What a strange year it has been!
Little did I realize when we signed up to volunteer as camp hosts at San Mateo State Park in San Clemente, that this would be not only the right choice but the only choice. With COVID sweeping the nation and most campgrounds shut down, there were few options for RV travel.
May 1, 2020, we arrived at the State Park ready for duty for the next six months. Due to the pandemic, the State Park was closed through June. So for two months we were the eyes and ears of the campground, making sure no one came. Who did come was the animals. They came and reclaimed their wilderness. Coyotes, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, frogs, mice, rats, birds… all proliferated, came into the park and took over. Nightly we would watch out our front window as a Coyote and her pup sat under the light of the restroom building to watch us. Other camp hosts witnessed a mountain lion sunning herself on a park picnic table.
San Mateo State Park is a precious jewel located 1.5 miles from Trestles Beach, a hugely popular surf beach in San Clemente, California. The park itself offers lust shrubs and trees around most camp sites, offering a secluded and woodsy camping experience, maybe except for the fact that it’s located on Marine Corps Camp Pendleton. The sound of gunfire you may hear echoing from across the valley, well, that’s the sound of freedom!
Ultimately, we felt at great odds with the peace and tranquility afforded by this beautiful, serene nature park, while the world was in torment and at war with the pandemic plaguing our planet.
The park was our safe haven amid the tempest. When the park finally opened, we were cautious yet happy to share it with others. Nature truly helped heal our souls. The campers who came were in great need of peace and tranquility.
The fourth of July came just as the park opened and it was truly a wonderful and untraditional celebration. Campers stayed in their small groups. Someone brought in an inflatable movie screen and popcorn maker. The laughter of children was magic. Another group played an acoustic guitar and sang softly around the campfire. I sat by our campfire just listening to the sounds of humanity, people laughing and enjoying being out and being together. It felt so right…
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