We returned to South Carlsbad State beach late this summer. After last summer's success with a bluff-side site, I was willing to hold out for that again this year. It's really worth going on whatever days are available in order to be on the bluff, instead of taking the convenient weekend days on the street side. The sounds of the ocean waves crashing on the shore lull you to sleep, and rouse you to wake. They also drown out the noise of your teen-aged neighbors!
This adventure was a bit more relaxed. Many sand castles were built. Many smores were toasted, and I baked a peach cobbler in the dutch oven. Annika wasn't so sure when she helped me make it, but after one bite, she was convinced.
We also couldn't have secured a better location with respect to the access stairs. That's our rental 5th-wheel trailer on the bluff to the left of the stairs. Delivered, setup, and maintained by one of a handful of companies with franchise rights at this park. Worth the extra money!
Annika did eventually overcome her trepidation about playing in the surf, with a little help. By the end of the week, we were body surfing and chasing kelp.
More reclusive people wouldn't have liked this site right next to the stairs - there is a lot of foot traffic here. We really loved it, though. Hanging out at the top of the stairs to watch the surf and the sunset was a great way to meet a ton of really nice folks.
It's hard to complain about always having kitchen duty when this is the view from your prep and cook station!
After this trip, I was able to make a few refinements to my kitchen kit box. Here's everything from my kit laid out. There's a kettle, two prep bowls, two pots with strainer lids, a small cutting board, and a small fry pan. All of this is from GSI and nests together. GSI also makes the collapsible drip coffee maker. The tin holds ground coffee. The GSI stemless wine goblets nest into the Stanley mugs and handled "bowls". The flatware is stored rattle-free in a drawstring bag made from a denim leg from one of Annika's expired pairs of jeans.
Everything nests down to this. The top section holds the washup tools, condiments, and flatware, as well as the pots/kettle/prep-bowl nest. My large cutting board has been trimmed to act as a divider and locks into the lid with some aluminum angle and a swivel hook. In the bottom, I keep the strainer lids, collapsible camp sink and coffee system underneath a second folding fry pan and the enamelware plates. The nested goblets/mugs/bowls are obviously there as well, within easy reach.
All of this fits handily into a small surplus instrument case.
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