As I mentioned, yesterday we had the windshield replaced in the motor home. The technician that replaced it said that the company (Galaxy Glass of Lewiston, Maine) did not prepare the glass correctly nor did they install the windshield properly. That explains why Galaxy Glass had to come twice, once to install it and again because it leaked. Besides that, the RV dealer we had it at, as well as myself later, tried to stop the leaks again. And because Galaxy Glass did not install the windshield correctly, the rubber molding came off while we were driving and I had to tape it to the window and sides of the motor home. The resulting noise and aggravation and poor workmanship requires that I mention to people to use a glass dealer other than Galaxy Glass in Lewiston, Maine. They do horrible, horrible work. If at all possible use a different company.
Today, Tuesday, we planned on leaving between 9:00 and 10:00am. However when we go to leave, the motor home will not start, the battery is dead. We tried to charge it but it will not hold a charge. So we (Carmen) call an auto service that handles AAA (after spending some time talking to the insurance company we have for things like this and get nowhere - they'll pay $50.00 towards the call and that is it) and they called AAA get the okay for the service call then come out to Carmen's brothers house. After testing the battery we find out that it has a dead cell and needs to be replaced. By the time we have the new battery installed, tested both running and shut off, and checking to make sure there is no drain on the battery, it is 2:00 PM. So with a new battery ($125.00) and over four hours late we are on the road.
Our route today will take us west on 18, south on 15 (through the Cajon Pass), south on 215, east on 210, then east on 10. The Cajon Pass is about 12 miles long, curvy, has a 6% downgrade and goes from about 4300 feet down to about 1000 feet in that span. Hold on!
At the bottom of the "hill" (as people around here call it) is San Bernardino and we pass several very large pumpkin patches. Fortunately you can not land in one of the fields if you are out of control, then they would have to call it squash! LOL. Hope I'm not the only one laughing at my joke.
Anyway, we pass Palm Springs where there are many, many wind mills of all kinds and sizes. They cover the hills and valley on both sides of I-10. When we get to the city of Indio (still in CA) we are at an altitude of 16 feet below sea level. Imagine that today so far we climbed to about 4300 feet then descend to 16 feet below sea level - that's traveling. (The Salton Sea (dry of course) is just to our south and is 235 feet below sea level - that's low.) Indio also happens to be the capital of the nation for distribution of dates, grapes and melons. 
During all of our remaining trip through California, we are traveling through the Mojave desert. At one point we climb to an elevation of 1500 feet on an incline that was 10 miles long. Whew, tired just talking about it. There are several dark clouds in the sky, but it does not seem to be raining down. We do however see a rainbow in the clouds, very unusual and of course we have a picture of it. We are also going by Joshua Tree NP which is just to the north of us.
We arrive in Arizona around 6:30PM and around a town names Quartzite there is another incline of several miles. Only when we get to the top, you can see the highway continuing for miles and miles. The highway and on both sides of I-10 is as flat as can be for at least 10 miles in every direction before coming to another hill or mountain. Since it is at night, you can see a long line of vehicle lights all strung out for 10 miles. Way Cool.
By the time we get to Phoenix, sorry about using the song lyrics - but I can't help myself, it is dark. I-10 heading into Phoenix is 6 lanes and an HOV lane - they must expect a lot of traffic. Fortunately for us it is clear sailing. About an hour after leaving Phoenix, we stop for the night at a rest area.
From just before Phoenix, AZ and for miles onward we pass through the Sonora desert, Apache and Chiricahua country, National Monuments, old forts and the country side looks like we are in an old western. We do not take the 3:10 to Yuma nor do we go to Tombstone, maybe on or next trip!
From Indio, CA to our rest area outside of Casa Grande, AZ we have gone up hill all day long, beginning at 16 feet below sea level up to 1,340 feet. Talk about up hill all the way, no wonder I'm so tired. 
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