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.