Turtle Beach - Manteca, CA 4/2019

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Leaving tomorrow and headed for Yosemite, our last visit there was in 2013, at that time we had no cell service so internet was bad also. So need to get this posted today.  (just in case anyone is stilling following us on the blog).

Not a lot to see and do in this area, we always enjoy finding the local museums.  We visited the Manteca Historical Society, which houses a vast array of artifacts, documents and thousands of photographs of the area. I enjoyed talking with the volunteers while Len ventured out to the outer building to check out what was housed there. Nice museum.

We did find a casino which I donated a small amount to while Len walked out with full pockets.  Did take advantage of the senior buffet for $5.99, wasn't that bad but serving out of the bingo hall while the casino is renovating so you can't expect much, but it was good and a cheap meal.


Len took me out for my birthday, decided to check out Billie's Hillbilly's Bar-B-Q, ribs were good. Wish I would of had room after my meal because the fried pies really looks good.  Also had a birthday breakfast at IHOP as oldest son had sent a gift card for my birthday.

Made a stop a one of the local veggie/fruit stands that we have been to before.  The strawberries are so sweet and fresh here, picked right out of the field. Also bought some pears but still need to ripen some before I eat them.

Sat outside and enjoyed watching a goose that has her nest in a dead tree here in the park.  We kept hoping to see some babies but doesn't look like that is going to happen before we leave.

Will be in Yosemite for 2 weeks, so will post after that.

San Benito, Paicines, CA - April 2019

                                  CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF OUR STAY


Always enjoy our time at this Thousand Trails, not a lot of activities but we enjoy trying to find the bobcats that call this place home.  Only one sighting this visit, saw one bobcat the first evening.  The park is trying to capture the cats and have them checked out by a vet, the one we saw was sickly looking but seems it is too smart to get trapped.

While here we did some sightseeing.

It was a short drive to Pinnacles National Park from the campground.  Packed a picnic lunch which we enjoyed after Len did a hike on the Bear Gulch Trail.  This is such a pretty area, seems to be busy even during the week. Some 23 million years ago multiple volcanoes erupted, flowed and slid to form what has become this national park.  Which remains a unique landscape.  Len was able to spot a California condor, which had a young one in the nest, an amazing sighting.

Also visited Henry Cowell Redwoods, a state park. Henry Cowell Redwoods is located in the Santa Cruz mountains and is most famous for the 40-acre grow of towering old-growth redwood trees. The Redwood Grove Loop Trail will take you through some of the redwoods.  Nice trail and many signs explain what you are seeing.

Len did a trip to the San Benito Historical Park. Last time he visited he was able to have access to all the buildings, but not this time.  Seems the place is going downhill which is a real shame as they do have many nice items that should be preserved.

Drove into Santa Cruz, know better than to go on a weekend, but there we were, in bumper to bumper traffic driving past the boardwalk.  Think everyone that lives in Santa Cruz was there, enjoying the beach and the amusement park.

Onto the next stop, more later.