Bakersfield

 Today was just a long travel day, getting to Bakersfield our only goal.  

I was very surprised that the coastal highway to San Francisco was not very  coastal in the sense I understand it.  For miles and miles, long after our stop in the Redwoods National Forest, there continued just a plain ol' redwood forest.  In a few places it was very deep, dark, woodish, but the trees ever so much higher.  There were few towns or stops and some stops were nearly on the road. 

This is one we stopped at, nearly right on the road.  It reminded me of trips to Corbin before the new highway. Driving those curves and there'd be a little spot in road that sold kiddie rocking chairs and chenille bedspreads. This was about 8:00 am, so none of these little spots were open. 

Next we made a stop at a roadside stand as we were out of fruit. 

Getting closer to San Francisco we saw water again for the first time in a long time. Sadly, I can't edit pictures on this laptop and the bridge is too far ahead to see well. We went on the underneath level.  The sun was hitting the cars coming down from the bridge and it looked just like a long, diamond necklace. I believe that may have been the longest bridge I've ever been on.  

I was disappointed a bit to miss San Francisco, but time wouldn't allow  a visit. I could see those houses built one on top of another on the sides of the cliffs.

We entertain ourselves by singing, you know, This Land is Your Land, Hotel California, Bakersfield.

After that, it was a very boring ride.  Everything, everywhere the color of straw, except for the irrigated orchards. No interesting stop off's either. And the temperature creeping up steadily from 80 degrees to 111 degrees. 

 

We were beyond ready to stop for the night in Bakersfield. Tomorrow we go to Las Vegas. 

We are as close to home as we've been in a while and I'm glad to be headed east again.  As ever, grateful for all of God's amazing creation and safe travels.