Days on the Road

06/11/2023

24/09/2023

Tonight’s pitch…. and the sun is shining!

23/08/2023

Damn this change in pages!!! Posted a big long post yesterday about the various campsites and cost but I can’t see it! No idea where it went.

23/08/2023

Ok I created an album but think if I had just posted, it would have worked better!See the photo posts!

After picking up the van we headed to Santa Barbara Sunrise RV park, which turned out to be right next to the road!
We went off in search of groceries and found a good Farmers Market store with great food. That night we had bbq
steak and salad and got used to the cramped space( you can’t sit up in bed) and the fact that you were next to the ‘restrooms’. This van isn’t for the modest as the curtains don’t meet! Got on better with a towel over the windscreen.
Pitch fee though @$65

Next stage took us to Prismo, North Beach Campsite and we visited the town first, seeing whales off the pier! Big campsite with big plots.
The joy of this one is being within walking distance of the beach! Basic restroom cubicles with no hand basin. Luckily we have fresh running water.
Pitch fee €100.98

One thing you have to remember is the dreaded tax added on to prices at the till so to replace the empty gas canister, which took several stops to find, the €7 tag was over €10.

We headed north on Highway 1 to find a rockfall had closed the road… in January but the internet didn’t say it is going to take two years to clear! We were only 40 miles from our destination so we had to turnaround and do an 180 mile detour.

We eventually arrived at Pfiffer Big Sur SP in the Nation Park and had a pitch right down by the river. Beautiful setting. So quiet and so dark!

The van is not exactly what we ordered having a tent on the top (when hell freezes over would you get me up there!) and no awning. It is basically a Dodge with a homemade wooden sleeping platform and a ‘kitchen’ in the back. Does have a pump fresh water/ black water supply and washing up liquid. Very basic equipment which was improved by increasing the number of cups, plates dishes and cutlery to give enough for two people.
The actual van is a bit battered and K reckons the front wheel bearing is knocking but hey, it got up this far and we now have a yurt for two days at Marina Dunes RV Park costing €285… worth every cent!

22/08/2023

Post not loading only pictures sorry

22/08/2023

Third night on the road trip and luckily we found a replacement gas bottle for only $10! Long trip but worth it as the camp was in the red woods of Pfeffer Big Sur.
We finished off the salad with pork chops for supper and lit the fire pit. A few beers and an early night in a very black night! Not a light mean that you opened your eyes and it didn’t make any difference.
Monterey today and then two night on a yurt… be nice to sit up in bed!😏

21/08/2023

Update:
Our journey up to Big Sur on Highway one stopped when we saw road closed due to a rockfall. We were only 40 miles away from our destination but had to turn around and make a 180 mile detour driving up the Highway 101 instead!
Lovely coast drive back down from Monterey and through Carmel Heights where Clint Eastwood was once Mayor!
As you might imagine there are some amazing house built into the cliff side.
Found Fenwood Resort for a warm bowl of clam chowder…. Did I mention it is raining???

21/08/2023

Second night on the road and this time at Pismo beach. Huge site with big plots around a circular road. Fire pits and wood to buy, wood sale generate cash for the education programme.
Visited the resort when we arrived saw masses of brown pelicans and gilimots.
There were also whales visible from the pier!

Pismo Beach North Campsite sits just off the coast but a short walk through the eucalyptus trees gets you to the beach. Cost booking fee plus pitch fee about $40

Downside is the gas has run out! This company really are not much good, we spotted the missing stuff but didn’t check the weight of the gas bottle.

20/08/2023

First over night completed! The ‘kitchen’ worked nicely but as we only had to fry a couple of steaks, we only needed a frying pan and a saucepan to boil water! Bags of salad mix were excellent, coming with dressings and croutons. The apriums were delicious!
Space is tight though and you can’t sit up in bed but we were so tired we were in bed by 9 pm. No light inside either but had bought a torch. It is basic but the bed is comfy!

20/08/2023

So we are in California driving up from Los Angeles to San Francisco with 6 stops on the way. Collected the Dodge Grand Voyager from Lost Campers in Inglewood.
Left LA at lunchtime on the Interstate 101, and drove for 2 hours to travel roughly 100 miles to Santa Barbara to stay over night at Santa Barbara RV park. Fee around £50. It is right on the main road and has nothing but pitches but there is a really good farmers market supermarket one junction along.

19/08/2023

And so our California adventure begins…bit smaller than we are used too but enough 😏