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.