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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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ROAD TRIP 2010 - lastest post: "END OF THE TRAIL"
This road trip is a LONG one...and has some twists and turns. It adds up to a few miles.
First Co-pilot & I drive a pickup pulling a boat from Coyote Bay to LAX. She flys to Rome.. I drive the midwest from Los Angeles to North Dakato.
Then a month later I fly back from North Dakota to pick her up on her return flight from Rome to LAX.
We are then driving a motorhome from San Diego - LAX to Chicago..but never in a straight line.
Hey, we have amigos with cold beer in out-of-the-way places. 
Besides, I just HATE driving through Topeka, so...
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Why Chicago? I don't have a clue as to why we're going to Chicago. I know she plays Simply Sinatra a lot on the XM radio.
I did some homework, though..and I plotted plenty of fishing lakes & rivers for the entire trip. 
.
There have been quite a few..uh.. 'happenings'.. already from Coyote Bay to here...and as soon as the authorities give me some more computer
time I will report back with some detail and photos. America is sooo full of surprises and great scenery.
Hasta la vista..
[Edited on 11-1-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Curt63
Super Nomad
Posts: 1171
Registered: 3-28-2009
Location: San Diego, Ca.
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Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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Keep those pics comin. We love your posts Rogelio!
[Edited on 7-29-2010 by Curt63]
No worries
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Packoderm
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Registered: 11-7-2002
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Are those stars places you stay the night? Do you stay in state campgrounds? I know that to get a real camping spot, you have to reserve months ahead,
buy you can get a parking spot for the night if you just show up. I've done the U.S. West Coast in piecemeal fashion. I especially like the Oregon
Coast. It seems that it would be expensive to stay in so many places. If I were to attempt such a trip, we'd definitely have to boondock it for at
least a couple of the nights.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Packoderm
Are those stars places you stay the night? Do you stay in state campgrounds? I know that to get a real camping spot, you have to reserve months ahead,
buy you can get a parking spot for the night if you just show up. I've done the U.S. West Coast in piecemeal fashion. I especially like the Oregon
Coast. It seems that it would be expensive to stay in so many places. If I were to attempt such a trip, we'd definitely have to boondock it for at
least a couple of the nights. |
Hola Packoderm,
I tend to avoid state campgrounds, as they are usually booked during summers, although if you really want to stay at one, oftentimes there are
cancellations or no-shows. We found that to be the case at Half Moon Bay state campground on the beach. A very pretty camp where we stayed for 2
nights. But..the state parks are not much cheaper at $30-35 per night. We have had no trouble (so far) finding RV space at private parks. The poor
economy has resulted in a heavy loss of business for RV parks.
The bad thing about state camps in California, Oregon Coast, and Wash state is that they are way too crowded, do not offfer much room, if any, for a
36ft motorhome, do not usually have wi-fi, and most often are in a forest where I cannot connect with sat-tv.
We do stay at many private RV parks..and yes, the accumulative cost can be high. We've stayed at RV parks ranging from $10 to $60 on this trip (so
far). We have also stayed a few nights parked at friend's houses..and a couple of Walmart parking lots, too. One evening I was too pooped to drive
anymore..was forced to ignore the No Overnight Camping signs on Hwy 1 near San Simeon (Hearst Castle area) and pulled over onto a wide spot
overlooking the ocean. Nobody bothered us and we had a good night's rest. Also did this on Oregon Coast road.
I like to boondock whenever possible and have quite a list of places that I built up over the last 35 years of making the coast trip from the Olympic
Peninsula to San Diego annually. Also the route from ND-Butte-West Yellowstone-Idaho Falls-
Salt Lake City-Las Vegas-San Diego. It is actually very easy to find free or almost free camping if you look hard enough.
Casinos are a good bet, as they usually charge little if anything at all. You just need to sign in..and of course they hope you will leave some money
at thier tables.
I have stayed in so many wierd and wild places in so many RV's over the years that I forget most of them, but one I am recalling here in Washinton
state was a goodie. It was around 1989-1990 and I was in my 25ft Minnie Winnie in Seattle. I drove along the canal linking Puget Sound to Lake Union
and was marveling at the boat traffic going through the locks that connected the lake to the sea. Around 8 pm I pulled off onto a Coast Gaurd loading
platform right alongside the lock channel and parked for a breather. A young coastie came over to yak and to tell me that I was parked in a no-no
zone. He then saw my license plate..ND..and told me to park overnight if I wanted to, but I would not be able to drive out until he showed up for
duty the next morning. It was a terrific night of boat-watching traffic. The boats came within a couple yards of my windows and we had a ball
visiting with all the boaters as they went up and down the locks. Neat treat, indeed.
Then there was the time on the Anchor River in Alaska when the king salmon were running upstream and spawning under my Minnie's dinette table...we
were camped quite close to the water then, too.
[Edited on 7-29-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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acadist
Super Nomad
Posts: 1125
Registered: 3-31-2007
Location: Spanaway,WA
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Mood: Waiting for the Sun
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If you come back through Denver I got a beer for you.....provided I'm not in Baja!
Dave
I moved to CO and they made me buy a little rod to make it feel like a real fish
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Baja12valve
Nomad
Posts: 185
Registered: 7-12-2006
Location: Oak View
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Oregon coast is amazing. With 6 friends, I just finished a ride on my bicycle from Astoria to Crescent City. Had the time of my life. Of course 3
cases of wine in the van carrying our stuff did helped. Had sun about 90% of the time.
Good luck on your trip. I love road trips.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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The Start: Days 1, 2 and 3
The Road Trip Begins
June 3rd, 2010. We cross the border at Tecate and drive Hwy 94 to San Diego.
I head immediately to my favorite place in San Diego...Shelter Island in Pt. Loma.
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I was winding my way down Shelter Island Drive..thru the 4-wheelers (cars). ( Mostly they have no clue how much braking is required for sudden stops
to compensate for thier maneuvers in front of me. I am a 35ft heavy motorhome...a few goofballs zoom in front, then slam on thier brakes at the
stops. Well, duh...don't blame me if I crush you, dude.)
But....Guess what happens next?
A nice sloop comes rolling out of a boatyard onto the street. ??
I brake in time as a worker comes running out to warn traffic of the runaway sailboat. Not something you see every day..but kind of sets the
cadence for a good Road Trip.
Figuring the next one to get loose might be a mega-yacht,I pull into Fisherman's Landing to go rod/reel shopping.
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After working up a good appetite with the rods, reels and assorted lures....
...Pt. Loma Seafoods for lunch is a must.
Good food, great boat marina, plus you get a free sea lion act.
I wish I got those prices for my Cortez catches..would help that fuel cost a bit.
Other great eating choices in Shelter Island..Point Break and Fiddler's On The Green. Just plain good food and great hosts. A word of warning,
though.. the margaritas will blind you.
No trip to San Diego would be complete (for a woman) without a couple day's shopping at Mission Valley Mall..or is it Fashion Valley Mall??..I never
remember.
Salons..Sh-malons. I look goofy in anything fashionable. Give me a nice saloon, a stool and a mug. I'll create my own fashion. That's my idea of
heaven. Like my purse?
If there is a record of how many boutiques one can shop in 1 day, I think she broke it.
Just call me Bag Boy.
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Okay, enough shopping....Let's go dancing at Humphrey's On The Bay. Time to..Get it on!
Hey..look at the time! The charterboat leaves the dock in 3 hours. We gotta go get SOME sleep...okay, okay..one more
dance and that's it.
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And that's the end of the first 3 days..whew.
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To be continued sometime in the very near future.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Road Trip from San Diego to North Dakota-Return by air
Days 4-32
The photos pretty much speak for themselves on this leg of the trip. Lots of fishing, scenery, and yardwork Up North.
Most of these shots are from Idaho/Wyoming/Montana. Henry's Fork, Gallatin River, Yellowstone. Prime western fishing waters...with lots of wildlife
throughout.
I picked up a couple prints I liked for my cottage Up North.
==========================================================
July 5-7, 2010
June 5...I got underway on this second leg of our summer trip by first flying from Fargo, ND to San Diego, where I store my motorhome. (El Cajon)
Note:
As a kind of preface to this Non-Baja Trip Report, please see this thread for info on the kindness of a fellow Nomad.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=46533#pid5272...
In reference to the thread above..Mucho thanks to David, nomad ELINVESTIG8R, who so graciously came a long ways to pick me
up at Lindburgh Airport in San Diego. David drove me way out to El Cajon, helped me get the motorhome fired up, and then offered a nice park spot for
two nights at his home before I had to pick up Co-pilot at LAX ..she was arriving from Rome via Alitalia on June 7th. He then offered my the use of
his pickup to run some errands the next day. Whatta guy.
Thanks again, David, it was great to meet you and your charming wife. Hope you enjoyed the steaks and refreshments by now. Remember....Mi casa es
su casa. Up North or Down Baja.
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.
Now ..Let's get the ball rolling on this trip report.
First, I was Johnny-on-the-spot in the motorhome to pick up Co-pilot at Terminal 2, Alitalia airlines, LAX. Now..driving a 34ft motorhome thru LAX in
not something you want to do a lot. (grin) The airport security tends to look you over pretty good. But..we knew all this and we had made
arrangements earlier. We had the curbside-pickup arranged down to finest detail.
The Plan.
I would wait in the motorhome just outside LAX in the handy cellphone parking lot. I would enter the busy terminal grounds only after Co-pilot had
claimed her luggage, made her way to the curb outside Alitalia arrivals, and had phoned me. I would wind my way thru the terminal to the Alitalia
arrival gate, look for Co-pilot at curbside, pull over and stop. We load the baggage and hit the road.
Simple and easy..would go like clockwork. Right?
Yes..Except for a small blunder. Murphy's Law took over, just like in Baja.
The Blunder
I got the call from Co-pilot. The plane was on time. She had cleared US Customs and was now curbside with her luggage, ready to be jump aboard.
Everything was going to The Plan. I drove into the terminal, past the gaurds, who looked at me oddly..I was the only huge motorhome cruising into
LAX...duh. I saw the signs for Alitalia coming up...okay, so far so good, but where was she? I saw nobody. Went all the way around the terminal
again and re-entered into Arrivals...past the gaurds again, who now looked very alert! Ringgg..ring! Co-pilot is on the phone. "You drove past
me..did you not see me?" I said, "No..I did not. Wait there, I will come again." I drove in, up to the Alitalia arrival..and nothing..nobody at
all..no people, no passengers at all.....nada, nothing ..period. Hmmm..seems damn strange, I thought as I look around amidst all the traffic..and
glance over the right side..WHERE ALL THE PASSENGERS WERE!! Opps..I had made a little boo-boo, I believe.
I get a fleeting glimpse of a black haired beauty with lots of luggage next to her waving both arms...but it is impossible to cross thru the
traffic...SO AROUND I GO ONCE AGAIN...past the gaurds...almost. This time they stop me, ask for ID's, look inside, and then demand to know what I am
up to..this is the third time and they are not about to take any chances that I might be carrying a few tons of C-4 explosives. After some time
checking me, the motorhome, and confirming Co-pilot's listing on Alitalia's passenger manifest, they escorted me to the proper 'right side' of the
passenger arrival area. Actually..escorted may not be the right word...more like sheparded.
Ringg..ring. I answer Co-pilot's call with, "Yes, I know, I know..I saw you over there...you're on the wrong side, but don't worry..I will
be there in a second or so. Be ready this time, okay?"
I swing in behind the gaurd escort..attracting a little bit of attention...opened the coach door for Co-pilot..tossed all the luggage inside, hugged,
and got the heck outta LAX as fast as I could.
I waved goodbye to the escort as we drove out to the freeway..they did not wave back. I highly doubt I will ever drive that motorhome into LAX again.
(grin)
Now we can get this show underway. Naturally, Los Angeles is a place you want to get out of as soon as possible, so we hurried down the highway as
best I could ..to Ventura Freeway and out towards Pismo Beach. We made it without mishap and decided on eating out rather than cooking inside the
motorhome on the first night. Besides, this place was recommended by a friend..JR Spurs Steakhouse.
We had a delicious and well-presented dinner of fine steaks and treats. Very good wine. Superb meal..we will go back for sure.
TO BE CONTINUED..
[Edited on 8-2-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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aj spurs saloon and diner...
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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Pompano, Thanks for sharing you and Co-pilot's travels. Looks like you all are having a lot of fun.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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my gosh .... great storytelling ... save all your stories and publish an autobiography ... it will be a best-seller, really.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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California Coast Hwy 1 and 101
Pismo Beach - San Simeon
After a great dinner at AJ Spurs western style steak house near the coastal town of Pismo Beach, we were ready to 'make camp'...which in
California means 'find a RV Park' as there is little if any opportunities to legally boondock along the Pacific Coast Highway. 
I had visited with a state parks ranger and he mentioned the beach camping at Pismo Beach. Said it was very popular and only a $10 fee, no services.
Sounded okay to us, we are completely self-contained.. so we head off to check it out. 
Well...it turns out that the ranger had failed to mention it was strictly a 4X4 adventure...not exactly suited to our
gutless 2WD 35' motorhome.
The beach camping at Pismo Beach is just that...BEACH CAMPING...you drive across the sand, trying to stay on the firm stuff next to the waterline.
You go at your own risk. Great if you're on horseback...muy loco if you're motorhoming. Go further away from the hard pack and you will
sink out of sight...like these guys on bottom right, and they were 4X4. 
Well, I was committed...already on the sand, the firm part next to the water's edge, and forced to keep it pretty much floored all the way to where I
could get up off the beach..a distance of about a mile. Some tense times when the coach would bog down and I had find firmer sand...sometimes in an
inch or two of water..hoo boy. I am now racing down the beach in a too long, too heavy, too underpowered motorhome doing almost 50mph. We are the
top attraction now. People camped here and there must have been making bets as to how far we would get before sinking into the surf. I can only
imagine they are still laughing about the motorhome that roared past thier encampments on a rising tide...throwing roostertails of sand and spray.
Let's just say it will be nice to get back on the pavement without a coach full of flounder.
Aha..I see a way off the beach coming up....NOT SLOWING DOWN...I bounced up past another state park booth..to the surprise of the guy inside! We are
now on terra firma again.
We had come upon a nice cutesy shorefront area of shops & boutiques.
Next to the beach access, I ended up parking (boondocking) for the night in the street behind a couple of other motorhomes...in front of a saltwater
taffy store next to the state park beach entrance. A welcome haven after the mad dash down the beach. Woke up the next morning to a note on my
windshield from the taffy store owner saying "Would you mind moving? You're killing my business."
Hmm.. it was 8AM..his sign said the store opened at 9? 'You're killing my business?' I looked around...there were no other vehicles moving in the
entire area. 
Nevertheless, I saw him inside, so went to knock on his door. He opened for me..and I bought $25 worth of taffy and sweets to offset his lose of
business, although there was not exactly a crowd of customers yet. He was a happy camper then..and so were we.
( I still have that bunch of taffy..anybody want some? Definetely not on my diet plan..)
We drive on north...viewing scene after beautiful scene.
Cattle herding horsemen on the California coast was a nostalgic sight for me.
From Pismo Beach and north, it was time to stop and marvel...and get some excercise from time to time. Got to get out and breath that fresh salt air!
These kite-surfers were having a ball on this windy part of the coast. Might have to try that before I get too much older. (Sure, no way, Jose!)
Then we came upon that great sight..The Elephant Seals at San Simeon.
We enjoyed a few hours with these magnificent creatures. The relaxed mood of the herd reminded me that I had missed my siesta.
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Then suddenly we spot..ZEBRAS. Either we took one helluva detour to Kenya Natl Park..or we were next to the Hearst
Castle.
Yup..The Castle it was..so we had to take the tour, naturally.
Heart Castle Tour
Unbelievable opulence and exaggeration. The only thing missing is modesty. The theme I noticed was... "Hey, It's NICE to be
rich." Cost of the tour for the two of us..about 100 clams with lunch, tips, etc. The tour WAS fun and entertaining, plus lots of
architectural history. But being a clueless clod at best, it was a little too unreal for me. A kaliedioscope of extravagence that leaves you a
little cold.
Back to reality on the Road Trip, this rewarding view near San Simeon cost us ....nothing.
Come on..let's get down to that nice beach. I'll even draw a Venus de Milo with arms in the sand for ya.
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TO BE CONTINUED:
[Edited on 8-3-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
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Nice Travelogue Pompano...Yes, we enjoyed the steaks... Looks like you two are
having a blast. Keep the Travelogue alive. You are welcome back anytime. D
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willyAirstream
Super Nomad
Posts: 1786
Registered: 1-1-2010
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Wha HOOOO , another great photo essay!! Thanks!
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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That dash through sand flats must of scared Copilot big time.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
That dash through sand flats must of scared Copilot big time. |
Hell's Bells, Igor...that ride scared both of us! The incoming tide was just starting. I had visions of sitting on top of the motorhome, waiting
for the Coast Gaurd helicopter. 
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
| Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
That dash through sand flats must of scared Copilot big time. |
Hell's Bells, Igor...that ride scared both of us! The incoming tide was just starting. I had visions of sitting on top of the motorhome, waiting
for the Coast Gaurd helicopter. |
" Mamma mia, Rogelio! I should never have left Roma."
[Edited on 8-2-2010 by Skipjack Joe]
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Thanks for the subliminal suggestion, Igor..but Co-pilot has too many years flying time to be scared so easily!
Day number..?
..who knows..or cares?? It's been a few...we started the first of June. This trip is not about speed or the destination, it's about the journey.
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July 10, 2010
North of San Simeon is the Artic Tundra..but we're not going that far today...only to Monterey, Ca. We want to see places like Fisherman's Wharf,
Cannery Row (in remembrance of John Steinbeck), and most important.. the world-class Monterey Aquarium.
We had another pleasant and scenic drive up the coast and arrive at Fisherman's Wharf parking area..then take a free shuttle to the Aquarium, about a
mile or so away.
Off we go into the Monterey Aquarium. It was well worth the price..and then some.
Luckily, I no longer have to lie about my age when requesting the senior discount. Mostly the ticket vendors take one look at me and ask if I want a
wheelchair.
The lure of aquariums captivates all imaginations...young and old. And ocean aquariums seem to be the most popular...maybe because of our origins in
the aquatic environment.
Far, far back in my memory banks is the foggy thought of sloshing back and forth...back and forth...back and forth. This could be from some eons-old
recollection of tides and waves when I was sea sludge...or... I passed out closer to the waterline than usual.
We enter the water world from whence we came. (Ahh..finally got to use that word 'whence'. Makes me feel all tweedy and super-intellectual.
I may buy a pipe to celebrate.)
Loving all creatures and wanting to touch them all...Co-pilot gets to pet a ray.
Some of my favorites are the jellyfish clan. So beautiful and graceful...and some so deadly. Nature has evolved "Do Not Touch" signs on a few of
them.
These are so ordinary looking when not at bloom..and then become so breathtakingly obvious. Another favorite.
This big fellow looked very omnious coming at you from the back of the huge aquarium. Better here than the open sea...but turn out to be harmless.
Nice whale display overhead..which reminds me to stay diligent on The Diet.
A great feature of the Monterey Aquarium is the scuba lessons given to novices in the shallow grottos outside.
.
We finished the wonderful aquarium tour and shuttled back to Fisherman's Wharf. A great place to stroll around and pick up some local color. Any
scenes close to the sea are fine with me.
We got a huge kick out of the Coastal Cuisine chef guy on the billboard in photo lower-left. We had seen him on tv the last couple of nights when
channel-surfing the tube. The guy is from India..and was giving advice on original seafood recipes from Italy.
Cioppino again! Hah..oh well, it's all good fun...plus it gave Co-pilot good chuckles when thinking of her homeland
reality v.s. this show. That's TV Land for ya. Similar to trying to find lutefisk in Norway...
I got a huge kick out of the large fellow in this musical twosome. He had a good-humored gimmick going.
We were sitting at this waterside table having coffee and watching the seals play below...when the large guy came walking by..stopping at every
table..and asking, "Did you enjoy the keyboard music?" People would say, "Yes, great"..then realize that he was looking for a gratuity and shamefully
give him a couple bucks.
'A very lucrative approach', I mused..as he approached our table.
Again comes the smile with, "Did you enjoy the keyboard music?"
I looked up quizically, held my cupped hand to my ear and said.."What? What did you say..YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK UP!"
He said, "Ah...Never mind" and went to the next table..whose occupants were hurriedly getting up to leave.
All kinds of wonders await you along your walk.
I once knew a doctor in Del Mar who owned over 200 various parrots, toucons, c-ckatoos, etc...what a grocery bill. The group below is much more
manageable.
Co-pilot finds another buddy...a young seal sitting on the dock below. Of course they become great friends in a short time. Now, if
I tried to pet a seal..I would end up minus a digit or two.
As anyone knows who has lived in a West Coast marina ..seals and sea lions tend to make use of various places to sun and rest.
 ]
The Monterey Aquarium and Fisherman's Wharf...great places.
Now where do we go from here, Co-pilot? Okay..you want to go deer hunting? Next stop is the Salinas Valley and Monterey foothills.
TO BE CONTINUED.
[Edited on 8-3-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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Wow, this is really good!
Bob H
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willyAirstream
Super Nomad
Posts: 1786
Registered: 1-1-2010
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That last pic is perfect! It is now my screen saver on left monitor!! Thanks!!
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