Some of my first memories of Tehachapi

Mark LaCiura.

My young daughter Sarah J. watering a wind turbine to make it grow.

I came to Tehachapi to learn to fly at our famous Skylark North Glider Flight School. At the time, I always used Willow Springs Road, the back road up to Tehachapi. Well, I got pulled over by a Kern County Sheriff one day. I was going a bit over the speed limit as I went by some sod field farms a few miles past Willow Springs Raceway, and that candy store that was on the Rosamond Blvd. intersection.

The Kern County Sheriff got my driver's license, registration, insurance information and when he came back to my car after checking me out, he gave me the classic line, "Ok young man, do you want me to write you a ticket or do you want to get a lesson about this dangerous road you are driving on way over the speed limit?"

I made the good choice to listen to the officer about safety and slowing down. Thinking about deer, coyotes and other animals that can run out in front of the car and end up in your front seat. He also told me about folks who can lose control coming down the hill, or fall asleep on the down hillside and cross over on my side of the road. He also told me about people driving unsafe and hitting telephones poles, of which there are many on Willow Springs Road.

Then he moved on to weather conditions: snow, ice on the road, sand storms and high winds are possible in this area.

The officer also talked about how these wind turbines, which were fairly new back then, can over speed, catch on fire and start a brushfire. The officer touched on always having a jacket, blanket, extra water and a first aid kit onboard, just in case and keep your ride in good working condition.

He added that I needed to be ready for issues on Highway 58, such as overturned trucks blocking the road, which has happened over the years. We see this way too often these days, for sure. In that case, Willow Springs Road could be the only way of getting up to Tehachapi. I have had to deal with that working in the desert, as well as having to stay in Mojave when the snow closes all roads to Tehachapi.

I have to say, this officer made a big impression on me then, and now I normally use Highway 58, which is way safer in my opinion.

I'll close with one of my most favorite memories tied in with those early Tehachapi wind turbines. One day, I photographed my young daughter Sarah J. watering a wind turbine to make it grow. This picture was use many years ago all over local media here in Kern County. Those wind machines sure did get larger with the 1.5 megawatt turbines and they are even more powerful than that today. I am very blessed to have a very healthy, happily married daughter and a granddaughter. I'm thankful to have had that long talk with that Kern County officer years ago, too.

Have fun and be safe out there!