Home in Palm Desert with temperatures still hovering between 100 and 110, Connie was ready to get back on the road. But fortunately or unfortunately, the trailer slide would not close, fortunately because it happened in front of our house, after working perfect for 3000+ miles. Enter Mobile RV Repair. New parts were ordered. And then we waited; and waited; and waited. Chris wanted us to visit Arizona. Well, then, let’s go. We sent a text the next morning to Chris we were on our way to Prescott, AZ, and could they join us?
Prescott Pines Inn Bed & Breakfast 
Amazing gourmet breakfasts 
Chris and Dave join us on the patio for dinner
We managed to connect with Chris and Dave. We had a good hike together and returned to our Bed and Breakfast for a dinner on their patio, courtesy of the local Safeway.
Dave hiking with Cody in Arizona 
Cody
Look who came along for the ride — the newest member of the Hayes household and who we suspect now runs the house — Cody. We loved downtown Prescott but were somewhat surprised at the lackadaisical approach by some business owners to wearing masks.
While we were away in Prescott, Mobile RV Guy finally received all parts necessary to repair the trailer slide. Yeah! Back in business. It didn’t take us long to pack up the trailer and get back on the road. We got as far as Yucaipa Regional Park Campground, less than an hour down the road.
Yucaipa Regional Park Campground 
Graffiti under our picnic table
Yucaipa Regional Park is another county campground with large sites, hookups, an excellent stopover. Since my sister’s name is Chris, aka Chrissy, what a coincidence to find this graffiti under our picnic table left by previous campers.
Paso Robles Vineyards 
Paso Robles
If you have ever driven Hwy 210 through Pasadena, you will know how happy we were to have that drive behind us. We headed north on Interstate 5, turning west at Lost Hills on Hwy 46, we found ourselves in beautiful, empty landscape, mile after mile of California hills heading towards Paso Robles. Our next stop was the Aviso Vineyard Campground we found through HipCamp. Paso Robles has become a big wine-producing area, yet still has a rural feel. We fell in love with this area.
Campsite at Aviso Vineyard 
Stunning Scenery 
My friendly dog buddy
We loved this site on the duck pond and watching ducks is more fascinating than it sounds. We were surrounded by vineyards and farm land with cows, horses, nighttime howling of coyotes, and complete privacy. Of three dogs, this sweet dog adopted me and we toured the vineyard together.
Leaving Paso Robles, we drive north on Hwy 101 through the Salinas Valley, some of the most stunning farmland in California. Stretching for miles are fields growing in the richest soil, a dark brown earth color. Most of the lettuce we eat is grown in Salinas, also known as the Salad Bowl of the World. Below are photos from Getty Images. The farm workers are unsung heroes, IMO; I get goosebumps driving through this country.
“A green row celery field in the Salinas Valley, California USA” 
Salinas: The Salinas Valley is one of the major valleys and most productive agricultural regions in California. Located within Monterey County, it is west of the San Joaquin Valley and south of San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley—Silicon Valley. The Salinas Valley is also famously mentioned in many of John Steinbeck’s novels, such as Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden.
You can almost smell rich earth. There is also the longest nonstop vineyard along this stretch of highway. You will see the workers harvesting food at farm after farm. We arrive at UVAS Pines RV Park in Morgan Hill by late afternoon. The next morning, we head south to Calero County Park, after having found a challenging five-mile hike on AllTrails app.
Rest stop on our hike in Calero County Park
Our hike in the rolling hills and California Oak woodland challenged us because every hill we topped, we were sure we were coming into home base, only to be met with another rolling hill to hike up and over. Despite this, I found this hike invigorating and welcome exercise.
We made plans to visit the Bay Area to see friends and Bill and Summer, leaving our trailer in Morgan Hill, about an hour’s drive.
Best ever visit with friend, Betty, while Bill dropped in on his friend, Ken, and spent the afternoon telling lies, oops, I mean stories with Ken and Michael and drinking copious amounts of wine.
Photo of Bill and Summer.
By late afternoon, we caught up with our son Bill at his home; Summer joined us in the evening and we had an impromptu back yard pizza party — it was a lifesaver to see these friends and Bill and Summer in Pandemic year, month 10 of lockdown.
Tired but happy, we drive back to Morgan Hill for the night. The next day we will drive to Petaluma with a stop at the KOA, then on to Sea Ranch.
Bill always working 
New Sweet Pea Plant for courtyard 
Clearing Debris 
Connie hiking Gualala Regional Park coastline
Bill makes a list of all the projects he wants to get done when we arrive at Sea Ranch while Connie works on courtyard garden. Our neighbors, Bob and Priscilla, join us for Happy Hour. Priscilla took me to the knit shop in town and got me started on knitting a scarf, refreshing very rusty skills I had in a past life.
A unique challenge was finding ways to get together with old friends. How to social distance? Where to meet? We leave Sea Ranch for the Bay Area with plans to see friends and find an overnight somewhere.
Ken and Marilyn host a garage get together for the Bernards and Bill and Connie, complete with candles, appetizer plates for each couple, hot tea in pumpkin cups, hearty soup, desserts, great conversation, plenty of wine — wonderful, despite the cold. Notice Ken’s haircut, or lack of that is.
Where to stay? Obviously we were not going to stay with Bill and Summer under strict orders to socially distance, etc. AllStays App to the rescue. We found Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, about a 40-minute drive. We reserved a campsite with hookups on line. What a beautiful park. Back on the road the next day heading for Morgan Hill.
Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore 
Campsite at Del Valle
We were headed for HipCamp property Ye Old Saloon in Morgan Hill. Rachel met us as we pulled in. Because of recent rains, mud was an issue, not ordinary mud, very stick-to-your-shoes, stick-to-your-tires mud. After several tries, we finally got the trailer parked. We had full hookups here for an overnight stay at a beautiful property.
Rachel, our host, could not have been nicer or more hospitable. We shared stories and found out we had a mutual acquaintance, the current superintendent of the Morgan Hill School District. Rachel helped us with parking and history of Ye Old Saloon which was a stopover for wagons in its day. As we left, Rachel came to our assistance with a hose and spray nozzle and we hosed off all the mud from the tires.
Sunset View 
Happy Hour 
Picnic Shelter 
Campsite at Windwood Ranch, Paso Robles, Ca
Driving south to Paso Robles, we follow a winding road that takes us to a high plateau of Oak woodland to Windwood Ranch, a private campground. There is a campsite with hookups for trailers, a communal kitchen, a communal fire pit, teepees and retro trailers with music greats names like Jimi, Janis, Eagles, Stevie. We arrive in time to enjoy the sunset. Only one other couple is here this night. Very cold evening.
Our last night on the road, we stop at the Ventura Ranch KOA in Santa Paula. This eccentric camp has something for everyone, including a zip line and ropes course, teepees and wagons, a nature trail. We explored the campground and nature trail.
I’ll end this road trip with a photo of citrus growing in Ojai, just down the road from the Ventura KOA. We end our road trip November 21, 2020. Home in Palm Desert at least for now.