Grand Canyon to Visalia

Big time driving day. I am making a bee-line for the coast. I drove through the desert for most of the day, which is much more extensive than I had previously thought.

I stopped for lunch just over the Arizona/California border in a town called Needles. After lunch, as I was gassing up, a mechanic who worked there said "Ma'am, you're going to have a flat tire real soon. I'll put your spare on here for free. I just don't want you to be stuck in the desert with a flat." I looked, and, sure enough, you could see the steel radial showing. Not good. I had known the tires were near to death when I bought the car, but putting 5000 kms on them really did them in. So, after a bit of negotiating, I got a really good deal on having all 4 tires replaced and a free oil change.

Onward to Visalia. There really aren't any other stories after that. I saw an accident on the highway, looked semi-bad but I think everyone was alive. That is all.

Heading to Santa Cruz now. Let the fun begin!

Back in California, yay!!!

The desert I was leaving

The beautiful countryside I was entering