LIFE IS GOOD

Missed this photo in the last blog

A typical California vehicle of the past

As we were walking along the cliff I saw this little guy

Oh Oh

I think Joe was looking for dolphins

Life looks good for this fellow!

View from the cliff at the State Park......Carlsbad

Next winter we are hoping to park the airstream there for a few days

What a sight that will be to wake up in the morning and look out at the ocean

Meet Winston

Rod and Stephanie's friend Ren is the owner of this very friendly, happy dog

Stephanie walks Winston Tuesday and Thursday of each week

I tagged along for the walks

Winston lives about five minutes from where we stayed at the RV park in Oceanside

We took a drive up to Yorba Linda to tour the Nixon Library

It so happened it was the National Day of Mourning for 

President Bush

Therefore

The Library was closed

There was a book of condolence for President Bush which we signed

I remember President Nixon leaving on this helicopter from The White House

on that fateful day

Newport Beach

When we left the Library we decided to drive back to Oceanside by way of the coastal highway

We had lunch at Newport

We walked out on the pier

We drove along the coast which was beautiful but a slow drive

One town after another

We commented on all the shops

Wonder how they survive??????

So many houses built into the mountain side

It seemed they all had a view of the ocean 

An interesting story

One night an airstream came in beside us

Next morning I noticed the license plate

ONTARIO

The gentleman was outside

I went up to him 

Shook hands

and 

Asked

Where in Ontario are your from?

LONDON

He then proceeded to say...…..

I'M ANDY

I know Joe and have worked on your airstream!!!!!!!

We bought our airstream at his dealership

SAN DIEGO ZOO

There are bodies behind the rock

Meet Karen

Karen underwent open heart surgery when she was a 'youngster'

She has a signature move: rolling instead of walking

When we saw Karen she was sitting 'smack' up against the glass

Shooting through the glass was a bit iffy with the glass not being clean!

Wonder what Karen was thinking???

This pair were in the same enclosure as the Orangutans

Momma has a wee seven week old baby clinging to her body

Can you see the little arm?

Sun glasses please

I read later where one of the silver back gorillas was having surgery

Wonder if it was this guy?

NOW THIS WAS ENTERTAINING

We watched Momma and her baby

Up down 

Up down

Up down

 This lovely lady was 'meowing' when we came along to the enclosure

Her mate was sleeping at the time

However

He then lazily got up and strolled over to check her out 

When I first saw this dog sitting behind a fenced area I could not figure out why it was there???

I soon saw a cheetah in the same area????

I found out that they were companions

Dogs have a calming effect on cheetahs

About four years ago the zoo introduced a shelter rescue dog Hooper to a three month old cheetah named Amara

The two have been inseparable ever since

SMACK

HA

Here we are!!!!!

It's our shadow from the cable car

What a great day

We are at La Jolla Beach

Stephanie wanted us to see the seals

and have dinner at a favourite place of theirs

''Dukes"

People everywhere.....

A few doing strange things...…

Others...…

Taking in the beauty of the ocean and ending sunset

It was very hard to 'catch' a picture of the seals

Couldn't get over how people ignored the signs

to stay behind the barriers

Aimed my lens in the direction of seals and hoped for the best

Mr. Browning

On to dinner at Dukes

Our California days were coming to an end.....

Each day on our way to Stephanie and Rod's we would pass this tree with the Christmas decorations

We could always count on seeing many surfers as we drove along the coastal highway

on the road again...…………..

Up bright and early to avoid the traffic going around San Diego

The sun was coming up as we

headed to Apache Junction Arizona

Spent a few days at a KOA campground

Side trip to see our friends Ken and Devonna

Shared dinners and played euchre

We also had a real treat visiting with Mary and Al Irwin 

Fellow Canadians we met at Canyon Vistas RV Park

In Gold Canyon

As soon as Mary saw us she asked if we would like to stay for lunch and have waffles 

Yes please was our quick response

We had a grand time 

Many laughs

Many memories created once again

Kudos to these two cats

They had been in the airstream since November 15 when we left Penticton

Thirty six days down twelve to go

I was watching for this tree as we travelled from Phoenix to Flagstaff

The tree has been there for some years now

Quite a few added decorations

Flagstaff for Christmas

Christmas Eve dinner

A request to Papa from Beau

Stromboli

Christmas morning

Gwennie decked out in her Christmas dress is getting a hand from Kelsey

Bruce showing off his winter sweater!

Highlight of the 'grands' (Beau & Zoe) Christmas present

from their Mom and Dad

ZOE'S HEADBOARD

Zoe mentioned to her Mom that she would like a headboard for her bed

Mom mentioned it to her Dad and between the two of them drew a sketch of what they thought Zoe would like

Mom also mentioned 

it should be light in weight and a simple design

WELL...………

While in California Joe took over Rod's garage

Built a worktable and went to work

As everyone knows

Joe never throws away wine barrel stave scraps 

This is his creation!!!!

December 27, 2018

Happy Birthday Granny

Must say it was a wonderful day

This Granny was spoiled rotten!!!!!

On the road leaving Flagstaff on the 29th of December

Arrived home at 178 Murray Street

Chatham Ontario

New Year's Day

It's good to be home