 |
| Ahhh....my first Stone IPA since...??? |
 |
| Happy hour ....sorta lonely! |
We arrive in San Diego on March 20th. The KOA is full of families and travelers, and it is the right place for us to spend two nights. First, we need groceries....including beer of course. Beer = IPA....very different from Corona or Pacifico! The shock of the big grocery store fruit and vegetable section once again takes my breath away. Gasp...
 |
| Who will buy all this??? |
 |
| How many tomatoes do you want today? |
Shopping takes longer than usual as, I want (and need) only three tomatoes. But there are probably hundreds (thousands?) of tomatoes to choose from....oh my. And which kind? And organic or not organic? My mind whirls.
After experiencing the farm worker's strike and knowing of their plight...berries are hard to consider...especially if I can't figure out where (which company) the berries originated. I buy no berries. I do buy tomatoes....and six instead of three. Why?
Once the groceries, we so carefully eliminate in order to cross the border, (I'm convinced that because I said I had 12 small limes ....the legal to cross with ones...we were held in secondary inspection for 30 minutes...and no the limes were not "the reason" but we never got the reason)...were resupplied, along with the beer that was long gone...it was on to other important things.
Next, the dog park with all the fun agility challenges. Sparky was a whiz at all of them....as long as there is a treat in store, this boy is motivated!
 |
| Sparky goes for it! |
Then, it's off to the Creed SUP Board shop on Saturday morning to take a few boards out for a trial paddle. They loan us both an 11' and a 12' board and we throw them on the Jeep and head for Chula Vista Marina.
 |
| 11' board |
 |
| Sparky helps with a trial spin through marina |
Soon we are the owners of two 12' boards! Now to follow through on the plan to get to Santa Cruz and sell one of the 10' boards to Bonnie and James. (Coyote beach buddies) We have these two shipped home.
Next stop is Jamul, CA....only a 30 minute trip from San Diego, to visit Air Force buddy Arnie and wife Marie. They tell us they have the perfect spot for an RV to park....oh...they are SO right!
 |
| We park in the driveway, by the house, in front of the pond and vineyard! |
 |
| How is this group approaching their 7th decade birthdays? |
We have a wonderful visit with Arnie, Marie and granddaughter Gabby. Thinking back to the Air Force days (46 years ago)....who would ever imagine that there would be a reconnection, here at this beautiful home in Jamul...with our RV (???) parked outside?
We see (yes, on Facebook), that our beach buddies Ramie and Tim have stopped at Oasis Palms RV Park...in Thermal, CA. It's only a hop, skip and a drive from Jamul...AND it's right on the way to Joshua Tree NP. We're off!
We arrive at Oasis Palms in time for Happy Hour Coyote beach style....on the pool deck! And it's perfect weather for a swim first. The rv sites are in an old orange tree orchard surrounding a small lake and fountain. The pool and hot tub are only steps away from our site. Best of all, we find two more Coyote campers here too! A mini reunion...
 |
| Flowers everywhere! |
 |
| Cool little lake |
 |
| Parking in the orange grove |
One day turns into three nights enjoying this great spot with beach buddies. Since there is no morning exercise on paddle boards here...or kayaks...or Wayne's walk hike...Tim decides we will have a water aerobics class....11:30 sharp...at the pool! He brings along music and a demo video on the iPad! What????? Seriously? See for yourself!
 |
| Instructor Tim ready with the video and music! |
We are grateful that with all this jumping around and bouncing off the pool bottom, there are no sting rays to dodge! No sea jellies either!
 |
| Mark, Tim and Steve...bounce to the music! |
Wouldn't you know? Serious exercise class....turns into...well, boys will be boys....
 |
| Spy Jelle |
 |
| Spy back Steve |
And girls will be girls! Deb sets a great example of daily R&R....and we all join in.
 |
| Deb |
 |
| Ramie |
This is a great pool and hot tub spot...and dog friendly...so the dogs hang out in the fenced area with us....our personal lifeguards!
 |
| Lifeguard Ringo |
As the world works, there happen to be three birthdays to celebrate here with our beach buds. We cannot let the grand Coyote birthday celebration tradition lapse....just because we are not actually on the beach! First comes Mark....and yes, I produce the birthday crown and necklace! We have a pot luck dinner which is, as always, great!
 |
| Happy 65th Mark! |
 |
| Yum! Again! |
Ramie's birthday will be Thursday, and we will be leaving....but...how about a ukulele lesson today?!
 |
| Ukulele = Smiles!! |
Ramie is "a natural" we think....she plays her first song today...all the way through...with chords learned...today! I'm brought back to a sign I noticed on the front of an RV....
"TODAY IS SOMEDAY!"
We look forward to more ukes joining us on the beach next year....they will bring along their peeps!
 |
| Yep....it's just like this!.... |
 |
| Steve and his Blackbird |
We miss both Ramie's birthday on Thursday and Jelle's birthday on Friday as we feel we must leave for Joshua Tree NP before the weekend crowds totally fill up the campsites and...gulp...we might not get in. We know they all carried on in grand Coyote fashion! (and passed the crown around!)
Saying goodbye....yes, once AGAIN, to our buddies....it's on the road again...headed for Joshua Tree NP. It's a short hour and 1/2 drive to the park and we plan to arrive before noon in order to grab a good campsite....or...at least...a campsite.
