Lutz had to get one last hike in before leaving Borrego Springs. He said the hike was rough, but the springs were similar to the springs in Joshua Tree. It sure looks beautiful. As I said in another post, the vegetation in the desert can be surprising. Even the wildlife and dust storms seem to complement this rough terrain. Seeing the birds fly in uniform reminded us that we were heading home soon to Germany.
We finally arrive back to where we started…Admiral Baker in San Diego. A great campground for kids and grandkids and for sitting in the sun reading! We spent three days trying to catch a mouse that my son’s dog, Hank, had detected (which we finally caught!) and two days winterizing our RV and truck. It was a sad farewell to Johnny (our vehicle since it is a good old boy) and Cash (since we spent quite a lot of $ on repairs for her). We will return next year, but our adventures are leading us to our new boat in the Netherlands. Stay tune for Cook’n & Canal Cruise’n!
Thanks for following me and my Cook’n & Camp’n adventures this summer. I look forward to seeing all my friends and creating a cooking class for 2017! Happy New Year to you all!



 I'm Melinda Stevens and living the life of a beach bum was inevitable since my father was a lifeguard for the city of Los Angeles. My memories of growing up on John Street in Manhattan Beach, California were filled with joy, excitement and adventures; until my world, as I knew it, fell apart when we moved to Del Mar, California. My father was offered the position as Captain of the lifeguards and we started the slow migration to the small deserted stretch of beach in 1963. At twelve years old, this seemed like the end of my life. Remember, I’m writing with clear hindsight now, ok somewhat clearer… Little did I know this would be the beginning of a new journey and give a bit more clarity to many of the events that led me to this new cooking adventure.
I'm Melinda Stevens and living the life of a beach bum was inevitable since my father was a lifeguard for the city of Los Angeles. My memories of growing up on John Street in Manhattan Beach, California were filled with joy, excitement and adventures; until my world, as I knew it, fell apart when we moved to Del Mar, California. My father was offered the position as Captain of the lifeguards and we started the slow migration to the small deserted stretch of beach in 1963. At twelve years old, this seemed like the end of my life. Remember, I’m writing with clear hindsight now, ok somewhat clearer… Little did I know this would be the beginning of a new journey and give a bit more clarity to many of the events that led me to this new cooking adventure.
Hank is very proud to have contributed!!