Adventure 185: Crystal Cove State Park/Post A

Fric and Frac safely tucked into site 16.

We felt a little bit like the Clampetts as we swooshed down the California coast via Highway 101 onto Highway 405 onto Highway 73 onto Highway 1. We had our whole home on our backs just like a couple of Okie dust bowl refugees. It was really smooth except for the stretch through downtown Los Angeles when our speed dropped to twenty-five, and I have to say I didn't see that many travel trailers among the hot rods that zipped in and out of the lanes all around us. I had talked to a fellow traveler, and he suggested that I follow the big trucks. It worked pretty well. The issue is that the LA freeway system is very busy, and although it's well organized, lanes suddenly disappear and there isn't always room to squeeze fifty feet of vehicle into the next lane over. A driver unfamiliar to the area can easily get confused. Thank goodness for GPS, which gives a picture and a warning when a lane change is about to occur.. We arrived at the campground after a little bit of a rabbit maneuver because we didn't believe the tiny road up the canyon was actually the entrance to the park. We had to drive into Laguna and turning around was a little tricky because it seemed line every left turn lane ended quickly at the iron gate of some private drive. We finally pulled a quick U-turn through a parking lot, getting a luckly break in the traffic across three lanes because the turn we were attempting was quite tight. No worries. Frac just followed along, and didn't seem worse the wear from the loud scraping of the tow hitch against the pavement. It was all worth it. The campground sits high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. The ranger made an exception and let us occupy or site even though we arrived two hours before approved check in time. He made a point of making sure to let us know that he was doing us a favor. I just put on the sweet Kansas smile I've learned from Judy and said, "Thank you, Sir." We're here for three days, and there is a plethora of sites to see as this part of the coast has been a popular recreation spot since the forties. We didn't quite kiss the ground when we arrived, but we most certainly expressed a prayer of gratitude for once again being granted traveling mercies. As always, I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest guy on the planet, and for sure life is good, especially today. 


The view from our window this morning at Ocean Mesa. Another win for me made for a  grumpy Stumpy.

 Highway 405 flowing with midday traffic (I'd hate to see it busy).

 This cute little streamer is our neighbor to the east.

 The view from the bluff looking toward Crystal Cove.

 The same view from the beach.

 Come here if you can.

 The view from behind our trailer.

 California Hot Rod of the Day: Kel, you might be on to something. Hi Zigdy!

 Our first sunset at Crystal Cove.

 The obligatory selfie.

 Art shot of the day.

 Birds escorting this sail boat back to the harbor.

 Stumpy.

The bath house in the camping loop below us set against the evening sky! Oh, my!