Sage, CA

We've been riding the many dirt roads around Sage, Hemet and Temecula, CA enjoying the fantastic views.  Jim has started working out with Joellen at Anytime Fitness; all is good.

Sage, CA

We continue to explore the many dirt roads around Sage, CA.  The weather finally changed; temperatures have been in the 70s the last few days and we've been riding our dirt bikes almost daily.  Tomorrow we will return to Minto Way/Oak Lane, an area of giant boulders looking down on Diamond Lake.

Sage, CA

A couple days ago we found a fantastic dirt road (Stanley Road) that goes on and on crossing various mountain ranges through huge ranches from Sage, CA over to Idyllwild mountain (we think).  After riding for what felt like a long time (it was cold - turned out it was just a two hour ride in total), today we will go back.  Its about 32 degrees at 7 am at our current elevation.  The ride ascends through lots of elevation changes meaning it gets colder every foot we ascend.  We will wait until about 1 pm today for warmer temperatures to start riding.

We have pictures but blogger is not giving us the opportunity to upload from our computer today.

Our Forest River RV continues to have issues.  Right now Jim is dealing with a second broken refrigerator solenoid (so no ice from the ice maker) and a broken leveler (so we can't completely level the RV).  Its always something.

Sage, CA

Southern CA provides both dramatic scenery and weather.  From our RV park Tucalota Springs, we can see multiple snow-capped mountain ranges. 
Today on the way to Anytime Fitness in Beaumont, CA, it was raining and sunny at our altitude thus a gorgeous rainbow. 

On the way home, we could see rain all around us but the skies were clearing.  Everywhere we go we are ascending and descending mountains and experience various temperatures and conditions.  It's been too cold to ride dirt bikes since leaving Yermo/Barstow.  December is colder than normal here.

Californians drive fast.  Joellen gets passed regularly driving the Jeep.  Tomorrow we will have our traditional Christmas dinner, lasagna Joellen.

Santee Lakes Santee, CA

We spent the last week at Santee Lakes, a county park with RV parking.  Yesterday it rained all day; something we saw so little of in Texas.  We visited four other RV parks near San Diego; Imperial Beach and El Cajon looking for a place to spend the coldest month of the year.  We did not find anything we liked so we are going back to Tucalota Springs in Hemet, CA (yeah) for the holidays and Jim's January birthday.  Santee Lakes was just OK; full of ants.  The lakes are man-made, small and smelly.  Yesterday a coyote walked right up to our RV.  Last weekend at Santee was so crowded with large, loud groups.  This park appears to be a weekend retreat for groups with small travel trailers vs. an RV park for full-timers.

Temecula, CA

We spent the last week in the beautiful Temecula wine country nestled in mountains between Temecula and Hemet, CA.  It is so quiet here. The RV park is peaceful with walking trails and 360 views.  We visited just one winery, Baily, because we liked everything they made; all dry wines.  Today we leave for Santee Lakes in Santee, CA.

More Rainbow Basin, Barstow, CA

Yesterday we returned to Rainbow Basin.  After again riding the scenic loop of colored stone pictured above, we took a very sandy whooped filled road where we successfully practiced and honed our sand-riding skills (no falls).  We drove Irwin Road North and saw some dramatic scenery.  Barstow offers a good amount of off-road riding.