After seeing Bill and Carol off to work we set about packing up everything that had migrated into the house from the RV. Michelle stopped by with the girls before dropping Bella off at school, so we got to chat for a few minutes.

All loaded up, we headed over to Sprouts for produce and other perishible items. A quick stop at the gas station and we were off! On to Death Valley!

Long drive, and most of it is through the empty desert. Nice to be away from “civilization” and out of any sort of urban sprawl. We enjoy the drive, the open-ness. Don’t enjoy the 3 miles of gnarly wash-board gravel road where, I suppose, they’re supposed to be doing construction of some sort. The last leg of the trip, actually in the park itself, is up over a mountain. So it’s a few miles of climbing just to drop down into first gear and crawl back down the other side.

There’s a conveniently-located campground at the base of the mountain that we’re aiming for, in Stovepipe Wells. Only $12 a night, with water spigots and a dump station. Without that destination already in mind we’d have never been aiming to arrive at night – we would have stopped in the BLM desert just before entering the park and found a flat spot to stop.

The campground is basically a gravel parking lot with double-wide numbered spots. We pull toward the back and I get leveled while Ashley goes to pay. Quick and easy, if not the most amazing grounds we’ve ever stayed at.

After taking Bella to school, Michelle sat and chatted with us for a couple of hours. The twins played in their “cave” and so we were able to just sit and talk. Delightful! Once she left we headed to the grocery store in the RV to stock up on dry goods and ingredients for tonight’s going-away/thank-you meal for Bill and Carol. Back at the house we prepped everything and I packed away some things from the garage (bicycle stuffs, motorcycle maintenance items, etc) while Ashley cleaned up.

Then Michelle arrived and we headed to Ponte for a wine tasting. Just the three of us, so another chance to visit, this time without the interruptions of tiny voices (they do have awfully adorable little voices). She surprised us with a bottle of the taste that we liked the most. What a delicious treat that will be when we’re out in Death Valley! 😀

Back at the house, there was still time to make another batch of cookies. Ashley’s wasn’t super pleased with yesterday’s new recipe and wants to give it another shot (and she loves making cookies and giving them away). They do look different than yesterday’s batch and taste delicious, though less chocolatey.

We fire up the grill and warm up the oven. Everything was set to go and with all of the prep work done it wasn’t long before supper was ready and on the table. Bill and Carol had to work later than expected (which was fine with us, since we’d tested more than enough cookies and dough as an “appetizer”) and we started eating when Carol made it and Bill joined us when he arrived. Everything was delicious and we had a delightful time chatting with them.

Stuffed porkchops, grilled asparagus, baked stuffed tomatoes and a citrus kale salad. Wow!

After a slow morning we ran to the grocery store to pick up a few items for supper. Then headed over to Dan and Michelle’s to meet Michelle before she had to head off to work. They’re currently in-between babysitters so we’re going to fill in before Dan gets home.

Sophia and Olivia eat lunch and then spend the afternoon playing with Ashley. I’m still a stranger and they get quiet when I come around, so I put together supper in the crockpot, put away dishes, and get some reading done. Bella gets home and joins the girls for a bit before Dan arrives. We sit and talk before supper is ready, and stay after, until it’s time to get the girls heading toward bed.

We made the white bean chicken chili with cajun seasoning – everyone seemed to love it. The girls ate and Dan really liked it. Something different. 😀 Had a great day!

Read a book, completed some chores, ate delicious food, ran some errands, hung out with Bill and Carol.

Great day, relaxing and productive.

After breakfast we jumped on the bicycles to go and storm the hill on Pauba again. It certainly wasn’t easy but we made it, perhaps easier than last time. The other parts of the ride, getting to and from the hill itself, were easier. Or maybe they were just as difficult but didn’t use as much of our energy.

Back at the house we had lunch, grabbed showers, and then walked over to Dan and Michelle’s to join them on a trip to the beach. Piled into the Tahoe, we made it over to the beach at Oceanside. Lucked into a spot right in front of the bathrooms, so we only had to walk about 100′ to the water’s edge.

After laying out blankets and applying sunscreen, Ashley, Bella and I went and played in the water. Splashing in the shallows and jumping over waves. We had a great time! (It’s so weird to stand still as the water retreats before an incoming wave and you feel the sand dissolving underneath your feet.)

Ashley and Bella

Ready for a drink, we headed back to the blanket, wrapped in towels, and had some snacks. After chatting for a bit it was time to start heading home. We packed up and hit the road again, they dropped us off at the Bill and Carol’s.

After supper we watched “The Gambler”. I don’t think any of us were thrilled with it, but no one spoke up so we finished it out.

After breakfast we hopped on the bicycles and headed into town via a different route, heading between the different iron sculptures. Passed a family who looked like they were doing an extended bicycle tour – the father and kiddo were leading the way on a tandem bike while the mother was tagging along on a bike of her own – both bikes were loaded down with gear. But everyone looked to be enjoying themselves. Wish we’d have circled around to talk to them and learn what they were doing.

In town we stopped at the Christmas Park in the middle of the round-a-bout. It’s the weekly farmer’s market, and seemed like a good place to stop. We walked through to see what was being peddled, refilled our water bottles while listening to some music and then hopped back on the bikes.

Back home we began packing up. Ashley took the opportunity to clean inside, since we still have water and room in our tanks – but are going to stop at the dump station on the way out of town anyway. I wrap up outside and she finishes cleaning, then we’re able to head out. A quick stop at the campground to dump, a run to the visitor center to pick up some post cards, and we’re heading out of town.

It’s not a hard or strenuous drive so we’re back in Temecula before we know it. It wasn’t too much later when Carol came by to pick us up and everyone headed to Claim Jumper restaurant for dinner with Bill, Carol, Dan, Michelle, and the girls. It’s Michelle’s birthday and we’re celebrating!

Supper was delicious and the conversation was fantastic. Just as the birthday dessert cake arrived, Olivia’s supper came right back up…she had the flu all last weak and still wasn’t feeling 100%.  At least we made it through supper… but any hanging out after the meal was squashed right then. Poor Olivia.

Breakfast and then another bike ride across town. Made an after-ride smoothie – boy are those delicious!

Sitting outside for the breeze we spotted the neighbor’s puppy wandering our way. It wasn’t long before his keeper came following behind. We chatted for a bit. He and his wife bought an RV when he retired and for the last three years they’ve been coming here to Borrego Springs to escape the winter cold in Illinois.

Eventually he wandered back over home and a few minutes later our other neighbor came to chat. Shane is retired Air Force and hit the road in December. This is his first boondocking stay. He also rides a motorcycle. Quite pleasant to talk to, we might have to go visit again before heading out. He’s given himself 4 years to see all 48 lower states, basically a month each. That sounds like a nice, round number.

After he headed back home we packed up the RV, leaving the motorcycle and trailer parked, and headed over to the Palm Grove campground for an empty and refill. We just passed the ranger leaving as we pulled in, so we self-payed the fee and circled in… to find the gate to the dump station closed! Looking for a “Host” sign, we circled through the campground and passed a ranger in a truck. We stopped him and asked what we could do – he let us in, opened up the exit gate, and let the host know what was going on. So after emptying out our tanks and, more importantly, refilling our fresh water tank, we pulled out and met the host as he came over to help lock up the gate as we left.

Stopped at the “Desert Pantry” on the way out of town for a few groceries – not a huge selection and a bit pricey but one of two options. Backed into our spot again and made a quick supper. Guess we’ll be vegetarians for the next few days, since we’re out of meat and didn’t want any of the frozen options at the DP.