Arriving in NorCal, parting way with solar panels

After leaving Slab City I pointed the van North for the first time in 3 weeks. I have stayed very near the Mexico border for some time but now it was time for the wind to take me northward for a few days.

I was planning to take Hwy-395 up towards Mono Lake (again… I came south this direction just a few months back) to re-experience some of the attractions along that route before hoping over the Sierras before any snowfall. As luck would have it, and as I expected, the day I turned North is the day that weather *finally* starts rolling into the Sierra’s. So, just before committing to Hwy-395 as my route a final re-check of the weather turned me about-face 40 miles and Westward another 60 miles to pull into Bakersfield for the night.

This morning I woke early, filled up with fuel, and finished off the final 280-odd miles up Hwy-99 to arrive at my Mother’s, but not without it’s own drama…

After 2500 miles and 22 days of driving, and only 30 miles remaining in this stage of the journey, and odd sight caught my attention in my mirrors. It was just a flash and a “twap” sound, but the damage was unmistakable. My 4 solar panels mounted on the roof of the van finally caught the wind and freed themselves to the disgust and anger of the cars following behind me. $200 in solar panels hitting the asphalt and shattering… what a shitty way to end a trip eh?