March 24 - Tehachapi, CA

We chose the Harvest Host site, Dam Ranch to stay tonight. When we were driving to the location, we remembered we had stayed here once before. It’s amid horse farms and vegetable fields. Quiet spot but we are at 3,800 feet elevation so it got cold at night. 

Main reason we stayed here was to visit the Cesar Chavez National Monument for another stamp in my book. 

As I was driving through a steep canyon, I saw a sign for the Loop Train. Had to learn more so read their website. 

In the 1870’s the Southern Pacific Railroad Company wanted to connect its Central Valley lines with its Southern California lines. The only way to make this possible was for tracks to be laid east from Bakersfield over the Tehachapi Mountains into the Mojave Desert and back to Los Angeles. The need resulted in one of the greatest engineering feats of its time, the Tehachapi Loop. 

Once I arrived at the Cesar Chavez NM, I was amazed at the outdoor landscape. Beautiful native plants around a fountain. Very tranquil spot. 

Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, César E. Chávez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's first permanent agricultural union. His leadership brought sustained international attention to the plight of U.S. farm workers, and secured for them higher wages and safer working conditions. 

I also learned that Barack Obama was the president that  signed the order to create the National Monument in 2012. 

Tuesday we travel to our last campsite before we reach Nevada City.