Sunday Drive to Kernville

We went back up the Kern River to Lake Isabella today.  The sky was overcast in the mountains early on in the day mitigating the heat wave we have experienced the full nine days we have been in the Bakersfield area with temperatures five to ten degrees above normal.  We heard they were actually getting rain further up the river from Kernville.  

The last day of the 4^th of July weekend still attracted the camping crowd to the river with tubing and swimming going on even in the lower water levels the drought has created for the river.  Someone even had a huge ball on the river that looked like the ones you see people climb into and ride down hills inside of, but I have to wonder how that works in water?

One of our park managers had created a unique awning for his RV made from a boat’s Bimini awning.  It creates shade on the dash where his Jack Russell terrier hangs out (you may be able to see him in the photo above.)  It does the job quite well tempting us to figure out how to create one for Snoopy.  He also likes to hang out on the dash.

(Snoopy’s Comment:  “I think that is a fine idea so I can get a better view of the surroundings for my job as watch-cat!”)

I have found out that the blooming shrub I have admired and photographed repeatedly over the last few weeks is called a crepe myrtle.  It is an ornamental Asian shrub or small tree with pink, white or purplish crinkled petals, some times spelled “crape myrtle” as well.  The purple version is somewhat like a lilac to me.  They seem to grow well in this area even with the drought conditions.

We saw four parks today and missed lunch.  An orange Gatorade and an Odwalla Super Food Protein Bar sufficed until we got back down to Bakersfield.  I had a hard time eating mine because I was laughing so hard at Jim.  He said his bar looked like processed cow food…but he ate it anyway.  Anything goes in a pinch I guess!  (Actually, the Odwalla Bars are quite good.)  I took a movie of the canyon drive and we’ll put it up on You-Tube for you to see.  Pretty hair rising stuff and I am glad Jim is such a good driver!