Tag Archives: repairing my RV

Adventures in Monterey County: A Month of Pet Sitting

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Yesterday was my last day of taking care of Woody the Cat and Rocky the Dog. The Mistress of the house returned on Friday evening. Just like that my one month stint as a Pet and House sitter came to an end.

I love being in the Monterey county area. There is so much to do and see. A friend, Zee, came and visited for about a week. We paddled the Elkhorn Slough. Though there was wildlife it was a quiet day on the Slough. Two weeks later I returned to paddle it again. It was obvious that migration had begun.

“The word slough, which rhymes with “grew,” refers to a type of wetland. It winds its way through marshy, swampy ground. Like most sloughs, Elkhorn Slough is a quiet backwater to a larger body of water—in this case, Monterey Bay.”

The Slough is home to several sea otters. It is fun to take friends there and see how excited they get when they see these sea creatures. I know they look cute but they are wild and big. They have recently been having issues with a few in Santa Cruz who are taking surfers surfboards.

When I get to know an area better I can show it off to visitors. I became a tour guide for Zee. Each day we took a new and different sight seeing journey.

The Lone Cyprus

It took most of the day to travel the Seventeen Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. It is known for its stunning coastal views, famous golf courses, and landmarks like the Lone Cypress and Spanish Bay. For $12.25, yes there is an admission fee, we had the day to explore along the Pacific Ocean.

Another day we drove through the lovely little town of Carmel and ended at the Carmel River Beach. We met a kitty and her owner on the beach. It was the kitty’s first outing and oh my she was having a blast.

One of my highlights of her visit was the day we drove north to Capitola Village by the Sea. It is one of the oldest vacation retreats on the Pacific Coast. It was easy to spend time exploring this quaint town. It was very picturesque, a photographers dream.

Oh I almost forgot to mention the day we spent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This Aquarium is world class. I love going places like this and let my child come out. It gets tiring being an adult all the time.

After Zee’s visit, I settled into my friend’s lovely home and enjoyed spending time in one place. When I am stationary like this I get things done on my rig. This was no exception. Jeff a friend of mine taught me how to repair my running boards and bumpers on the rig. They, from time to time get banged up because of high sidewalks or that occasional rock that I don’t see. This past winter I drove over something on the freeway and it cut up into one of bumpers. The trick is Surf Board Repair Kits. I still use them. Over time I have learned more and now use other kits too.

Looking Good

This time I had two to repair. It involves a lot of hand sanding and repeating the process many times. The people in the neighborhood got used to seeing me sitting on the ground, sanding. They would stop to talk. I was praised when I finished side A. It made me feel proud that I can take these things on. Then I finished side B. I am not going to share with you what I did to that side. Currently, my running boards are looking like new. Each time I look at them, I feel a sense of pride. I also feel accomplished seeing a job well done.

I value the time being in one place. I have an opportunity to be more involved in the local community. Each Saturday I explored the Salinas Farmers Market. I found a yoga studio near where I was staying, so I signed up for classes. I began to know the neighbors a little. It wasn’t until Mandy came home that I learned who was bringing the garbage cans in.

One day I met up with Charlotte, a friend and the minister who married Jim and me. It was good to have to time to visit my friend who lives a distance from me. It is a joy to have that time and not feel rushed.

I enjoyed having the animals around. I loved having them sleep with me at night. Dogs and Cats are two very different animals. Cats are more independent. Rocky asked for more of my time. I was more than willing to give it to him. I enjoyed taking Rocky places. He was a nice little companion.

Personally, I will always be a person of the feline persuasion. I have had cats off and on through-out my whole adult life. They have always been a joy. They are more independent and I am used to their needs, and maybe they fit my lifestyle better. They have different needs than a dog. And, I am used to them.

Would I take care of Rocky and Woody again? Definitely. I enjoy helping my friends and I like having some animal time. Would I return to Salinas and Monterey County again? Absolutely. It is such an amazing area to explore. And I need to get out on the Elkhorn Slough again and again.

As I make my way south to San Diego, I have had time to reflect on this month. I am glad I took the opportunity to stay in one place and be entertained by the dog and cat. Today, I am glad to be hanging out at the beach north of Santa Barbara. I enjoy being on my own again. It is good to have different options in my life.

Today I am thankful for a little dog with a big heart. Today I am thankful for a cat that is a warm and faithful bed warmer. Today I am thankful to embrace a different and unique lifestyle.

On to San Diego.

The Flight of the Butterfly

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I am slowly making my way to San Diego.

Roadtreks at a Rally

I had a wonderful couple weeks on the central coast of California. The Roadtrek Rally was a great success. It was a personal success for me. I met wonderful people. When the rally was over I left with two of the women, Mandy and Ann and met up with a third Roadtreker, Don. We camped for four nights near Morro Bay. Every day was beautiful and fun. We hiked and taked and talked and laughed. We got to know each other.  I have new friends to go on adventures with.

I gradually am working my way into San Diego. I am a bit nervous about my upcoming appointment at the Moores Cancer Center. Instead of making my way all the way there, today, I am camped for one more night on the ocean. My view is great and I can fall asleep to the sounds of the Pacific crashing below my campsite. 

Four Roadtreks at Morro Bay

The last few days I have been in Camarillo, CA staying with my good friends, Mary Jane and Jeff. Elsie and I camped in the driveway. Jeff and I are doing fiberglass repair work on my side steps. I sort of met one too many sidewalks. It will take a while to complete, yet I walk away with the knowledge that I will be able to complete the repair on my own. It is looking good at the moment. 

For the past two days I have been sitting in the middle of the Monarch Butterfly migration. It has been amazing. As soon as it warms up they are flying, up the driveway, over the roof and on north. I have heard of this phenomena yet this is the first time I have experienced it. I am not talking of one or two butterflies, I am talking more like hundreds. I finally left them behind when I arrived at the ocean, near Malibu today.

“The annual monarch life cycle and migration begins at the monarchs’ overwintering grounds in Mexico (for the eastern population) and the central to southern California coastal region (for the western population). Around March, the overwintering monarchs begin their journey north. Once migration begins, monarchs become sexually mature and mate. The females begin their search for milkweed plants on which to lay eggs. After mating and egg-laying, the adult butterflies die and the northward migration is continued by their offspring. It takes three to five generations to repopulate the rest of the United States and southern Canada until the final generation of the year hatches and does the return journey to the overwintering grounds.

The monarch migration is one of the greatest phenomena in the natural world. Monarchs know the correct direction to migrate even though the individuals that migrate have never made the journey before. They follow an internal “compass” that points them in the right direction each spring and fall. A single monarch can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles.”

I admire their perseverance. They cross ten lane freeways, mountains, Los Angeles and they still continue to fly. If it is not warm enough they lay on the ground until the sun or weather heats them up enough to fly. 

I feel honored to have witnessed this once in my life. It was amazing. I rode my bicycle to a preserve near my friends home. The butterflies were hanging on the wild mustard. It was a sight I will not soon forget. It was hard to drive because I knew that my rig was hitting them. I kept telling them to fly higher. It is hard when the industry meets nature. Often nature loses.

Tomorrow it is on to San Diego. I will remember to breath. I am hoping for a good outcome from this second opinion. As I weave my way through these next few days I will remember the amazing Monarchs and hope they help me smile.