California Bound Fall 2009

I was excited to be heading out on a new adventure to California.  I had taken a job working in southern California.   I was going to meet up with my friends Rob and Pat to work at a KOA for the winter.  Since I was traveling to a KOA I received travel vouchers from KOA.  This is always good as it cuts down on my travel expenses.  My first stop would be the Abilene, TX KOA.  I left on a Sunday morning which is one of my favorite times to travel.  This trip would be much like my trip out to Florence the year before.  I had no trouble getting to the Abilene KOA.  It was a beautiful day with clear skies.  I found the people at the KOA to be friendly and enjoyed my stay even though it was only one night.  My motorhome did not like the speed bumps in the park but I totally understand the need for them.
The next morning when I headed out I soon realized that it was really windy.  Before I got very far on I-20 I heard a horrible noise!  It sounded like someone rolling a bowling ball on my roof!  I was very nervous that my satellite dish had come loose!  The noise stopped soon after I heard it so I continued on to the nearest roadside park.  It was just a few miles down the road!  After I stopped I got out and looked all around the motorhome.  I discovered the satellite dish was fine but the awning over my main slide was all crinkled!  Hmmmm.  It seems the wind caught it and pulled it over the roof of the motorhome then when it retracted it wrinkled!  Nothing else was hurt....it was just scary!  
I made it to the Van Horn KOA without any more problems.  It was a windy day so I had to fight to stay on the road but even that got better as I went west.  After setting up I went to the little KOA and treated myself to supper.  I always eat with them when I travel.  I love RV parks with their own little cafe!
The next day I did not have to go far as I planned to stay at the Las Cruses KOA and visit with my friend Margaret.  I once again made it all the way through El Paso with no trouble.  While it is never a fun place to drive a big rig it is okay if you can grab a middle lane and stay there.  The Las Cruses KOA is easy to find however it is really up on a hill and so a steep drive.  Once you reach the top the RV park is well maintained and the view is awesome!  I really enjoyed visiting that evening with my friend.  We went out to eat a good Mexican restaurant that she knows about and went on a little tour of the town.
The next day I drove all the way to the John Wayne RV Ranch near Maricopa, Arizonia.  I was really ready to get off the road by the time I arrived.  The traffic had been heavy for most of the day.  This park is a Passport America park so I was able to stay there for about $15 per night!  My kind of price!
I enjoyed a good night and then hit the road headed to my destination for the season.  I was going to a KOA at the foot of the Chocolate Mountains.  As I crossed over into California I had to go through an agriculture check point.  They asked me if I had any plants or vegetables.   They had to come in and make sure the plant I was carrying was in potting soil!  I had pretty much been waved through a couple of border patrol check points so I found this kind of funny!  I guess illegal dirt is more important than people.  I made good time even with the stop and arrived at my destination with no problems.  I was exhausted from all the travel but excited to see my friends Rob and Pat and to meet all the staff.  I was soon to find out that a tour of the park would come before my rig was parked. My site was not great but then none of the sites in this park are really beautiful.  Most of them are really big but there is just so much that can't be done with dirt sites!

 

I was hired to work the front desk and to serve as a waitress in the onsite cafe.  I thought when I was hired that I would be doing one or the other.  I did not realize  that I was expected to do both at the same time.  The job was not as it had been described to me in other ways either.  I only lasted a week and then decided that it just was not the place for me.  I think I would have enjoyed the area for the winter but I did not feel comfortable staying.  The Chocolate mountain near the park was beautiful.

Before I left the park I drove into Indio on one of my last days in the area.  It was a beautiful drive.  I enjoyed seeing all the date trees and I discovered the Salton Sea.  It was a great day and I wish I had more time to explore the area.  Maybe someday I will return to the area.

I felt really bad about leaving when I had made a commitment to work for the season but I did not feel that I could do a good job.  While I did not know where I was going to go I knew the good Lord would be with me and things would be alright.  I pulled out about one week after my arrival.  By the next weekend  I heard that all the other workampers had also quit.  I still don't feel good about what happened but I think I did what was best.