San Clemente, CA

After a day or two home, we headed off again… this time with the trailer headed south.
Driving through a little nugget of Arizona is just beautiful.

We stayed in Primm and watched the game and rode the rollercoaster. This is one of my all time favorite coasters – it’s mainly outside and high up, with little curves and bumps that go inside and make you duck. Much better than the New York New York one, but costs about the same. I didn’t remember it being so bumpy the last time I rode it, but I had a 10 years younger body then and didn’t have to hold my head and neck. The game on the other hand sucked and we should’ve gone to see the Beach Boys there who just happened to be playing that night. I coulda rekindled my Mike Love love and maybe got on the stage again, but no, we watched Nebraska get pummeled. By Missouri of all teams. They are the worst whiny dicks. The Vlasaks all went to Missouri for a Nebraska game a few years ago, which happened to end up the first time that Missouri had beat Nebraska in decades. Yup, we got to be present for that. Their fans and students were pretty big assholes and one had such a big damn mouth that he ended up getting choked. I so adore my Papa Joe. J Anyway, Whiskey Petes in Primm had the funniest sign on their marquee outside – Pet Friendly – with a scary looking dog showing his teeth.

Our first night welcomed us with a beautiful sunset along the San Clemente pier. We were on the bike, which was a beautiful ride. A lady at the post office managed to ruin that for me by telling us she saw a bike go down on PCH which made her sad and we should be careful out there. What the hell was she telling us that shit for? Just to make me paranoid and worry, as if I don’t do that too much already for god’s sake? Cujo said it was just out of concern and everyone needs a reminder to be aware and careful now and then. He’s probably right and it’s me that has issues and reads more than exists into most everything.

There are but a few places we can take Charlie that actually allow a dog on a beach here, but we did find one in San Diego while we were there taking care of business.

A love affair has been renewed… Cujo has had these Rainbow flip flops for years, and put them through hell. They’ve been every color of the spectrum and in any substance imaginable. They finally waved the white flag this summer, and he’s gone through a couple more pairs of cheapo sandals in the meantime. So of course hitting the Rainbow store was a priority when he got back to San Clemente.

We’ve traded in commercial airplanes above us at all times for military helicopters – Camp Pendleton is right next to us, and so there is constant air traffic and loud bombs a few times a day. Being between a military camp and a nuclear plant is either the safest place to be or the most unsettling, I’m not sure yet. There is quite a large fire burning as I write that is a tad disconcerting and worrisome for closer residents and home owners.

Another place we found that we could take Charlie is just down the street from where we are plugged in, luckily. The downside however, is that it a state park - therefore it costs. And cost it does! I suppose I can admire the fact that they are actually trying to pass down the shortfalls to their citizens, therefore perhaps teaching folks that some things (such as state parks and programs) aren't just righted to us. Still, it does irk me to pay over a hundred dollars for a year pass to a state beach I could nearly throw a rock to. From the coastline, we can easily see San Onofre where Cujo will be sweating out the next month.