Malibu

Our trip has been great so far, but it is not all roses. Our budget has not been working out so well. We have been spending more on campgrounds, groceries, gas, and vehicle maintenance than we have planned for. We have been focusing on reining in some of those costs and yesterday we decided that we should forgo our trip to Malibu. We were all sad, but I feel good about the decision. We have also been loving life in Palm Springs and have plenty to look forward to here.

Here’s to another week in Palm Springs!

Neighborhood Challenge

Our RV park in Palm Springs is attached to a nice little golf course neighborhood. When we have nothing to do in the evenings we like to go for a walk around the neighborhood. On this occasion, we were taking on the Neighborhood Challenge, which is the longest walk through both sections of the neighborhood.

Elliot picked this grapefruit on our walk. It looked a little green, but it was great.

RV Thanksgiving

One of the strangest things about being on the road is celebrating major holidays. Normally we spend most of Thanksgiving with family, but on the road it is just us. We try to make the most of it. Today was easy because after spending the morning doing food prep, we were able to spend the whole afternoon at the pool. It was definitely a different Thanksgiving.

Pandowdy Prep
Susan & Rose
Trying to fit through the fence.
Noodleball
The Menu
Dinner Aftermath

Soledad Canyon -> Palm Springs

Today we made the short drive to Palm Springs, about 3 hours. When we arrived it was sunny and warm and we couldn’t wait to go swimming.

We went for an evening walk and to our surprise there was a nice fireworks show about a mile from our RV park that we could watch. 

Trainstop

One of the things we didn’t know about our campground until we got here is that there are train tracks that run right along one of the borders. Our site was not too far from here and we really enjoyed the trains going past, during the day. At night and in the middle of the night it was a little annoying, but during the day it was fun to see. Whenever we would hear a train coming the kids would all run outside and clap. Rose and Lucia loved it!

Most of the trains were commuter trains, like this one. Sometimes a long freight train would come past.

Santa Cruz -> Soledad Canyon

Today we left Santa Cruz and headed to Soledad Canyon, near Acton, CA, outside of LA. I was sad to leave Santa Cruz. We had a blast there. WE enjoyed visits from my parents and our friends Ben & Sammy. We got to go surfing. The kids had some friends in the campground who they really connected with and we like the parents. 

We got out a little late because we packed a little more relaxed than usual, mostly because we were wrapping up visiting with the Youngs. I was hoping to get out a little earlier so we could get set up before dark, but that didn’t happen. 

The sun had set by the time we were on the windy road to our campground. Google maps had us turn off the main road onto a gravel/dirt road/ditch, but when we looked at the map it looked right. Well, after about a mile of bumps, twists, and sharp turns google asked us to turn onto a road that didn’t exist. We ended up driving a little farther and finding a nice spot to turn around on someone’s property. That was lucky because otherwise we may have just been spending the night there! As Mari said, at least we got a story out of it, and a memory. Some things on this trip are stressful. 

Tomorrow, when the sun rises, we’ll get to see the campground.

Leftover dessert: a nice way to end a long day.
Susan cut her own bangs. One thing I love about her is she is not afraid to just try things.

The Youngs

We have not had many friends on our trip. We have met a couple of families we connected with, but our time is usually short. 

In Santa Cruz we met the Youngs. They are also full-timers and they have 3 girls about the same ages as our older kids. The kids got along great, and we clicked with the parents as well. Our kids hung out with theirs whenever they had the chance. Hopefully we reconnect later, if the fates allow.

I can only imagine that something special is happening here.
Making corn necklaces.
At the Wharf.
Us and the Youngs

Oakhurst -> Santa Cruz

Today we moved from Oakhurst to Santa Cruz. It was a quick drive,  back through the agricultural valley. It is amazing how many trees, bushes, and vines we have driven past. 

There was a Halloween party at the campground which we arrived just in time for.
Mari and Elliot wrapped this girl in toilet paper. It was a race.
Elliot has been helping to get Rose to sleep lately. She had been sharing a bed with Lucia, but they were too wound up going to bed, so we had to separate them. Rose was not happy to be alone so Elliot volunteered to help. He normally reads his kindle and then when she falls asleep he moves to his bed, but it looks like tonight he never made the move.

Swimming Hole

There is a river that runs near our campground and at the end of the campground there is swimming hole. Today we spent about a hour playing around the area. It is really neat because it is all carved out of granite, similar to Yosemite.