We slept well on our second night on the road, although a moaning dog at a nearby house and early morning traffic had us up by 6:30 a.m. Janice made coffee and oatmeal for breakfast while I took Tad out for a walk. By the time I got back, she had the motorhome ready, and we were on the road once again.
We made a stop at the Bakersfield Costco. Last year, Janice bought a pair of pants at a Costco that she absolutely loves, and ever since, we’ve stopped at at least six different Costcos in search of the elusive “magic pants.” So far, no luck. Still, we always try to fill up on gas and enjoy wandering through different stores to see what they carry compared to our Costco in Roseburg.
Once again, I embraced my role as the “King of the Right Lane.” Even if it means cruising along at 55–60 mph instead of pushing 64 in a 70 mph zone, it makes for a far less stressful drive, no pressure to pass big rigs or keep pace with the fast-moving traffic in the left lane. There’s a certain peace in letting the road come to you.
We decided to give Tad a break at the Cesar Chavez National Monument, about two hours from Hesperia. Recent reports have raised troubling allegations about Chavez, which added a layer of complexity to the visit. Still, we stopped out of our deep respect for the farmworker movement and our continued support of working-class people, especially immigrants.
While there, we learned more about Larry “Seven Fingers” Itliong, a Filipino labor leader who played a critical role alongside Chavez. It was a powerful reminder that movements are often broader and more interconnected than the names we remember.
Janice shared a memory from her childhood, when she was just seven years old, her mother took her, her siblings, and cousins to a farmworker protest. That experience helped shape her lifelong commitment to standing with and supporting marginalized communities.
After our visit, we drove the final two hours to Hesperia, where we’re staying at another Harvest Hosts location, Three Strikes Brewing. We were here back on April 5, 2024, when it was known as Oak Hills Brewing. That venture didn’t work out, but two local brewers, each having experienced a failed brewery of their own, joined forces for a third attempt. Hence the name: Three Strikes Brewing.
I asked Mike, one of the co-owners, about the name, secretly hoping it had something to do with baseball, but his answer told a deeper story of resilience and second (or third) chances. We talked about our work with the Umpqua Brew Fest and the Umpqua Valley Brewers Guild, and I’m hoping to interview Mike for a future episode of “What’s Brewing?”
We enjoyed pizza and beer before settling in for Comedy Night, where four amateur comedians took the stage. It was surprisingly entertaining. Janice and I were singled out from the crowd as “the seniors” in a mostly middle-aged audience, which led to a fun exchange.
At one point, the conversation turned to dating, and the comedian mentioned OK Cupid, the platform where Janice and I met. That opened the door to a playful moment when we were asked to share our “biggest secrets.”
Janice said, “I’m not from this planet.”
And I replied, “I am God… (and so are you).”
It was one of those spontaneous, joyful moments that seem to happen more often when you’re out on the road.
Once again, we found ourselves connecting with people far from home. Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome have given us a unique way to experience communities across the country. While the stays are technically free, we’re always happy to support these local businesses with food and drinks.
In the end, it’s not just about a place to park, it’s about the people, the stories, and the shared moments along the way.
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