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 As
we were leaving Jacumba, California, we paused at this remarkable mural.
Yes, it's all painted on. There are no real humans in the photo, and the
wall is flat from the edge of the tiles on down. It recalls the day a
hurricane blasted the town, an occurrence rare in California deserts.
As we stepped closer, we noticed a row of names across the bottom. "Hey,
look!" said Mark. "That's my cousin!" Sure enough, Dale
Sedenquist, a cartoonist in San Diego, California, was a member of the
talented team that created this amazing work.
 This
excellent example of RoadTrip serendipity, one of the greatest delights
of travel, capped off a week of exploration in the mountains east of San
Diego.
We started
with a visit to Fairway Ford to get an electrical problem on the Phoenix
fixed, and headed south on Interstate 5. A sidewall blowout slowed us
down a bit -- there's nothing quite like changing a tire on the side of
a freeway -- but we made it to De Anza Springs Campground in time to relax
in the hot tub and get some star-gazing in. The next day we visited Jacumba
Springs Spa & Resort, where owner Felix Bachmeier gave us a tour and
filled us in on a little history. Jacumba was the destination of the rich
and famous in its heyday, when a glamorous resort offered holidays and
rest cures. Felix also provided us with a new GIZMO!
See if you can guess what it is!
A highlight
of our week was a visit with Don and Grace
Helen Weaver , who have lived in Jacumba for many years. In addition
to being a successful miner and prospector, Don is a member of the Delaware
tribe, where he is a leader known as Buffalo Shadow.
Never willing
to miss a chance to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, we were delighted
to find ourselve in the vicinity of the Temecula
Pizza Company at dinnertime! Sandra Egan and Felix R. Lopez made sure
our dinner was as delectable as always, with pesto to die for.
We went looking
for ostriches -- we know they're around somewhere! -- but we never could
find one. We will continue our quest for big birds and keep you posted.
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