We left Morro Bay on route to the area where both Ken and I were born and raised. The day was warm and breezy and the sky was bright blue. The Santa Ana winds were still dominating the weather pattern. We feared we would not be able to take the wonderful San Marcos Pass from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara because of the fires earlier in the month. Many people in the exclusive Montecito area lost there beautiful houses but the fireman worked very hard, against dry hot conditions and the fires were out when we took off on our trek.
On our way south, we stopped at two of my favorite places. When I was in my 20s, I visited Pea Soup Anderson’s in Buelton. Ken also ate the fabulous soup once but can’t recall when the culinary experienced happened. It was really fun to take the kids to Pea Soup Anderson’s as they all love soup. It was JUST how I remember it all those years ago. We all ordered soup and it was fantastic!! The color of pea soup has something to be desired but the taste makes up for it!
Next stop, Solvang, for some cookies. Solvang is my second favorite stop along this route! The kid’s eyes were glazed over, looking at all the different cookie options but we finally decided on a dozen and hit the road, en route for Lake Cachuma. Ken and I have driven by Lake Cachuma all our lives but neither of us ever stopped. It’s a beautiful lake, set among beautiful rolling hills as far as the eye can see and packed full with campers in the summer months. We arrived and had acres of open space around our RV. We took walks to the lake and watched the stars at night. I can’t wait to stop here for more than a night sometime!
We arrived in Simi Valley at the home of Kurt and the boys in the early evening. Kurt is the wonderful man who was married to my sweet sister Gretchen. He has done a great job raising Ryan (16) Kyle and Weston (both 13) and we wish we could see them more often. They all looked so much more mature (guess my kids must look older too!) and we had fun hanging out with them. The next morning, we took the RV in for it’s warranty work and check up and stayed in Kurt’s house for a few nights. It was strange not having our “house” with us! Kurt treated us to a delicious dinner at his restaurant, Baja Grill and Cantina. The salsa is to die for!! Kurt has turned this restaurant into a favorite for many in his town of Wood Ranch.
We took an afternoon to hit the mall with one of my good buddies from long ago (we worked at Taco Bell together when we were 16!) , Sandy and her (great at gymnastics and cheerleading) daughter Emma. Nikki and Emma have formed a great bond, even though they see each other just once a year. We had such fun chatting away at the mall and having a yummy dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. I am so happy we have stayed friends for so many years – is it 20 years yet??!
We took a day to visit Ken’s mom in Los Angeles. She is being well taken care of in a Japanese nursing home. We wheeled her outside to the beautiful deck and the kids showed her, town by town and state by state, the pictures of our journey. “Tun” (the kids nickname for her) lite up when the kids sat with her and stroked her hands. They are so kind and gentle with her and I know it makes a difference for her when we are there.
After a few days in Simi Valley and with most repairs taken care of, we headed to San Clemente in Orange County. We used this campground as our home base to visit with my sister’s family and all friends back in Dana Point and Newport Beach. The state campground was wonderful and had some great walking paths through the hills. Poohnut and I took a very special mother and daughter walk one day and she talked all about things going on in that cute young brain of hers.
On Sunday, my dear friend Julie (who I have know since I was 9 years old and we both had crushes on Bobby Sherman) brought her beau, Don, to our RV so we could met this great guy. It was obvious that they are both very happy with each other’s company and it was great to just hang out and talk with them. Julie and I have been through everything together and we were each other’s date for our High School Grad Night. It was great to meet a guy who is worthy of her!
I had a wonderful shopping day with my dear friend Beth. Beth and I go way back as well – back 27 years! Beth has always been one of my favorite girlfriends to shop with and shop we did. We hit South Coast Plaza, did lunch, and just had a wonderful time being together. It was a day very reminiscent of years gone by. I look forward to doing it again soon!
We planned this trip so we could celebrate Thanksgiving with my sister Robin, her husband Steve, their son Paul and my mom. It was so great just having our house across the street to their house! We could just pop over to change our clothes and go to sleep at night. Convenient for all of us! Thanksgiving dinner was SOOOOO good and Robin was the cook extraordinaire. Everything was super yummy. We had such a good time sitting and relaxing, enjoying being together after not seeing each other often enough. Steve’s dad, Mac, joined us as well. This guy is amazing. He is 91 years old and is the SAME in all ways as when he was in his 60s. He is so darn witty and funny and just a joy to have around. We returned to the RV late that evening, with our tummies filled to the brim!
The next morning, we decided to join the hoards of other consumers and hit the mall!! It was just the girls (you couldn’t pay Ken or Steve enough to go to the mall on Black Friday) and we had a blast! Nikki has wanted to pierce her ears for many years and we decided to get it done! It was Rob’s Christmas present to her God daughter. Nikki convinced ME to also get my ears pierced so we both left Claire’s with “diamond” studs and feeling more girly than when we arrived.
On Friday night, we went over to Rich and Mary’s house (Ken and Rich have been friends since High School) and enjoyed a great time with the two of them, their kids Katie and Dan and our other two friends Jeannie and “Captain Brian”. We ate wings and jalapeno poppers. The kids had so much fun with the Liwinski clan that Mary invited them to spend the night. How could we refuse?! Rob, Mom and I woke up the next day and had a really special time in Laguna Beach, just leisurely walking around this wonderful beach town. It was oddly quiet, perhaps because of the economy?
My nephew, Paul, just started college this year. He is going to San Diego State. We were so happy to get to take him back to his dorm and get to have him show us around his new digs! Paul sat in the front seat (my “queen of the road” seat) and chatted away with Ken. Paul is so busy these days it was great to have him hostage in our RV so we could grill his brain about his new life. We took a tour of his dorm room (who knew they we OH SO SMALL!) and then took off for downtown San Diego for sushi! Such fun!
That night, we camped at a very glamorous truck stop in El Centro! Hey, it was great as we were so darn tired and we felt nicely tucked in between two giant rigs! The next morning, in the bright warm bask of the sun we took of for Anthem Arizona, where this whole trip started!
