springs. The name gives the clue for the green that doesn't live anywhere else on the road in this dry winter.
It is a very masculine world dotted with boron and borax plants, acres of wind fields, and more acres covered in solar panels. It is a prime world for creating alternate energy sources.
Tomorrow we start with a bang. Up at six. Breakfast and seven. Mass at eight at St. Ann's Church. An old church, built in 1921 to replace the original one from 1889 (destroyed in a 1920 fire), I'm excited because I know there will be some great photo-ops there. And if there isn't, I'll be so disappointed. After that, we will be on the road to Albuquerque, NM.
4 comments:
Sounds like a wonderful first day! Exploring us great. You will love Albuquerque! Be safe and God bless you both.
Getting there is always half the fun. I absolutely love to travel by car, well, or by train, by boat, air not so much. Chicken.
My friend Trish lives in NM. I shall think of you. Enjoy. Thanks for the update. Aren't laptops great? Hug Don. :)
Good looks very good and filling. I think the weather conditions are perfect for your drive. Safe journeys.
Oh love Albuquerque (old town) check out ~ Great post and photos ~ carol, xxx
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