24. Apr, 2016

TUESDAY 22-04-08 

Today we set out for Malibu along US101, with views of the Pacific Ocean to our right.

It was getting near lunchtime and we were looking for somewhere to pull over when we saw a sign for Refugio State Beach. At the last second I pulled on to the slip road. It was absolutely wonderful, a real find. First we paid $7 to park for the day with The Chef claiming a senior’s $1 discount. We liked it so much we decided to stay the night. We ate our lunch sat on the lovely beach complete with palm trees and views over the Pacific Ocean. Once lunch had settled we went for a lovely long walk along the beach. To top it all the ‘Pacific Surfliner’ train www.amtrak.com  passes right above the campground. This was the train we had planned to catch at Santa Maria and travel down to the end of the line at San Diego, but have now decided against doing. 

This evening we had a nice barbecue, our cheap toolbox BBQ grill is a real treat, its gas powered, but I’ve added lava rock from a previous campgrounds garden and throw on wet woodchips to create the smoke. At the end of the evening I needed to pop out to the rear cargo locker, stepping out of the RV I was in pitch darkness, it was absolutely pitch black due to total absence of light pollution from towns, cities and communities, I stepped back in to the vehicle – whatever it was I needed can wait until the morning. In the absence of Wi-Fi and television, we’re able to turn in for the night safe in the knowledge that we’re not missing anything. 

LOCATION TONIGHT: Refugio State Beach, Exit 120, Hwy101, CA (GPS: N34.464570 W120.069459)

24. Apr, 2016

24. Apr, 2016

24. Apr, 2016

24. Apr, 2016

MONDAY 21-04-08 

Yes it was a cold night, but it need not have been. We had our hot air central heating system on but the thermostat was turned too low, but more irritatingly the bedding keeps slipping off. Surprisingly they don’t have duvets over here as we know them; they have comforters which are like quilted bedspreads. We had one of those supplied with the vehicle and it looks nice, but doesn’t do the job, and so instead we purchased a sleeping bag, unzipped it, openned it up and use it as a duvet. The trouble is it has a nylon surface and just slides off the bed. It didn’t do that until we took our one expensive blanket off the bed because it kept leaving pile all over everything. It was then that we realised it was the blanket which kept the sleeping bag in place. So today The Chef washed and tumble dried the blanket in the hope that it won’t shed so much pile in future, and tonight it’s back on the bed, hopefully keeping the sleeping bag in place. 

Today was spent relaxing at Santa Maria. The lady in the campground store was surprised anybody would want to stay and look around the town, as there’s not much here. 

We got the folding bikes out of the cargo locker, put our empty backpacks on and set out for downtown. The lady was right, there was nothing much there, but it was interesting none the less and we found a supermarket where we topped up with a few fresh items of food. 

Tomorrow we set out for Malibu from where we plan to visit Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego, though the latter will be done as a day trip on the ‘Pacific Surfliner’ train. 

LOCATION TONIGHT: Santa Maria Pines RV Park, 2210 Preisker Lane, Santa Maria CA.