Merry Christmas everyone and happy Boxing Day. I’ve been a little bit sad for the past week since we didn’t get to go home for Christmas this year and I miss seeing my family at the holidays. Well I got to talk to everybody either today or yesterday and while it’s not anywhere near the same as being there I am quite grateful for skype.
We had a lovely day yesterday first visiting with Barbara and Guy and their family for lunch, and while there we got to meet the neighbours and their Viszla Pinkie who was really cute. Then we headed to Ms. Manaois’ home (well her sister’s house really) and got to experience a real Filipino Christmas gathering. There were people and food everywhere and everyone was so inviting. It was loud and happy and we had a really nice time.

Mike: I've been to football games with fewer people!

We were supposed to be leaving this park tomorrow but we have extended our stay for two more weeks. We upgraded our membership so now we can stay up to three weeks at each park without having to be out for any length of time and they are allowing us to stay the extra week too.

Headed south early this morning to meet a man who was interested in buying Serena. He took a good look at her and seemed to like her but he has to see a man about some cash so we’ll see if he calls back or not.
Afterwards Mike dropped me in UTC and I met a friend from school and had lunch with him. It was really nice to catch up after all this time; it’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 20 years since we last saw each other.
I’m not sure what Mike got up to while I was lunching, probably nothing good, but he came to get me when I called so I can’t complain – he’s a good boy really. Then we headed to work to meet Santa.

Mike: I was eating and shopping, alone!

Our last move before Christmas today from Jamul to Menifee. It wasn’t a bad drive straight up the I15 then to the I215 for a few miles. We stayed at this park when we first joined Thousand Trails and it’s not too bad. It is right next to a dairy farm so there are some smells that waft over occasionally, but nothing too awful.
We got checked in around 10.30 and drove around for a while looking for a space. We found a nice big pull through one and even though it’s not right on the water (Mike will survive), it’s a nice spot. It’s actually a lot quieter here than I thought it would be but I’m sure it’ll fill up in time for Christmas.
It didn’t take us too long to get set up, but it took a little longer than usual as we had visitors the whole time, a lovely flock of geese and some little ducks. There are birds all over this park and they are really cheeky. I was putting the mat down and the geese were coming right up to me to see what I was doing. I don’t mind them but I don’t want them too close, especially when there are so many of them. And they are so noisy, honking away. I’m sure by the time we leave here we’ll be used to the noise and will probably miss it at the next park.

Mike: Becc, honk back at them, don't let them intimidate you!


After the geese moved on the storks came to visit, and the white one stood outside our door for about an hour; I’m not sure whether he wanted food or to have his picture taken some more.

Well the search has begun in earnest. We spent the last few days looking at trucks and fifth wheels in the South and East county area and have seen a good few. Looking at trucks is not really my idea of fun, I know it’s necessary but it’s not very exciting, I mean a truck is a truck right? The problem is we really need to solve the truck issue before we can get a new trailer so that means I have to look at them; or at least sit in the truck while Mike looks at them. We saw some that would work but since Mike is as anal as he is I’m sure a lot more looking and research is going to have to be done before we actually buy one. As for fifth wheels, there are so many makes and models and floor plans available that you need a degree to keep them all straight, but we’ll get there – we have all the time in the world.

Mike: Man look for big TRUCK! Woman look for house on wheels! Ugh! Ugh!

Off again today to Jamul and hopefully some warmer weather. Even though it’s not very much further west than Descanso it’s at a lot lower altitude so it definitely should be warmer over the next few days. The drive to Jamul only took us about an hour and a half but the roads were not the best, very steep (both going up and coming down) and windy. At one point we though Nell was going to take us along a dirt road but she turned us just in time to avoid it. Anyway we got there without incident and found the park to be quite nice. We checked in and got to look for a spot on the north side which has full hook ups, and had no trouble finding a good space; we are way at the far end of the park so we shouldn’t have to much park traffic going by.
The park is in a valley between two fairly high hills so we are very sheltered from the weather here. We may get a little frost in the mornings but the wind shouldn’t be a problem. All in all it should be a nice few days, we have tv, strong wifi and sunshine – what more do we need!

Mike: It's cool having the border patrol driving through the park looking for
illegals. I told Becc to hide!

Phew last night was windy. It only blew every so often, but when it came it sounded like a train coming past the trailer. The leaves would rattle a little then the whooshing sound came along with the shakes. As usual Mike was completely oblivious and slept like a baby right through it all. Next time it happens I’m going to wake him up and have him listen to it with me!
After braving the cold and wind at the park this morning we headed north and took care of some things that had arisen as a result of getting the mail yesterday. Then it was off to visit Barbie and Guy for the afternoon. They made us a lovely lunch in their new home (well new to us since we hadn’t seen it before) and we spent a few hours telling them about our travels and getting caught up with their news. It was so nice to get to visit after 18+ months of being gone.

Mike: I didn't hear anything!

We left Pilot Knob early this morning and headed towards San Diego, well Descanso anyway; we wanted to get an early start so we could get the trailer sorted and then head to Del Mar to get our mail so off we went. The drive was ok, a little windy and dusty again but nothing to extreme, and nothing Serena couldn’t handle. It was mostly freeway driving along the 8 till we got to Descanso then the fun started. We drove along an ok road for about 5 miles then we came to a sign at the junction we had to trun on advising that the road was unsuitable for RV’s. Well what we were going to do actually I was ready to turn around and find someplace else, but Mike just turned onto the road as if the sign wasn’t there, typical. It was a little steep and a lot windy, and I’m glad we have a teeny tiny trailer, although it’s probably going to take a while for my nails to grow back.
When we got to the park we couldn’t make the turn into the driveway (the brochure had warned us about this) so we had to drive another 2 miles along the steep windy road to a parking lot to turn around, and then another two miles back to the park entrance – fun!
After getting checked in we went looking for a space. There are a number of them in this park but of the ones that I wanted to attempt getting into there were about 4. The park is on a hillside and most of the spaces are in the steepest weirdest places possible; I had to get out of the truck and walk to the space and let Mike drive round the park by himself. The space we finally settled on is nestled in against the trees so we will have some shelter from the weather for the few days we are here. It was really cold and windy when we were setting up, even though it was mid morning and the sun was shining. The wind is pretty raw and it’s supposed to be unchanged for the whole time we are here.

Mike: Becc, I'm trying to keep your life exiting!



This afternoon we headed into Del Mar and it was so good to see the sea again; it looks beautiful as you drive down over Del Mar Heights and down into the city proper. We managed to pick up our mail without any problems, amazingly we parked straight away. Then we headed to Habaneros and at long last had lovely potato tacos. If there’s one thing I’ve missed about being in San Diego it’s Habaneros tacos – not healthy but absolutely delicious!
After stuffing our faces we made a stop at work and got to catch up with everyone there; it was really good to see them after so long. Everyone that we saw was fine, and it was like we’d never been away as nothing has changed. We got hugs from everyone and kisses from Cassie and Sierra and had a lovely long catch up.

Well after doing the research yesterday afternoon and seeking some independent council (thanks Rose) we have pretty much decided not to buy any membership with Western Horizons today or at any time in the future. Mike went over and clarified some points with the sales reps boss this morning and got a whole bunch of different answers than yesterday. Then the original guy came by this afternoon and when Mike called him on some of his points he gave us different answers again. I know I’m married to an ex salesman but I really dislike them, why can’t they ever just be straight and then leave you to make up your own mind?
This afternoon we had planned to visit the center of the world, apparently it’s right here in Arizona in a little town called Felicity – who knew? There’s a pyramid and a dot on the floor and a church on a hill with a bright blue door but they wanted $3.00 each to go visit so we didn’t go. I have no reason to give some nut who already has too much money any of mine just to look at a spot on the floor that he claims is the center of the world.

Mike: People are soo! weird and we're so dumb to go look!

Well we spent yesterday looking around Yuma for fifth wheels since there are a number of RV dealers here. I think we are a little early in the season though as there are not too many around and some of the seasonal dealers are not even open yet. We got to look at a few and I have much more of an idea of what is going to be on my list of requirements, but the more we look at the more the list grows and the more complicated it gets to narrow down the make and model; we’ll get there I’m sure even if we have to look at a thousand more.
When we got back yesterday we had a knock on the door from a sales rep for Western Horizons who wanted us to go to a meeting about buying a membership with them so we went there this morning. We sat and listened to a guy for about half an hour and I swear he told us everything he thought we wanted to hear; I’m not sure any of it was true, but still. Now we have to decide if it’s something we want to do, in theory it sounds like a good idea but I think an afternoon of independent research is called for.

Mike: Salesmen, huh!

Finally left behind Arizona today and made it back into California at long last. The trip along the I8 was not very long but was very windy and dusty; it was also quite a climb for Serena too as we crossed the mountains before dropping down into Yuma. Although we did cross the Californian border today we are for all intents and purposes still in Arizona. Our park, Pilot Knob (I think I’d have to change the name if I lived here) is in California but still on Mountain Time, so as we drive to and from Yuma we’ll gain and then lose an hour. It’s kind of dumb really since everything else here is on PST except for the park.




It’s an ok park, easy access from the freeway (it’s going to be noisy), and nice flat sites, even if they are a little close together; that shouldn’t be a problem though since there aren’t that many people here. In fact I think there are more people dry camping in the desert just across the street from us – rather them than me, I like my shower!
We drove back into Winterhaven proper this afternoon to pick up our mail and it’s a good job we went since you can only pick it up between 2 and 3 in the afternoon, then we headed into Yuma for lunch.

Mike: Back to California after a year and one-half! I wonder, is that a good thing?