We once again met up with RV buddies Nina and Paul for an urban hike in Del Mar. We had given up hope of finding any opportunities for hiking in the San Diego area without driving quite a distance, somewhat of a letdown after trekking through the Sierras with these same pals. As luck would have it, Nina and Paul, having once lived in Del Mar, knew of an “off the beaten path” hike that took us up a winding canyon, through some beautiful Del Mar neighborhoods, along the sandstone cliffs overlooking the railroad tracks and stunning views of the Pacific, and dumping us off onto Del Mar beach, where doggie Polly met a new four-legged friend and romped through the waves with Paul. Not quite like a hike in the Sierras but fresh air, warm sun, and crashing waves can always renew the spirit.
The weather was picture-perfect, a beautiful sunny day that I think Nina and Paul brought with them from the desert, as we had a good bit of gloom until their arrival. We enjoyed a few hours of catching up on each others’ lives before parting, talking of future visits and seeing Alex and Ellen, a lovely RVing couple we met through Nina and Paul earlier this year.
When we began our RV journey I knew we would have some unbelievable scenery to feast eyes upon but as I was saying goodbye to family and friends, I wasn’t sure who we might meet during our travels. We couldn’t be more pleased with the folks we have met along the way, many with the wanderlust that we have, enjoying the simple pleasure of getting in touch with nature.
We had the good fortune of meeting yet another lovely couple this past week at San Elijo State Beach, a couple who parked their RV almost across from us. Mike and Tamara are early retirees, as we have been blessed to be, and love traveling and getting out into nature, a perfect match with our passions. We spent a chilly evening around the fire getting to know them and another playing cribbage. Thanks Tamara for reintroducing me to the game and teaching Terry. Santa may just have to bring us a cribbage board this year.
The following morning we said our goodbyes to this charming couple, with the hope of another possible visit before we leave So Cal. One of the best parts of this journey are the people we meet along the way and we are blessed to be meeting some wonderful folks who have a zest for life and the hope of touching other lives.
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Paint Your Landscape 
It’s been a long while since I have played cribbage
It had been about 30 years for me!
Hasn’t been quite that long for me LOL. Only about eight
I am lots older than you my friend. 🙂
🙂
That sound so cool — meeting people who have the same passion! Thank you for sharing the wonderful travel story, LuAnn!
My pleasure Amy. 🙂
My husband always dreamed of doing the RV life and his favorite game was cribbage. Sounds like you folks are enjoying the good life. And that’s a good thing! Wishing you the best during these holidays.
We are blessed to be able to have this time to travel. Wish we had started it earlier. A very blessed holiday to you and your family.
Love your snowflakes on this page. I am looking out our window in Ohio and see REAL snowflakes falling. How funny.
Cribbage…now that is one game I haven’t played in eons!
A very Merry Christmas to you all.
I believe that Word Press will allow for snowflakes to fall on our blog sites through the end of the year. That will be the only snow we will be seeing this time of year. Are you staying in OH for the remainder of the winter? Merry Christmas to you and your family Marsha.
Sharing the passion of this gypsy lifestyle with like minds is sooo much fun. Some folks will indeed become life long friends. Enjoy the season and have a very Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to the two of you as well.
Sharing the RV way of life with old and new friends is remarkable. It is pure joy and a bonus when you can also share your hobbies with others and see their pleasure in doing what you love reflected back at you.
Absolutely! Merry Christmas to you and your family Sheila.
What fun! Nothing beats finding people who share your passions. Warmest wishes for a merry Christmas and a wonderful year ahead LuAnn 🙂
It is always good to connect with others who share your interests. Blessings to you and your family Madhu for a joy-filled Christmas and a new year filled with hope and lots of travel adventures. 🙂
You sure are having great fun 🙂 Merry Christmas!!!
Christmas blessings to you and your family Boomie and a new year filled with love and hope. We could all use more of both. 🙂
Sounds like a great time, wishing you a happy Christmas! Ute xx
Merry Christmas to you Ute.
Merry Christmas LuAnn, all the best to you and your family!
Merry Christmas! Mike and I play cribbage almost daily except lately because we have been visiting our grandkids and that’s even more fun!
Wish you were nearby so we could practice! Merry Christmas to the two of you and may the upcoming year provide you with lots of grand adventures.
Boooo! What about me? 😀
Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year! 😀
I would still love to meet you. We will be here till the end of January. I have a friend visiting from 1/15 – 1/19 but otherwise I will work around my work schedule if you have some time available. I hope you and your family have a very blessed Christmas Rommel and the upcoming year is filled with joy, hope, and some exciting travel adventures for you. And, of course, some fabulous photography shared with the rest of us!:)
20, 26 or 27? Somewhere in Dana Point fine? And what time?
I am going to say probably the 20th and Dana Point. I will get back to you in a few days and firm it up, ok?
Today is Christmas and I’m looking forward to hearing the bells on Christmas day. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
And a very blessed Christmas to you and your family Stefan!
Nice post, LuAnn! 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🙂
Thanks Arindam, and to you as well. 🙂
That’s nice to know there are trails nearby so you can get some “hiking” in. Merry Christmas Lu and Terry. Have a wonderful day!
Not the same as in the mountains but nice to get out into nature.
Have you been able to do that Black Mountain trail, yet?
Where is Black Mtn?
Up near Poway/Penasquitos area. I thought we had talked about that, maybe not.
We probably did, it sounds vaguely familiar. I know there is some hiking in Poway.
Maybe that’s what it was.
That last paragraph is wonderful, warming and inspiring,. A huge merry Christmas to you and yours,
Thanks Ste J.
LuAnn,
Mike and I want to wish you and Terry the very, very merriest of holidays. With just a few days back at home, we are already itching to get back out on the road! We’ll be heading to Palm Springs next should you get a hankering to take a break from the beach and come play out in the desert. We have much hiking on our agenda while there.
Please let us know if you will be in our “home” area anytime this next month, even if just to stop by for a quick meal. I’m a mean cook!
Hugs.
We haven’t been to Palm Springs in many years and were just telling some friends how we would like to visit again. Not sure if we will make it there this trip but would love to see you both again. Hope you had a lovely Christmas.
How sweet – “met a new 4-legged friend & romped around” – how gorgeous! I can just imagine their wagging tails & energy of delight.
No hike trail this time, but next time, hey 🙂
Happy New Year, LuAnn, & the very very best. Ah, RV lifestyle sounds like the one for me. Oh, but I’ve yet to find a partner! Maybe 2013 😉 …
A very Happy New Year to you and your son. May it be filled with much joy and love. The RV lifestyle isn’t for everyone but for those of us with wanderlust, it fills the bill. 🙂
The Pacific is my favorite ocean. Can’t get enough of that area. They look like lovely folks and what fun to venture out together. 🙂
The hiking is definitely not the same as the Sierras but the ocean can’t be beat!
I so love reading about your friendships you are making in your journey of life..too fun.
Laurie
Thanks Laurie.
It is fun for us working class to see hopefully what we can look forward to one day. You give me hope
We waited far too long to travel. I was a workaholic and passed on so many opportunities to travel so we are now trying to make up for it. 🙂