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Soledad Canyon TT & LancasterDec 13, 2008
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Mustang Ridge Cal. HWY 198 west to San Andreas Fault Zone.
Telephoto of San Andreas Fault Zone from summit of Hwy. 198.
First evening sunset at Soledad Canyon TT Preserve by Acton, CA.
| We made it to Southern California on Thursday. Almost two weeks to the day after leaving McMinnville. The last leg of the this journey south was the longest as far as driving. Needless to say we were tired when we arrived. We did see some beautiful country on the way which we wouldn't have seen otherwise if I had done the sensible thing and backtracked from San Benito to I5 the way we came in. However I decided that I was going to take "the short cut" and save some miles. Well as per usual when I think I am going to save something. It didn't turn out as I had envisioned. The road going south down the San Andreas Fault Zone isn't very streight and was not necessarily made for wide rigs. I think that Rita was much more concerned excited about the ride than I was. I would look over once in a while and see her grabbing the arms her seat, leaning back and pounding the floor with her foot like she had a break petal. I though it was kind of fun going around all of those blind curves on a narrow road. At least the Lord was gracious and we didn't meet very much traffic. Well we did eventually make it back over to I5 in spite of the adventure. It was an interesting drive though some pretty ranch land. Also the cows were quite curious as we drove by as if they hadn't ever seen anything like us before. There weren't enough people to show quite the same curiousity at our BABs with a pick-up in tow. We stopped at the top of the pass out of the fault zone for a break and for a rest. I managed to snap a couple of pictures back to the west. After we got a nights rest upon finding our site and setting up camp. We took a walk around the park to check things out yesterday morning. That is when we walked down to the other end of the preserve where the corral area and ponds are located. I remeber the ducks from the last time we were here two years ago in April. They have quite an assortment of year round ducks both domestic and wild. They ask that campers don't feed them. But by the response you get from them when you walk by you can be sure that they get their share of snacks from the visitors. Quite the variety as I had mentioned. Mallards to domestic geese. The girls thought they were entertaining too. They didn't know whether to chase them or run. If the ducks would have come at them I'm sure that it would have been the later with the ducks chasing the dogs. Our girls are really quite chickens. A little later we decided to take a run out to our family property west of Lancaster. It is about 35 miles from the preserve. We have about two acres of land that my brothers and I inherited from our parents. They bought the property as a speculation / possible home site back int he later 70's early 80's sometime. Our mom though it reminded her of the Texas panhandle somewhere close to where they grew up. The place looked about the same as it did two years ago. They had just scraped a home site and drilled a water well on the property next to ours the last time I was there. The only thing that I noticed different was a for sale sign on the property next door where they had drilled the well. I really doubt that there is very much activity going on land sales at this time. We did take a different route to the property this time. It isn't very far at all to Lake Elizabeth from there. About 5 miles. It is also only 3 miles to the Great American Canal the brings all of that water from the Sacrimento River to LA. The property is on a knoll and has a pretty view of the hills off to the west. It is about 10 miles into Lancaster to the east if one has a need to shop. The California Poppy preserve is only a couple of miles to the nortwest of the property. I hope to get there sometime when the poppies are in bloom. The pictures of the blooms are qite spectacular. They cover the whole desert floor for miles. We are kicking back today to do washing and such. Rita is sewing and of course you know what I am doing. The girls are laying out enjoying the sunshine. There are lots of clouds around today and they expect some real rain tomorrow and Monday. They can really use it. It is extreme fire danger all over the place and very dry. They are well below the rainfall average all over the area. Our next stop will be at Desert Pools RV Reserve near Desert Hot Springs on Monday. Only about a 150 mile drive next time. Most trips from here on until we return to Oregon will be shorter. By the way.. How about those diesel prices. Finally down to below $2.40 a gallon around here. Gas is down to $1.65 the last fill-up. I like it.. I am hoping that diesel drops to below $2 as well. Until next time. God bless... Love from us, Dale and Rita |
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