Monday 27th February – Into California

A grey start as predicted just got worse through the day. 

Before leaving Arizona, we topped up on propane and unleaded petrol having seen how pricey California was going to be for the next couple of weeks.  It was raining consistently as we crossed the border into our 32^nd State and gained an extra hour in our day as we returned to Pacific time: 

Mexico is somewhere over there.... is this the base of Mr Trump's wall?!

We were travelling parallel to the Mexican border for several miles today and went through a checkpoint, but we were just waved through without even having to say who we were or where we were headed.

The drive today was along interstate 8 so again, not much to report there… Until I took over the driving and had a very scary 90 minutes driving in torrential rain with gusting winds trying to dislodge us from the tarmac.  I needed a workout, so maybe it was helpful to be clinging onto the steering wheel for dear life!

At lunch we rang ahead to book into San Diego RV resort and when we were told that, even with our PA discount, it would be $41 per night we just booked the one night!  We thought we’d wait and see what the weather was doing on our arrival.  There was no sign of the downpour abating so I suggested that I could use the evening to catch up on laundry before Becky joins us on Friday.  She is on a 2 week holiday – there is no way we want to be wasting any time when she is here with mundane things like washing!

Our site was backing onto a river.  As the rain continued to pour down through the evening the level kept rising and the water was really rushing past in torrents.  The sand bags at the doorway of the laundry failed quite early on as well so I was tip-toeing between washers and dryers as the water pooled on the concrete floor.  Just running back and forth to the laundry nearby I got drenched and annoyed.  There were flood warnings for the whole San Diego area.  I thought California was meant to be hot and sunny?!

Our back garden for the night...

On a positive, this afternoon gave me time to look at booking some things for Becky’s arrival.  We had picked up a flyer for whale-watching near LA that promised a price of $14 instead of $36 per person.  I tried booking for us online but the discount code didn’t work.  I guessed the deal was off but thought I’d ring the company to see what they could do for us.  The extremely helpful lady at the other end of the phone didn’t hesitate to fulfil the booking at the $14 price, so when we pick Becky up on Friday we can break the news that we are going Whale watching that afternoon at 330pm!  I can’t wait, she’ll be so pleased.

So, as long as we’re not swept away overnight, we are promised a brighter day and we are in a good position to see as much of San Diego as you can in one day before heading out of the City to try and find somewhere cheaper to stay on the way towards Joshua Tree National Park for Wednesday.