I’ve never been to Campo before, but the drive down south is pretty pleasant. It drizzled a little and I love how raindrops jump on my windshield like tiny kisses. I take 15 S, then 8E, past Viejas, then get on 94 (never driven on 94 before), and then exit to a narrow and unpaved dirt road. With Horses and open field on each side of the road, I admire the scenery while watching the road carefully. The ride on the unpaved road is dusty and bumpy. And then I got lost, just as Johanna warned me I might. Call her and she said that her mom, Claire, is already waiting by the house and I just need to keep going on the dirt road.
I get back down the dirt road until I almost hit the end, and I heard someone shouts:”Jessica!” And meeting me is this cowgirl with her knee-high boots and short overall. I like her instantly, even before she gives a warm and welcome smile. While we are still introducing ourselves, Johanna and Sergio pull up next to us. I spotted Cookie, Johanna’s 8yr-old Welsh Corgi, sitting in the back. I could not wait to hug her >_<
Claire led us on her Golf Cart back to the house, and the house and the lot (25acre) are quite large. We get out of our cars and I spot three ATV (or quads) right by their house.
We eat lunch on their breezy easy nice balcony, and Johanna and Sergio serve perfectly grilled burgers and turkey dogs, with farm-to-table hand-sliced fresh onion and tomatoes, and crisp salad. For drink, Claire shows me the trick of adding lemon and orange cubes to our beer that has yet to chill and it is delicious!
After lunch, we go up to the mountain on ATV, I even get to ride on one. It is too much fun. Each ATV has 6 gears and it can go up and down the mountainous terrain. With a little instruction, I am able to drive up and down the hill comfortably. We stop at the highest point and park right by a large rocky platform. From the platform we can see the nearby lots, the abandoned chicken farm, the 25 acres of their land and the trails they’ve made with their own tractor, and even as far as the Mexico border. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful and Claire and Jeff even put a bench char on the rock, a bottle next to the chair so the wind would make the whistling sound as it blows. Clair gets out of her RAVE cigarette and I ask for one. We stand side by side, watching the wide landscape down before, amazed how beautiful it is. I feel like I’ve known her for a long time. It’s a very comfortable feeling.
Besides the ATV ride to the top of the mountain, another highlight of the day is just touring the house and letting Claire proudly showcase her collections to me. She is definitely a collector of random trinkets that include rocks, shells, fish pillows, music boxes, gifts that her loved ones have given her, and funny books in her bathroom. I feel like I could sit there all day, oohing and aahing at her collections which each marks a line on her interesting life. She shows me a musical box that her late sister gave her; she passed away for liver problem at a young age of 44. She show me a gift from Jeff, two turtles stacked together doing you-know-what, and when I give a “ah ha”, she says:”Hey this is an adult household” Indeed. And on the wall and on the shelf are displayed Johanna’s pictures, from when she was a baby(so cute!) in a basket to her held by her great grandma, her playing softball, when she graduated from graduate school at SDSU. Johanna is definitely the princess and pride and joy of Claire and Jeff. Such love is just so heart-warming and I am utterly touched.
One of my happiest memory, besides meeting Claire and hanging out with Johanna, is to meet Claire and Jeff’s other son and daughter: Butter and Donut. Butter is younger than Cookie and is also a Welsh Corgi; Donut is a Husky and was rescued at 1 and has been nourished back to health. Butter is supposed to have cute and adorable babies with Cookie but Cookie is too bossy and they don’t really get along, but Butter is just a sweetheart. Donut is beyond beautiful but she still runs and acts like an energetic puppy and I just adore her. Here is a picture of me and my girl:
Today is such a day filled with unexpected joy and discoveries. I am glad that I channel your Yes Man to me and I said “Yes” to Johanna’s unconventional invite, irregardless how far Campo is. I had one of the most unforgettable days at Campo.