Morro Strand State Beach - 6 Nights

November 8: Today we moved to Morro Strand. We did some housekeeping and then used the new shower facility at North Beach before leaving. It is nice because each shower and toilet are private, no men or women, just one person per room. So "politically correct" for CA and the various gender issues. For me, it makes me feel safer anyway. I have never felt threatened in a campground but who knows these days. It's about a 30 minute drive north to Morro Bay/Morro Strand. Before arriving we stopped at Chapala this little Mexican restaurant where we purchased take-out food in the past. It is anything but fancy but the food is authentic and good. I think you will only find locals here on most day. After our fill up we headed to the campground and our space was open. We were in and set up before 1p in campsite #5. We have had various weather today. Mist - clouds - hot sun - then cool, layers of clothing are definitely needed! Tonight my charging cord stopped working for my laptop. I am so disappointed, my album work is done. Maybe I can find a cord in town or order one on Amazon to be delivered here. Darn. 

Mexican Food For Lunch

Arriving at Morro Strand State  Beach

Our Camp

November 9: Just to prove my theory that the weather changes quickly here - it rained last night. Too bad we left our chairs out! We tried to find a solution for my PC but at least we know it is the power cord. I ordered a new one from Amazon. I hope it is actually delivered tomorrow as promised. After checking on that we went  to the grocery store, returned our items to camp and went for lunch at Schooner's in Cayucos. Delicious as always. Back to camp, it is so warm I switched to the Hawaii dress I brought with me. Shortly thereafter, we had rain! If you don't like  the weather, just wait, it will change! Deb and Sam arrived in the dark, it wasn't too bad for them to set up, they are efficient! We were all tired after that and we went to the House of JuJu for dinner. It has more seafood than the Clovis location and loaded potatoes - WOW, not sure if Clovis has that or not?

November 10: Today was the day for other De La Peña arrivals. I think 25 more showed up, but I lost count. Everyone seemed to be getting along and except for one unruly child it was a great group. Anyway, we took Deb & Sam up to Pismo to see the various camp sites by Avila Beach and a short  visit to Avila Valley Barn to get our pie/crisp fix for this trip. We also could not resist stopping at Splash Cafe for more chowder! Our little group of 6 went out to dinner at The Dutchman's Seafood House. 

John's Crab Cakes (he had garlic fries too)

 My Steamers - Delicious!

November 11: Steven and Saira arrived at 8am! He said they would but I figured it would be later. By the time I was dressed  their tent was all set up and they were enjoying coffee by the fire! 

Tonight was the shrimp boil. We got expensive crabs from Giovanni's as well. Not sure why we do that because we have so much food leftover! In the evening we had the grilled oysters - the best ever! I made garlic butter for them with a little green onion chopped up too. The smaller oysters had a better flavor - We all agreed on that. 

November 12: The extended DLP family left this morning. Deb and Sam didn't fix breakfast but we took everyone to Chapala for an early lunch. Another favorite is the ceviche in the form of a tostada - SO GOOD! It is Saira's BD. BUT we will take the two of them to a nice place next weekend in town. After lunch Steven and Saira headed home. He has to work tomorrow. 

November 13: Deb and Sam packed up and left today. We went to lunch at Schooner's and spent the rest of the day relaxing. We did a few things to prep for departure tomorrow, but  not much. 

November 14: All packed up and departed the campsite at 9:30a. My power cord never came - so disappointed. I took it up with Amazon and it will all work out. We got home at 12:30 even after a stop for lunch. We cleaned the trailer really well and had it all done, back in storage, and the gas tank full again by 4:30p - Exhausted but THANKFUL for another trip. 

North Beach Pismo State Beach - 3 Nights

November 5: Happy to be here at Pismo Beach. NB18 is our campsite for 3 days. Our drive over was uneventful. We had In N' Out for lunch. It was sunny and cool when we arrived. After the sun went down it was chilly but actually seemed warmer in the night, even though our heater clicked on at one point. We ate leftovers, played cards, and I fell asleep watching NCIS DVDs. John turned everything out and was sound asleep when I next woke at 2:30a.

Just Backed in 3p

November 6: What a lovely morning. It says it is says it is only 60 degrees but with the bright sun shining on us it almost feels hot! No sweatshirt needed when I took Tony for his morning walk over the dunes, that's for sure. It is SO beautiful here. After we were back from the walk I set up my "work station" as I plan to do a good bit of digital scrapbooking while here for three day. We gave our first Casita tour before 10a. For lunch we went to one of our favorite places, Old Juan's Cantina in Oceano. It was delicious as always. We ate so much it feels like we need a nap now!  

Our Morning View

November 7: Today was another lovely day. After we were up and around we decided to walk over to the Monarch Butterfly Grove. You can access this grove from the campground, though most people park on Hwy 1 and enter that way. The parking is premium so it is nice to just walk into the back section from the campground. After all the years we have come over here, we have never gone to see this. Maybe we never came to Pismo from Nov-Feb, but I think we have. Anyway, we are seeing it now. Once was just a path and a brochure has been expanded to an entrance with a lovely sign, a gift shop, tons of brochures and various reading materials, informational signs, and a fenced walkway with at least 6 telescopes trained on the pretty little insects. Volunteers man the telescopes, answer questions, and give little lectures a few times a day. 

By now we worked up an appetite so we drove into town to go to Splash Cafe. To our astonishment, there was no line! For a split second I was concerned they were closed or worse yet, went out of business. Nope, we hit it just right I guess. We had a delicious bread bowl of chowder with seafood topping (crab and shrimp). To walk off that lunch we headed to the pier only to find it was closed for repairs. It was a minor disappointment but we are happy to see the city of Pismo Beach takes pride in their pier and they are making these upgrades to be sure it is nice for future generations. 

The rest of our day was spent playing cards, reading, and relaxing. I have gotten a LOT done on my albums. As of today I am caught up on the 2017 Eash Family album!

Heading to the Coast Soon

Reservations are made and we are ready for some R&R! We have been working on our new place daily. It is a big job to get things in place just the way we want them. 

Part of this camping trip was put in place some time back. We will be staying at Morro Strand State Beach with the family in attendance for part of the time. However, we are going early to spend three extra days at North Beach Pismo. We are looking forward to some great walks on the beach!

Outta The Heat

It has been triple digits at home for days. We decided to head up to the mountains, specifically Kings Canyon's Azalea Campground, to escape the heat. It is now one of the few campgrounds that are first come-first served. It is difficult to find out if Sunset is open because the website just says "Next availability in August" right now. We were relieved that there were at least a few campsites to choose from in Azalea. It is surprising how full it is even mid week. I guess because this and the small Crystal Creek are the only first come-first served in this area. Anyway, we got a beautiful campsite number 72. It might be one of the best campsites here! How did we miss this before? It is very spacious. I think it's about 75 degrees with a slight breeze. Very, very nice... Where else could you stay in a place like this for $63 a week? Of course that's the perk, one of the few, of being a senior!

We saw some beautiful pink sunsets, ate some tasty meals, took nice walks in the cool air, I worked on my digital scrap-booking, read books, played cards, watched videos before bed, and just generally enjoyed the cooler days and cool evenings. 

We also drove down the hill one day, looked at a house that our Real Estate Agent Tamera says was perfect for us, and put in an offer! We loved the house and especially the small yard. It had all the things we had on our "need AND want list." 3 Bedrooms, 2 baths, open concept kitchen-dining-living room, inside laundry, fireplace, lots of storage, 2 car garage, and amazingly it even has a doggie door for Tony! We got back up here about 3:30-4p and by 5p we got a call from Tamera that we got the house!!! Let the packing begin (again)!

About that new "Instant" Sun Shelter we bought... The struggle: It was anything but "instant" - First off, it seems to weigh more than the 35 lbs stated in the description. Second, it says it requires 2 people to put it up (I didn't notice that when buying it!). Third, it did not go up like an "Instant" tent that is so simple to put up and take down. Without the help of our neighbors we might still be struggling. It would seem that it really needs 4 people to stretch it out before the task of raising it up because right when you start pulling 2 sides to stretch it out, the other two sides go in. Once we got the four corners stretched out getting the corners up was another story. The bottom part worked well enough but the top part took some muscle to push up and click into place. Perhaps putting the upper portion in place first would be a better idea IF we use it again. Of course to use it again we must be able to get it down! Maybe our neighbors will still be here? Now for the good part: It is sturdy and we did not need to use the tie downs. It is providing sun but even better we are not getting bonked in the head with the large and multiple pine cones falling from the trees. The size fits nicely up against our awning for the trailer. I hope it will loosen up with use and we can have this as part of our equipment. 

The Best and the Worst of Humanity

I've always found that camping you find the best and the worst of humanity, this time was no different. On one side we have 2 campsites of the nicest family you could find. Smiling and friendly. When they saw John and I trying move our table they ran over and moved it for us, later when we were struggling to put up our "instant" sun cover (more on that later) they also ran over to help. It is so nice to see families enjoying nature with several generations and being such NICE families. It restores faith in human nature.

Then... There are the other people, I think 2 campsites as well on our east side. I am all for having fun but after 10p it is supposed to be quite time. Hooting and hollering near midnight is really not being quiet. I can understand hearing a baby crying (which we did in the distance) but this loud activity at night is just not considerate. John and one other man asked them to be quieter just after 11p, nothing changed. Shortly after midnight they apparently went to bed, though their bright light was on until after 1a. Thankfully, they packed up and left this morning. One of the 20ish young men kept glaring at us and I just stared right back. 

As long as I live I cannot understand how some people think they are better than others? I don't care who you are, these parks are for everyone and anyone here should abide by the rules and make it comfortable for everyone visiting. Okay, off my soapbox for the day! 

Sad, but true!

Morro Strand State Beach Campground

We came over on Thursday, June 15, to enjoy a week here in the cool weather. Some of the kids came that same day and more joined on Friday and Saturday. We had a nice time celebrating Sam's birthday and Father's Day. Jeff caught some fish, we ate good food, had nice campfires, grilled oysters, walked on the beach, went on a  little bay tour, and generally enjoyed ourselves. We made trips into Cayucos and the City of Morro Bay. Deb, Saira, and I drove down to Avila Valley Barn to get pies for Sam's BD. Neither of them had been there before so it was fun to show them such a great place. We even had some roasted corn! Dread heading home to the heat tomorrow, but it must be done.  

Deb & Saira having corn

 The Boys catch!

 Cooking Filet Mignon for Sam's BD

 Happy BD Sam

Steven and Saira off to the beach

 All the De La Pena's

Oysters

Sub Sea Tours

The Best Small Town to Visit in All 50 Statess

Here's CA's BEST:

(since we're heading to the coast you may want to stop here)

California: San Luis Obispo

Population: 46,730
In the state with a full 10th of the US population, finding one small city to call “best” is nearly impossible. You’ve got the tiny towns of wine country like Sonoma, Napa, and Buellton. The Scandinavian charm of Solvang. The food in Healdsburg. Turlock.

So what puts SLO on top? Well, the setting for one. Nestled in the hills of California’s fabled Central Coast, it’s only a short trip to Hearst Castle, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Morro Bay, and wine country. But even if you don’t leave the city, there’s plenty to see -- the public art is better than in many large cities, including creatively decorated utility boxes and a 70-foot alley covered in bubblegum. A trip on the first Friday of the month lets you experience Art After Dark, a stroll through SLO’s finest galleries and performance spaces. Go in the summer and you’ll catch a free concert in the Spanish-colonial Mission Plaza. Forty miles of hiking and biking trails extend from the center of Downtown, so you can explore that gorgeous coastline from something other than your car. -- M.M.

Memorial Weekend Trip

May 25-30, 2017

We went up Thursday, we were there by noon. It was shocking how full the campgrounds were and how many people were saving sites, just like we plan to do! We were greatly blessed to even get a spot, let alone 2 side by side. YAY! Sunset Campground was still closed, which was different than the website said. We  were  on the lower loop at Azalea Campground, sites 95 & 96. I'm not sure how they would be in the summer when it is warmer and mosquitoes thrive but for now it worked out great. Both Azalea and Crystal Creek were full by Thursday evening. These sites worked well enough for us. The When DLP's & Julie arrived Friday am, Sam was able to level their tent trailer despite the severe slope and potholes. S&S arrived Friday late afternoon and our group was completed. No Jeff this weekend, he is working and Soren stayed home (to have a party?).

There was a small line to get into the parks at the entrance but other than that the traffic was not an issue for us. It was very crowded at Grants Grove facilities on the actual weekend. We enjoyed delicious food complements of the DLP's chef skills and some grilled onions from Steven. I found firewood and with the muscles of S&S and Julie they got it back to camp. Steven chopped up a bunch for our fire. Some of us trekked across the fallen logs in the meadow. We all enjoyed the multiple deer that came to feast in the same meadow. Yahtzee was dominated by Sam and Julie but the rest of us had fun, John even played "using the cup" as instructed. 

S&S left Sunday so Steven could make his soccer game commitment. D&S with Spencer and Julie went home Monday morning. We stayed on until Tuesday to avoid any possible traffic issues. Another fun time camping with the family with great memories made. 

We now have a new campfire game, as long as the phones stay charged! It is sort of like charades. The ap is called Head's Up and we had a lot of fun playing that.  

Kings Canyon-Sequoia

So in checking I have found Azalea Campground is the only first come, first served campground around Grant's Grove now. Sunset Campground is reservations only and of course it is full for the opening Memorial Day weekend. John and I are going up Thursday morning in hopes that we will find two spots for the family for the weekend. IF NOT, the trip will be canceled. However, I am feeling hopeful since the nighttime temps may drop to  freezing I think the faint of heart may stay home and there will be plenty of room for us. 

Reservations - Morro Strand State Beach

We got a couple of the  last available campsites for a week including the Father's Day weekend when the kids will be joining us. We might extend our stay elsewhere but we'll see what is happening at the time.

Home Again! - Day 59

Miles 202  
Total Miles For Trip 7,001 - 17.8 MPG
We are so happy, blessed, and thankful to be able to go on this trip. We saw so much, had some preconceived ideas erased, and learned a lot of new things. We know we definitely want to return to New Orleans one day and sample more of the exquisite food they have in the area. But we also learned how much we love California. The mountains, the seaside, the valley we live in, there is just no comparison. Politics aside, there is just no other state like California. We may be prejudice in our opinions, me especially being a native Californian, but there is no comparison in our minds. There's no place like home!!!

Lancaster, CA - Day 58

Miles 264
It was dry when we left Dome Rock at Quartzsite. We didn't have any rain all day. We went on Hwy 10, Hwy 215, then 138, and we are on 14 here in Lancaster. John says it was a short cut! Back in Pacific Time Zone and close to home tonight. Here is the proof below - I guess in case you wonder what state you are entering there are options to inform you!

California or Bust!!!

PS: We were just getting into bed after 10p when a security guard at Walmart knocked on our door and told us we could not spend the night. We were shocked. It is true we did not check to be sure this time. John went to the store and sure enough we have to move. It is our own fault for not checking. Thankfully, we were able to pull into their local Fairgrounds RV camping and spend the night. This was just 6-7 miles away and had electrical hook ups. We won't make that mistake again. We used to check each time and we just got lazy about calling ahead to find out for sure if it would be okay. It all worked out, but barely. Had we not been able to camp here we would have had to drive at least an hour or more in the dark.  

Dome Rock - Quartzsite, AZ - Day 57

John got up and took a photo of the beautiful sunrise. This is a lovely spot, which at first looks barren but at a closer look among the many multicolored rocks you find the lovely plants that survive on the desert. Our plan to enjoy the great outdoors was scuttled when it began to rain about 1p. That's okay, we got a lot done this morning and relaxed in the afternoon. Our meals today were combinations of leftovers so the fridge is cleared out a bit. 

Morning Sky

Lovely Desert Plants

Dome Rock - Quartzsite, AZ - Day 56

Miles 257

We had a nice drive today staying on Hwy 10 with only a few traffic delays along the way. We ate lunch at a Cracker Barrel, well not exactly. We forgot it was Sunday and they are crazy busy so John ordered it to go and we ate in the trailer. We had a few raindrops along the way today. We also stopped at Picacho Peak, where we camped before, and dumped our tanks and refilled with fresh water. We are at Dome Rock BLM (Bureau of Land Management) campground tonight. It offers a free stay for up to 14 days. We plan to stay 2 nights. Tomorrow we plan to rest and clean out a few places in the Jeep and in the trailer. I also plan to organize photos and perhaps fill in a few more pages of my album. I have fallen woefully behind with that. It  was a great plan to keep it up each day but I lagged behind during the cruise and haven't been current since! The sky changed i n fascinating ways today and tonight it was just astounding!My photos do not do it justice. I was going to take a photo of the sunset but I was reading and missed it. That's a goal for tomorrow, that and to clean out our fridge!

Beautiful Sky Today

And Tonight

Tucson, AZ - Day 55

Miles 325

Since we woke up super early (for us) due to the time change, we took off earlier than usual. I know John is ready to be home when he gets up first and gets all ready to go before me! It was an uneventful day.  We had fast food for lunch. We are at Walmart tonight. Bought Lean Cuisine for our dinner and used the microwave. 

El Paso, TX - Day 54

Miles 366

We got an earlier start today, gained an hour going back to Mountain Time, and we didn't stop for a restaurant meal. All of that contributed to accumulating 366 miles today. We are at Walmart tonight and I am feeling much improved. John still has a little bit of cough but not much. The drive was somewhat pretty as there were some hills and trees along the way instead of the flat, brown land we saw along Hwy 20. We had a slight glitch when we ran out of LPG. John thought he had just the one tank open so we could just open the next tank and be good to go but that was not the case. Turns out both tanks were on and both tanks were empty. Good thing Walmart sells full tanks or we would be driving around El Paso in the dark looking for a place that sells LPG. 

Rest Area Hwy 10, TX - Day 53

Miles 200

Tonight we are staying at a TX Rest Area, which we are told is very safe. It is also noisy but I am too tried to drive on today. I am a little better each day but not well yet. We will probably get an early start in the morning and hope to make good time. The drive today was uneventful, thanking God for that. 

San Antonio, TX - Day 52

We were up and out early enough to visit the Alamo before too many people arrived. I guess it is busy for a week day because the Rodeo is in town. The Alamo is an interesting place, right in the middle of town, and it was free to enter. No photos are allowed inside. I'm not sure why because it is all stone but that's the rule. They have a nice set up with outside displays and open courtyard areas around the mission. There is also a Museum and the always present gift shop. They had a fascinating display in the gift shop of the mission/fort area with tiny troops and horses all in place. From there we went to lunch at the Rio Cafe, the oldest restaurant along the River Walk, which was also instrumental in building up this area that is now so popular. Now there are multiple restaurants along the River Walk but it was the first, established in 1946, and still going strong. From there we went on the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. It took about an hour and gave us a good lay of the land and a few interesting sites to see. We did not get off until we made the full loop because we wanted to also go on the River Boat tour. We had to go inside the mall and find the starting point and get our ticket, which took time. Once you see the actual San Antonio River water you might want to change your mind but we went anyway. It is not very good looking, brown/green, and not safe to be in or fish from. That seems odd to  me since it goes right through town you would think they would attempt to purify it in some way. Maybe that is impossible. Anyway, taking a little boat ride was fun. It is close to 90F and we are parched. We  stopped for a cold drink before heading back to camp. I wish I had more energy. After getting back I am resting and John went to get me both DayQuil and NyQuil in hopes it will help me. Whatever this is seems to have settled in my head and chest. Tomorrow is a new day. 

Casa Rio

River Boat Tour San Antonio

San Antonio

San Antonio, TX - Day 51

Miles 171

After deciding we wouldn't stop in San Antonio, we had a change of heart. For one reason, we want a break from the road and we can use the rest. We are at River Walk RV Park. With the Good Sam discount it is $38.70 per night. Supposedly it is close to the San Antonio River Walk downtown so we will venture out tomorrow and see. It was cool and clear when we left Houston area this morning and it is pretty warm at 84F with no shade in the RV park. Hoping to feel invigorated in the morning and go exploring!

(Just West of) Houston, TX - Day 50

Miles 237

We slept in because neither of us slept well last night. We got on the road at noon. We had rain most of the way today. A couple times it was so hard visibility was very low. At least people were sensible and drove slowly and even had on their flashers. I've never seen people use flashers for the rain but it did add to the visibility. We are at Cracker Barrel again tonight in Barker, TX, which is just west of Houston. It's not raining at the moment and quite pleasant. We probably won't be going to San Antonio but just by it. Both of us just feel like getting home since we aren't feeling our best. However, TX is a BIG state and I think it's 700+ miles to the border from here! 

Entering Lake Charles Area, LA

Welcome to Texas Sign (really!)

Lafayette, LA - Day 49

Miles 130

We didn't go far. We stopped  for lunch at a Cracker Barrel, then rested, drove another hour or so and stopped at another Cracker Barrel for over night. I'm feeling better but not great by any stretch of the imagination. Tomorrow is a new day. 

Bayou Segnette State Park - Day 48

Day 48 was not great. I felt a little sick last night but this day brought 101 temp, sore throat, aching all over, and my head felt like it was in a vice slowing being screwed tighter and tighter. I stayed in bed most of the day. I did get dressed and eat a chicken "flavored" cup of noodles - that had to  pass for chicken soup. We tried to book an extra day, not knowing what tomorrow might bring, but the campground is full so we will move on. 

ps: I'm writing this the next morning and I am feeling better. Achiness is gone, headache is better. Check out isn't until 1p so we will relax a bit and then move westward. 

New Orleans - Day 47

We were up early and out to drop Tony off for daycare and grooming. We secured parking for all day in the city for $35. It seems like a lot but we are just a couple short blocks from the cooking school where we will end the activities for the day so it is worth it. We walked all over, had a sort of little brunch at Pierre Maspero's. This building has quite a history and right now it serves some good food. It is a very friendly place as well. We walked around some more and did a bit of shopping. We also saw this "anti Hate" band setting up but when I asked what Hate they were  talking about, they said Trump, I laughed and told them I voted for him. They just stared at me. Anyway, they didn't get a donation from me and later we noted they had been rained out. Then we went to the Musical Legends Park because I wanted to go there last time we were in town and we ran out of time and energy. Surrounded by life sized bronze statues of Jazz Legends we sat and listened to live music while having a drink and munching on fresh, warm Beignets. Our timing was good because about the time we settled in to enjoy the music, the rain started. We hung out there until almost time for our cooking class and the rain let up a bit. Once again we thoroughly enjoyed the cooking demo at the New Orleans School of Cooking. The class was only half full and we got very large portions of the Gumbo and Jambalaya that was made. The Gumbo was pretty salty for my taste, even John thought it was salty, but it had great flavor. The Jambalaya was delicious. Pat was our chef again this time. It was every bit as enjoyable to hear her entertaining delivery of NOLA history about food and people who shaped the cuisine we eat here today. Though the traffic was bad we did make it back in time to pick a fresh smelling Tony up before 5p. It is 53F and raining. We feel full, comfortable, and warm for the night so we will be staying inside.  It is soothing to hear the rain on the trailer. 

Pierre Maspero's

Musical Legends Park

New Orleans School of Cooking

Bayou Segnette State Park - Day 46

Miles 138

After leaving Cracker Barrel this morning we decided we would try a drive along the Gulf Coast again, leaving US 10 and going on Hwy 90. Most of the way it was lovely and interesting. There are so many houses and property for sale and a lot of new building going on. I don't think this can still be from Katrina 11 years ago but something has the area very depressed. As we got closer to New Orleans we had to get back on US 10 again as  that is the only way to get across the Mississippi River in this area. I didn't realize it when I made the reservation here at Bayou Segnette that we are in the same exact spot we were in on our first visit here. It was the only spot left when I made the reservations so I took it no matter what it was. John has had a hacking cough for about a week now. I called Kaiser and asked for some Codeine cough syrup to help him sleep at night. We picked that up before coming to the campground. I am not sure it set well on his stomach as he just threw up his minimal dinner. I think he should have taken the cough syrup after eating...:-(  I feel bad for him but he has no fever or any other symptoms, just this cough. Tomorrow is a new day, I hope he feels a lot better.  

The Mississippi Gulf Coast