Another driving day as we try to cross over to the eastern end of the country quickly. Not a whole lot different from yesterday. We got into Dallas/Ft. Worth in early afternoon, so traffic wasn't an issue. We are staying, technically, in Grand Prairie, which is pretty much right between the two cities. Starbucks are plentiful around here, so Mommy's a happy camper!
And I'm going to need the caffine tomorrow! We have a huge driving day to Memphis - 465 miles! It's definitely going to be an all-day affair. But it's totally worth it - we have plans to meet up with friends in the Carolinas this weekend & we're very excited to see them!
But first, rest for the road weary!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Day 52: Texas Travels
We enjoyed a complimentary breakfast at the camp lounge this morning. We met a retired couple who were former teachers. They were very inquisitive about our homeschooling, in a polite way. The husband was funny & sociable, telling the kids the same kind of corny jokes my dad tells (Hi, Dad! Love ya!)
Then it was time to hit the road. It wasn't long before we crossed into Texas. Moving into El Paso takes you right next to the US/Mexico border, just like the day we drove to Yuma. We had to pass through a border inspection, which led to a discussion about immigration with the kids.
The drive was simple &, although a long distance, it was made shorter due to the speed limit being 80 mph! I set the cruise control to 78 since my RV's maximum vehicle speed is 80 & I didn't like its frequent automatic slowdowns as we moved up & down slopes. The road terrain is pretty flat, but still has some gentle hills. Off in the distance we could see craggy mountain ranges, but only once did we have to actually climb one.
Tonight we are staying in Big Springs, which is between Midland & Abilene. Tomorrow - Dallas!
Then it was time to hit the road. It wasn't long before we crossed into Texas. Moving into El Paso takes you right next to the US/Mexico border, just like the day we drove to Yuma. We had to pass through a border inspection, which led to a discussion about immigration with the kids.
The drive was simple &, although a long distance, it was made shorter due to the speed limit being 80 mph! I set the cruise control to 78 since my RV's maximum vehicle speed is 80 & I didn't like its frequent automatic slowdowns as we moved up & down slopes. The road terrain is pretty flat, but still has some gentle hills. Off in the distance we could see craggy mountain ranges, but only once did we have to actually climb one.
Tonight we are staying in Big Springs, which is between Midland & Abilene. Tomorrow - Dallas!
Day 51: Oct 1st - Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!
Today is my parents' 40th wedding anniversary!! Just thought I would share...
We drove from Yuma to Las Cruces, NM. We got to go through Tucson, which is huge & sprawling. It's still hot & quite dry. I'm driving tired because, alas, although we liked the Yuma campground during the day, we found that during the night the trains traveling past so nearby blow their horns at each road crossing as they pass through the city. This means all night long I kept getting jolted awake from the noise every hour or so. Not fun.
The campground in Las Cruces has a beautiful office/lounge area - adobe style with fireplaces inside & out. Very pretty. Hopefully this will be a more restful stay for us.
We drove from Yuma to Las Cruces, NM. We got to go through Tucson, which is huge & sprawling. It's still hot & quite dry. I'm driving tired because, alas, although we liked the Yuma campground during the day, we found that during the night the trains traveling past so nearby blow their horns at each road crossing as they pass through the city. This means all night long I kept getting jolted awake from the noise every hour or so. Not fun.
The campground in Las Cruces has a beautiful office/lounge area - adobe style with fireplaces inside & out. Very pretty. Hopefully this will be a more restful stay for us.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Day 50: Goodbye, September...
I can't believe it's the end of September - especially when it's nearly 100 degrees out! Seeing Halloween decorations around the campsites is plain & simple weird. There is no way my poor brain can connect this heat with "autumn" things. Saguaros & tumbleweeds just don't change colors like the leaves back home.
We arrived at the campground, about an hour east of Tuscon, in mid-afternoon, which meant swim time at the pool. They had a nice float, which I used to, well, float, while Kimi enjoyed the warm water for immersively. Later, laundry (clean clothes, yahoo!).
Since I'm writing "live", I don't know if anything interesting is going to happen later tonight, but since it's 8:30 pm my time, I doubt it. Two weeks & two days to go - unless our plans change, we should be home on Monday, Oct. 16th. It's been quite the trip...
We arrived at the campground, about an hour east of Tuscon, in mid-afternoon, which meant swim time at the pool. They had a nice float, which I used to, well, float, while Kimi enjoyed the warm water for immersively. Later, laundry (clean clothes, yahoo!).
Since I'm writing "live", I don't know if anything interesting is going to happen later tonight, but since it's 8:30 pm my time, I doubt it. Two weeks & two days to go - unless our plans change, we should be home on Monday, Oct. 16th. It's been quite the trip...
Day 49: Is there a doctor in the house?
Shaun had been walking Buster this morning when, while rounding about the back end of the RV, he smacked his head into the extended slideout. I heard his cry & knew it was the kind you don't ignore. He was holding the front of his head (&, amazingly, also Buster's leash). When he pulled his hand away the blood was flowing, hard. Calling out to Kimi, who was washing up in the bathroom, I yelled for paper towels. It soon became clear that, despite the copious amount of blood, he was not going to need stitches (thank goodness). Using my supplies from the first aid kit, I was better able to clean the wound & stop the bleeding, all while we were standing outside in our pjs!
When we were at Legoland yesterday, we were able to purchase next-day tickets for just $8 per ticket more (a deal when you realize that for the 3 of us it cost $130, including 10% AAA discount, that first day!). We had to think about whether it made sense to go back. After laying down to rest, pluse drinking fluids & taking some Ibuprophin, Shaun decided that he did want to go back.
We choose to do things at a slower pace, & skipped any rides that moved around quickly. We had fun doing some of the things we missed the day before, & had a nice big nutritious lunch. It worked out fine, & Shaun was fine the rest of the day. We bought him some new Bionicle sets & Kimi got a couple of Star Wars sets - things to play with while on the road.
Then, on to Yuma, AZ. We traveled through the desert - 105 degrees! When we got to the campground, around 8pm, it was 97. It felt so weird walking around. It was a dry windless air, very quiet & still. Buster loved it, & walked for nearly a half an hour, sniffing only goodness knows what, tracking some critter trail all over the campground.
More desert tomorrow - hot, hot, hot!
When we were at Legoland yesterday, we were able to purchase next-day tickets for just $8 per ticket more (a deal when you realize that for the 3 of us it cost $130, including 10% AAA discount, that first day!). We had to think about whether it made sense to go back. After laying down to rest, pluse drinking fluids & taking some Ibuprophin, Shaun decided that he did want to go back.
We choose to do things at a slower pace, & skipped any rides that moved around quickly. We had fun doing some of the things we missed the day before, & had a nice big nutritious lunch. It worked out fine, & Shaun was fine the rest of the day. We bought him some new Bionicle sets & Kimi got a couple of Star Wars sets - things to play with while on the road.
Then, on to Yuma, AZ. We traveled through the desert - 105 degrees! When we got to the campground, around 8pm, it was 97. It felt so weird walking around. It was a dry windless air, very quiet & still. Buster loved it, & walked for nearly a half an hour, sniffing only goodness knows what, tracking some critter trail all over the campground.
More desert tomorrow - hot, hot, hot!
Day 48: Lego my Legos!
Today we tackled Legoland - a wonderful amusement park filled with rides & activities. We arrived soon after opening & got right to it on the Coastersaurus ride. Then we quickly made our way to the electric car driving course - designed to look like a driver's ed course, complete with stop lights & signs, two-way traffic & hazard cones. The cars are free-moving, not on any kind of track, so it's a lot of fun for kids. Plus, for a fee, the kids were able to get "real" Legoland licenses - color photo ID, thick plastic, dated, the works!
We spent the rest of the day making our way around the park. We've been to Legoland twice before, most recently 2 1/2 years ago as part of our Australia trip. It was fun visiting old favorites (except for the Dragon coaster, which, sadly, was being refurbished this week) & discovering new ones. A newbie for us was a water ride where you sit in a pirate ship that navigates a set waterway loop. It allows passengers to sit on either end, facing out with water cannons, which riders/pirates can use to squirt at targets, other boats & innocent people walking near the ride. We got pretty wet in the process, too!
As we started to wear out at the end of the day, we visited the gaming area, where people could try out Playstation versions of different Lego themed games, including Star Wars, which we own. Ever since Sept 12, when the new Lego Star Wars II game was released, we've been trying to find it to buy it. Each time, no luck. Going to the Big Store we were optimistic, but alas, again, not available for GameCube, which is our gaming platform. Shaun was SO disappointed!
Bound & determined, we stopped at a WalMart on the way back to the campground &, finally! We found it!! Shaun of course started playing it as soon as we were plugged back into the site.
Now the world can rest easy - Shaun Skywalker is on the job!
We spent the rest of the day making our way around the park. We've been to Legoland twice before, most recently 2 1/2 years ago as part of our Australia trip. It was fun visiting old favorites (except for the Dragon coaster, which, sadly, was being refurbished this week) & discovering new ones. A newbie for us was a water ride where you sit in a pirate ship that navigates a set waterway loop. It allows passengers to sit on either end, facing out with water cannons, which riders/pirates can use to squirt at targets, other boats & innocent people walking near the ride. We got pretty wet in the process, too!
As we started to wear out at the end of the day, we visited the gaming area, where people could try out Playstation versions of different Lego themed games, including Star Wars, which we own. Ever since Sept 12, when the new Lego Star Wars II game was released, we've been trying to find it to buy it. Each time, no luck. Going to the Big Store we were optimistic, but alas, again, not available for GameCube, which is our gaming platform. Shaun was SO disappointed!
Bound & determined, we stopped at a WalMart on the way back to the campground &, finally! We found it!! Shaun of course started playing it as soon as we were plugged back into the site.
Now the world can rest easy - Shaun Skywalker is on the job!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Day 47: The San Diego Wild Animal Park
The San Diego Wild Animal Park is a bigger, & in our opinion, better version of the San Diego Zoo. The layout is huge, & many of the animals are able to roam freely within a huge natural “preserve”. A train takes visitors out & around this area, where the animals can be safely observed behaving more like wild animals than they ever could in a traditional zoo envirnment. This is also where the breeding program does what it does. They have been in the news as of late because of their latest accomplishments: baby’s!
The first baby we saw was the elephant. On September 11 at 7:49 p.m., a 209-pound (95-kilogram) female African elephant calf was born at the Wild Animal Park, marking the second birth for the herd rescued from culling in Africa in 2003. The calf was born to 16-year-old, first-time mother Umngani. This morning she was happily bouncing beside her mom. The train guide told us that she didn’t know how to operate the strange floppy thing that hangs from her face – it is only by watching the older elephants that she will learn how to use her trunk. She was very cute & active!
Later in the ride, we passed a pond where many different types of birds live. Some of them are flamingos, & with them were these very fuzzy gray things on stilts – yep, baby flamingos! As they age, they lose the gray & grow out their white feathers. That’s right, flamingos are white – unless they eat certain foods. Then their feathers take on their characteristic pink hue.
Much later in the day, while noshing on Dippin Dots & frozen lemonades, we were clued in by an employee to head over to the Lion Camp. There we found the family – proud mom & dad with their twin cubs. It was amazing. The enclosure has a section that is rimmed by a glass wall. Along part of the wall, a dirt “platform” provides a shady lounging area that places the resting lions at eyeballs height. The cubs were both hanging out here near their mom. Suddenly, she got up & walked over to dad, who was out in the grassy area. The cubs, who are 3 months old, quickly followed, nippy at each other’s legs all along the way. It was great fun watching them – the “kids” tussled with each other in the tall grass, then stalked their parents. At one point, dad got up & gently charged at his offspring, causing great delight for cubs & spectators alike. Later, back at the window ledge, he wrestled & pinned them down. It was always a thrill to catch the eye of one of the lions – they look you straight in the eye & really seem to be considering you, probably wondering what disease caused us to lose all of our fur. Man, we make for really ugly lions!
We were about to leave when Kimi placed her newly-purchased stuffed wolf on the window ledge near the lions. One cub took immediate notice. As Kimi moved the toy, the baby lion tracked the toy’s movements with his head. Kimi, not letting this opportunity slip away, moved the toy as if she were playing with cat & this little cub took the bait. He scrunched down his body & then pounced! Finding nothing but smooth glass for his efforts did not disuade him. For nearly 10 minutes Kimi kept the cub fully engaged in trying to catch the toy. People on our side kept taking photos & encouraged him to “Catch it!” He tried different positions of attack, at one point using all four paws to press against the glass. It was so fun watching him try to figure out this challenge. Eventually, he did get tired of the game, & looked away, just like a human baby will when tired or overwhelmed by a game. We are so grateful to have had this inter-species connection.
The first baby we saw was the elephant. On September 11 at 7:49 p.m., a 209-pound (95-kilogram) female African elephant calf was born at the Wild Animal Park, marking the second birth for the herd rescued from culling in Africa in 2003. The calf was born to 16-year-old, first-time mother Umngani. This morning she was happily bouncing beside her mom. The train guide told us that she didn’t know how to operate the strange floppy thing that hangs from her face – it is only by watching the older elephants that she will learn how to use her trunk. She was very cute & active!
Later in the ride, we passed a pond where many different types of birds live. Some of them are flamingos, & with them were these very fuzzy gray things on stilts – yep, baby flamingos! As they age, they lose the gray & grow out their white feathers. That’s right, flamingos are white – unless they eat certain foods. Then their feathers take on their characteristic pink hue.
Much later in the day, while noshing on Dippin Dots & frozen lemonades, we were clued in by an employee to head over to the Lion Camp. There we found the family – proud mom & dad with their twin cubs. It was amazing. The enclosure has a section that is rimmed by a glass wall. Along part of the wall, a dirt “platform” provides a shady lounging area that places the resting lions at eyeballs height. The cubs were both hanging out here near their mom. Suddenly, she got up & walked over to dad, who was out in the grassy area. The cubs, who are 3 months old, quickly followed, nippy at each other’s legs all along the way. It was great fun watching them – the “kids” tussled with each other in the tall grass, then stalked their parents. At one point, dad got up & gently charged at his offspring, causing great delight for cubs & spectators alike. Later, back at the window ledge, he wrestled & pinned them down. It was always a thrill to catch the eye of one of the lions – they look you straight in the eye & really seem to be considering you, probably wondering what disease caused us to lose all of our fur. Man, we make for really ugly lions!
We were about to leave when Kimi placed her newly-purchased stuffed wolf on the window ledge near the lions. One cub took immediate notice. As Kimi moved the toy, the baby lion tracked the toy’s movements with his head. Kimi, not letting this opportunity slip away, moved the toy as if she were playing with cat & this little cub took the bait. He scrunched down his body & then pounced! Finding nothing but smooth glass for his efforts did not disuade him. For nearly 10 minutes Kimi kept the cub fully engaged in trying to catch the toy. People on our side kept taking photos & encouraged him to “Catch it!” He tried different positions of attack, at one point using all four paws to press against the glass. It was so fun watching him try to figure out this challenge. Eventually, he did get tired of the game, & looked away, just like a human baby will when tired or overwhelmed by a game. We are so grateful to have had this inter-species connection.
Day 46: Special Delivery!
The campground is separated into 2 sections: the lower section is at street level, the upper section is, well, higher, reached by driving up a hill to another flat section. We “live” in the upper level, which gives us a nice view of the crescent moon hanging over the opposing hillsides each night.
Kimi & I took a morning walk around the campground & started to head up the hill ramp when a FedEx truck passed us. As we neared the crest I could hear the truck’s motor as it rounded through the roadway’s loop. I suddenly had a thought – the package I knew Phil was sending us has arrived earlier than expected. I quickened my pace & lo & behold, the truck was idling right in front of our site.
I caught the driver’s attention & he told me he had delivered the package onto our door steps. Picking up the envelope, I was able to confirm everything by the return address. Phil had sent us 3 DVDs, each containing 4 episodes of Gilmore Girls. Kimi was ecstatic! She really is a huge fan, & this little gift from home chased away some of the homesickness both kids have been experiencing.
We had already decided to not drive anywhere today, so this was perfect timing. We quickly did some laundry & hung it up on our wooden clothes hanger to dry. Snacks & drinks in hand, we settled in to some GG time!
As we watched, we couldn’t help piping up whenever we saw something that reminded us of things we saw, learned about or did during the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Watching a bunch of shows back to back also allowed us to catch a couple of goofs – small continuity issues, but it proved that we were paying attention. The issues that the characters face offer great opportunities for discussion – from armchair refereeing of who wronged who to the “what would you do” to what if X happened instead. Whenever we’ve mentioned our love of all things Gilmore to others, those who have seen it all respond very positively. I think these families also see the great value it offers, outside of the (quite humorous) entertainment it provides.
Kimi & I took a morning walk around the campground & started to head up the hill ramp when a FedEx truck passed us. As we neared the crest I could hear the truck’s motor as it rounded through the roadway’s loop. I suddenly had a thought – the package I knew Phil was sending us has arrived earlier than expected. I quickened my pace & lo & behold, the truck was idling right in front of our site.
I caught the driver’s attention & he told me he had delivered the package onto our door steps. Picking up the envelope, I was able to confirm everything by the return address. Phil had sent us 3 DVDs, each containing 4 episodes of Gilmore Girls. Kimi was ecstatic! She really is a huge fan, & this little gift from home chased away some of the homesickness both kids have been experiencing.
We had already decided to not drive anywhere today, so this was perfect timing. We quickly did some laundry & hung it up on our wooden clothes hanger to dry. Snacks & drinks in hand, we settled in to some GG time!
As we watched, we couldn’t help piping up whenever we saw something that reminded us of things we saw, learned about or did during the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Watching a bunch of shows back to back also allowed us to catch a couple of goofs – small continuity issues, but it proved that we were paying attention. The issues that the characters face offer great opportunities for discussion – from armchair refereeing of who wronged who to the “what would you do” to what if X happened instead. Whenever we’ve mentioned our love of all things Gilmore to others, those who have seen it all respond very positively. I think these families also see the great value it offers, outside of the (quite humorous) entertainment it provides.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Day 45: You know you've had a bad day when...
1) the hose you are using to drain your RV tanks disconnects from its coupler
2) you were draining the black water tank at the time
3) the black water tank aint exactly "water"
4) you go back into your RV to clean up & the dog backs away from you
5) you're trying to find Trader Joes & Starbucks but your GyPSy is "confused" & tells you to take non-existant turns
6) you manage to find your way, but at 4-way stop signs, inconsiderate drivers decide you don't need a turn, causing you to repeatedly stomp on the brakes
7) you finally arrive at the campground to check in & they say they don't have you listed
8) they finally find your packet (since you were pre-registered), you find your site, you back it in without crashing into anything, go to hook up the water & electric and...can't open the door
9) after trying to push, kick & "move it with your mind" the door handle instead crunches your pinkie finger
10) your kids learn a new curse word (note to self: in homeschooling report, add vocabulary lesson)
11) you call National RV & calmly explain the situation & they tell you it will take about an hour before the locksmith can arrive
12) you call National RV 1 1/2 hours later & calmly explain the situation & they say they will call you right back
13) 20 minutes later the locksmith guy calls & tells you he had the wrong address, but will be there shortly
14) while waiting for the locksmith guy the kids decide to entertain themselves with a game I'll just call "Let's Bounce Off the Walls & Make Loud Noices"
15) while waiting for the locksmith guy your sweet husband calls from a plane that has very loud announcements occuring each time you try to talk to him
16) the locksmith guy arrives while you are shout-talking to your husband, causing you to have to hang up on him, not knowing if he was leaving or arriving (he was leaving)
17) the locksmith guy walks up to your RV, sees you through the window, looking like a lost puppy, & says, "So you're good now?" (you find out later that he thought he was supposed to unlock a car door, & since there was no car at your site, you must have fixed it already)
18) after explaining that, no, you are actually locked inside the RV, the locksmith guy reaches up &, with the ease of slicing warm butter, opens the door
19) even though you're grateful that the door now opens freely, you feel like an idiot because he didn't even have to use a tool or anything. The saving grace is that this is all on National RV's dime.
20) now that you can come & go freely, the first thing your dog does is go, freely, twice, in big piles outside the RV (at least he waited until he was outside!)
2) you were draining the black water tank at the time
3) the black water tank aint exactly "water"
4) you go back into your RV to clean up & the dog backs away from you
5) you're trying to find Trader Joes & Starbucks but your GyPSy is "confused" & tells you to take non-existant turns
6) you manage to find your way, but at 4-way stop signs, inconsiderate drivers decide you don't need a turn, causing you to repeatedly stomp on the brakes
7) you finally arrive at the campground to check in & they say they don't have you listed
8) they finally find your packet (since you were pre-registered), you find your site, you back it in without crashing into anything, go to hook up the water & electric and...can't open the door
9) after trying to push, kick & "move it with your mind" the door handle instead crunches your pinkie finger
10) your kids learn a new curse word (note to self: in homeschooling report, add vocabulary lesson)
11) you call National RV & calmly explain the situation & they tell you it will take about an hour before the locksmith can arrive
12) you call National RV 1 1/2 hours later & calmly explain the situation & they say they will call you right back
13) 20 minutes later the locksmith guy calls & tells you he had the wrong address, but will be there shortly
14) while waiting for the locksmith guy the kids decide to entertain themselves with a game I'll just call "Let's Bounce Off the Walls & Make Loud Noices"
15) while waiting for the locksmith guy your sweet husband calls from a plane that has very loud announcements occuring each time you try to talk to him
16) the locksmith guy arrives while you are shout-talking to your husband, causing you to have to hang up on him, not knowing if he was leaving or arriving (he was leaving)
17) the locksmith guy walks up to your RV, sees you through the window, looking like a lost puppy, & says, "So you're good now?" (you find out later that he thought he was supposed to unlock a car door, & since there was no car at your site, you must have fixed it already)
18) after explaining that, no, you are actually locked inside the RV, the locksmith guy reaches up &, with the ease of slicing warm butter, opens the door
19) even though you're grateful that the door now opens freely, you feel like an idiot because he didn't even have to use a tool or anything. The saving grace is that this is all on National RV's dime.
20) now that you can come & go freely, the first thing your dog does is go, freely, twice, in big piles outside the RV (at least he waited until he was outside!)
Day 44: It's all about heading back now...
Today we start heading back home, sort of. First, we have to backtrack past LA down to Legoland. Then we begin traveling in an easterly direction until we find ourselves home.
We drove down CA-101 down to Santa Barbara - a very pretty oceanview trip. Unfortunately, our campground, well, sucks.
Its only redeeming quality, being close to the highway is immediately off-set by the fact that the highway is right next to it, along with the railway. A little "sound barrier" fence is all that separates us. The "campground" is a nasty cramped dirt lot with facilities. Needless to say, we will never return. Blech!
We drove down CA-101 down to Santa Barbara - a very pretty oceanview trip. Unfortunately, our campground, well, sucks.
Its only redeeming quality, being close to the highway is immediately off-set by the fact that the highway is right next to it, along with the railway. A little "sound barrier" fence is all that separates us. The "campground" is a nasty cramped dirt lot with facilities. Needless to say, we will never return. Blech!
Day 43: The Santa Cruz Amusement Park
The boardwalk amusement park is one of the last of the oldtime beachside amusement parks, & its carousel house is an historic landmark. Expecting something closer to Coney Island (which has seen better days) we found a great place for exciting rides & delicious "junk" food. The rides were clean & reasonably new with a great variety of thrills & chills. The developers have used their space well, creating multi-level areas. Just when you think you've seen all the rides, whoops - there's a new section.
There are a lot of midway booths to try to win a prize - & I did! Shaun had been trying his luck at one of those squirt water into a target to move your racer to the finish line kind of booths, hoping to win a stuffed dragon. After 2 attempts, no luck. He went back for a third time (at $2 a pop) but didn't have anyone to race. So, being the sucker, I mean, good mom that I am, I ponied up my additional $2 & beat the pants off my son. Yes, yes, I let him keep "Blaze". Sheesh!
The food was really good, although Shaun had the misfortune to order popcorn chicken that had what tasted like Buffalo sauce on it. Good for mommy, not so good for Shaunie. I tried to trade my pad thai (told you they had good food here...) but he doesn't like peanuts. Fortunately, he did like Kimi's teriyaki chicken & rice, plus bought a jumbo corn dog, so all was good. Later we ate: Dippin' Dots ("Ice Cream of the Future"), soft serve ice cream with a "dipped" chocolate shell, funnel cake, caramel apples & chocolate covered strawberries. Well, we didn't all eat the above, but collectively it's an impressive list. And nobody barfed! Despite the spinning, swirling, dipping, splashing & flashing (the lights, not us) we all kept our heads, & tummies, together.
Eight hours later, we headed home, tired, tanned & terrific!
There are a lot of midway booths to try to win a prize - & I did! Shaun had been trying his luck at one of those squirt water into a target to move your racer to the finish line kind of booths, hoping to win a stuffed dragon. After 2 attempts, no luck. He went back for a third time (at $2 a pop) but didn't have anyone to race. So, being the sucker, I mean, good mom that I am, I ponied up my additional $2 & beat the pants off my son. Yes, yes, I let him keep "Blaze". Sheesh!
The food was really good, although Shaun had the misfortune to order popcorn chicken that had what tasted like Buffalo sauce on it. Good for mommy, not so good for Shaunie. I tried to trade my pad thai (told you they had good food here...) but he doesn't like peanuts. Fortunately, he did like Kimi's teriyaki chicken & rice, plus bought a jumbo corn dog, so all was good. Later we ate: Dippin' Dots ("Ice Cream of the Future"), soft serve ice cream with a "dipped" chocolate shell, funnel cake, caramel apples & chocolate covered strawberries. Well, we didn't all eat the above, but collectively it's an impressive list. And nobody barfed! Despite the spinning, swirling, dipping, splashing & flashing (the lights, not us) we all kept our heads, & tummies, together.
Eight hours later, we headed home, tired, tanned & terrific!
Day 42: Sept 22 - Happy Birthday, Kimberly!
My little girl is 12 today. Gulp. I can't believe how fast it's gone. I know that's a cliche, but there it is anyways.
We drove into Santa Cruz & I found a parking lot that could hold our beast of an RV very near the wharf. We walked down the pier & Kimi chose a restaurant for lunch. Then we walked back to shore so that we could walk along the boardwalk. Unfortunately, being after Labor Day meant that the amusement park was closed until the weekend, but we were able to walk in it & get the lay of the land to plan our visit on Saturday. We also talked to a security guard, who let me know about RV parking next to the far end of the amusement park, which was a good 15-20 minute walk from the place we parked at today.
However, where we parked today was great for walking into the downtown area. We found a Borders Bookstore where Kimi & Shaun endulged themselves. Then we wandered over to an organic food store & bought some fresh produce, including some amazing apples. Then we drifted over to a Cold Stone Creamery & pigged out on ice cream. We dragged ourselves & our bags back to the RV & headed back to the campground. Kimi finished off her birthday by watching "Much Ado About Nothing" & eating popcorn. Tomorrow - birthday, part 2!
We drove into Santa Cruz & I found a parking lot that could hold our beast of an RV very near the wharf. We walked down the pier & Kimi chose a restaurant for lunch. Then we walked back to shore so that we could walk along the boardwalk. Unfortunately, being after Labor Day meant that the amusement park was closed until the weekend, but we were able to walk in it & get the lay of the land to plan our visit on Saturday. We also talked to a security guard, who let me know about RV parking next to the far end of the amusement park, which was a good 15-20 minute walk from the place we parked at today.
However, where we parked today was great for walking into the downtown area. We found a Borders Bookstore where Kimi & Shaun endulged themselves. Then we wandered over to an organic food store & bought some fresh produce, including some amazing apples. Then we drifted over to a Cold Stone Creamery & pigged out on ice cream. We dragged ourselves & our bags back to the RV & headed back to the campground. Kimi finished off her birthday by watching "Much Ado About Nothing" & eating popcorn. Tomorrow - birthday, part 2!
Day 41: Hello, Santa Cruz
On the drive up today, we found a nice little shopping plaza with both a Quiznos & a Starbucks - lunch & supper without me having to cook, woohoo! While waiting for my grande soy no whip cafe mocha, I spotted the newspapers. The articles were indicating that the awful spinach contamination was being traced back to the Salinas CA area - right where we were! In fact, we drove right through Salinas. It was strange to realize that an area I had never heard of, but was now in, was so completely in the news.
The valleys, so near the seashore, are flush with growing yummies, such as strawberries, field greens & lots & lots of vineyards. We drove through Castroville, which proudly proclaimed itself the artichoke capital of the world. Each huge field displayed gorgeous shades of green, interspersed with reds & yellows. Watching the irrigation sprays was like watching an octopus flailing its arms around its head.
We didn't actually get to Santa Cruz yet. We are staying at a KOA campground 20 minutes outside of Santa Cruz, in Watsonville on San Andreas Rd. (The kids don't know the reference, but I sure do!) The road is narrow & windy, lined with lovely beach houses & huge trees. At one point it runs right next to a beach entrance, then pulls away, just in time for the campground. Tomorrow - Kimi's birthday!
The valleys, so near the seashore, are flush with growing yummies, such as strawberries, field greens & lots & lots of vineyards. We drove through Castroville, which proudly proclaimed itself the artichoke capital of the world. Each huge field displayed gorgeous shades of green, interspersed with reds & yellows. Watching the irrigation sprays was like watching an octopus flailing its arms around its head.
We didn't actually get to Santa Cruz yet. We are staying at a KOA campground 20 minutes outside of Santa Cruz, in Watsonville on San Andreas Rd. (The kids don't know the reference, but I sure do!) The road is narrow & windy, lined with lovely beach houses & huge trees. At one point it runs right next to a beach entrance, then pulls away, just in time for the campground. Tomorrow - Kimi's birthday!
Day 40: Impressions on the Beach
Silky sand slipping silently through my fingers.
Churning waves spraying a salty mist of seafoam.
Seabirds, clustered together in the warm sunlight, taking flight as one huge wave.
Children squealing with delight, racing away from the encroaching water.
Dogs straining at their collars, eager to greet each other, or a child, or a shell, or a piece of seaweed, or...
Seaweed stretched out like strange mythical beasts, marooned on the sands, waiting for the surf to carry them back to their watery lands.
Tiny trails in the sand - are they left by insects? snails? sand snakes? They mix with the tracks left by the sand pipers, a mapwork of their nighttime business.
Surfers of all sizes & shapes & ages, congregating on shore & in surf, learning the rhythm of the ocean waters.
The sun setting on the water - an unusual point of view for a New Englander! I've seen the sun rise from Cadilac Mt. in Acadia National Park, Maine, & now I've watched the sun set on the Pacific Ocean in California. I've flown across the Atlantic to London & the Pacific to Australia. I've seen the sun set from my own backyard, my grandparents' land & even from my apartment in NYC, & I saw it never set during a summer solstice in Alaska. It never gets old. It never becomes ordinary. It never stops leaving me breathless.
Churning waves spraying a salty mist of seafoam.
Seabirds, clustered together in the warm sunlight, taking flight as one huge wave.
Children squealing with delight, racing away from the encroaching water.
Dogs straining at their collars, eager to greet each other, or a child, or a shell, or a piece of seaweed, or...
Seaweed stretched out like strange mythical beasts, marooned on the sands, waiting for the surf to carry them back to their watery lands.
Tiny trails in the sand - are they left by insects? snails? sand snakes? They mix with the tracks left by the sand pipers, a mapwork of their nighttime business.
Surfers of all sizes & shapes & ages, congregating on shore & in surf, learning the rhythm of the ocean waters.
The sun setting on the water - an unusual point of view for a New Englander! I've seen the sun rise from Cadilac Mt. in Acadia National Park, Maine, & now I've watched the sun set on the Pacific Ocean in California. I've flown across the Atlantic to London & the Pacific to Australia. I've seen the sun set from my own backyard, my grandparents' land & even from my apartment in NYC, & I saw it never set during a summer solstice in Alaska. It never gets old. It never becomes ordinary. It never stops leaving me breathless.
Special Report: Kimi's New Look!
I couldn’t talk about it earlier, because Kimi wanted to tell my mom herself first. Then, I just kept forgetting to do it, because I was writing about more current things. But now I am free to tell you about Kimi’s new look.
Sharp eyes looking at the Pismo Beach photos would reveal something different about her – her hair! Kimi had cut about 12” off!
She was keen on doing it in Albuquerque, as a special conference look. We talked about it, & I encouraged her to see if she could find a salon that works with the Locks of Love program, which collects long braids of hair so that they can be transformed into wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy, & thus have lost their own hair.
Wouldn’t you know that the salon right next to the Hotel Albuquerque, Joseph’s, participated? There was no stopping her now! We went over & I documented the occasion.
She looks beautiful, of course! And is really enjoying her new sassier style!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Day 39: Pismo Beach
We left LA mid-morning, trying to avoid traffic as much as possible. It mostly worked. Eventually we got over to the Pacific Coast Highway - what a kick! Beautiful views, amazing homes perched on the edge of cliffs or seaside. We couldn't decide which way to look, there was so much to see!
Once we got to Santa Barbara, GyPSy directed us to take CA-154, away from the shore line. At first I didn't want to, but decided to take this shorter route. Good decision! We traveled up & over the San Rafael Mountains in Los Padres National Forest. A beautiful wild ride. We arrived in Pismo in late afternoon. The Pismo Coast Village RV Resort is right on the beach! They gave us a site that is just steps away from the beach gateway. Walk up the dune & boom! you're on the beach! There is a little river that empties into the ocean right here, & there are so many different birds using it. We saw huge numbers of pelicans, ducks, sandpipers, & a heron.
The kids loved playing in the warmer water coming out of the river as it met the cooler ocean water. The carved sand reminded us of the canyons we so recently visited. Watching the water erode the sand was like watching a very speeded up version of what happened over millions of years to the rock in Utah & Arizona by the Colorado River.
I took many photos as the kids played & the sun set. It was a perfect end to the day.
If you want to see the pictures, please go to: http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/111839/
Once we got to Santa Barbara, GyPSy directed us to take CA-154, away from the shore line. At first I didn't want to, but decided to take this shorter route. Good decision! We traveled up & over the San Rafael Mountains in Los Padres National Forest. A beautiful wild ride. We arrived in Pismo in late afternoon. The Pismo Coast Village RV Resort is right on the beach! They gave us a site that is just steps away from the beach gateway. Walk up the dune & boom! you're on the beach! There is a little river that empties into the ocean right here, & there are so many different birds using it. We saw huge numbers of pelicans, ducks, sandpipers, & a heron.
The kids loved playing in the warmer water coming out of the river as it met the cooler ocean water. The carved sand reminded us of the canyons we so recently visited. Watching the water erode the sand was like watching a very speeded up version of what happened over millions of years to the rock in Utah & Arizona by the Colorado River.
I took many photos as the kids played & the sun set. It was a perfect end to the day.
If you want to see the pictures, please go to: http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/111839/
Day 38: Gilmore Girls & More!
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour was a dream come true for this family! We arrived 45 minutes before the 10 am tour & enjoyed the Starbucks cafe that was right there in the gift shop/waiting area. Once called, we all assembled in a small comfortable screening room, where we watched a short film about the history of Warner Bros., including segments from the many movies & TV programs they've produced over the years.
Then, it was to the tour carts! Shaun got to sit up front in the beginning, changing with Kimi later on. We saw an alley area that's been used for many different scenes, including the upside down kiss in Spiderman. Maggie, our guide, told us that Toby Maguire had to hang upside down for 5 hours while they filmed that scene, with his nose stuffed with cottonballs & Vaseline to keep him from drowning. Not quite in keeping with the romance shown on screen!
We traveled down different "streets" that serve as front doors to apartments for characters in West Wing, Murphy Brown, Sex in the City, Gilmore Girls, & ER. Maggie explained how they will add background stuff to make the places look different & not right next door, as they really are.
Then came the moment Kimi had been praying for: Gilmore Girls!!! First, after locking up our cameras, we got to go onto the soundstage that holds the Dragonfly Inn. We not only could walk around in it, but could sit on the furniture - Kimi glowed as she settled into one of the chairs. We could see the behind-the-scenes technical tools used to create the show, & the guides answered everyone's questions. We found out that the very wordy show has about 30 pages of script more than the usual hour-long program - 30! That means they work many more hours to get each episode ready for primetime.
Back on the tram, we then rode into Stars Hollow town center. It was all dressed up as if it were almost Halloween. Maggie let the kids pick up the fire hydrant to demonstrate that many of the items in the streets & on the common were lightweight & very movable, making it easier for them to adapt the area for other uses, such as when the High School was used as the court house in Dukes of Hazzard. We were allowed to walk around a bit, but quietly, since they were filming just on the other side at "Lorelai's house". We could hear them loudly state "rolling" nearby. Suddenly, Kimi spotted Alexis Bledel, aka Rory! She was sitting off in the shade, reading (how Rory-like!). Kimi beamed with excitement!
Maggie later allowed us to take pictures of Luke's diner, so the kids quickly struck a pose & I snapped away. We didn't think it could get any better, but...
...we were brought to the Warner Bros. Museum, where we could look at many cool props & costumes from shows like Friends, ER, & the West Wing. Then, we were directed upstairs to the Harry Potter floor (yes, the entire floor!). Costumes from the Yule Ball were on display, along with Hagrid's usual outfit & his motorcycle (huge!), the time changer, the mermaid's egg, dementors, Aragog, a petrified Hermione - so many things directly from the movies. It was hard for Kimi to say goodbye to it all.
Over in Property, we also got to go into an area where Central Perk, the coffe shop in Friends, has been recreated. We were again allowed to touch the stuff & sit on the furniture. Maggie even took our picture sitting on The Couch. Then came time for the automobiles - we saw the Rumbler from Batman Begins, the Batmobile from when George Clooney was Batman, the car Ron & Harry "borrow" to fly to Hogwarts (broken windows & all), the Mystery Bus from the Scooby Doo movies & the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard movie.
This was a great tour - we had so much fun!
Then, it was to the tour carts! Shaun got to sit up front in the beginning, changing with Kimi later on. We saw an alley area that's been used for many different scenes, including the upside down kiss in Spiderman. Maggie, our guide, told us that Toby Maguire had to hang upside down for 5 hours while they filmed that scene, with his nose stuffed with cottonballs & Vaseline to keep him from drowning. Not quite in keeping with the romance shown on screen!
We traveled down different "streets" that serve as front doors to apartments for characters in West Wing, Murphy Brown, Sex in the City, Gilmore Girls, & ER. Maggie explained how they will add background stuff to make the places look different & not right next door, as they really are.
Then came the moment Kimi had been praying for: Gilmore Girls!!! First, after locking up our cameras, we got to go onto the soundstage that holds the Dragonfly Inn. We not only could walk around in it, but could sit on the furniture - Kimi glowed as she settled into one of the chairs. We could see the behind-the-scenes technical tools used to create the show, & the guides answered everyone's questions. We found out that the very wordy show has about 30 pages of script more than the usual hour-long program - 30! That means they work many more hours to get each episode ready for primetime.
Back on the tram, we then rode into Stars Hollow town center. It was all dressed up as if it were almost Halloween. Maggie let the kids pick up the fire hydrant to demonstrate that many of the items in the streets & on the common were lightweight & very movable, making it easier for them to adapt the area for other uses, such as when the High School was used as the court house in Dukes of Hazzard. We were allowed to walk around a bit, but quietly, since they were filming just on the other side at "Lorelai's house". We could hear them loudly state "rolling" nearby. Suddenly, Kimi spotted Alexis Bledel, aka Rory! She was sitting off in the shade, reading (how Rory-like!). Kimi beamed with excitement!
Maggie later allowed us to take pictures of Luke's diner, so the kids quickly struck a pose & I snapped away. We didn't think it could get any better, but...
...we were brought to the Warner Bros. Museum, where we could look at many cool props & costumes from shows like Friends, ER, & the West Wing. Then, we were directed upstairs to the Harry Potter floor (yes, the entire floor!). Costumes from the Yule Ball were on display, along with Hagrid's usual outfit & his motorcycle (huge!), the time changer, the mermaid's egg, dementors, Aragog, a petrified Hermione - so many things directly from the movies. It was hard for Kimi to say goodbye to it all.
Over in Property, we also got to go into an area where Central Perk, the coffe shop in Friends, has been recreated. We were again allowed to touch the stuff & sit on the furniture. Maggie even took our picture sitting on The Couch. Then came time for the automobiles - we saw the Rumbler from Batman Begins, the Batmobile from when George Clooney was Batman, the car Ron & Harry "borrow" to fly to Hogwarts (broken windows & all), the Mystery Bus from the Scooby Doo movies & the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard movie.
This was a great tour - we had so much fun!
Day 37: Sharks!
We arrived at the Aquarium of the Pacific bright & early, easy to do when you are walking distance from it!
What a cool aquarium! We had planned on visiting ever since we discovered that you could pet sharks there at Shark Lagoon. The sharks are the smaller non-human eating variety, & were actually bunched up together snoozing in the warm shallows like a pack of puppies. They felt softly of sandpaper, not harsh but definite friction. Sting rays, minus their barbs, were also in the tanks. They feel slippery-slimy with very firm flesh. We all prefered touching them, & they prefer it, too! They would come up close & push their heads up out of the water trying to beg for contact. The glass enclosures allowed us to see the bottoms of their bodies when they did this - creamy white color with mouths working steadily. They were a lot of fun & of course Kimi & Shaun started naming them.
There was also a lorikeet enclosure - crazy loud birds that dive bombed Kimi & me - Shaun wisely decided to window shop in the gift shop next door.
Back inside we saw an octopus, many different types of luminescent jelly fish, sea horses, puffins, etc. Great fun!
What a cool aquarium! We had planned on visiting ever since we discovered that you could pet sharks there at Shark Lagoon. The sharks are the smaller non-human eating variety, & were actually bunched up together snoozing in the warm shallows like a pack of puppies. They felt softly of sandpaper, not harsh but definite friction. Sting rays, minus their barbs, were also in the tanks. They feel slippery-slimy with very firm flesh. We all prefered touching them, & they prefer it, too! They would come up close & push their heads up out of the water trying to beg for contact. The glass enclosures allowed us to see the bottoms of their bodies when they did this - creamy white color with mouths working steadily. They were a lot of fun & of course Kimi & Shaun started naming them.
There was also a lorikeet enclosure - crazy loud birds that dive bombed Kimi & me - Shaun wisely decided to window shop in the gift shop next door.
Back inside we saw an octopus, many different types of luminescent jelly fish, sea horses, puffins, etc. Great fun!
Day 36: All I want to do, is have some fun...
...until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard. - Sheryl Crow.
Picked up the tiny Chevy we've rented for our stay. Kimi named it Twinkie. As soon as we got it we were off to explore. We didn't take GyPSy with us - this car didn't even have power locks or windows, so how could it possibly protect our GPS from theft? So, we decided to rely on basic maps & dumb luck.
After following CA Route 1 north past the Beaches (Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan, Venice) we headed back inland to find Hollywood Blvd. Kimi got a map of the blvd from the camp store, & was trying to get me to find at least one of the cross streets. Turns out Santa Monica Blvd is a good bet for finding other places. It took us through Beverly Hills into West Hollywood. We eventually found La Brea, which brought us up to Hollywood Blvd. We found on street parking a little past Mann's Chinese Theater & walked back, staring at the ground reading the stars on the Walk of Fame. We stopped by the Virgin Megastore, which is interestingly near the Fredricks of Hollywood (I'll let you muse on that a bit).
We went into the Hollywood Wax Museum, which was interesting, but no where near as high in quality, or quantity, as Madame Tussauds in NYC or London. Admission price included going across the street to the Guiness Book of Records Museum. Kind of busy & cheesy in its display of information, although we found a film clip of a million dominoes falling in a crazy-cool display to be absolutely hypnotic.
We stopped at a Whole Foods on our way home & replenished our produce stores. Then, home & a movie: Shreck II, which has a fun scene of Shreck, Fiona & Donkey arriving in downtown Far, Far Away as if they were arriving in LA, complete with a Farbucks on every corner. Somehow, it seemed appropriate.
Picked up the tiny Chevy we've rented for our stay. Kimi named it Twinkie. As soon as we got it we were off to explore. We didn't take GyPSy with us - this car didn't even have power locks or windows, so how could it possibly protect our GPS from theft? So, we decided to rely on basic maps & dumb luck.
After following CA Route 1 north past the Beaches (Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan, Venice) we headed back inland to find Hollywood Blvd. Kimi got a map of the blvd from the camp store, & was trying to get me to find at least one of the cross streets. Turns out Santa Monica Blvd is a good bet for finding other places. It took us through Beverly Hills into West Hollywood. We eventually found La Brea, which brought us up to Hollywood Blvd. We found on street parking a little past Mann's Chinese Theater & walked back, staring at the ground reading the stars on the Walk of Fame. We stopped by the Virgin Megastore, which is interestingly near the Fredricks of Hollywood (I'll let you muse on that a bit).
We went into the Hollywood Wax Museum, which was interesting, but no where near as high in quality, or quantity, as Madame Tussauds in NYC or London. Admission price included going across the street to the Guiness Book of Records Museum. Kind of busy & cheesy in its display of information, although we found a film clip of a million dominoes falling in a crazy-cool display to be absolutely hypnotic.
We stopped at a Whole Foods on our way home & replenished our produce stores. Then, home & a movie: Shreck II, which has a fun scene of Shreck, Fiona & Donkey arriving in downtown Far, Far Away as if they were arriving in LA, complete with a Farbucks on every corner. Somehow, it seemed appropriate.
Day 35: From Tumbleweeds to Palm Trees
Long difficult driving today. We started off well: Shaun's friend Duncan slept over in our RV, but his dad, Ben, picked him up right on time, so we were able to leave just after 9am, as I had hoped.
The drive out of Williams was amazing. The scenery was just constant beauty. It changed from hilly alpine forests to rugged desert mountains. Just after crossing into California, we had to sit at an inspection booth for 15-20 minutes. Since we are an RV, they had to check our refrigerator for forbidden produce - which turned out to be the red peppers & apples we had purchased in Albuquerque. Then, because we came out of MA, they had to run a visual inspection of the entire chassis seeking out any possible Gypsy moth caterpillers (even though we left MA over a month ago). The inspectors were gracious, which helped to keep me from being frustrated over the lost travel time.
As it turned out, it was fortunate I had that rest break. About 200 miles outside of LA, I noticed that the expansive view was becoming hazy. "I can't believe the smog is so bad already!" I thought. About 20 miles later, I came to realize what I was really seeing - a dust storm. The wind had been strong all day, & I had been busy at times keeping the RV from moving sideways from the gusts. This, however, was overwhelming in its intensity. We were now alongside the Mojave Desert & the winds had kicked up huge dust clouds that carried up as high as the mountains, blocking the sunlight.
Looking off to the sides, the area towns were blurry as we passed by them. Visibility dropped, not dangerously, but I changed my lights from travel to full on. The wind blew so hard that I started to weave in & out of my lane, constantly correcting my course. I dropped my speed to 50 (the legal limit was 65). That helped me maintain control enough to stay in my lane, which was becoming very important as we arrived in Barstow - traffic was congested & moving fast. Unlike me, the smaller cars didn't seem to have problems with the wind.
Heading southwest on I-15 sent us into a headwind. All of this wind adversely affected my gas mileage, so I had to stop in Victorville, just outside of LA in the San Bernardino mountains, to refuel.
Finally, we made it down the mountains & back into calmer winds. The rest of the drive was actually easy, despite having to drive a 35' vehicle across LA during a Friday evening rush hour! We easily found the campground, Golden Shore, right along the water in Long Beach.
It was supper time, & I didn't want to cook! I knew of a sushi restaurant nearby (found it doing a google search of the area months ago). We walked off to explore & discovered something better. The Pike is the place to go for food or shopping or entertainment. Planned for easy walking, its streets connecting different sections are narrow & gently curved, as if walking through an older village, albeit one that has been seriously spruced up! We ate supper at a California Pizza Kitchen, then had dessert at a Cold Stone Creamery. Walking with cups in hand, we were able to follow the boardwalk all the way back to the campground. Pelicans were floating in a group underneath the overhead highway bridge. The bridge had colored lights set beneath it, casting down green, purple, blue & aqua lights to be reflected back by the water. It was very pretty.
This morning we saw tumbleweeds as we drove away from the campsite. This evening we could see palm trees swaying right above our heads. What a wonderful world.
The drive out of Williams was amazing. The scenery was just constant beauty. It changed from hilly alpine forests to rugged desert mountains. Just after crossing into California, we had to sit at an inspection booth for 15-20 minutes. Since we are an RV, they had to check our refrigerator for forbidden produce - which turned out to be the red peppers & apples we had purchased in Albuquerque. Then, because we came out of MA, they had to run a visual inspection of the entire chassis seeking out any possible Gypsy moth caterpillers (even though we left MA over a month ago). The inspectors were gracious, which helped to keep me from being frustrated over the lost travel time.
As it turned out, it was fortunate I had that rest break. About 200 miles outside of LA, I noticed that the expansive view was becoming hazy. "I can't believe the smog is so bad already!" I thought. About 20 miles later, I came to realize what I was really seeing - a dust storm. The wind had been strong all day, & I had been busy at times keeping the RV from moving sideways from the gusts. This, however, was overwhelming in its intensity. We were now alongside the Mojave Desert & the winds had kicked up huge dust clouds that carried up as high as the mountains, blocking the sunlight.
Looking off to the sides, the area towns were blurry as we passed by them. Visibility dropped, not dangerously, but I changed my lights from travel to full on. The wind blew so hard that I started to weave in & out of my lane, constantly correcting my course. I dropped my speed to 50 (the legal limit was 65). That helped me maintain control enough to stay in my lane, which was becoming very important as we arrived in Barstow - traffic was congested & moving fast. Unlike me, the smaller cars didn't seem to have problems with the wind.
Heading southwest on I-15 sent us into a headwind. All of this wind adversely affected my gas mileage, so I had to stop in Victorville, just outside of LA in the San Bernardino mountains, to refuel.
Finally, we made it down the mountains & back into calmer winds. The rest of the drive was actually easy, despite having to drive a 35' vehicle across LA during a Friday evening rush hour! We easily found the campground, Golden Shore, right along the water in Long Beach.
It was supper time, & I didn't want to cook! I knew of a sushi restaurant nearby (found it doing a google search of the area months ago). We walked off to explore & discovered something better. The Pike is the place to go for food or shopping or entertainment. Planned for easy walking, its streets connecting different sections are narrow & gently curved, as if walking through an older village, albeit one that has been seriously spruced up! We ate supper at a California Pizza Kitchen, then had dessert at a Cold Stone Creamery. Walking with cups in hand, we were able to follow the boardwalk all the way back to the campground. Pelicans were floating in a group underneath the overhead highway bridge. The bridge had colored lights set beneath it, casting down green, purple, blue & aqua lights to be reflected back by the water. It was very pretty.
This morning we saw tumbleweeds as we drove away from the campsite. This evening we could see palm trees swaying right above our heads. What a wonderful world.
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