Bass Lake, Ca

It was hard to leave the Pacific coast and head inland but the time has come. We traveled through Salinas, "the salad bowl of America," where so much of our produce is grown. Then it was over the mountains through Pacheco Pass to again cross the San Joaquin Valley. As we neared the foothills of the Sierra Mountain range we stopped to investigate the fruit of some trees. Lo and behold! I do believe they were olives. We climbed into the Sierras and spent the night outside the SKP campground in Coarsegold since we couldn’t get the gate to open. It turned out to be just fine as it was peaceful and free.
We continued on to Oakhurst, the gateway to Yosemite but instead turned right to spend a night at the Bass Lake RV campground. It was packed with folks playing on the Bass Lake, a beautiful clear blue lake with beaches and lodging along the shores. We took a beautiful drive through the Sierra National Forest and stopped for a picnic. Soon we discovered Manzanita Lake where we paused to watch people catch recently stocked trout and to picnic. Such a scenic little lake as shown here.
We then went to the Chukchansi Casino and made a donation before driving into Oakhurst to enjoy the movie Hairspray. More photos.

Monterey Peninsula, CA

After leaving the House of the Mouse we spent one night in Bakersfield and then headed north again. We took our time traveling and stopped at this San Miguel Mission in Paso Robles. Yes, the area is full of wineries and wine tasting rooms but we passed them by. Nearby we had a picnic and toured an old adobe along the Camino Real, aka the King's Highway, which traveled among the missions built by the Franciscans. More photos. We managed to arrive in Carmel Valley in time for a few days at the Laguna Seca race track and the U.S. Grand Prix motorcycle races. More importantly we spent three days visiting with friends Rose, Robert and Bud. On Monday it was time to play tourist again as Bud went home and Robert and Rose went back to work. More photos.

We spent some time on Cannery Row, the old part of Monterey made famous in Steinbeck's novel by the same name. The area was first popular as a whaling community, then a tourist town, before the canneries opened in the 1920s to can all the sardines caught in the area. Eventually most of the sardines wound up in cans, the industry died out, and tourism again became the economic boost. Many small shops and restaurants line the streets. More photos.

There is also an historical significance here with a well-done historical tour (photos) that highlights some of the refurbished buildings dating from the late 1840s. It was here the Californian flag was first raised. Nearby is the old wharf, also lined with small shops and restaurants, but a good place to sample clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl while watching otters swim in the bay. By the end day we settled in at the Veteran's Park rather than drive back to Carmel Valley.

Our first day was a walking tour but on Tuesday we unloaded the bikes and enjoyed the rail trail that parallels the beach a block or so away. We finished our historical tour and then rode over to Pacific Grove. (Photos) This is a town where the Monarch butterflies used to fill the Eucalyptus trees on their yearly migrations. They still do but there just aren't so many Monarchs. Pacific Grove is a quieter area filled with old Victorian homes where we walked and shopped. It stayed cloudy today and we have been chilly even in jackets!!

We drove back to the historic district in Monterey for the Tuesday evening Market they have each week. There were plenty of flowers, fruits, vegetables, arts and crafts, and food vendors. We tried some Russian Blintzes and some Falafels and called it supper. (sorry, Mel)
After spending the morning shopping in Monterey we shifted
to Carmel and toured the mission there. It is the second oldest mission in California and where Serra lived until his death. Much of it has been refurbished. Shown is Serra's cell.

Disneyland, Ca

Parades, video games, swimming pool slides, Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds, ice cream, hamburgers, Grand Californian Hotel, monorails, trains, Big Thunder Mountain, light show, Indiana Jones, Rainforest Cafe. We tried to do it all!! Are we having fun yet? You bet! There are plenty of photos.

Bakersfield, Ca

We have come to Bakersfield to visit friends and family before taking Leon's grandsons to Disneyland. We are staying at an elaborate new RV park, Bakersfield RV, that has recently opened and we are having quite a rest after our indepth exploration of the southern and central coasts of California. We have indulged ourselves while here. Each day we have a swim in the pool and enjoy the hot tub. The internet cafe has allowed me to catch up on "my computer work." Each morning the paper awaits on our patio table. Some mornings we work out in the gym. At 2 there are cookies in the office. Coffee is available all day. It is quite a nice RV park.

Our friend Gary stopped by for a visit and it was indeed good to see him. He and Leon have been friends for a very long time and I met Gary at the same time I met Leon at the Slabs.

Robert and Tina either come to visit or we go to their house. We have also made sure to stop at a couple favorite restaurants for Chinese and Mexican foods. And indeed we had a pizza night at the Bird house followed by peppermint ice cream! We drove up to Tehachapi and checked on Leon's old house and then even went to a barrel racing rodeo. Best of all we have spent time with Gunnar, Leon's grandson. Lots of business has been taken care of such as haircuts, new glasses for Leon, and uploading photos. Leon also has a chance to catch up on some of the movies he has missed. Now it is off to see the mouse.

More photos of Bakersfield.

Central California Coast, Ca

Lompoc
After one more trip to Solvang for a Danish and a trip to Buellton for gas, we took the less traveled path through Lompoc to reach the coast. Lompoc claims to be the city of flowers and murals and indeed it is. West of town we took a wrong turn and passed flower fields filled with vibrant colors. More photos.

Pismo Beach
We found our way back to Highway 1 near Vandenburg Air Force Base and then stopped in Pismo Beach where the scenery changes from remote countryside to people intent on having fun. We watched the toy haulers roll to and from the Oceano Dunes where quads, motorcycles and dune buggies cavort in the sand. The streets in Pismo were lined with tourists and RV parks. This is where we met the guy with the pink mohawk and clothes to match who is riding his bike around the world. I am not sure he will make it with pink hair. More photos of Pismo.

Morro Bay
We had a nice visit with friends John and Judy in Morro Bay. John and Leon had worked together in a past life. We then drove out to the beach alongside Morro Rock and watched the beach activity. A little further south in Los Osos we drove out to the rugged cliffs at Montana de Oro State Park and looked out over the Pacific. From there a drive through the lovely countryside filled with Monterey Pines along the coast led us to San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo
We went inland about ten miles and stopped by the Madonna Inn, an inn with a Victorian castlelike appearance that overused the color pink. The entire place reminds you of icing on a cake. Even the sugar in the sugar shakers is pink! The gardens were full of blooming roses in front of the inn. The bathrooms are not to be missed. In the men's a waterfall entertains. It is quite a lavish place. We couldn't resist returning the next morning for breakfast. More photos.

In the older part of town we strolled the streets, visited the mission and had dinner. There were lots of young people in town but evidentally nothing as compared to when Cal Poly is in session. We then located the Moose Lodge, our parking spot for the night.

Cambria
After driving north again we stopped at this is quaint little artsy community just south of San Simeon. We toured through one of the neighborhoods where the houses seem to cling to the sides of the hills on tiny lots, all trying to get a view of the ocean. In town the streets are lined with cute little specialty shops. Up nearby Hillcrest Street is Nit Wit Ridge, a multi level house with terraced patios built from abalone shells, old wheels, auto parts and other salvaged materials on 2.5 acres. Supposedly an eccentric hermit built the place and lives here. More photos.

San Simeon
The Hearst Castle, begun in 1919, is a lesson in extravagance. We toured a guest house, the outdoor pool, the lower level of the 115 room house, the indoor pool and some of the terraces. There is a 5 mile bus drive up the hill to the mansion which is owned now by the state. Every 10 minutes a busload would ascend the hill with another tour group. We also viewed an excellent big screen movie about William Randolph Hearst's life and the building of the castle. It was a few hours well spent. More photos.

Ragged Point
We drove further north along the coast to Ragged Point, the gateway to Big Sur, where the steep cliffs rise high above the shore and the narrow coastline and winding road provide breathtaking views. This was our furthest point north. More photos.

Piedras Blancas
Heading back south we passed Piedras Blancas lighthouse and then stopped at the viewing area where the elephant sea lions bask in the sun on the beach. They weigh up to 5,000 pounds and return to this area from Alaska to have their young, to mate, and to molt. They shed their coats once each year and once again don shiny silver coats. More photos.

Nearby we spent the night at the Washburn Campground in San Simeon State Park. The next morning. after a stop at the tide pools at Laffingwell Beach and a drive along Moonstone Beach near Cambria, we passed wineries, horsefarms, mountains, oil fields, and desert before descending into the San Joaquin Valley and Bakersfield, Ca. We stopped to look at the Tule Elk, native to California, at the Tule Elk Preserve west of town and then arrived at our home for five days at the newly opened Bakersfield RV Park.

Santa Barbara, Ca

Our goal in Santa Barbara was to visit with Brett, Leon's son, and what a fine visit it was. We got a nice spot at the Lake Cachuma County Park 24 miles northeast of Santa Barbara. It seems the county parks were our best bet all along. It is in the 6,600 acre Cachuma Lake Recreation Area and the lake provides the water for Santa Barbara. The first afternoon was a bit warm, aka hot, so we went down the mountain through the Los Padres National Forest and shopped in Goleta. Then we had supper with Brett on Stearn's Wharf on Santa Barbara Bay, quite a scenic spot for some seafood. The pier was built in 1872 to serve cargo and passenger ships.
Santa Barbara is a nice coastal town with a Mediterranean climate and the red tiled roofs and white washed buildings reflect the Spanish heritage. It is on a narrow strip of land bordered by the ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains which leaves little room for all the traffic. More photos.

After joining us for breakfast in the campground, Brett played tour guide on Saturday and what a fine quide he was. We first toured Solvang, a tourist town begun by Danish immigrants in 1911. It has traditional half-timbered housing and architecture complete with windmills. There are also bakeries and lots of shops. The tourists flock to the place.
We then went back up the hill above Santa Barbara and hiked among the rocks to a place known by the locals as Lizard Head. What a view of the Pacific coast it provided!
Another winding mountain road nearby took us to the Chumash Painted Rock State Historical Park. On a cliff alongside the road are pictographs left by the Chumash Indians. Some of the drawings are thought to depict an eclipse that occurred in 1667. After having fajitas at the campground we once again hiked part way to Lizard Head to find Leon's phone!!! It was a truly awesome day. More photos of Solvang.

Santa Monica, CA

Early July 5 we headed north again and passed through the quiet coastal towns of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. The strand ran alongside the beach with multicolored small houses filling the side streets to the sand and water. In Marina del Rey we came to an upscale area alongside the marina before arriving at Venice Beach, a different kind of place. There is an eclectic group of people - the homeless mingle with those working out at Muscle Beach while others play tennis and use the other exercise facilities provided. Tourists mingle in the shops filled with cheap Chinese merchandise while others skateboard by. And this is at 9 am. This was the center of the beatniks in the 1950s and the hippies in the 1960s.

Further north on Highway 1 we stopped near the Santa Monica Pier and rode the bikes down on the pier to people watch and eat lunch. The pier is lined with small shops, eateries, pier vendors, fishermen, carnival rides, and people enjoying the ocean air.
Near Santa Monica Blvd. we strolled along the 3rd Street Promenade enjoying the shops, tourists, dinosaur fountains, and street performers. This is quite a popular shopping area.
Back on PCH the flat terrain changes to mountains alongside Highway 1 which follows along the beach. Many large homes with big gates line the road.
We got a spot for the night at the Sycamore Creek Campground in Point Magu State Beach but only because we "are handicapped." The state beaches seem to have many open spots each night that they don't release, either because Reserve America "might have made a mistake" or because someone "left early." It makes it very hard to find spots without reservations but most of them charge too much anyway for a site with no amenities. More photos.

Long Beach, Ca

We crossed the river from Seal Beach and found ourselves in Los Angeles County in the 5th largest city in California. The harbor and downtown area of Long Beach has gone through a major revitalization since 2000 that leaves a modern city along the Pacific shore. We drove along Shoreline Drive and past the lighthouse to the marina where they have an awesome bicycle path across the bay from the Queen Mary. We unloaded the bikes, rode the path, ate yogurt, walked the boardwalk, and spent the night at the marina. We didn't anticipate the noise in the middle of the night from people fishing on the pier behind the van.
We had bought VIP tickets online for the 4th of July on the Queen Mary and spent much of the 4th touring the boat. I was delighted to stop in the radio room and operate their amateur radio station as W6RO. The Queen Mary went into service in 1937 as a luxury liner and then was used to transport troops across the Atlantic during WWII. After the war she again became a first class cruise ship before retiring in 1967. In the afternoon we enjoyed a buffet and then had seating on the aft deck for the fireworks display over the bay. What a memorable 4th!! We watched thousand of cars leave the parking lot to cross the bridge back into town while we settled in for the night in the Queen Mary parking lot. More photos.

Orange County, Ca

San Juan Capistrano
After one last breakfast at Cafe 101 in Oceanside we traveled north on PCH past Camp Pendleton and through San Clemente detouring through Dana Point before we arrived at San Juan Capistrano. The mountains were closer to the beach but it was now about cute towns and historical areas. We did not see any swallows but we did enjoy a tour of the San Juan Capistrano Mission.
This mission was established by Father Junipero Serra in 1776, the seventh of 21 Spanish missions. Spain controlled California until 1821 when Mexico won it's independence. Abraham Lincoln returned the mission to the Catholic Church in 1865. The magnificent Great Stone Church inside the Mission walls was destroyed in the 1812 earthquake. Every spring the swallows return to Capistrano in March to nest and have their young. At one time they nested at the mission but are more widespread throughout the area now.
We also toured the historical Los Rios District, one of the oldest neighborhoods in California. Three adobe homes there were built in 1794. More photos.

Laguna Beach

We then traveled north to Laguna Beach, a hilly little town with steep cliffs and art galleries, which is a popular art community. The traffic on Sunday afternoon was as we expected = bumper to bumper and crawling at a snail's pace. We stopped at a beach access and toured a beautiful little beach with tidal pools that trapped fish, crabs, and other little sea creatures. More photos.

Newport Beach
From Laguna we creeped north to Newport Beach but it was a vain effort to get down to the beach due to the traffic. Later when the traffic dwindled we did return to the beach and pier. The area was packed with young people partying. Many small rentals lined the beach near adjacent clubs and restaurants. How the locals manage the traffic on this small peninsula is unimaginable. We spent the night in Newport Beach and the next morning drove with ease alongside the beach and Balboa peninsula. More photos.

Huntington Beach
20 miles north on July 2nd led us to a lovely beach - Huntington. We paid the $10 entrance fee for all day parking in the beachside lot where there was plenty of room to accomodate the traffic and plenty of beach for all to enjoy. There is a revitalized downtown area that boasted huge buildings with sidewalk restaurants, shops and hotels. There is a long asphalt path along the inside of the beach where crowds were bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, jogging, and strolling. The town should be very pleased with their accomplishments. There was a festive attitude as the town was gearing up for a large fourth of July celebration. At dusk fires lined the beach and at 10 the beach was closed and all got quiet, unlike Newport Beach. We spent a lot of time riding the bike path and then bought an umbrella and put in a few hours on the beach. We spent the night parked next to the bridge that crosses the PCH to the Hyatt. More photos.

Seal Beach
On July 3 we continued 8 miles north to Seal Beach, a quaint small town passed by time. It is pretty much surrounded by a river, the beach, and a naval station therefore it has kept it's small town charm. We walked out on the pier and watched surfers, life saver schools and sunbathers. We also visited the library and city hall trying to find information about a distant cousin to no avail. A disconnected phone number left us at a loss.