California Adventure in a Motorhome – December 1984
In December 1984, we embarked on one of the most memorable family holidays of our lives — a classic American road trip through California and Nevada in a large six-berth motorhome. What made the journey even more exciting was that it was my very first experience driving such a huge vehicle, and unlike in the United Kingdom, driving in America meant sitting on the left side of the vehicle and driving on the right-hand side of the road. With seven family members depending entirely on me as the sole driver, I had to remain alert and cautious throughout the trip.
Our travelling party included myself (31), my wife Hansa (30), our son Nitin (6), daughter Shital (just over 2 years old), Hansa’s elder brother Kanubhai (33), his wife Urmila (25), son Ajay (7) and little daughter Mita (4). It was a lively group filled with excitement, laughter and the spirit of adventure.
Day 1 – Friday, 7 December 1984
Anaheim to Sequoia National Park
We hired a large six-berth motorhome fully equipped with air conditioning, cooking facilities, sleeping berths and even its own generator — something that felt incredibly luxurious at the time.
We left Anaheim around 4:00 pm after Kanubhai returned home early from work. Unfortunately, our timing coincided with the busy California evening rush hour, and traffic was extremely heavy leaving the city. The sheer size of the vehicle was intimidating, especially for Kanubhai, who had never travelled in a motorhome before. The moment he saw it, his confidence disappeared. For the first couple of hours of the journey he sat silently, visibly nervous, hardly speaking a word.
As darkness approached, thick fog began rolling in across sections of the highway, making driving conditions even more challenging. Navigating such a large motorhome in unfamiliar conditions required complete concentration.
The journey of approximately 230 miles took us nearly six hours. By the time we reached Sequoia National Park it was already night-time, and the cold mountain air felt refreshing after the long drive. Several other motorhomes were already parked there, giving the place a warm and friendly camping atmosphere. The campsite had useful facilities including restrooms and hot showers, which felt wonderful after the tiring journey.
Everyone was hungry by then, so we unpacked the delicious homemade food and wine we had prepared before leaving Anaheim. The children happily enjoyed their meals and milk while excitedly exploring every corner of the motorhome. For them, sleeping in a moving home was a grand adventure in itself.
After dinner we converted the seating areas into beds, settled down for the night and quickly drifted into a deep sleep after our long and exhausting drive.
