El Cajon, CA
I also could get used to this weather. The morning is cool and clear. Did I mention there is no humidity – Kari checked the weather app, and the humidity is 0%. We headed out to the Safari Park in Escondido with a quick stop at McDonald’s for breakfast.
Our first stop at the Safari Park was our scheduled tour of the African savannah to observe the ungulates (look it up). We boarded our safari vehicle and first saw a small group of waterbuck, followed by sable antelopes, eland, giraffe, Nile lechwe, and cape buffalo. Our on-board guide Bralyn was very knowledgeable – it’s her first week on the job!
I had a few animals on my must-see list – kangaroos, wallabies, and the platypus, all in the Walk About Australia exhibit. But along the way, the beautiful flowers caught my eye. There is so much in bloom in Southern California, and every area of the Safari Park is beautifully landscaped.
The Park was full of school groups of all ages today. One neat opportunity is the “Roar & Snore” program – students bring their sleeping bags and pillows and camp overnight in these tents. Wouldn’t the Scouts have loved this!?
Three miles and many animals later (including the busy platypus and the lazy kangaroos), we headed back to the parking lot and out for lunch – a tasty meal at PF Chang’s. Be sure to read my fortune cookie message below.
I booked all my return hotels and made a few alterations to Scott’s itinerary. I’ll head to Bryce Canyon after visiting John and Nanette. I’ll save Palomar Observatory for my next trip (I’ll fly!) because I do not want to miss hearing John preach Sunday morning in Indio.
Kari and I spent a good hour or so sharing the titles of our favorite recent reads. Kari loves historical fiction like the recommendation below. When two readers / former educators get together, there is no lull in the conversation.
We ended the day with a quick bite and (wait for it) two mahjong games. Kari and Rick are good players – they’ll have even more fun with a table of four and doing The Charleston.
Book recommendation: West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge.
Kelly's SC to CA Road Trip and Reflections 