A Drive to Oceanside and the Kids

To Dean’s in Oceanside

June 25-29, 2009 

Day 1, Thursday, June 25, Home to Frazier Park, CA via I-5: 254 miles.

It was time for another trip to Oceanside to see the kids – my son Dean’s family. So I loaded the coach for a few days on the road – and hitting the road is something I have been feeling the need to do lately. It’s been awhile.

As usual, I drove south to Frazier Park, near the summit of the Tehachapis. For a change, and mostly because I forgot to take the turnoff to Hiway 33, I drove the entire trip south on I-5. It seems that route is the smoothest choice even though the drive is miles and miles of the same scenery. Hiway 99 has more rough roads and potholes than I-5.

I spent the night in the lot of Flying J’s Travel Plaza. It’s safe, it’s high enough to be cooler than the valley, and was quite comfortable even without running the air conditioners.

My spot at Frazier Park Flying J for the night.

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Day 2, June 26, Frazier Park to Oceanside via I-5: 155 miles.

The drive through LALA land is always the same: Traffic! But this trip was not too bad.

I hit the road  a bit before 0900 so that I would time my drive through LALA land to be after the morning commute. This trip I streaked – relatively speaking – through LA, having to slow to a crawl only a few times. I arrived in Oceanside before noon. My son picked me up for lunch, and we ate at a lovely restaurant patio, overlooking the Oceanside harbor. It is as nice a place to dine as I know, and we thoroughly enjoy the birds, the boats and the good food.

My son, Dean, Connor standing, and Aidan. Oh yeah… and Grandpa.

 Here’s Dean’s wife, Melissa, Dean & Aidan.

I spent the afternoon at the kids’ home, visiting with the kids and enduring the endless kiddy noise that is their lifestyle. After a few hours, and a dinner brought home from Carl’s Jr., Dean drove me back to my coach where I relaxed in the peace and quiet which is my lifestyle.

Jacks down at Guajome Park for a couple of nights.

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Day 3, Saturday, June 27, Jacks down at Guajome Park

This day was spent mostly at the coach as the kids had a pizza party for Connor’s baseball team. I don’t do kiddy parties. But I spent the evening with the family ‘til about 1900 when I asked for a ride back to the coach so I could hit the sack to get up the next morning early and head for home.

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Day 4, Sunday, Oceanside, CA to home via I-5, SR99: 404 Miles.

I pulled out of Guajome Park at 0400, and headed for home. I streaked through LALA land with very little traffic, which is the whole point in leaving so early. I was home just a few minutes after noon. This was a very uneventful trip, just as I like it!

Next trip: July will include a trip to Oregon to go fishing with my old high school buddy, Al!

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