Wednesday 4 January 2023 Not much to report today as not much happened. I got up to a very brief break in the almost constant rain and went out to take a photo of the sun rising over the mountains. Then it started raining. Again. Temecula to San Diego to Temecula After a lovely couple…

Tuesday 3 January 2023 Temecula It’s our last full day in California and we had planned a day trip to sunny San Diego. Only it’s not sunny, it’s raining. Again. So we abort our original plans in favour of a shopping trip, where we can at least keep dry. Promenade Temecula So we drive into…

Monday 2 January 2023 It’s finally stopped raining and I get up to a stunning view of mist hanging over the valley. I decide to walk along the rim of the infinity pool to take a photo. I don’t have very good balance, so am grateful to make it to the end without teetering over…

Sunday 1 January 2023 It rained heavily all night and we woke up to find ourselves in a cloud. Today’s plan was to drive to the Pacific coast. To be honest, when I put the itinerary together, I had a somewhat different image of Southern California which didn’t include torrential rain and gale force winds.…

Saturday 31 December 2022 Old Town Temecula This morning daughter no 2 has to do another run and there are no pavements on the roads round here, so we take a drive into Old Town Temecula. The Hotel Temecula We park at the Old Town Garage, where parking is free and daughter no 2 sets…

Friday 30 December 2022 Harveston Lake Daughter no 2 wants to go for a run this morning, so we drive to Harveston Lake. This pretty little lake has a 0.8 mile long walking/jogging trail round the perimeter. So, daughter no 2 can run four laps, while I jog three laps and the old man walks…

Thursday 29 December 2022 As Southwest Airlines cancelled our flight and purchasing new tickets was not possible, our only option to reach Temecula before 2023 is to drive. So today we set off on our impromptu 448 mile California road trip. Daughter no 2’s friend has offered us a 327 mile lift to Pasadena, and…

Wednesday 28 December 2022 Today, thanks to the Southwest Airlines Christmas sh** show, we have an extra day in Palo Alto. Some good news, however is that after a fairly prolonged argument about my lack of flexibility (not being prepared to wait 4 days for them to get their act together) I have been promised…

Tuesday 27 December 2022 Today, the old man gets up early and heads to the airport for his flight to Los Angeles. From here, he will pick up a hire car to drive 90 miles south east to Temecula for our second house sit. Meanwhile, theoretically, we will wait for Mariah’s owners to return, then…

Monday 26 December 2022 Drive to San Francisco Today, after five rough days, I’m starting to feel vaguely human. So, for the first time in what feels like forever, I am able to join the others on today’s outing. As it’s a public holiday, we decide to take a drive up the I-101 to San…