At 6 weeks, this trip won't be nearly as long as some of our others, but it's the longest trip we've planned since 2020 curtailed our last big adventure. For this trip we're planning a southwest loop: a trip we've made many times, but there's always something new to see and do.  


Making our way south, we made quick stops just outside Sacramento and Bakersfield. Here were some of our favorite things from our brief stay in this area:

A lovely scene at our Lake Minden campground

The crab apples are blooming

Steam engine in Old Town Sacramento

This beauty is an Abutilon Tiger Eye flower blooming on a flowering maple at the California state capitol

There are beautiful orchards here, and the spring flowers are coming up

Further south, in Bakersfield, we're actually camped in and surrounded by orange orchards. The orange blossoms are in bloom and it smells heavenly!

A day trip to Wind Wolves Preserve takes us out to the lovely green velvet hills

Cute little ground squirrels are everywhere

We caught a brief glimpse of this coyote before it ran off into the distance

This cute little bird posed nicely for us (our friend, Emmalisa, let us know this appears to be a northern mockingbird) 

This little lizard friend wasn't sure it wanted its picture taken but finally said, "I'll allow it."

We were lucky to spy this roadrunner having a little snack

Another beautiful view from within the preserve

Back at camp, this mockingbird sang in a nearby tree