Stop 44: Simi Valley, CA (Our final stop!)

We stayed at this regional park campground last year and found it to be very peaceful. The obvious places to stay would have been down at the beach but, when we looked at them, we found that the vast majority of the sites are first come, first serve. The few sites that can be reserved are booked many months in advance.

This park gets very hot in the day time (high 90s) but that's when we are off visiting Grant, Melissa and the kids. In the evenings, it cools off wonderfully and it's a joy to just sit outside and watch the stars and animals (rabbits and coyotes - usually not at the same time unless one wants to be the other's dinner).

The park is quiet and unbelievably empty.

There are about 20 sites. The bulletin board lists the reservations for this week (5) and next (3). The host is only there in the evenings so there are no drop-ins.

Our trailer in the empty campground.

Our first full day: Watching Colton and Riley while Grant and Melissa are at work

We watched Colton and Riley for 17 days at the end of March, immediately prior to starting out on our trip. We saw them again at the end of April when we swung by to attend Riley's 1st birthday party. Riley is changing so fast that she's suddenly gone from being a baby to being a small person. Walking makes a lot of difference but she's also become quite a character.

We had a pretty quiet day (naps and mealtimes are a little bit limiting). While Riley took her morning nap, Colton and I managed to make it over to the playground and then to McDonalds for some takeout. Colton made immediate friends with a couple of boys at the playground (they shared their trucks with him - friends for life) so it was very hard to pull him away.

Riley is crazy about her sunglasses ...

... Even when she doesn't quite get them straight.

Happy boy.

Grant and Melissa both came home from work a bit early and we all went out to dinner at a great place that serves Belgian style food and beer.

Riley, on the way to dinner.

She had a great time, flirting with strangers and saying goodbye to just about everyone.

Then we headed back to our campground for another quiet evening.

Our second full day: More visiting.

Colton and Riley had been invited to the birthday party of 2 of their friends and, we were apparently also invited. That, a trip out to the Camarillo Outlets and just visiting with Grant, Melissa and the grand kids filled the day. Not exciting but we enjoyed it.

I have to mention Colton and Riley's goodbyes to us as we left both evenings. Colton's getting big so it's not surprising that he get's up on the couch to wave and yell "Bye Grandma and Grandpa" out the window. Riley has joined in big time. She crowds him out, and jumps up and down while she yells at the top of her lungs. She yells "Bye!", "Bye Grandma!" and long sentences that might mean something to her. Throughout all of this, she's waving and blowing kisses

Next stop, Home!

-JC-