We're Not in Arizona Anymore

After leaving Las Vegas Thursday afternoon, we intended to work our way south and go to Quartzsite for the big tent show.  

After filling up the propane, fresh water and diesel fuel we drove about 100 miles to a Golden Valley RV park that accepted Passport America. After two great PA experiences, this was a bit different.  The book said they would accept PA for three nights and the rate would be $12.50. Reality was they would only take it for one night, and charged $21. My PA book is recent. The other two places we stayed with the PA were quite nice. This one was a gravel parking lot. None of that is important. It was just a stopping place because the weather was getting ugly.

Poor Craig. By the time we got parked and he was out hooking things up, a storm arrived with icy sleet. I stayed inside and warmed up some clam chowder for lunch.

When we woke up Friday morning the water hose was frozen. 

I had said that we were going to be flexible and our destinations beyond the Death Valley were dependent on the weather. It looked to us like Western Arizona is going to be cold for the next week. 

So we did what having a house on wheels makes possible. We packed up and drove 400 miles to where it was a lot warmer!

We started the day with fresh baked, Trader Joe's croissants. They start out frozen, and all you have to do is put them out to thaw and rise overnight and bake them in the oven. They are a special breakfast treat that we have every so often. (I probably should have pulled the blind for a better picture, but this is one happy, warm man.)

We burned some of the calories with a four mile walk along two of the beaches in the area. Yes, in just the right light the waves look violet in color.

Looking down the beach in the other direction, the sun's reflection  dazzles the eye. 

This is a life style we could really love!  

Where are we? Santa Barbara, California.
High 59 degrees this afternoon.  

We are at a dinky RV park, but it has great cable and Craig is watching the playoff game.
  
More beach walking, or other exploration for me tomorrow!
More football games for Craig.

Beach Walk on a hot afternoon

Today was a busy day.  Craig had a dentist appointment this morning and then came home and did some work on an outdoor project. We've been having some beautiful weather, but this afternoon the temperatures were heading toward the 90's and the project was out in the direct sun. Shortly after noon he came in and suggested a trip to the beach.

Although I had already done four miles on my treadmill in the morning, I was up for walking another couple of miles on the New Brighton-Seacliff  beach, which is about four miles south of Santa Cruz, California, and less than twenty miles from our home.

The weather at the beach was perfect.  Sunny and warm with a sweet ocean breeze. There were a lot of families enjoying the sand and surf on a Wednesday afternoon.  

We walked about a mile from where we were parked to the pier that goes out to an old cement ship which is now a bird sanctuary.  

There were several people fishing in the surf and off the side of the pier.

This boy was amazed by the size of his fish. 

Craig enjoyed a moment in the sun.

Retirement is good!

Putting my shoes back on after walking in the sand.  

Craig says he can see a lion face in this big hunk of drift wood.  

I will never tire of seeing the shaggy Eucalyptus trees at this time of the year.  They have such an interesting texture and distinctive aroma.

There were several of these big old trees shading the parking area.

We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area.  We just have to remember to take the time to enjoy it.