7:18AM and we are on the road out of Ridgecrest CA and on to San Francisco - a long day's drive. We skirt around the China Lake Naval Installation on CA178 and then follow CA14 west toward Bakersfield. Mountains and the flat desert on both sides of the road comprise the Muir Wilderness Area. Red Rock Canyon State Park features trails for ORVs (Off Road Vehicles) as well as strips of red/rust/salmon in brown and gray rock. The rock is moundlike rather than jagged peaks but very large. In Jawbone Canyon we begin to see lots of yellow flowers again. As we turn onto CA58W to Bakersfield we see LOTS of wind turbines in the mountains. It's totally amazing to see so many in one area. We're at 4600 feet above sea level here and the fields are covered with purple clover and orange and yellow flowers. As we come down to lower altitudes the hills become brown grass needing rain to green them for spring but the trees are bigger and more substantial and dot the hills to create a polka dot pattern. A little further along we begin to see lots of yucca plants on the rocky hillsides with their tall stems blooming with rows of large white flowers. And then we are back into barren brown hills. Signs along the way advertise Murray's Family Farms and when we reach it we find an oasis and a big farm market. We've entered the irrigation belt and acres and acres of lush green fields surround us.
In Bakersfield the lushness continues - orange tree orchards, vineyards, floral bushes of white, pink, and rose blossoms. Harold's recalls that country western music is big in Bakersfield and sure enough we pass by Buck Owens Boulevard and then Merle Haggard Drive! As we turn north toward Sacramento, there are more fields of lush green vegetables and grape vines and fruit trees. On CA46 west to I5 we begin to see major irrigation canals and green fields and an occasion field with a sign that says "Congress Created Dust Bowl." Apparently the distribution of water for irrigation continues to be a political and economic challenge throughout the Southwest.
Near Wasco CA we encounter fields and fields of roses in full bloom. Wasco is the home of the Festival of Roses. Stunningly beautiful! We also saw bales of hay - or perhaps alfalfa since they had quite a green hue.
At last we arrive in San Francisco, find our hotel, and connect with Jennifer for the evening. As always it is so good to be with Jennifer. The interval between visits with her has been three months this time, so naturally we are excited to be with her. We spend the evening with some of her friends, celebrating one friend's fortieth birthday. Later in the evening our son Scott arrives from Los Angeles to spend the weekend with us. This was another great reunion since we have not seen Scott for over two years! Needless to say, we were off to a great weekend.
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