High Desert - Victorville

Victorville, eighty-one miles northeast of Los Angeles at the southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert, is our destination today and the first stop in our assigned territory of Central California.  Leaving from Mission Bay in San Diego at 10 am, we cover the distance by 1:30 pm including a stop for diesel fuel.  California poppies (the state flower) bloom by the highway in shades of orange and yellow swaying gently in the breeze.  After a slow climb that includes a view of snow-topped mountains in the distance, we reach Cajon Summit at 4,190 feet and the road levels off just sixteen miles from Victorville.  Puff the Magic Green RV has just completed her highest climb up hill yet and she performed superbly!

The difference between the lush green landscape, abundant flowers and water views at sea level in San Diego versus the barren vistas of rocks and cacti of the high desert of Victorville is readily apparent as we get off Route 15 and turn into our “home base” for the next four days at Shady Oasis Kampground.  We check in with Marge who has worked the front desk here for over thirty years.  It is early in the season here in the high desert and the park is relatively quiet with just a few overnight type campers and a back section of long term seasonal campers.  We wave at those we pass on the way to our site responding to their typical RV etiquette of a welcoming nod or wave as we pass by.

 Victorville was created 1858 as a stopping point for supplies for those migrating from the east to San Bernardino.  The original settlement was situated on the Mojave River where Route 15 crosses the river today by a veteran of the Mexican-American War named Aaron Lane who called it “Lane’s Crossing” after learning he could make more money selling supplies to miners and travelers than joining in with the California Gold Rush crowd.  In 1926 the building of Route 66 commenced passing right through Victorville.  Today there is a small museum commemorating the famous Route 66 just three miles from our campground.

We are lucky to have good Wi-Fi service here and I will get caught up on events and interesting subjects of the last few days.  The plan is to drive around a little bit today and Sunday as a “tourist” to get a feel for the area and prepare for visiting parks starting on Monday.