• Boondocking Map
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Road Pickle
Menu
  • Boondocking Map
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Home  /  Blog  /  Getting Valley Fever in Bakersfield
22 December 2018

Getting Valley Fever in Bakersfield

Written by Steve Johnson
Blog Leave a Comment

Valley Fever is a health phenomenon unique to Bakersfield, CA and the surrounding Kern County area. It looks like Sash and I got it this time around.

We started getting the usual symptoms of a cold after the first couple days of arriving here. We thought that we picked up a flu bug after taking our grandson to the indoor playground, because after all, places like indoor playgrounds are fraught with germs.

But a little more than a week later, Sash decided she needed a visit to an urgent care clinic, and so yesterday we went. The doctor there listened to her lungs, and concluded bronchitis. But then again, bronchitis is simply an inflammation of the lungs, which could result from just about anything, even cancer. But, because our sickness seemed focused on the lungs, including a lot of coughing, and because our grandson and his parents didn’t seem too much sick themselves, which indicates they’re already accustomed to it, it sounded like classic “Valley Fever”.

Valley Fever is brought on by a specific mold spore found in the soil throughout Kern County. When the winds pick up, people breathe in the spores, and get the dreaded illness.

But, Valley Fever is not that bad. You get over it in a week or so, though people have, in fact, died from it. But usually, death comes about from excessive phlegm in the lungs which remains in place and becomes infected, and thereby turns into pneumonia.

So as I write this today, I feel a lot better. Still with sinus congestion, I’m getting my creativity back. Sash is still recovering, but seems to have regained her interest in crafting and seeing her grandson.

Me teaching Jackson how put his socks on.

Bakersfield has never been a town that I wanted to visit. As big of a city it is, it still seems like small town, mostly because it doesn’t offer much for a guy who grew up in San Diego. But since the birth of our grandson (well technically Sash’s grandson, I simply married into all this), we visit here about 2 or 3 times per year. In a way, it’s like our second home. I’m actually starting to know my way around town.

If I had my druthers, I wouldn’t come back. There are times when I prefer to remain with the trailer, camped some 100 or 200 miles away, and let Sash take the pickup truck to visit Bako.

And I’m not really a grandfather-like guy. I’m not even a dad-like guy. I’m a loner, a thinker, a craft beer drinker. I like to ponder life’s mysteries, think about strange stuff, and dive deep into a new website build. But when I do see little Jackson call out, “Ojiisan” (Japanese for grandfather), it’s hard to not like the guy.

I guess I don’t have to be the funny, laughable grandpa like on the Waltons or the Munsters. I can be the more quiet, standoffish grandpa, maybe like Mr. Miyagi on Karate Kid, or even Uncle Charley on My Three Sons. Parenthood of any kind, even the grandparent sort, has always spooked me because of my awkward experiences with my own grandmothers and grandfather, and because I’ve always been a solitary person.

Still, I can’t help but feel empathy for a kid like Jackson growing up without a grandfather. The boy doesn’t know either of his real grandfathers, both of whom are long gone. I’m the only grandfather he knows. I’m trying to imagine the man he sees when he thinks of his Ojiisan. Am I prepared to be that man?

In the time we’ve been in Bakersfield these near two weeks I’ve haven’t seen a whole lot of him because of coming down with Valley Fever. We do, however, plan to spend Christmas morning with him and his parents.

You know, when I was a kid, I never got to open presents with my grandma and grandpa watching. But, I guess I can always be the grandpa giving that memory to a little boy.

Steve Johnson
Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on Linkedin

Having first started riding in 1985 on a Kawasaki KZ400, Steve has ridden all across the United States and Canada. He currently travels full time on his Honda ST1300, living wherever he can find a friendly roof. Follow him on, "Motorcycle Philosophy".

 Previous Article Apex OHV Area – Free Nevada Boondocking
Next Article   1971 Schwinn Stingray in Orange

Related Posts

  • Married Couples Taking Separate Vacations – Pros and Cons

    August 17, 2019
  • shavano wma colorado

    Our ATC Toy Hauler Has Reached 25,000 Miles

    July 23, 2019
  • atc toy hauler rally

    2019 ATC Toy Hauler Summer Rally – A Success!

    June 10, 2019

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

road pickle

I'm a "Man in Black", one of those guys who goes around dressed in black suits, looking for people who were abducted by UFOs so that we can keep them quiet. Sash and I travel around in this trailer awaiting orders from headquarters for my next assignment. I can't show you the details of my work, but I can show you how I live.

Follow us here on Road Pickle...

how to camp for free

Topics

  • Blog (37)
  • Camping (58)
  • Central (21)
    • Illinois (6)
    • Indiana (5)
    • Iowa (6)
    • Minnesota (3)
    • Missouri (1)
  • Destinations (32)
    • Hikes (3)
    • Museums (7)
    • Parks (9)
    • Roadside Attractions (16)
    • Towns (2)
  • Lodgings (2)
  • Northeast (2)
    • Pennsylvania (2)
  • Pacific (53)
    • California (38)
    • Oregon (11)
    • Washington (4)
  • Restaurants (24)
  • Roads (9)
  • Towns (1)
  • Uncategorized (6)
  • Vlog (6)
  • West (71)
    • Arizona (23)
    • Colorado (6)
    • Idaho (4)
    • Kansas (2)
    • Montana (5)
    • Nebraska (2)
    • Nevada (6)
    • New Mexico (3)
    • North Dakota (2)
    • Oklahoma (1)
    • South Dakota (6)
    • Texas (1)
    • Utah (11)

Recent Comments

  • Steve Johnson on Setting Up a 4G LTE Antenna in our RV
  • David Johnson on Setting Up a 4G LTE Antenna in our RV
  • Cori Mills on Free RV Boondocking in Idaho – Shoshone Falls Road
  • Teresa on Sheep Bridge Road, Utah – Free RV Boondocking
  • LARRY PUTNAM on California Highway 25 (Airline Highway)
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us

Social Media

  • Connect on Facebook
  • Connect on Instagram
  • Connect on RSS
  • Connect on YouTube
© Copyright 2014. Theme by BloomPixel.