From the Southern California Beach Club, Oceanside, CA N33º11.567’ W117º22.918’
Friday November 19, 2010
It is still cloudy and windy. At about 10:30 we drove to Long Beach to visit with Todd and his family. We had lunch at their house and visited until supper time. We went to Tony Roma’s and had a lot of leftovers. We left directly from the restaurant to go back to Oceanside. It was great to visit the grandchildren, Emma and Wyatt.
Saturday November 20, 2010
It was raining this morning. I took Gerri’s car and did four caches between the heaver rainfalls.
We had the leftovers from Norte for supper. It rained off and on all day, sometimes heavily.
Sunday November 21, 2010\
Nothing to do today except drive back to Las Vegas. We took our time loading up, By the way, it is still raining.
The trip home was uneventful, except we sighted three deer on the hillside east of the interstate as we went through Dana Point. We were on the interstate and nearly past when we saw them, so it wasn’t possible to stop for photos.
Another good trip. Of course the highlight was visiting with family
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Oceanside, CA
From the Southern California Beach Club, Oceanside, CA N33º11.567’ W117º22.918’
Tuesday November 16, 2010
It was overcast this morning when we got up. Last night the news reported that no flights could land at San Diego’s Lindberg Field due to fog.
While Glenna and Gerri lounged around, I checked out a bicycle from the resort and rode around the area picking up six caches. According to my map there are about fifty on the San Luis Rey River Trail. I think when we come to San Clemente next year, I’ll bring my own bike and try to do those from the start of the trail to the ocean. It looks like about ten miles with a cache at every allowable interval.
We had dinner at the Norte Mexican Restaurant next to the Carlsbad Inn. This is our favorite Mexican Restaurant in the area; It used to be named Fidel’s Norte. Same great food.
Wednesday November 17, 2010
I went caching again today on a bicycle. We had plans to leave for a visit to Gerri’s cousins, Bill and Arlene in Dana Point, so I had to be back at 1 PM. I did get three caches; they are now further from the resort. We arrived at Bill and Arlene’s at about 3 PM and socialized until about 5. We watched the sunset, nothing spectacular. It was a big red ball that went down behind some hills. It’s really odd; at the resort in Oceanside we look right out over the ocean for sunset, in Dana Point the land curves and it seems like we are looking north for the sunset. At Oceanside we look west to the ocean, in Dana Point the ocean is south and a little east because of the curve in the coast. We then went to dinner at Sonny’s in San Clemente. Sonny’s is our favorite Italian Restaurant in the area. Guess what dinner is tomorrow?
Thursday November 18, 2010
Gerri and Glenna went to the base for shopping and I checked out a bicycle and went geocaching. I found seven, ending up near the Jolly Roger at Oceanside Harbor. There was one I couldn’t find. I saw on the logs that Bill and Elaine had found it in August. I called them, but no answer. By the time Bill called back I was headed back to the timeshare. They are insane Francisco, and were walking across the Golden Gate Bridge when I called. It was too far to go back, but Bill gave me the info on another one that I went back to and found.
I have logged today’s caches via my new GPSR and the Spot Communicator; I also sent a status report to FaceBook. I’ll see how that works. The only problem I have found so far in logging caches is that I have to go back and log the travel bugs.
After shopping at Pendleton, Gerri dropped Glenna off at the timeshare. When I got there I was told about an open house in unit 305. Glenna and I went there and socialized with other owners until Gerri joined us after that we went back to our own unit. Tonight dinner will be left over’s from the last few nights. Then TV and internet until bedtime.
Tuesday November 16, 2010
It was overcast this morning when we got up. Last night the news reported that no flights could land at San Diego’s Lindberg Field due to fog.
While Glenna and Gerri lounged around, I checked out a bicycle from the resort and rode around the area picking up six caches. According to my map there are about fifty on the San Luis Rey River Trail. I think when we come to San Clemente next year, I’ll bring my own bike and try to do those from the start of the trail to the ocean. It looks like about ten miles with a cache at every allowable interval.
We had dinner at the Norte Mexican Restaurant next to the Carlsbad Inn. This is our favorite Mexican Restaurant in the area; It used to be named Fidel’s Norte. Same great food.
Wednesday November 17, 2010
I went caching again today on a bicycle. We had plans to leave for a visit to Gerri’s cousins, Bill and Arlene in Dana Point, so I had to be back at 1 PM. I did get three caches; they are now further from the resort. We arrived at Bill and Arlene’s at about 3 PM and socialized until about 5. We watched the sunset, nothing spectacular. It was a big red ball that went down behind some hills. It’s really odd; at the resort in Oceanside we look right out over the ocean for sunset, in Dana Point the land curves and it seems like we are looking north for the sunset. At Oceanside we look west to the ocean, in Dana Point the ocean is south and a little east because of the curve in the coast. We then went to dinner at Sonny’s in San Clemente. Sonny’s is our favorite Italian Restaurant in the area. Guess what dinner is tomorrow?
Thursday November 18, 2010
Gerri and Glenna went to the base for shopping and I checked out a bicycle and went geocaching. I found seven, ending up near the Jolly Roger at Oceanside Harbor. There was one I couldn’t find. I saw on the logs that Bill and Elaine had found it in August. I called them, but no answer. By the time Bill called back I was headed back to the timeshare. They are insane Francisco, and were walking across the Golden Gate Bridge when I called. It was too far to go back, but Bill gave me the info on another one that I went back to and found.
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| My Sunday sunset picture |
I have logged today’s caches via my new GPSR and the Spot Communicator; I also sent a status report to FaceBook. I’ll see how that works. The only problem I have found so far in logging caches is that I have to go back and log the travel bugs.
After shopping at Pendleton, Gerri dropped Glenna off at the timeshare. When I got there I was told about an open house in unit 305. Glenna and I went there and socialized with other owners until Gerri joined us after that we went back to our own unit. Tonight dinner will be left over’s from the last few nights. Then TV and internet until bedtime.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Oceanside, CA
From the Southern California Beach Club, Oceanside, CA N33º11.567’ W117º22.918’
Sunday, November 14
We traded a timeshare week to stay at the Southern California Beach Club in Oceanside, California. We didn’t really start getting ready to go until Sunday morning, the 14th. We left Las Vegas at about 10AM. Traffic along I-15 was moderate until we got to the back up for the agricultural check station at Yermo. I don’t understand what they are looking for anymore, they seldom stop anyone. Must just be a state job maker.
When we crossed the Mojave River, just before Victorville, Gerri remarked how tall the trees in the river bed were getting and that there seemed to be a lot more than in the past. Must have been a wet year, there was even water in the river. We noticed the same thing when we were near the Santa Ana River.
We got to the Condo about 3PM and checked in. We immediately appreciated the warning that the parking garage was very tightly spaced. Gerri’s Lincoln seemed even bigger in the garage. We got in to our unit and settled in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset. As usual Gerri got the best picture and posted it on Facebook.
We went to dinner at the Rockin’ Baja at the Oceanside harbor. The three of us shared two orders of fish and chips. As is our habit we had another exciting evening; TV, computers and reading.
Monday, November 15
Another typical day for the Barkers, sleep late. Except this time we have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean off our balcony with the Oceanside Pier just to the north.
About noon I decided to walk to a couple of nearby Geocaches. I exited the apartments onto the Strand and walked north. Before long I realized I should have taken the elevator and exited on Pacific Drive. Now I had to climb a long flight of stairs to get on the level of the cache. When I arrived there was an urban nomad camped near what I read as ground zero for the cache. I waited awhile and decided to go to the next nearest cache. On the way back the nomad was still there. During the afternoon I checked back three times and he was still there. About 4 PM I checked and he must have gone to a soup kitchen, the coast was clear and I found the cache easily. Only two for the day.
For dinner we decided on Chinese but there were no nearby places that delivered. We ordered from a restaurant in Carlsbad. I maneuvered the car out, picked up the food and squeezed back into another parking spot.
Sunday, November 14
We traded a timeshare week to stay at the Southern California Beach Club in Oceanside, California. We didn’t really start getting ready to go until Sunday morning, the 14th. We left Las Vegas at about 10AM. Traffic along I-15 was moderate until we got to the back up for the agricultural check station at Yermo. I don’t understand what they are looking for anymore, they seldom stop anyone. Must just be a state job maker.
When we crossed the Mojave River, just before Victorville, Gerri remarked how tall the trees in the river bed were getting and that there seemed to be a lot more than in the past. Must have been a wet year, there was even water in the river. We noticed the same thing when we were near the Santa Ana River.
We got to the Condo about 3PM and checked in. We immediately appreciated the warning that the parking garage was very tightly spaced. Gerri’s Lincoln seemed even bigger in the garage. We got in to our unit and settled in time to enjoy a beautiful sunset. As usual Gerri got the best picture and posted it on Facebook.
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We went to dinner at the Rockin’ Baja at the Oceanside harbor. The three of us shared two orders of fish and chips. As is our habit we had another exciting evening; TV, computers and reading.
Monday, November 15
Another typical day for the Barkers, sleep late. Except this time we have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean off our balcony with the Oceanside Pier just to the north.
About noon I decided to walk to a couple of nearby Geocaches. I exited the apartments onto the Strand and walked north. Before long I realized I should have taken the elevator and exited on Pacific Drive. Now I had to climb a long flight of stairs to get on the level of the cache. When I arrived there was an urban nomad camped near what I read as ground zero for the cache. I waited awhile and decided to go to the next nearest cache. On the way back the nomad was still there. During the afternoon I checked back three times and he was still there. About 4 PM I checked and he must have gone to a soup kitchen, the coast was clear and I found the cache easily. Only two for the day.
For dinner we decided on Chinese but there were no nearby places that delivered. We ordered from a restaurant in Carlsbad. I maneuvered the car out, picked up the food and squeezed back into another parking spot.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
October 26, 2010
From the Zion Canyon Campground and RV Park; N37°11.582’ W112°69.475’
Another clear day after the coldest night we have had since being here.
Since the sun was shining we had decided to go in Zion Park and see if we could get more pictures of leaves turned color. We did get some nice pictures, but not so many of foliage. Between the wind and two cold nights the colors had got duller or the leaves were gone. We also didn’t count on so many stops for the construction; more was going on than on rainy days. Outside the east entrance of Zion we did see the “pumpkin truck.”
Tomorrow is the trip home. When I extended our stay to a total of six days, I was told we could stay a seventh for free. Too bad, we have to get home.
Another clear day after the coldest night we have had since being here.
I left the park to do a few caches toward Hurricane. I found nine on the way and four in La Verkin and Hurricane.
Since the sun was shining we had decided to go in Zion Park and see if we could get more pictures of leaves turned color. We did get some nice pictures, but not so many of foliage. Between the wind and two cold nights the colors had got duller or the leaves were gone. We also didn’t count on so many stops for the construction; more was going on than on rainy days. Outside the east entrance of Zion we did see the “pumpkin truck.”
We went to dinner at the Amigo Mexican Restaurant in Springdale. It was ok, not great.
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| Checkerboard Mesa |
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| A small arch off the Mt. Carmel Hwy. |
Monday, October 25, 2010
October 25, 2010
From the Zion Canyon Campground and RV Park; N37°11.582’ W112°69.475’
When we got up this morning we decided to stay for a couple of days. In the afternoon I headed up toward Orderville for a few caches. The first one I found and the one I didn’t find were off US-89 south of Mt. Carmel Junction.
The first one I tried in Orderville was also a bust. Later I met another cacher and she gave me a better hint. In all I found six in the area.
On the way to Orderville I stopped and took a picture of the Great Arch in Zion and one of the “windows” of the Mt. Carmel Highway Tunnel.
On the way back to Springdale I spotted a small heard of buffalo in a field and stopped to take pictures. In the field across the road were horses, cows and Llamas. On the side of the road there was a truck with hunters scoping out the field with binoculars.
A little further down the road I had to come to a dead stop for a group of deer, including two young bucks with legal or close to it antlers. Just around the next curve was a group of pickups, ATVs and a couple of trailers with deer hunters. It appears that deer aren’t your run of the mill dumb animals.
It was getting late but from Orderville through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel I had no cell service to let Gerri know I was on the way back. Back at the RV Park the sunset was really lighting up the cliff on the opposite side of the river.
Several years ago I visited Orderville several times with my Step-father. He was a rock hound and visited Orderville several times before his death in 2005 to buy rocks for polished slabs, cabochons and other items. The last time I was here with him was about thirty years ago, not much has changed in Orderville.
October 24, 2010
From the Zion Canyon Campground and RV Park; N37°11.582’ W112°69.475’
On the way back down through Zion we stopped at a few places for foliage photos.
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| An old house in Grafton |
We had decided to make a day of it today, first caching and then through the Park no matter what the weather was.
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| Turkeys in Grafton |
We started with some easy caches down the highway toward Virgin. We worked our way up Dalton Wash Road, until we got to the Zion National Park Boundary. There was some mud and water on the Dalton Wash road, it got about 3” deep on the road by the boundary fence. Fortunately that road looped backed to the Dalton Wash Road, so I didn’t have to leave the road to turn around.
We drove through Zion via the Mount Carmel Tunnel; we didn’t stop on the way up. We saw oak trees that had turned red and maples that had turned even redder.
We drove out the North Fork Canyon Road after leaving Zion. It has been many years since we had driven this way and I didn’t remember any of this road being paved. This road connects Utah 9 with Utah 14 near Navaho Lake. A road also branches off this one and goes to the trailhead for the Zion Narrows Trail. The pavement looked old but not thirty years old. We weren’t on it very far anyway; we turned into the Ponderosa Ranch and Resort development for some caches. Away from the main development the roads turned pretty rough, but passable. We found one cache with a travel bug and when we were headed for the second which was about a 600’ walk, my crew was rebelling. They had had enough slogging through the mud and wanted to see more of Zion. I walked the 600’ feet by myself. In true Longwalker fashion I chose the wrong trail. I walked an ATV trail toward the cache; I should have taken the cache name to heart “Horse Lane.” I bushwhacked to the cache and saw the horse trail a few feet away. I stated back on the horse trail, but it was muddier than the ATV Trail. I was slipping and sliding with my shoes getting heavier with each step. I decided to bushwhack back to the Jeep. It was a lot easier going.
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| I'll bet they were glad we weren't the hunters |
On the way back down through Zion we stopped at a few places for foliage photos.Bill grilled steaks for dinner and we had a fine meal with all the trimmings.
Good company, good scenery, all in all a great day.
October 23, 2010
From the Zion Canyon Campground and RV Park; N37°11.582’ W112°69.475’
More rain during the early morning. I got up and brushed the water off the patio awning. I posted a request for a cure for the water pooling on the American Coach Mail list.
We got started from the RV Park after noon. We only did four caches. These few caches were done in what we now call the Mudville area. The roads were very slippery due to recent rains. We did see some sights.
We decided to get an earlier start tomorrow. Meanwhile it was back to the RV Park for a supper of Salmon with a lot of delicious trimmings.
No rain during the day but still a heavy cloud cover.
We got started from the RV Park after noon. We only did four caches. These few caches were done in what we now call the Mudville area. The roads were very slippery due to recent rains. We did see some sights.
We decided to get an earlier start tomorrow. Meanwhile it was back to the RV Park for a supper of Salmon with a lot of delicious trimmings.
No rain during the day but still a heavy cloud cover.
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