Cailfornia Adventures

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As we’ve traveled and stayed at different parks there are a few that have impressed us well enough to consider buying a lot and settling down for the winters. Riverbend RV Resort near Fort Myers was one. The second was Jojoba Hills, 15 miles east of Temecula, CA in a “town” called Aguanga. The initial draw to stay there was that it is an SKP (Escapees) park so a terrific price for a month’s stay. The park was planned and developed by a gang of Escapee volunteers who used their professional expertise, RVing experience, and muscle power to design it. They built a jewel of a mountain park (using toms of dynamite) with spacious lots all landscaped artfully using all desert plants. The clubhouse and pool, the “ranch house,” and rooms created for every interest/hobby that I can imagine are amazing. The lot owners there run the park with just a handful of paid staff and it runs like a well-oiled machine. I know I sound like I have a financial stake and would if only this park was closer to MI where we’ll spend our summers and FL where our Habitat builds take us each January. Great people so hopefully we’ll get back for a visit.

While there we joined the hikers on one of our most challenging hikes ever called Three Sisters Falls. It was over 1000 feet straight down and then back up with very few switchbacks, just hanging on to boulders and dirt. We took the motorcycle to Anza Borrego Desert State Park and hiked The Palm Canyon trail. We were entertained there by several hummingbirds feeding at the ranger station and got our first photo ever of one. Terry took the bike on several occasions with guys from the park throughout mountain roads. The Julian Pie Factory was a must do stop whenever doing a side trip and we made our share of visits. There were many stops at Home DePot, flooring and tile stores, etc. to gather more info for that empty condo in MI waiting to be finished. We enjoyed a Mardi Gras dinner (their chef is amazing) and dancing to a 19 piece Big Band, a great evening

Cousins Linda and Mark from Long Beach joined us for a day of hiking for the guys and house design for Linda and me. So nice to have one more visit with them. We’re hoping our neighbor Ed is doing well. Poor guy, we found him on his knees with cuts and bruises all over his legs as he knelt for hours unable to get up before we found him.

On to Palm Springs for 2 weeks in a Thousand Trails Park. We enjoyed the Palm Springs Follies which for 75 years has entertained the public by “senior” performers. As they say, “It ain’t over at 50, 60 ,70 and even 80 years old.” They look and dance like much younger people and do 200 shows a season.

Cousins Linda and Fred live in Palm Springs so we enjoyed spending time with them. The four of us went to the Thursday night Art Fair in downtown PS. Great musical performers amongst the art and craft work. Terry spent some time working with Fred on their home construction project. Again, reuniting with family and friends ranks very high in all the advantages of life on the road.

We enjoyed Joshua Tree National Park with its unique twisted, spiky trees that you do NOT want to touch. Our American Indians used their tough leaves for baskets and sandals and flower buds and seeds added to their diet. It was the Mormon immigrants responsible for naming the trees after the biblical figure Joshua, seeing the limbs of the tree outstretched in supplication. Homesteaders used the tree limbs for fencing and corrals. We enjoyed hiking Ryan Mountain and the excellent 360 degree views of the surrounding ranges.

We re-visited the Palm Springs Air Museum, Terry’s favorite of the many we’ve visited. This collection of WWII planes is impressive. We enjoyed the tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and the WASP (women) pilots who freed up male pilots for warfare by delivering planes where they were needed around the country. President Obama recently awarded each of the women, approximately 1000, a Congressional Gold Metal.

We hung out with our RV park neighbors , Nancy and Bob, and will miss those laughs during happy hour! They are from the Cleveland area so we are likely to see them again. We hope so.

We’re now on our way home to Michigan to get going on that new condo and wondering how our lives are going to change once again. Our thanks to those of you who kept in touch with us during our trips and sent messages along our way. We never felt too far away with good friends and family keeping in touch!

Postscript: This entry was delayed for a time because of conputer failure. Now that it's fixed I am able to access it. In the interim we have arrived home in Wayland, MI, staying at Hidden Ridge RV Resort. Our days are spent largely shopping for and working on the new condo. Fun and exciting! More travels to come later.

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