Football: On the road with Boron
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
When do you know you’re in the middle of nowhere? When you see a sign alongside the highway stating, ‘Watch for cattle on pavement next 31 miles.’
That was perhaps the highlight of the 108-mile drive I just made from Boron to Lake Isabella while trailing the Bobcats’ team bus. It was a mostly dull drive through mountainous terrain that resembled something out of ‘The Martian Chronicles.’ If there’s a more desolate place on earth, I wouldn’t like to see it.
We made our way along Highway 58 out of Boron before turning toward California City, then briefly onto Highway 14. Once we reached Highway 178 we passed through the burgeoning metropolises of Onyx (pop. 211) and South Lake (160) before reaching Lake Isabella (4,370).
The most disconcerting sight of the drive was a group of about six shirtless bikers who may or may not have been Hell’s Angels milling about on the side of the road. Their physiques would have made Tom Lasorda proud.
Kern Valley plays host to Boron tonight at 7 in the first game for the Bobcats since sophomore running back and safety Vinnie Rodriguez died from head injuries sustained in a game last week. The Bobcats held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser Thursday night, and funeral services are tentatively set for Wednesday or Thursday.
--Ben Bolch