Returning to California

I am now leaving Las Vegas and Nevada heading back to California, I feel I can almost say my home state.

Crossing into California suddenly brings back memories firstly of a motor home that would not work properly then the uncertainty of setting off on my own heading for Oregon only.

Now 5 months and at least 7000 miles later and with the most fabulous memories of a wonderful new lifestyle here I am almost back where I started.

I am making my way back to my son in Temecula, but as I am now running ahead of time for a change I will take a longer route back.

Once more I will be passing by another ghost town, this one is Calico, an old silver mining town, my son and his friends occasionally bring their trailers here for a week end.

The hills around Calico are peppered with mine entrances and spoil heaps, the town is in pretty good condition with almost all of its buildings still in everyday use, I think it is cool to see the town being given a second life rather than being left to turn to dust.

The town has one main street, it runs up a fairly steep hill, walking up the street you can still see the sheriff’s office and jail, the undertaker, the blacksmith’s, a couple of saloons, restaurants, feed supplies, a harness store, a couple of hotels and a provision store, the staff working in the town all wear clothing of the period, I think lovely and most interesting.

The climate in the desert areas of California is kind to wooden buildings, being almost completely dry timber does not get soaking wet and turn green, it just turns to dust over time.

After a couple of nights in Calico I set my sights on Victorville, the nearest RV site to Apple Valley where the family I met at the start of my trip in Oakhurst live, I called twice but no reply, I was sorry not to see them once more.

The next place I will be passing through is Desert Hot Springs, it is November 17, but it is well named, it was in the high 80s and 90s, this is a town of smaller private houses, mostly older people wishing to avoid the cooler weather along the coastal areas, I suppose you could class it as a retirement community.

One night was enough, too hot, move on through Palm Springs which is rather nice, very opulent, plenty of Cadillacs and Rolls Royces.