Desert Update

Dear friends,

We finally took to the road in the RV one week ago. First night actually sleeping in it was at daughter Leila’s home in San Anselmo (CA) 2/18, Happy’s 76th birthday. (See pics of us all at next morning’s take-off with Mt. Tamalpais in the background.)

The next night we did a “trial run” at a KOA campground in nearby Petaluma, testing all systems, getting easy help from park staff, and slowly feeling some comfort with growing familiarity. Great evening: even cooked first meal over workable stove top…canned corn beef hash! (No pics.)

Next day 2-3 hour drive to Monterrey for 2 nights at beautiful Marina Dunes (see huge dune pics.) 

Spent some time at charming preserved little town of San Juan Bautista, home of best restored of the old CA missions, this one built in 1790s by determined Fermin Lasuen of the Franciscan order, the 15th of 20 Spanish missions.

Rather than exploring again the wonderful attractions of Monterrey & Carmel, we settled down to sort out our new cramped spaces, our belongings, our lost & found items that we grabbed before setting off and our plans for the first weeks ahead. Such focused time for us nomads was critical and satisfying. We are finding it extraordinary to feel so unconnected and free.

Saturday 2/22 — On our drive to Los Angeles down the Big Sur route 1 (see pictures of crashing surf,) we stopped in Santa Barbara/Carpinteria, for a delightful tea with Happy’s Smith classmate Amanda McIntyre, and sadly had to rush off for dinner, night, next day & night, with Happy’s cousins John & Patti Ogden, retired L.A. public school teachers. The RV is working well and H. & P. are getting used to it, even loving its comfort & coziness. Sunday was relaxed before and after fine long visit to extraordinary LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art.) 

Yesterday, 2/24, we arrived at Palm Springs for two days with friends, Wayne Taylor and partner Ron Rogers in their beautiful home. We are being treated like royalty while our dog Luke receives constant attention around the pool and amidst glorious landscaping from their wise and discerning English Bulldog Ella. All of this in the brilliant desert sunshine and with spectacular views upward of the surrounding rock-bound San Jacinto mountains (see pix.) We will explore nearby Joshua Tree National Park tomorrow en route to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park near the Mexican border. Lots more to come...

Lots of love, Happy & Peter