It's December 26th, and I'm packing minimally. I'm driving to L.A. to both visit my wife and get one last road trip in before the end of the year. I had some things to take care of, so I didn't hit the road till noon.
Other travellers were with me:
Blake and Shelby let me know they were satying down the coast in Avilla beach. Google that town when you can, it is hope to both an oil refinery accident and a Nuclear powerplant. If Godzilla were going to arise from the waters, it would be here.
But you couldn't blame him for the scenery:
This guy was playing in the surf and rolling around on the sand.
Avilla Beach does not like RV's that don't have self contained grey water and black water reservoirs. They let us know that normally they wouldn't allow us to camp there, but considering that no one was around, and they explained the rules to us, they were going to let us slide.
No fires on the beach, but fires are allowed in self contained fire boxes. This one was exceptionally well made.
Blake and I had excellent coffee the next morning, courtesy of Starbucks Via. (Not a sponsor of this site for the record, but they could be... hint hint...)
This shirt was my Christmas present. Marine Layer Shirts, San Francisco. They have a 1969 Bus with their logo on it..
I finish the drive to L.A. by heading down State street in Santa Barbara, then over to Ojai.
I get coffee, walk around a little, and am just about to get back in the bus when it gets noticed. Conversations about the one they sold, or that guy who lives in one up the canyon, or the one that broke down all the time, or the one they really loved but didn't want to fix, but they should have not let it go, and about 20 minutes later, I insist on heading up the road. One of the people looking at it offer to buy it, I tell him he can't afford it. He says "seriously, $1000.00" I say seriously, you can't afford it. I don't think he understood.
I got down to the apartment around 3:30, and have been spending the rest of my time going to Griffith Park:
driving through Hollywood:
and visiting museums.
I'll start next year tomorrow by adjusting the valves, checking my fuel lines, and making sure I'm good for the drive back up.
It's been a good camping year. Thanks for the company and Happy New Year. Since we aren't spending it together, can we have a beer at the next camp out?
Aloha, Peter
Peter! It was great camping with you. Our next night we stayed at Lime Kiln State Park. It was fantastic. We talked to the camp hose and they think that a non-profit it going to take responsibility for it and run it for the state. That would be cool. We pulled in right at sunset and there were two other Vanagon Westy's already there. We left at about 8am the next morning. Nobody was really socaliable. Hope to see you at Burning Van! -Blake
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