Palomar Mountain News

Have you read Afoot and Afield in San Diego County?  Here is an interview with the author.  He thinks Doane Valley Nature Trail is the BEST hike in San Diego County – we agree!   Thanks to Rosemary for the link below read to read tips about hiking around the county.

The State Park and Observatory and Fry Creek Campgrounds are all open with great hiking!

From: Rosemary Johnston

Subject: Hiking In San Diego County

Good tips from author and hiker Scott Turner on hiking during the pandemic. He is the author of the most recent edition of Afoot and Afield in San Diego County and has said the Doane Valley Nature Trail is the best hike in San Diego County.

Here is the link to listen or read tips about hiking around the county:
https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpbs-midday-edition-segments/2020/jul/20/hiking-san-diego-county-during-pandemic/

It was so exciting to see this comet from the top of Palomar Mountain tonight!  We met up with a Palomar friend, Mike Pique and a couple friends had fancy binoculars set up.  That was extra special for the grandkids to first see Juniper rising with three of it’s moons, then the comet appeared that was apparently last visible about 6800 years ago!

Don spotted the Neowise Comet first through binoculars, then we could see it faintly with just our eyes.  It was visible for at least 20 minutes – you just have to know where to look.

We were parked along the south side of East Grade Road, across from Dyche Valley, near the big metal barn.  Looking up from there, the brightest light to the left of the comet, is Glenn and Cecilia’s home out on Birch Hill.

Many thanks to Mike for sending the photo.  He plans to be out again tomorrow night, same place and starting about sunset.  YOU are invited!

Bonnie Phelps

Recently I posted about former East Graders, Rick and Lyn.  They were on Palomar for over nine years.  Lyn was an avid artist and here is a note from Rick about her art being available:

From: Rick Balzer

I am writing you about Lyn’s Art.  I finally got shelves built to display all of it. It has been catalogued and photographed.  Our son-in-law, Brian Adams has loaded all of it onto a website, www.lynburkeart.com. Some of the paintings have been claimed by family members or friends and are listed as “unavailable”.  I reached out to Jim Hahn, the owner of our former property.  I offered him any painting he would like, as a great number of them were painted at his property or close by.  He chose Old Oak and I shipped it to him.

I am writing to suggest that perhaps others may want to have something of Palomar,  They are not for sale but can be had for a donation to her art organization, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA).  There are general parameters for donations. $300-$500 for smaller paintings.  $1,000-$1,500 for medium size and $2,000-$3,000 for large ones.  This is a win, win as the interested party makes a charitable donation and gets a painting.

Stay safe and best wishes,

Rick Balzer

949-230-1799

Many of us on Palomar have fond memories of Bill and Grace Leibold.  They built a home  in the shape of a ship 1970’s out on Birch Hill. Bill is one of the last survivors of WWII and is the last survivor of the USS Tang.

Long-time subscribers to Palomar Mountain News might remember stories posted in the past telling a bit of their story.  Links are below.

It was fun to get a call a few weeks ago from media/photographer director of AARP.  He said they were including Bill in a story and asked for a photo.  After another fun visit with Bill (at 97 1/2 years young!) and one of his sons, we sent this one.  It didn’t make the article but such a great photo of a great couple and here you have it on PMNews!

Click for the AARP article and scroll down to the story on Bill – ‘I saw defeat in the faces of Japanese prison guards’.

Click for other posts:

Visit with Pearl Harbor Survivor

Memorial Day 2017

Pearl Harbor to Palomar

Memorial Day and Bill Leibold

Presumed Lost from WWII

With gratitude Bill and all who have given so much for our country,

Bonnie Phelps

Four little “Woodpeckers”, also known as the Phelps’ Kids,  are grateful to live in America.  Home of the Free, because of the Brave.

Since all our campgrounds are open now, thankful campers and vacation rental guests appreciate being able to get $5.00 firewood and free kindling.  Scramble on over for fresh eggs, too.  In the fall you might have bags of mountain apples to take home.

Directions: From the top of the mountain, take State Park Road, to the left of the General Store and Mother’s Kitchen.  Travel just over a mile, you will see signs and the stand on your right.  Can’t miss it.  Open 24/7 on the honor system with a can for cash or set up for Venmo.  Free internet hot spot. Most cell phones work and you’re also invited to check your messages or meet up on zoom.

Enjoy the mountain and your 4th with one of our favorite songs:

God Bless the USA!

Hoping someone could use these nice stools:

2 counter stools 25 inches

They are on our patio so you can come snag them.  Our place is on State Park Road – also the home of the Kid’s Woodpecker Firewood Stand.  Can’t miss it.

Thank you!

Bonnie

This Woodpecker Firewood Stand, out on State Park Road, is the only business in the zip code that is open 24/7!  Mask free, and on the honor system, with nothing but happy costumers. I just have to giggle when I look up from my desk and see folks pull in.  They often jump out and take and take a picture with this fun little attraction on Palomar.

As most of you know, our son Brandon, his wife Heidi and our four Treasures, live next door.  Those kids worked all through the winter, hauling and bundling to keep their stand stocked and building up their inventory for their summer business.  Weekends, of course, are the busiest. They are very attentive to keep up on the supply of firewood and free kindling to have everything ready for customers.

However, this weekend they recruited GramBonnie to fill in while they took off for some very special family time.  I told Brandon this morning, I was so proud of him and the weekend they planned.  With all that is going on in our world today, they are escaping. They’ll be creating fun memories forever of their Father’s Day Weekend 2020.  Heidi orchestrated all the contents for the backpacks, the kids each packed their own and they took off on a trek up to San Jacinto!  Camping in a tent at night, they have a goal for exploring about 20 miles of another beautiful mountain over the next couple days.

When you’d like a fun photo, you are always welcome to stop in and use the Woodpecker Firewood Stand Photo Booth. Hope you all enjoy your time celebrating dads wherever you may be. Happy Father’s Day Weekend to YOU!

Bonnie and Family