When I got to the San Diego area I headed directly to one of my favorite RV parks. The Chula Vista RV Resort is located on the bay next to the Chula Vista Marina and Bayside Park. There are approximately 236 spaces with full hook-ups, concrete pads, picnic table, trees, shrubs, swimming pool, club house and store, and much more. The staff are very friendly and professional. The rates for these accommodations are about the same as I have paid at RV Parks with half the quality and service. Enough for the advertisement.
I did get to visit a few places in the San Diego area including one of the restaurants featured on the Food Channel TV show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives". I left Molly in the motorhome to nap as I went on a tour of the coast line from Ocean Beach around Point Loma and into San Diego city. I explored the 'new' light house which was built after thirty-six years of operation of the old lighthouse was replaced. Pelican Point, a low-lying, level area at the southern extreme of Point Loma, was selected as the site for the replacement light. The new light was illuminated for the first time on March 23, 1891. The old lighthouse was deemed ineffective due to the fog and clouds atop the Point Loma ridge. This area is part of the Cabrillo National Monument.
The next day I had a good visit with Brandi and family. We had a nice dinner and celebrated my youngest grandchild's, Alexis, and my birthday, a couple of days early. Our visit was fun, but a little too short.
From San Diego I headed north to Dana Point State Beach for the night. Molly and I took a nice walk along the ocean beach and to a river inlet where we found a congregation of birds. There were many gulls, ducks penguins and even terms. I had a nice visit and dinner with my fraternity brother, Terry and his wife Joan.
The next day we drove north to Chino, a city located some 40+ miles to the east of downtown LA. I visited with my cousin, Jill and her husband Bill. Jill and I were able to visit with her 95 year old mother, at a rest home. I enjoyed the visit with all. Jill and Bill visited Blacksburg in October '07. Bill graduated from Virginia Tech in the late 50's and had not been back since then.
Molly and I stayed in the motorhome on the street in front of Jill & Bill's house. We didn't want to intrude and besides we both have become used to our beds. I was awakened by a noise at the rear of the motorhome. I got out of bed, raised the curtain and saw a guy trying to steal my bicycle. I yelled at him, the startled look on his face was amazing, he took off running down the block. It was fortunate that I had securely locked the bike to the motorhome ladder. This was good for a chuckle the next morning.
Below are a few photos of some of the sights we've enjoyed during our trip from San Diego as we travelled to Lake Tahoe.
We then traveled north to Manteca where I met up with a high school acquaintance for dinner. The next day I travel west over to San Jose, but settled into a nice RV park in Morgan Hill, 10 miles south of San Jose. The next day I had lunch with a fraternity brother, Lumpy, at one of my all time favorite restaurants, Original Joe's. A couple of other brothers were unable to join us this trip.
After a day of relaxing and sightseeing around San Jose we headed north east to Sacramento. I was unable to find a RV park in the Danville/Walnut Creek area. We did a little sightseeing around the area. I then was able to make contact with another high school friend, Norma, and also a long time friend, Dave, from my waterskiing days. I had a nice visit with Dave and two of his kids on Sunday morning. And then I drove a couple of miles and had a nice lunch and visit with Norma.
I returned to Sacramento that night and prepped for the trip to Lake Tahoe. We arrived at the designated campground and I met the area manager. We got settled into our new home on Tuesday, as one of two camp hosts. The other couple are very nice and have worked this place, Meeks Bay, last year and did another campground for about 4 years. So I can rely on their expertise to guide me through the daily duties. On Wednesday through Friday we worked on cleaning up each campsite and then the beach area. I am not used to working so hard, especially at 6,200 foot elevation. There are 40 'no hook-up' sites for RV's and tents. Big rigs are restricted. There is beach parking for about 40 cars, but this area is for day use only at $7 per vehicle. The beach is sandy and has some BBQ pits and picnic tables. It is usually full each weekend and holidays. We will be here until October, 2009 and I should have plenty of time to make some tours around the Lake Tahoe area. I hope to make the next travel log filled with interesting photos and descriptions.
I was late getting all this info together and then I do not get a good signal so the internet access is sporadic. I also do not get a phone signal so I have to drive about 2-5 miles, or so. And so the saga continues.
Bye for now.
Bruce and Molly
Link back to my "Bruce The Nomad" page.