FRIDAY _ 9-17-10 _ CARMEL-BY-THE-RIVER RV PARK

We leave Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and head for Carmel-By-The-River RV Park.  We don’t want to leave, but we waited too late in making our reservations and there are no spaces available in the state park for the weekend.  There are so many things remaining to see and do.  But, we will definitely return some day.

We are wondering why we were able to get a weekend space at the Carmel-By-The-River RV Park.  After all, it’s only one mile off Highway 1 and is located on the Carmel River.  Sounds idyllic.  We drive the winding one-mile, very narrow road, and cross a one-way bridge.  Not nearly as bad as some of the reviewers mentioned on the internet.  We will soon learn they failed to mention some more important shortcomings…

We pass through a neighborhood that is a little run down and most of the houses need a good coat of paint.  It’s very rural and we see a pigpen in a front yard.

We enter the RV park and it is nicely trimmed and clean, but somewhat faded and worn around the edges.  The game room is furnished with overstuffed lounge chairs covered with faded bedspreads, and a huge highly lacquered redwood burl coffee table sits in the middle.  We are pleased to discover the shower room is newly painted, clean, and cheery.

We park in our gravel-covered space.  We are pleased to discover we have a spot right on the river.  We soon discover, however, that there is no view due to the thick brush and overgrown trees.  Anxious to see the river, we find a path leading through the thicket.  We are abruptly stopped by a menacing sign: “WARNING!  KEEP OUT!  CLOSED DUE TO CONTAMINATION.”    We are camped by a river that is contaminated!  Ok, now THAT was not in any of the internet reviews of this park!

Our space, however, is quite cozy and we put out the awning and hang our lanterns.  They always radiate a warm and inviting glow.  Fred lights the grill and cooks the steak to perfection.  We eat in the warmth of candlelight and listen to the flowing, albeit contaminated, river.  Life is good and it takes practice to focus on the positive.  It’s a lovely evening and we actually like the cozy space we have created in this unusual place.


We have an unexpected guest

We later nod off to sleep listening to the pitter-patter of lightly falling rain.