Palomar Mountain News

You just never know when you’re going to meet a new friend! During the snow, I ran out early one morning to take some fun pix. At the top of the South Grade early snow bunnies had arrived. One car stood out with a gal sitting at the drivers seat looking a little perplexed. I drove by, got out for a pic of the new campground sign and was planning to turn around to go back to see if she needed help. As I headed toward my car, she was walking my way.

Monika came up from Orange County that morning with a big bag of keys. It was her first time to the Mountain and had no idea we had snow this time of year. She works for a company that recently acquired the largest tower farm on Palomar and provides the maintenance for the property. It is leased to the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, San Diego Sheriffs Department and Air Traffic Control. A back up generator runs on propane during our power outages.

The former owners had sent keys. We went to the gate but none of them seemed to fit. Some of the locks were combos so decided to go to our house, warm up in front of the fire and make some calls while taking advantage of StarStrucks Coffee Bar. She left messages and we took off on a fun tour of our Winter Wonderland. Eventually she had some call-backs but no one had a combo for us. Then we needed to take a break for lunch, of course!

We decided to try the gate one more time since a propane company was to deliver and the generator was to be serviced in a few days. We loaded up my car with a pretty standard supply of tools when I get keys in the mail for new listings; Shovels, bolt cutters, extra padlock and WD40 – just in case.

Thinking positive, I started shoveling in front to the gate while Monika tried the keys again. No luck and the heavy chain was not going to open for two gals with bolt cutters, so she sprayed the locks with WD40. Worked like magic! One of the keys finally fit and she was in! All the buildings have their own key and everything is double locked. She was able to mark all the keys but then we had to lock up. It took all four hands working together to finally get those tight locks linked up as my extra padlock only gave us an extra half inch.

In the middle of the night, I woke up thinking about these two giggling gals fumbling with closing the locks and heavy chain. I went over the next day and added one more padlock. Ah, that made a difference. Monika will have a much improved system for all these important agencies real soon.

When you need shoveling done or your padlocks opened just let me know!

Bonnie Phelps, Full Service Realtor with a new friend!

760-533-1742