Up early to beat the Sun

Mr Smiff, please take note of the time of this posting. We left Santa Maria, CA from some friend's driveway at 6:15am to get to Sin City before it was 120 or something sick like that. We have a love/hate relationship with California.

We love the people and the beautiful landscape, but we hate the desert. So as the kids slept, we crept along California #166 and #58 until we hit Interstate 15 into Las Vegas. One story I didn't elaborate on a few days back was a nightmare on Interstate 40. As I was cruising about 60 mph, #4 screamed from fright. I thought the window by her fell out, but it was the weather stripping around the passenger side of the RV. Duct tape held it in place for a time, but the wind was strong and a few miles later it was like unrolling a roll of toilet paper down the interstate. I was out in the California heat climbing on the wheels (contract does not allow climbing on roof) and duct taped the best I could. About 60 miles later and a stress level that would probably kill an ordinary person brought the weather stripping and me to a "come to Jesus" conversation.

Needless to say, the weather stripping was no longer an issue.

Around noon today and 2 hours south of Las Vegas a gust of wind sent the driver's side stipping flapping in the breeze. I quickly pulled over and climbed higher than I though humanly possible and got it pretty well one with the duct tape.

Passing Baker, CA, a business had a sign posting the current temperature there at 112 degrees. Not too many minutes later a highway sign suggested turning off air conditioners for 18 miles to prevent overheating. We became one with the climate for a time. But God was unbelievable gracious, about 10 miles into the sauna, a desert thunderstorm brewed up and cooled off the road, the temperature and our tires. But the sign on the road was true. Many hotshots from the coast found their way to the burm with their late model imports, but our RV cruised 50 mph from 2000' to 4500' without a problem.

There are more interesting things from the last couple days we should be able to get to you today. I don't think the kids have any money left for the slots, so they should be in the RV resting later.

Until we meet again, peace be with you!

Big Daddy
Captain of the Crew