T is for Trailers (Vintage that is)

We are campers. This is a picture of Niles, the day we picked up the 1973 Perris Pacer. From tongue to bumper, it is a 10 foot fiberglass trailer. There are other brands around that my be familiar like Casitas, Scamp, and Bowler. And yes, that is our 1967 Ford Ranch Wagon that will haul the teardrop and the Pacer but not the Dalton. I can't believe how little Niles was when we got the trailer.

 

This is at a friend's house and we were leaving for Guajome County Park in San Diego County. This is a really nice campground on Highway 76 in Oceanside.There are two fishing ponds and a gazabo that is great for weddings. The campsites are partial hookup. There are 4.5 miles of hiking trails and while it is surrounded by city, it has that tucked away feel. It is 8 miles down the road to downtown Oceanside and the beach.

This is the 1959 Dalton at Guajome. We always decorate our trailers and this time we did it all in a lobster theme. It must have been influence by our road trip to Maine earlier that year.

Just north of Oceanside is San Onofre. Don't worry, the reactors are still off-line. There are two parks here. One is on the bluff overlooking the ocean and the other is a mile back from Interstate 5. The San Mateo campground is our favorite of all the local beach campgrounds. It's secluded and the spaces give a measure of privacy not always found when camping.


This is the Snooze Box at Lake Perris, the campground 5 miles from our home. It's interesting that camping that close to home allows us to come and go at will, we sometimes don't leave at all. The surroundings on the other side of the hill makes it feel like we are far away. The Snooze Box is a teardrop trailer and fits nicely under the EasyUp when it rains. Below is a better picture of our trailer. 

 

 For more about the Snooze Box, which is totally unique, you can check out my Squidoo Page

Doheny State Beach is another great place to camp. Just remember that you have to make reservations a year ahead. This is a very popular campground because it sits on the beach. Beachfront property is in demand. 

This is the Dalton at Doheny with Niles and I. 

This was our first camping trip with Niles. We very seldom camp up north but the Rivernook Campground in Kernville, CA is a wonderful place to camp. Some of the sites sit directly on the river so even small children can be watched from camp while they enjoy some "fishing".

Almost everywhere you camp in California is an adventure. We have desert, beaches, mountains, and lakes. We camped in Victorville when it was 7 degrees Fahrenheit. I don't know why we just didn't go home. We camped at Veil Lake in Temecula when it soared to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. We should have gone home then. However, we are campers, good and bad and have some very good stories to tell.