After a 12-hour flight from Auckland, we braced ourselves for a long and complicated customs and passport control line at LAX, but we were fortunate that the entire process was completed in two hours. Our drive to San Diego was through torrential rains aand despite the weather it was a great weekend with family.

This week we’ve been playing catch-up. Before departing Minnesota, Stephen and I spent many hours preparing a mobile office. This included setting up online bill pay, gathering tax information and adding all contacts to our cell phone. Besides cell numbers and addresses we included our various policy account numbers, credit card information and health insurance information. This up-front planning paid off and so far it’s been smooth. We’ve been able to access information, deposit checks via mobile banking and download library books with ease. This week we’ve been collecting W-2 forms, paying bills, swapping clothes from winter to summer, draining anti-freeze from the camper water system and getting haircuts. (I cut Stephen’s hair and then my own – what was I thinking?)

Today we had an appointment with San Diego Trailer Supply and they repaired a small problem with our battery. It took several phone calls with Jeff at Vistabule to diagnose but we finally figured out the camper battery was not recharging properly while hooked up to our vehicle.  The repair was quick and painless.

With the rain and chores our hiking and walking opportunities have been limited but we did visit Julian, a small town 60 miles east of San Diego located in the Cuyamaca mountains. Julian is a historical town known for pie shops on every corner. Pie is always a draw for both of us and we needed an outing. The drive over the mountain was beautiful even with switch-back roads and plunging temps. We enjoyed an afternoon of walking the town and the boysenberry-apple pie was divine.

Yesterday we visited Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego.  Stephen used his newly acquired America the Beautiful pass for the first time and we were able to enter for free.  This made his day.

With the battery repair complete we are ready to move closer to the desert.  It’s time to visit Joshua Tree National Park.