Sunday, February 1, 2015

Super Duper Sunday

 

Yep, it’s that time of year again.Time for folks to gather together and watch commercials briefly interrupted by a football game.

A big part of game day is the food, and with that in mind I cooked up a batch of Super Duper Tacos this morning.

New Tacos 1

What makes them so Super?

New Tacos 2

Oh yeah! Those would be habanero peppers and habanero hot sauce.

I tossed the meat in a pot and sliced up the little orange jewels.

New Tacos 3

Then added them to the pot.

New Tacos 4

After a while on low heat it looked pretty good.

New Tacos 5

For this batch I added some refried beans as well.

New Tacos 6

The secret to getting the beans out is to cut one end of the can completely off, hold it over the pot, and then start cutting the other end off. The beans just slide right into the pot.

The new batch is simmering while I write this blog.

I also visited a Super Duper Campground the other day.

Jalama Beach Sign

To paraphrase a hit song from last year, it’s all about the beach, not the campsites.

Here is a view of the campground. Literally, the sites are little corrals.

Jalama Beach Overview

Sites 1-79 are, with a few exceptions, classified as basic tent sites and run $23 winter/$28 summer.

Jalama Beach Standard Sites 1-79 (1)

Jalama Beach Standard Sites 1-79 (2)

Rotating 180 degrees from that picture above is this view.

Jalama Beach

If walking up a seven foot dune is too strenuous for you, sites 53-64 have direct access.

Jalama Beach Beachfront Sites 53-64

They run $43 year round and are labeled premium beachfront.

There is also an RV section, freshly paved, with water and electrical hookups. Sites 80-117.

Jalama Beach Hookup Sites 80-117 (1)

Jalama Beach Hookup Sites 80-117 (2)

Jalama Beach Hookup Sites 80-117 (3)

These run $38 winter/.$43 summer. No privacy, but they have wonderful views.

There are seven cabins available as well.

Jalama Beach Cabins

The prices for these puppies vary dramatically.

The winter rates are $110 weekdays/$185 weekends and holidays.

The summer rates are $160 weekdays/$210 weekends and holidays.

The campground is located 20 miles southwest of Lompoc, between Point Conception and Point Arguello, which is the closest p[lace to get supplies.

Except that there is a store and grill on site.

Jalama Beach Store and Grill

To quote from the brochure:

“Home of the world famous Jalama Burger. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Jalama Beach Store has all you need for a day or a week. We carry groceries, personal care items, firewood, fishing bait and tackle, ice, beer, and wine.”

This is a true destination campground.

Oh, and the beach? Well, as I said earlier, it’s all about the beach.

Jalama Beach Sunset 1

Jalama Beach Sunset 2

Jalama Beach Sunset 3

Migrating Grey Whales can be seen from February through April, and September through November.

I was there in late January and didn’t see any, but the weather was a perfect 75 degrees during the day. Not too shabby at all.

Jalama Beach Campsite Sunset

I did not take individual site photos there because I would have felt silly, but I would like to share some of my favorite campsites from last year.

Calhoun Falls Sign

Site 13.

Calhoun Falls_013

Sadlers Creek Sign

Site 56.

Sadlers Creek_056

Lake Greenwood Sign

Site 122.

Lake Greenwood_122

Ausable Point Sign

Site 30.

Ausable Point_030

Lincoln Pond Sign

Site 2.

Lincoln Pond_002

Garner Sign

Site 66.

Garner_066

Huntsville Sign

Site 69.

Huntsville_069

Umbagog Sign

New Hampshire. Site 42.

Umbagog_042

Half Moon Pond Sign

Vermont. Site 28.

Half Moon Pond_028

Lake Carmi Sign

Vermont. Site 98.

Lake Carmi_098

Sebago Lake Sign

Maine. Site 206.

Sebago_206

Cobscook Bay Sign

Maine. Site 7.

Cobscook Bay_007

Lily Bay Sign

Maine. Site 44.

Lily Bay_044

Crooked River Sign

Georgia. Site 11.

Crooked River_011

Mistletoe Sign

Georgia. Site 75.

Mistletoe_075

Tugaloo Sign

Georgia. Site 56.

Tugaloo_056

Mongaup Pond Sign

Site 111.

Mongaup Pond_111

Lake Whitney Sign

Site 104.

Lake Whitney_104

Tyler Sign

Texas. Site 36.

Tyler_036

Burnt Corral Sign

Arizona. Site 44.

Burnt Corral_044

Lake Charles Sign

Arkansas. Site 53.

Lake Charles_053

Lake Dardanelle Sign

Arkansas. Site 16.

Lake Dardanelle_016

Petit Jean Sign

Arkansas. Site 19.

Petit Jean_019

Brown Tract Pond Sign

Site 42.

Brown Tract Pond_042

Eighth Lake Sign

Site 113.

Eighth Lake_113

Lake Eaton Sign

Site 54.

Lake Eaton_054

Limekiln Lake Sign

Site 109.

Limekiln Lake_109

Northampton Beach Sign

Site 88.

Northampton Beach_088

Cranberry Lake Sign

Site 122.

Cranberry Lake_122

Fish Creek Sign

Site 64.

Fish Creek_064

Meacham Lake Sign

Site 159.

Meacham Lake_159

Don’t those photos make you want to pack up your tent, hitch up your trailer, or jump in your RV?

They make me realize all the places I have been lucky enough to explore.

I like to collect quotes that catch my eye and I figure I will end the blog with this one.

“I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot. As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and wind sing. I’ll get as near the heart of the world as I can.”

- John Muir

Regards,

Greg