Week 5: Test Trip

I decided to book a 28 foot Class C motorhome for our test trip.  We like the idea of Lukas’ playroom being in the bed over the cab.  28 feet seems a good in-between size that will keep us from being super cramped, but will also allow us to still drive the thing.  We packed up our bedding and towels, food and kid’s toys, and headed to the rental place.  Brian got a lengthy tour of the rig while I chased Lukas around and tried to keep him from getting run over.  Our “Road Bear” rental turned out to be the same model that we liked best at the dealership.  Score!  Now we had a chance to test it out.

Mid-day on Wednesday we headed off to our first stop, Pelican Point RV park in Half Moon Bay.  We made it all the way to HMB before we got the call that our car was improperly parked at the rental location.  Well, more practice driving for us!  I took the wheel back to East Bay and was surprised at how easily I got used to driving the behemoth.  I was a bit white knuckle over 92, but fairly calm by the time we hit the highway.  Car in the right location, we headed back to Half Moon Bay.

Pelican Point was a lovely spot to start our trip.  It is right next to the Half Moon Bay golf course which overlooks the ocean.  We could hear the waves and were surrounded by trees.  After a walk down to the ocean where Lukas played in the sand, we made a pasta dinner that couldn’t have tasted better.  The light was lovely on our little table in the RV, windows open to the sea.  We took pictures of the sun dropped into the water then settled into our cozy bed for the night.

On Thursday we had a leisurely morning then headed to my favorite coffee shop, Blue Sky Farms.  They sell native plants and home baked goods and have a beautiful garden.  We stocked up on scones and drove down Hwy 1 to visit an old friend.  It had been way too long since I had seen Brad and it was great to see his new projects: a two year old daughter and a house he’s building himself on a property in the redwoods!  Next stop, my old stomping grounds in Santa Cruz for lunch at Saturn Cafe and a mini Chocolate Madness dessert that is not as mini as it used to be!  Very full, we headed South to Monterey.

Our next stop was the Marina Dunes RV park in, you guessed it, Marina Dunes.  This RV park featured a personal fire pit and BBQ grill, playground (which happened to be right behind our site), a rec room, laundry, shower, store, and the perfect entrance to the Dunes.  After hooking up our rig we took a walk over the dunes to one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen.  As the sun began to set we let Lukas play in the park and made dinner.  We were pretty tired from a full day of RVing, and also needed to plan for the next day.  Lukas passed out quickly and we followed soon after.

Friday, the final day of our test trip.  We unhooked the RV and drove through town to 17 mile drive.  It was as pretty as we remembered, and made even better by being able to pull over and make lunch whenever we wanted!  White sandy beaches, roaring surf, and strong sun made for a lovely morning.  In the afternoon we made a quick stop near Cannery Row for some fresh fish, then hit up the Dennis the Menace Park.  It is a park designed by the artist who made the Dennis comic strip, and it’s crazy awesome for kids.  There’s even a parked train the kids can climb all over.  For dinner we made a fire and grilled up a huge amount of fish.  We drained a bottle of wine and, before I realized it, I polished off a bag of marshmallows.  Can’t beat a toasted marshmallow.  Yum.  Brian made friends with the neighbors and the whole family came over to roast marshmallows.  (They brought their own, so can’t blame the empty bag on our guests.)  

Saturday morning we waved goodbye to our new friends and brought the RV back to Road Bear rentals.  Overall a very successful test trip.  I think we’re going to go ahead with the real deal.

*I’ve decided to rate each RV site we stay at.  Ratings will be at the end of each post.

Pelican Point RV Park: B+

Quiet, can hear the ocean.  Trees and grass.  Located next to ocean access.

Marina Dunes RV Park: B+

Highway noise.  Amenities great.  Located next to dunes and ocean access.