After ten great days at Frank and Debbie’s, we head toward Acton, stopping briefly at Camping World to have solar panel system installed on trailer. Alas! Power to keep our laptops and cell phones running (and so Bob can see playing cards at night. <grin>) While they install the solar, Sherry and I enjoy ice cream and massages. (Tough life, I know.)

Campsite at first (wrong) campground in Soledad Canyon, CA

Toward evening, and a long drive up Soledad Canyon, there is our campground! Office is closed, but we find an open site and set up. We entertain the neighbors, taking several frustrating attempts to get the trailer lined up, but finally get set up. Next morning we learn we are at the wrong campground. The campground we pre-paid for is 3 miles further up the canyon. Argggh.

Thousand Trails RV Park in Soledad Canyon, CA

Pack up the trailer, travel to the right campground. What a pleasant surprise! Lots of trees, swimming pools, lodges where people play cards, pool tables, and plenty of campsites. On top of that, by joining their Thousand Trails RV Club ($525/yr for basic membership) we get to stay for free! The basic membership gets us 30 days free camping per year, with additional nights costing $3/night. (Can stay 14 days, then need to be out 7 days.) Sweet deal! We thank God for how he blesses us. Naturally, we join.

Campsite at Thousand Trails RV Park in Soledad Canyon, CA

Sherry soaking in the pool at Soledad Canyon Campground, CA

The swimming pool is large and wonderful while soaking on the hot desert days.  We are on the edge of the Mojave Desert in August.  Admittedly, not the smartest decision we ever made.  Evenings cool down nicely.  Mornings we enjoy our bicycle rides.  Evenings are cards and pool at the Adult Lodge.  Sherry wins the local pinochle match on Friday night. Grand prize is a candy bar. The players are so serious! I’m glad everyone checked their guns at the door. <grin>

View while bicycling in Soledad Canyon, CA

Sherry on her new road bike!

We begin to realize that Sherry would enjoy cycling more if her bike fit her better. We drive an hour to an excellent bicycle shop:   Newbury Park Bicycle Shop (www.npbikeshop.com).  Mike, the owner, is friendly, knowledgeable, and helped us  trade Sherry’s cruiser bike for a new road bike, which she enjoys immensely. Wow does she go fast!

Trains… Trains… Trains…

Uh oh. Railroad tracks. Only 200 feet away from our campsite. Freight trains rumbling by at night, commuter trains during the day. Unnerving, but not forever.

Acton is such a friendly town. Even the grocery store people are a lot of fun. We have no internet access in the canyon, but the library lets us use their computers and internet for free.

Reducing our stuff even more by donating to fund raiser

Todd and Jennifer, who we met camping, are enthusiastic youth pastors at a church in Acton. (They are such cool people, and the reason we traveled inland to camp.) They are raising money, so we donate several items.  Youth are the future of this country. We hope everyone supports programs for our youth.

It’s time to head northwest to Los Padres National Forest.