Spent the afternoon walking in Old Town Temecula. In the evening weenjoyed their Christmas lights!

Spent the afternoon walking in Old Town Temecula. In the evening we enjoyed their Christmas lights!

A walk on the pier at Oceanside, CA.

A walk on the pier at Oceanside, CA.

Another view just over there, you can see the golf course below. Haveyet to play on it.

Another view just over there, you can see the golf course below. Have yet to play on it.

This is the view from the swimming pool deck. You can see why I said itis really beautiful!!

This is the view from the swimming pool deck. You can see why I said it is really beautiful!!

We are in Jojoba Hills, and Escapee RV park near Temecula, Ca.

We are in Jojoba Hills, and Escapee RV park near Temecula, Ca. Unfortunately we have NO T-Mobile reception, and can only get on the internet at a couple of hotspots in the park. It is REALLY beautiful here and the price is right so we may be here for a while. Probably won't see much posting of pictures while we're here.

Friday was the day of the individual stroke play tournament.

Friday was the day of the individual stroke play tournament. I played pretty well, shooting an 83, ending up with the low gross but not the low net. Had a great morning, and playing on Bermuda grass was a new experience. In the afternoon we awaiting the arrival of the covered wagons and equestrian riders re-enacting the '49ers trip to Death Valley.

2011-11-11 Golf Tournament, 49'er Wagons Arriving

2011-11-11 Golf Tournament, 49'er Wagons Arriving

2011-11-11 Golf Tournament, 49'er Wagons Arriving

2011-11-11 Golf Tournament, 49'er Wagons Arriving

2011-11-11 Golf Tournament, 49'er Wagons Arriving

2011-11-11 Golf Tournament, 49'er Wagons Arriving

Today was the big horseshoe tournament.

Today was the big horseshoe tournament. I was excited because I had been throwing pretty well in practice against some of the others from our group the night before. They all, being a bit older than I, set up the practice pit with the stakes 30' apart. Little did I know that would be my undoing the next day.

Morning found us at the Pampered Pet Show put on by the 49'ers.

Morning found us at the Pampered Pet Show put on by the 49'ers. We did our best and spruced up Mr. Baker and Mr. Grindstaff in their best costumes. The judges loved the way Mr. Baker, as the Wide Retriever, handled the soccer ball. Mr. Grindy was a little more reserved in his Spiderman outfit. In the afternoon we headed to the Badwater Salt Flats, the lowest point in Death Valley. Death Valley is situated on two fault lines and the valley itself continues to sink on the East side while the mountains on the West are rising. The valley fills in at about the same rate it is sinking from the surrounding mountain erosion. Salt has accumulated recently (geologically speaking) from the evaporation of dead seas as deep as 600' since there is no outlet for the water coming in. After that we headed a few miles North to inspect the Devil's Golf Course which is salt mixed with a bit more mud to give a deeper cracking effect to the ground.

Breakfast this morning in Beatty, NV.

Breakfast this morning in Beatty, NV. Followed by a visit to the old gold mining ghost town of Rhyolite with it's famous Bottle House. Finally a trip through the unbelievable formations of Titus Canyon.

Today we hiked through Gold Canyon. I think we'll let the picturesspeak for themselves!!

Today we hiked through Gold Canyon. I think we'll let the pictures speak for themselves!!