I last wrote and posted about all the failures we have experienced.  Since then we have had none of our own and the car windshield has been replaced and there is one small screw that needs to be driven back into place when I remember to do when not traveling down the road. 

We spent nine days in Dockweiler our least preferred RV Park both for cost and location under the LAX departure runways.  Its redeeming value is relative closeness to our son Yechiel’s home and its proximity to the beach.  We chose a space (#81) as far down the camping area as we could get from the entrance and the runways.  I am not sure how much it helped, but we slept, mostly.  After 5 days at the Burbank Elks it was quite a change.

The Dan Goldberg family flew in on Wednesday, late and we met them at the beach Thursday morning.  They played there until it school was out for the local family and then we had dinner at Miriam and Yechiel’s and everyone crumped.  Friday we took the Virginia family to Labrea Tar Pits Page Museum and LACMA (Los Angles County Museum of the Arts.  Then we settled in for Shabbat.  Saturday we gathered at Miriam and Yechiel’s for the day, with some time at the park to run off Shabbat Lunch.  Sunday was an expedition in two cars to San Pedro, the port of LA where we saw shipping and toured the museum and rode the Red Trolley and thought we wore everyone out.  True for the parents and grandparents, not apparent for the boys.  We wrapped it all up on Monday, President’s Day, by breaking the RVer’s myth of 6 for drinks, dinner for 4, sleeps 2.  We had 10 for play on the beach and drinks for 6, dinner was grilled vegetables.  I was at my new Weber Baby Q grill for 90 minutes grilling for the gang of 10 (and some burgers made from meat carried from Virginia for us carnivores).  It was too cold once the sun set to sit out so we all ate on board.  Lots of fun.  Oh yes, sunset in a clear sky on the ocean horizon treated us to a “green flash” (you could look it up or follow this link).  This was a first for Carol and most others, I had seen it many years ago from the top deck of our boat in the Galapagos.

One last item to report from the LA visit.  We stayed on an extra day to attend “Poetry Cafe” at the kids school.  When I tell you we sat through 125 kids reciting their own poetry and were disappointed only that it ended, you will understand how exciting an event this was.  Of course Avtalyon and Azriel were “performing” and they were divine.

The route from LA was north on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), THE ONE.  We made our first overnight stop in Santa Barbara, actually about 25 miles out of town up in the mountains at Cachuma Lake Reserve.  It is a lovely spot worth more time to explore, but the weather was dreadful and we were spending time with Bob and Joyce Herman.  Although we know each other from Rochester, we have deepened our friendship with meeting at the extremes of the continent.  We actually ran into them at an overlook in Nova Scotia a few years back when I noticed a car with NY plates and the license frame was from Hoselton, a Rochester area dealer.  Then we saw them.  This time we knew they were in Santa Barbara and called ahead to make plans.  Several good restaurants later and one incredible party and we were on our way north again. 

For the record, Carol and I went to Solvang when we first got there and found our selves in looking for a decent restaurant among hordes of Greyhounds (the dogs were in town for a convention).  There were none at Root 246.  This is a superb dining place, not cheap!  The staff were wonderful and food preparation was beyond expectation, Bradley Ogden the Chef heard that Carol is a vegetarian and came over to discuss the menu with her.  I have never seen beef short ribs served without the ribs and with such wonderful sides.   With Joyce and Bob we had lunch at a wonderful Mexican restaurant in Santa Barbara and decided to put off dinner until after Shabbat service at Bnai Brith Cong.  Rabbi Stephen Cohen is the son of Jules Cohen who among other things was my boy scout troop leader back in the ‘50’s.  He is also a fine cardiologist.  Dinner was at Cold spring Tavern.  The meal was ok, the atmosphere was wonderful and the road was unspeakable.  We drove out on the mountain road that lead to the campground we were staying at and then turned off on Old Stage Coach Road, a left over from the stage coach days.  It twisted and turned down the mountain side and the rain and fog just made the drive more interesting.  I braced with a scotch before dinner to prepare for the drive back up the road and found the main road shrouded in fog for several miles as we continued to twist our way to Cachuma. 

We found that courtesy of the Hermans we had been invited to a party at Gail and Peter’s home up a canyon road.  The jazz trio was wonderful and the guests and host and hostess had all lead fascinating lives and we made several new friends who I hope we will see again when we pass this way in the next years.

Another day another hundred miles as we worked our way up THE ONE to Morro Bay where we stayed at Morro Bay State Park.  It is a lovely park with great surroundings and the State of California has made it almost unaffordable.  The senior rate for water and electric is $48 cash or check only!  and the final indignity was that a tree fell on the power line as we were setting up and the power was out from 1:30 to 11:30 PM.  Carol ad I walked into the town, about a mile and wandered through the shops.  This is a nifty town and in better weather the hiking and boating would be a lot of fun.  The next day we set off to Hearst Castle, a state historic park.  We took Tour 1 and it was well worth it, for that matter it was far beyond worth it.  The guide alone was worth the price of admission, she was wonderful and her tail gunner was also a lot of fun.  If you are coming this way, or even close, do miss this tour.

Now we are in Monterey at yet another Elks Lodge.  This one looks like a nice country club although you do want to follow their directions getting in, we got turned around and taking a left turn into the lot required that we disconnect the car in mid turn, never fun. 

I’ll post now and write more soon.