Sycamore Canyon Campground

“The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a 

primeval wood and the sound of outer ocean on a beach“

Henry Beston

When looking at the extended radar forecast, we decided to pack up the Webegon and planned a month-long escape to the warm desert breezes of Southern Arizona.  We began our desert safari with a stop at Point Mugu State Park to visit our new tribe members and fellow camphosts, John and Christina. As the most recent camphosts at Sycamore Canyon Campground, they had invited us to stop by for a visit during our ramble down Hwy 101. This is a lovely campground offering some nice campsites and miles of hiking/biking trails. It was a surprise to find such a sanctuary amongst the urban sprawl that is Southern California...homes, asphalt and concrete. As it turns out, it is but a small part of Santa Monica Mountains National Preserve which Congress established as a part of the National Park System in 1978.

Located in the Santa Monica Mountains, Point Mugu features miles of rugged shoreline, narrow sandy beaches and some chaparral covered hills offering miles of hiking trails. With the park being devoid of campers, not only did we have our choice of campsite, but our friends were able to break away from their hosting duties to give us that perfect nickel tour of the surrounding area, hiking trails, their private beach and John’s never-ending “tide trash’.

We did venture out to hike the 3.5 mile Grotto Trail…although an unimproved streambed prevented us from touching the goal post. But the trail offered some wonderful views of the hillsides and winter waterfalls as it led us down to the west fork of the Arroyo Sequit. And the biggest takeaway of our short hike was an edit of “Webster’s description of a lap dance”….with visuals. We were smiling like monkeys with new bananas.

Although our stay was short, we had some wonderful quality time with our friends…great food, conversations and warm hugs…we definitely look forward to our next reunion in Oregon. Ahh...the sweetness of friendship...laughter and the sharing of pleasures. We now point our snout south to the surrounding area of Joshua Tree National Park.

At Waypoint 34.072853, -119.014599

Hearst San Simeon State Park

"The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back'

Wendy Wunder

We returned to our Central Coast Hidey Hole, but unbeknownst to us at the time, for a very short stay. We were home just long enough to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and tidy up the grounds of this beautiful forested abode and it's "hobbit house". In a matter of days we would be returning to our favorite local campgrounds. We went back to San Simeon State Park for a short volunteer tour as Park Camp Hosts.  

During the many years as Central Coast residents, the State Park has been one of our favorite backyards and a constant backdrop during our evolution of RV travel. We have dedicated previous posts to our park...the link will take you back to one of our stays and reveal to you our love for this wonderful park.

Hearst San Simeon State Park

When one of our most beloved friends, "Old Fart Frank Roberts", had to leave a wee bit early from his Camp Host stint at San Simeon, we volunteered to cover him for a couple of weeks. Enter Karma...it is an experience and that experience creates memories and those memories create imagination and desire. Well...San Simeon State Park has contributed to manifesting karma and a paragon to our traveling lifestyle. Warmest of memories for sure!

And...hosting has been a "lottery" winner to us! Not only did we meet the Roberts camp hosting, but many of our other lifelong tribe members. We just 'recruited' Christina and John, Rayna and Larry as our blood brethren. Folks, friendship isn't about who you have known the longest... it is about who walks into your life during that perfect moment, demonstrate that they are like-minded, or respectfully can engage in a rousing conversation about issues they are passionate about,  typically show compassion for their brothers, and sisters and are deeply committed to the environment. Most of all our friends consistently walk their talk!  
Synchronicity is alive and well. 

We made daily camp checks throughout the park in our little electric cart (a big treat for Sydney) or via a walk about, exchanged greetings and conversations with fellow campers and sold heaping wheel barrows of fire wood and ended each evening enjoying a  nice "bonfire"...you know I love BIG fires. But more importantly, it was again validated the importance for all of us to be stewards of our natural gems. 

In our brief stint here, Sydney serenaded for the affection of Dale the Cat (with no luck, although they once did a nose kiss), we got to tour the Castle draped in holiday decorations with Christina and John and put on a few ounces of "muscle" with some decadent campground meals.

With our time ending at the park, we bid farewell to Rayna and Larry to spend Christmas with the Nicolais of Cloverdale and then head down to SoCal to Blanco Land. Although our hosting duties may be limited in the future, leaving our footprints at San Simeon will be ongoing for as long as we call this waypoint home.

At Waypoint 35.5903200 -121.0717400