060328 - Yuma, AZ

3/26/2006
Yuma, AZ

Finally made it out of California. Of course that means we lose an hour of sleep tomorrow morning.
Filled the tank at $2.49/gallon. On the other side of the border it was as high as $2.99.

Hit Wal-Mart for some much needed groceries and got to use their electric shopping cart.

Checked into Cocopah Golf Club and RVP and had a little discussion about Peter's status. Since the main office isn't open on Sundays we will have to wait to "straighten" them out on the status and privileges of a service animal.

The sites are gravel with a patio slab but we don't fit right because the electrical hook up makes us back up to far.

3/27/2006
Yuma, AZ

We have finally found a place that requires the use of an air conditioner most of the time. How nice.

We extracted the Batmobile from its cave and headed for the park office. They were pleasant and friendly but had a problem considering Peter as a service animal instead of a pet. I provided some "helpful" literature and Peter smiled and tried to impress them with his good manners, but they still showed resistance.
Finally I had to push the envelope by asking if they would like my attorney to explain the law to their attorney? I didn't get an answer but someone made a phone call and then found a site much closer to the main building -like we requested.

This place is a golf course with RV sites and mobile homes up and down the greens. Our site is along the 10th hole and we have protective netting along side the site facing the tee.

They have a strict dress code about golf shorts and collared shirts, with no-nos like t-shirts, tube tops and short shorts.

With some of the people I've seen, I can understand, but I may try a t-shirt in the Grill and see what they do. Peter is looking forward to that.

3/28/2006
Yuma, AZ
With a rain watch posted and a 40% prediction, this morning looked pretty dry and warm. The golfers are out in force - I think there is some kind of tournament going on, and so far no one has hit the Beast. There are signs warning golfers that they are responsible for any damages. Make us feel real comfortable.

060324 - EL CENTRO, CA

3/24/2006
El Centro, California

This is basically a pit stop on the way to Yuma. Found a gas station that sold propane @ $2.05/gal and then found a small, simple RVP with pull-thrus, and free cable.
We'll stay here 2 nights, do some more housekeeping, and then hopefully spend a week at a plush RVP in Yuma.
The weather changed drastically from cold to hot. We went from 30's at night wearing winter jackets daytime, to 50's at night and 86 in shorts daytime.
It feels good.

3/25/2006
El Centro, California

Slept in. Felt good. weather is very warm - in the 80's and we fired up our a/c for the first time. It's a new one, replacing the one that died last trip. It works fine. Ray, The park manager, is 84 years old, and a retired salesman. He lived in north-eastern Idaho for a long time, and we spent time talking about places I traveled last year. He was really helpful and very talkative with some entertaining stories. This is the real joy of travel – the people.
Till next time,

060323 - Ramona - Vista

3/18/2006
RAMONA, CA

today was the rain they predicted yesterday. We tried to cover up the rat-a-tat-tat of the rain on the rood with loud music but it didn't have much effect on Peter's cabin fever. He really doesn't like being cooped up and if he's unhappy, so is everybody he lives with.

We found some breaks in the downpour to stretch our legs and Peter did his geological survey of the area.

This evening we attended a pot luck dinner. One good thing about RV women - they know how to cook. We had a nice variety of dishes as well as deserts. We contributed a six pack.

3/19/2006
Ramona, CA

With the rain tapering off and only intermittent showers, we got to stretch our legs.
The temperature runs from 30's at night to high 50's daytime. Peter seems to enjoy the colder weather, and doesn't even bother to put on his coat when he goes out unless I insist.

The cold weather also takes alot of power out of the Batmobile's batteries - requiring more frequent charging. Maybe the extra weight it's pulling around has some effect on it too.

3/21/2006
Ramona. CA

yesterday was a predicted rainy day with showers on and off. I did discover one advantage to this cold, wet weather - no flying insects.

Early this morning the sun was shining bright in our bedroom window. We hit the snooze and rolled over and were awakened to the sound of rain on the roof, but it soon disappeared and the sun is bright again with high white clouds in a blue sky. One ominous sign of hope – we were bothered by our first fly.

3/23/06
Vista, CA

Back in the 70's, as I was just starting my practice in Century City, I volunteered to work at the Los Angeles Free Clinic. At the time it was located in an old, dilapidated building on Fairfax Blvd just across the street from the CBS studios, next to Kelbo's Polynesian Restaurant. That was where and when I first met Dr. Victor Wechter. He was an Ophthalmology Resident also volunteering. We spent a few years sharing great experiences in and out of the clinic. Eventually our lives took different paths and we lost touch.

Leaving Ramona Canyon RVP, we drove to Vista, A to visit with an old friend I hadn't seen for almost 20 years.
2 weeks ago I had some basal cell lesions excised from my forehead leaving large incisions and lots of sutures to be removed. My dermatologist was surprised when I told him I would be on the road when the sutures were due to be removed but as luck would have it, there I was in the office of Dr. Victor Wechter, the Ophthalmologist, having my sutures removed.

His home was about 5 miles away, so I followed him and parked the Beast in the garage area. We spent the afternoon and evening with his family - sons Jonathan -13 and David -18, and beautiful wife of 20 years - Lenore.
They also have a avocado farm that Vic and the boys work at, and I was given a bag of them as a departing gift.

In my youth, when my parents would have old friends come to visit, I would listen dutifully to them tell and re-tell stories of their past.

Now I understand what they were feeling. That sense of history and connection to the past was a form of validation and confirmation of their existence and probably even their value in life.

Maybe it's just me, but I appreciate each and every friendship I have ever made and cherish the memories of those that could have been long forgotten but aren't.

Peter got to play outside with their dog, Coco, and went off leash for the evening. We slept in the Beast overnite and headed out in the morning for El Centro.
Till next time,

060317 - Ramona

3/17/2006
Ramona, CA


Slept well and so did Peter. It was a cold night but our little space heater did a good job of keeping us warm.
Pulled the Batmobile out of the Batcave and give peter a little exercise. Unfortunately, we are limited due to some of the steep roadways. Late in the afternoon we took a shot at one road leading up to the clubhouse and found some people sitting around a pit fire roasting marshmallows.
We were surprised to discover that this was also the dining room and they were waiting for it to open for a St. Patrick's Day dinner. We bought a ticket and amongst 40 of our newest friends we had a fun evening. Peter enjoyed some of the corned beef but turned his nose up at the cabbage. Maybe he's part Irish.
as we were leaving, the rain had started, but we made it home without any trouble. We secured the Batmobile with a cover for the night and settled in for the evening.

060316 - Ramona, CA

3/16/2006
Ramona, California
Day 1


The Highway Guys have been approved for departure; cleared for takeoff; released from their bonds of boredom; their shackles of stagnation; etc, you get the idea.

It's Thursday morning, and after an heroic effort by my nephew Kurt who did all the heavy lifting to get the Beast loaded, we are rolling down the big road to adventure. This may come as a shock to some of you; with all my prior planning for each trip that I spend many hours on, I wind up ignoring or changing those plans most of the time. The planning is just my way of channeling my excitement but by no means indicates my intention of sticking to it. I am usually influenced and guided or in some cases misguided, by the suggestions of friends and strangers I meet along the way.

Although my internist and cardiologist both told Peter that my heart and coronaries were OK and I was in no danger, he still wasn't convinced so he signed up for a CPR course. The instructor told me he was doing great until he saw the part of the film about mouth to mouth. she said he just stared at the screen, shaking his head from side to side as if to say "No Way". The only way he'd do that would be if I had a mouth full of kibble.

As the gas gauge approached ¼ I knew I should fill up soon since we only get 8-1/2 mpg.
We filled the tank without consequence, unless you think that $142 for 52 gallons is a consequence.
While standing at a light about 5 minutes later, I discovered that there is a sliding scale for the term "nice person".
A bicyclist rode by and shouted into my window that my gas cap was dangling and continued to peddle by. Apparently he felt that his simple announcement qualified as his random act of kindness for the day. Being unable to get out and screw it back in with the light changing, I drove a few blocks at which time I spotted a large church parking lot and found someone who happily put my gas cap back in place for me.

Our first leg takes us south along the ocean to Ramona, just inland from Oceanside. The weather is cool, with good visibility and a bright sky. Traffic was moving well most of the time and we were making good time until we turned off the highway. The road got progressively smaller, curvier, and slower and the elevation was increasing and we climbed into the mountains.

Many campsites take liberties with their name and description. Many use the term "resort" without justification and this is one of them. I am becoming an advocate for the plight of the handicapped and am becoming more aware and vocal about many barriers to equal access.
I didn't mind the few steps up to the main office, but the park is a series of plateaus with steep roads. There was a gate with a keypad on a pole, but it was impossible for me to reach, even if I hung out the door. Fortunately, the driver behind me came to my assistance.

Our campsite is fine and Peter immediately claimed the tree outside our door. The weather is cool with predictions of 30's at night but we are prepared.
One disappointment, but partially anticipated; no cellphone or web signals. May be able to get a roaming phone call out if the sun and moon are in the right places and I pray real hard, so don't be upset if you get this as a late email.

Yucaipa, CA

Yucaipa, California.


Tucked away high in the San Bernardino Mountains, about 150 miles from Los Angeles. We rolled into our last stop before home.
At about 4,700 feet, the evenings are cold, but the days are clear, pretty and comfortably warm.
Fortunately, we had called ahead to inquire about the possibility of getting a handicapped campsite, and we got the last one. I say fortunately, because this RV Park is quite large and built on a sloping side of the mountain. Had we not had reservations, we might have been down at the bottom of the campsite with our little Batmobile and probably Peter as well struggling to make it up the hill.

In the tour book description of this campsite it claimed there were restaurants and shops across the street for which I was dubious about. But in fact, there they were.

This area is considered apple country (the fruit, not the computer) and we arrived right in the middle of the picking season. The area was reminiscent of the movie Cider House Rules.

Although we are closer to home than we have ever been, our wireless service for both Internet and cellphone are the worst. There are no satellite dishes in sight, and it's a bad sign when the campsite has a machine that charges you wireless Internet service by the minute.

As I said in the past, an item that always attracts me to a campsite is its restaurant. This one is more of a hamburger joint. It is quick on basic food without preparation or dishwashing. In addition, as I mentioned, there is a coffee shop across the street and a fairly large tourist restaurant about a block north of us. Unfortunately, we do have to get rid of some of the foods still in our refrigerator to avoid spoiling or bringing back into the house when we return.

The weekend activity level here is quite busy. About 10 vendors set up their booths to hawk their local wares, mainly handmade items for home use and gifts. Some of the local restaurants that are only open on the weekend attract a good crowd as well.

As Murphy would say – what did you expect? The last day of our visit the rain started and kept us inside most of the day. It gave us a chance to prepare for the unpleasant task of offloading when we get home.

It may be a short distance from Yucaipa to the Westside, but it always brings a flood of feelings with it – like reading the last page of a good book or watching the end of a great movie. You’re happy you did it but you didn’t want it to end, and you can’t wait till the next one.

Well, we always hope there will be a next one, but we live each trip as if it was our last and we did enjoy it.