JUST A SHORT SIDE TRIP TO CALIFORINA



As we leave our friendly spot in Surprise Arizona to see some new sites in the Golden State the weather was very nice with temps in the upper 70's. The plan was to spend about two and a half weeks taking a casual drive to the coast and enjoying some beach time while exploring some towns that we previously had missed.


We started out on schedule with our first stop in Indio CA where we spent our first night at the Elks #1643 a favorite for us being a perfect spot half way between our digs in Surprise and the coast by way of interstate 10.

We heard many concerns about the strong Sana Ana winds that were kicking up and making driving difficult along I-10 not to mention making the wild fires very unpredictable. So we decided to take a more southern route to the coast away from the winds and fires. This is a much more "INTERESTING" route with switch backs up a much steeper road...some 3,800 ft. out of another favorite town of ours Borrego Springs.

 

 

Looking back to Borrego Springs at 2,800 feet 

 

 After staying at the Pechanga Resort and Casino "another favorite" in Temecula about 1,000 ft. above sea level we started our decent to the coast on our way to Oceanside. 

 

 

 We noticed the wind was picking up with 4ft. high tumbleweeds bouncing along the road, but didn't think much about it. At this point we should have turned around and gone back to the casino...But Hey...what do we know about Sana-Ana winds and wild fires...WELL NOW A LOT MORE!!! 

At one time they feared the fire could go to the ocean...

 

 



 

At places the fire scorched both sides of the road...

 

While we traveled south/west on highway 15 and 78 we saw a small amount of  smoke a little ways in the distance...getting bigger as we got closer with flames dancing around in the wind. At that point fire crews had not arrived on scene but as we traveled towards the coast we started hearing of a new very aggressive fire that they named the Lilac Fire...which we witnessed the beginning of. 


This fire ran us out of the Elks #1561 in Ocean Side at 1am...not because of fire but the over whelming amount of smoke and ash...felling unlucky to be in that situation...but being very lucky to be able to move out of Harms Way! This fire scorched over 4,500 acres, destroyed more than 150 homes and killed 54 race horses at a training facility which we remember driving past only hours before. 


Driving north along the coast we stopped on a side road in Huntington Beach, another town that we were very familiar with and it was smoke free, but no places to stay so we decided to travel further north...past some of the places we wanted to see and past places we had reservations at...all covered with smoke from the 2nd. largest fire in California's history The Thomas Fire and at this writing only 40% contained.       

                   

What a difference a day makes at the pond behind our RV

 



We ended up in a quaint little town on the coast called Oceano at Elks #2504 within walking distance to Pismo State Beach and the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area...which means you can drive and camp right on the beach. For two days the weather was beautiful and we were planning to take the jeep for a ride on the beach when we woke to more smoky skies from the Thomas Fire which had grown to over 240,000 acres.

 

There were a few spots along the way to enjoy the ocean

but not many!

 



So we were off again, still ahead of schedule to Atascadero and another Elks Lodge #2733 a little further north and inland which had some killer Bar-B-Q and clear air.


Then we actually got to a place that was on our schedule to watch our nephew Brad test and practice running his car, a 2008 Mustang GT at Buttonwillow Raceway Park near Bakersfield and far away Sana-Ana winds fires and smoke...except from hot tires.

 

His Pit Crew checking tire presser after each run... 

 



Brad has transformed his every day driver into this Full Race Machine. As much dedication as it took to change this car now will be used to learn to race faster and faster at every track he goes to...tweaking his car as he tweaks his ability to race it. 

In these track sessions Brad wasn't racing against the other 20 something cars on the track at the same time but working on improving his all over speed and handling of his car...of course passing is part of learning and so are spinouts. 

Lots of exotic cars...some with taped on numbers...which were every day drivers took there turn on the track that weekend like Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren among others...Well this is California...

All in all it wasn't the best time to visit The Golden State because of all the wild fires but we took on a new respect for what people go through living here and the thousands of dedicated firefighters that spend hundreds of hours fighting these massive fires.

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year!

 LIVE

LAUGH

 LOVE

SanTony

                   



ON THE ROAD AGAIN

With a little latter start...after some kitchen remodeling, a new windshield and a last minute battery replacement...we are off on our 9th fall and winter of travel.

 

We had a busy first week heading Southwest to Bowling Green Kentucky and a long overdue visit to the National Corvette Museum.

Every time we passed it on highway 65 we would say maybe next time...Well now we have and it was well worth it of course with a heightened interest to see where 8 beautifully restored Corvettes fell victim to a large 30ft deep sinkhole in the middle of the museum in 2014.

 

"This was painful to look at" 

A lot of displays of course were not involved with the cave in and offered a great look at the history of the Corvette. 



 

 "A lot of the Corvettes on display are from private collections"



Some of which were familiar to us being involved in the Corvette World back in 70s..80s..and 90s...Sandy and I actually meet at the 79 National Corvette Convention in Orlando Florida...and how they didn't have a special recognition plaque stating that....we feel was just an oversight. 



Then off to Nashville to take in a few sites including a tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum along with the remolded Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Old Opry began and still hosts many shows.

 

 

"Many Country Western performers were small in stature but

large in presence and performance"



We saw just enough of Nashville to know we want to experience more than one day and will on a future trip or maybe even toward the end of this one.   

 

 

Next we had a {little bump in the road} in East Texas about the same place "Lexi" over heated 2 years ago eventually leading to a new radiator core.

This year just east of Dallas we developed a loud squeaking or grinding sound coming from our left rear wheels and seemed to be getting louder as we went on and decided to look for a Ford Dealer to have someone check it out at 3:30 in the afternoon...yes also great timing...

What happened next was very surprising to us!

1st...We were only 3 miles away from one of the largest Ford dealers in the state of Texas.
2nd...Instead of acting like they didn't see a 31 foot RV with a Jeep attached in the middle of there parking lot a nice young man by the name of Andrew armed with a clip board was out to help find us a place to park. He then went to see if and when someone could take a look...which he though might be the next  day in the afternoon.
3rd...In about a half hour a large man stuck his head into our passenger window and started asking lots of questions...This was there lead tech How and with the help of co worker Anthony quickly under Lexi taking pictures to determine the problem. 
4th...It turned out to be a little peace of rust from the outside of the brake caliber that fell into the break and after the back and forth in there parking lot and a test drive it worked its way out...so after only around an hour and a half we were back on our way...and pleasantly surprised with the quality of service.

We want to thank Andrew for not dropping the ball in the beginning and worked toward a solution. For How and Anthony giving us the attention we needed at a stressful time for us.

 

 



A special thanks to Town East Ford for the wisdom to put quality people on their work force...It's no wonder they are one of the largest Ford dealers in Texas.

Our next scheduled stop for a couple days was Holiday Park a nice government run campground just southwest of Fort Worth which is were our Grandnephew Greg is a Junior at Texas Christen University.

 

 

 

 

"At Holiday Park campground we had to do a little work in the dark 

to get Lexi level but what a nice view we had in the morning"  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The atmosphere at most collage games is fantastic

at TCU it's magnified because of the small size of school 

and it's very large following"  

 

This is our second trip to the Fort Worth area to visit our Grand Nephew

and take in the Texas / TCU game. We also decided to take in some other

sights like the mock Cattle Drive near the Stock Yards and through a part

of Old Town with brick streets and quaint shops.    

"We always go through the shops and wondered how we would get this 

into our RV to take home for our friends Steve and Vicky" 



"Of course not all is to do with country and western in this quaint old town

setting like this Low Rider doing his thing on the brick streets"   

 

 

We took in the game against Texas which TCU won and of course went out to a couple of Greg's favorite restaurants. Coppers Old Time Pit Bar B Que where you buy your meat by weight...and we always take enough back to the RV for three more meals.

 

We also tried a new place for us...called Honey Smoke Pit which was more like a traditional sports bar/restaurant with lots of TV's so we could watch some games...good idea for food and drink...bad idea to watch Ohio State/Iowa.

 



     "A lot of things are big in Texas like this burger but not the largest on menu"

 

 

 

"We stop at a lot of Waymart's along the way but in Central Texas

 this one was a little different...and on the inside the security guards looked

like line backers...this must be a pretty rough town...moving on"    

 

The next point of interest along our way was over a long day drive away in the little dusty town of Van Horn in West Texas. There sits a little restaurant called Chuy's with some of the best Mexican food we have had. We were there at 9:00am on a Monday and they were closed

 

"Not much to look at from the outside but very good food"

A favorite stop of spot for many along highway 10 like John Madden when he was traveling around while working football games and Willie Nelson along with Nascar Crews looking for a good meal...We hope it's not closed for good, this would have been our fifth time.


The Elks have always been a great place for spend a night or a few days while traveling the way we do and the Willcox Lodge 2131 just off I10 in Willcox about 125 miles south of Tucson is perfect if we are going into Phoenix or going the other way into New Mexico and Texas.

"This little shop was typical of what you find in these little towns

like Willcox but there unique signage and outside display were

pleasure to see"  

We are currently in the Valley of Sun...Phoenix area...the northwest town of Surprise visiting relatives and taking in some of their activity's.

"Memories of our Granddaughter Alexa playing volleyball through the years

are remembered when watching Grandniece Danielle playing while her 

dad Mike looks on and try's to figure out how he became coach"     

 



 

 

"It's 85 outside here in the Phoenix but the birthday girl Danielle wanted to go
ice-skating so along with brother Gavin and brave Aunt Sandy 
they took to the ice     

We will be here until the first weekend of December before going to California for a little side trip.        

 LIVE

LAUGH

 LOVE

SanTony