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Rapid transit across California

Journey map

Approximately:

• from Tarzana (A) to Mojave Desert Outpost (C): 270 miles and 6h on road/dirt road
• from Mojave Desert Outpost (C) to Schnebly Hill (E): 296 miles and 5h40 on road

J1 - Friday, May 11

Wake up at 3:30; boarding at Brest-Guipavas to Roissy. Rainy weather in Paris; take off (delay) at 11:03. The advantage of taking Air France for the whole flight is that we don't have to worry about baggage at the stopover.

We arrived at LAX after a safely flight but with overcast sky. We got our car from Avis: a Ford Expedition (20,950 miles on odometer, 20 inches wheels, true 4WD and true spare wheel).

Departure for Tarzana where our friends live, guided by our GPS (it's convenient). Despite a fairly dense traffic, we arrived safely and easily. After cocktail and barbecue with them, we go to bed, our biological clock being enough advanced.

J2 - Saturday, May 12

On morning, we go for a hike in the vicinity with our friends Laurence and Jean-Pierre. On afternoon, we go to "special" shopping with JP: his bank to change our $ 100 tickets, a DIY store to buy a Styrofoam-like panel for the floor of our car, an auto parts store for a compressor and a repair kit for tires in case of multiple tire punctures on dirt roads, and a shop for camping equipment for chairs (no way to find an affordable table), gas refills for our stove and an small inflatable boat for Lake Powell.

J3 & 4 - Sunday, May 13 & Monday, May 14

Gospel mass for us (First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles), followed by a stroll downtown LA, lunch in Chinatown and back to Tarzana. Monday morning, departure for groceries (all the morning) and preparation of the car which will be our "sweet home" for 60 days.
Our electric cooler, ordered directly from Amazon, waiting for us here.

J5 - Tuesday, May 15

Departure at 9:30 for Amboy Crater where we had to make only a short stop but we forget it; our next stop is Mojave National Preserve where we drive on our first dirt road (many in our program). Temperature is 95 °F and we find again, with pleasure, Palo Verde, Joshua Tree, Datura, Ferrocactus and Chollas that we discovered in 2009. Arrival at Hole in the Wall (2:44 pm), the VC (Visitor Center) is closed, but it was planned and announced (credit restriction). We picnic then begin the hike, almost flat (except the part with rings); the rock is really perforated on all sides. End of the hike at 5:15 pm.

We set off again in delving deeper into the Preserve on Black Canyon Rd (dirt road) then on Cedar Canyon Rd (sometimes Old Government Rd); the track is quite rolling and we have no problem to drive on. We are overtaken by three 4WD vehicles who apparently know this local area. I planned to camp at Pleasant View School but, not only the track is blocked by the 3 previous vehicles, but the only (rare) possible locations are already occupied. After discussion, one of the 3 drivers (Jerry, local outfitter) invites us to come to their campground (private and primitive). Therefore we follow him, dropping Caruthers Canyon (it is already quite late) and arrived at 6:44 pm with 79 °F. A rather strong wind is spoiling the evening. For information, here is a link on the website of these outfitters.

J6 - Wednesday, May 16

Wake up at 5:40, always with the wind and 64 °F. Jerry offers us coffee while the sun is rising. We leave the camp at 7:30 (75 °F) and take the Lanfair Rd; like yesterday, very rolling track (50 mph without a problem) and we leave Mojave National Preserve around 8am to drive on the 66 then 95 and finally the I40.

Shortly after Needles, we leave I40 for some pictures on the Colorado and at 9:10 we enter Arizona.

Back on I40 to Kingman to take the famous Route 66 which will not leave us with truly fantastic memories except its roadworks and, just at the end, Seligman with cars that inspired the movie Cars. A tourist asked us (in English, of course) to photograph her; after laughter, she understands that we, too, are French .

We hit the road around 12:30 pm, towards the Walmart of Flagstaff where we complete our purchases (camping table, sunshade front, rear and sides for our car, clothespins). Departure towards Sedona at 2:42 pm on I17. We take Exit # 320 for Schnebly Hill Rd (road that quickly becomes dirt road).
Snack stop at 3:15 pm where we use for the first time our new camping table: impeccable, the "utmost luxury" . We arrive at Schnebly Vista at 4:35 pm, but with the sun in front of us (not a surprise); in this area, the road gets really bumpy and we appreciate the good ground clearance. We drive back to find a good location for the night (camping not allowed at Schnebly Vista) and stop the car around 5 pm with 77 °F; temperature is lower than yesterday because we are at 2,000 yards high, but it's much more enjoyable.