California

  The last few days we were here, friends of ours, Randy and Carol, came in their motor home.  They will spend some time here in the desert with friends after we leave.

 

 

 

Then we left Quartzsite and headed for San Juan Capistrano.  On the way, we drove through a continuous line of wind farms.  There were thousands of wind generators all spinning their hundred foot blades.  In the second picture, you can also see solar panels.  Solar farms were in abundance all through the Palm Springs and surrounding areas. 

 

 

 

We drove through the Cleveland National Forest from Lake Elsinore to San Juan Capistrano.  The road went right through the mountains.  We climbed to 2600 feet and then down to almost sea level. 

 

These are views of Lake Elsinore as we climbed to the summit. 

 

 

 

 The scenery was spectacular.

 

 

 

I loved the drive but I think that Vickie held her breathe the whole way. 

 

 

 

We stayed at Casper's Wilderness County Park, a very nice park that is on our return list. 

 

 

 

We visited My daughter Kristy and her family for a few days.  We had lunch at Fisherman's Pier in San Clemente.

 

 

 

 

After lunch, we walked out on the pier and enjoyed the 70 degree weather (sorry, I had to rub that in).  That's San Clemente in the background.

 

 

 

The birds are used to being close to people.  This was taken with a standard lens, not a telephoto. 

 

 

 

Then, we went back to Kristy's house.  This is the sunset from their rear patio.  The bottom of the picture is the High School football field and in the distance is the Pacific Ocean. 

 

 

 

We toured Mission San Juan Capistrano.  We were here ten years ago but it was well worth a return visit. 

 

 

 

 

On our last night, we had a cookout and campfire at the campground. 

 

 

 

Now, on to Yosemite.