Moving to California and have a serious question (Bakersfield, Los Altos: bars, car)

[darny]

HI,

I will be moving to California in 40 days but I am so very worried about driving through the Mojave Desert I have driven it 3 times in the past.That was years ago,My question is if I should throw caution to the wind and drive it at night are there ANY street lights?? I don't remember seeing them but then again I wasn't looking for them either! My concern is because it gets soooo hot so any input would be great as well as suggestions.

Thank You,
D

[Spikett]

I've never done it at night. Try early morning or late afternoon.

[Ruth4Truth]

I wouldn't do it at night. I go from Flagstaff across to Tehachapi, just before Bakersfield, in one day. (en route to the Bay Area) It's about 6 or 7 hours. The desert really isn't as long a drive as it seems.

What's your destination?

[EscapeCalifornia]

What route? Highways are not lit at night but doesn't your car have headlights? The Interstates are fine to drive at night. The two lane undivided roads have a much higher crash rate. Doesn't your car have air conditioning? With today's cars, I see no reason to fear driving a desert Interstate, day or night.

[Ruth4Truth]

I used to worry about something going wrong with the car, and I'd be stuck in the searing heat, waiting for help, or something.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I used to worry about something going wrong with the car, and I'd be stuck in the searing heat, waiting for help, or something.

Was your car in poor condition? I've honestly never worried about my car dying on the road. Its probably a good idea to throw an extra couple of gallons of water in the trunk on the .0001% chance of mechanical failure though.

[Heidi60]

Women and men, driving alone along that stretch have met some unfortunate circumstances. Use your head, travel during the day and keep the sun behind you as much as possible. Also keep extra water in the car.

I had my car worked on in Los Altos a few days before I left for Christmas in Phoenix one year. The idiot mechanic used beads to clean some engine parts but forgot to clean them off. A few miles outside of Barstow, Christmas Eve, my engine seized up. A car load of drunks stopped to help and turned out to be the best. Cell phones weren't around then so I was very fortunate. Be careful but don't become paranoid.


For me, I decided not travel alone again so now fly as I am older now.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Was your car in poor condition? I've honestly never worried about my car dying on the road. Its probably a good idea to throw an extra couple of gallons of water in the trunk on the .0001% chance of mechanical failure though.

It's not that the car was in poor condition. It was more of an irrational fear based on the heat in the area, plus its relative isolation. Just more like fear of the unknown, or something. Now that I've driven it a couple of times, I'm fine with it. And I have extra radiator coolant in the car, as well as water.

[Think4Yourself]

Originally Posted by darny

HI,

I will be moving to California in 40 days but I am so very worried about driving through the Mojave Desert I have driven it 3 times in the past.That was years ago,My question is if I should throw caution to the wind and drive it at night are there ANY street lights?? I don't remember seeing them but then again I wasn't looking for them either! My concern is because it gets soooo hot so any input would be great as well as suggestions.

Thank You,
D

It's the middle of no where so, no, there are no street lights. We're talking out back of beyond. As long as your car has headlights though you will be fine.

[Charles]

One risk for me (not sure about you) is falling asleep. Some people are night people. Not Charles.

You can use Google Maps Street View to see if there are light poles on a road.