Leaving San Diego we traveled to Yuma. On our second night we had an overnight guess, Deb (Linda’s Sister) stopped by on her way back to San Felipe, Mexico where her and Joe are residing. Getting a ride down we went to spend a nght with them. They have a beautiful house overlooking the Baja Gulf. We walked the downtown area and along the beach drive. The Battins own a dune buggy so the next morning we rode the beach.

We went to the Yuma Territorial Prison which is now an upgraded State Park with more exhibits. Later in the week we went to a city park to do some walking/hiking along the Colorado River. Adding in a rain day and cleaning day that about coveredour time there.

Returning to Picacho KOA, a place we stayed at in May, it was alot cooler but still mid 70’s. We traveled to Chandler to meet up with Pam, Linda’s other sister, and Bob for a chance to walk a mall, have lunch and catch up on the last few months. We went to the Pinal County Museum in Florence and spent some time reading the historical plaques. Florence has alot of history in Arizona. The next day we visited Marge, who just celebrated her 98 birthday on Christmas and her son Howard.

We did not make our hike up to Picacho do to some food poisoning. We ate dinner Friday night and spent the week-end recovering before bouncing back and going to the Casa Grande Ruins. It is an interesting place to learn about the native Americans who settled the land in the 1400’s and had irrigation canals from the near by Gila River.

Then it was time to move again. Now we were heading back to Benson, AZ and a couple of things we did not do in May.

 

 

 

 

This is our last week. It has been different to be camped out for 4 weeks but between friends and visiting places it has been a fast month. This has been a great month.

Not sure why the order is out of wack but here are the pictures.

Tomorrow is December 1st so lunch with ol friends and leaving for AZ on the 2nd.

This is at the San Diego Maritime Museum. The Russian Sub. the hole on the right is an example of 4 you must pas  through to get through the tour.

The SDMM as we get underway. County building and airline coming in

San Diego Convention center

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Ba

This was a week to see a fleet of old sailing ships, or replicas, going out to sea. The Star of India is 155 years old and sail once it was off the coast. We took an anniversary trip up the coast on a coaster train which is a rail train between San Diego and Oceanside.

Thanksgiving was spend with a grade school friend of Shannon’s. Angie lived down the street. Her and Michael invited us for a memorable dinner. It was a great time.

 

San

 

The second week we continued to play tourist and visit the old home town

 

 

 

We have landed in San Diego for the month, which is just about over, to return to our beginnings. I from New Jersey and Linda from Arizona. We met here, got married here and spent the first 16 years of our married life here. We met through some mutual friends and beach parties. Lots of good memories. Things have changed here but we are having a grand time. Using the transit system for a few trips. the trolley system and bus system is pretty extensive.

It  is a beautiful place to visit but we love our Colorado mountains just as much.

 

 

 

 

We concluded the month with 2 more National Park stops. we stopped at Visalia to visit Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park. and a week in the Palm Springs area, Desert Hot Springs, to go to Joshua Tree National Park.

While in Desert Hot Springs, we did visit “old town” Palm Springs, General Patton Memorial Museum and hiked in Morongo Canyon. The museum is an overview of the over 20,000 people who supported and trained for the African challenge against Rommel.

 

Sorry for the delay but  the pictures did  not upload. In San Diego and keeping busy.

The next stop on the travels was Lodi. A quick stop but a good stop. First place to stop at was a winery. Out on the edge of town but a nice little tasting room. After buying a few bottles, we ventured to downtown for lunch and a walk. The cheese shop was another chance to stock up on some cheeses.

The next day was a stop at  the Calivirgin olive oil tasting  room. we learned about the harvesting and processing of olives. This company adds fresh ingredients to the crushers as they are processing. Not infused for a fresher taste. Afterwards we went to the Lodi Lake Nature Walk & Park. Home to twenty or so deer and numerous plants and trees. Not totally stocked up on wine and wanting lunch we went to Michael David Winey. They have a nice garden area and were setting up the pumpkin patch.

After a busy 2 days we traveled further south on highway 99. After climbing a few thousand feet on a 25 mph winding road we arrived here at Yosemite Pines in Groveland, CA for a two week stay. No internet and no cell phone in the park. One restaurant we went to had cell phone service. We did get some reception in a few places on our journeys but to be out in the mountains feels so good. They have vintage trailers, cabins, yurts and covered wagons for rent those without trailers or motorhomes.

We traveled on some steep and winding roads. Our first adventure was CA-49 south towards Mariposa, the old mining town. The Merced river is super low. This is due to the drought and the fall season. The first town we came to was Coulterville. An old mining town and the first entrance to Yosemite. Lunch was at “the original Bon-Ton Café”. Not to be confused with the  one in Colorado Springs. Mariposa it the southern end of Yosemite. So we took that road back.

Being the weekend we decided to skip the park and went to downtown Coulterville. All 4 or 5 blocks long. Bragging rights to the oldest saloon in California.

In week 2 we did go to the park but will save that for another post. Jamestown was a town we wanted to get to as a western town and a movie railroad state park. Lots of  scenes from movies and TV shows where filmed in this park. The number 3 locomotive has it’s own makeup shed to change the stack out to fit the era. It is an oil burner and they just add coal or wood to the top for makeup.

Columbia State Park is another stop people should make if in the area. The preserved town has shops and museums. Great place to walk and get a feel for early western life.

Sonora is another tourist town we drove through but did not stop until we hit the hiking trail. old buildings but modern shops. The hike gave some nice overviews.

We did get to Yosemite on a few days. Did the valley and museums with a few hikes one day and drove around another day with a few short hikes