744 March 5, 2022 The Road To Mojave

I had a peaceful walk in the Hanford Cemetery adjacent to the fairgrounds. 

Afterward, I wandered through the Saturday swap meet.  There were lots of people selling all kinds of odds and ends and there were several produce vendors with beautiful citrus fruits and chilis and dried beans.

This morning we took one last look at the weather.  In Three Rivers near Sequoia National Park, it was sleeting.  In the Sierras, there was snow and a forecast for more.  In Yosemite it was 16 degrees with a forecasted high of 23 today.  After considering all this data, we conformed our decision to go south and east. 

We drove on Interstate 99 through the heartland of America’s breadbasket past vineyards and farm fields and orchards.  We passed oil fields as well.  There is lots of wide-open space in the valley but it is all being used to harvest something.  We stopped for a break and I walked to the nearby orchard to use my app and identify the trees…peach trees…miles of peach blossoms!

Bakersfield is a trucking hub and train station.  There are all manner of industries and businesses to support the farming community.  There are lots of cold storage facilities and packing plants.

In Bakersfield, we turned onto Route 58 toward the Tehachapi Mountains and drove up and through the Pass.  At 3,793 feet, we saw snowcapped peaks.  Tiny snowflakes splatted on the windshield. 

We emerged on the other side of the mountains.  The wind had been a factor all day.  Here, there was a overhead road sign with a message for all campers and trailers to exit the highway in the next two exits because of high winds.  We knew better than to ignore this sign!  We exited and pulled over on the side of the road to make a plan.  Fortunately, there was Spaceport RV Park just 3 miles away.  We had phone service and we were able to call and they had two spots large enough to accommodate us…we went straight there.  The wind is supposed to blow strongly until 2am.  Meanwhile, we are safe and have a home for the night.

This afternoon we went to explore the town of Mojave.  We had seen a bunch of airplanes sitting in a large field and we went there first.  Mojave has the nation’s only inland Spaceport.  In this industrial complex, lots of businesses coexist to further the idea of space travel.  There is also a test pilot school and dozens of other enterprises to repair and construct aircraft.  The schools here in Mojave have a comprehensive educational program promoting aeronautics and engineering.  This begins in preschool and older students are able to apprentice or intern in the various aerospace facilities and at nearby Edwards Air Force Base.  

We went to see the wind turbines.  Apparently, Mojave is one of the windiest places in the WORLD!  Now we know.  This makes it an ideal location for windfarms.  The Mojave Desert has over 5,000 turbines.  The farm here in town is the third largest in the country. 

This town is also a mining town, a trucking center, and a train junction.