This morning on our drive to Menifee we took a little detour into Santee to get the tyre fixed. Mike wanted to get a new tyre on the one we lost the tread off, and then get that one put back on the trailer so that the rims matched. It took a bit longer than expected as the tow truck driver had apparently stripped the screw attaching the spare tyre so the guys at the tyre shop had to cut the bolt to get the tyre off. They got it done eventually and we were on our way with four matching rims.
We got to Menifee and managed to get a nice big space a little ways away from where we were last time, and got all set up without any help from the birds, although I'm sure they'll be along to visit at some point while we are here.

Mike: Back to see my Canadian geese before they head north!

After spending a few days waiting for our plates to arrive, we spent the next 7 or 8 days driving all over the world looking for fith wheels. We've seen a bunch of them, some we like and some we don't; it seems like we've been to every dealership in Southern California, and looked at a few privately owned ones. Some of the ones we've liked have either been way more money than we want to spend or haven't been in very good shape, or (and this is the biggest problem we've found) they don't have a private bathroom. We've seen some really nice ones, where everything was perfect until we get to the bedroom and then the shower and sink are in there alongside the bed. It might be ok for some people but I just can't do it; I can compromise on some things but not that, so we'll keep looking. We found a nice used Cougar that would work but we have to sell our trailer first as it's a private party selling it. We've had the trailer listed for a while but no one has come to look at it.
We leave Pio Pico tomorrow, probably for the last time for a long while, and head back to Menifee for a couple of weeks. It'll be nice to get back to the ducks and geese, I've missed their early morning wake up calls.

Mike: I'm getting tired of shopping for RV's.

Mike was up and across the road before 9 this morning waiting to fight to get us a space with a sewer. Turns out he didn't have to fight too hard as we were third on 'The List' and we wanted a space way at the far end of the park and everyone else wanted to be close to the action near the gate and the lodge. The folks in our new space had until noon to get out, but they were leaving just after nine so we got to move right away. It wasn't too bad hooking up to the new truck (it's a little high in the back end than Serena), but since the bed is now longer than Serena Mike has to learn how to maneuver the extra few feet - I'm sure he'll get it eventually.
we took the long drive across Otay Lakes Road and got all set up again. Lots of people stopped to admire the truck, which made Mike feel special. He also finally decided on a name, although I'm going to have to check with mam before it can made official, as he wants to call her Xena. I know it's Xena with an X and not a Z, but still.

Mike: I don't have to check with anyone, it's my XENA (warrior princess) Thanks MA!


We are going to be spending the next few days here at our site waiting for our new plates to arrive from Montana as the ones on Xena right now have expired and we don't want to be stopped by a little CHP man.

We were up and on the road before the sun had even thought about getting up this morning; it was dark and cold and a half happy day and a half sad day. We set out early has we had to be in Ehrenberg, AZ by 10 o'clock to pick up our new truck, and although we were excited about getting her it meant we had to say goodbye to Serena. She has been such a good truck and with us on the road for the past 20 months that there were a few tears shed when she was driven away (Mike's tears of course).
The drive was only about 3ish hours, and we got to see a beautiful sunrise along twisty turny Campo Road.



We got to the services in Ehrenberg a little early and then had to wait a good while for the dealer driver to show up as he was running late.
When he finally got there him and Mike met witht the notary and took care of the necessary paperwork, in spite of the guy not having the pink slip to give to us; the dealership hadn't given it to him - typical! Mike got on the phone with the dealership and had them overnight it to Montana so we could get our new plates, so even though things weren't done the exact way we had expected, at least we didn't have to pay for the overnighting to Montana.
Well, even without the pink slip we drove out in our posh new truck and Serena drove away to start her new life; I hope she gets good people to take care of her.

Mike:Goodbye Serena, I'll miss you! Hello "XENA" my wonderful warrior princess!



The drive home was fine, Mike fiddled with one thing or another the whole way, but then that's men for you. We got back to the trailer after the sun had gone to bed. Mike had an early night after all the driving and because he has to get up early tomorrow to go fight for a space on the full-hook side of the park. I hope he's up for it, some of these old folk can be really mean when they don't get their own way.

After spending close to a month at Wilderness Lakes the time finally came this morning to move; fortunately we hadn't forgotten how to do it! We were just heading back south to Pio Pico which should have been a short trip but it turned out to not be. We got an earlyish start, figuring we'd be in Jamul by 11 a.m., but then as we were driving south on I15 we saw the rubber from one of our trailer tyres pass us by. We got pulled over and saw that the passenger side front tyre of the trailer was treadless - not the best start to a day but at least we didn't have too long of a drive. We got the roadside assistance dispatched and then settled in to wait. Even during the non rush-hour hours the 15 is super busy and the trucks were flying past us, shaking Serena and the trailer all over the place. After about an hour the tow truck came and the guy got down to changing the tyre; I have to say that his is not a job I'd want to do, lying around the floor on a freeway! Anyway, he got it done in about a half an hour and we were once more on our way, taking Serenas last trip towing the trailer.

Mike: My favorite thing to do! Hang out on the side of the freeway waiting for the tow truck!


We got to Pio Pico around lunch time only to discover that the side of the park with full hook-ups was full and that we would have to spend a few days on the other side of the park. The other side isn't too bad, nice big spaces and as there are not too many people over here it's fairly quiet and peaceful. Besides, we are going to be gone all day tomorrow, and we are on 'The List' for Thursday morning.

What a stinky day. We got our bathtub repaired between Christmas and the New Year and the guys who did it had to come and refinish the bottom of it today. Now I think everyone in the vicinity of the trailer must be high as a kite cos the stuff they used is super strong. I’m not sure how the guy who did it was still standing at the end as he didn’t wear a mask or anything. We’ve had the fans running all day and it still smells, but at the least the bath looks good now.

Mike: I kind of liked it!

Yeah, we have a new truck, a F350 dually in copper. We pick her up next week, now what to call her?

Mike: I vote for "Xena, the Warrior Princess."

Well not one of our better New Year beginnings but Happy New Year anyway. The day before New Year’s eve I got sick. I’m not sure whether it was food poisoning from something I cooked, or a bug, but either way it wasn’t any fun. I was throwing up in the early hours of the morning and Mike didn’t even get up to hold my hair. I’m not sure I’m ever going to want to eat peanut butter again, and you should all be very grateful I didn’t feel well enough to take the camera in there with me!
I spent all day New Year’s Eve in bed, and most of New Year’s Day too, and still feel a bit off today. I can’t remember the last time I was sick and I don’t like it, but I think it’s passing. The one good thing about it was that I now know that Mike knows how to wash dishes.

Mike: What are dishes? Poor girl! She has not been this sick in the 10 years we've
been together.