May 9, 2013

Walmart, Merced, CA

Viking RV Park, Kingsburg, CA

Our original plan today was to head to an RV Park that was 25 miles from Yosemite.  I didn’t like the route the GPS had us going so we decided to travel to Merced that would enable us to travel on 99 for a longer stretch.  I called the Walmart in Merced to make sure they allowed overnight parking.

So the plan was to spend one night at the Walmart and visit both AAA and the California Travel Center in Merced.  I had called Reserve America to inquire if there was any chance of getting a site in the park.  The reservationist I spoke to said they were booked for two months!

She didn’t have any info on the one camp in Yosemite that is first come first served.  So we ended up making a reservation at a camp that is only 8 miles from the park.  They only had an opening for one night.  When we get to the camp we are going to explore the area and see if we can find a boon docking spot. 

After securing a spot in Walmart and alerting the manager we were staying the night, we went to Taco Bell for lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 Our next stop was the Visitor Center 

 

and then AAA for some new maps.

It was still early and not wanting to sit in our rig in the Walmart parking lot, we walked around Best Buy for a while and then stopped at Lowes.  While Monte went inside I sat in the car playing with the GPS.  I saw there was a zoo nearby so I called to inquire about hours and fees. 

 

 

The zoo was less than a mile away. 

 It cost a whopping $4.50 for the both us.  It was a pleasant way to spend an hour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On of the volunteers trying to brush Mr. Fox 

 

 

 

When we got back to Walmart we picked up a few grocery items.  I planned on getting a rotisserie chicken but this particular Walmart didn’t have a deli section. 

We were stopped at a light, on our way to Little Caesars for a pizza, when a car pulls up alongside us.  I looked over as the driver says, “Do you remember me?” 

What a small world.  It was Vicki whom we had met at the RV Dreams Rally last September in Oregon.  When the light changed we followed her until it was safe to pull over.  She told us she only lived a few blocks away and that we should follow her home so we could say hi to her husband, Harry.

            Coincidentally, Harry had picked up a pizza and they invited us to stay for dinner.  We had a very enjoyable time catching up.

            An added bonus to living this lifestyle is getting to meet some really great people.