redtailrv.travellerspoint.comRed Tail RV Trips

A Travellerspoint blog Start a travel blog Login motorhome trips 29 August Tuesday 08.30.2023 Recapping the trip. We left on July 11 - returned on August 29; better part of 6 weeks. In the process we travelled thru 19 states and put 7,255 miles on the car. Miles from point to point were 6,200, the other miles were driving around at destinations. We used just under 200 gallons of gas, ranging in price from $2.95 - $6.29. Our overall mileage was 36.4 was was much less that point to point mileage which was 42.6. Our weather was good for the whole trip, only one drive in the rain, the rest was clear or smoky skies. Lots of mountains and switchback roads on the highways. Lots of good places to eat local foods such as RUNZAs in Nebraska, Walleye in Minnesota, Maid Rites in Iowa. Salmon in Oregon, roasted Brussel sprouts in Long Beach. Motels varied along the way. It seems the managers were mostly from INDIA. They were their with families and doing an adequate job. A couple would have been rejects, but we made it thru. We made and confirmed all motel stays at lease 2 months before the trip, so it is hard to pick out all the good ones. The one thing that is for certain: The United States is not going to go electric soon. We found NO place to charge a car at anyplace we stayed. Diesel fuel is NOT going away. In one hours time on I-40 we counted nearly 200 trucks just coming at us. That is a lot of fuel needed for the lifestyle we lead. We also drove past the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Both were filled with container ships, the HUGE ones. The new bridge over the channel was impressive and elevated! Over all it was a very good trip. Much different than with the motor home as in the past. It seemed more relaxing and less stressful. Posted by REDTAILRV 20:48 Comments (0) 28 August Monday 08.30.2023 Another nice day in Long Beach, however this will be the last day for us. We plan to leave about 0900 and head East. Hopefully MOST of the rush hour traffic will be gone. We leave Long Beach on the 22, join up with the 91, the 60 and finally the 10 for our trip to Phoenix. Only coffee in the room, planning for a breakfast stop in Beaumont or Banning. The food there was good. It was a home cooking place with lots of good breakfast options. I had an omelet with ham-cheese-broccoli. Outstanding. On East to the state line and Ehrensburg and then the famous Quartzite. Planned for a Dairy Queen there but it was closed and the place being remodeled for something else. We did check the price of gas there as compared to Phoenix. It was running $4.50 in Phoenix and only $3.89 here in Q. So a fill up was in order. On home to Phoenix arriving there about 3 pm. It was HOT, 118 and slight breeze. Made you feel like you were in an air-fryer. Not pleasant. Got the car unloaded and items places in various rooms, no unpacked. Turned the AC on and it was time for happy hour. We still had ice in the freezer. Will be an early to bed night, will feel good to be in your own bed. Posted by REDTAILRV 20:39 Comments (0) 27 August Sunday 08.28.2023 Last day in Long Beach and the cool weather: HOWEVER they are forcasting a HEAT wave for the area with temps up to 100+. Guess they want us to be ready for the Phoenix weather. It is supposed to be 116 there on Monday, YUCK. Today we had planned to have our infamous oatmeal and chicken & waffles at NICK’s. However we were shocked to see Nick’s is not longer serving breakfast on weekends. So that plan had to be amended. We went to Potholders instead which was good but not the same. Then we went to the Marina Street Farmers Market. They had moved their location slightly since the new mall was built. It was loaded with venders and fantastic foods. Part was missing, the arts and crafts people. It seems they were a separate business and was not ask to participate at this location. We tried to find them, to no avail. Afternoon we walked the pier at Seal Beach. Hundreds of people on the beaches and in the water. I know the water is COLD but that did not deter the people from swimming and surfing. The wind was blowing and the temperature on the pier was a good 30 degrees cooler than on the street. Many people also fishing catching small smelt like fish. For many this is a main stay of their diet. A bag of popcorn (Sunday ritual) and happy hour ended the day. We plan to leave about 0900 to avoid the rush hour traffic. (Hopefully) Seems it is always rush hour with crowded roads in greater LA. Too many people trying to get to too many places at the same time. Everyone is in a hurry. After we arrive home tomorrow I will write a recap of the trip. First one driving soooo far in just a car, actually a Highlander Hybrid. Posted by REDTAILRV 14:29 Comments (0) 26 August Saturday 08.27.2023 Another great morning in Long Beach. Went to breakfast at MY SPOT, just a very small cafe attached to a bank. Most of the dining was outside. Very good place with lots of locals. Then time to wander the streets of Seal Beach. Some new stores and ideas for shoppers. Did find the VRBO we had rented a couple years ago. It was tucked in with other long and narrow houses. Owner lives in part and rents out part. We were to have a parking sticker to allow us to park on the street. Drove then up to the surf-sailing beaches of Long Beach. Quiet this morning but the activity will increase as the day progresses. It is so crowded they almost need a tower or air traffic control. Then we walked 2nd St in Belmont Shore. Another quaint section of Long Beach. Spent lots of time there in the past especially on Stroll & Saver night. This is when you purchase a ticket with 12 stubs, you then walk past the various cafes and purchase sample eats with the stubs. There is usually a band of sorts at each intersection. Even was spent at Panama Joe’s a VERY POPULAR Mexican establishment. Busy as usual, and LOUD. Posted by REDTAILRV 14:17 Comments (0) 25 August Friday 08.26.2023 Slept in after the tiring day of driving. Today is for renewing our senses of where we used to hang out. Stopped at the Golden Shores RV Park where we spent several years in the summer. The staff had not changed and were pleased to see us. Disappointed we no long had a motor home. Then one of the main reasons for the Long Beach stop. We drove across the new bridge that we watched being built for several years. It was quite a drive. Seemed like we went straight up on the entry ramp. This bridge is 55 feet higher than the previous one. This is to allow the super-cargo ships access to the Port of Long Beach. The view from the top was amazing, with no marine layer you could see forever. We drove the bridge both directions, got the FULL VIEW. Dinner that night was at Bo Beau’s for happy hour. Their speciality is seared brussel sprouts, and sliders. The eating area is on the top floor with no roof, open air dining. Only in Long Beach can this be done, NOT in Phoenix. Posted by REDTAILRV 16:32 Comments (0) 24 August Thursday 08.26.2023 A necessary but tiring day. We left our friends early morning at 0700 and headed South on highway #395. This follows the west side of the Sierra’s from Reno to Riverside. Lots of open spaces and lots of treed forests. Unfortunately some of the forested areas suffered a fire a few years back and only now starting to recover. Stopped in Bishop, CA for a lunch at Erick Schat’s Bakkery, a great establishment. They have two building on main street. One is the bakery and one is for customers to eat their purchase. I have never seen so many loaves of bread of at least a dozen varieties. A huge variety of sandwiches were on the board, each fresh made at your request. Lots of other baked items were for sale also. Once you ordered and picked up you tray you could go to the other building to sit in comfort to eat it. In the beginning traffic was light, almost non-existent. However as we passed Victorville and heading down the 15 to the LA basin it changed. The up-hill side of the road was bumper to bumper...