The Holidays and LA

First of all I hope everyone had a very happy holiday season, I hope I am being politically correct with that statement.

Thanksgiving day was a beautiful day full of sunshine.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with our extended family Christo, Alida and Andre. 

Then it was onto the games.

  Mark and Christo threw bags.

              Then we all played Ping Pong.  Alida was tough to beat with a very wicked serve.

This is the view from their door step and do you see the camper?  That was our last one before we bought the caravan, it was kind of weird to see it again and the fact that it was in CA.

And then there was round two of the fab dinner we had earlier.  It was nice to spend the holiday with  family.  Their daughter married our nephew and they will be here for Christmas.

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The following weekend we got together and went to the Oceanside Pier for dinner. 

Historic Oceanside Pier is one of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast, spanning 1,942 feet in length.

We ate at Ruby's Dinner which is at the end of the pier, good food and a great view.  After dinner we went to a club in Carlsbad to listen to a band.  It was a Metalachi band which is a mix of metal and mariachi.  Different is how I would describe it, but we had a good time, thanks Christo!




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Since we didn't have reservations at Santee Lakes we have had to do the Santee shuffle.  So on the 28th of Nov we moved to a different site and then on the 28th of Dec we will move again for 5 days.

Our new site complete with a small river when they turn on the water!

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We have spent our time here doing some exploring and just chilling.  The weather hasn't been great but much better then up north.  On nice days we get out and walk, ride our bikes or take a road trip and do some exploring.  Weekends you will find us in San Marcos with Christo and Alida enjoying dinner and playing games afterwards.  There really isn't much happening in this park although it is nice but a little pricey.  We are right is town which has been great so we have caught up on movies from Red Box.  The library is also close so we got a card and get movies from them for free.  The only Blue thing (Blue is Mark's job, Pink is my job) that I do is wash and seal the roof, then Mark washes the rig.  So we are now good for another 6 months.  The golf cart wasn't holding a charge, after 10 minutes of charging the charger would kick off.  We checked each battery and found one with a dead cell, dang.  Mark did research and found a used battery for $50 so we are good to go for awhile but have started a battery fund as they will have to be replaced in the next year or two.

                                           I do have to say that it gets cold here at night.

The month of November was pretty nice but December has been rainy and cold at night.  What's up with that, this is suppose to be sunny CA.  Our site doesn't include power and running the furnace at night burns up the propane quickly and the heat pumps can't be run below 40.  So my genius husband came up with a great idea.  First he had me get out the down comforter and then when we go to bed we shut the door to the bedroom, leave open the bathroom door and plug in the ceramic heater in the bathroom.  It has really saved on the power bill and we are snug as a bug in a rug.  We plan on getting a blue flame heater while we are in Quartzsite.   It is definitely time to move, neither one of us like cold weather.

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I spend my free time making jewelry and getting my online Etsy store set up.  Now that has been a job!  Taking photos, editing, coming up with a name,  writing descriptions, store policies, shipping, etc.  I will be ready to open in January. I did meet a nice lady, Kimberly, that is a workamper and we have gotten together to make jewelry during the day and have dinner in the evening.  We went on a day trip into San Diego to the Spanish Village.  There are 29 artisan shops that you can browse through and watch the artisans work on their designs.  Unfortunately the day we went it was rainy and the glass blowers weren't working but the rain didn't dampen our spirit.  Next to the village is Balboa Park which was lovely with beautiful buildings.

We wandered around and had a nice lunch, just girl time with my new friend.  Afterwards we visited 2 bead stores, it was a nice day, thanks Kimberly.

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We took a road trip to LA to see all the famous sights.  HWY 1 along the coast is very picturesque but I do have to mention that we kept seeing oil rigs everywhere.  Now we have seen the oil rigs off shore but they were right in town, I mean like this one in the photo is right behind my favorite restaurant IN n OUT Burger.

OK so now moving on, we drove through Camp Pendleton then passed all the LA beaches and stopped at Venice Beach boardwalk. 

Now this is a really cool beach and as you know many movies have been filmed here.  On the left is for walking and on the right is for biking.

It was a beautiful day so we strolled along the boardwalk taking in the sights.  From the boardwalk it seems like it is a mile to the water. 

Volley ball nets are all along the boardwalk.  I bet this beach is something in the summer, but today it was ours.  I wish we had more time as Mark would have liked to do some metal detecting but we still had lots to see so we loaded up and headed to Malibu. 

We spent the night in Thousand Oaks which is between Malibu and Simi Valley.  The next morning we awoke to grey skies but we continued on with our plans to see LA.  First we took Mulholland drive into Hollywood.   The road is featured in innumerable movies, songs, and novels.  The Mulholland Highway is destined to be one of the heaviest traveled and one of the best known scenic roads in the United States.   It follows the ridge line of the eastern Santa Monica Mountains and the Hollywood Hills.  From the drive there is a good overlook where you can see the Hollywood sign and look down on the city. 

Now remember it was a very overcast day so the picture is what it is, but we saw it!  The Hollywood sign began as a real estate promotion.  A gigantic billboard was commissioned in 1923 to promote the development called "Hollywoodland".  Mules hauled telegraph poles, sheet metal, and 4,000 light bulbs up the side of Mount Lee to create the sign.  Several years later, a landslide destroyed the 4 last letters.  Time and weather ravaged the rest of the sign, until the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce started the "Save the Sign" campaign in 1978.  Patrons paid $27,700 per letter to rebuild the sign, now an internationally known landmark.

                    From this same spot you looked down onto the city and the Hollywood Bowl.

The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater that is used primarily for music performances. It is the largest natural amphitheater in the United States, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000 and has been featured in many movies and television shows.

Now moving onto

                                                                 and the Walk of Fame.

                               I have to say it wasn't as glamours as I had pictured in my mind. 

                 At the Chinese Theatre they were preparing for the first showing of "This is 40". 

As you can see they were expecting rain as they had the tents up so the stars and the red carpet wouldn't get wet.

We weren't able to check out the hand prints in the concrete as they are in front of the entrance to the  
theater and it was being covered by the red carpet.  So now when we see on TV all the stars at a red carpet event we can say that we have been there!

                                                                 Next we headed to

And you can't stop in Beverly Hills with out going to

                              I'm glad we were there when it was all decorated for the holidays.

Mark found what he wanted for Christmas.

It's a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport with a price tag of $2,400,000.

 















I found what I would like for Christmas and I only want one!

It's all here on Rodeo Drive except for the Thrift stores.  I doubt I could afford anything even if I could find one!

We have never seen so many Mercedes, Rolls- Royces, Bentleys, Bagattis, Jaguars all in one place.

It was an experience to say the least.



OK back to reality and time to move on to San Gabriel CA.  This is where Mark was born so we drove through the town and visited the San Gabriel Mission which was the fourth built in a chain of 21 missions.  By this time it was getting dark and we needed to get back on the road but as luck would have it we got caught in traffic.  It took us an hour to go 10 miles, I don't know how people do it everyday.

                                                       I can now mark LA off my list.

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We attended a party with Christo and Alida one weekend and meet a very nice guy by the name of Carl.  It just so happened that he had a motorcycle so we made plans to go on a ride.  The weather was perfect for our trip that started up through the mountains

and down in the valleys.  In most rural areas when you enter a valley there will be something growing in it or grazing on it.  We passed cattle, sod farms, orange groves and the list goes on.  I believe CA grows everything. 

Over the mountains through the valleys to the Pacific coast.

Thanks Carl for a wonderful ride!

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If you find yourself in Santee or San Diego CA I highly recommend that you check out Mission Trails Regional Park.  There are wonderful hiking trails along with biking and horse back riding.

Site of the historical Mission Dam.

 Mission Trails Regional Park has been called the third Jewel in the City of San Diego Park System, along with Balboa Park and Mission Bay.  Yeah me, I have been to all three. 

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Before we hit the road we were once asked, "Won't you be lonely on the road, you won't know anybody".  Well let me tell you that is the beauty of this lifestyle.  You will make friends and as long as you stay in contact you may see them again down the road.  For example: I received a call a couple of days before Christmas from Jim and Linda Hadley, we trained them to take over our job last winter in Mesa AZ.  They were camping on base at Camp Pendleton and struck up a conversation with their neighbors who happen to own a Mobile Suite rig.  During the visit they mentioned that they knew of a couple who owned a Mobile Suite as well and that they had met them last winter workamping.  The neighbors asked them if the couples name was Mark & Bonnie Williamson and of course they said "Yes".  Well the neighbors happen to be our friends Jimmy & John Francis from Alaska who we will be meeting up with in Wickenburg AZ in February.  They were visiting John's family for the holidays.  We prospected with them and their friends last winter in Congress AZ. 

See what I mean, it is a small world.  You will only be lonely if you choose too.  So get out of your rig and visit with your neighbors!

Jim and Linda arrived here at Santee Lakes the day after Christmas on their way to Mesa.  We had a nice visit and plan on seeing them next year at their home in Montana. 

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We spent Christmas with our extended family.  Randall and Annilean flew in from Florida where he is attending Chiropractic school.  It was so nice to see them again.  A wonderful dinner was enjoyed, we Skyped with Lynn & Susan (Mark's brother and Randall's parents) back in NC and then had a nice soak in the new hot tub.

Alida, Andre, Mark, Me, Christo, Annilean and Randall.

Then we headed over to visit and have dinner once again with Jimmy & John's family that just so happened to live in the same town. 

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We wish you all a happy New Year and remember, "If you can dream it, you can do it".

On January 2nd we will be heading to Quartzsite AZ and to work the big show.

                                                           Cheers to the Good Life!!!

Santee Lakes

Well I am happy to report that we made it through LA without incident and arrived at Escondido which is north of San Diego.

The drive down the coast was very pretty.

Once again we stayed at the Moose Lodge.  This lodge had actual hookups and there were about 7 campers there at a cost of $15 per night. We have family in Escondido that recently moved there so we will stay in the area for the holidays. 

On Friday we went around checking out the campgrounds.  The parks were not to our liking so we decided to go to Santee Lakes and check it out as we have heard alot about it.  It turned out to be just what we were looking for and we were lucky to get a spot as it is a popular location.  We have one site for a month and then have to move to another, no problem.  It is 30 minutes to Escondido and 2 miles from the public transit system into to San Diego and all the shopping you could want.  There are 7 lakes with walking/biking trails and stocked fishing lakes.  We will move on Sunday.  Saturday was spent visiting Christo, Alida and Andre.  They moved here about 5 months ago from Wilmington NC and spent some time in their camper until they found a house.  Their camper was our last one before we bought the new caravan.  It was kind of wild to pull in their driveway and see it.  We have all spent holidays together in the past on the east coast and will now be together this year on the west coast, it's funny how things work out.  They are our nephews in-laws.

It's been nice to just chill out and not work.  I have started a walking program while we are here as we have a perfect place to walk.  We get up in the morning and walk along the lakes watching the ducks, people fishing and just enjoying the bright sunny mornings. 

One thing I do have to comment on is the people.  I really didn't notice it back at the Sugar Barge but the folks here are not as friendly.  Now being a good southern girl I always say "Hi, how are you'll doing?"  I would say 50% of the folks will acknowledge you and the other percentage just walk on by with their heads down.  I just don't get how saying "Hi" is that painful. 

We do have a very large site that accommodates all of our stuff and have space to spare.

  Across from us there is a large grassy island, this is where we set up the corn hole boards.  Our site is across from the camper gate so we see a major portion of the campers coming and going.  The park is very quiet compared to the Barge, people stick to them selves and aren't sitting outside enjoy the day.  Seems kind of strange to me but it doesn't stop us from hanging out with the music playing, cocktail in hand and a fire going.  Oh speaking of music...I am proud to report that I have entered the 20th century...I now have Pandora radio on my Ipod.  I am so impressed with myself, aren't you proud of me Karen?

There is a wonderful trolley system here that we have taken advantage of which takes us into the city, round trip is $5, plus it is kind of cool to take the trolley.  This past week we went to Old Town San Diego.

 It is considered the "birthplace" of California. San Diego is the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in California. It was here in 1769, that Father Junipero Serra came to establish the very first mission in a chain of 21 missions that were to be the cornerstone of California’s colonization.

We were very lucky to be there on the Mexican holiday know as "Day of the Dead."  The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.  They build private altars containing the favorite foods and beverages, as well as photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them.

We did wander through the old buildings and displays but the altars were more interesting.






Now if anybody knows me personally you know that I am always looking to make a buck and if an opportunity presents it self I will jump on it.  Well the other morning I went to take my trash to the dumpster and look what I found sitting in a tote bag.

Yes thats right, a Coach bag that looked like brand new!  Well I listed it on Ebay and sold it for $100.  And just to clarify for some of you I was not Dumpster diving, the tote bag was sitting on top of the closed dumpster. 

Our son Ryan flew out to visit us for 5 days.  It was so nice to have family with us.  He came in on Sunday so on Monday we just hung out around the campground, played cornhole and grilled out.  He gets up at 4:30am on the east coast as he owns a bread route so it is up early and to bed early, then you have the 3 hour time difference.  As always he was a trooper but by 7-8pm he was ready for bed.

On Tuesday we went to the San Diego Zoo and had a wonderful time.  We took the Trolley to downtown then hopped a bus right to the Zoo.  The zoo was beautiful, very clean and the displays were great.

I won't bore you will all the photos I took, just a few!

Look at those eyes, I won't want her to be looking at me!

We were lucky enough to see the lions get fead, cool but kind of scary.

My favorite was the Pandas.

The next day we went go kart racing at an indoor track.  I have to admit it was pretty fun, the karts were battery operated and they could move, 20mph.  Ryan bet both us and we had a great time.  Then we headed to Christo and Alida's for dinner.  On Thursday we again took the tollery to downtown and went to the Maritime Muesum. 

Star of India.

  It doesn't look that big from the photo here but once you got inside it was hard to believe you were on a ship.

Now that's alot of ropes.

This ship was the "Surprize" and it was in Pirates of the Carribean.  We will have to watch the movie again and try to find it.  Note the submarine behind it, we toured that as well.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the steam ship Berkeley which was awesome.  It was huge and served as the muesum as well.  It also is rented out for parties and weddings.

This ship was a floating city. 

We had a wonderful time exploring several other ships and subs but ran out of time to do the USS Midway.

Diffently add the muesum to your list of things to do when you are in the area.

                       Thank you son for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come visit us.
                                              We love you and will see you again in March.

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In my spare time I have been busy setting up my Etsy store for my jewelry.  It has turned out to be alot more work than I thought it would be, but I like a challenge.  My next step is taking really good photos so I bought a DVD to learn the secrets of good photography which then lead to a tripod and silver fill cards.  Now I have everything I need and as soon as I get this blog updated I can start taking photos.  So soon, very soon I will have the store up and running.  I will provided you with a link from the blog so you can check it out.

                   Thank you all for following and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.