We had a fast but uneventful trip down. Since we didn’t get out of Steilacoom until 4 pm on Thursday, we made it only as far as where 205 hooks up with I-5 south of Portland. That is a great rest stop, and after wandering back through additional parking areas we scored a parking spot next to a grassy strip where we could extend the bedroom slide and give Cooper a place to walk.

Friday was from there to Red Bluff and Saturday was Red Bluff to Bakersfield with both towns having great RV parks for us. Sunday was a half day drive from Bakersfield to Redlands. Coming through the San Bernardino Mountains seemed less harrowing than last winter, perhaps because it was a Sunday and perhaps we weren’t trying to keep up with Mario Gary Ousey Andretti!!

We had researched RV parks in this area and only found two that were within a reasonable distance of Loma Linda, and sure enough there are only two. Both are older parks, nicely maintained, but with spaces that would have very nicely accommodated our early 70s pickup and camper. Ken did a great job of maneuvering the MH into our spot.

Cooper has been a trooper. He usually was up on the sofa while we were moving. He hasn’t been overly interested in his dog food, so I have been giving him fresh green beans and cooked rice. He loves the green beans. He has lived a pretty sheltered life, so his nose goes into high gear when we take him outside for walks. He is happy to be with us but isn’t quite sure of what is going on, so he doesn’t let Ken get more than three feet away from him.

We will spend these next three days exploring the area, buying groceries, and locating Costco, Trader Joe’s, Camping World, etc. Costco is about 18 miles away but the others are here in Redlands.

It has been very very lightly raining this morning. Sun is forecast for this afternoon, and the usual temps are around 90 but it looks like it cools down to the low 70s and high 60s at night which I can handle.

Later……………we have met two men here in the park who will finish their treatments this week. They are just as enthusiastic as anyone else we have encountered. I first met one of the wives………where else but the laundry room. Subsequently her husband, and his neighbor both came over to chat. I can see that this whole thing becomes quite the clique.

We drove around the area for a while this afternoon. It turns out that Costco is very close, and Camping World and a lot of chain restaurants, but not much else. In N Out Burger is in San Bernardino which we will track down very soon.

While sitting outside this evening some neighbors came home, came over, chatted, went back and got their lawn chairs and drinks of choice and came back and stayed about two hours. They are just passing through and live in Kennewick. So now we have names and numbers to contact for a visit/MH parking in Kennewick. No one is a stranger in this world of RVs.

Ken and Cooper and I need to take an evening walk. Ken and I plan to attend an orientation at LLUMC on Wednesday. I’ll let you know about that. Ciao