Bakersfield

So here we are again.... back at the start of the journey in good old Bakersfield.  We check in with Duane and end up parking the RV up outside his shed and staying here for a few days while we sort things out and organise flights home etc.  The neighbours walked past while I was sitting outside the RV reading my book...."Vacationing in Bakersfield huh"....'something like that' I reply.   Not that we are mad or anything but mention you are going to Bakersfield and you get those funny looks on peoples faces - like ' why would anyone go the Bakersfield'.

Anyway, Duane has kindly offered to put up with us hanging around here and we finally bite the bullet and book tickets home on the 8th, arriving on the 10th in New Zealand. 

We drive the RV down to repair shop so they can get a look before the Assessor comes - the guy takes one look and says it' stuffed....yip we know that - bent as a banana. 

Time to kill.....

Later we go with Duane to pick up Cash and take him out to the Speedway where we see the normal suspects racing but also the midget cars for kids,  The kids were actually more entertaining than the big cars....

Duane & Cash @ his first Speedway

Next day we take the RV down to be assessed & pick it up again later as we are still sleeping in it although the kitchen at Daune's has become a mutual territory with everyone pitching in to make dinners and my job to sort lunches each day.  A couple of good nights having dinner and movies at home with Duane.

Yesterday we finished packing up the car - the boot is chocka and the forty has a huge boot!  Hope the boat doesn't sink.  We got up at 2.45am and followed Daune over to Long Beach as he was dropping off a couple of cars and picking up parts - so we delivered the forty to the shipping yard and hitched a ride back with Duane.  We called in to So-Cal for parts and caught up with Pete, so all in all it was a very productive day all round.  A quick stop for lunch at Frisco's ....food was pretty good but definitely a guy hang out..... say no more!

Waitresses are on rollers skates -hope she got a big tip!

We got back in time to pick up Cash from day care.  Needless to say we were all stuffed and had an early night!

Next day the RV goes in for repairs to the awning which got damaged in the micro burst at Topeka and the boys are busy in the garage. 

Duane has put Daryl to work doing some panel beating for him.

Anaheim

Sadly we move on San Diego - we could easily have spent more time here as there is so much to see and the weather has been perfect for us.

We head to Anaheim for a couple of days which is only a hour & half away and about half way between San Diego and Bakersfield.  Reality is setting in about going home although we still do to have any tickets to get there yet as the flights have sky rocketed most likely due to America's Cup in San Francisco - on one day the fare is $7338 each...........think we will stay a little longer!

We check into the same RV park as last time where we stayed with Errol & Val as we know our way around and it is handy to Disneyland. 

We head over to Early Ford as Daryl is looking for some parts for the forty, so that sort of fills in the afternoon followed by a swim in the pool.



















Daryl takes me out for dinner in Down Town Disney where we have a great meal and wander around the place - it brings back lots of memories, mostly of family and friends that we have spent time with here.

Next day we cruise around Orange County for some more parts we haven't managed to get yet and then headed on out to Newport Beach where we spent a few hours relaxing down on the piers, walking the beach and around the shops before heading back to the RV.

 

We check with Mel and head out to Downtown Disney again to pick up Libby's birthday present as we realise we are not going to make it home in time and need to get it in the post to reach her for her 7th birthday - how time flys.