US trip in Elsie's 33 year old Californian cousin.

[daveclare]

Hi all, we've temporarily swapped Elsie for 'Peggy Sue'. She's an old gal but still capable of shuffling us around . We're currently in wine country. But off to see the elephant seals in Santa Cruz for breakfast.

 

[daveclare]

RVing US style,

at Pinnacles National Park. Bleeding freezing in the morning, in the 70's during the day.

 

[daveclare]

A photo through the door taken during a stop along 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach.

 

[Mikey RV]

Looks great, did you do a camper swop with someone from the states.

 

[daveclare]

We're lucky we have a friend who lives near Santa Clarita who just said " Come over and take the RV on a trip".

To good an offer to turn down. She's an old gal but everything works as it should and the heater packs a punch for the cold crisp nights

We don't even mind a fuel gauge that loves heading south very quickly.

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[daveclare]

Tell it like it is US style.

If you think CMC etc have many rules in UK. Here there are a few more.

 

[daveclare]

Forgot to add. Had a near miss yesterday going along 17 Mile Drive. A truck coming the other way stuck some power lines with its roof and brought them down into our path. Slammed the brakes on and they fell about 6 inches in front of us.


Old Peggy Sue's tyres were smoking, a well as my undies. Driver of truck carried on regardless.

 

[daveclare]

Now at Redwood RV park just outside Santa Cruz. Less said about Santa Cruz the better

 

[Mr porky]

Very envious
Have fun

 

[daveclare]

Sitting outside an art shop in Santa Cruz and these chaps

rolled up. They call them stretched cruisers.

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[busbuddy]

Hi all, we've temporarily swapped Elsie for 'Peggy Sue'. She's an old gal but still capable of shuffling us around . We're currently in wine country. But off to see the elephant seals in Santa Cruz for breakfast.View attachment 579483

Nothing wrong with an f350

 

[daveclare]

Indeed it tonks along, but steering is by committee. Turn the wheel, it goes on the agenda, they vote on it and then the wheels move. Everything still works 29 years later.

 

[daveclare]

Just experienced our first snobby RV camp. Because Peggy Sue is over 10 years old they wanted all around photos and........ Copies of ALL maintenance records. Told them to stick it.

Can't wait to get back to a free and easy, relaxed CMC site

 

[Jamesh]

We're lucky we have a friend who lives near Santa Clarita who just said " Come over and take the RV on a trip".

To good an offer to turn down. She's an old gal but everything works as it should and the heater packs a punch for the cold crisp nights

We don't even mind a fuel gauge that loves heading south very quickly.

What it's not a euro 6 diesel?!!!

 

[peterc10]

Less said about Santa Cruz the better

You just gotta love the trashiness of the Boardwalk. Tasted my first (and last) Corn Dog there.

Monterey on the other side of the bay, with Fisherman's Wharf and the Aquarium, is quite a contrast.

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[daveclare]

I was looking for the deep fried butter

 

[daveclare]

A crisp morning amongst the trees. Plus an unusual shiny tree.

 

[daveclare]

Arrived in Napa yesterday. To be 'greeted' by Mr. Rude, arrogant 'camp host'. He instantly had a go at us for reversing up a road. I said it was because the entrance was coned off and the instructions told us 'if there was nobody in reception, pull up to the camp host RV'. Which we did.

When I pointed out that he was rude and arrogant, he absolutely flipped.

Goodbye Nappa, Hello Moss Landing.

Moss Landing. Near a nice marina but overshadowed by a rather large imposing power station.

Oh well, must try better next time!

 

[daveclare]

Arrived back from trip. Got as far up as Nappa and as far down as Ventura. Some school of life lessons learned:

1. As in UK, motorhoming American style is not cheap. Average cost of privately owned site pitches is over $100, with some as much as $140. State pitches were $50 ish.

2. Driving a 29 year old 9 miles to the gallon V8 RV is not cheap. Total cost of fuel for 7 day trip was just over $700. Yes $700.

3. For a supposedly 'classless society', they are very class driven. Four sites refused our booking because the RV was over 10 years old. One refused because we were not the owners of the vehicle.

4. Site facilities were inferior to the ones we've used in UK and Europe.

5. As with reviews back home, a 5 star review means nothing. In typical US style, exaggeration is commonplace.

6. As with UK, there has been an explosion of RV and fifth wheel sales. I'm told that as a result, some sites are milking it for what it's worth. With many premium locations booked up 6 to 9 months in advance, even when pitch costs are doubling.

7. Many in California can't afford to buy a house, so live full time in their RV. We've seen many which make Walt's Breaking Bad RV look like a Morelo Palace.

8. Spending time in very different RV to the one we have back home and visiting different places with different people has just strengthened our desire to carry on doing what we enjoy.

9. It's much, much easier managing black waste US style....as long as you fix the pipe SECURELY to the outlet.

10. Sites have much more room to manoeuvre around.

11. Up to 50amps supply means you can bring your Hot Rod style Golf Buggy with you, just to get to the trash bins and back, really.

And finally. It is rather strange when nobody understands a single word you say. Nobody wants to talk to you, especially when they think you come from czechoslovakia. Must remember that when I'm taking the ferry across the Mers........Danube!

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Walt's Breaking Bad RV look like a Morello Palace.

Have you know MORELO’s make a good meths lab, plenty of garage space

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[peterc10]

Strange,

We have been to California a couple of times getting round in a hire car and staying at hotels and motels. Mind you that was 18 to 20 years ago! In addition we spend a month each year (except the last two!) in New Jersey where our daughter now lives.

We found people are very open and polite and most were interested in talking to us. Just sit at the bar and they soon strike up a conversation. Mind you our daughter says that the people on both coasts are like that. She reckons the further they get away from the sea the more insular they get!!

 

[daveclare]

Yes this was inland. I know that we can talk quicker than most, coming from Liverpool. But most of the time I had to repeat myself, even when talking slowly. Which felt quite strange.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

We found people are very open and polite and most were interested

Same as, been to the States dozens of times and I find a lot of Americans like to talk when they find out you are English

 

[daveclare]

Yes we've had that many times in the past. But that's when they know you're English. Some have never heard of Liverpool. I usually follow up with 'home of the Beatles'. But on this trip......bushweed flows across the road whilst waiting for an answer.