2014 American Adventurist SoCal Mountain Rendezvous

Despite the fact that we've enjoyed various Desert Rendezvous events since 2011, this year marked the first time we'd been able to attend the companion Mountain Rendezvous, put on by the excellent team from American Adventurist.  As always, the Rendezvous are a wonderful time to make new friends, see some cool rigs, and eat awesome food.

South Carlsbad State Beach - 2014

It's become a bit of a tradition to try to spend a week of our summer at South Carlsbad State Beach.  For the second year in a row, we elected to spring for a delivered trailer, rather than "roughing it" in the van.  It adds some cost, but it's less than the price of the hotel rooms on the other side of the main road, and we've got a better view of the beach!

Easter Weekend in Anza Borrego

I wanted to share some of the highlights of a recent weekend trip. I was inspired by a the concept of the 36 Hour Adventure. I really resonated with the notion that we can miss lots of great short trips if we focus too much on the long expedition-style trips. Too often lately I'd been burning weekends reworking the sleeping arrangement in my van, or building a chuckbox.

Instead of waiting until we could manage an Epic adventure, we set out to see how much we could pack in to a weekend. Well, I think we did ok. In our 36 hours, here's just some of what we were able to accomplish:

2014 American Adventurist Desert Rendezvous

A pair of annual Rendezvous events, one Desert, one Mountain, are fast becoming must-do events if you live in the SoCal area and enjoy overlanding, camping, adventure, good people, and/or good food.  This year's desert event was no different.  I was sad to be attending solo, since Annika's soccer season was in full swing during this event, but by the end of the trip, I think the rest of the family was glad they hadn't joined me!

South Carlsbad State Beach-2013

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!

Camping at South Carlsbad State Beach

This summer, I finally figured out the crazy reservation scheme employed by the California State Parks, and was able to score a couple of different weekends at the coveted South Carlsbad State Beach campground.  On our final beach campout of the summer, we were joined by some friends of Annika's.  Some may remember when Annika met her instant best-friend Joe at the SoCal Desert Rendezvous last March (written up on Dad's blog because it was more about camping).

At any rate, Annika has been asking about when she could "go camping with Joe" pretty much weekly since that trip.  We were finally able to oblige.  As a bonus, Joe brought his kid-sister along (and his Parents made an appearance, too).

SoCal Desert Rendezvous 2012

A random visit to the Reserve America site had revealed an open three day slot at the San Elijo State Beach campground for the 4th weekend in March, so I grabbed it on instinct. Of course, just a few days later the planned date for the Expedition Portal forum SoCal Desert Rendevous was announced and guess what? Same weekend. After some discussion and in deference to familial harmony, we decided to aim for the beach camp. However as the date neared and the weather fouled, we finally decided that cold weather + impending rain + beach didn't mix and made a last-minute switch to attend the Rendezvous after all. It all worked out and we had a great adventure!

From ExPo Desert Rendezvous 2012