In limbo in Bear Valley, California

It has been a week of hassles and frustrations but hopefully we are getting there.  We arrived on the Sunday of a long weekend which meant Monday was not a working day - we had not realised of course.  On inspecting the motor home, everything was fine except we noticed a leak as we were connecting to the water tap.  This needed to be looked at as we were reluctant to pay the rest of the money we owed the owner. On Tuesday, the first working day we went  to an RV shop and we found that the problem was minor, just the wrong pressure fitting being used.  Problem fixed and full amount for motor home paid.  Transferring ownership was not  a problem - went smoothly but we had to use the residential address of friends.

Obtaining a mobile phone with a plan proved problematic.  In the US everything goes by zip code and our bank card is not linked to a US zip code.  Only prepaid is therefore possible.  

We are currently  tackling the issue of motor insurance.  This is proving to be a more major hurdle.  Companies generally do not insure non-US residents especially in California.  More hassles pending.   Reluctant to set off without good motor insurance.

However, rather than bore our blog readers further with our moans and groans, here are a few photos of Bear Valley where we are whiling our time away while all the above problems are being solved.

It is very pretty here.  In other circumstances we would be rather enjoying the views.  However, we are too much on edge to relax and take it all in.

Look at these bare mountains on the road to Tehachapi.  Everything is very dry here in California.  It makes Australia look lush in comparison.






I must also mention how kind Annette, the owner of the vehicle, has been to us.  She lives in a gated equestrian community with a swimming pool facility which we have been able to use as her guests.  And, most importantly she has lent us her car to run around in and allowed us use of her internet facilities.  Without such assistance, the task of waiting around for something good to happen would be 100% more unbearable.

Seeing these photos you may wonder how much we are really suffering.  In the top photo above, Annette is sitting on the left.  And here is the pool in all its splendour.  

Nice though all this is, it is a tremendously frustrating time for us being captives of other people's timetable and waiting to see if someone will provide us with insurance we need.