Trip to Riverside, CA

We did a few things wrong today, but ended up OK anyway. The rain in the morning, along with John and Carole leaving kinda threw me off to start. I didn’t get fuel as I should have before I hooked up the trailer, and didn’t get a phone yet before we left. Coulda, shoulda, woulda kinda day today was. We got trailer on OK, and didn’t have a reservation for where we were going to go, so I stopped at the visitor centre and got on there WI-fi and tried to make a reservation, but no go, so went to phone, and no answer. Hmm, well lets go and see what we get when we get there. Not the first mistake, just one of many. We headed south on 101 to a beach where people park there rigs and look at the water, some surfers, and some just enjoy the water view. I take Bosco for a walk while Polly makes lunch. I walk about 3 motor homes up, at the end of the breakwater, and turn around, a pair of woman's glasses on the ground, o well, Polly said she wanted better sunnys. I got back and put the glasses on the table, Polly noticed them as we had lunch, she was very surprised, and happy. KS on the side of them, Kate Spade, designer glasses she calls em, guess she likes em alright. Now Bosco and I nap, Polly reads her book. When I wake all is well, and we make our way toward Ventura. The GPS says turn here and we do, I see a sign that says truckers stay on 101, hmm o well, we go with GPS. The highway way is good, just one lane each way, but nice and newly paved most of the way, in the middle few miles was old road, but not too much. Had a reservoir overlook we stopped at, nothing to big, but when we were leaving we noticed a dam below, must have been the overlook planned, we just stopped too soon. The hill we got to was steep to go up, and the fuel was going down, 1/2 tank turned to 1/4th and we now were worried. Well coming down off this hill was even more concerning, we did OK, but was very steep, and windy, but all was good when we got to the bottom. Back on the 101, and now want a fuel stop. Well all are gas stations, no diesel here, so after a few stops we turn on data, and use gas buddy to find a station. We had to back track 10 miles, but was worth it rather than run out.

Now back on the highway, and we get to Ventura, and was colder and foggy looking, we decide to go for Riverside and the campsite instead of stopping. Now the fun starts, 3pm and the rush hour is starting. We put up with that for the next 3 hrs, was one we will remember, I will try not to put Polly thru that again. Looked like an innocent highway on the map, but stop and go at the merges all then way to Riverside.

We made it, and to a gate that we couldn’t get through, another camper let us in, but were stopped and the ranger said, there were spots available, but we have all shut down now, so have to camp out till tomorrow, can’t camp here. Now what, Walmart for the night. Well this wasn’t too bad, got a few things, I notice mostly Mexican people in this Walmart and wonder about the area. Polly performed her magic and we had a nice dinner from some of the leftover chicken the night before, with eggs and veggies, (Oh yea had stir fry the night before I remember now). We had a good sleep parking lot sleep.

We wake to a quiet morning in the parking lot with all the wally-workers going in to start thier day. We head up the lot to a Jack in the box for a coffee, and a breaky sandwich. Was nice and peaceful in there too, no WiFi but getting used to that here. I notice a difference here, in BC we have WiFi free most everywhere, here not as common. The usual people in the restaurant, friendly, but some of the down trodden off the street show up, many around USA, more close to the city.

Now into Walmart one more time for the coffee Polly spotted last night, and we make a call to the RV Park, and yes we have a spot for you, so we roll on over to Rancho Jurupa Park, Riverside CA. We check in to a spot, and I ask for the others spots (there are 3) that are available so he marks them on our map of the campsites, and off we go to look around. The spot are booked into Polly and I agree not for us, we look at the other 3 and then make another pass through, yep #27 is best for us Polly says, so back to the ranger station Polly goes to make the change with Bosco, while empty the holding tanks, as was no dump at Pismo Beach campsite. We went around that spot another 6-7 times before we realized the people had another spot reserved, and wouldn’t leave till 1pm, so we parked and did laundry, and had showers. Polly makes a lunch, and we stay in the parking lot till after 1pm, then we go to move in to our spot and gee rain starts. Not too bad, we managed to back in first try, nice choice Polly, we had no huge puddles from the rain as many others did last night. Poured like on the coast, but they issued a flash flood warning on the radio, going to have 1-1/2 inches of rain tonight, the whole months worth in a few hours, warnings come in on our phone, and a truck driving around broadcasting warnings on the other side of the river. Sure got us wondering, got in truck and went to visitor ctr passing 2 mallards on the way in a depression in then road feeding LOL, and asked Flooding? No problem they say, wouldn’t be flooding, just warning as places on the road get flooded, and cars may hit them and go off the road. We feel safer now, will sleep better.

Later come another family who proceed to setup camp in the dark, and the rain. Man did I feel for the couple, but not enough to get out and help. Was a real crappy night, I have been out in those many times, and tonight wasn’t my night to be out. They made camp, and we listened from inside with our fireplace going and radio on broadcasting the flash flood every once in awhile. Felt nice to be warm and dry. The end to a more relaxed day then yesterday.

Today wake to neighbour with two Pitbulls, not as happy with this site anymore, will pack Bosco in and out of the truck, don’t want to see him get ate up.

Off to get a phone soon, got to have connection with the outside world re internet.

Still lovin life...

Huge rock at Morro Bay