GILLETTE

Having spent a week in Yuba City, California, visiting with family and friends, we headed out on the long drive to Gillette, Wyoming.  Along the way we hoped to say a quick hello to friends that are spending the summer in Provo, Utah.  We found a Elks there, with full hooks ups, which was very close to the park they were in.  Unfortunately they were under the weather, and missed getting to see them.  Next time.
We have not traveled that much in the last few years, but have really seen a price increase in RV parks.  Coming across Nevada, had one quote us 55 dollars, plus tax, and that was W/E only.  Twice we were forced (bit hard, but choices are some what limited) to stay at KOA’s which we never do.  We arrived in Gillette in time for the storm of the year, unfortunately we were still on the highway.  The rain and hail were so bad that you couldn’t see, yet couldn’t stop and pull off, because you couldn’t see.  We made it fine as it didn’t last but  10 minutes or so.  Now the Camplex where there were close to 3000 rigs parks, (FMAC rally) turned into a muddy mess.  And the rally was over the next day!  Lots of the rigs were parked on grass, and the tow companies were out in full force the next day.  They are probably planning a nice vacation now.
Tomorrow we are moving over to the Camplex, where some of the rally coordinators are already. We are joining them in a get together this afternoon.  It is so great to see so many of these great people that we have met over the years on the road.  It is just amazing how we take up as if no time has passed. What a great life, maybe not filled with “things and stuff”, but family and friends.  We are truly the One Percent!  The coming week will be filled, Chuck is working on the parking team and I am helping with registration.  There are seminars and cocktail parties and fun times planned to the max.  Know that we will have a great time.  Till the next time, travel safe.

ON THE ROAD

 

 

The family arrived right on schedule, tired as their flight left Denver at six.  They had spent the night in a near by hotel, so it was not too hectic, and the kids travel well.  Chuck had volunteered to help cook ribs for the Friday night cook out, little knowing that John (SIL) had just prepared a mega feast of smoked BBQ ribs, tri-tip and turkey for 100+ Air Force Academy graduates and families.  Not only that, they also had to go to plan B and host the event at their home.  All that and then leave the very next day.  But being the trooper that he is, he pitched right in, bed time was early that night though.

Trip to the beach was the first day trip, and the kids had a ball.  Truly realized that kids never walk, only run, and run they did.  Kylee was not too impressed with the ocean, but it was a good source of water which she would haul bucket after bucket to dump in a hole.  But if she felt she didn’t need that much she would take it back to the water edge and pour it back in.  Roinn rode the waves, and of course they both collected shells, once we were back to the resort, they wanted to go to the pool, as one of our friends had some grandkids visiting and they were going.  We had also stopped at Pendleton Marine Base and gotten the military discount tickets for Disneyland, but were told that unlike years earlier, Chuck would have to be in attendance every time they entered the park.  Used to be only the first entry.  THREE days of Disneyland for us, well….anything for these little ones.  We booked a hotel in the area, and planned to do our best to survive the “happiest place on earth”.  For the next few days we stayed close to home, the kids were happy, they were loving the pool, but usually only swimming two times a day, all morning and all afternoon. 

Then the day arrived and off we went, spent day one in Adventureland, and it is fabulous. 

They do a wonderful job, and we enjoyed it all, but by 7 in the evening,  we were ready for the hotel.  After a quick dinner, Kylee was asleep, Cyndi, John and Roinn went to see the nightly fireworks, and they decided to stay till the park closed.  When we were entering the park I had once again asked if Chuck had to be present at all times, and we were told it was only the first time.  Great!  The next morning, John woke up with a  swollen jaw which necessitated his having to get on antibiotics, that were back at Jojoba.  The hotel moved the reservations around, we went back home, the next day he was much better, they went off for two more fun filled days, happily we stayed behind, we relaxed, worked getting things ready for our departure.  We all were leaving the same day, and they were staying in the “Little Guy”, which we were lucky to be able to park on the lot next door.  Sort of like our own guest room WITH bath.  One of the things you really don’t appreciate in a stiks n bricks.

Once they arrived back, and the grown ups recovered we spent most of the time enjoying Jojoba, with a few trips to town, and another beach day.  The morning of the 11th, everyone was moving early.  The kids were on their way to SeaWorld and then the airport, we were heading the other way.  Our grandson in northern California was graduating 8th grade, and our intention was to surprise him.  Travel was easy, stopped for the night at the Visalia Elks, and to Chucks delight it was TACO night.  Five dollars bought you all the fixings, beans, rice, pasta salad, broccoli salad, fruit salad, and home made earthquake cake.   And 20 dollars got us a good nights rest, didn’t even having to unhook or fix dinner.  Can’t beat that.  We had about 250 miles to go the next day, and we are set up behind the Moose Hall.  There is no “it” view here.  Well, we aren’t too far from the dumpster.  But it is basically the only game in town, and only 10 dollars a night, with W/E.  We are and have been the only ones here, sort of spooky, but have not had any problems, just wish we had another rig or two.  Should remember, be careful what you ask for. 

Graduation weather was perfect, large class, 260, and we were running close to being late, so we were a bit in the back to say the least, but was able to pick him out, although wasn’t quite sure till they called his name.  

Way to go, Anthony!

Since we are so time limited we have been busy spending time with family and friends.  Even got in a day of bridge.  The truck continued with the problem that all the mechanics in  the world can’t fix right.  This makes the 5th time that it has been repaired for basically the same problem.  Glad that we got it taken care of here (fingers crossed) and we weren’t stranded along the side of the road.  So being as our wheels were in the shop, and they were having a bridge game right here at the Moose Hall, we decided why not.  Half these players are life masters, and the last time we played, we were so far in last place that they had to put our names on the back of the paper.  So imagine our surprise when we came in first!  But it was sooooo sweet. 

Have not downloaded the pictures and the cameras are in the truck, which has carried Chuck off for a Fathers Day treat, playing golf with our son and grandson.  Getting this on paper is a big accomplishment so here it goes.  We are on our way to Gillette for the Escapade.

COMPANY COMING

Our lovely daughter and SIL are coming in two days, and bring with them our great grandchildren. We have mostly stayed in the back ground with the little ones, want their grandparents to experience the joy of being the main spoilers, but we do manage to get in a few sessions. Looks like we will have a good time, with Disneyland and Marine World part of the itinerary. Hopefully we will be able to hold up. 

Now to catch up with the past two months, (there went all the good intentions of my keeping this blog current).  After waving good bye to Barb and Bob/Chuck, we got serious about hosting a margarita party fund raiser for the bridge club.  We had almost a 100 percent turn out and a great time.  And spouses were invited.  We have just a few

couples who play. Think there is a reason for that.  Years ago I heard on the radio a story of a woman who was on trial for shooting her husband, though only wounding him.  She was telling the judge that they had been playing as partners in a bridge tournament and she bid this, he bid that, ect. ect.  And the judge threw the case out.  Said anyone who bid like that deserved to be shot!  At the time I did not play bridge and didn’t full understand, but now it makes perfect sense. Bridge is more than just a game.

The days that seem to have flown by have been filled with the same daily routines.  Chuck has been doing some little projects to the travel trailer.  And we got the portable TV “cube”.  Hassling with the dish is not a fun thing most of the time, so thought we would give this a try.  Being as we have Dish, we assumed that it would work by transferring the receiver to the traveler.  Wrong, one is for two TV’s, have to have one for just one.  Done, now hope that this solves the problem.  Murphy's law will surely kick in, I’m sure. 

Once our company leaves we will rolling down the road.  The Escapade is the one place that is written in stone, and we have to be in Gillette, Wyoming, by the 27th of June.  After that we have not formed a plan, all options are open.  Sort of a cliff hanger…lol

 

FRIENDS DEPART

Time tends to just fly by, can not believe that it is over a week since our friends left.  Been busy getting ready for a margarita party that we are putting on to raise some funds for the bridge club.  Hope they don’t get out of control, you know how wild those bridge players can get…lol.
Pictures of the flower fields of Carlsbad, California.  The day we went with Barb & Bob, was the one day that the weather decided to turn half way ugly.  And their time was limited so we had to go.

Flowers in the parking lot
We weren’t up to walking around in the weather that day, so took a ride to San Diego.
Before we knew it, they were hooking up their car and on their way. Enjoyed having company, loved being able to cook for more than just two people, living 15 miles from town, sort of forces us to eat at home, than make the trip.  Sure helps the budget, but some how manage to make it all even out.
Our plans going forward seem some what dim, we have not made up our minds yet.  Our daughter and hubby, along with our 2 greats are coming out around the first of June for about 10 days or so.  Once they leave we will head out for the Escapade in Gillette, but where after that is still up in the air.  What to do, where to go???  I’m sure a plan will come together.  

VISIT WITH FRIENDS

A hiking group here at Jojoba were doing a campout near Borrego Springs, and we thought that if Bob & Barb were up for it, we would meet up with them there.  They were agreeable, so we had a plan.  We let our GPS take us to the small town of Julian, which was the address for the campground, but come to find out it was almost 15 miles away….over and down the mountain.  But it was Julian.  At least it was a small mountain.  And the drive was beautiful, with all the views and spring flowers.

Wild lilacs

Looking down from the road into valley

Daffodils of Julian

Two trees

Cactus along the road

The first day the wind was really blowing and it did not look like we were going to be able to enjoy the area.  But next morning dawned to the start of a perfect day.  We decided that we would take a ride into Julian, famous for their apple pie, among others.  We strolled the 2 city blocks of the town and made our way to the pie café.  I had apple, Barb did mixed fruit, Bob went for cherry and Chuck had the apple crumb with cinnamon ice cream, and we all agreed they were GOOD.  Back at the campground we gathered around the huge fire pit for happy hour, and then there was the group pot luck.

The next day we were off to Borrego Springs, a short drive away.  They are know for the metal sculptures that are placed around the area. The manufacturing facility is just down the road from here, and he has started putting some of them along the road to Temecula.  Amazing work. The ones in Borrego have been there long enough that the rust has made the welds almost disappear. 

Head of the dragon, did not do the walk out to get the picture.

 

Bob getting a bit close

One of my favorite

 

The dragon, this one is huge, on both sides of the road

Baby dinosaur catching a ride

We found a Mexican restaurant in town and had a nice lunch and a leisurely drive back to the campground.  The hikers were back, and we got a bonfire going.  Then it was just sitting around swapping lies.  As the fire started dying down we pulled out the marshmallows for that finishing touch. 

The end of a wonderful day, beautiful sunset.

The next day we decided that we had seen what we had come for, and we would head to Jojoba.  It was a short drive, just 40 miles, we did not take the same way back that we came.  Actually cut the drive in half, guess I should have checked the map!  The next few days we just took advantage of the pool and hot tub.  Lazy days.  Took a ride to a gourd farm out in the back country.  We did see something that have never seen before.  Coming down this very curvy road was a small herd of white and brown goats, chasing a coyote.  They were just trotting along and that coyote kept looking back like “what the hell”.  Happened too fast, so no picture, but have witnesses.

Even though we were warned that there were lots of gourds here, nothing could have prepared us for what we saw.

They actually had this gourd in the shop, price tag of 3500.00.  It was totally unbelievable, you would swear that it was leather.

You could buy them already cleaned, which seemed to be well worth it, as it only added a few dollars, but saved you a lot of work.  I’m all for that.  Would love to take some classes here, but they are about 40 miles away, and down some of the “windingest” roads you have ever seen.  Will put this blog to bed, and finish the rest of the visit with friends soon.

Matilda

 

There she is with her friends, living her new life.  Set her free and she didn’t come back, but can tell she is so happy with her new family.  Happy Easter everyone.

Spring time, love’n it

The yucca’s are in bloom, wild flowers are popping up all over.  Makes you love southern California.  Great to be back and I have gotten the green thumb urge.  Bought a lot of flowers, aka rabbit food at Jojoba Hills.  But heck some people have gotten lucky and they have beautiful blooms.

And so far mine are still here.  Also put some out some in pots, that should help, those little bunnies are not too good at climbing.. 

We have been very busy the past week, I started back to water aerobics, work with a few volunteer projects, and just getting settled.  St. Patty’s outing with the “Mad Hatters”, we went to an Irish pub.  Probably scared the men that were hanging out there.  There something wild and crazy when a bunch of women get together. 

Plus we all par took of there stout brews.  Taxes out of the way, trip to Costco, all the every day stuff.  We are going to Borrego Springs April 1st with a group from here.  But also are meeting  Bob/Chuck and Barb there.  They had planned to stop here for a few days, and it was one of the places we wanted to show them, so it will be nice to spend more than trying to do it all in a day trip.  Will be sure and take lots of pictures, as there are 100 or more iron sculptures placed in that area. Looking forward to the trip.

• Worth the read.
  No matter what our kids and the new generation think about us, WE ARE AWESOME !!!
  OUR Lives are LIVING PROOF !!!
  To Those of Us Born
  1925 - 1970 :
  At the end of this email is a quote of the month by Jay Leno. If you don't read anything else, please
  read what he said.
  Very well stated, Mr. Leno.
  ~~~~~~~~~
  TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
  1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s!!
  First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank
  while they were pregnant.
  They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
  Then, after that trauma, we were
  put to sleep on our tummies
  in baby cribs covered
  with bright coloured lead-based paints.
  We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets,
  and, when we rode our bikes,
  we had baseball caps,
  not helmets, on our heads.
  As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes..
  Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
  We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
  We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.
  We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren't overweight.
  WHY?
  Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
  We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
  No one was able to reach us all day.
  --And, we were OKAY.
  We would spend hours building
  our go-carts out of scraps
  and then ride them down the hill,
  only to find out we forgot the brakes.. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem..
  We did not have Play Stations, Nintendos and X-boxes. There were
  no video games, no 150 channels on cable,
  no video movies or DVDs,
  no surround-sound or CDs,
  no cell phones,
  no personal computers,
  no Internet and no chat rooms.
  WE HAD FRIENDS
  and we went outside and found them!
  We fell out of trees, got cut,
  broke bones and teeth,
  and there were no lawsuits
  from those accidents.
  We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand, and no one would call child services to report abuse.
  We ate worms, and mud pies
  made from dirt, and
  the worms did not live in us forever.
  We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and
  -although we were told it would happen- we did not put out very many eyes.
  We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
  Little League had tryouts
  and not everyone made the team.
  Those who didn't had to learn
  to deal with disappointment.
  Imagine that!!
  The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
  These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers,
  problem solvers, and inventors ever.
  The past 50 to 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas..
  We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
  If YOU are one of those born
  between 1925-1970, CONGRATULATIONS!
  You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
  While you are at it, forward it to your kids, so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.
  Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?
  ~~~~~~~
  The quote of the month
  by
  Jay Leno:
  "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
  For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us...go ahead and delete this.
  For the rest of us.....pass this on.

SHOPPING DONE

 

The main purpose of our stopping in Yuma was to hit the flea market and a quick trip across the border, done and done.  Last year when we were here I bought  some rubber sandals called Dawgs, love, love em.  Very hard to find them, ordered some on line, Canadian company,  but never received them, and when I checked as to why, they stated they were out of them.  But they did have some here, although colors were limited.  Then a fast trip to Mexico,

 

lunch, margaritas, the best guacamole ever,

or maybe it was the best margarita….

 

Or both.

Anyway the line back in  to the US was only about 15 minutes, at times it can be a couple of hours,  so we were happy.

The last few days we have stayed at the Escapees park in Yuma.  Looking forward to being back in Jojoba, just 190 miles to go.

Tucson

 

Today we took a ride into the Saguaro National Park.  Had the camera smoking, every where you looked there was a special beauty.

Tucson is also the bone yard for the military’s airplanes, pictures can not do this justice,  planes of all sizes, from every branch of the service.  Miles of them!

We have decided that we will move on to Yuma tomorrow.  Want to make the trip into Mexico, and Algodones is so nice, just the long wait to get back in the US.  But maybe we will hit it lucky, one can hope.

The weather has certainly turned to summer, have the air on, what a quick change. 

GETTING OUT OF TEXAS

After spending a few great days visiting Mike and Leslie, in Kerrville, we were once again listening to Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again”.  The weather was wonderful, except for the head wind that stayed with us all the way.  At times it felt like we were on a stationary bike, the only thing moving was our gas gauge. There is not much to break the monotony in west Texas.  Thankfully we had a good audio book that kept our attention and the miles past quickly.  Stopped for the night in El Paso at the military camp ground.  The GPS took us to a gate that was shut, but we spotted the RV park in the distance and made our way to it.  We were back on the road in the morning, GPS set for Benson, Arizona, where Bob/Chuck & Barb

are work camping.  We got set up in the site next to them, and we had a nice dinner that Barb had prepared for us.  And a fabulous dessert of brownies, made me realize just how bad the ones that I took to Mike & Leslie's were.  I had made them in a cast iron pan in my new oven and the combination resulted in our having to scoop the editable part out and making a brownie sundae. 
We spent the next 3 days enjoying their company, eating and having a good time.

Tombstone

The wind seemed to start up around 11 or so and then continued for the rest of the daylight hours.  Being as they do not change the clocks here, we are now on California time……I think.  We have some non RVing friends that live in Sierra Vista, and popped down there for a few days,  friends that go back to when Chuck was in the service.  Did a little sightseeing, Fort Huachuca, and took a drive out Bisbee.  At one time it  was a huge cooper strip mining operation, but after two years of them striking for higher wages, the owners decided they no longer needed to have a mine.  Now they are left with a big empty hole in the ground.

Amazing hole that it is.  The small town that is left has become a tourist attraction in a way, more so in the summer, with little shops and all. Very hilly, very hippy, artsy and all that goes with it.


Rain happened off and on all day.
                                                    
We have now settled into the camp ground at Davis Monthan AFB.  Today was a laid back day, Chuck took advantage of the beautiful weather and went golfing.  I’m downloading pictures and doing the blog.  Not sure if we are going to Yuma or just head back to Jojoba Hills.  Time will tell.  Had hoped to catch up with Bob & Molly there, but they left today for a month of grandbaby time back in Virginia.  Time will tell. 

RETREIVING TRAVEL TRAILER MISSION

Left California bright and early with a feeling of anticipation, the day had finally arrived, we were on the road to start a new adventure. We took the road over the “mountain” into Indio, aka the heart attack ridge. With out the RV it wasn’t too bad, but still not a piece of cake. Once there the storm clouds disappeared and it was blue sky and smooth sailing. We found out later that we manage to stay just hours ahead of a giant snow storm. Almost unheard of in this region. We basically drove, stopping only to gas up, and potty stops. I know….TMI…..shut down for the night in El Paso. The next afternoon we were picking up the little guy, having not officially given the travel trailer a name. Thought of Little Bit, but too much like 2 Bits, and still miss our cat, so that will not work. There was a small campground just down the road from the RV dealer so we decided to spend a few nights there, check things out. We were totally surprised at the space and amount of storage we had available.    

Love the bathroom.  It is actually roomy, with  a wardrobe closet and towel, ect. closet.  So much room, very happy with every thing so far. 

 
Had only seen the inside at a dealer in California, but because of the Murphy bed, knew that it was the kind we wanted. Which meant our choices were very limited, and because of the scarcity, price was mostly non-negotional. Thus the main reason for the trek to Texas, price. Also wanted to register our car in Texas. Well that did not work out in Dublin, so it meant a trip to Livingston. We arrived at the Escapees park in early afternoon, ran back into town, with in minutes had the car registered. Had tried for two months to do it by mail and then time ran out and had to renew it in California. Seems it is not legal to drive a vehicle with plates different than your license. Even if you are in the witness protection program. We didn’t think there was a problem as we hadn’t planned to have it travel with us, when we are on the road.

Spent a few nights in Livingston and decided that we would move to the Elks at Huntsville where our friend Mac &Netters Mac and Nette's Road to Retirement are working at gate guarding near there. One thing led to another and before we knew it we had a plan to “swarm” them at the site they were at. People coming from all directions, Arlene, Roaming When We Can, John & Bridgett, travelsofjohnandbridget.blogspot.com , Roger & Barb, and even Rod &Deb, KEEPING UP WITH THE KENDALLS .
         

Rod & Deb

Arlene Great Picture!

John & Bridgett,Mac &Netters,Roger & Barb, and Deb of Rob &Deb.  Sorry Rod…should have used the wide lens.

It was wonderful, we knew everyone, but several of the people had never met, yet everyone knew each other. Blogs and Facebook, connecting the world. We laughed,and ate, and laughed some more, and yes, ate some more, and then, before we knew it, it was getting dark, time to try to find our way home. For some reason our GPS wouldn’t work, luckily my phone did the job, as we were leading the pack, or we might be still wondering around in the woods. Roger, Barb and Arlene came back to see our rig before heading out.  Next morning we were on the road, making our way to Buckhorn Resort, in Kerrville, Texas, where Mike and Leslie Kennedy are spending the winter months again. They didn’t know that we were coming, Mike was out and about when we knocked on their door, so when he came in thought he was going to have another heart attack. The last few days we have spent running around to some of our favorite spots here. Mamacitas Mexican restaurant, which was just as good as we remembered. Yesterday, laundry in the morning, and then we were off to Fredericksburg. Opa's sausage store, Chucks first stop, then lunch, perfect day, having lunch in the sunshine, with good friends, priceless. Spent an hour or so roaming a marvelous kitchen store, then off to Luckenbach. Took them to up town Luckenbach, which they did not know about. So look for it if you come this way. After sitting a bit at downtown Luckenbach,

we made the trip back to the park. That brings us up to now. Tomorrow we will be back on the road, destination Benson, AZ.  We are thinking another day to get out of Texas, (once you are in Texas, hard getting out)so will be Tuesday.  Looking forward to seeing Barb and BobChuck.