Back Home

We finally left Ventura at 9:30 AM and after a stop at Underwood Farm Market for veggies we were home at 12:30 PM.  Other than a lot of weeds the house was in good shape, thanks to good lawn and pool service.  We got partially unpacked then concentrated our efforts on enjoying our Riverside family.  Mary, Katie and Matt are here on a sleep over tonight as well.  I was able to grab a few photos of them in and out of the pool.

Mary Francis

Katie Ann

Matthew Jack

Katie, Matt & Mary in Pool

Mary in Pool

Katie in Pool

Matt in Pool

It is nice to be home but there is much to do in the next few weeks.   We ended up logging 13,415 miles, 9,515 on the Winnebago and 3,900 on the Jeep.  Guess what the most expensive cost of the trip was.  Yup!  We paid a bundle for gas, from a low of $3.80 to a high of $6.39 a gallon.  

Was it worth it?  You bet it was.  We had a great time and look forward to our next motorhome adventure.

Solvang

We arrived in Solvang shortly after eleven and after filling the motorhome for the last time this trip we headed for the Lutheran Home in Solvang to take our dear friend Olga Belgum out to lunch.  And what a great lunch it was at the Vineyard House in Santa Ynez where we sat on the patio and enjoyed the fine company and wonderful weather.

Olga and Mary

After lunch we went back to the Lutheran Home to visit with the other two ladies, Dorothy Cornils and Mildred Carlsen.

Olga, Mary & Dorothy

Mary, Mildred and Olga

Our tradition of spending our last night on the road at Rincon Beach north of Ventura was squelched when we found all sites taken.  We ended up at the Ventura Beach RV Park with no view of the ocean.  We tried to make up for it by going to Eric Ericsons Restaurant on the Ventura Pier for steamed clams and calamari.  It helped but it still isn't like camping on the ocean.

Tomorrow we will be home by noon.

On to San Simeon

On Wednesday morning we took a walk to the beach and I got a few good photos of the flowers and birds.

Flower in Sand Dunes

Long Billed Curlew

Since the day promised to be sunny we decided to drive down Highway 1 a very curvy but picturesque way to get to Southern California.  It probably took twice as long to get to the Paso Robles wine country but it was worth it.

Coast Scene

Coast Scene

We parked the Winnebago in a camp site at San Simeon State Park and took the Jeep over the hill to do a little wine tasting in the Paso Robles wine country.  On Thursday morning I got up early and walked to the beach with my camera and got some good shots.

Morning on the Coast

White Egret Reflected in the Water

After a great breakfast of scrambled eggs and french toast we drove south on Highway 1 to the 101 and then to Solvang to visit three lady friends from our time in West Lake Village.  We got a glimpse of Morro Rock on our way down.

Morro Rock

Pebble Beach

Monday morning we hit the road again.  This time we were headed to Marina on the coast north of Monterrey.  We sequestered our Winnebago in the Dunes RV Park in Marina and headed for the home of our good friends, Mike and Ann Lyon.  They convinced us to stay the night with them in their charming home at Pebble Beach.  

Mike, Mary & Ann at Lunch at Pebble Beach

Rose Cottage, Mike & Ann's Home

After lunch Mike and I took a walk to view the beautiful coast at Pebble Beach.  The scenery at the coast is stunning.

View at Pebble Beach

On Tuesday we drove down the coast south of Big Sur to Nepenthe Restaurant for lunch.  The scenery along the coast is fantastic and the restaurant had great views of the coast.  

Coastal View

View from Restaurant

On Tuesday evening we drove to Aptos and had dinner with good friends Patty & Fred Ohara.  As a bonus we got to see their grand kids Hunter and Mary and their mom Debbie who we haven't seen for a long time.  We also got to see Patty and Fred's son Jim.  The day was significant as Hunter mastered riding his bicycle.

After two wonderful days with good friends we settled in to a night of rest in our beach home, the Winnebago.

Campbell

We are just finishing a great weekend with Karyn, Todd, Lucia and Beckett not doing much more than hanging out, eating good food and drinking fine wine.  

Karyn & Beckett

Becket Loves Corn on the Cob

Beckett

Lucia

Lucia the Dancer

Tomorrow morning we will move the Winnebago to Marina, just north of Monterrey, for a couple of nights so we can visit friends in the area.

On to Campbell

We said farewell to Woodson Bridge RV Park at 7:30 AM and headed for Campbell.  The drive was only 200 miles so we arrived just after 11:00 AM.  The I 80 freeway between I 505 and I 680 is in terrible condition.  We were pleased to get on I 680 where you only have to contend with the narrow lanes and heavy traffic.

The balance of the day was spent getting re-acquainted with grand children Lucia and Beckett and an evening of wine, conversation and music at neighbors.  

Bend to Corning

We were on the road again at 7:30 AM this morning heading for Corning, CA.  We got a good look at Klamath Lake as we approached Klamath Falls.

Klamath Lake, Oregon

We filled up with the comparatively cheap Oregon gasoline in Worden and then entered California.  The view that greets you as you enter California on highway 97 is Mt Shasta in all its glory.  It stands proudly above the surrounding landscape daring you to stop and photograph it. We did.

We also had our closest animal encounter when a deer charged out of the woods in front of the Winnebago.  A quick application of the brakes and we avoided contact - barely.

Mt Shasta from the Co-Pilots Seat

Mt Shasta from the View Point

After a stop for lunch near Lake Shasta we continued down to Corning and were settled in to our campsite by 3:00 PM with the air conditioner running.  The temperature when we arrived was 102 degrees.  Our campsite is on the bank of the Sacramento River and is nicely shaded.  We have stayed here a couple of times in the past and enjoy the serenity of the river and shaded sites.

The Winnebago at Woodson Bridge RV Park

Mary Relaxing by the Sacramento River

Tomorrow we will drive the remaining 200 miles to Karyn & Todd's home in Campbell in the Bay Area.  It will be nice to see them.