Yuma to LA via San Diego

We left the hot days and cool nights of the Arizona desert, with San Diego a little less than 200 miles to the west. We were disappointed that two of the three rest areas along I 8 were closed.


Along the flat dessert country we were getting excellent mileage for such a heavy rig, over 11 mpg (US gallon of course). A beautiful sunny day with no wind made for a very easy and relaxing drive, allowing Gillian to play with and get used to the new GPS. We didn't like the display but at first weren't able to discover how to change it.


As time passed we could see the wall of mountains ahead with clouds billowing up behind them. Before we reached them we came across a highway sign giving the elevation: Sea level! We had forgotten that much of the area we had been driving through was actually below sea level.

We began to climb, a couple of times reaching 4000 feet. As always the rig handling the hills well.



These mountains were very different from any we have seen before--essentially huge piles of rocks and boulders. On the downhill side of the mountain we found a wide almost flat place on the road where we pulled off for 40 minutes for an early lunch and to let the dogs out for a few minutes.

We followed I 8 into San Diego then turned north on the I 805 to the I 5 then somewhere along there we cut over to the South Coast Highway, through some of the smaller beachfront communities.

At one point this route dead-ended into a hotel complex! Trying to extricate ourselves from this we found ourselves approaching the main gates of Camp Pendleton Marine Base! We managed to pull into a Visitor Parking area and were approached by a young, uniformed, armed marine. He quickly, succinctly and politely directed us though the parking lot to the entrance to the I 5!

We proceeded north along the I 5 until just south of Greater Los Angeles where we turned off to follow the Pacific Coastal Highway, also known as Highway 1. We had more luck with this one.

This highway hugs the shore of the Pacific Ocean and along the way we passed many State Beaches. Most we later realised allowed overnight RV Parking. Some even had services!

Meanwhile the skies had clouded over and a few drops of rain began to fall but we still enjoyed the drive. As we approached Newport Beach we decided that we had driven far enough. Gillian had been checking the books and had found a place in Huntington Beach, just off the highway.

We spotted it as we turned, but the entrance was on the other side of a double solid line and a left turn lane! We went straight on, around a block or two in a housing estate and approached from the opposite direction.

We were in and settled in no time and while Gillian took the dogs for a much needed stroll Art got us plugged in and the satellite up and running well in time for the 5 o'clock news. It was a little pricey, $52.00 but the wireless was free!


Just as Gillian got back with the dogs the skies opened! The wind, which had been pushing us for a while really began to howl, the rig rocking on their stabilizers and the satellite dish rattling on the roof.






Meanwhile, with the last of his whisky close at hand Art was working on the blog. Then the TV went off and the internet quit. The power had gone off! Gee, Wind, Rain and a Power Failure. . . just like home! Can hardly wait! At least the wind was blowing the smoke from the industrial plant next door away from the park!

The inverter got the TV back, but of course no internet.



Next morning we pulled out of the park at 9:20, north again on the Pacific Coastal Highway. We followed this route right through LA. Much of the architecture part of the city is still in the 50's and 60's. Brought back memories of the Beach Boys' hits!

Past or through Long Beach, Signal Hill, Redondo Beach, Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, all places we have read about or seen in TV shows and movies we stopped for fuel in Malibu. The Mexican diesel was running out!

Our fuel mileage was suffering--from the hills east of San Diego and the continuous headwinds encountered since. It is surprising how much force winds can generate. Our fuel use went from over 11 mpg to under 8 mpg! With $4.49 per gallon being common in California this could be expensive!

Then just south of Ventura Highway 1, the Pacific Coastal Highway, ended, putting us back on the 101. Just past Santa Barbara, at three PM, very hungry and tired we made a 30 minute lunch stop at a rest area then pushed on for another hour and forty minutes to El Charo RV Park, a San Luis Obisbo County Park with full services if required (we did) and an off leash dog park which the dogs loved of course. No wireless though. A beautiful natural park, $32.00, plus $7.00 for the dogs!

Here we dumped the waste water and topped up the fresh. Gillian took the dogs for a great walk/play in the fenced off leash dog park. Happy puppies.