186 Return to California

     Ruthie took this picture in the airport it looks like gate B49 is the way to get to Orange county.  Still looking for one to Olmstead County. 
     A personalized greeting from Spirit airlines, how nice, I didn't think they would remember me.   Spirit prides itself on no frills and nothing for free.  However on this flight evidently they had spent some money on a comedian.   

Landing in San Diego with
a greeting on the wing tip!

Unfortunately I missed part of it as I tuned out the safety lecture.    Thinking that a life vest wouldn't do me much good in a water landing at below zero.  At some point during the forced landing over water (however unlikely) laughter from the other passengers stirred my interest.  As the flight attendant described the loss of cabin pressure he mentioned in the event of loss of cabin pressure (however unlikely) an oxygen mask would drop from the ceiling accompanied by a credit card reader, I don't believe debit cards were accepted.  Once you have swiped your credit card oxygen would start to flow.   If you were accompanied by a child you should put your mask on before helping the child.   He went on to say that if you were accompanied by a child and a lover that needed assistance you had a decision to make. 

My first question is why it was
placed by the exit door?

     On a recent trip with Sterling and Lynda a dispenser by the bathroom door prompted me to put this in the blog if for no other reason except I think it should be recorded somewhere.   Many years ago a young couple were traveling thru South Dakota with their two young daughters.  Stopping at a busy family restaurant for lunch the eldest daughter (probably age six)  was entrusted with escorting her four year old sister to the rest room.  Evidently mistaking a dispenser for disposable bibs she proudly placed them around her and her sisters neck and proceeded to parade across the busy restaurant floor to her parents table.  The patrons seem to think it was quite a hoot. 

Disposable bib, common mistake?

      Sterling and Lynda were waiting for us in San Diego to make the switch, they left for their trip to Idaho and we returned to our tiny home with their car, its nice when a plan comes together.   It was great to be back in the warmth, there is something about the sunshine down here that just makes you feel great.

          Back at the ranch it felt good to relax and recuperate.  The week at home had wore us out and I was fighting ear infection.       Since the following may well be a safety issue I will post it. I'm trying to recall exactly how it happened, I think I will just use the excuse that it was dark and I grabbed a gallon jug thinking it was fresh water and poured a glass.   Not a wise choice.  

    FYI.   Warning!   Sweet tea should be kept refrigerated.  Don't ask me how I know.  However Claudia from the product safety and quality control area assures me I will be okay.  "its kind of like drinking spoiled milk she explained".    Gross, but it won't kill you.  She said she would send me a replacement coupon, "I said its not necessary it was totally my fault.   How ever I suggested that the font for "keep refrigerated and Perishable". Should be at least as big as the nutritional information.   She said she would be happy to send the replacement anyway and took my information.  I had it sent to Hemet California where we are wintering.  When she got to my area code she said "oh your from Rochester".  We are close to there.  I said "it says Alabama on the container".  "Okay what town, "oh its just a small town". What's the first letter I asked?  "B". "Byron" I said, No, Its not that close.  What's the second letter?  She stopped cooperating.  She gathered more info on where we bought it and if it was refrigerated when purchased.  I asked her the first letter of the county she lived In?  She pretended not to hear me.  I said you know we might be Facebook friends, I think she was getting nervous.  Its still nice to have someone to visit with early in the morning.  She's got my number, maybe she will call back......

     In the spirit of the season and fairness, I better give my friend Deanna credit, lets call her my consultant.  I try to have some accuracy and evidently I didn't pay as much attention as I should have in English.  When ever I'm in trouble a text to her will straighten me right out, well at least as far as grammar goes.  For instance today the word "gross"  I just didn't think it looked right for something nasty.  I kept thinking it was "gross" as in profits.  A quick text to her and she went into adverbs, verbs and adjectives.  My head was spinning.  
     Just think of the times we live in.  At this very moment two country kids from Dover Minnesota, one with the right answer somewhere in Florida and the other one searching for the right word in Temecula California.   Everyday I'm amazed! 

185 Chirstmas on the Prairie!

    Time was counting down pretty quickly until we fly home for Christmas.   Anxious to see family and friends we were already in the spirit of the season with our trips to Christmas in the colonies, mission Inn and light tour with Sterling and Lynda .   Our new friends Anthony and Juliette had graciously provided Ruthie with a nice winter coat to use so she didn't have to wear her motorcycle jacket every where.  Also sitting on our extra table (yes, we have two in our tiny house) was a "tiny" Christmas tree courtesy of them.  

      Looks like we can make a home where ever we are or as "Bobbie" once said "you two always land on your feet". 

     December 20th Lynda drove us to the San Diego airport for our flight, we had paid extra for tickets to coordinate our flight with our landlords upcoming trip. A two hour layover in Denver and we were soon landing in Minnesota. The trip would have been uneventful except we were forced to check our carry on bag, when we went to pick it up a not so automated door decided to close on a suitcase, sure hope there weren't any breakable presents in it. Evidently opening an automated door is much harder to open than a regular door. Finally an automatic door opener guy saved the day .

    This is Ruthie's favorite season and this year was no different.  I get more out of just being around family again.  The freezing weather is just a bonus.    Michelle picked us up at the airport and we headed home.   Stopping in Lake City to see my sisters Arvilla and Etta.  Michelle made a comment about the tater tot hot dish waiting for us, a Minnesota staple.

        From the pictures I'm posting it may seem like we pushed the fun barometer a little hard this year.   Please forgive us we only had seven days and two of them were for travel.   There always seems to be some special moments to remember, and this year was no different........

    My Peaceful Christmas morning took a dramatic U turn. Our daughter Michelle (Bandanas by Michelle) was trying to do her part to act as a couples mediator between Ruthie and I. However if you are familiar with Michelle you know somebody is going to get hurt. She as usual was taking her mothers side, commenting frequently on "my" attitude and tone of my responses. If she keeps trying to help us I'm sure we'll be dividing things up and drawing up papers shortly. I reached a moment where I was laughing so hard I couldn't catch my breath.. I pulled the little vial that I carry around my neck and reminded everyone in the room that Lefty Loosey righty tighty. So that if the need arose they could retrieve my medicine. (one of my concerns is a good Samaritan not being mechanically minded enough to open the vial, there are no opening instructions on it.) Seeking a break and knowing I wasn't going to win I retreated to the bathroom to gather my wits. Michelle followed shouting through the door. "Are you okay?". I shouted back "just leave me alone". She replied, "I'm just trying to remember that Lefty righty thing so I can get your cyanide out should you need it". So my friend if you see me laying on the floor grasping my chest, keep Michelle away from me please. Cyanide? Really?

    My grandson Colton also provided some humor.  His Christmas list included a full military uniform, a net big enough to put a person in and a key that would unlock any door.  (a little concern here.)   However on another note, he went into his room and collected items to wrap for others.   I got a regifted cap, Ruthie a model car on a stand and buck his dog got a empty water bottle, because evidently he likes the sound when he crushes it.   

     Within walking distance of our Minnesota residence is the Pioneer Club, you can dine and watch the barges go up and down the Mississippi river or see railroad trains on the Wisconsin shore.  On summer weekends there is a band playing in the other section.  Not unlike "Cheers" friends and neighbors gather there a couple of times a week to visit and reconnect.   Tonight the fireplace was adding to the warm feeling when friends gather.  Everyone was in a holiday mood and after a few beverages evidently my Christmas gift from Michelle came up.  (Michelle again, bound to be trouble.). They are called quarter chaps, a modern version of the full length leather chaps this one extends from just above the knee down to and covering the top of your shoe.    She had sought my impute into the gift and I had chose a nylon insulated pair with reflective piping.  Bob is a motorcycle friend of hers so we will give him a little advertisement.

      I'm not sure if Bob will approve of the way his chaps were displayed tonight.  Hopefully he has sense of humor.  It started at the house where I modeled them for the family.  We soon discovered that the reflective piping lit up when videotaped.   I did a few dance moves (yes, I have moves).   Well someone mentioned the chaps, one thing let to another and I went and retrieved them.  Soon I was helping my friend Janet put them on.    I think the consensus was that she looked much better modeling them then I did.   Ungrateful! 

     They say if you cant make fun of yourself who can or something like that , well I don't have to with fiends like Tom, Wes and certain unnamed relatives ... In a phone conversation Wes took the high road and claimed that Tom mentioned my Christmas gift weren't really 1/4 chaps, they had been purchased in the children department.    I can't come up with a reply to this.  However it might give you an idea why I'm like I'am! 

    The evening at the Pioneer was so much fun I feel I should publicly apologize to everyone there.   Memories, got to love them.  

     The next day Michelle and I braved the cold, placed our vehicles safely in the shop until spring and walked back to the house.  It was

Hurry up Dad and take the picture,
its freezing out here!

just far enough to remind us why we choose motorcycles in the south instead of warm vehicles in Minnesota.

     The day before leaving found us with Ruthie's sisters and their husbands at sister Donna's.   While we men were relaxing normally in one room.   There was a lot of commotion and giggling coming from the other part of the house.   I believe just one picture  from that day will give you an idea what kind of foolishness was going on in the other room.   

     Is this a normal family Christmas picture?   Photo bombed by a dog?   Again Michelle was involved .  Any questions. 

 

 

Here's wishing all of you a safe and happy New Year!

184 Countdown to Christmas !

    

A noise on the roof, to early for Santa Claus.
I know turkeys can fly however this
is getting ridiculous.  She's a turkey for
pete's sake.

 With only few days before we fly home for Christmas I thought it should be pretty calm.   However we soon found out our friend Lynda can pack an awful lot into a few hours.  This will give you a sample of our calendar.

Friday Dec 2 at 6:00 pm  “Christmas in the Colonies” a 1800’s  holiday dinner event at Riley’s Farms in Oak Glenn, CA

Saturday Dec 3 – Afternoon San Diego sightseeing and 4:30 pm holiday party

Weds Dec 7 – Ride-a-long with Sterling (dress in layers & comfortable shoes)

Sunday Dec 11 – Convertible Club (Meet at Wendys) at 11:00 am

Monday Dec 12 – Bunco Holiday Dinner

Saturday Dec 17 - Spaghetti Factory Dinner & Mission Inn light show in Riverside

Sunday Dec 18 – Lawrence Welk Holiday Musical Show (matinee - optional) Hot chocolate & Holiday House Drive for viewing lights

Sunday Dec 18 – Dinner/Cards and gift exchange at 6 pm.

Monday, Dec 19 – Fashion Island “Rogers Gardens”/San Juan Capistrano Late Lunch/Ortega Hwy Tuesday

Dec 20 – Drop off Vern & Ruthie at San Diego Airport

 



     The Bunco holiday party was held at Debbie's and was a repeat of the thanksgiving brunch.   Warm friendly guests with beverages and treats to match.  After ward we drove a few blocks to an acquaintance of Lynda's that continually won awards for their Christmas decorations.   Not only were the outside decorations spectacular they also opened there home for viewing.  After waiting in line we were greeted by the couple and offered homemade soup and treats.  Donations went to help the needy and fill foodshelves in the area.   

     After the tour we drove around the neighborhood viewing the lights in the area. 
     The next day another short tour with Lynda, she had an errand to run and we rode along. 

    We received a very nice Christmas email from Jim and Lynae Hot Springs village friends from our 2012 winter trip.  It prompted me to phone them as it is always nicer to reminisce in person.  Jim inquired why we weren't going back to a recent winter residence.  I mentioned that we had put in to many hours there and I didn't want to put Ruthie thru it again.  I said you know "Ruthie just can't say no" his reply "that's obvious, she married you didn't she."  And I thought we were friends. 

December 15 Today seemed like a pleasant day in the valley and we gave a thought to a ride up the mountain north of San Bernardino.  Our Valkyrie forum friend had suggested it and I sent him a text inquiring about a particular road.  

I was pointing out how the road supports
jutted out into space like a deck.  A Facebook
friend pointed out my riding gloves were   
courtesy of Harbor freight.                        

 Without giving me an answer to my question he replied that "he wouldn't go today as the weather didn't look good".   I sent him a smiley face so he would know we received the reply and continued on with our plans. 

     There were two main destinations on the mountain, lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.  Our plan was to ride North on 210 and take #18 up to Lake Arrowhead then follow the Rim of the World road toward Big Bear.  If the weather was bad or turned worse we could cut back on 330 instead of completing the entire mountain course.  By ten AM we were half way up the mountain marveling at the views below.  Every curve exposed us to more beauty. 

     Even though people at the top of the mountain questioned our sanity it really wasn't that cold and they nodded knowingly when we told them we were from Minnesota.   Anxious to complete our large loop we drove thru Lake Arrowhead without dismounting.  It seemed like a great tourist shopping area and I'm sure we will



Fortunate for the "hot" warning!

return.  In Big Bear we stopped long enough for a nice Italian lunch at Paolo's.  Knowing we had a gift exchange at the ranch soon we took the time to do a little shopping.  Some scarves caught Ruthie's eye for the ladies and I started inquiring about Huckleberry Jam for Sterling.  When traveling as we do, the size of gifts do matter. 

     Its always fun to ride with snow on the side of the road however the warnings and cloud cover moving in told us to move on.  We know how fast weather and conditions can change.   We reached the summit at 8,443 feet and continued down the other side into Redland. 

     Evidently we didn't count it as a full day as yet.  At Debbie's Christmas part someone had raved about the Mariachi music at Emilio's Mexican restaurant.   And for some reason it appealed to me.  Didn't have to talk Ruthie into it.  A mere mention that it was tonight and we were there.   We arrived just as the foursome started playing and going from table to table.  Even though it was a fun evening I probably wouldn't even mention it except for the fact that they spontaneously played a song that seems to have followed me since our winter trip in 2013. 
Yup, Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey.   Go ahead I dare you, look it up on YouTube, play it and see if you can get it out of your head.  As I type this I can hear it.  Who ever wrote it was certainly an evil person.  
December 17th,
     We had no idea what was going on this evening, it was scheduled as dinner at the Spaghetti factory and mission inn lights. 

Evidently reservations at not been made in time so we went to the tapas Seville in Riverside.  A beautiful Spanish style restaurant with massive beams and ornate decorations.  Impressive, the picture to the right displays how they serve kabobs.   After that we walked down the street to the Mission Inn district.   An impressive structure in it self which we must return to explore. 

The area around it and the Inn itself were decorated and lighted for the Christmas season.  
 
     Crowds of people filled the streets, there were vendors of all kinds. 


      Back at the ranch we did our little gift exchange between the four of us.  It is still hard for me to get a handle on our gift from Lynda and Sterling.  
When Ruthie started to unwrap it and seen the box it was in I tried to temper her enthusiasm so she wouldn't be disappointed in case the box was just that a box for wrapping.   Sterling was amused by my actions since the box indeed held a beautiful clock like the one Ruthie had admired in their living room shortly after our arrival.   Playing music with movement on the hour.

In a few days we will be going home for Christmas.    We will carry with us many memories from this short time with these two.   And every hour this beautiful clock will remind us of them and their kindness.   

183 To the Beach

     During the ranch gathering I had gotten several ride suggestions from a fellow rider.  This week we will start on the list. 
    But first a ride to the shop to get the fuel gauge hooked back up and a couple of other mistakes during the carburetor overhaul.  
November 30, 2016 And now with a indication of our fuel level we headed out.  One of Ruthie's favorite activities is to walk

along a body of water.  Since we are within 60 miles of the ocean we shall make it happen.   We have forgiven our GPS and allowed it to chart a course toward San Clemente thinking we would then follow #5 along the ocean looking for a beach.   Crossing the two interstates in our path we skirted Lake Elsinore and were put on #74 to traverse up the mountain.   Ruthie used her phone to capture pictures of the lake below us as the road switched back and forth. 

     Unfortunately many of the pull offs had a sharp and sometimes deep drop off  to pull off the road.  We found one where we could exit that allowed us to take a picture of the valley below.   It was interesting to observe the mountains in the distance and try to identify their names and which ones we had visited.  

 On one of the road signs I noticed that #74 over the mountain was also known as "The Ortega Highway" one of the suggested routes from our biker friends.   He had also suggested a biker bar on the route however the ocean was our goal today.  

Bird whisperer?

.    We are finding the California scenery breath taking.  I had no idea of the rugged mountains and landscape that make up this state.  We shall try to ride and explore as much of it as possible.   On the ocean side of the mountain we took a short cut toward the south and were soon riding along the ocean.   Much of the seashore was made up of cliffs that wouldn't allow Ruthie to walk close to the water.   Seeking information on a walker friendly beach we rode on.   Along with the ideal beach it was approaching lunch time and the "Oceanside Broiler" had been suggested to us.   The suggestion was an excellent one.  We shared a salmon dish and Ruthie had a margarita, her normal amount "this one and one other"  The area around the broiler was filled with stores and tourist attractions.  We will return and explore someday however today we need to get Ruthie to the beach. 

Mission accomplished!   That's her way out there.

       Knowing the traffic situation going north on interstate 15 and how fast the sitting sun cools off the valley road we travel we exited the beach while the sun was still high in the sky.   We took 76 northeast to the interstate and blended in with the flow of traffic.   The ride home is never a relaxing one due to the speed of freeway traffic.   You must be constantly on the alert for inattentive and impaired drivers.  It is frightening the number of drivers talking and texting as they drive.   Knowing the traffic jam by Temecula we exited early and made our way on the side roads.   Another pleasant day on the trike.  
    Generously Sterling and Lynda have given us a rather large for a tiny house flat screen TV.  It came with some suggestions as to how to mount it.  Using the original mount from the much smaller TV I fashioned it using our hosts instructions.  Unfortunately the original mount was extremely over engineered and it took several hours to reform the metal and mount so it could swivel for viewing.   We now travel with a ROKU streaming device and using the internet we can now watch many programs on the TV instead of a small tablet.    
     December 2  Lynda had suggested the three of us take part in a Christmas in the colonies supposedly an old fashioned meal with the pageantry of an old fashioned Christmas.  This morning we had received an email that the weather was turning cold with possibly snow in the forecast warning us to dress warm.  Evidently some had already canceled their reservations.   We arrived at Riley farm in the Glen Oaks area part way up the mountain north of Beaumont.   Supposedly set in a tavern in Pennsylvania we took our place to enjoy our feast.  The first course was corn chowder one of my favorites.   Followed by Corn pudding (surprisingly not unlike scalloped corn)  then we took a break and went outside for hatchet throwing, the prize a five pound apple pie. 

  At the competition I was tied for first place for some time with two hatchets stuck in the wood pile.  However some bloke (old English for fella) threw three hatchets that stuck.      Heartbroken from the hatchet throwing defeat and loss of apple pie we headed back into the tavern for the rest of the feast.  The rest of the meal was very good with one more trip into the corn field for corn bread evidently a staple in those days.   Caroling and a small Christmas skit finished out the evening.   Fun times. 

     

December 8, 2016  Still pleased with the personal freedom we had this winter I decided to check out the internet for another walking beach for Ruthie.   Looks like La Jolla beach is the destination today.    Combining an errand with the trip to the beach we swung by the Harley Davidson dealership, trying to make the Valkyrie a more comfortable ride for my co-rider I was on the lookout for passenger handrails.  Unfortunately even though they were San Diego's largest dealer they didn't have any in stock. 

I believe she is the small white dot
by the third pier.

I apologize for not
having the decency
to crop her green
shoes out of the
picture.
 

     Just up the street on Morena Blvd we took a chance and stopped at the Red Card Café, it was a warm day and we ate outside.  As usually we shared our meal, unfortunately for the management the menu tried to pass off a chicken breast with a small appendage as half a chicken.   The pleasant benefit of our complaint and the chefs admission that the menu was wrong was a gift of "lemongrass Crème Brule" from now on it will be one of my favorite desserts.  
     Wandering along the ocean the obviously very expensive residents caught our attention and soon we found a parking area next to a tourist area.   Someone had donated a sea wall that extended out into the ocean.   It provided a shelter for the baby sea lions to play in.  Again we inquired of a walking beach and were directed across the bay to an area by a very large pier.  
 We mounted the trike and using due reckoning eventually reached our goal.  It was perfect and soon Ruthie was a mere speck on the beach.   While at the pier she noticed that it was used for large boat storage and the structure at the end was a crane to launch and retrieve the boats.  Spendy I'm sure.  Again I was impressed with the size of the beach houses including the stairs that could be lowered and raised by electricity.  Doesn't take much to impress me, does it?    

    The sun was letting us know it was time to head for our winter home again.   

 

182. Thanksgiving!

     November 14, 2016

Perhaps we have
over prepared.

     The rest of the week went by quickly, Ruthie went to a Bunco party with Lynda and her friends on Monday.  Not sure?  I wasn't invited, its supposed to be some sort of a dice social game.  I remember the calendar said wear fuzzy slippers and bring a candle.  She wasn't out very late, seemed to have a good time, you'll have to ask her.
     We helped Lynda and Sterling prepare for Thanksgiving with friends.  It must be a pretty big deal.  We started lining up tables and chairs.   Ruthie was given the assignment of recreating Aunt Peggy's every so popular Sweet potatoe pie recipe.   I believe the goal was to triple the original size.  I sure hope somebody shows up for this event.  Our hosts seem to be working very hard they must be confident someone is coming over. 
     Meanwhile we were getting pretty nervous about our motorcycle sitting in a shop an hour away.  Evidently there were some problems.  The story we heard was it was the dirtiest carburetors they had ever seen.  Soaked them over night and then put them back in for another overnighter.  Another call, Carbs back on, now they are leaking.  Meanwhile we are paying for a rental car.   Lynda has volunteered to follow us up to return the car and bring us back.   She is to kind, we declined and decided to wait a few more days.  The night before the get together the shop said they should be calling by nine o'clock.  That should give us enough time to pick it up and get back in time.  We have heard starting times for the dinner from 2-3pm.  Saturday morning, activities on the ranch were picking up.   More tables and chairs were showing up.  Aromas floated over the three acre ranch.  Some were obviously from sweet  potato pie others were the ham and smoked turkey Sterling had started working on the night before.  12:30 Finally the call came, the trike was ready to go.   A little calculation, we figured a speed trip up, no visiting, return the rental and speed trip back.  Seems doable.   

The picture was taken at 1:53 PM

     As we arrived at the shop we were concerned when it wasn't waiting outside.  Not to worry they had it polished and on the showroom floor.  A quick picture, a few miles to return the rental and soon we were on the interstate above Highland CA heading Southeast toward Diamond Valley.   I liked the sound I was hearing and twisted the throttle more than normal to hear the six carburetors and the smooth roar from the engine.  Does everyone like the sound of a powerful engine revving to the red line?   Silly question, I'm sure every one does.  Probably wasn't very fuel efficient, with that in mind I noticed the fuel gauge was flashing at me.  Disappointed and wondering what the shop had done with my almost full tank of gas we searched for service stations near us.   An exit into Redlands proved futile as the fuel tank was practically full.  Evidently they had forgotten to reconnect the fuel gauge.  Back on interstate 10 we pushed the Valkyrie pretty hard in an effort to reach the dinner in time.  Even when we thought we were pushing, exceeding the legal speed limit thru the hills we passed very few vehicles and many went sailing past us.  

An hour and forty minutes later we
had taken our place at the table.

     We arrived with time to spare, like the California speed limits evidently the projected dinner start time was only a suggestion.   I believe by the time we ate there were over 50 guests, all the tables and chairs were occupied and a few had taken up residence in the gazebo.   Before we ate Sterling welcomed us and encouraged everyone to go around the table, introduce themselves and say something we were thankful for.   I thought back, on a recent winter trip I believe our winter hosts and employers looked upon everyone they came in contact for only their potential value to them.  Everything from ethnicity, race and social standing were cause for ridicule, distain and distrust.   Since we observed it on so many occasions I expect the same ridicule was directed at Ruthie and I when we were out of earshot.  Among many other things including our tiny home here I was thankful for this welcome change, our Diamond Valley hosts were genuinely interested and cared about all people.  As a result the afternoon was filled with delightful food, wine and interesting new acquaintances.   Some stayed late and gathered around a roaring campfire in the yard.   This was a great day!       
     The clean up scheduled for the next morning was pretty much finished by the time we were up.  Evidently Sterling is an early riser.   

     After our first massage on Monday Lynda acted as tour guide and chauffer visiting wineries, casinos, in the area.  She seemed to know the area very well. 

     The 23rd we all got in the car and Sterling drove us up the mountain to Idyllwild.   We went to a Ferro's a nice Italian restaurant they had been to before.  On a drive across the top of the mountain Ruthie expressed an interest in some of the large pinecones on the hillside.   Soon Sterling was climbing the hill gathering pinecones.

Yup, that's the kind of guy he is. 

           

      Thursday was a get together for brunch at their family friend and Bunco player Debbie's.  As we've grown accustom to on this trip the counter was covered with treats and beverages of every type.   A special treat was provided by one of the guests,  Christina had placed a wrapped popper in front of each plate.  You pulled on both ends and a surprise popped out.  

Surprise!

 That evening was a delicious dinner at neighbor Mary and Craig's.  Imagine, English Shepherds pie made and served by a proper English lady (I apologize, they have us watching "Downton Abbey")   It looks as if this will be the trip of new adventures and interesting acquaintances.  

     With Sterling and Lynda off to work we decided to mount the trike and do a little exploring on our own.   Ruthie and I went exploring on our own.   Almost suffering a rookie mistake as we headed for Ruthie's favorite pretzels at the large mall in Temecula.  Fortunately my co-rider realized it was not just any Friday, but the famous "Black Friday" of crowed malls and angry shoppers.  A quick U-turn and we were off for other adventures.   

     A stop at Masia de la Vinla proved to be a fun experience.  After that I'm going to take the blame or credit for our trip home.

     The day Sterling and I went to the shooting competition he had pointed out a shortcut at the intersection of De Portola Road and Mesa road.  He had warned me that it was treacherous and more efficient to drive several miles to go around.   We left the winery and I had plugged our winter home into the GPS, we turned left out of the entrance onto De Portola road.   Fortunately I was relieved when I seen it directed us right onto another road.  Evidently it new a safer route and I was anxious to see more of the countryside.   The road it chose was paved and seemed like a good choice.   The hills and curvy road were just what we came here for.   At the top of the hill we turned left to follow the ridge.


The road will probably improve ahead.

Evidently our GPS's good judgment was short lived, a couple of more turns and the road turned to sand.  Soon there were ruts that made us hug the edge of the road to miss them.  Back and forth from one side of the road to the other to avoid the ruts, I suppose we could have turned back however the scenery was so wonderful as we passed million dollar homes with small vineyards replacing lawns in their front yards.  White rail fences declared the owners boundaries sometimes seeming to stretch an unbelievable distance. 

     Hard to imagine the wealthy owners had to travel these rugged roads.   I believe we seen three vehicles, a pickup and two four wheel all terrain vehicles.

     This is the hill overlooking Mesa road.  A couple more treacherous blocks and we could turn right and travel home.   However the wine stop must have also affected my co-riders judgment.  As we reached the bottom of the hill I asked if we

should turn, her answer "the rest of it can't be any worse"  and it wasn't.  It was turning dark and cold by the time we dropped down off  De Portola road and caught sight of Diamond Valley Lake. (larger than I imagined) A fun adventure with pictures to show it happened. 
     Oh yes the surprise?  Mine a bottle opener shaped like a snowman, now a Christmas tree ornament.  Ruthie's a heavy duty compass, could have came in handy this week.