Escondido RV Resort

We moved into Escondido RV Resort yesterday and are trying to get settled in. My US$ bank account reads $64 after they withdrew the first months rent and the security deposit. This is quite scary! Bread and water for the next 1/2 month!! Ha ha.

The resort is very nice but very expensive for what they have here. This whole trip to California is proving to be way more expensive than we had planned. Had we been able to do it at a leisurely pace, i.e. going by the 2X2X2 rule, things would have been much more manageable. The 2X2X2 rule is this... Never travel for more than 200 miles, always arrive at your destination by 2:00 pm and never stay less than 2 days (we prefer between 1 and 2 weeks). The 1-2 week stay portion would be staying in membership campgrounds for nothing more than $10 a night, including electricity costs. Here we are paying $865 a month plus the cost of electricity, which will probably be about $75 a month. Heart Breaking! But we are doing this for my (step) American Mom who is a national treasure. I took early retirement to be more available to take care of her in her twilight years. She gave my Dad so much help when he was alive, this is the least I can do for her.

Tucked tightly in.

Sunset

This road is actually on a slope. 

Our "front" yard. A trifle small!

We were going to get solar panels. but this has fallen by the wayside because we have dug severely into the solar budget. We will readdress this next year.  So, onward and upward. The good thing is that from here there are stores within walking distance, so unless we are going to V's house we do not need to use the car.

Change in RV Resorts

On Saturday we decided to go up to Champagne Lakes RV Resort. It was pouring with rain, so we took it slowly. From V's house to the I 15 was an easy drive and quite quick, Up the i 15 was a totally different kettle of fish and we felt as if we were on the road forever. Boy, it is a long way. Eventually got there and went into the office and got our site number and then 2 alternatives. Our assigned site was just horrible! Parked parallel with absolutely no space for the rear slide and no way we could put the awning out because it is right on the camp road. We went to look at the other 2 sites and while the sites themselves were fractionally bigger, there was a very steep road up to the area where we were sent and then a very sharp turn to the right and tight turns to get into the spaces. So, it is a no go for Champagne Lakes. We will get our $100 deposit back next week.

Our next port of call was the Escondido RV Resort. This resort is very close to V's and while it is quite a lot more expensive, it is also much nicer The sites are paved and while not very wide, they are long and will accommodate our RV very nicely. It has a small pool and a hot tub. A club house and is very close to everything. Moving in here almost breaks my heart as we have campground memberships that will cost us next to nothing to stay, but at this point in time, helping her is our priority

We move to Escondido RV Resort on Tuesday, as the winter tenant will be coming into the house.

Today the weather cleared up completely we went to Walmart and did a bit of shopping and then went to the RV storage area and washed the RV. We will not have another opportunity as washing RVs is not allowed at the Resort. Will have to look for some of that waterless washing stuff.

Sorry, no photos today!

Pilot Knob to San Diego County.

Early up on Friday morning, we slipped out of Pilot Knob and the hit the I 8 West. The drive was really easy as there was NO WIND! Even as we went through the Sand Dunes Recreational area, the dust was just hanging in the air.

We drove past a lot of RV parks near the road, from some really shabby places to the Rio Bend Resort, which is a pretty pricey place even with the membership discount.

Through the towns we saw some pretty shabby homes here you cannot believe that there are actually people living.

Devil's Canyon is spectacular and the climb is from Sea Level up to over 4000 ft. The rocky hills and outcrops are so unusual and beautiful. There are literally millions upon millions of rocks of all sizes, seemingly piled up by some giant hand. I must look up the geology of this place.

Then we rolled into the greater San Diego area on the I 8 and then onto the I 15 North toward Oceanside.
We arrived at V's residence at about 12:30 and picked her up for the trip over to her Oceanside house. We had called security earlier to let them know we were coming in, but they had no record of our RV storage paperwork. Eventually this was sorted out and we were able to put the motorhome into a spot. This will just be for 4 days as V has a paying tenant for 4 months. On Tuesday we head up to an RV resort in Escondido.

Remembrance Day

Lest we forget. Thank you, Mom and Dad! Thank you to all the war veterans of all wars. If it was not for them, we might be speaking a different language and would not have the freedoms we have.

Abita Springs to Pilot Knob

I am going to put these last few days into one blog post, for the sake of brevity. Many miles, 4 nights and a host of new sights and places.

We left Abita Springs early on Monday morning and took the I12 and then got onto the I10. We loved Louisiana and we know we will be back. Definitely to spend longer than 2 days. There is so much to see, taste and experience. We found the people to be warm and hospitable, if a bit quirky too. We loved the architecture and vegetation of the New Orleans area and the eclectic atmosphere of the French Quarter. Anyway the I 12 and then the I 10 took us west over swamps, basins and through forests. There was a very long bridge on the I10 over the Atchafalaya Basin.

Bridge over the swamp

Water visible between the two lanes

Lots of water in Louisiana

Swamp

Cypress swamp

Texas came upon us quite unexpectedly and when I looked at the map, it was evident that it was going to take us three days of driving to get into New Mexico. Our first night was spent at a Camping World, just West of Houston in Katy. The Camping World is huge. Unlike the wonderful store with the full hook up in Alabama, this one was just a spot in their parking lot, with no hookups. To add to that, the receptionist was a very rude young lady. However, the cashier who attended to us with our purchases was a real honey. 

The biggest Camping World I have ever seen

From Katy, we carried on the next day and stopped in Fort Stockton, Texas, where we spent the night at the Walmart. It was very quiet and a great stopover. There were about 9 other RVs in the lot.

Fort Stockton Walmart

Some other RVs in Walmart

We left really early the next morning and made it through New Mexico to Fort Willcox, Arizona. Fort Willcox RV Resort is a passport America resort, so the night cost us about $13 for full hookup. We took the opportunity to dump, flush and fill. We met the couple on the site next to us, who have just started full timing in a 30 foot C Class....oh how well we remember trying to do that! Anyway they were having some computer problems, so I helped them by sorting their laptop out for them.  The evening was absolutely gorgeous, crisp clear and a big full moon. Fort Willcox RV Park is a small park. Very neat and clean. There is a ramada which is a bit dilapidated, but functional. The washrooms were clean. Showers were about 50c for 6 minutes. There are a few fulltimers living there, but the mobile homes are neat and in good repair. A nice campground and a great overnight stop.

Our site. Only 3 other RVs there

Full moon and a beautiful sunset over the mountains

Flocks of birds

Front gate

Once more an early start and a good drive to Winterhaven, California where we are now camped at Pilot Knob RV Resort. Another membership park. 

Pilot Knob is another big RV parking lot. Looks very clean and well groomed.

We just fit onto the site without unhooking the car.

Tomorrow we do the last leg of our journey to North San Diego County. 

Below are some more photos taken from the motorhome and in rest stops. Great trip. We have averaged 10 MPG for this leg of the journey.

Flat land and wide open skies

Some states have the nicest decorations on the overpasses

Mountains and cloudes

Rest area picnic site

Another picnic area in New Mexico

Lunch time parking

A plethora of signs

Mountain ranges in the distance

Amazing rock formations

An Interstate overpass

Mountains

Picacho Peak

Another rest stop

Still quite a few states to fill in on our map

Rocks

Texas Canyon

Entering California