soggy miles to Stovepipe Wells





The wind blew hard all last night.  Will and Karla broke their Model A going to dinner, and we all woke to a howling windstorm this morning. We were tossed and soaked as we climbed the Tehachipi Pass in the chilly morning air, but Bob had scheduled an unforgettable stop to overlook the Tehachipi Loop...an ingenious complete train track circle designed by Southern Pacific to enable the long freights in climbing the grade over the mountains.  We were lucky enough to catch a freight train approching from the Bakersfield direction, pulling a mile of cars with three engines in front, and another two in the middle.  As it entered the loop, this collection of cars completed a full circle of squeeling cars passing itself before heading east.

We made another stop at the Boron plant  to see the enormous canyon they've created over the years, and then we made a sharp left on Hwy 395 to pick up a good tailwind for the first time as we headed for lunch in Ridgecrest on the edge of China Lake.  All the while, we were pounded by the rain.  It's hard to drive without a windshield wiper with your hands frozen to the steering wheel, while the wind is trying to blow you into oncoming traffic.

But Bob had one more treat in store for us...namely, Towne Pass. About 28 miles outside of Stovepipe, just when you think you're nearly home free, this monster looms up out of the swirling mists and challenges you to climb and climb and climb.  The Polland Coupe needed a little attitude adjustment before confronting this monolith, but we all eventually crept up and over this last obstacle to collapse at Stovepipe Village where the accomodations are elegant and the food is...  Well.

Unfortunately, the Kafers' A doesn't want to play anymore on this trip, so they are sending it home.  We didn't have a flat today.  And gas across the street here at the Chevron bandit is going for $5 something.

Someone from London comandeered our pickup this afternoon for some cheese cake photos...I'll see if I can get some of the juicy ones...
John & Judy and others, too