Haha, having lived in California and born and raised in Texas, I can honestly say I know that route quite well, coming from both the north (through CO) and the south (AZ/NM). It's not for the faint of heart, especially if you're driving it alone!
Are you still in Texas? If you are and have a little time going back to CA, stop in Big Bend (lots of crazy abandoned stuff if you look hard enough, as well as just photogenic landscape). West Texas is a treasure trove of interesting spots - much of it abandoned once the oil boom came to a halt in many of these now ghost towns - not to mention - the birth of the interstate.
I know it's a bit late, but welcome to Texas!