Monday, 30-Mar

• Left the house in San Jose at 0500. Stopped to drop off property tax payment in mailbox, deposit check in ATM (also get some cash), and get some drinking water at the machine near Fresh & Easy. Was rolling on Bird & I-280 by 0520.
• Trailer rode smoothly. Lots and lots of traffic on Hwy 101 heading into San Jose – a solid stream of headlights.
• At first rest stop on I-5, I checked the axles and wheel hub temperatures on trailer and noticed that both hubcaps had been lost somewhere along Pacheco Pass. Oh well. Guess I wasn’t meant to have baby moons on this trailer. Otherwise, trailer rode very, very smoothly, compared to last year’s jolting and crashing ride. Things in the galley and cabin all stayed pretty much in place.
• Lots of bug splatter on the windshield going through the San Joaquin valley. Saw lots of horse trailers heading north on I-5. The smell of orange blossoms was very fragrant and strong along I-5.
• Got to Manny’s place in Mojave at noon. The place is a mess. A construction warzone. He needed to go to the planning office in Tehachapi to get a permit for the shed he’s building. After that we went to lunch (Italian place) nearby.
• Manny talked a lot about the UFO experiences he had in Olympia. He’s a firm believer.
• Since the sleeping situation inside the house is pretty much old mattresses on the floor (which is full of tools and construction debris), I spent my first night in the trailer. Quite comfortable, although the wind really kicks around here in the Mojave.