Garland Ranch Regional Park - Hike with Bruce, Karen and Pepper - August 17, 2021

Garland Ranch Regional Park - Hike with Bruce, Karen and Pepper - August 17, 2021

Hard to top yesterday’s whale watching, but we set off on a new day ready to try.

We went to Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley for a 5 mile hike through the oak woodlands, climbing mountains with views down into the valleys below.  The park is further inland so the fog had dissipated … we started by crossing the Carmel River, which was quite a bit lower than usual (more evidence of the drought conditions).  The hills were covered with California oaks and dried summer grasses, but the trail was frequently tree covered and we hiked in some shade. 

After the hikers accomplished their mission, we headed back to Bruce and Karen’s home for lunch before a drive along the 17 mile coastline road in Carmel … absolutely breathtaking windswept scenery.

Later Bruce and Karen joined us for G&Ts at our patio area, followed by a lovely dinner at Lucia’s Winery and Restaurant to cap off a great visit with our friends. 

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Moss Landing, California - August 16, 2021

Blue Ocean Whale Watch - Moss Landing, California - August 16, 2021

Our friends, Bruce and Karen, arranged for a whale watching trip through Blue Ocean Whale Watch out of Moss Landing, California.  We headed out of Moss Landing early in the morning, gray scattered sky with cool temperatures, but the crew was quite excited because a number of Humpbacked whales had been feeding in the waters reasonably close to the shore.

Intrepid whale watchers (dressed for warmth) …

Sea lions on the docks uninterested in our adventure …

Cormorants just hanging around …

The flurry of humpbacked whale activity was nothing short of amazing!  The whales were working together in twos and threes to round up the schools of anchovies and force them to the surface.  It was literally raining anchovies on the surface of the water … like a monsoon down pour of the silvery little fish.  The whales would do “lunge feeding” where they would lunge forward, mouth a gap, swallowing as many anchovies as possible while the sea lions roiled the water to scoop up the disoriented anchovies that managed to escape being eaten by the whales.  

The whales would blow water in fountain-like spouts.  Some adolescent whales where repeatedly breaching the water … seemingly because it was just the thing to do.  Other whales would roll and wave a very long flipper at us.  We found Aurora (female humpbacked whale) and her calf (Fluke Skywalker) cruising the waters eating their fill.

As the Captain and Naturalist of our vessel said, we were all now spoiled and might never again have such an enthralling experience!

I tried to capture some of the action without great success … I was just too mesmerized (and the whales were too quick) by all of the amazing whale activities.  Finally my camera battery died and I could just enjoy the astonishing antics of these enormous cetaceans!

Saddle Mountain Ranch - Carmel Valley, California - August 15, 2021

Saddle Mountain Ranch - Carmel Valley, California - August 15, 2021

This segment of the trip took longer than we had anticipated because we tried to avoid I-5 traffic and because we tried to avoid steep mountain passes.  What we did not expect was the volume of traffic associated with the Concours de Carmel (car show).  So, it took us more time to arrive at Saddle Mountain Ranch.  

The steep drive up the mountain, and even steeper driveway up to the ranch property, had Paul telling “just step on it”, to get the momentum to get Bambi up the hill.  But Fritz dug in, added his power, and up the driveway we went, to arrive at a lovely mountain RV and Glamping Resort tucked into the side of Saddle Mountain.

The property is lovely … a mixture of RVs, cabins, glamping tents, and regular tent sites.  A large pool area and other recreational areas, such as playground and basketball court, and a gazebo and large decks with gas heaters for use by guests.  Probably the most upscale place that we’ve ever stayed, certainly the most expensive that we have even spent for an RV site.  But, then again, this is Carmel.

We were delayed joining our friends at their home in Carmel by a leaking water heater … we finally found a screw that we could screw into the leaking area to stop the flow of water (a bit like putting a thumb into the hole in dike ;-).  Off we went to join Bruce and Karen in their lovely home in Carmel for a barbecue … 

Their dog, Pepper, was less excited about the prospect of sharing her house with Coco, so Coco spent most of the visit in her portable kennel to keep Coco from racing around their house being pursued by Pepper and eating Pepper’s toys (which looked a lot like toys that Coco had) and pulling out the stuffing.  Sometimes socialization is not easy …

Goleta Beach - New Home in Mesa - Walk Along Shoreline Beach - August 14, 2021

Goleta Beach - New Home in Mesa - Walk Along Shoreline Beach - August 14, 2021

Our last day in the Santa Barbara area started with a trip to the Ace Hardware Store in Goleta for a few odds and ends leading to a drive to the beach in Goleta.  This was Coco’s first experience with the ocean, and, in all honesty, she was simply a bit confused by the water that came and went and was not drinkable.  The smells of the seaweed and other beach debris were exciting, if unknown.  

From Goleta we went over to a section of Santa Barbara known as Mesa and got an opportunity to see KC and Hilary’s new home, just a couple of blocks from the ocean.  Right now they are using it as an short-term rental property, and Hilary was at the home supervising the turnover from one guest to another who would be arriving later in the day.  The home is adorable, small, but well-laid out and well-situated in near the ocean and the nearby neighborhood community of Mesa.

While Hilary cleaned, we walked with KC along the Shoreline Beach Path and enjoyed the opportunity to continue with conversations that we had been having throughout the past couple of days.  Later, we ended our visit with a dinner made up of a salad that we brought and left-overs from our dinner the first night capped off with ice cream and cookies.  

A pleasant and relaxing way to end the day, end our visit with them in Santa Barbara …

Off tomorrow to make our way to Carmel …

Aristocrat Relocation - Santa Barbara, California - August 13, 2021

A little Earl Warren history ….

Cowboy statue at Earl Warren Showgrounds with mask … unfortunately his horse has lost most of his mask

Aristocrat Relocation - Santa Barbara, California - August 13, 2021

Bambi needed some supplies, so off we went to Airstream of Santa Barbara (which is actually located in Buellton, California).  Buellton is known for Anderson’s Split Pea Soup, but we did not stop for soup.  Instead, we drove back through the Santa Ynez Valley on our way back home to Bambi.  Everywhere there is evidence of the drought and  low water levels in Lake Cachuma … it is unsettling for the present and the future.

As we returned to Bambi, Paul was needed to assist KC and Hilary in relocating their Aristocrat trailer from the home that they sold on Williams Way in Santa Barbara … KC picked him up and off they went.

I stayed behind with Coco and we walked the Earl Warren Showgrounds practicing NOT barking at folks and/or their dogs, while exploring the rodeo grounds and horse stalls.  

I was notified that we had parked in the wrong spot and the camp host wanted me to move Bambi over one spot.  I tried to negotiate with her to just have them move into our assigned spot.  She was quite upset because her software would not let her know what might be coming in.  We finally negotiated that the other party would go to another site if it was acceptable to them, turned it that it was acceptable to them, but she was miffed.  She complained about Coco’s barking at a man who wanted to approach her and pet her … I think that it was an effort to be difficult with me.  Then an administrator emerged from the Adminstration Building to complain that I was walking Coco on the grass (on a leash) … the ants had upped their activity in Bambi … I was ready to call it quits.  

Fortunately Paul called … margaritas were waiting at KC and Hilary’s house … the trailer was moved, but I didn’t hear the story until I arrived.  Apparently the efforts to move their Aristorcrat were thwarted by poor memory (they didn’t remember how to hook up everything) and location (they had angled their trailer in so tightly on a hill that it was hard to move).  The day was saved by a trailer moving service with a talented individual and his multi-purpose moving truck that managed, with difficulty, to extricate the trailer from its location and tow it to the new location.  Sometimes expertise and money is the solution …

Margaritas called for Mexican food … so, we ordered take out from Super Cuca’s Mexican Restaurant, Market and Carnerceria … and had another lovely evening (albeit a cool evening) on the back yard patio with everyone stuffed to the gills.

Coco has made a smooth transition to sleeping in Bambi without her kennel …

Earl Warren Showgrounds - Santa Barbara, California - August 12, 2021

Earl Warren Showgrounds - Santa Barbara, California - August 12, 2021

We arrived in Santa Barbara … a bit of a round about route in an effort to avoid the dense traffic corridors of Southern California.  Unfortunately, I did not look at the directions carefully on the reservation confirmation and we had a bit of difficulty locating the actual RV campground area on the Earl Warren Showgrounds, but with a bit of turning around and exploring, we found the campground area.  To further complicate matters, I did not look closely at our reservation to see that we were assigned campsite #21.  When the camp host greeted us, she looked quickly at our reservation and said that we were in campsite #22.  I took her word and we ended up in the wrong campsite.  That story line develops on the next day …

We got Bambi situated, only to realize that even though we were basically camping on asphalt in a parking lot, it was not level.  So work ensued to try to level the camper … that was when I discovered the dead rat (which had Coco’s interest … sigh).   The campsite was also infected by ants which managed to find their way into our trailer … a few initially, an infestation a day later … had to treat the trailer with ant suppressants.  The “pet run” was a dirt strip beside the road.  

We began to walk Coco around the Earl Warren Showgrounds … there was a large stable area for horses and corrals, arenas for rodeo events.  In the conference buildings was a Gem Faire (yes, that is how it was spelled), so a lot of traffic on the grounds for vendors and attendees of the gem shop.  

I think that I have painted the picture of the inadequacy of this campground location … it’s sole advantage was that it was right in Santa Barbara, only minutes from the home of KC and Hilary, Paul’s cousin and his wife, who we came to Santa Barbara to see.

We drove over to KC and Hilary’s home where their daughter, Lauren, was living with them and we met Lauren’s new baby boy, Koda, three months (and one week) old.  He is one of the cutest babies that we have ever seen and had many loving hands to tend to his care.  Including Hilary’s twin sister, Linda, who is also staying with them while she recovers from her knee replacement surgery.  They hosted us to a wonderful barbecue, complete with Santa Maria-style barbecued tri-tip, potatoes au gratin, roasted asparagus topped off with ice cream and cookies.  It was a totally delicious end to a long day of travel.  

And, a pleasant surprise for these “desert rats” to be shivering cold at the end of night, needing jackets, and the portable outdoor patio heater to enjoy the outdoor patio life of life in Santa Barbara.  

Alas, the photographer was so busy with all of events that we have no pictures to accompany this story :-(

Lake Tamarisk RV Resort - Desert Center, CA - August 11, 2021

 Lake Tamarisk RV Resort - Desert Center, CA - August 11, 2021

It seemed to take more effort than in the past to get everything pulled together to get out of Tucson.  We had Bambi serviced at Lazy Days RV Service, Fritz serviced at BMW of Tucson, and spent hours packing up to leave … perhaps the thought of being gone longer than usual launched us into a mode of hyper-preparedness, perhaps taking Coco on her first long trip had us thinking and re-thinking her needs, perhaps just the year of pandemic living has made us more cautious … whatever the reason(s), it took a bit more work to get on the road.

But, we did get on the road, leaving Tucson on Wednesday, August 11, headed for our intermediate stop at Lake Tamarisk RV Resort in Desert Center, CA.  Desert Center may not seem familiar to many, but the drive along I-10 into California has an area where there is a line of dead, dying, and downed palm trees alongside the roadway … that is Desert Center.  It may have been a vision that someone had to build it and they will come, line it with palm trees and it will be seen as an oasis.  

The homes are a mixture of mobile homes, travel trailers that no longer travel, and constructed, permanent homes.  The homeowners seemed to have put time and effort into creating a unique environment reflecting each homeowner … one had a collection of wind chimes, another a collection of ceramic dogs lining the patio of their now permanent trailer home, another built a cactus garden with kitschy items picked up from their travels.  There is an “18 hole” golf course, that is actually a 9 hole golf course with a different tee for the second time around the course.  It had the look of what might have once been a dream of retirement living, to one that was a past by, a bit faded, and definitely hot!

So hot that the water from the faucet has to be cooled before using it.  The water lines are just 6 inches below the surface of the ground and the water is so super-heated by the temperature on the ground that homeowners add cooled water to their faucet water to be able to use it.  

It was a long drive … we had an easy to use site … and fortunately had air conditioning.  

In the morning we walked through the area and found Lake Tamarisk and walked around the lake before heading out on our way to Santa Barbara

Leaving Tucson - Fritz and Bambi

Early morning walk around Lake Tamarisk in Desert Center, California