And We’re Off - The Cold Springs Tour

Doheny State Park, Dana Point,  CA

This is our tenth trip across the US. We’ve explored over 30 National Parks, camped in every state but Alaska and Hawaii, driven iconic roads from Route 66 to the Natchez Trace, biked hundreds of miles on RailsforTrails and swam in rivers, lakes, oceans and hot springs. We wondered what could we explore next that’s a little off the beaten path.  Well, why not cold springs?  Wait, what? Yep,  places where millions of gallons of crystal clear cold water bubble up and create amazingly blue swimming holes, some filled with wildlife. Thus, this trip we are calling the Cold Springs Tour.  Florida has the highest concentration of springs in the world, with over 900.  Texas also has an abundance of these amazing springs. Of course we’ll also continue to eat our way across the USA sampling the local fare and visiting other bean to bar chocolate makers. Oh, one thing I forgot to mention.  The temperature of cold springs vary between 50 and 70 degrees - so pray for warm weather. Adventurous sure, sadistic possibly. 

We started our trip visiting Ned’s sisters in Pacifica and Arroyo Grande. Nothing helps you transition more from the hectic world of chocolate making to vacation than a warm send off from the sisters. After enjoying several days of visiting, playing with great nephews, imbibing in too much good food and lots of laughs our first night of camping is finally here. 

Southern California beach camping at its finest. It’s a bit misty and cool, but heck I’ll take it!  Nothing a good glass of Zin won’t fix.  It’s our reward for making it thru the “belly of the beast”, i.e. Los Angeles traffic. 

While this camping spot is far from remote or exotic it does come with two incredible great features, Josh and Marlina!  The kids made it to the campsite around 8:30. We got caught up over burgers and beers and took a late night stroll along the beach.  What a perfect way to kick off our road trip.  

Our Journey - one second a day

Home Sweet Home

 

Thanks everyone for coming along on this journey with us. 17 states, over 9,000 miles, two countries and 50 days on the road.

We made a "one second a day" video to capture our trip. Click on link below to watch.

https://youtu.be/jyPTxeyLHzg

Any suggestions on where we should go next year?

 

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Freeway Blues

Polly's B&B, Arroyo Grande, CA

 

We rode bikes from Josh's house and met up with Marlina for breakfast. Love the different neighborhoods in San Diego and tons of unique restaurants. This restaurant specialized in breakfast burritos.

Marlina was leaving today for a family vacation in Europe. Au revoir Marlina, enjoy!

We thought it would only take us 5 hours to get from San Diego to Arroyo Grande. Well not on a holiday weekend. More than 7 hours later we finally made it. Oy! I think we're somewhere in this picture.

We're so used to only driving backroads we forgot what it was like driving on the interstate.

 

 

Yes, we made it just in time for dinner.

Had a great time with Ned's family. Of course the highlight is always seeing our 3 great-nephews. Looking forward to spending time with them the next couple of days.

 

 

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San Diego - Biking, Son/Sun and Good Times

Chez Josh, San Diego, CA

Today was about as perfect as it gets. Warm weather, sea breezes, biking, and spending time with Josh.

 

La Jolla Cliffs

 

While Josh got some work in, Ned and I went out for breakfast. We stumbled upon this too cool for us coffee shop complete with a self serve coffee bar. There was at least 10 different coffee choices. The menu had things on it like pitaya bowls. We had no idea what they were so we settled for traditional things like poached eggs (yes, Uncle Bud the chicken laid an egg on the table) and an omelette.

I learned later what a pitaya bowl was so now am feeling a little bummed I didn't get it! (Turns out it's a dragon fruit-granola- yogurt bowl.)

 

One of my favorite bike rides is the path from Mission Bay to La Jolla. The people watching is epic.

We came upon Slomo, saw yoga on the beach, drummers, beach volleyball and smash ball to just name a few things.

 

Riding thru all the streets of La Jolla and looking at all the swanky houses was as much fun as the people watching.

 

 

 

After beach time was Balboa Park time. We were going to take in some museums, but the weather was so perfect we didn't want to go inside. We settled for more people watching and strolling along the promenade and thru Spanish village.

 

 

Tonight Josh took us on a bike ride thru various San Diego neighborhoods. We had a great time riding thru North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington, University Heights and Hillcrest. So fun to see all the different houses, restaurants and shops. I also really enjoyed having no idea where we were headed. Just blindly followed him down alleys and streets. So freeing to just ride!

Ned and I rode about 25 miles today. It almost justified the Indian meal tonight.

I really miss Josh not living close by, but love visiting him in San Diego. Thanks Josh for making our stay in San Diego so wonderful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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California...& Kids

Chez Josh, San Diego, CA

 

 

We had a long drive out of Utah, across Arizona, thru Nevada and into California. Nevertheless, we still found time for a goofy museum. Downtown Victoriville has a Route 66 Museum. It is filled to the brim with kitschy stuff some, but not all related to Route 66.

 

We felt right at home driving this baby.

 

Most of the displays were around America on the move. The docents outnumbered the visitors and the place was crammed with memorabilia, but we still managed to have fun.

 

 

 

Of course, the highlight of our day was visiting these two! So, great to spend some time catching up over dinner and into the evening.

Josh and Marlina thanks so much for your hospitality. Just love you guys.

 

 

We ate at a fish restaurant and I think we sampled everything on the menu...crab, shrimp, fish and chips, fish tacos...Yum!

 

 

 

Believe it or not we are not sleeping in Winnie tonight. We are staying at Chez Josh. Just love his bungalow in San Diego.

Thanks Josh for letting us take over the bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom! P.S. What a luxury to have indoor plumbing under the same roof!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Zion Redux

Zion National Park, Watchman Campground, UT

 

Is there any better way to start the day than an early morning bike ride thru Zion along the Virgin River?

 

 

 

It reached 100 today so rather than do any hikes, the river called. We had a little spot to ourselves on the Virgin River. Occasionally some folks tubing down the river would float by. Our swimming hole was right after some rapids. Sometimes people would get toppled over and their tubes would get away. We had fun retrieving them - the tubes, not the people.

We were also in a little eddy. The water on the far side of the river would push us up to the rapids then we could float down. I have some cool video of Ned getting in on the action.

 

 

 

 

More bike riding this afternoon and then we hopped on the park bus up to the Weeping Wall. We've been here at least 6 times and have never seen so much water coming off the wall. It felt divine!

This pic is taken behind the water coming off the wall looking down the valley.

 

 

 

Dinner tonight at the lodge. Indian Fry bread tacos for Ned, grilled shrimp spinach salad for me.

 

 

 

 

The view from our campsite this evening. I'm gonna miss this place! However...

Tomorrow we head to San Diego to see Josh and Marlina. Can't wait!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Capitol Reef, Escalante and Zion!

Zion National Park, Watchman Campground, Utah

Today was a lot of driving, but broken up by passing thru 2 different National Parks and a National Monument. (What's the difference between a Park and a Monument? Answer: A Park is proclaimed by congress and a monument is proclaimed by a president).

Driving thru Capitol Reef National Park.

 

 

Capitol Reef National Park is unique because it's really about two things: the scenery and the pioneers who settled there. The rock colors and formation are amazing.

Capitol Reef got its name because the initial Mormon settlers thought one of the rock formations reminded them of the Capitol Building. The Reef name because the rocks form a waterpocket fold which is reminiscent of a barrier reef in an ocean.

 

Within the park is one of the original Morman settlements. The park is still maintaining the fruit orchards that the settlers planted here in the 1880's.

Today we were able to pick our own apricots off the trees. (Free if you just eat them right there, $2 a pound to carry them out). We opted to just eat them off the tree.

This park also sells little pies made from the fruit trees. Yum!! Canyonland has better scenery, but Capitol Reef has pie...so I call it a tie.

The bottom picture is a Mormon family cabin. They lived here with 13 children!! Only made it a year before moving on. Gee, I wonder why? (Seriously, how do you fit 15 people in this space?). Everyone...turn!

 

 

Driving thru Grand Staircase-Esclante National Monument is surreal. It feels like you are on the Thunder Mountain ride in Disneyland for a good hour. Up and down, snaking back and forth, while surrounded by colorful rock formations. It's the quintessential scenery from the Westerns we watched as kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We pulled into Zion about 5. We usually enter Zion from the Western side. Today, we entered from Checkerboard Mountain on the Eastern Side. As luck would have it we were greeted by a herd of big horn sheep grazing. Loved the babies on the rocks! These guys are so sure footed on these slippery sandstone rocks.

We have a sweet little camp spot in the park. Our plan is to chill out for a couple of days and enjoy the park.

 

 

We rode our bikes into town in search of something for dinner. On our way back we woefully tried to take selfies while riding. It was a pitiful attempt, maybe something to do with the Polygamy Porter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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