first trip

we just got back from our first trip. we left at 4:30 friday morning and headed up the coast. we stopped on the way to check out el capitan and refugio state beaches to see what the campgrounds were like. very nice... pretty... and booked. this is all new to us - these people make their reservations up to 4 months in advance... point: you need to call reserve america to make reservations - unless you want to take a chance for a cancellation. we finally made it up to oceana dunes around 8:00. another point: there is a speed limit on the beach. 15 miles per hour - which we did see the sign posted later the next day. so daniel gets pulled over for a speeding ticket. the cop guy was nice (not - he was an ass) and did not give us a speeding ticket - but - another point: he did give him a fix it ticket for tinted windows. we go out a bit and find a spot. next point: if your trailer is to heavy and you don't have a truck with big enough engine, you will get stuck in the sand. which we did. we had to dig ourselves out of the dirt - unhook the trailer - turn the trailer around and haul out of there. park closer to the water where the dirt is compacted from the water a bit. we finally get ourselves set up.

the first thing we notice is the hugest flock of seagulls i have ever seen. found out this was the time of day the whales feed.

i made my first meal - chicken sandwiches. glad that i had taken the time to think through what i might need stocked in the trailer. a well stocked kitchen is a big help.


by then, k.c. was so pooped out she didn't even seem to notice that we buried her in the sand !










we took the jeep out on the dunes and went riding around for a bit. oceana dunes is not calm and quiet ! the sound of quads, dirt bikes, dune buggies, sand rails everything all around constantly. but once you get out on the dunes - its amazing - vast. fun ! we settled in for the night - bbq'd burgers and made a fire. we were camping !





the next morning we headed out to avila beach - about 10 miles north of pismo beach. really calm quiet beautiful little beach town. and then just north of avila - this little harbor town - can't remember it's name :( where would be the perfect place to go if you had a boat and wanted to hang out on the beach and go fishing.

we got back to oceana dunes and were more than happy to pack up - get out of the noise and sand - and get to our next destination oceana rv campground. it was really pretty - quiet. we took a hike along the lagoon at sunset... looked at plants and birds, flowers and trees. got settled in really easy - after daniel had to turn the trailer around by hand because we realized we set up facing away from our fire pit and table !

the next morning we got up and took a hike around - happy to find out that the trail led right to the beach - we turned around and got the jeep and took a ride along the beach.

the campground had clean showers and bathrooms. it had an amazing array of native plants and herbs. there is even a native garden with a ton of plants labeled.

all in all... it was a great trip for our first try. a few bumps in the road and growing pains for both of us... but it seemed all my 'lists' were great. i'm glad we took the time to think about what we might need. the propane tank and electricity didn't work - daniel will have to figure that stuff out - but he came prepared with a generator so we were set. water, food, toiletries, kitchen stuff... perfect. we had driven through town at one point and i got the most amazing vintage enamelware tea kettle at a second hand store... something i didn't have on my 'list' for boiling water for tea :)

i had to put this picture in... we got into a fight over this stupid thing... don't ask :P

hmmm... glich in plan

woke up this morning and thought... how am i supposed to post while i am in a pop up trailer ??!!! what was i thinking ? so i guess i will write while i am away and then post when i get home. we are only going for three days so it seems silly to leave the campsite to find a nearby internet cafe so i can post on my blog !! ':D kinda takes the fun of the moment out of it - huh ? maybe someday hopefully someday soon like next summer soon or next month we can take a few weeks off for a vacation - then i can find internet en route. or maybe someday we will be all settled in and camper savvy and i can get daniel to hook a satellite dish - or whatever i need - to the top of the pop up. ha !

just got it

me and daniel just got this 1991 coleman sequoia pop up trailer.

we decided to get a trailer after we had borrowed my parents van and spent the weekend at jalama beach - just south of lompoc. the most beautiful little beach with towering bluffs. great for driftwood and rock collecting. clean pristine... beautiful. it is first come, first serve - so no reservations. we got there early enough in the morning that at 3:00 when they read names for openings - we got a spot.

we brought the new trailer home and cleaned it from end to end with pine sol and bleach... cleaned the curtains, cushions, everything. and made it our own.

then i made my lists. what i had to get together and what daniel had to get together. i love a good list. i feel so organized with a good solid list. my list included everything needed for the inside... and daniels was everything for the outside. i think his list was harder than mine... but he might think mine was harder - who knows.

then the best part... go to target and get everything needed. from bedding to toiletries, kitchen utensils, first aid kit and miscellaneous camping gear.

then the even better part... take all the bags and unpack them and organize them and figure out where everything needs to go to be in its place. all neat and - organized. i love that everything can now stay inside of it - no packing and unpacking stuff... all you need is a - list (!) when something runs low so you know when to replenish it... and keep it........ organized. its like the perfect little home. all tidy ready to go whenever you are. you just GO.

it feels like a dream.... ive wanted to do this for so long. i grew up taking trailer trips with my family and i have the best memories of camping along the beach. me and my sister had the top bunk and i would be up before anyone and i would squeek screech squeek the little window open and peek out to see the ocean. my vision was blocked by early morning fog but i could still smell the salt air and hear the waves crashing out there and i couldn't wait for everyone to get up so we could get out there and run on the beach, look for shells and crabs.... dig in the sand. i loved it. and now i get to do it again.

its tuesday night - wo - wednesday morning at 1:56. we leave friday morning around five. daniel still has work to do on the battery, propane tank, heater check... make sure everything works good. i am in charge of food. so thursday i will go out and get some basics... oatmeal, cheese, crackers, fruit, hamburger meat and supplies (i already have my 'condiments and spices' containers ready to pack up) then i will make egg salad and chicken salad for sandwiches... what else do i need on my food list ?

my clothes and miscellaneous personal items - paint box, books etc - are ready to go.

so.... where are we going ? friday night we have reservations at oceana dunes. right on the beach.... sounds amazing ? not sure - it might be rough with all the off roadies flying by all hours of the night. saturday night we move to oceana rv campgrounds. we are going to stop at a few places along the way to see if there is anything else available. we'll see. its an adventure. in our new little portable home.