Author: Easin' Along

When you drive along the coast in Morro Bay, California, the first thing you notice is “The Rock.” This massive chunk of an extinct volcano once served as a marker for Spanish ships sailing along the coast searching for the harbor at Morro Bay.  Helen and I were also looking for Morro Bay as a convenient stop-off between Vandenberg Air Force Base and Napa Valley. Within the shadow of “The Rock,” Morro Dunes Resort Campground would be our home for the next three days.

We arrived in mid-afternoon and were greeted warmly by the friendly staff at Morro Dunes, a large campground just across the street from the beach. Our campsite, number 139, was on the Resort’s northeast corner and very close to the RVs on either side. We barely had room for a picnic table, but the close quarters were one of only two negatives we encountered during our stay. The other was a cold, brisk wind that lasted all three days.

Thankfully, we “glamp” in an RV equipped with a fireplace and not a tent so that we can handle the cold. Nevertheless, the wind and drizzle along the coast threw a wet blanket over our plans for beach walking. Helen braved the elements for an afternoon stroll to look for shells and found an abundance of sand dollars.  She collected a few and took pictures of a number of them nestled in the sand.

We scrubbed beach walking from our activity list and chose instead to walk through a Saturday Farmer’s Market in downtown Morro Bay. Local police blocked off two streets and converted them into an outdoor market. Dozens of vendors set up shop with a tempting array of fresh vegetables, pastries, jams, and jellies, and prepared food cooked onsite. We purchased several bags of vegetables–some of the best-looking broccoli I’ve seen in years–as well as two slices of pie, maple pecan, and strawberry rhubarb. We tried to resist but found ourselves incapable.

Before the stroll through the market, we jumped at the chance to browse the shelves and racks of Fabulous Finds, an antique shop and thrift store.  Readers know how much we love flea markets and consignment stores, and we think the best ones are in small towns.  Fabulous Finds did not disappoint. We needed a folding chair for Dora’s dining table and a wall clock to replace one that fell off of the wall somewhere between Memphis and Albuquerque. Luck was on our side, and we found both for under $10 total. Helen also found an inexpensive knick-knack container for all of her knick-knacks.

After three days, it was time to Ease Along. We had a great time in Morro Bay despite the weather. Next up is Napa, California, the vineyards, and a forecast for better weather. Please join us. We’re “Rockin'” on!

The one aspect of RV travel that I enjoy most is the opportunity to experience new things and new, out-of-the-way places–almost daily. Ease Along with me here, and I’ll give you a sampling of such an opportunity. Two of our grandchildren will join you.

After a great visit to Bryce Canyon, Helen and I traveled to Las Vegas for a three-night stay at Nellis Air Force Base, one of our favorite campgrounds. There was nothing extraordinary about our time there; it was a chance to clean our RV and take a few more chances in the Casino. Compared to last year’s visit, Las Vegas was packed with tourists this year.

Next up was an eight-night stay at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc (Lom-poke), CA, where our son and his family would join us for five of those nights. Helen and I used the first three days to do some general exploring and commissary shopping, but my primary task was to keep Helen from exploding. She was so excited about the arrival of her grandchildren, and I feared she wasn’t going to make it. Thankfully, they arrived before disaster struck–with trailer in tow.

Their time with us would also provide an opportunity to meet Honey, our grand-dog. Honey, a six-month-old Golden Retriever, is the inseparable companion of our granddaughter, Abby. She is a lively but well-behaved pup and did well on our walk along nearby scenic Surf Beach.  When a sneaky coyote ventured into our campsite, Honey sat calmly until the rascal scampered away.

Once everyone had the kinks out of their legs, it was time to visit a few of those out-of-the-way places I mentioned above, beginning with La Purisima Mission in the Santa Ynez Valley, two miles north of Lompoc.

Established as the eleventh Franciscan Mission in California following the Spanish colonization of Mexico, La Purisima Mission is a recreation of the living conditions of 1,000 members of the Chumash Tribe from 1812 until 1824. The Mission, restored by the State of California and a few private donors, is vast. Authentic representations of the shops, kitchens, living quarters and church are open to visitors. Our family enjoyed La Purisima very much.  For readers wanting more information, I have a link inserted here.

For our next fun and unique experience, we decided to visit Ostrichland at the insistence of our grandchildren.  It had been a while since I last hugged an Ostrich, so I was all in. We drove back into the Valley, near the town of Buellton, CA, until we spotted a large farm where about fifty Ostrich and an equal number of Emus roamed the grounds.  Admission was five dollars for us seniors, and a bowl of Ostrich food was another dollar.  I passed on the food, but everyone else in our crowd jumped right in.

The Ostriches must have eaten already because only a few took advantage of the offering. The Emus, however, were not to be denied. Carter served lunch to all of them that could stick their long necks through the fence opening.  What a hoot (or grunt in Emu dialect)! I took several pictures, including one with an Ostrich photo-bomber. Once all of the fowl were full, we were off to the Danish-inspired Village of Solvang for shopping and sightseeing.

Named one of the Ten Best Historic Towns in America by USA Today, Solvang is a place unknown to me. Nevertheless, this town has charm and breweries, wine-tasting rooms, and some of the best Danish pastries I’ve ever eaten. I couldn’t pass on the Cherry Danish and the Cinnamon Crisp. Solvang, founded in 1911 by three Danish-American educators, has four windmills and a replica of Copenhagen’s Littlest Mermaid to add even more Danish appeal to the town. The grandchildren took to the ice cream with great relish.

Three outings in the Santa Ynez Valley proved once again that America is a fascinating country with something for everyone on every corner.  Everything we enjoyed at this stop came as a complete surprise to me and a whole lot of fun.  Regretfully we had to say goodbye to the family when the time came for everyone to move out. Here’s a picture of our clan that turned out well.

We just completed the first month of this journey with three more ahead. Stay with us–we just got started, there will be more out-of-the-way places, and we’re still Easin’ Along on our way to find them.

Helen and I reluctantly waved goodbye to our friends in Cortez early in the morning and set out for the seven-hour drive to Red Canyon RV Village in Panguitch, Utah. We took the southern route through Arizona and passed beautiful Lake Powell on the way.  I would have preferred to take the northwestern course through Moab, but there is a tunnel near Zion National Park that is too low for Dora (trailer) to negotiate. Other RVers have made that mistake, and it’s not fun.

Two years ago, we planned to visit Bryce Canyon while camping in Moab, but a snowfall changed those plans. We were grateful for a second opportunity and a chance to do some hiking. Friends told us that this National Park is a must-see. 

Panguitch is a small town about 15 miles from the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park, and our campground was two miles closer. Red Canyon RV Village is a bit run-down and in need of some maintenance.  The RV sites are primarily dirt with a few gravels sprinkled around, and the showers, while very clean, need a do-over. Nevertheless, the staff was friendly and, at $40 per night, the price was right.  Besides, we were not planning to spend much time in the campground.  Ruby had a nice view of the mountains.

Helen and I had three full days to explore Bryce Canyon, and we hiked each day. On the first day, we drove to various lookouts in the truck, then went to the Visitor Center to pick up some maps. The theater was closed due to COVID, which was disappointing.  I always enjoy the movies offered by the National Park Service about the history of the various National Parks and the points of interest in them. A young Park Ranger greeted visitors outside the Center instead and was very helpful in pointing out the trails he would advise two Senior Citizens with a total of five joint replacements to take. He marked the paths on our map.

We left the Center to walk a portion of the Rim Trail and sample what was yet to come. The first glimpse of the red rock formations below the rim blew me away.  I walked forward but looked down most of the way. Stunning is the only word I can think of to describe the view.

On day two, we were up for a longer hike. Helen’s sister had visited Bryce a few years earlier and recommended that we take the Navajo Loop. The Park Ranger informed us that a portion of Navajo Loop was closed, but we could combine part of the Queen’s Garden Trail with the Loop and enjoy a nice hike of about three miles. If we started at Sunrise Point, we could descend 320 feet or begin at Sunset Point with a drop of 600 feet. The Ranger reminded us that going down is usually harder on knees and hips than climbing up–good advice–we started at Sunrise Point.

When we departed the Rim Trail at Sunrise Point, the temperatures were warming up, and there was not one cloud in the sky. At the bottom of the winding descent, the trail flattened out (somewhat) and led us through and around some magnificent formations. The formations, called Hoo-Doos, result from fifty million years of wind, water, and ice erosion carving through what was once an enormous crater lake. The brilliant red colors make them stand out, and they remind me of gigantic Totem Poles.

We met some delightful people on the trail and played tag with a couple from San Francisco who appeared to be about our age. Helen and I moved at our usual Easin’ Along pace while young hikers walked briskly by us. I gave my camera a workout.

Once we reached the Navajo Loop portion of the hike, the trail rose 600 feet up from the canyon floor through a series of switchbacks.  I looked at Helen with that “can we do this” stare, then inhaled deeply and took off. Taking my time and taking more pictures, I made it slowly.  Bryce Canyon sits at 8000 feet in elevation, and the air is a bit thin there. Once at the top, my gasps had to be evident to all around me.

Helen, too, took her time and made it about five minutes behind me. She said she would gladly have paid someone to carry her the last 100 feet. Since no one volunteered, she dug her hiking poles in and trod on.  At Sunset Point, we gave each other a high five and celebrated our achievement.

A visitor joined us on our third full day. Ben, the grandson of some great friends and former neighbors, graduated recently from the University of Alabama and worked now as a staff writer for a weekly newspaper. He lives about two hours north of Bryce Canyon.  Helen and I don’t recall meeting Ben in the past, but when Helen learned he lived in Utah, she told his grandmother that we would love to host him while we were in the area.  Ben loves Bryce and the outdoors and welcomed the opportunity. He arrived mid-morning in time to join us for brunch in Dora.

After spending the day with Helen and me, Ben planned to meet up with a friend in Capitol Reef National Park, an hour’s drive back to the north. With time somewhat constricted, we decided to hike to Inspiration Point, which would take about two hours, allowing for pictures and a presentation by a Park Ranger on Bryce Canyon

We had a lot of fun hiking with Ben.  He is gifted intellectually and seemed very comfortable around two people he had never met. At one point on our hike, he heard a family speaking in a foreign language.  Ben turned to greet them and then carried on a ten-minute conversation with them in fluent French. The family, from Lyon, spoke no English. I was most impressed.

We all were equally impressed with the view from Inspiration Point, which sits higher than the other viewpoints we used. Our hike required another ascent along a trail of about a mile round-trip, but we made it with no difficulty.  I suppose we were seasoned hikers by now.

Back at the parking area, we said our goodbyes to Ben and told him we would love to stay in touch. Helen sent him away with a lunch cooler filled with two fried bologna sandwiches, loaded up, along with some oranges. He will do well on whatever path he chooses in his future.

We had a great time in Bryce Canyon.  Long ago, I realized that our National Parks are the greatest gift Americans have given ourselves.  I hope to see many more of them; there is so much to learn there. After watching college-age girls and young moms race past me on the trail, I learned I need a pair of leggings. Easin’ Along will go much better, I’m sure.