Westward HO !! – DAY 3

September 13, 2008

We awoke late for us, about 6:30. I think we were both tired from the previous day’s driving marathon. We managed to make coffee and grab a cup before a quick ride to Wal-Mart. What’s camping without a Wal-Mart trip ?

While we were out we stopped and got diesel as well. How easy it that – buying diesel without having to find the big-rig stations, or maneuvering the camper thru regular gas station’s perilous slender island-pump designs.

Nonetheless we got back to Shangri-la and packed up the camper, made more coffee and were on the road again by 9:00am – headed West out of Yuma seeking San Diego. At this point in the trip we are very close to the US-Mexico border. We passed thru several Border patrol checkpoints both in Arizona and in California. Parts of our route took us through very austere desert surroundings with more and more sand and sand dunes. It all looked like the TV exposés on illegal immigrants discreetly crossing our US Borders.

The desert finally gave way to the mountainous terrain of southern California. We started out at Sea level and worked our way up to 4000’+ several times in a roller coaster ride with Californians who drive way too fast for this old guy. [I hope Debbie’s reading this]. And more wind farms –green energy at work!!

There was even a border patrol checkpoint in the middle of the Cleveland National Forest at about 3000’ feet elevation and on a uphill grade. Which means everyone has to virtually stop to get the ‘wave’ to proceed, once they give you and the vehicle contents the ‘once-over’.

After 3 hours of desert and mountain driving, we finally entered San Diego city limits- Us and about 2 million other Saturday shoppers. I’ve always have prided myself in being to survive Dallas traffic, thinking nothing could be as challenging. Californians can give those Texans a race for their money – LITERALLY. We drove north from San Diego, to Oceanside CA. Oceanside is about ½ way between San Diego and Los Angeles.

We arrived at our destination, Paradise by the Sea - RV Resort, about 2:15 today. The ocean is about 250 yards by foot. The swimming area was full of kids and families enjoying Saturday afternoon.

The seagulls and I took easy, Debbie read her book as we waited for Jessica to show up this evening….and the fun will begin………..more tomorrow – Leo