One of Our Favorite Places

We have travelled the country, and we’ve returned to one of our favorite spots: the Golden Sands Beach House in Ventura, owned by our friend from Santa Rosa, Linda Carroll and her sister. We have been able to come back to the Golden Sands every year now for several years. Each time we arrive, it takes away our breath. The expansive Pacific Ocean stretches out before us as we climb up the stairs to the entrance of the house. The waves roll right up to the seawall during high tide. In low tide, we walk the beach and poke around the tide pools. We soak in the sun on the deck, watching the pelicans glide by or dive for their meal, while reading or snoozing or eating or playing games. Occasionally we’re treated to a dolphin parade, and they get our full attention. There has been a heat wave across the state, and we have benefitted from the warm, sunny days along the coast, which is unusual for June. In fact the water has been warm enough that we’ve enjoyed being in it. Usually wetsuits are needed because it’s so cold. We’ve even gone boogie boarding – a first for me! Who says a 63-year-old woman or 68 year-old-man can’t have some fun! We’ve been here during the full moon, and because there hasn’t been any fog yet (hooray!), the moonlight glistens on the water at night. It’s magical!

Jason, my athletic son (see one of the first postings on our blog), has been with us part of a couple days – he lives nearby in Ventura, but spends most of his time as a firefighter working in Santa Barbara County. He enjoyed the opportunity to go surfboarding here – and we loved the entertainment!

We’ve also enjoyed time with friends. Linda Carroll was here when we arrived, along with her son Kevin. She took us around Ventura one day to see the sights where she used to live, and to Ojai another day. We've been able to go to two Farmer's Markets in the area -- I love the fresh produce!!

Other Santa Rosa friends, Ted and Deanie Wilmsen, came through the area and spent a couple nights with us. Although they had planned to take us out to dinner, we convinced them we had the best view in town right here, and since I haven’t been able to entertain much for a year, it was a joy to prepare a meal. And we definitely enjoyed the fine wine they brought with them. John and Ted had a ball boogie boarding also!

We went to see Joan Niebank, a former Christ Church member who now lives in Camarillo, and took her to a nearby United Methodist Church on Sunday, and out to lunch afterwards. Linda and I also went to see her one day, and we've enjoyed lemons from her tree.

John does a few maintenance things here if he can, but mostly we lounge! This has been a perfect way to unwind from our super-duper tour of the US. Being in one place, in a “real” house, with the most gorgeous view ever – it is the grand conclusion. From here we will visit my brother and his new wife (Kim and Jeanette) in their new home in Visalia, before our final destination – back to Santa Rosa!

I will add a few reflections as a summary of our trip soon.

California Here We ...Are!

We've walked along the beach and stuck our toes in the Pacific Ocean! We're back in California!!It was a thrill to cross the state line and know we are almost (well, not exactly) home. We're in San Diego now, and will be in Ventura/Santa Barbara the rest of June, but it sure seems a lot closer to home than we've been in 10 1/2 months!

We have been staying in an RV Park next to I-5. I pretend I'm hearing a babbling brook or ocean waves at night instead of traffic -- doesn't quite work, though! But it has been easy on and off the freeway to explore San Diego. We've loved Balboa Park, with its many museums and gardens, and one of the best zoos in the country. The vegetation in the zoo is as interesting as the animals. We also took in a terrific (free) outdoor organ concert on Sunday afternoon. We also enjoyed going to Old Town. The weather has been mostly wonderful and sunny, with some of the "June gloom" (coastal fog) that is common in this area at this time of year.

The best part has been seeing friends in the area. One evening we spent a very meaningful evening with my (Gayle's) childhood friends from Ki.ngsburg. Tom and Mary Catherine Swanson and I all graduated the same year from Kingsburg High School. Mary Catherine was one of my bridesmaids in 1966. They now live in a beautiful home in Encinitas. Since those Kingsburg days, Mary Catherine has become an internationally known figure. She created the AVID educational program -- a program that helps disadvantaged high school students who are willing to work hard so they can become eligible for college admission. She was listed as the outstanding educator in a 2001 issue of TIME, and has received numerous awards. We were so engaged in visiting that evening that I forgot to take a picture of them. Darn! But one of the web links about Mary Catherine is: http://www.avidonline.org/info/?ID=1023&tabID=0

Another afternoon/evening, we enjoyed hosting a seminary friend, Sue Berry, in our "home." We relaxed in the pool\hot tub at our RV park, then enjoyed local wine she brought with our appetizers and barbeque dinner. It is so much fun to re-connect with friends. That has been one of the joys on our travels this year!

Tonight may be our last night in our trailer on this trip. From now on we will be staying in homes with friends or family, or housesitting once we're back in Santa Rosa until our home is available again in August.

I'll have a few more blogs before our year's adventure is up -- some "wrap-ups" -- as well as commentary about the next few weeks. Stay tuned a bit longer!

Michigan & Graduation

We drove from Colorado to Las Vegas to fly to Michigan. Doesn’t make sense? Well, it originally did to us because the airfare was cheaper in Las Vegas than in Denver. Plus, we were going through Las Vegas on our way to San Diego after the Michigan trip. So we left our trailer in a “secure” storage area while we were gone. (We’ve left it five times during the course of our year’s travel while we went somewhere else or stayed with friends, and have never had a problem.) Bad choice! The storage area wasn’t so secure after all. We got a call while in Michigan that our trailer had been broken into. We knew there wasn’t much of value in it, but we weren’t sure what kind of damage we would find when we got back. Other than the broken window that they used for entry and exit and a couple other minor damage, it wasn’t too bad actually. They did find some money that we had left in a drawer, along with copies of our passport and driver’s license, which is our biggest concern. But all in all, we feel fortunate. (See photos of what the trailer looked like when we returned. We had left it neat, and cupboard doors closed!)

The purpose of our Michigan trip was to attend John’s grandson, another John Davenport, high school graduation. But we also got to spend time with Jennifer and Jerry again (friends who had moved from Santa Rosa) in their lovely home in Traverse City -- and help them try out their new barbeque grill! We were also able to attend granddaughter Natalie’s soccer tournament while in Traverse City the first weekend. She is an awesome goalkeeper and runner/kicker.

Michigan this time of year is really beautiful. The trees and fields are a brilliant green. Tulips and lilacs are blooming. The Lake is deep blue when the sun is shining – which was most days while we were there. Wasn't quite warm enough to get out on the water with the boats this time, though.

We stayed with Jim & Helen and family while in Petoskey, and also spent some time with Ann & James and family. Susan and Scott (John’s daughter from Santa Clara) also flew out. We celebrated John’s graduation with a party on Saturday, then we were all together for John’s graduation on Sunday evening.

The next big Davenport celebration will be in July when Susan and Scott will be married in South Carolina. While we were in Petoskey, John (the dad) got measured for the tuxedo he will need to wear to walk Susan down the aisle. Ann’s bridesmaid dress had arrived at the bridal shop, so it was great fun to be there while she tried it on. The Davenport women had an impromptu shower brunch at a golf club one windy morning -- in Susan’s honor. Special!

After a long drive day from Las Vegas, we have now arrived back in California!!!! We'll be in San Diego area for a week.

Colorado & Rocky Mountain High

We had four lovely days in Fort Collins, Colorado with our friends -- former members of Christ Church -- Ron and Ruth Chappel. We left our trailer in Utah, and drove over the Continental Divide in the Rockies in the pickup. There were snow flurries and snow on the trees at the summit -- it was beautiful, and felt like Winter! But the best part was arriving at the Chappels beautiful home. We had our own downstairs private bedroom and bath -- a spacious luxury when we're used to such small quarters. Ruth was a former preschool teacher (at Christ Church's Nursery School), and has their house well set up for the two grandsons that come to visit often.

I'm sure we gained back whatever weight we may have lost from the earlier hiking -- they fed us way too well! They were also our personal taxi/guides as we explored the area and went up to Rocky National Park and Estes Park on a gorgeous day. We met their good friends one evening for dinner, their two sons and families for another super dinner, and enjoyed several meals out in the downtown Ft. Collins area. We also went to the church they belong to, and saw Teacher Ruth in action in the Sunday School. All in all, a terrific visit.

The drive back to the trailer was on a sunny, beautiful day. It was 95 F when we hooked up with our trailer again, so we're enjoying the air conditioner now -- one of the few times we've used it on the whole trip. Tomorrow we drive to Las Vegas, then fly to Petoskey, MI. John's grandson (John Davenport) will be graduating from high school. We're looking forward to more family time.

Arches & Canyonlands National Park, Utah

The national parks in Utah are something else! Each one is different, but all have wonderful red, massive rock foundations, multi-layers of different colors of rock and sediment, hoo-doos (self-standing formations), arches, buttes, domes, canyons. We are constantly amazed around every corner. We have enjoyed drives, hikes, (probably 2-3 mile moderate or easy trail hikes every day), picnics, and more photos than I know what to do with! The vivid color does't get picked up by these photos -- they range from a chocolate red to blood red, burnt orange, yellow, green-blue, grey, beige, white -- layered sediment or rock everywhere. Walking in the fine red sand is a treat, until the wind picks up, that is. Then it stings as it blows in our faces, and "tastes" crunchy, which was one afternoon's experience. Mostly the weather has been pleasant and sunny during the days, with some light winds in afternoon.

The wildflowers and natural "landscaping" have been so appealing--I'd love to create a backyard with red rock, weathered wood, yellow and purple wildflowers. Unforutunately, can't take the weathered wood pieces home with me, so I keep photograhing them! And the red rock--not too abundant in Santa Rosa area!

Moab, where we are staying (between Arches and Canyonlands) is an outdoor sports paradise. From here, people rent 4-wheel jeeps to get into the back country or go backpacking on foot, bicycling, white water rafting (Colorado and Green Rivers converge near here), canyoneering, horseback riding, sky diving. The highest mountains in Utah, which still have snow on them, are visible from Moab, and our RV park.

So much more to see -- we just don't have the time to get to more now. We could spend many more weeks exploring these wonderful national parks; we love all these natural wonders. But we will be leaving Utah now for a visit with friends in Colorado.

Capitol Reef National Park

Another wonderful national park is Capital Reef! We can't believe the amazing geological formations in Utah. We camped in the National Park, which was located in Fruita, surrounded by orchards where Mormons had settled in the early 1900's. We could even have picked fruit, if it had been in season--unfortunately, we were a little early. But the view from our campsite was of amazing rock formations. We were constantly amazed with the rocks -- truly remarkable, with their millions of years of formation. We hiked in several canyons, seeing unbelievable geological wonders.

Bryce Canyon National Park

One of my favorite places in the world is Bryce Canyon. My family came to Bryce several times when my dad had a ranch in Utah. I used to think I would like to work at the Bryce Lodge. The college-age young adults used to wait tables, then sing to the tour buses as they would arrive or leave. They looked like they had so much fun. I never did get to work there because I needed to make more money for college by the time I was old enough. But I did get information now about how to apply to work or volunteer there. Not sure John was as interested as I was! We also looked into camp hosting. But it is still rather chilly. It snowed lightly one night so we were glad we had extra blankets.

We took several hikes along the rim, but didn't go down into the canyon this time like we did several years ago. It was threatening rain, and when the lightning and thunder came along, we were glad we were back in our trailer by then. Camping in National Parks is the way to go -- we get into the National Parks free with our Golden Age Pass, and camp for half-price. ($7.50 a night!) No hook-ups, but the natural setting is wonderful.

One of the surprises was meeting up with my cousin, Jack and Wilma Pickrell, at one of the scenic viewpoints. I had just commented that we hadn't seen anyone we knew unexpectedly on this trip, and there they were! What a surprise! We had a nice short visit!

We enjoyed the ranger talk on geology -- amazing stories about how the earth has been shaped in this part of the world. An evening program had beautiful photographs of various Utah landscapes -- the photographer went into out-of-the-way places, and yet still hasn't seen it all. Neither have we! We wish we could spend several months here visiting all of the national parks, staying much longer than we have been able to do! So much to see -- so little time!