Friday January 7th

It was a relatively short drive today with just under 200 miles and some stunning scenery.  Our base was 12 miles east of the California State line, so in no time we had left the flat scrub grass and tumbleweed covered land that makes up the Sonoran and Yuma Deserts.

Shortly after entering the Golden State, we were in the Imperial Dunes area.  These are dunes like you would expect to see in the Sahara.  Giant mountains made up of golden soft sand.  Sand that occasionally blows onto the road.  The area is a very popular recreation site and there were motor homes and trailers parked all around.  On the dunes were dozens of dirt bikes, sand rails and dune buggies flying up and down the sides of the hills.  It looked like great fun and we hope to get a chance to do that some day.



Mia



Soon we came upon a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.  All traffic on Interstate 8 is diverted into the inspection station and randomly checked.  Our dog Mia is a Fox Terrier and looks a bit like a Chihuahua.  The Agent questioned her citizenship, but then let us pass.

About an hour later we approached the Coyote Mountain Range and the Cleveland National Forest.  Starting at sea level we began to make the climb.  At times our forward progress was slowed to less than 30 MPH as we rose to nearly 5000 feet at the peak.  Here the topography changed dramatically.  The hills surrounding the roadway were mounds of giant rounded boulders piled up on each other like a rock garden for the gods.  Boulders the size of a football stadium were balanced on top of ones the size of cars.  Along the arduous climb were concrete barrels positioned about a quarter mile apart labeled “RADIATOR WATER”.  That climb must be hellacious in the summer.  Just past the summit, another Border Patrol Checkpoint.  This time we were flagged through without stopping.

The downhill side of the mountain was gradual and took us to yet another check point.  This time it was an agricultural check.  The Department of Agriculture Agent asked if we were carrying any plants, fruits or vegetables on board.  Other than the ones in the fridge, we were not.  This check point is to prevent hitch-hiking vermin, like beetles and worms, from getting to California’s rich farm lands.

We ended our day at the Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, California, a suburb of San Diego.  Not an inexpensive place to camp, considering there are no hook-ups and generators are banned between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.  It’s tough enough to operate fourteen hours on battery power, but not being able to turn on the coffee maker until after 10:00 is unnatural. 



Our view of the Pacific ocean
 through the windshield of the motor home

Having said that, the reason you come to this campground is its location.  We parked the rig, walked out the door and onto the beach.  Being within feet of the Pacific Ocean was well worth the price for one night.  We took full advantage of our location with a sunset walk on the sand, picking up shells along the way.  A bit further is a tunnel under the road that allows you to cross over to the shore of San Diego Bay.  Across the bay you could see the condos with the Million Dollar views, the sailboats and the huge Navy ships.

Back on the Pacific side of this narrow strip of land, we set up at one of the County provided fire rings.  A stack of wood, a couple of chairs, a bottle of wine, and we were struck by how lucky we are.  Granted, we’ve worked hard for it, but we are truly fortunate to not only have each other to share it all, and to be able to enjoy it as well.