The O.C.

We did the unthinkable, driving on Interstate 15 and other freeways from Primm, NV, to greater Los Angeles, but they were the most direct route to our destination: Orange County Fairgrounds Campground. We were expecting major congestion, but I was astounded how smoothly it actually went.

We were near Ivanpah, California, when three bright lights rose out of the Mojave Desert. They looked like something out of a sci-fi movie with light rays spreading out from the towers. They appeared to be reflecting the sun’s rays onto a field of solar panels, but in truth, the reverse was happening. I learned later that it was a field of heliostats (fancy mirrors) that the direct the sun’s energy upwards to boilers in the towers. This in turn creates steam that turns the turbine generators to create power. Built in 2014, it is the largest concentrated solar thermal plant in the United States, and produces enough energy to power 140,000 homes. I was glad to delve into knowing more about this mystery monstrosity along the interstate highway. I wonder if many other passers-by know about it?

The only slowdown we encountered along the way was in Victorville. We never saw the reason for the traffic jam, but it was frustrating to have added about 90 minutes onto this already longer drive. Although it is not the prettiest of drives through the desert, there were moments when the mountains would rise up, or the clouds would take on unusual shapes to break up the monotony of the highway. While Interstate 15 did not seem that steep, the elevation change on this route is significant. As we drew closer to the coast, the mountains became cloaked in a deep haze and the number of lanes increased. It could be very overwhelming to see so many lanes, but Tom said he wasn’t intimidated by them as he anticipated, especially for a Friday afternoon. Traffic moved along quite smoothly!

Once we exited the freeway, we had to circle around the fairgrounds to get to the correct entrance for the campground. I missed a turn, but was able to let Tom know so he didn’t make the same error (the walkie-talkies help). If you are going to camp here, go to Gate No. 5 on Arlington Drive, not the Fair Drive entrance. The coordinates for the gate are 33.6689, -117.9005, located across from the Davis Magnet School and TeWinkle Park. Luckily for Tom, someone was coming out of the gate as he was pulling up to it, otherwise the tail of the motorhome would have been sticking out in traffic waiting for them to open it. Security has to let you in, so call the phone number on the sign and they will take care of you. Be prepared to show your drivers license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance while you are checking in. They did have some issues with their gate when we were there, but once I called, they were able to direct us around the fairgrounds for someone to let us back into the camping area.

The campground is first come first serve and does not accept reservations. It offers full hookups with sewer and 20/30/50 amp electric, and our phone and internet service were good. This is a superb location to have as a base camp since many things and places are nearby. The Pacific Ocean is about 5 miles away and Disneyland is about 15 miles, just to name a couple. The only downside to our particular site was that it was right across the road from the high school football stadium. We had the sounds from the band, the roar of the crowds, and the sound of leaf blowers cleaning up after the game on Friday night. Another event on Saturday night had loud thumping music resonating through the RV. It was enough to make my head hurt, but thankfully, both were welcomely silenced before we considered heading for bed. I am puzzled why there were very few other RVs camping, as the price and location makes it is a fantastic deal.

Super King grocery store was nearby and is an exceptional place to shop for groceries. I spent just over $8 and came out with three apples, a large head of broccoli, a bundle of celery, lettuce, mushrooms, and five pounds of carrots! I would go there again if we are back in the area. Thank you, Ryan, for suggesting we go there, and for being our tour guide. We appreciate that your suggestions and navigating made it more viable and pleasing!

Today was another cool and windy day. The solar panels either laid flat on the ground or up against the RV. We are still trying to figure out how to prop them up. With clouds in the skies, we would not generate enough power to fill the batteries, so we plugged in. The power coming in drops to 105-108 volts under light load while at 120 volts when idle, and we have incoming power limited to under 8 amps. We did a little testing, but were not able to determine why it is happening, one more thing to add to the to-do-list. The Surge Protector is humming too, and we will have to figure out what is causing that. Otherwise we surfed the web, looking for good post-black Friday deals and trying to keep warm.

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