We ended up camping at the San Mateo Campground in San Onofre during New Year’s week for 5 nights. If I had to rate this campground, I would probably give it just an average score. We haven’t been to too many sites so far with the Mali Mish Airstream but Catalina State Park in Tuscon, The Shady Dell in Bisbee and El Capitan State Beach just outside of Santa Barbara are still my top three campgrounds so far. And if these are my references, San Mateo is just “alright”.
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Hey Ava? I think it is time for ‘the talk’. Okay?

Ummm, I guess so??

So this is how you wax a surfboard. Pay attention. Wax on. Wax off.

Thanks Daniel-son.

Bye Dada. Be safe.

Catch that one Dada. It looks totally tubular, dude!

Just another day at San Onofre State Beach.

the end,
marlene

These two might be long gone from the famous prison…

But not these poor folks.

ATTENTION! THIS JUST IN!! These three inmates have just escaped from prison. They were last seen heading west toward California. Possibly to San Onofre. The oldest one can’t resist ocean swells and there is supposed be a huge one heading that way. If you have any information, please leave a comment so we can find these armed and dangerous traveling outlaws!!!

the end,
marlene

Hi. I’m Ava. Wanna come feed animals with me at the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch? Cool. Stay close!

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Oh. It’s almost over. The road trip is almost over. Whoa is me. It’s almost back to the daily grind. And how fitting is our final stop? Yuma Territorial Prison. I love the way the three of us are smiling in this picture. What? You don’t see me? I’m that ball and chain next to Dan. Haha. I’m sure getting funnier in my old age.

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Yesterday was awesome but today was awesomer. I know, i know. It’s not a real word… but today is my birthday so its my rules. All. Day. Long.

We woke up bright and early because it was time to say good-bye to the always fabulous Shady Dell.

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Today was one of the most fun days ever… as you can tell by the picture above. I’ll get to that soon enough. It was our second morning waking up at The Shady Dell and it was as beautiful as the first. The morning light was filtering into the living room perfectly, as if we were on a movie set. Ava and Yoda were hanging out on the couch, waiting for the campground cat to make its morning rounds. All was well with the two of them until I mentioned to Ava that we were going to Tombstone… The Town too Tough to Die.

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Hi there! Welcome back. It’s Day 6 of our road trip and we are still at The Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona with our Airstream, the Mali Mish.

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Dan is in the dog house. He used my camera last night to take a sunset picture and forgot to change the ISO sensitivity back. So all my pictures today are grainy and just plain yucky. How embarrassing. But if you look on the bright side, it was a travel day for us and not a sight-seeing day. So I might forgive him by the end of the day… maybe.

After three nights at Catalina State park, it was time for us to head to our next destination… Bisbee, Arizona. It took a bit longer that expected to pack up and get the Airstream ready for the road again. I’m sure after a few more times, we will become old pros.

Our gray water tank, that holds our sink water, was full since yesterday. Because the dump station was located down the road, we decided not let any more water down the drain instead of attaching the trailer to the van and dragging it back and forth. It was going to be way too much work, especially since we would be dumping all of the gray water out in the morning before we headed out to Bisbee.

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Two days ago Ava and I went on a little walk around Catalina State Park with her red wagon. Marlene was kind enough to capture the moment on camera. The serene surroundings with the majestic mountains really takes your breath away. It is unbelievable that right across the street from the park’s entrance is now the parking lot of a newly developed shopping center…

December 1st 2008

Speaking of shopping, I think I need to retire some of my wardrobe. What does my wardrobe have to do with this picture you say? Well, we were in our T@B trailer earlier this year (January 2008) and Ava and I went on this exact same walk, in the exact same wagon, with me wearing the EXACT SAME CLOTHES!!!

January 22nd 2008

Doesn’t Ava look so little in this picture? Look at Ava! Don’t look at me and my old clothes!

over and out,
dan

Our mornings start around 7am when Ava the Alarm Clock calls out for me as she awakens from her 11 hour slumber. Mama? Mama? Milk! We spend the first hour of our day together in bed, trying to keep as quiet as possible as to let Carrie and Dan catch a few more winks. Not an easy task… especially since toddlers have vocal chords. Surprise, surprise. After head butting her Dada and screaming for Carrie from our bed, the rest of the crew awakens and we are ready to start our days together.

Before we can hit the ground running, we need showers. Badly. The facilities at Catalina State Park are surprisingly clean and roomy. And the showers were pretty warm but the water shot out of the shower head like blast of needles. Having needles blast onto you while holding a squirming toddler who is screaming ‘No Mama No‘ at the top of her lungs is not a great way to start off your morning. Trust me. I would like to officially apologize to the lady that was “lucky” enough to be in the shower stall next to us. I’m sorry. Stupid, stupid, needles.

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Howdy partner! I’m Ava. Wondering why I have a red cowboy hat, purple mittens and a bunch of crap piling up on the sofa behind me? Well, we are getting ready for our road trip to Arizona. We’ve got plans to visit Phoenix, Tucson, Bisbee, Tombstone, the Chiricahuas and a bunch of other cool places…

…including more ghost towns. Yippee.

So, come back, y’hear! We’ll be posting daily once we are on our trip… and then when we’re back, we’ll post some more.

love,
ava