Bass Lake and Angels Camp, California

Took a couple of pictures with my Droid Incredible and am posting them here to show you how great the camera is on that little cell phone.   

Parked at Bass Lake

Bass Lake - Picture taken on our walk to the lake.

We left Bass Lake on Sunday and drove over Highway 49.  From Mariposa to Angel's Camp, the road was not motorhome friendly.  Jerry swore he'd never drive that road again in our RV.  If you don't know that Highway, it winds and turns, goes up and down over high hills and deep valleys.  The scenery was beautiful, but we couldn't really enjoy it.  The temperature was 100 degrees and the RV engine kept heating up.  We had to stop a number of times to cool down the engine. 

We purposely went to Angel's Camp to visit with long time friends, Pam and George.  Jerry used to work with Pam at St. John's Hospital in the '60s.  They came over for dinner last night.  George and Pam own O.A.R.S., Inc., a river running company.  It was great to see them and to catch up with them.  

George, Jerry and Pam.

Then, this morning (Monday), we got up early to travel from Angel's Camp to Lake Tahoe.  We wanted to beat the heat.  But, our good intentions to outsmart the heat didn't work.  Again, we had to stop numerous times to let our coach cool down as we moved our "condo on wheels" to a new location.  It was 92 degrees by 11 a.m. as we climbed Highway 50 whose elevation is over 7,000 feet.  It was very taxing on the engine and transmission.

We are now settled in at Lake Tahoe and will be here for three weeks.  Our Verizon MiFi works, so we have internet.  What more can we ask!

Parked at Lake Tahoe for three weeks.

Bass Lake, California

We took two days getting to Bass Lake from Long Beach, staying one night each in Bakersfield and Fresno.  Arrived here last Sunday and will leave here on this Sunday.  We are staying at the Bass Lake Recreational Park, a large Coast-to-Coast park spread out in the hills.  Bass Lake is located just 14 miles of the south entry to Yosemite.  We were told that the lake is 5 miles long, 1/2 mile wide at the widest part and 140 feet deep at the deepest point.  Lots of boats racing on the lake. 

We've biked the area quite a bit, and it is not always easy because of the hills.  Saw lots of vacational rental in the area that go between $1,000-$4,000 per week.  And, we get to enjoy the same area for $12 a night!

I bought a software program that I'm just learning to use.  Here is my first project: our bike ride around the area.

Catalina Bike Ride

Long Beach, California

Continuing on with our "catching up" with people who have passed through our lives at some point and continue to remain in our hearts, I went to lunch with friends from Hughes Electronics (my former employer). We ate at Zahou's in Redondo Beach where they have the best desserts!

Lidia, Patricia, Jan and Kay

On Friday, we decided to take the Catalina Express over to Catalina to spend the day. We brought along our bikes and literally pushed them a mile up the hill at least 50% of the way. But, it was worth the effort to experience the views. Here are some pictures we took.

View of Avalon from high up the road.

There are lots of golf carts on the island.

A pet cemetery we passed while traveling up the hill.

On Saturday, Susan (daughter) and Samantha (granddaughter) picked me up so I could spend some time with the kids and attend a play ("Once Upon a Mattress") by the Millikan Middle School & Performing Arts Magnet where our granddaughter, Erin, played a major supporting actor part as Lady Larken.

Erin after the play.

Spent Saturday night at Susan's place while Jerry stayed back at the RV with our dog, Chanti. Guess he and John got together for a special clam and mussel linguine dinner for just the two of them as Marijean was in Temecula.

On Monday we took the bikes and traveled south on the bike path along the beach. The weather has been just beautiful here in Long Beach. In the evening, we went to the jacuzzi.

Then, today, I went to lunch with a friend that goes back to 1946. We started out in grade school together, went through high school and then through nurses training. After that, we would see each other a couple of times at reunions, but basically did not keep up with each other in between those times. What a fun time I had catching up with Nancy.

Me with Nancy

Went with John and Marijean to the Long Beach Yacht Club for dinner this evening. After we leave Long Beach on Friday morning, we won't be back in the area until the end of the year.

John and Marijean

Let me just say that we realize that we are blessed to be able to enjoy our retirement in the way we are living it -- full-timing in a motorhome, seeing family and old friends, meeting new people along the way, and exploring this great country we live in. It is a dream come true.

Long Beach, California

Golden Shore RV Resort - Long Beach, CA

It's been a week of entertaining and biking.  On Tuesday, we went on a 12 miles bike ride.  There is a 52 mile long paved bike trail running right past the RV park.

One of our reasons for coming to Long Beach was so that we could catch up with friends and family.  Before we moved to Cambia in 1999, we lived in Playa del Rey, CA for 23 years.  The Golden Shores RV Park in Long Beach is the closest one to our former stomping grounds.

First guest was Brad (long time friend of Jerry's) and his friend, Heidi, from Germany.  Loved the white chocolate she brought us from Germany.   

Brad and Heidi

On Saturday, our daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Andrea and Natalie, drove down from Santa Monica to spend the day with us.  We did lots of talking, walking, Natalie went swimming, and eating (Jerry made dinner).  Afterwards, Natalie found her favorite "strawberry cheesecake bar on a stick" in the RV park store after we forewarned her that the small store would probably not carry that item.

Then, on Sunday, we had a brunch of lox and bagels with friends of 33 years, Walt and Joan, who live in Santa Monica.  They are exactly our ages.  We had so much catching up to do (even discussed cameras), but we all forgot to get a picture of the four of us. 

Yesterday, Pete, a former employee of Jerry's came over to bring us up-to-date of his activities after graduating of Otis College of Design in 2000.  He and his wife are expecting their first child in a couple of weeks.  Good luck Pete and Jamie. 

Pete and Jerry

Today, John Scott who was Jerry's high school photo teacher, drove from Manhattan Beach to join us.  They go back 50 years.  Wow!  We are all getting up there in age.

John Scott and Jerry

After John left, we took a walk around the area near the Long Beach Aquarium, downtown Long Beach, and the marina.  The area is built-up nicely.  There is music playing on the boardwalk, and it is just a pleasant area to spend some time.

Tomorrow I'm having lunch with friends I worked with at Hughes.

Long Beach, California

Our last week in Temecula flew by.  In fact, the whole month in Temecula just flew by.  Where did it go?  Is this what full-timing is all about?  Each day is a good day.   The RV park was pretty much empty during each week, but really filled up over the weekends, and especially over Memorial Day Weekend. 

Pechange RV Park During Middle of the Week

Middle of the Week

Memorial Day Weekend

                                                                                         

Of course, RVers are patriotic!

We took one morning to enjoy breakfast at the Pechanga Golf Course Restaurant, and afterwards, walked the grounds.

On Tuesday, we drove to Long Beach from Temecula.  Stopped along the way to pick up some items I had sent to Susan's house and say "hi" one more time to the kids, Samantha and Christian.

We are planning on staying at the Golden Shores RV Resort in Long Beach until June 18.  Jerry has scheduled a lot of people we want to see, and I still have to work into the schedule seeing my long-time friends, graduations and a play that our granddaughter is in.  Should be an interesting few weeks.