Texas to California

Painted Desert

Painted Desert

Petrified Wood!

Petrified Forest

the Hoover Dam

Construciton of New Bridge over the Hoover Dam

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas


Hello from Bakersfield California!
Now we know what George Strait was talking about when he said "Amarillo by morning". What he meant is that it smells to high heaven. Amarillo is one of the largest stock trading/selling areas in the country. Livestock as far as the eye can see and the smell to match the sight. We were glad to depart. After leaving Amarillo, Tx. on Saturday, we travelled through New Mexico which took forever and spent the night in Gallop, NM. We both couldn't wait to leave New Mexico, so we got up the next morning and travelled from New Mexico through Arizona into Nevada. We stopped at the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest and ate at a "Triple D" diner in Flagstaff, Az. that was truly YUMMY. We arrived in Las Vegas late Sunday evening, but were fortunate enough to catch sunset at the incredible new bridge that is being built over the Hoover Dam. Looks like a new wonder of the world! We have spent the last four days in Vegas where we visited Red Rock Canyon, gambled, visited with an old friends, Lynn went to the Canyon Ranch spa for a day of pampering. We used these few days to charge our engines for our trip through California which starts tonight. We would go into more detail, but you know….. what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! We arrived in Bakersfield, CA this evening for a quick stop (not much in Bakersfield but the Buck Owens Museum and Buffet). We are planning to stop at the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA tomorrow mid-day and will figure out our next stop from there.

Stats:
Location Today: Bakersfield, CA
Traveled 4,200 Miles since we left Maryland
Approx. 2,700 miles from Md
Visited the following states: Md, Va, Wv., Tn, Ky, Ar., Ok., Tx., Nm, Az, Nv., Ca.
Next Destination: San Simeon, CA and the Coast of California

Highlights:
Painted Desert
Petrified Forest
Hoover Dam
Red Rock Canyon
Straight Flush in Three Card Poker !!!!!!
Getting stopped by a compassionate CHIP's officer and let off with a warning for going 80 in a 65 zone


Not so great stuff:
Lynn's struggle with altitude issues during and after higher elevations
Missing Santa Fe due to Lynn's altitude problems
New Mexico (very dreary and depressing topography)
Cold and windy weather in LV