California here we come.

We cross the state line into California at 11am on 5 March and turn our watches back an hour - we are now on Pacific Time and 16 hours behind Perth ... and its only 10am!!

We refuel  in Yuma before we leave - we have heard that gas is so much more expensive in California. We get it for $3.67 a gallon.
We take I-8W, a straight highway pushing through mile after mile of dunes. We can see the Mexican border fence stretching out to our left - south of us. The border fence is not one continuous structure but a grouping of short physical walls that stop and then start again, secured by a 'virtual'  fence which includes a system of monitored sensors and cameras.




There is much controversy about how to secure the border with Mexico. The latest polls show a majority in favour of the border fence. However there are many ongoing problems including the fact that many die who attempt the crossing; there are environmental issues;  also landholding issues relating to  farming properties, Indian Nation lands and even urban areas; the removal of animals from their natural habitats -just to mention a few.


We stop at El Centro for a coffee and wifi. We have been out of contact for the week in Yuma, except by phone; the wifi was very poor in the RV park. I use the hotspot to check emails but even that was not good. Also being so close to the border with Mexico I was worried that my phone would pick up the Mexican service - which is strong - and I would find myself with a massive phone bill!

It is good to get good wifi connection in Starbucks!

El Centro a city in the far southeastern corner of California, is the largest American city to lie entirely below sea level - 50 feet below.
Nearby Algodones Dunes, the largest dunefield in the US, draws thousands of visitors each year, mainly for off road driving.

The Naval Air Facility 10 miles to the west  of  El Centro is where the Blue Angels have their winter training. The Blue Angels, the US Navy's flight demonstration squadron was formed in 1946.

Salton Sea, 30 miles to the north of El Centro was created by a  flood of the Colorado River in 1905. It is a shallow, saline lake on the San Andreas Fault. Its surface is 226 feet below sea level. It is 15 miles by 35 miles with an area roughly 525 square miles.

We are approaching mountains. We climb from below sea level to over 4000 feet. It is a good drive with spectacular scenery.

Lots of wind farms.

There is a border check point at the summit but we are waved on.Then we have a steep descent to El Cajon where we have the RV booked in for a service tomorrow.
We get a site at an RV park; Trevor has a swim. It is not as warm as Yuma but pretty nice.

The mountains take on a blue misty colour the higher we go, which makes them look softer.
The climb is steady but easy for          our wonder girl; she must be a female.

Off for a swim after the drive from Yuma.

Tomorrow we will have the RV serviced then drive on to San Diego only 22 miles away.

It is a month until  Kim and Mace and our granddaughter Finlay arrive in San Francisco for a 3 week holiday with us. This holiday has been long in the planning - since before we left Perth last July. We are well placed for their arrival and getting very excited.

Being in California will also give us the opportunity to catch up with Terry Rossknecht, his wife Janice and their family.

Terry is a brother of  Ron in South Dakota. We met him  in 1980 in Perth.  He was on the aircraft carrier the Kitty Hawk which came into Fremantle on R&R. Trevor met him at a service station on the corner of Reynolds Road and Canning Highway in Applecross. He (Terry) was looking to get his bike tire fixed; he was planning to bike to Yanchep to see the koala bears, a very long ride. Trevor talked him out of that and invited him home for a meal ... and the rest is history.

Terry was our introducion to the Rossknecht family. Over the last almost 30 years we have had some wonderful holidays in the US and have met many members of the Rossknecht family.

We are looking forward to seeing him again.