No matter where we go or how much time we allot for a trip, it seems like there's never enough time to see and do everything that we want to. This trip is no different. All too soon, we are back on the road headed west towards home.
 | Good-bye New Mexico
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 | Hello Arizona
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Close to the Arizona/New Mexico state line, we stop at yet another roadside attraction - the
Tee Pee Trading Post. Looks like they've rebuilt the Tee Pee since the photo on their website which shows an older building. This place probably wouldn't be considered very PC in the the current environment of changing team names.
 | Tee Pee Trading Post
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 | Medicine Man fortune teller
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We stop again at
Bonito Campground just north of Flagstaff. A cold snap has descended on the area and we get a light dusting of snow during the night. It's mostly melted by morning when we decide to take a short hike in the brisk air to explore the area better.
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 | Lots of lava rocks
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 | Some of these would look great in our garden
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 | Just outside Kingman
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That afternoon we are struck by a strong windstorm, which instead of abating after awhile, only gets stronger and stronger. Peter fights with the steering wheel to stay on the road as the truckers pull off into a hollow to wait out the high winds.
Finally we make to Hwy 395 in California and we can take a big breath of relief as the Sierras shield us from the worst of the winds.
 | Driving north on 395
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 | Not too many people camping
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 | | That evening we are treated to a light show as passing clouds cast shadows on layers of hills |
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 | Light & shadow on hills
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 | King of the Mountain
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 | Hikers climb a hill with their puppy
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Later, the wind switches direction in the middle of the night. We roust ourselves out of bed to turn the camper around to better sleep through the howling wind and rocking camper. After a restless night, we are greeted by a sparkling clear morning without even a hint of wind. Of course, I have to take more photos of the Joshua Trees in this gorgeous light.
On the last leg, we take I-5 northward and cut over to Hwy 101 on Hwy 46 passing where
James Dean's fatal car accident took place. Soon we decide it's time for a rest stop, but true to California's misguided maintenance schedules, most of the Rest Areas are closed... grumble. Welcome home to the Golden State.
 | Approaching the fatal intersection
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 | ACK!!
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 | Beautiful vista for this home by Paso Robles
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 | Golden hills close to home. Can you spot the helicopter in this picture?
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