Palm Springs to Ojai

Landscaping at Two Springs is great. A mature park with plenty of palms. Wind energy copters (windmills) come right to edge of park. I kinda like'm. Not as disturbing as one may think. I stay for 2 days (complimentary) and consider lots ‘for sale’.
Lots go for 35K. Buy the lot but don’t really own it. You buy the rights to use it for 99 years. On top of that you pay monthly dues, $200+ They can increase dues at any time. Last day here is downright blustery. Wind shakes my trailer. Reminds me of how important it is to know what you’re buying. North Palm Springs is too windy for living in an RV.
Changed my mind about leaving PS today. Just not ready to go. I drive on Dillon Rd. towards Desert Hot Springs and come to an RV Park which honors Passport America club members. Cuts price in half. Just $22 a night. Desert Pools RV Resort.
Landscaping is underwhelming. More like parking lot style, grounds covered with gravel some hedges. Desert Pools has natural hot spring fed pools for guests to soak in. There are large signs which look to be done in the 1950’s claiming mineral springs have great health benefits. I must say, the pain in my neck was gone after one soak. I relaxed in the pools three or four more times over a few days. Had the pools mostly to my self.
The park is less than 50% full. I like it, but it can’t be good if you own this place.
Christmas is just another day. In fact the whole countdown to Christmas is a commercialized scam. Religious Christmas is something I don’t do either because I don’t believe in supporting organized religion. Gift giving is a nice practice until it turns into a competition; or worse a popularity contest.
Christmas dinner here at RV Resort is $15 a plate. Ham, potatoes, gravy, green beans, salad, pasta, and desert. The framed prints on the walls are of desert scenes, painted with a bit too much flair. There is an announcement from Desert Pools manager before dinner. There’s been a split with their national affiliation causing a riff in membership. I guess members lose part of investment from what I can understand.
Looking around, these retirees seem unconcerned. Business as usual. Maybe they've become numb to being screwed over.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
12/28
Pulled out of Desert Springs and on toward California Coast. Heard about some wild fires near Ventura, shutting down lanes of 101. I hold off travel for a few hours, hoping to avoid a rush hour. Stunningly beautiful mountains along 210 to Redlands and on to Pasadena. If it weren't Monday I’d be stopping in to see Van Gogh sunflowers at Norton Simon Museum (closed Mondays).  Great collection there and my first original VanGogh experience (huge).
Pass through the Tujunga/Sunland area. Towns set against Los Angeles National Forest. Must be great living here. Traffic is noticeably increasing. Drivers too close for comfort. I'm going 55 following rules, these folks going 65 and faster. Stretch from I-5 to 126 West is fast and furious. Off with radio to concentrate on pulling my house.
Deliberately riding along outer outskirts of Los Angeles. 
Driving by Filmore am completely awed by tree farms and other crops clawing up the hillsides. Magnificent scenery makes me want to hang out here. Take dogs for a hike and enjoy. 
At Santa Paula I decide to rest stop. Fill tank. Get haircut. Drink Guiness at an Irish Bar ($7!)
Son of a Bitch. I scraped underside of Valero gas station roof with top of air conditioner. Cracked the ac shroud along the front edge. Left a few small marks on edge trim of roof. Clearance 11’6” (RV’s 12’3”).  Been driving beneath dozens of stations. Guess I’ve taken it for granite they’re a standard 13’. Kicking myself. I give attendant insurance information. Drat! Much wasted time to correct this blunder.
I take pics of damage caused as well as pre-existing damage. Heading on to Ventura and up to Ojai