Driving North to Banning, California

 Eric and I woke up to dry weather.  It was supposed to rain during the night.  We quickly packed up our motorhome; disconnected from water and electric services; unleveled and stowed our leveling blocks and pads.  Let's hit the road while it's dry....





Oakzanita Springs RV Campground
welcomes return campers.







Eric and I turn south onto California State Route 79....

... & drive to....

We are happy to start our two and a half hour drive on dry pavement.

.... Interstate 8 West.








Though scenic, California Route 79 North has tight turns as it winds through the mountains and is not large vehicle friendly.  Eric and I know that first hand from our drive to Borrego Springs.

The highway curves through

mountainous terrain.

The Exhaust Break is put on
for the 6% downhill grade.

Hilltop apartments have a

 great view.

Eric & I wonder about the

 possibility of the hillside

  giving way.

In 1996 a man died in a mudslide in our hometown of Schenectady, New York.  I drove past the site about ten minutes before the slide occurred and continue to be mindful of collapsing hillsides.

We turn north onto
Interstate 15.

We take note of the curved

Mast Arm with its sign.

Eric preferred Mast Arms when he designed traffic lighting for intersections working at the New York State Department of Transportation.

Drivers with FasTrak can pay
50 cents to commute for 6
minutes in the High Occupancy
Vehicle Lane.






That's an interesting idea.

The rain starts with a light

sprinkle.

Eric likes the design of
this bridge.

It's sleek & efficient.

We pass a large housing

development.

Interstate 215 will take us
around Riverside &
San Bernadino.

Nice toolbox! 

We follow the sign to
California State Route
60 East to Beaumont.

Our drive continues through

the mountains.

Ye olde Frankentree

Our exit to California State

Route 243.

We stop at Chevron to
fuel up the motorhome.

$3.79 a gallon is a
"California high."

The Five Fallen Firefighters

of the Esperanza Fire are 

remembered.

Our drive to Silent Valley Club

is through a Rock Slide Area.

This road, like others we've

driven in Southern California,

has been cut out of the side

of a mountain.

The road levels out & trees

line the road.

Eric & I arrive at Silent 

Valley Club.

Our campsite is nearly settled...

The DirecTV Dish needs to be

turned on for TV reception.

We have 50 amp electric service, water, and sewer connections.

And then the rain returned.

Today's a good day...  The windshield wipers ran for about half of our drive. Setting up a new campsite without umbrellas was a bonus.