When we started planning our adventure, there were many places on Google Maps that we saved as “Want to go”. So far, we haven’t been to one of those places, except Las Vegas. As we traveled, our destinations changed daily and sometimes by the hour. It seems that our plan has been not to have a plan. Where we have been so far has been determined by the weather, suggestions from other people and the general area we were going. Our plan or “no plan” has worked out well.

Monday, Jan. 7

We have come to a special place. It is as far west as we can possibly go. We are parked 10 feet from a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Carlsbad, CA. Between the sound of the waves, the ocean view, the 50-foot cliffs, the pelicans flying by, the surfers and tonight’s sunset, there is no reason to ever leave.

Tuesday, Jan. 8

It’s a perfect day – sunny, with little wind and mild temperatures. Carol, the dogs and I took a walk this morning on the mile-long road at the top of the bluff. Lucy greeted every dog in the campground and let them know that she was in charge. Fortunately, the ranger allowed us to stay.

I found a ramp down to the beach when out bike riding today. The beaches here are nothing like the Atlantic.

While Carol was dolphin-watching this evening, she was distracted by this sunset.

Tomorrow, she’s going to spend the day whale-watching. I sure hope she’s successful!

Wednesday, Jan. 9

When we wake each morning at sunrise, there are always about 12 surfers right outside our windows. It seems like an awful lot of work for a five-second ride, but it’s sure fun to watch.

75 steps down to the ocean

We talked to a park ranger on our morning walk. He told us about the three whales he saw yesterday. Carol was crushed, but it gave her hope. He said the best way to sight them is to watch for their water spouts. Back at our site, each of us took a position – Carol beside the Ham with her binoculars, Lois on the observation deck with her binoculars and me on the picnic table. We waited and watched, then waited some more and watched. Dolphins were everywhere, but they were just dolphins. The morning was wasting away and then I got to yell out words I have waited for a lifetime, “Thar she blows!”. We saw a water spout, then another water spout and a tail, and then another water spout, a tail and the body. Success!

Thursday, Jan. 10

When we stay in one place for a while, we get into more of a routine and have fewer adventures.

Since we had the time, I found a city park only two miles away with ten tennis courts – yay! Early this morning, I was off on my bike to find a game. I thought I had a good plan until I realized that Google Maps doesn’t show the terrain too well. My entire route was uphill. By the time I got to the park, I was wasted. The tennis was pretty good, but the downhill ride back to the campsite was better. My afternoon nap kept me from whale-watching today.

Friday, Jan 11

It’s Christy’s birthday! She is now three. We pretty much let her do anything she wanted today because that never happens on all the other days.

Brett drove down from L.A. this afternoon. The dogs absolutely love Brett; we sure hope all of Brett’s new scratches don’t leave scars. After dinner out and a wonderful visit, Brett left to go back home.

Saturday, Jan. 12

It was raining at the beach, so we packed up and left. We decided to give Salton Sea a visit. A little history–The Salton Basin, a dried-up ancient sea, is 236 feet below sea level. In 1905, the engineers of the California Development Company, who were trying to control the water flow from the Colorado River into the basin, screwed up. The river flowed into the basin for two years before repairs could be made. Consequently, the Salton Basin became a sea. Initially, it was a freshwater sea, but for reasons I don’t fully understand, it is now saltier than the Pacific Ocean.

There are a few “things to do” here, so we should have a busy day tomorrow.

Sunday, Jan. 13

There are train tracks one hundred yards from our campground. A train runs by every thirty minutes and blasts its whistle for a nearby road crossing. We were woken up sixteen times last night.

The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge was our first stop. The place was full of bird-watching enthusiasts with their binoculars and telephoto lens cameras. Every time we passed a bird watcher, we heard giggles. We think they were making fun of our cheap Dollar Store binoculars and our non-bird-snob gear. The bird-watching was a bust. There are more birds in our backyard.

We were all feeling a need for spiritual lifting, so we went to the mountain – Salvation Mountain. This painted mountainside is Leonard Knight’s tribute to God. It was time for lunch, so we broke bread and had lunch in the parking lot.

Slab City is a very unique area. The Marine barracks of Camp Dunlap were abandoned in the 50s, leaving just the concrete slabs. “Snowbirds” started parking their RV’s on the slabs for the winter. There are now thousands of RV’s living their alternative lifestyle on this unregulated land without water, electricity, sewage treatment and trash pick-up. Slab City looks like an RV junkyard.

We’re off to Yuma, Arizona tomorrow. See you next week.