Lone Pine, California: Due to ridiculously high temperatures, high winds, AND a wildfire, our usual departure routine was severely discombobulated. Instead of bring the RV to our house, we brought our things (clothing, golf clubs and food) to the RV. Our RV is stored in an air conditioned bay. No brainer, I suppose. This morning - before 7a - we went to the storage facility, brought the RV to the house, loaded up the few remaining items and hit the road. (Mostly because we didn't want to leave our car in the RV garage while we were away.)
One last thing I prepped this week was the "viral" tacos I see on social media. You take a ball of seasoned ground beef (chicken, tofu, turkey, whatever), place it on a grill or frypan, and place a small flour tortilla over it and smash it down. It's like a smashburger, but with a tortilla on top... creating a taco. The ground beef, embellished with Jacobsen Taco Seasoning, cooked very quickly. A quick flip gave the other side of the tortilla a nice char, and then we stuffed them with the usual fixins - cheese, lettuce and tomato. Obviously the ground meat could be seasoned any-which way you choose. Topped with special sauce, tomato and lettuce it would be a burger?
Departure time was 9:30a, and we were dreading the first 25 miles. It was so windy, and the wild winds were blowing the wildfire (just south of Calimesa) smoke directly in our path. As much as we were blowing around on I-10, the double-wide trailer in front of us was in much more dire straits. At least drivers were being careful and keeping speeds below 50mph. Our first stop was for fuel at Morongo (Native American casino) as they have #2 Diesel (not biodiesel) and it was ONLY $5.09 per gallon. Ouch. We pay so much for fuel in California.
The route today was not very exciting, and we have traversed the roads prior. Four years ago, we broke down on 395 on the very first day of our trip north (in our Country Coach Magna) and had to sleep overnight on the side of the road in a trucker turnout! Remember that fun time?
Let's focus on better days in our teeny Mercedes Sprinter Van!
We only stopped one other time, on the side of the road in Four Corners to make a sandwich. The drive to Lone Pine is so very pretty. Lots of green fields, dried lake beds, tons of Joshua trees and craggy mountain tops. Odd thing? We did not see even one mammal today. No rabbits. Deer. Not even a cow. Few birds. Even the Koi farmer - with a sign reading COY FISH FOR SALE - is no longer operating.
We are again camped at Boulder Creek RV Park. I was quick to get our satellite TV dish up and it connected through a dozen trees. You never know. DT is watching his Giants in a double header and I threw the pre-made lasagna in the oven. Weeks ago I made spinach & beef meatballs (NYT Cooking) and we have been eating them over pasta, just poached in red sauce, and tonight - poached in red sauce, smashed-up into a sauce and layered into a lasagna. (I have a vacuum-sealer and I know how to use it.)
Romaine, sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, house-made Caesar dressing with freshly-grated Parmesan.
This baking dish is 6x4-inches. We could not finish.
Until my next update, I remain, your Sierra correspondent.
Campground Information: Boulder Creek RV Resort. We have a full-service site with WIFI. #37, with a ton of shade. Store, propane, free coffee & muffins in the morning, coin-op laundry.