Escondido, CA

Bakersfield - Escondido

View from window, travelling through Fort Tejon State Historic Park (Pyramid Lake)

Missed the heavy LA traffic by motoring the 210 around LA and on a Sunday.

Escondido RV Resort

We're back into the land of tight spaces and more transient people; although there are several full-time workers living in the RV Park as well.

127 sites, pool and hot tub - makes for a happy Marc!

We are centrally located, just minutes from the I-15 and I-78,  San Diego border and about 2.5 miles from central Escondido.

Behind the RV Park is Rod McLeod Park (a minute walk from our RV) - NO DOGS allowed.  But, alot of us sneak our dogs out there and there is alot of dirt/stick area surrounding the 18 acre park so its easy to pass by the park and go down the steep hill through a winding trail through brush and onto the highway back to the RV Park to make a loop.   I attempted this one day with Kylie but came across a homeless woman camped out with boards and black plastic and a humungus golden dog, off leash, so opted to climb back up the pathway.

Rod McLeod Park, named after the late Palomar Hospital Administrator is one of the higher points of land in the area immediately encircling the city with great views of the city's downtown area.

Have had some great frisbee times in the park; we play in the far left corner, far away from the park and parking lot.   There is a paved pathway that encircles the park for people to walk or jog.   I can see far in advance is anyone is coming over our way and pull off in the dirt up the steep hill where the multiple squirrel and gopher holes are like swiss cheese in the ground.

But, foolishly went in the middle of a weekend day and the park ranger drove right up on the path and up the top of the hill . . .  he quickly apologized, didn't want to say anything as he realized the dogs are well trained, and far away from where anyone hangs out BUT, it is his job to stop the bad apples ... said he was leaving now and wouldn't be back for two hours.   He also gave me some great places to try out.

The past week the S. California region has seen frigid temperatures (below freezing at night).  We have had -5C (23F) for several nights and highs of approximately 11c (52).  

40 acres of strawberry plants were covered in plastic to help save crops; avocado crops are in danger and even the polar bears at the zoo have to have the temperatures increased (they do not have the fat layers they have in the wild); zoo keepers have warming apparatuses in case they seek it.

High winds have also prevailed, Monday being the worst at 80 mph in some places.

Some casinos in Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border are cleaning up after temperature drops to minus 11 on Monday and burst pipes sending thousands of gallons of water into the casino at Harrahs.

15,000 acres of vegetables in Yuma & Mexico sent workers to peel off layers of lettuce with browned layers.  Predictions are there will be a shortage of vegetables for about three weeks because of the production gap.  Prices will increase.

GOLFING @ MEADOW LAKES, Escondido, CA

Marc hooked up with someone across from us in the RV Park who likes to golf, from Nova Scotia.   They went to Meadow Glen Golf Club just a ten minute drive and very reasonable at $19.00.  

At 10:30 the ground was still frozen in spots but not a problem - same tee-time!   The cart path was so slipper (Marc was walking the course) he was slipping and had to walk off the path.

The course is very technical (alot of blind corners), hilly with impressive boulders that line the fairways (one particular fairway you have to hit over the boulders and hit a blind shot around the corner).  6500 yards of all skill levels.

Pickleball

We are in an area of some top notch pickleballers - I actually met Jennifer Lucore (world champion) and we have bumped shoulders with some 5.0 players (top level).  Definitely meeting our matches and having some humbling games but awesome people and very helpful.    Several people have said they know "SJ" who is a National Champion who attends our club in Comox.

"Mountain Biking" - across the pedestrian bridge over to Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve - a 750 acre open space park.   Marc hooked up with a retired bike shop owner from Pennsylvania (who didn't have his bike with him) & Trekk had a demo day - so off they went for approximately a 20 mile trek.   No single track, a few rocky sections but otherwise the trails were wide fast flowing pathways.


Weather is warming up day by day - up to 23 C (73F) tomorrow.  Plan on a beach trek here soon!