November Trip - New Brighton State Beach

After Thanksgiving we headed to the Coast to New Brighton State Beach in Capitola just south of Santa Cruz.

We had a costside space on the cliff. We loved waking up hearing the waves crash on the beach below. The weather was outstanding. both days in the mid to high 70's

We saw another tab at the campground, an hour later we saw it drive off. Another missed Tab meetng.

Saturday afternoon Nathan's brother and his wife met up with us and we went for Lunch at The Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz later we went for a walk on the beach, that eve we has a post Thanksgiving dinner in the tab and a few beers around a campfire

Thev view from our space

Tabstream enjoying the sun

Missy on the beach

Nathan, Missy & Erik

Sunset over Capitola

Go Buy Gas!

I stopped by Costco today.. for some Thanksgiving stuff (turkey etc) and to get some gas for the truck.. Holy Crap. I paid $1.79 a Gallon for regular unleaded..

$31.00 for about 17 gallons .. just in time for a weekend camping trip to Santa Cruz this coming Saturday

Local Tourism

As Erik mentioned, we met up with Mark and Katie a few times last week. Friday night, we had the opportunity to try the Chieftan pub down on Market Street, great beer, but not so great for talking. I like the idea of live music, however, trying to have a conversation while both the murmuring of the crowd and the music of live band competed for soundspace, I was almost tempted to simply text my words to everyone, rather than try to be heard.

After we finished our drinks, we left the bar and walked a few blocks to the Metreon Center. It was getting a bit late, and several of the restaurants were already closed up, but Firewood Cafe was still serving dinner, so we grabbed a pizza and a salad and had a better--audible--conversation until we got kicked out by the cleaning crew.

Monday the four (well, six if you count our dogs) met up in our stomping grounds. We had a nice--quiet--lunch at Plearn Thai Palace, and took the dogs to the Walnut Creek dog park before the sun set. Mister and Missy had as much fun as we did, and got some much-needed exercise.

Two Kids from New Jersey

We met Katie & Mark this past weekend. We have been reading about their TabTrek 2008 adventures on their website http://www.wanderful.us/ as they drive across the USA.

Less Bear; More Brrrrr

We wandered around Yosemite yesterday, the park is a lot less busy in October than it was in May. Grabbed some lunch fixings from the village store and had lunch at the trailer before leaving Missy and heading for a hike along the first part of the Mist Trail.

"Moderate-to-strenuous": boy they weren't kidding. In my city-boy shoes and pants and flatlander leg muscles, I barely got to the bridge before saying "uncle" and having us turn around. Next time I'll come loaded for bear with better hiking gear and apparel. I was considering mugging a fellow traveler for their hiking pole.

Mr (or Ms) Bear made another appearance last night, even came up to our campsite, but we were comfortably in the trailer and didn't even suspect we had a visitor. Next-camp-neighbors saw the bear walk by the river and told us about it. For a big animal, they sure are sneaky.

The LP tank breathed its last sigh of propane last night leaving us without a LP refrigerator, heater or a stove. We knew it was getting low, but figured as little as we used propane, we could squeak by this trip without a refill. Almost did, too.

We broke out the portable, backup camping stove and warmed a can of soup for dinner, then later in the evening, rather than risk bear mauling outside, used the open flame of the camp stove to toast marshmallows for smores.

We discovered on waking up this morning that the refrigerator really keeps the trailer nice and toasty. Usually, we wake up to a comfortable temperature, I tend to start sleeping in layers and by the next morning, have shucked my socks and at least my sweater; but this morning without the LP refrigerator running and dumping waste heat in the t@b, we were freezing. Thank god we had the dog to keep our feet warm.

Good Morning Yosemite

Saturday morning, and we're still alive. Last night Yosemite North
Pines campground was full of the sounds of campers driving off an
ornery bear.

Our next-campground neighbor said that this particular bear had been
making an appearance every night this weekend. Mr. Bear seemed to
wander off around 10 pm, just in time for quiet hours, and we slept
the night without incident.

Arriving to a camp spot after dark is pretty impresive, come the next
morning. When we woke up we were treated to this sight out our window.

A few of our mods

Below are a few of the mods we have made to our TAB

Name Emblem

Shocks

Stove & Sink Cover

October Trip - Sonoma Coast

We were off again this past weekend... Yes, two weekends in a row camping. Saturday morning we headed off to the Sonoma Coast camping at Stillwater Cove Regional Park. We stopped on our way up the coast to enjoy the waves and let Missy check out the area (pee break).

Once we arrived and had set up TabStream a fellow camper came over and said " I LOVE your cute little matching trailer & truck" and she waited until we had set up to come over to look at our "rig" we gave her a tour of the TAB. This was the first time someone waited, most of the time we get someone coming over wanting to look at our TAB before we even back into our space.

Stillwater Cove was a wonderful location and such a nice small family campground.

Sunday we took a drive up the coast to visit some of the small coastal towns. We stopped in Gualala at Bones Roadhouse. We had Beer, Stuffed Potato Skins, Clam Chowder and some of the best Onion Rings we have had. (yes those are onion rings .. not Cinnamon Rolls)

Great food and a Great view

Next trip.. Yosemite