CALIFORNIA

We went and did it, we tried to come home, (Marysville/Yuba City) and we are having a great time seeing all our friends that are still here. Of course a few have taken up full-timing in the here after. Most of them though are still playing golf and bridge, and totally amazed that we find the life we are living, so enjoyable. Coming home is a two week visit, and we are off.

We are staying here till the 5th and then heading to the Oregon coast with some friends for a week. The heat has been over 100 the last few days, and dry or not it is HOT.

Anthony has practice every day, so he is really tired by the end of the day. This year is the last year he will be able to play in this age group and it sure shows. Some of the kids are so tiny, and he is big for his age. We get to see his first game, but if they win they don’t play again for 6 days. Thankfully the forecast is a cooling trend with a delta breeze.

Another surprise was that the bing cherries and early peaches are just hitting the fruit stands here, and words can not express how wonderful they are. Nothing comes close to the unbelievable taste. Everything is running late this year due to the late rains and cool weather, the size of the cherries is amazing. There is nothing as good in my book. Love them.

I did see my doctor here and bless his heart he gave me a prescription that is holding my pain on the back burner, and I’ll settle for that, at least I can function. Getting old is not for sissies!

Wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July, this year sure has gone by fast, guess the rest is all down hill……..but hey, life is good.

Three Parks In Three Days

We no sooner got settled in at the campground on the beach than we got word that our grandson, Anthony, had to be home by the 22nd for his All-Star baseball practice. We had known that our time would be shorter than we had planned, but did not think it would be that short. That left us very little time to do the parks we had tickets for. Our first choice was the San Diego zoo, and it was great. Anthony wanted lots of pictures, so we gave him the camera. He did well, I downloaded 385 for the day.

Getting them from some unusual angles to say the least!

Guess who is the real monkey?

The pandas were out for dinner, mother and the little one.

It was a wonderful day, the weather was absolutely wonderful, actually a little on the cool side, but with all the walking we did, we appreciated it. We took the tour bus, and they also had a hop on and off tram. The one bad thing was it did NOT stop at the exit, and we had planned our exit with a drop off there. Anthony was so lucky with his picture taking, seemed like the animals all were posing for him. The polar bears were playing in the water, the apes were right at the window, it was truly a delight full treat for Chuck and I to see him having such a great time.

The next day it was off to SeaWorld. Our photographer had a chance of heart so we had to take over the camera. The shows were great and the crowds were very light.

We went on the “shoot the rapids” ride, and it was a blast, that is until we went under a huge waterfall. We got totally drenched, and it was getting late in the day, so it had cooled down considerably. There were big hot air dryers, but being a cheapskate, we passed, they were 5 dollars for 3 minutes, like we were going to dry out in that time!

Walked over to the play area and there was this awesome climb and tumble structure, and Anthony was off. Chuck and I waited patiently, with our teeth chattering, but he was having such a good time that being the good grandparents we try to be, we waited and then waited some more. Finally, after an hour, we had to call it a day. Wonder where he possibly could find the energy to go like that.

Aaaawww, the last one. We were off later in the day, but planned ahead with a picnic lunch. The Wildlife Park is a part of the San Diego zoo, but most of the animals are not in cages. The park has tour buses that take you through the area and you get to see the animals in the wild. It is beautiful, but there was a lot of walking and Chuck and I were done in. And after the zoo and SeaWorld, Anthony was not that impressed.

Anthony had the camera back.

On the road to Marysville, California, the place we called home for 40 years. Love the way they plant the oleanders in the middle of the freeways. They grow so good there and the only water they get is from the rain and it only rains here a few months in the winter. Guess they like the exhaust fumes. What else could it be?

Off to meet friends for dinner, life is good.

Vegas to San Diego

We arrived in Vegas at about the same time as the first heat wave.  The first few days it was well into the 110’s, which makes it hard to breath, at least deeply or often.  Yes, it is a dry heat, like it makes a difference when it is that hot.  We were staying at the base, and thought we would take a trip to the pool, but it was closed for repairs.  Thankfully our son  got into Vegas and they were staying at Circus Circus, making there pools available.  Luckily the heat was short lived, only 2 days.  We did some sight seeing, very little gambling, which means we were winners. 

Display at the Bellagio, it was very different this year with giant ants, mushrooms and huge glass flowers, along with the gorgeous display of real flowers.  Then of course there is the dancing fountains, I could watch those all night.

                                   

Did take in the musical Menopause and it was hilarious, enjoyed it so, but my daughter in law forgot to drop the cookie crumbs and we like to never found our way back to the point the guys were picking us up.  Really need GPS in those places.

  With Vegas in the rear view mirror we were off.  As our grandson said, through the M.O.N, middle-of-nowhere.  We made it a short day, as our grandson was enjoying the ride so.

                                          Lunch Stop

Next Day……The Beach, the Beach

I would have to say that he really loves the water, as he has been in for literally hours, and is ready to head back. And he has found some other boys, which makes our job a whole lot easier. And his more enjoyable, I’m sure. 

We are here till Saturday, which should give me enough time to get Chucks hands to turn loose of the steering wheel, driving through L.A. does not do any thing for his comfort zone.  But he did a wonderful job, and a few years ago he would not have attempted it.  Wahoo!!!!  We have tickets for the zoo, adventure wildlife park and marine world, so all those have to be taken in yet.  Life is good but our “old” rear ends are going to be dragging…..oh, to be young again.

Only God can Make a Tree

But He does a heck of a job with rocks too.  We were so looking forward to seeing Bryce Canyon, as we have heard that it the absolutely most fantastic place ever.  We left our campground early and left it to Tommy, our GPS, to take us the scenic route.  And it certainly did.  Right up over the mountain! 

Yes, that is snow.  We were in a Brian Head ski area.  Seeing snow this time of year, awesome, getting hit with a snowball, not so great, but I’m sure in a few days it will sound wonderful.           

                                  

We are heading to Las Vegas to pick up our grandson, in a few days.  His parents are bring him down from northern California.  All the airlines have a layover and plane change, and being as he is only 11, we think it is a little too much for him to try.  Below is a forecast of what they are expecting for the weather.  And we will be there till our mail arrives.  Seems like it always takes the mail it’s sweet ole time if we are wanting to move on.  Maybe this time it will surprise us.

Technorati Tags: Tomorrow Jun 6 Monday Jun 7 Tuesday Jun 8 Wednesday Jun 9 Thursday Jun 10 Sunny (Clear) Sunny (Clear) Sunny (Clear) Mostly Sunny Mostly Sunny Hi:108°Lo:84° Hi:109°Lo:85° Hi:105° Hi:101°Lo:80° Hi:97°Lo:76° Lo:82°

We are hoping to do the Grand Canyon with him before heading off to southern California, but if the weather does not cool down some, that may have to wait for another time.  That was to be the educational part of his trip with us, but sure we can find something else that would do.  San Diego always has wonderful weather, and there is a great military campground with a swimming pool and all.  Wonderful place for kids…also connected to a golf course, which works for the other kid.  He did get to play once before we left Springs, which made him happy.  Moving along.

  

A view from the road, still  with snow.

Entrance to Red Rock Canyon, which leaded to Bryce Canyon.

 Today was free entry to Bryce, not sure why, but it brought out the crowds, we have our Golden Age pass, so it is always free.  

Pictures can Not do this justice, it is unbelievable.

From there it was off to Zion National Park, which was about a 40 mile drive.  The weather was perfect, we stopped for a picnic, could not have been nicer.  We entered Zion on the back side, which meant the visitors center would be near our exit.  Basically, we needed no sight seeing directions, as there is only one road cutting it’s way through the most spectacular scenery imaginable.  We were both totally blown away. 

 

 

 

Of all the parks we have seen the past week, Zion made the biggest impression for us.  The Arches has to be a close second.  With both those parks you feel like you a part of them, where as Bryce gave us the feeling that we were in an art gallery, looking down into the scene.  But that may be just  us, all three are a wonderful, wonderful treat.  From now on will always think of Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs, as the “little brother” to these wonders.

 

 

"Don't worry about tomorrow, Don't think about yesterday, don't live in the future, just make it through today"  Life is Good.

WOW!!!

 

What a wondrous sight awaited us today.  Touring the Arches National Park, was jaw dropping.  No matter where we looked it was beyond words.  Definitely should be on everyone's to see list.

                                          

                                   

                                    

                                  

We had a wonderful time, and got back to the RV about 2 in the afternoon, and after a bit of libation food, and rest we were off for a two hour jet boat tour of parts of Canyonlands.  Our driver/captain was great, kept everyone laughing and we all enjoyed his antics.  When we got back to the dock they had a wonderful dinner, entirely cooked in cast iron pots.  What a great finish to a fantastic day. 

                                     

                                 

Tomorrow we are off down the road, heading to Bryce Canyon and Zion for a few days.  It will be sure hard to beat this scenery.  Life is good.

Moab

Oh, it feels so good to be on the road again, much as we love visiting with our daughter and her family, and seeing how our great grand kids have grown, roaming has taken over our lives.  We left Colorado Springs at our usual travel time…9’ish.  Very easy drive and we settled in for the night at Grand Junction.  Lovely downtown area, we just drove around a bit, looking for a place to have dinner.  Today we only had a 120 mile trek to Moab.  The campground is very nice that we landed in, and the price to go with it, but for 2 nights, and it is only money….(sort of chocked on that). 

The scenery here is unbelievable.  And we have not been to either of the parks yet.  Tomorrow we are taking a guided 4 hour tour, can’t wait.

This afternoon, I went to the pool, and some of the treatment that I received from the acupuncturist was a treatment that they call cupping.  This consists of small glass “fish” bowls that they put on you by lighting a flame in them for a second and sticking them on your body.  This causes a tremendous suction that leaves round black & blue bruises.  Well, my back and shoulder area is a mess, which I totally forgot about.  Got more than one strange look, but I had no idea why, till I got back and was getting undressed.  LOL

  The view from our back window is breath taking, think I’ll just sit here and watch the sun set on it.  Wow, pictures could not do it justice.