I rode with Seth from Yucaipa on Sunday, after the wedding, to San Diego and stayed with John and Jennifer till Wednesday. Seth flew back to Portland on Monday. The last time I was in San Diego was 1996. Much has changed. New skyscrapers downtown and many new subdivisions spreading out from the center. The cool ocean breeze, the beach and sailing conditions make this a very desirable location to live, work and play. I enjoyed very much having a chance to spend time with both sons. On Wednesday I drove in my little Fiat rental car to 29 Palms to visit my friends Bob and Gail. We were in Simonstown, near Capetown in South Africa, in early 2007 and we met again in Green Cove Spring Marina in Florida in 2009. They sold their boat shortly after and now live here in the high desert not far from Palm Springs. I took the scenic route through the San Bernardino mountains, into Palm Desert and then through Joshua Tree National Park. I could get used to this nice dry heat and the cool nights. We had much to talk about, familiar places, common friends we met along the way. Bob and Gail started cruising as a young family with their two sons who Gail home schooled and were on their world voyage for 18 years. They published their experiences in “18 Endless Summers of Sailing” see: www.18Endles.com
I leave this afternoon for Yucaipa to stay again for the night with the Van den Bergs. John and Jennifer and the daughters will be there as well. I hope that I will find my camera memory card back at Jennifer’s parents home, to recover the wedding pictures. Then I stop to see Brenda in Glendale on my way to Carpinteria to see Sjoerd Koppert. I return on Monday to San Diego to return the car and stay one night with J&J and fly back to Sea-Tac on Tuesday the 13th.
JUNE 4: For all my N.W. friends put his on your calendar. I will give more details in an upcoming blog. I am invited to give a presentation of my 9 year circumnavigation at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club at 7 p.m. All my friends are welcome and I will also extend an invitation to my St. Nicholas parish members.
Gail and Bob
San Diego
down into Palm Desert
a Joshua Tree
