Easin' Along

Helen and I agreed that we had taken our RV to California enough over the last few years and wanted to plan a trip across another part of the country. Nevertheless, we learned early this year that Bennett, our granddaughter in Charleston, SC, would play with her team, Low Country United, in a National soccer tournament in Norco, CA, in June. Since our oldest son and his family live within an hour of the tournament site, we saw it as a chance to spend some family time and agreed that an RV trip elsewhere would have to wait. We went all in.

After eight lovely days in Coronado, CA, we moved to the Navy campground at Seal Beach, CA, where we have camped many times. Our son and his family live about 20 miles north in Redondo Beach. Carter, our grandson, was scheduled to play in a volleyball tournament at the Los Angeles Convention Center over the weekend we were there, and we attended his matches on Saturday and Sunday. Carter played very well, and his team won all of the matches with BeBe and Big Daddy in the stands. We also squeezed in a trip to the Long Beach Farmer’s Market on Sunday—always a treat.

Collin and Bennett arrived in California the following Wednesday and joined the family at Hennessey’s Tavern, Hermosa Beach, my favorite pub in the South Bay area. Emily, my niece from Knoxville, attends law school at USC and joined us there with her friend, Olivia. We had a large amount of fun on the patio next to the Hermosa Pier. The breeze coming off the Pacific was delightful.

The soccer tournament began on Thursday, and Low Country United faced off against a team from Murfreesboro, TN. United took care of business, 5-1. Bennett, a center midfielder, played great and got an assist on the first goal. Over the weekend, United played in two more matches against teams from California and North Carolina. Wins in both matches sent our girls into the semifinals. United flashed “W” signs, as did a bunch of very proud parents.

Between matches, Helen and I hosted the family at our campsite in Chino, CA, in the very lovely Prado Regional Park. Bocci Ball, Frisbee games, and Cornhole kept everyone entertained. Pancakes and bacon kept everyone fed. Justin and the family camped next to us. We don’t get opportunities like this very often.

In the semifinals on Monday, United was matched against a team from New York…it was not a game for sissies. Both teams played a hard-fought, physical match, but alas, with five minutes remaining, the New Yorkers scored the only goal, sending United home with a 1-0 loss. Many of Bennett’s teammates had played together since early childhood, but many of them were moving on to other teams or other sports, so this was the last game they would play as a group. Tears were shed by several.

After the game, many of the team members and parents gathered at Honors Sports Bar for dinner and to watch World Cup Soccer. The place was packed. Bennett and a few of her teammates climbed a small mountain overlooking Norco and snapped this picture. The sting of the semifinal loss had abated by then. The flight home was good as well.

Helen, Mortimer, and I had reservations at Prado until Wednesday, hoping for a shot at the finals, but most of the team rescheduled flights a day early. We canceled our last day as well; packed up, and drove to Barstow, CA for one night on our way to Las Vegas for six. Saying goodbye was tough, but we had a wonderful experience saying hello on this trip… it doesn’t happen often enough for these two bi-coastal grandparents.  It’s on to Vegas, baby! Join us there.

Helen, Mortimer, and I scampered out of the heat in Arizona as soon as we could. We canceled the last two days of our reservation at Lost Dutchman so that we could get to Fiddler’s Cove Marina and RV Park earlier than planned. We would have canceled more nights in Arizona, but Fiddler’s Cove was full, and I understand why.

We have four Military campgrounds at the top of our list of favorites, and Fiddler’s Cove on Coronado Island is at the top. Whidbey Island, WA, is a very close second, but I doubt we’ll get there again. We reserved 10 nights in Fiddler’s Cove—four nights in a middle row and six nights on the waterfront. When we arrived, the temperature was in the low 70s, with a soft breeze coming in from the Pacific. It didn’t take long for us to shake off the desert heat and settle in. We had a catfish fry for dinner.

We have camped at Fiddler’s Cove at least five times previously and have completed most of the “tourist things” in and around the San Diego area, so we felt no urge to move around much. Sailboats were racing throughout Coronado Bay (picture at top) and provided some entertainment while we read books from our perch just above the water.

Helen and I enjoy visiting some of the many piers along the Southern California coast. The Imperial Beach Pier is about 10 miles south of the campground and is a place we visited one afternoon. Again, the weather was delightful, but the crowd was light. Fishermen along the pier rail were in a school of small fish and stayed busy pulling them in. Helen tried to befriend a large Pelican, but he just wasn’t into it. The locals kept throwing their fish at him, and he needed to concentrate.

The beach across the highway from the campground gave us an opportunity to get some exercise walking, and we took advantage. Shore birds gave us some company. The flowers just off the shore were in full bloom.

Coronado hosts a Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays in the summer and lured us in. We picked out six nice-looking ears of Peaches and Cream corn to take back to Gracey (fifth-wheel). We picked up a few ripe tomatoes as well.

For our one night out, Helen and I drove to the other end of the Island to Coronado Brewing Company for dinner and a sampling from their large selection of craft beer. We like to sit at the bar in pubs like this one and chat with the locals. We met a young man named Ben who peppered us with questions about the RV lifestyle. His parents were newly retired and needed something to fill their time besides golf. We gave him our best. We also met a fellow named Bill, a regular customer and a Coronado native. He described Coronado as “Mayberry for the wealthy.” It’s an apt description. Coronado is clean, quaint, and charming.

During our time in Coronado, the Navy moved a large ship into North Island Naval Air Station to serve as a grandstand and broadcast booth for a NASCAR race being held over Father’s Day weekend. I wished we had tickets, but this small island was filling up fast with cars, 18-wheelers, and people. I’ll have to watch it on television.

Speaking of watching…Every evening, the sky over Coronado would put on a stunning display of color during the twilight hours. I had to share.

Our campsite was perfectly positioned to view the San Diego skyline at night. I waited six nights for the winds to die down enough to capture a bit of skyline reflection on the water. (picture below). I didn’t have that opportunity again; the water was always too choppy.

It’s time for my nap, and I feel certain I have lulled you to sleep as well, so I’m going to sign off.

We will be in Seal Beach, CA, next to watch our grandson play volleyball. I’m excited, and we’re Easin’ Along.

We left Tucson with the idea that it was the hottest place in the country…We are incorrect. Apache Junction, AZ, is hotter. Helen, Mortimer, and I scheduled six nights in Lost Dutchman State Park; we made four of them before we waved the flag and moved on. Daytime temperatures hovered around 105°, making it almost impossible to hike or participate in outdoor activities as we had done on previous visits here.

Nevertheless, I can’t complain too much. Lost Dutchman is surrounded by beautiful desert scenery and the picturesque Superstition Mountains, both offering plenty of opportunities for the amateur photographer that I am. Our campsite gave us a front row view of desert splendor at the base of the Superstitions.

In addition to the daytime view, we witnessed some spectacular sunsets both in Apache Junction and at our next stop in El Centro, CA. Amazing is not an apt description.

It’s probably not necessary to say we spent a lot of time in our camper. Helen worked on her puzzle (not a great picture), while I read some and watched a lot of sports. When we did get out, we went early. Helen captured a blooming Saguaro Cactus with a cute bird perched on its needles, along with desert vegetation growing from the rocks. The Superstitions always loomed large and were hard to ignore.

I hope readers enjoy the pictures because that’s about all for this stop. I would love to return here at some point…in the spring.

Relief is coming soon! After El Centro, we have 10 days in beautiful (and cool) Coronado, CA. Our pace will quicken, but we’re still Easin’ Along.