"A person susceptible to 'wanderlust' is not so much addicted to movement as committed to transformation." - Pico Iyer
It was a long day traveling from Wine Country to Bakersfield, CA. It was over 300 miles and took a whole day for Fern and me, but I'm grateful that it was less eventful than our previous travel day.
It was another beautiful drive as we followed the Transverse Mountain Range most of the way. When we got into town, I looked for a car wash since it had been a minute since my car and Fern had had a bath. Driving around Bakersfield was a bit challenging since it had been a while since we had navigated this much traffic. It wasn't easy to find a self-service car wash. I found the place in a less-than-desirable part of town, and I didn't feel safe with all the seemingly homeless men hanging out around yelling comments at me. I finished as quickly as I could and got to my campsite. I was exhausted and happy to be settled in for the evening.
The following morning I met my neighbors as they were packing to leave. Everyone is always curious about Fern. They were on their way to Baja, Mexico, to spend a couple of months on the beach with their RV. She told me I should meet them there, and we exchanged numbers and email addresses. We talked about the border crossing I should take because some are more problematic than others. I was so intrigued and thought about it for more than a minute. I feel comfortable traveling alone in the US, but Mexico might be a stretch. I would feel more comfortable if I spoke the language. Maybe I'll learn it and then tackle that trip on my own another time.
And The Best Shower Award goes to..... Bakersfield KOA Journey! 🚿 Compared to some showers I have endured on this trip, this one is the Taj Mahal of showers! What a luxury! I stayed an extra night because this KOA was so lovely, not because I loved Bakersfield.
My original plan was to spend one night here and leave the following morning. Unfortunately, I woke up with a migraine, so my plans changed. My headache went away after a few hours, but it was too late to drive to Joshua Tree, so I thought, "What does one do for the day in Bakersfield?"
Hart Memorial Park came up in the search, so I thought I would try it. They need someone (me) to help them with their social media! Their pictures didn't begin to do it justice. I was blown away by how beautiful this place was. Just 6 miles outside Bakersfield is this little gem. It's a little confusing because I'm unsure if it is Hart Memorial Park or Kern River County Park. Either way, it was a beautiful way to spend an afternoon away from the city.
One mile to Calm! Why is there no one else on this highway?! 🤷♀️
This canyon view from the park was so beautiful.
This peaceful, unassuming river doesn't look threatening, but the Kern River is considered the most dangerous river in the USA. Three hundred fifteen deaths have occurred since 1968, and 96 since 2000. It has been ranked as the second deadliest river in the world. 😳
The river flows from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Bakersfield. It is so deadly because much of the riverbed is granite, so even when the river is calm, the slick granite causes people to lose their footing and slip. There are two forks, and the North Fork has a 30 feet per mile gradient and a 10-foot waterfall that has killed kayakers when they approach it at the wrong angle. WOW... Who knew?
I occasionally feel like this tree. Some might consider it weak and vulnerable to collapsing into the river because of its exposed root system, and it seems unsteady and dangling on the edge of uncertainty. Most trees develop two layers of root systems, the one at the surface absorbs unpredictable rainfall, and the second, deeper layer is for when dryer conditions prevail.
Sometimes I feel like some might perceive me like this tree; weak, unsteady, vulnerable, and underestimated. I often think I have been judged based on my outer appearance (more in the past when I was younger, obviously, lol). I have been underestimated on many occasions. Like this tree, I have learned to grow and thrive regardless of what life throws. The storms of life might blow me around a bit, but my core root system is balanced and robust. My faith, family, and a small group of friends mean the world to me.
I had a great day at the park and was sitting here with the ducks, grateful for my life when I heard a popping sound in the distance. I was trying to figure out what it was when it came to me when people who are victims of shootings say the shots sounded like a popping sound. I heard it again and again, and I was concerned.
I became even more concerned when I pulled this up on Google to see if there was an active shooting situation. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it seemed like too many shooting squares on a map for my comfort, and I was a little alarmed. I called my girlfriend, Becky hoping she could hear the sound and verify my panic; it was that loud. We, of course, conjured up all the worst-case scenarios and then decided I would proceed back to my campground and barricade myself in Fern. It seemed like a solid plan. lol Looking back, it's possible there was a shooting range nearby, but who knows?
Photo Credit - Getty Images
Imagine my surprise when I came upon this on my drive back into town. I couldn't believe my eyes, and it went on forever. I grew up in Oklahoma, so I am used to seeing oil derricks, but this was next level!
Photo Credit - Getty Images
This is the Kern River Oil Field in the San Joaquin Valley and is currently operated by Chevron, which explains the Chevron station on every block. By the end of 2006, it yielded nearly 2 billion barrels of oil and is the third-largest oil field in California. Oil was first discovered here in 1899. While most of the oil has been removed from the field, steam flooding has made it possible to extract much more than would have been possible.
Seriously! ⛽️ Maybe it's just me, but in a city so rich in oil, why is gas SO incredibly expensive? I love California, but I can't afford to pull Fern through it with prices this incredibly high! 😳
Bakersfield was interesting, and I'm happy about the experience though I don't know if it will be on my return list. But, if you want a lovely KOA to spend some time and a great shower, the Bakersfield KOA Journey is a good one!
Next stop... Joshua Tree 🌵
Stay Wild 🌿
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