10. Southern and East Central California

July 1 - drove 4 hours in the heat to Joshua Tree National Park. Stayed for 3 nights at a barren, empty campground 13 miles away from the Park.  Used my scooter to get around, but it was very hot, so only did a few hikes on the first day.  Second day, drove back to the Park, started to drive to the Cottonwood area but after 15 miles turned around as it was way too hot. Spent the rest of the day in the RV running the A/C full blast and planning more of the California trip. Some pics of Joshua Tree National Park:

The morning I was leaving, July 4th,  as I retracted the slide out on my RV, I heard a loud cracking sound. The bottom frame of the slide had broken and was almost falling off; this was a serious problem.
I screwed it on temporarily, then drove 50 miles to Palm Springs, my destination for the night. Not much to do there as it was super hot and the holiday, but I walked around at night and saw the fireworks.  The next day, an RV repair  guy who lived at the park fixed the slide for $250.  The frame had rusted out and all the bolts had snapped off.  It could have been a lot worse, so I was real happy to get it fixed.

Way too hot in Palm Springs, so I drove towards San Diego, stopping for the night at Lake Elsinore, which is about 75 miles away.  Helped the park office manager with a Word document, so she let me stay the night for free.

Arrived in San Diego on July 6th , where I stayed in a dump trailer park for 3 nights. Used the trolleys and bus system to get around, saw the Zoo, Balboa Park, the Bay, a Padres Game and Coronado National Monument. Was really looking forward to seeing the city again, but was disappointed as there were many bums using the public transportation and it did not seem safe.  Some pics:

Left San Diego on July 9th and drove inland North of San Bernardino, and started the Rim of the World Scenic Byway, a 110 mile twisty drive up into the mountains.  Stayed the night at Dogwood campground in the San Bernadino National Forest. Next day, completed the drive which went up to 8,400 feet, and had some great views.

That afternoon, staying inland, drove 4 hours North into central California. Spent the night at a nice campground in an agricultural town called Tulare.  The next morning, drove 6,000 feet up to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Spent the first night at Lodgepole campground in the Sequoia section, and the second night at Sunset campground in the Kings Canyon section. Saw the giant sequoia trees the first day.  Second day, used my scooter and drove 36 miles to the end of the Kings Canyon.  It was a beautiful drive, one of the highlights of my trip so far.  Drove almost 100 miles on the scooter that day, on paved and dirt roads, and it held up well.

Sequoia - General Sherman Tree

Cedar Creek area of Kings Canyon

The following morning, drove down 6,000 feet into the agricultural valley, then 60 miles North to just South of Yosemite National Park. Stayed the night at an overpriced RV park in the town of Oakhurst. Next morning, drove 6,000 feet North into Yosemite. Saw the Mariposa Sequoia groves which were nothing special as I had seen similar in the previous two parks. Drove 1.5 hours through the park up to Glacier point, an overlook into the beautiful Yosemite Valley.

Half Dome

 Yosemite Valley

Spent the night 20 minutes South of Yosemite valley in an RV Park (campgrounds in Yosemite Valley get fully booked about 1 year early). Next day, took the bus up into the valley, and spent the day hiking and enjoying the place. Definitely want to go back there.

El Capitan

 Yosemite Falls

Next day drove down the valley then North to Columbia Historic State Park, an old gold mining town taken over by the state but not entirely deserted. It had three saloons frequented by the town drunks, and I had a few beers during happy hour so I got the lowdown on the town. Not a great place.

Stayed at a nice RV park just a short walk away. Next day, July 17th, got some metal tire stems put on the four rear tires which had been deflating, then drove 3 hours East to Oakland, to visit my cousins Reuben and Eileen, their two sons, Micah and Seth, daughter-in-law Jenn, and granddaughter Elizabeth.

9. Nevada and Utah

Arrived in Las Vegas on June 7th, stayed at Duck Creek RV Park, on Boulder Highway, about 9 miles from the Strip. Was over 100 degrees every day, so ran the A/C in the Motorhome constantly.  Used the scooter to get around. Drove to the Strip or downtown (Fremont St.) most days and walked around, but didn't gamble much. Also went to six casinos nearer to the RV park.

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After two weeks was bored and had done my initial planning for Southern California, so decided to go to Death Valley National Park. Drive took three hours bordering on military test sites (Area 51?). Stopped for gas at a "convenience" store and saw this sign on the gas pump.

I did NOT take the free tour.

Spent two nights in Death Valley RV Parks, the first at Furnace Creek and the second at Stovepipe Wells.

Saw  all the sights including Dante's View, Scotty's Castle, Badwater Basin, did two canyon hikes, and drove the entire length of the Valley.  It was way too hot, and one day would have been enough.

Spent the night in Pahrump, NV, 75 miles Southeast of Death Valley. Next day drove to Red Rocks Canyon, 15 miles west of Las Vegas. Got there around Noon, which was too late as I had to drive 200 miles North that day. Did the 13 mile scenic drive but did not get out to look or do any hikes. Definitely want to go back there someday. Camera was giving me lots of trouble in Death Valley and stopped working here so no pictures.

After that, drove back into Las Vegas and bought a new camera, then drove 4 hours North towards Great Basin National Park. Spent the night along the way in Prioche, NV, an old mining town, but did not do any sightseeing.

Next day, drove another 130 miles to the National Park, one of the least visited. Along the way, my bicycle fell off the stand and the front wheel and tire were destroyed. Great Basin National Park's main attractions are not the Basin, but (1) a 12 mile scenic windy drive up from 5,000 to 10,000 feet at the Base of Mount Wheeler, and (2) a tour through Lehman Creek Cavern. Both were really nice, not crowded, and cool temperatures.

Spent the night in Baker, NV, the tiny town next to the National Park. Next day drove 110 miles Southeast to Beaver, UT.  Not much to do in this town, so cleaned the RV inside and out, as it was filthy from the Death Valley sand. Checked the tire air, found that both inside rear tires were flat, and one was ruined. Had been driving on only two rear tires (instead of four) since Las Vegas. $250 fixed the problem. 

Spent the night there, next morning drove to Cedar Breaks National Monument. I was not able to visit there my first time in Utah, as it was still closed due to snow. Drive up to the monument went from 5,000 to 10,500 feet. Did 2 hikes, nice scenery.

Drove down the mountain to the town of Cedar City where I stayed the night. The university there was having a Shakespeare festival so that evening I saw Love's Labour Lost in an outdoor theatre in 95 degree heat. It was boring.

Next day drove South 20 miles to the Kolob Canyons part of Zion National Park. Did a 5 mile hike in 105 degree heat. Nice scenery.

After the hike, drove 30 miles South and spent Friday night in St. George, UT, where it was 100 degrees at 9 pm. Plan to stay in Las Vegas Saturday and Sunday night (June 29, 30), but it is supposed to be 115 degrees, so I decided to stay in a hotel this weekend, and made the reservations on the Internet.

Stayed Saturday night at a no-name hotel 3 long blocks from the Strip, and Sunday night at the real nice Sam's Town on Boulder Highway.

Sam's Town - indoor plaza surrounded by hotel rooms

 The Strip

Monday morning, July 1st, said goodbye to hot, hot Las Vegas, and drove into equally hot Southwest California.