Leaving CA...for now

It's hard to believe our time in CA has come to an end and we are heading out to Yuma, AZ this morning.  We've been in southern CA since the end of November and now that winter is just about over it's time to move on.  It wasn't the warm toasty winter we had in FL last year but it was great to check out this area and we'll certainly be back again in a few years.

Here's our plan for the spring and early summer (now remember, the beauty of this is we can change it at any time and for any reason):

Yuma, AZ 2/24-3/3

Pahrump, NV (near Death Valley) 3/4-3/11

Las Vegas, NV 3/11-3/25

Cottonwood, AZ (near Sedona) 3/25-5/3

Las Vegas, NV 5/3-5/17

Mount Hood, OR (to climb the mtn!) 5/20-6/3

Fly home to PA - 6/5-7/3

We plan to spend the remainder of the summer in the west and then work our way to FL late November for the winter.

Tom received this great e-mail from a friend he used to work with, Bernie Wise:

"I have been following since you left,   I have turned my mother on to your blog. She is 86  and still very active and alert .  She really missed your blog this fall  She was more concerned about you and Becky than anyone else I know.  Really glad to see and  hear you are able and actually able to be living a dream of millions of us."

Thanks for worrying about us, Bernie's mom, and thank you for following us!  I'll try to be more consistent with the blogs as we certainly don't want to worry you.  :-)  Thanks, Bernie, for the kind words!

Unfortunately we didn't end up doing many of the things we had planned for this area.  We were kept down by a few nasty colds, the flu, pneumonia (I'm on antibiotics and on the road to recovery now!) and without our Jeep for two weeks (getting a new head gasket - uggh) so we spent a bit more time in the RV than normal.  

From our campground in Desert Hot Springs there is a great hike up the mountain with excellent views of the surrounding mountains and area.  I took this hike each morning (before being sick) and enjoyed the company of Sandy and Cody twice.  Then when I was sick Tom took the hike with Ed and Cody.  

We also made one quick trip to Joshua Tree National Park and took a nice 6.2 mile loop hike on the Lost Horse Mine Trail (past an old Gold Mine - no, we didn't find any gold to take home).

Til Next Time...Happy Trails!

 

San Diego area and other happenings

Our time in southern CA is winding down but we've certainly enjoyed time with friends, spending time with (and getting to better know) my brother, Dan, and checking out the San Diego area (which was a first for both of us).

Of course we've been playing pickleball and along with that comes social gatherings.

Laurie & Mark

Fred - practicing his serves

Tom & Janet

Tom, Becky, Fred, Janet, Mark, Laurie

Will, Ella, Trudy, Rita, Alan, Ed, Sandy, Tom, Becky, Mark, Laurie - enjoying a little happy hour
Thanks for coming to visit, Alan & Trudy!

My brother, Dan, lives in Carlsbad so he has been a great guide to the area.  We met him at Santa Rosa Plateau for a nice hike and enjoyable day in the sun.

In Old Town Temecula there was a little shop with this great sign hanging up.  I couldn't resist a picture for my Boyer relatives (for those who haven't known me that long, Boyer is my maiden name)

In one quick week we took several trips into San Diego to check out the highlights...

Balboa Park

Sculpture Court Cafe at The San Diego Museum of Art - Nick, our server, is originally from York, PA! Small world! 

A view of San Diego on our way to Coronado

Hotel Del Coronado

USS Midway - we took a tour of this incredible Museum/Aircraft Carrier

Tom in the cockpit

San Diego Zoo - Fred & Janet met us and joined us for a great day at the zoo

Note the Street Name - We're walking down Easy Street!  Yes, indeed! 

Point Loma

La Jolla - hundreds of seal lions played in the water and sun bathed on the rocks.  It was a pretty sight but not a very nice smell.

Torrey Pines Reserve - Dan met us for another great time hiking along with a wonderful sunset dinner in Del Mar.

Torrey Pine Trees

Not far from our campground in Jamul was a great little hike up McGinty Mountain which gave us distant views of San Diego and Coronado.

Hummingbird resting in the tree

San Diego Safari Park

Our tram ride took us into the Safari of Africa

We took a quick trip to visit friends in Parker, AZ for 2 days

They thought it would be appropriate to go to Tommy's for dinner! 

The wild burros roam the area around Parker.  This little family hung out by the road for a photo shoot. 

Til next time...Happy Trails!