Menifee, California

November 30 - December 7, 2008

Thousand Trails - Wilderness Lakes

We do have some adventures on the road! It took us an hour and a half to get here...a trip that should have taken only half an hour. You wouldn't know there's a bad economy here in Southern California. New neighborhoods are going up like crazy...both retirement neighborhoods and those with the large family homes. They tend to add new roads and take out the old ones. Since it was such a short trip, I drove the car leading Ken. We got into Menifee and my next left just wasn't there. So, we did a u-turn (not that easy in a motorhome) and tried again in vain. Pulled over to check the GPS once again and figured we would try to go in from "the other side"; got on the highway to the next exit and turned right only to come to a single lane, dirt road. Another u-turn and we're on the phone to get some new directions. The GPS was going absolutely crazy "recalculating"!!

We got here and our site is pretty nice (especially for a Thousand Trails), backing up to a man-made fishing canal. We were sitting outside the first night enjoying a glass of wine and there was a nice breeze. Suddenly the breeze stilled and we were hit with the "aroma" from the cattle farm located next door; actually drove us indoors! Since then it hasn't been that bad but I guess you never know what you'll find next door. We've stayed at TT for 100 nights since April 1st and the membership fee has averaged out to $5.00 per night. You really just can't compare that to rates like $55.00 per night around here...I won't complain.

We went back to play golf at Seven Hills Golf Course in Hemet...couldn't beat the on-line price I found of $11.00 greens fees including cart! We met Bill from East Washington State and had a fun round of golf...I got my game back to a point. It was mostly good holes with a few AWFUL holes in between. We went back again later in the week and I was feeling pretty good about my game and Ken couldn't hit straight. We never seem to be on track together. We happened to play this round with Bill again (he was on the same booking website).

Bill told us he had been there earlier in the week for dinner; sitting there in a corner by himself when an elderly gentleman (everybody in the room was either an elderly gentleman or an elderly gentlewoman) started to choke on something he ate. Bill jumped up, went to the man and wrapped his arms around a very large body. Squeezed and squeezed and finally the guy started breathing again. Bill saved the day...the funny part of the whole situation was the other elderly gentleman sitting with our "victim" just sat there and continued to eat!!! I guess, as you get older, your priorities change.

We spent a day in Old Temecula...we seem to find a lot of "Old Towns" here in California. This one ranked third of three on our list. It was still fun to walk the wood strip walks and visit the shops along the way.

This part of California is an anomally to us. The weather is absolutely perfect! We enjoyed Hemet with its new, clean atmosphere. Menifee, as we said, was new roads and neighborhoods, good shopping, nice atmosphere. It's an area gearing up for the baby-boomers...too bad it's so far from home!

We leave here really looking forward to the next couple of stops. First, we head to Palm Springs to see how "the other half" lives! We'll set up our small Christmas tree and see what it's like to spend the holidays far, far away from home. We will look forward to seeing Sarah once we hit San Diego. So much to look forward to. Yet, we miss our family and friends at this wonderful time of year...and...there's no snow here!!

Next stop...Palm Springs!!