Here's a couple more shots from a few days ago, when we were still on the coast.

I think the folks back home should feel welcome to compare these shots to their reality of temps in the -30 range, and huge snowdrifts from the blizzard!
While stopped for the night in Bakersfield, we spotted this Rv'ing cat on the prowl in the parking lot. Good to see other cats on the road - and pretty neat markings on this one. (Click any photo for a larger view)
Then it was over the pass at Tehachapi, which was almost at the snow line, and back down into Barstow. We drove right past Mojave on Monday, unaware that at that exact time, Richard Branson was unveiling his new spaceship in town there!
We spent a night in the desert just south of Barstow, then came back into town in the morning to fill up the propane and fuel, and also paid a visit to the local BLM field office.
From that visit we learned about Rainbow Basin, which is another natural area just north of Barstow. So we did the one-way scenic drive and found a place out there to spend the night.
Still pretty cool at night, so the generator was fired up for a while in the evening to charge the batteries while watching a DVD.
The scenic loop drive said 'no RV's' but since we don't really qualify, we took the chance and found we had at least a foot or two to spare on either side!
The McDonald's restaurant at Barstow is housed in a collection of old railroad coaches, and is well suited for it's location just of the interstate, and has about 10-15 dedicated bus parking stalls, as well as those for regular vehicles. Inside, one till at the restaurant is signed 'bus drivers only'.
And like everywhere in this part of California, it appears there is a large segment of folks with 'no fixed address' who are likely finding the cold temperatures a bit of a challenge.
And they even rate their own signs.
South of Barstow, it was off on some back roads heading out on some rough BLM roads, before emerging back to pavement at Lucerne Valley. Now holed up in Desert Hot Springs visiting for a few days and ready to take on the Garage Sale Challenge on the weekend!