August 26th, 2023

My father and I drove east on the 178 from Bakersfield through the Kern Canyon and Lake Isabella. Stopped at Nelda's Diner for breakfast and then headed west towards Wheldon, turned south onto Kelso Valley Road. We did 18 miles of Kelso Valley and also stopped off at an OHV park, almost got the truck stuck in a ravine so we didn't stay long. 2018 Ford F150 4x4. We turned on to Piute Mountain Road and headed west up into the forest. Through Claraville and past Burton Mill, Piute Peak, all the way to Caliente Bodfish Road. Stopped at Nelda's Diner again for dinner and back west on the 178 through the Kern Canyon and back to Bakersfield. We were on the road for about 12 hours that day I think and I'll never forget that day.