It is a moot point as Susan would never say yes to staying in Tucson for a month! But I will say that I could stay for the climate/weather but not much else (except bike rides) and not for the scenery. There are some treeless mountains off a ways, basically varieties of cactus surrounded us, and not much else. It is the desert after all, so heat can climb to 95+, that is an issue. Then — there is often wind with warning notices about blowing sand, or monsoon rain with warnings of stay out of floods! One must research and choose the right time for any extended stay.
Entering Southern California brought a brief period of Palm trees that did not stay with us nearly long enough. Back in the desert with flat lands and lots of wind turbines! At one point we had solar farms on our right, turbine farms on our left. Harnessing power from natural resources,
From camp we had about 825 miles or so to get to Sarah’s. Susan knocked out 415 of those miles today as we find ourselves in Calimesa (not far from Beaumont California).
A very basic motel akin to our Super 8 stay. At first I thought it was at least a half step up from the 8, but no — not even any available hot water for my morning tea!
A phone conversation with Sarah brought us information that the next day it would be raining a lot in and on the way to Elk Grove. We decided to drive from Calimesa directly to Sarah’s.
Our first encounter was Lucy and Kate setting up the rabbit hutch! What? Rabbits? A friend of theirs had convinced them to join 4H and get a bunny to raise for the county fair.
They love these bunnies and the bunnies get plenty of play time and lovin’.
I see in a mere two days that those baby bunnies have already grown — soon to be rabbits.
Our main event was to celebrate Sarah’s birthday with her. We took her for birthday breakfast on the morning of her birthday.
There would be birthday dinner prepared by Angie, Jeremy’s mom. Lucy set up her mom on a throne with a crown. Tierra anyway.
We all enjoyed Angie’s dinner of Scallops, pasta, veg and beverage.
From left; Kate, Lucy, Sarah, Susan, Jaydon, Axel (exchange student from France), Angie. Jeremy is out of town for work, but joined us briefly by face time.
About the rain — it did. This morning (day after celebration for Sarah) it is raining, cloudy and chilly. I am ever hopeful, and weather forecast agrees, for the rain to finish by late morning and am dressed to hop on my bike for a ride!
And it happened! YAY!!
The route I did was the first one I had done when we first came to visit Sarah here in Elk Grove. And just like that time, there was an egret along the way.
Most of the ride is on roads, and some with traffic. There is a short, less than a mile long trail along the canal.
Turning off the trail onto the road for my return trip that completes the loop.
There was a chill in the air (56f) as the sun I expected by the forecast for today, did not happen until long after I got home. Apparently we will be here another full day so there is a chance for another ride ;’-). I’ll wait to post this entry until after that ride tomorrow.
This is “tomorrow” and the sky was blue and the sun was full. I had to motivate myself to ride, but thinking about getting home to wet and cold helped that right along. The rides I do are right from Sarah’s house so all are repeats eventually.
Today’s ride was to what they call the Delta. I rode through a lot of vineyards and orchards.
Jeremy tells me that there are lots of plum orchards as well as peach and other fruit, as well as almonds a bit farther north. The traffic was light in all places, but there were spots where fast traffic passed me. Lots of open fields, and the cows seemed to be coming in for lunch ;’-).
Some of the farm roads were choppy with attempts at patchwork that marginally worked. There were times when I was surrounded by fruit orchards, and only one or two cars came along.
The route took me onto Randall Island, which is not an island at all I don’t think. But the quiet residential road was a nice change from being on a highway.
Tomorrow we head home and there will likely be no blog worthy stops or sights. I will end posting for this trip. Thank you for coming along with me, it is always fun to think of you by my side. See you next time 💕.
Adventures with Nancy 