Breckenridge Road

 

Saturday May 18th.

Abhay and me set out for a drive through the mountains. The newly opened interchange between west side freeway ( now named 58West) to the 58 East and 99 freeways is a joy to travel on because it cuts out the surface streets completely. Heading east on 58 we took route 184 briefly before turning right into the Breckenridge Road. Just a little bit in and we saw a board saying road closed 20 miles ahead. One winter earlier we were on the road from the other end off Lion’s Trail and had to turn back due to snow. This time hoped to travel the entire road but the board raised doubts if we could make it happen.( check the post on this blog titled Lion’s Trail adventures dated January 29,2023)

Still determined I decided to keep driving. Except for an occasional biker there were no cars on the road. We passed by orange groves before beginning the climb. The hills were covered with browned grass all over. Not a speck of green was visible anywhere. It was a narrow winding road and Abhay was getting increasingly wary of driving further. I cajoled him. Slowed down briefly to ask a biker if the road was open and he told us that it was closed 10 miles ahead. I decided to go until that point anyways. Further on saw a car coming in the opposite direction and stopped to ask the driver. They were a couple in their seventies or so and told us the road was open although some sections were washed away after the storms. They had a cabin up there and were certain we go go through the entire road. Gates were open , they said. 

Now reassured we drove on. The landscape changed greatly by then. Flowering grasses and wildflowers began to show by the roadside and on the slopes. Oaks and other trees appeared. There were private properties with cattle and horses on the ranches. I wondered how they manage during winter when there is no access from the road. 

Further up there were fir and pine trees. At several places large fallen trees were either moved out of the way or sawed down into smaller sections to facilitate moving them. 

We arrived at the 20 miles mark where the road was supposed to be closed. Indeed a large chunk of the road had collapsed. It was tricky but I got behind the wheel and had Abhay guide me through it, keeping close to the hill on the right side. It was a nice ride there on though past many fallen trees and rock slides. The view of distant mountain peaks appeared though this time they lacked the snow tops. 

We made to the other end when the road meets Lion’s trail. It was 1 pm by then. Abhay was hungry. Bakersfield was 42 miles from there. He preferred we drive to Lake Isabella which was closer. On the way was Havilah, the old county seat for Kern County. This time the museum was open. Jane, a lady volunteer from Walker Basin was watching for the day. We stopped to take a look. It was fascinating to see so many exhibits that included photographs, items of daily use, old copies of The Bakersfield Californian etc that told the history of Keen County.  I got a souvenir pin marking 150 year anniversary of the county. Jane told me the pin was handmade by an artist from Kernville. She was kind to also let me keep a souvenir wooden nickel. 

We drove onwards past Bodfish into Lake Isabella. Found this Pizza Factory where we had eaten once earlier. The Greek pizza and Spinach-garlic pizza didn’t take too long to arrive. As we sat munching on our pizza we saw a young woman running across with a sheriff chasing her. He got her on the grass and with some scuffle managed to handcuff her and then calling for back up. Looked like she and an accomplice were seen shoplifting from a store in that shopping complex.

It was History Day, a major event in the year at the neighboring town of Kernville. We thought we would stop by and check it out. Unfortunately I took the wrong freeway exit and instead carried on to Bakersfield via 178. The drive through the canyon is always beautiful. Made it home by 4:30 pm. It had been a lovely outing.

Saree was a dark mauve colored weave from Assam using raw mulberry silk or Nuni mixed with cotton. Hence called Nuni cotton.