Eureka 2011

6-12-11
We left Carlsbad at 5:00 AM and arrived at the Elks Lodge in Lompoc at about 10:00 AM.
From darkness we went to June Gloom. It also rained for a while when we cruised along the coast.
This is not typical Southern California weather.
In the afternoon the sun came out and it was beautiful.
At the lodge they had Sunday breakfast for $ 6.00. While I was paying for the camping site I checked out the menu. I got Doreen and we enjoyed a big breakfast..
Lompoc is called the Flower Capitol of the World. This was probably correct in the past, but now they grow more vegetables than flowers in Lompoc.
We went for a ride and saw some flower fields. The picture with Doreen is from 1996. At that time there were colorful flower fields for miles and miles.












From the flower fields we went to La Purisimo Mission State Historic Park.
Since we were here a few years ago a new visitor center was built. It has very interesting displays, and tells about the local Chumash Indians.















6-13-11
This morning we left Lompoc and traveled west on highway 1. This is a beautiful drive.
In Santa Maria we joined highway 101.
In San Miguel we visited the Mission San Miguel Arcangel. The pictures inside the church are original and survived earthquakes, fires and change of ownership.














The road was very rough and I had trouble with the 12 Volt double receptacle for the GPS and the wireless receiver for the Brake Buddy in the car.
We stopped in King City and I bought a new one. This was a $ 8.00 fix. The backup camera on the motorhome does not work now. This will take $ 200.00 to fix it.
We arrived at the Elks Lodge in Sunnyvale at 3:00 PM..

6-14-11
In the morning we picked up Vera and George, Doreen’s sister in law and brother in law. We went tp a restaurant and had breakfast with them.
Everybody is getting older and it is important to see each other whenever possible.












In the afternoon we drove to Stanford University, where I did a fast tour of the campus. Doreen sat in the car. She is not ready yet for walking a lot.
I read in the travel magazines that Stanford has one of the prettiest campuses. The magazines were right.
The buildings were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York City Central Park.
The Memorial Church is very beautiful. It has glittering mosaic walls like in Eastern Orthodox churches.
Unfortunately I could not get up the Hoover Tower. It was closed today.






















6-15-11
We left Sunnyvale at 5:50 AM and arrived at the Vista Point, north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, at about 7:00 AM.
We had our breakfast there. The city was still in fog, but the bridge was visible.











When we arrived at the Elks Lodge in Ukiah we took a quick nap, ate lunch and then took off by car to the Mendocino coast.
The drive from Ukiah to Boonville, and from there to Manchester was very slow. Highway 253 is a narrow road and winds around hills and mountains.
We visited the lighthouse at Point Arena.













We had discussed whether we should take along sweat shirts: we did and were happy. The wind was blowing at the point and it was cold.
That stretch of highway along the coast is very beautiful. Besides the ocean there are flowers along the road.
Mendocino is an artist town and very picturesque. One of those days we will bring the motorhome and stay for a few days.
From Fort Bragg we headed north on highway 20 to highway 101, and from there south to Ukiah.
I am still cleaning bees off the windshield of the motorhome. Sunday we drove into a swarm of bees. It sounded like a machine gun was going off. First I thought they were regular hard shell bugs. At 57 miles an hour bees make a loud noise when they hit the windshield. They also leave a mess.

6-16-11
So far the weather has been fine: today we will run into colder weather.
We left Ukiah at about 9:00 AM. There was a lot of road repairing going on, and it is needed.
When we came close to Eureka we had more clouds. The first thing we did, when we arrived there, we changed from shorts and T shirts to jeans and sweat shirts.
After lunch Claudia and the kids came by for a visit. Nicolette and Jacob had only a half day of school today. Claudia was picking them up from there.
After they left Doreen and I checked out other places to stay.
Here at the Elks Lodge they charge $ 20.00 per day. This includes full hookup plus cable television and WIFI.
The Moose Lodge charges $ 12.00. They have water and electricity at the site and a dump station.
Doreen does not like camping there, because of the large trees.
At the Fairgrounds the sites cost $ 20.00 with full hookup.
We decided to stay at the Elks Lodge.

6-17-11
In the morning we took Nicolette and Jacob to the Mall where I bought them a” Club Penguin Game Day” DVD for their WII.
In the afternoon we took them to the movie theater to see a film for children.
It was a sunny day. The kids wear shorts and think it is warm.












6-18-11
Doreen likes thrift shops, so we went to the big one in town. She bought two books and a cup, total cost: 96 cents.
From there we drove to Ferndale, the Victorian Town. There was a group with antique cars.
I found two pennies on the street and Doreen found a dollar bill. This covered her thrift shop expenses.












Today we learned what Cow Pie Bingo is.
A piece of lawn is fenced in and a grid is formed with lines made with a white powder. Three young cows are put in this area and do their business.











While the band is playing and a local group is selling bingo tickets and food and drinks.












On the way back to Eureka we stopped at the Cheese Factory in Loleta and bought some caraway cheese.
In the afternoon I took Nicolette and Jacob to the State Park where they rode the little train.












6-19-11
This was another fine day in Eureka. We are lucky with the weather.
The whole family went to the Square in Arcata. Doreen and Claudia went looking in the stores while Scott and I watched the children. They had fun climbing the trees and playing with the water fountain.












From the Square we went to the Chinese restaurant where we ate too much.












6-20-11
This was a relaxing day. We took it easy in the morning and after lunch went to Claudia. Doreen and Claudia went to the mall and I took the kids to the playground.






We had dinner with Claudia and her family.

Bates Nut Farm 2011

6-3-11
Now we are at Bates Nut Farm, in Valley Center, with the Shanty Shakers. The Shanty Shakers are the Southern California chapter of the Escapees Camping Club.
We arrived at the farm at noon and after setting up the motorhome joined the group for some discussions.











At 3:00 PM we left for Cruising Grant in Escondido. The first Friday of the month only old cars can park on several blocks of Grant Avenue.
We walked down one side of the street and came back on the other side. There were some beautiful cars.






















Most of the group stayed in town and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant. We came back to the motorhome and ate the stew Doreen had prepared yesterday.

6-4-11
There was a giant, once a year, yard sale at the farm today. A lot of people from Valley Center must have emptied their garages. There was even a coffin for sale.
Doreen bought a teddy bear for two dollars.






















After the yard sale Doreen and I went to see Ron Ross and his wife Mary. They have a five acre avocado ranch in Valley Center. Ron worked with me at Convair and after the company shut down, they bought the ranch.
For lunch we went to the Valley View Casino were we got a free pass for the buffet.
We signed up for the player’s card, but did not gamble. The buffet was fantastic and the food was very good.
In the afternoon we sat with the group at the camping area, and watched a gopher come out of his hole and eat grass.











The weather could not be better. I had expected hot weather; the temperature it is in the high seventies.

6-5-11
This morning was supposed to be a Buick car show. A few cars arrived; some of them were not Buicks.













We took off for home at 10:00 AM. Our neighbors at Camino Hills left today for a vacation and Doreen takes care of their cats.
The Convair Camping Club has an outing, beginning tomorrow, at a county park near Julian. This is one of our favorite places but our neighbors take care of our mail when we are on the road and now it is our turn.

Memorial Day 2011

5-27-11
Yesterday we returned from Oak Creek RV Resort and restocked the refrigerator.
This morning we left for Red Beach at Camp Pendleton. They have no military exercises this long Memorial Day weekend and we will be able to enjoy the beach.
We left home at 8:45 AM and arrived at the staging area 45 minutes later.
Normally we leave home at 2:00 PM. This time we decided to try to get a spot facing the water and left earlier. Our friends Arlene and Howard, and Linda and Jon were there already. They are friends from the Convair Camping Club.
The staging area was changed from Las Pulgas Road to the Las Flores Ranch House. This was a mess. On the road everybody knew their position, because it was single file. At the Ranch House we parked on a large meadow. A lady came around later and gave everybody a piece of paper with a number.
I knew that would not work.
Chappy and Dottie came later.
We had all day to visit with friends and other people. After lunch we had a nap.
At 3:45 PM we got the signal to leave for the beach. The piece of paper with the number meant nothing.
Position was important.
It felt like the Oklahoma Land Rush. Everybody took off at the same time.
Our four motorhomes made it to the site facing the beach. So did Jim and Jerriann. I had not seen them while wandering around at the Ranch. They had arrived at 2:00 PM and had a high number but made it to the front.
After setting up the motorhome I turned on the oven and we heated up the shepherds pie Doreen had prepared. Dottie and Chappy joined us for dinner.
After dinner Chappy and I went to the camp fire for a while. Jon always has a good fire going.












5-28-11
Part of the day was beautiful and part was windy and cool. It was a partly cloudy day.
In the morning I walked up to the bluff and looked for the Shanty Shakers, members of my other camping club.
I found their motorhomes but nobody was there.
Later, Doreen and I walked along the beach to the south camping area.
Arlene, Howard, Jon and Linda tried fishing. All they caught was kelp and sea weed.
In the afternoon we sat with the group, watching the waves and telling stories.
In the evening I walked one more time to the bluff and all the Shanty Shakers were sitting around the camp fire. They had gone, in the morning, to the monthly club breakfast meeting in El Cajon.















5-29-11
It rained last night, very unusual for Southern California. It stops raining in April. We also had a lot of wind.
It was cloudy when I took a long walk.
When Doreen woke up I walked with her along the beach.
Two of my small flags flew out of the flag holder. I found the California flag but not the WIN flag. I looked in the bushes around the motorhome. Any other flag I could easily replace. Doreen and I made the WIN flag. Later I looked on top of the motorhome and it was there.
I did not get a call from Jean’s caregiver today. Yesterday Rose, the caregiver on duty, called and told me about the problems she has with Jean. An hour later Lida, the other caregiver, called me from home. They both feel abused and ready to quit.
I talked to Jean and tried to calm her down. She was almost normal last week when she was at our house, where we celebrated her birthday.
In the evening we had dinner at Dottie’s and Chappy’s motorhome. They had prepared a pot roast.
It was too windy for a camp fire.

5-30-11
When I woke up there was blue sky and very little wind. I walked along the beach and there were a lot of people fishing, and they actually caught fish today.
Howard, Chappy and Jon started to fish too, but they still were only catching sea weed.












This was a relaxing outing. I needed the rest.
Now I have to see what is happening with Jean. It reminds me of the time when my sister called me from Germany. She was crying because my mother did not recognize her when she went to my mother’s house to pick up the laundry. Mother accused her of stealing her clothing and linens.
Alzheimer does do strange things to people.
Jean had a light stroke and behaves now as my mother did.
We have dental appointments coming and Doreen has to take care of our neighbors cats next weekend.
Then we are ready to head north, to Eureka.

Oak Creek Resort 2011

5-23-11
We are at the Oak Creek RV Resort in El Cajon, California with the Convair camping Club.
It is a small group, only eight rigs. Chappy lives across the street, and he and Dotty came by for the evening meal.
Normally it would be hot out here, but the weather is beautiful.
Eating of course is important. We have pot luck every evening.






















5-24-11
Doreen and most of the women went to Viejas Casino and shops to go shopping.
Chappy and I met Jim Clifton and his wife at a Mexican restaurant and had lunch there.After lunch we followed Jim to his house where we admired his work on his garden and retaining wall he built.
In the afternoon I went swimming in the pool.












5-25-11
We took it easy today. I went swimming and worked on my biography.
Before lunch we sat with the group and enjoyed the company and the beautiful weather.

Jean's 88th Birthday

5-22-11
Today we had the house full of neighbors and friends. There were about forty people.The occasion was the birthday of my friend Jean.
Three months ago we thought she would never celebrate another birthday.
She had a lot of fun today.I picked up Jean and her caregiver Rose, from Brookdale, where Jean lives now.
I was happy to see her in such good spirit. Most people in the room did not realize what she had gone through in the last few months.

Brianne's Bridal Shower

5-21-11
The motorhome is in the driveway, ready to go.
First we have to do a couple of fun things.
Today we went to a bridal shower. Alma's daughter is getting married.
I remember when Brianne was born and Alma brought her to work.
That was 25 years ago.

Mother's Day 2011

5-8-11
We went today to Doreen’s son Reggie and his wife Leslie for Mother’s Day lunch. Her daughter Sandra was there too.












Doreen’s back is better now and we hope we can go on the road in the middle of June.
Right now I am involved with my friend Jean. She will be 88 years old next week.
The last two months she has been in and out of the hospital, and I saw her every day.
We thought she would not make it, but in the last week she has improved.
She is now again in the nursing home with a 24 hour care giver at her side.
She has nobody in California. Her only son lives in Chicago and comes every month for a few days to see her.
It is not easy to get old.