Tuesday - sick Jesse

Rain, rain, rain.  It poured this morning, mud everywhere, bla bla bla, again...

Jesse and Erin came for lunch about noon and Jesse was feeling terrible.  He arrived in San Diego on Sunday with a cold and stuffy head, but it has progressed to a sinus and double ear infection.  He's prone to these infections, and we all knew what was ahead. So,  instead of heading to the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park, it was off to the "Doctor Express" in Santee for a quick exam and some necessary prescriptions.    After just a couple doses he was starting to perk up a bit so we'll try the museum tomorrow - after Dave gets back with the rental car......

A small gold box arrived today, from JoAnn.  It contained one of our favorite delights.  They are called Venetians, almond flavored cake-like layered cookies topped with chocolate.  Mmmmm.  Well, they were really good, so good that we ate them immediately.  Jesse even upended the box to get every last crumb!

After Jesse returned with his prescriptions we just layed low in Beluga.  The weather started to clear a bit, but it was a good afternoon to just stay in.  Lewis is in love with Erin and he took every opportunity to sneak up next to her and stare into her eyes, perhaps give a kiss or two...

bored Sasha (I know, its hard to tell when she's bored)

bored Lewis

Tonight's sunset was quite beautiful.   Weathermen here tell us that the next few days will be lovely and sunny, keep your finger's crossed...

Monday at the Salk Institute

We gathered Jesse and Erin from their cabin around 10:30 this morning and drove to La Jolla for our scheduled architectural tour of the Salk Institute.  These iconic buildings were designed by Louis Kahn in 1959 and are unbelievable, called his finest design.    Jesse was in full goose bump mode!  We had a very spirited little woman as our guide and she took us all in hand immediately.  She wanted us to listen to her and learn and she wasn't shy about correcting anyone who thought their cell phone was more important than what she had to say...It was a wonderful tour, each of us took away something different.

our little group

the architecture students

Kahn's buildings were about lines and texture and settings and feelings.

This Chihuly glass chandelier was stunning, hung in the newer reception buildings    Its luminescent color popped in these grey surroundings.

We were quite close to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course, so we headed there for lunch.  The course is absolutely perfect, not a blade of grass out of place.  Landscaped with many different types of pines, roses and ferns.

I loved the whimsical stone work everywhere, especially this fireplace that seemed to grow up from the ground.

We had a delicious lunch, comfort food to be sure.  Cream of tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches for Erin and I, the best he ever ate hamburger for Dave and pesto chicken sandwich and perfect fries for Jess.

On our way to check out downtown La Jolla we passed, or rather turned into the very interesting Torrey Pines Gliderport.   We were fascinated watching  people harness themselves up to colorful parachutes, walk calmly off the cliff and soar quietly over the pacific ocean.

the top of the cliffs were very eroded and it was a bit of a scramble, but we all made it, even me!

We even had enough time for a little window shopping in La Jolla village.  Everything was all decked out for the holidays.


Jesse and Erin will do a little work in the morning tomorrow and then I think we'll head off to the Museum of Natural History.

Sunday - they're here!

Jesse and Erin have arrived!   Its so wonderful to see them again.  Their flight was early and after we picked them up we went straight to dinner.  Hans and Lisa recommended many restaurants for us to try, tonight we chose Cucina Urbana.  Wonderful!  I don't know whose dinner was the best, they were all that good.  We were early for our reservation, so we sat at the "community table" instead.  Space there was available immediately and we were hungry.  Turned out great, people came and went while we ate but it wasn't a problem.  Cucina Urbana was a very interesting restaurant, had a great menu that delivered what it  promised,  a knowledgeable staff in a wonderful and festive atmosphere.  Thanks Lisa....

At any rate, that is all I have to say tonight, its late and we're off to bed.  Tomorrow is another day.

Saturday's are often scary

Rain overnight, again....but by the time we were ready for our second cup the sun had broken through and we were all able to get outside again.  Thank goodness we have large mats on the ground outside Beluga, because the rest of the area is quite muddy.  The deep puddles have at last soaked in, so we have hopes for more time outdoors.  This campground does not allow any ex pens or show fences outside, so Lewis and Sasha have to either be on a leash or a tether.  Not our favorite.  Somebody always gets tangled or caught around something, but rules is rules I guess.  We were told that the fences aren't allowed anymore because of the encroaching coyote's and the probability that some one would leave their dog outside in an ex pen, thinking they were safe.....

Saturday is always a busy time at campgrounds.  People bring their kids for a weekend outing, and kids bring scooters, skateboards, bikes and strollers.   They also bring fear to a little pea brain.

When kids start flocking together on their bikes and scooters, Lewis quietly crawls up on Dave's lap.
Safe!

"are you sure they can't see me Dad?"

Sasha loves the sunshine, she's completely oblivious of the scary, wheeled  goblins flying by

We got a lot done today, choc. truffle cookies baked, car cleaned, presents wrapped, a bit of poodle mowing, groceries purchased and a delicious bbq dinner at Phil's with our new friends and fellow Discovery owners Pam and John.  We had a great time comparing notes and licking our fingers.

Jesse and Erin arrive tomorrow, we're all ready for them.

Friday - busy day

We woke up to rain this morning, again.....we're not liking it.  By the time our second cup came around, the sun had come out but it was still too cool to enjoy it outside.  One good thing, we dunked the last few,  ahem, broken cookies (from Judi)  that we didn't bother to frost.    Mmmm they were so good.

We had scouting plans today, so we got cleaned up and drove away before lunch.  We stopped at the Post Office, Walmart (replacement GPS), ate a semi-yukky mexican lunch and then looked for a self service doggie wash.  The desert dust needs to be washed off our crew, but its pretty cold here to do it outside.   The doggie wash place was tiny and very very busy - not good for Lewis, so we'll just let things slide....

We've made a bit of a plan change after checking out Paul and Nina's choice of RV Resorts on Mission Bay.  The campground is nothing special, a parking lot with lines really, but its location is very interesting to us.  Right now we're at a lovely park in Santee, about 20-50 minutes out of the city, depending on traffic.  Sites are large, lots of green space,  lovely lakes and quiet atmosphere.  Cute cabins on one of the lakes for Jesse and Erin to use - but, the rain induced mud, the increasingly aggressive coyotes and the distance from the city have made us re-think our choice.    So....on the 22nd we'll pack up Beluga and move all of us into Mission Bay RV Resort.  We've booked a lovely room for Jesse and Erin right down the street for the remainder of their stay t and reserved a so-so site for us at Mission Bay RV Resort, right on the water.  I guess we just can't have the perfect situation here, so we're trying all options!  A golf course, a huge dog off leash island, disc golf course, lots of restaurants and things to do, plus the OCEAN, won out over a calm campground for the second half of our stay and thats OK.

No pictures today, we were moving way too fast.  We even had to postpone a BBQ dinner with Pam and John.  We look forward to it tomorrow night instead.

I'm off to do a few loads of laundry, wrap a couple presents, maybe wash the dinner dishes and then to bed. Tis the season!

Thursday - rainy day in San Diego

RAIN!!!  It started raining in the middle of the night - just a few drops at first.  Within a few minutes it picked up to become a real downpour and stayed that way until well into the afternoon.  I have to say, we haven't missed walking the dogs in the rain.  Full rain suit, wet, muddy dogs, lots of soggy towels hanging everywhere, yuk.

I spent this dismal day frosting and baking Christmas cookies   Dave and I had a good phone conversation with Barb Sullivan after lunch.  She's planning her California trip right after New Years and we had a lot to gab about.  I can't wait to see her when we get back to New York.

a good start

 

Dave is always happy to help

Dave followed up on the MVP debacle he's been chasing for months.  Fingers crossed this time will be the charm.   While on hold for the umpteenth time, he stared out the window.  Guess who he saw!  I grabbed the camera and ran to the bedroom just in time to catch the coyote trotting by our picnic table.  I guess they aren't just out in the dark!

just moving through

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It really felt like the holidays here today.  Cookies cooling on racks, Christmas lights up and lit, and the anticipation of new friends arriving for a good visit.  How nice... Pam and John (ohtheplacestheygo.wordpress.com) and Hans and Lisa (metamorphosisroad.blogspot.com), fellow travelers came by this afternoon bearing wine, beer and goodies.  We all talked a mile a minute about ourselves, our lives, our rigs, our travels and time flew by.  Who knew we'd meet such interesting people on our travels.
I totally forgot to take out my camera, so I've no pictures of the group.  I know our paths will cross again this winter, so I hope I'll have another chance to get a picture for you.

Cindy P and Walter's new addition arrived and she sounds like a pip!  She's made good friends with little Luke and has been put in her place by Bijou so she is finding her place.  I'm so looking forward to getting down on the floor with her in a few months.

Glory - just flew in from Miami

pink sunset clouds over Beluga

Wednesday - Christmas trees and coyotes

Beluga snuggled into her Santee Lakes site

Today was the last nice day til the weekend, so said all the beautiful weather women on San Diego television.   The ones we can understand.  No cable tv at this site, so we're dependent on our antenna and it seems to bring in mostly Mexican stations.

We hurried outside to have our coffees this morning, before the rain comes.  It almost felt like a fall day, sunny, coolish, with dry leaves falling lazily from the big tree next to us.  Judi's cookies taste really good dunked.....

We met the camp host for our area.  Rae grew up in Canajoharie, NY, can you believe it?  She offered to come and let the dogs out for us if we're away too long, but I wonder if Lewis would step out the door with a "stranger".....Maybe we'll introduce them in the next few days.  It certainly would be nice to have an emergency person here at the campground.

Dave and Lewis enjoy the morning sunshine

We rolled out the awning and staked it down in case of winds accompanying the rain and got a bit more settled.  Dave assembled the outdoor Christmas decorations and I'm very happy with them.  "Festive" as the Desert Hot Springs Dollar Store lady would say!

some assembly required

After lunch we returned a few Christmas items and found the local Farmer's Market.  Small, but pretty good produce.  We bought organic grapes, green onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes and some delicious (so says Dave) pickled garlic.  We'll go back again when Jesse and Erin are with us.  I bought ingredients to keep us busy tomorrow making Christmas cookies.  Quite a chore in this tiny kitchen with its tiny oven, but we'll manage

our Christmas trees

We got back around 4:45 and turned on the Christmas lights - I love them!!!

 While we were gone we missed a visit from our new blogger friends John and Pam.  Seems we may have missed them a number of times today, but we'll get together tomorrow for sure, maybe Hans and Lisa too!

Cindy P and Walter got a new addition to their family tonight and I hear she's Glory ious!  Can't wait to hear how the first night went.   If I get a picture, I'll be sure to post it, hint, hint.

P.S.   Yikes!  Dave just came inside from taking the dogs out for their last nightly walk and he had a baseball bat with him.....Coyote followed him through the park and he couldn't shake them.  We heard them every night in the desert, but  in this more urban setting we didn't think we needed to be watchful.  No noise here, just right on your heels, following....  I turned Beluga's headlights on and I could see them sculking away.   I'm glad we have big dogs, but Dave was very uncomfortable even with them tonight.   We'll probably have to change our nightly schedule while we're at this campsite.