Our Own Private Lake

December 22-26

Wilderness Lakes Thousand Trails
Menifee, CA


We pulled into Wilderness Lakes Thousand Trails (should be called Wilderness Canals) on December 22nd.  We left Washington after Thanksgiving trying to get ahead of the rain.  It followed us all the way down the coast into California.  But it got ahead of us to Wilderness Lakes.  When we arrived several RVs were surrounded by water.  We found a wonderful site with views of the waterfowl in a canal that someone was just leaving.  Great view with you morning coffee.  It came with it's own lake with our picnic table in the center.


We dug out our Christmas boxes and decorated the RV for Christmas.  A friend sent us an Advent Calendar for our computers. So every day (mostly) we would sit and listen to the wonderful music and open the numbered ornaments to play games, decorate trees or other things that brought smiles.


Ellen found us a church for a Christmas eve service.  We also attended a quiet service at the park and a Christmas day potluck.  Sat down with another couple at a table for four and found they were from Vancouver, Wa too.  Small world!

One of the highlights of our stay was skyping with our son while he was making Christmas treats for a gathering with his friends.

We also took a trip to Kaiser in Temecula and found out Ellen had not just bruised or sprained her hand...  she had broken it in her slip on the RV stairs.  They put a brace on it and made an appointment to check in a week for casting or surgery.   As a side note, the church Ellen found for the Christmas eve service was the one her doctor attended and he was super excited to have us experience it.

The rain dried water up and I got to sit at the picnic table and read only to have it return and refill our private lake.

On refection, it was a hard first Christmas away from family and friends...  We made new friends along the way, but it was strange not being with those you are close to at a time when everything is about them.

Highlights:  Skyping with Kyle and the Advent Calendar

Lowlights:  Ellen's broken hand and missing family and friends