Several campground moves since the last update in early July.  And we regained Internet (and cellular) connection yesterday, after many days with out, as we landed in Avila Beach, CA.   This is our first time ‘dry camping’, no water, electricity and/or sewer hook ups, as well as our first time camping right on the ocean, just 20 yards in front of our windshield.

To digress for a moment…..  WIFI is a constant challenge and I’ve come to appreciate an hour or so over a cup of coffee at coffee houses that have free WIFI.   Far fewer campgrounds have WIFI than do.    To be able to  upload pictures, download a library book to my kindle, post pictures/comments to Facebook,  get/send emails, etc..is no longer taken for granted.

Each new campground generally takes us one night to adjust to new sounds.   At the Ventura campground, it was the sounds of free range peacocks;  at Tapo Canyon, one of my favorite spots to date, it was the eerie coyote cries right outside our window; and here at Avila Beach, the bronchitis-sounding seal serenades.     And a few comments on peacocks – we’ve now been in two locations where peacocks are part of the landscape, in trees, on houses, walking the roads.   My first time seeing baby, fluffy peacocks…..

People connections meant much to me before being on the road and now  mean even more.  The calls/emails from family and friends warm my day.   I’m working on this thought that ‘my absence is my presence’ for all the family and friend events that go on while we are away.     And new interactions continue to amaze….a gift of mangos from a gal from Vietnam who asked to see what an RV looked like;  a phone number and contact name for people in Oregon in case we needed help while visiting that area; a soon-to-be 4th grader who wanted to know whose handprints were on the back of my t-shirt and asked to put her hand on each…..

We spent several hours at the Ronald Reagan library located on top of a big hill overlooking Simi Valley.  So impressive….the memorabilia, the review of history of that time, the incredible views from the library and a real, formerly used ‘Air Force One’ jet, as well as ‘Marine One’ helicopter open for boarding, right within the building!

Some recent learnings

– the importance of checking to see if that is a tan on my legs before going to bed

– never, ever, never leave large containers of mango juice free to roam the refrigerator, even though the refrigerator is locked while under travel.    The repercussions of one falling out when first re-opening the refrigerator will never, ever be forgotten