After our visit with Kerry and Annabelle, we continue our journey ‘home’.
Back in California at last, and we take a last desert walk…
Well, maybe that’s a desert run!
And in Bakersfield, between the raindrops, we gather some oranges at Orange Grove RV Park.
Lots of blossoms on the trees now, but still some juicy ripe oranges to be had.
We continue on through the vibrantly green hills of California….
And through the rain….
As we near Gonzales, CA we are suddenly in the worst deluge of rain pounding down upon us that I’ve ever driven, much less towed in. It’s as though the windshield wipers are nonexistent. The only reason I can see in front of me is because a big yellow truck is in the lane right ahead of us. I can’t pull over because I can’t see what might be there on the side of the road, and I obviously can’t stop, so I continue on almost blinded by water.
Though it seems to go forever, it probably lasts less than 5 minutes.
We continue on through more rain and finally arrive at Mary’s house. YAY! It’s good to see her again and Joy and Shiloh are excited to be here!
Within our first few days of being here friends Laura and Joel come for a visit, and a neighbor backs Wandering Spirit into Mary’s back yard for me.
Wow, looks like WS has her own rainbow in the lower left there.
A couple of weeks ago friends Shirlee and Doug, two of the first people we met on the road and continued a friendship with, text to say they will be in my old stomping grounds on their way home to Canada. As it turns out we all arrive here in the area on the same day. We get a couple of visits in before they have to leave.
Doug and Shirlee on our ocean drive in Pacific Grove.
Ocean and rocks.
Doug gets a kiss from Joy!
We walk the trail near Mary’s house. Mary is taking the picture.
We make vegan pizza!
And find some California poppies…(closed up because it’s near sunset.) We must really be home!
Now we will try to settle a bit. This will be the first time we live in a sticks and bricks for an extended period (a number of months) in close to 4 years.
We’ll see how this goes….
Wandering Spirit 
Welcome home!
Thanks Patty. Good to be here.
Sometimes it’s good to stop wandering for a bit. Enjoy the ocean and beach and friends and family. You will know when (or if) it’s time to wander again.
Yes, that’s how it feels to me too Reine.
That’s what I’m feeling too Reine.
Everyone, human and canine, looks very joyful! Welcome home. The RV Park in Bakersfield must have smelled like orange blossom heaven!
P. S. I don’t know for sure, but I may now appear as Mo D. Instead of O’Connor. It’s a WordPress thing.
Hi Maureen, yes you are showing up as Mo D.
It was raining most of the time we were at Orange Grove and it was just a tad early for the wonderful orange blossom fragrance. Maybe by now it has started.
So not you’re gonna enjoy more comfort för a while.Have a nice Pubbie😊
Den ons 28 mars 2018 17:31Wandering Spirit skrev:
> onewanderingspirit posted: “After our visit with Kerry and Annabelle, we > continue our journey ‘home’. Back in California at last, and we take a last > desert walk… Well, maybe that’s a desert run! And in Bakersfield, between > the raindrops, we gather some oranges at Orange Gro” >
Hey Cubbie. I must admit it’s very comfy here.
It looks like it’s meant to be. Love the running dogs, and the oh so green hills, and of course the ocean and the pizza and the doggy kisses. It’s all good. I hope you keep blogging even though you’re not wandering (as much) so that we can keep up with you and your lovely pooches.
I do plan to keep blogging Dawn. It will be interesting…to me at least…to see how the blog evolves while not on the road.
I’ve never posted but have enjoyed your travels immensely !! A lot of your travels I have been on with my husband & a yellow & black labs..but then back to New Hampshire. Hope to hear how you & your precious goldens are doing staying in one spot. Our black lab would, once we were back home, run over to the truck in the morning & wonder why we weren’t going anywhere!! Enjoy your new spot : )
Hi Sue, thank you for commenting! Since you have done these travels too I hope this blog brings you good memories.i lived in New Hampshire too, about 20 years ago… New London. It was for a fairly short time but it was a beautiful time.
Welcome home!!! Let’s get together soon!
Thanks Marsha. Yes I’d like to do that!
Curious to see how you feel at the end of your stay, and of course want you to give us the scoop while you’re there. Everyone looks so happy! I have to say though, even though you struggle some with “wandering”, you have met some incredible friends along the way. Such treasures!
I’m curious too Cindy. I really don’t know how this will turn out at all. Playing it by ear, but I guess I have been all along. When I set out in WS I’d only ever spent 2 nights camping in an RV and that was when I did WS’s “shakedown” the year before.
Also I had no idea I’d make lasting friendships on the road while living such a transient life… and being an introvert. Surprised the heck out of me!😊
Happy Easter Mickey! Thanks for all the beautiful pics you have posted over the years. You all look great and so happy and relaxed. Looking forward to that! Busy night at work😕Miss you! Terese
On Wed, Mar 28, 2018 at 8:32 AM Wandering Spirit wrote:
> onewanderingspirit posted: “After our visit with Kerry and Annabelle, we > continue our journey ‘home’. Back in California at last, and we take a last > desert walk… Well, maybe that’s a desert run! And in Bakersfield, between > the raindrops, we gather some oranges at Orange Gro” >
Hi Terese. So nice to hear from you! Very happy I’ve been able to share the pictures, and now being back for awhile I’m hoping to get to see you and ‘all the girls’.
Hang in there. Life on the other side of those busy nights is so worth waiting for.