2 RV's to 1,000 Oaks CA

... spending the night at Barstow CA

Up early but not rolling early. Time change was today so things are off.

We spent the night at the Comfort Inn in Richfield UT. Last night, shortly after we shut the lights off there was a flash in our room. We both saw it, still don't know what it was. Then sometime during the night I heard a half a ring, like a phone. Neither of us had missed calls so either that was the hotel phone or I was dreaming that one.

Bacon, eggs, potatoes. Good way to start the day. Way too much food last night but it did not keep me awake. Could have just had yogurt this AM but not with these choices.

I hadn't done my log last night because my note pad battery was dead and I use the notepad for checking the math. So this AM I have to do that before we leave and that was enough out of the routine that we got going a little later.

We pull out at 7 AM local. Again we get to watch the sun as it hits the snow covered mountain peaks. No, I did not take any pictures. That would be distracted driving. Not many other cars out this AM.

We were surprised when we saw three squads on the median. Not sure when we had seen the last car. We did see a few cars after that but not enough for three squads.

Then somewhere down the road a squad pulls on in front of us and does the weave across both lanes with their lights on to slow us down ... and then is gone. My guess ... is there was a 'live incident in the oncoming lane that they thought might end up in our lane. Once it was resolved there was no reason to stop traffic.

In the on coming lane there were four squads, but by the time we got there, officers for two of them were running (?) to their cars and leaving. We couldn't see anything but we assumed whatever was happening was happening down in the ditch. Traffic on that side was backed up for a mile so they may have had it stopped and we hadn't noticed.

1st stop was the rest area in Kanarraville. It was still cool this AM so we took a 15 minute walk around the rest area on their paved walks. We are finally out of the below freezing in the AM and are now looking at it being too hot. :)

Ah ... this is why we haven't stopped at the UT/AZ scale. 26,000# and over. We are under 10,000#.

There used to be nothing in AZ on I-15. Now they are putting up truck stops and other things. They are putting up truckstops lots of places. Not just Loves, but also TA and Pilot/Flying J's. Must be good money in them, at least right now.

2nd stop is in North Las Vegas or Garnet about 20 miles from Las Vegas but there are no other towns out here. We stop for fuel and for food. This is the first time this trip that I have had an issue paying for my fuel. The clerk need help turning on my pump and then when I went in to pay, neither of them knew how to process it so they had to call a manager.

Usually a personal pizza is enough for the two of us but today BB wanted a veggie and I did not. So we each got one. That was OK as the pizza crust was very brittle as if it has been under the warmer all night so the crusts did not get eaten.

Did notice a young couple and a pre-schooler walking the parking lot. The whole time we were there, about 45 minutes. Just walking and talking to each other, nothing suspicious other than that is a long time to walk a parking lot. Nicely dressed. ???

And the fun begins.

Las Vegas at any time. Really it wasn't too bad today. Even down to Primm at the border was not too bad. The freeway is three lanes each way until there.

Did see an IrIzar bus today. Had to look that one up to see what it was. Doesn't look like anything they would use driveaway for.

Once we cross into CA it narrows to two lanes. Now there are signs that it is OK to drive on the shoulder ...

The fruit check people were just waving us through today.

3rd stop was in Nipton at the rest area. Lot is full so we park in the gravel. No grass grows here so just stay off the sidewalk. Some who had been parked at the EV charging station was getting towed. Didn't ask the why.

Without realizing what time it would be, we decide to just stop in Barstow. It is a known and they have good food at the attached Mexican place. BB makes the reservations from here.

It may have only been an hour from here to the hotel, but not today. Rare that we got up to the speed limit. Lots of jockeying for spots. At one point I had been getting 13 mpg going down hill until I caught up to another truck ... then it was 25 mpg :) Followed them for a ways but I like to be going closer to the speed limit. No reason to today.

It looks like we have put in enough fuel in Las Vegas to get us to our drop ... a few miles of 25 mpg can only help.

At one point I pulled out to pass after 100+ cars had passed us, BB does not. And within a few minutes the left lane slows and goodbye BB. She gets over a mile ahead before traffic loosens up. No matter which lane / line I am in, it is going to be the slowest lane / line.

20 miles later I finally do catch up to her as she has stayed behind the truck I was behind that was going under the speed limit ...

Final stop is the Quality Inn in Barstow. As we are walking in ... someone at a picnic table starts talking to us. Someone off. Then as we are going to our hotel room, we can see someone talking to them saying '... all I know is they want you OUT.' Didn't see them again.

We had gotten to the hotel at 2:30 local so we had lots of time to get further today. Not sure how long it would have taken in traffic, but we could have gotten further.

By 3:30 local we go to eat. Still too hot to walk. It was 90+ when we were coming into town. I'm thinking it drops pretty quick once it starts to get dark.

Only one trip that could work for us here in CA right now, but things change fast. We will try to drop by noon and depending on what work there is and what dispatch says ... we may do ... something.