The Travel Continues

2008-12-27T19:39:00.000-08:00

Well Guys...we are still in Pleasanton,CA...Mike is still working and we are VERY happy...We get "hitch-itch" occasionally but we settle down really fast realizing just how blessed we are to have a Job in California in these days and times...We have met some great new folks and even had a visit from GREAT friends "Shirley & Reb"...on their way south for the winter...We are so thankful that they were here and and able to be "Back On The Road Again"...

We just live from day to day now...finally I have learned that I can make all the plans that I want and all the reservations in the world...BUT... "LIFE happens, on the way to the fair" (so-to-speak)...so now I have contingency plans...Plans "A", "B " & even "C" sometimes...

Our daughter Harmony will be getting married on April 18, 2009...I can't wait...I have my plans set and now I am just gonna watch and see which plan works...We AREe going...just not sure what plan will work...But one thing I AM sure of...One of them will...

After my littleChristmas thingy you will see new pictures of our WONDERFUL grand kids...

A little Christmas "Ditty" and new pics of the grand kids...

Now, I hope this come across as I have intended it to...

This is not a "tongue-in-cheek" piece...but at the same time I really don't think this is all that serious either...so after this "disclaimer" please get from this writing what you will...

I had an epiphany yesterday evening while driving home from having Christmas Eve with Grampy (Mike's Dad), Aunt Mimi (Mike's older sister), Uncle Ralph (Mimi's Husband), Aunt Patti (Mike's younger sister), Marilee, Dan and Isabelle...all of our other kids are either not here or otherwise engaged in other activities with others of their families...

Now mind you we just had "Kid's Christmas " Last Saturday with our daughters Marilee & Dan, Jennifer & Jerritt and Suzanne & Luis and their families... Isabelle (4), Autumn (3), Jackson (2), Seth (5), Niko (6) and Bebe (4)...

Oh wait, let's back up even a little more...The Sunday after Thanksgiving, I went to Astoria Oregon to be with our son Tom, our daughter-in-law Suzanne and our Granddaughter Kaley (13), as she is in the Nutcracker Ballet every year, the first weekend in December every year...Mike came up on the Thursday before...then our Nephew Tim and his Family; Tracy, Kelsey (12) and Kaleb (10) came over from Portland, to enjoy the ballet and spend a little family time too...

We have had a great time...This is the time in you life when you reflect on "Times Past"...
This starts Christmas for us each and every year, The Nutcracker in Astoria!

Today I went back to my memories as a child...climbing into bed trying to sleep, but just too excited, waiting for "Santa" to arrive and wake up early the next morning to see what he had left...what a joy to always wake up to the things you dream of...Having my "Momo" (Mom's Mom) there each and every Christmas...sometimes even having my Grandma (Dad's Mom) too...sometimes we were even able to spend Christmas at my Dad's Mom and Dad's house in Oklahoma...(Daddy being in the Air Force) we didn't make that happen to often...but it was magical when we could...our cousins were there....what fun...The feelings in the tummy of anticipation and the the thrill of the recognition of the things that you hoped for...Then that night climbing into bed with all that you could get in bed with you...dolls cars, stuffed animals and whatever...it was a story right outta "Saturday Evening Post"...

Oh yes...the Christmas Programs at School and at Church....they are so real...they are so much a part of the whole "Christmas" thing...we start then beginning to understand that there is another reason to be celebrating the season...Yep...the baby Jesus is Born...And all because of that , we make it a real priority to see our Moms and Dads, our kids, our grand kids, our brothers and sisters and for some of us we have the privilege to even see our cousins and other extended family and, not to be missed, our wonderful friends too...

Then you get a little older...I think it happens at about 12 or 13 years old...no matter whether you are a girl or a boy...it starts...The "magic" starts to seep out...you start feeling all the stressors that accompany any event of this magnitude...after all the whole world celebrates this holiday no matter where they live or what they believe or don't believe about Christmas and just why it is celebrated at all...

By then we kinda know that the "magic" is gonna be what "you " make it....Then you have to start moving that "magic" and shakin' that "magic" yourself...and I think that comes...or at least for me, it is how it worked....it became about making the "magic" happen for others...first it was for my Mom and Dad and little brother...and my "Momo"...then I had lots of friends and I had a great Church family from the time I was old enough to go to church so when I became a teenager, that was quite a big part of my Christmas "magic" from then on...

Then comes marriage and the baby-carriages...Oh My...

Everything takes a big change then....now you are the one creating the "magic" for everyone...Your Parents, Grand Parents, Aunts and Uncles, your and the ones of the children that you are blessed with...then there is still the school stuff and the Church stuff...OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And WORK...I almost forgot work...and all that entails with the holiday...

This season can easily take on a very hectic and stressful edge to it... What with all the decorating, the presents to be purchased and wrapped, the pictures to be taken, the food and goodies to be cooked, the people to see, the cards to write...and oh my gosh...the house to clean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The party's at our house...Oh yes, don't forget the School and Church Programs, the dance recitals (The Nutcracker) and all...Parties, parties, parties..............

Well, I think you get the picture...I was musing over all this yesterday as we were coming home from Auburn, on Christmas Day...looking for somewhere to have dinner...We had stopped and visited friends on the way home...Awesome visits...and it kinda showed me something...When you take away all the "hustle and Bustle" of the experience of preparing for the "DAY"...sometimes we forget the "Reason for the Season"...sure it is the "Santa" thing for the kids...and I love that and wouldn’t change that for anything. Seeing them open presents and be so excited with all of their new things...it is awesome...seeing your kids take the mantle of making those things happen for their kids...the school programs, Church programs, and whatever they are into that has a "doins" in this time of year...but it's our relationships...our families and our friends...they are the real presents when you get to be my age...

I have heard that all my life and thought it just something that people said...but guess what...Once you start losing people in your family and in your lives...your "magic" changes...now it is watching the others have the "magic"...watch the "magic" happen for them as it did for you....enjoy those times and your friends and love the "MAGIC" that is ours in our older years...I know that I am not really old yet but I am old enough to start realizing this is the real deal...the real "MAGIC"...seeing old friends....watching our grandchildren and children...our nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews...this is the "MAGIC"...and all because of a little baby that was born in a manger so many years ago...Thank you Jesus...

Oh by the way...we had "Christmas Dinner" at the "49er Truck Stop" in West Sacramento...not bad...but it was amazing to see what people have to go through that don't have a place to go on Christmas...Oh, we had places to go...lovely family had invited us many places but with Mike’s work we needed to get home...so we had dinner on Christmas Eve as I said earlier with Mike's Family and our daughter Marilee and her family...But the truck stop was magical...I saw something new...and by "accident" our friend Marty called while we were eating...the “magic “in that is that Marty is a trucker, he was home for the holiday...but there were lots of people in that restaurant that were not...I am so thankful for my family, and my friends...I love you all so...that's my "MAGIC"

So as the song that I heard this Christmas was wondering “ if I changed or Christmas Changed”…well I have the answer…Christmas is always the same… the “Magic” is just seen and manipulated through the eyes of our ever changing “ages” of life…

I will start with the top Left then continue on the last on the right with names and ages...

Autumn (3), Seth (5), Bebe (4), Niko (6), Isabelle (4), Kaley (13), The Florida Kids Luke (2), Alia (11?), Nikki (10?),and last but certainally not least Jackson (2)...We still have the "most wonderful, bright & beautiful"grandkids in the whole world...and I thank their mommies and daddys for all their hard work in raising them...

Happy New Year to you all......

Here's to let you all know just where we are...

2008-03-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

They say that the Spring here is awesome...I believe it...we are seeing it!!!

On this day before St. Patty's Day we are sitting on the banks of the American River in Lotus,CA..

This truly is one of the most beautiful places in the world!!!

It is the Ponderosa RV Park...It is a Thousand Trails/ NACO Membership Park...This our second stay here and We have loved it and will return here again and again...the aminities are not the best but the view and the people here are really great...

It won't be too good here in the summer because of the heat and the lack of 50AMP service but the Fall, Spring and Winter are great...

There are loads of geese here and there are kyakers and rafters that go by especially on the weekends...

And a few deer come around too!!!

Enjoy Guys...we are...

Oh My Goodness

2008-03-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys...Was-up???

Well we are in Lotus,CA 2 miles West of Coloma, CA where Gold was discovered...Thought this would be a good place to be to find the "Pot 'O' Gold" at the End of the Rainbow...Well, I'm sure there must have been a Rainbow somewhere...but "Gold" is not what we found..."CHECK THIS OUT"!!

We went into town to use the phone...and get a couple of things from the grocery, and then we decided to stop for lunch at the Ponderosa Store for their obligatory Corned Beef Sandwich and Green Beer...

Well, there was this "FREAK Hail Storm" that came through the Foothills...As we drove home we saw the 2 inches worth of HAIL on the ground and on the cars at the local "Saloon and Dance Hall"...Never even thinking of our "TAD"...I guess the hail was too much for the 18 yr.old "Zip Dee" Awning...

Now what do we do???

So, back to town to call AON...can't get to them 'till Monday, but we did get it all rolled up and braced, with the help of a neighbor we "got'er'done"!!!

We met the nicest couple at lunch...Pauline and Jack...Great people from LaPine, Oregon...Had lots of stories of their life with the "Carter Family" of Gospel and Bluegrass types of Music...It was truly a gift..."the time" that we spent with them...Can't wait to talk/listen to them again...Pauline even Played the Auto Harp that was personally made for by one of the Carter Clan, this past Christmas...great stories...Great people...

We're doin fine...just mosein' around Northern California...waiting for Mike to get back to work...Mike has done some tree trimming at his Dad's house and we've been see'n the kidos and grand kidos as much as we can...

Been a great year so far...on the 3rd of April we will have been "Fulltimers" for 19 months and been married for 32 years on the same day......

"It's a great life if you don't weaken"!!!

2007-12-14T14:54:00.000-08:00

Merry, Merry Christmas to One and All!!!
Mike and I in Skagway Alaska this Past August

Our year has been amazing…filled with love and loss and lots of travel. A new look into our future as “Fulltime RVers”…We have found that being a ”Fulltime RVer”, sometimes needs a little help along the way…

We traveled from the Alaska to the Beautiful Pacific North West to the Eastern Shores of Cape Kennedy Florida, and back to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s. What a thrill it was as we entered into each and every new state…The American Dream…that is what it is…so very wonderful…

We visited all of our kids…Tom, Suzanne and Kaley (12) in Astoria Oregon, Marilee, Dan & Isabelle(3) in Antelope, CA., Jennifer, Jerritt, Autumn (2) & Jackson (1), in Auburn, CA., Harmony, Aaron, Lukas (1), Alia & Nickole in Satellite Beach, FA., Suzanne, Louis, Seth (4), Bebe (3) & Niko (5)…It is so wonderful to have such a family, and to be able to see them was and is always fantastic.

We have had lots of Travel and some “stay-put-ed-ness”…right now we are in Pleasanton, CA…getting ready to make a move back to Menden Lake in the Yuba City, CA area…Mike has been working since the first of September and we now have a few weeks off…a least ‘till after the first of the year…so we will stay at Thousand Trails ‘till he gets back to work…don’t know where we will go then but wherever, we’ll love it…just as we have here…our life on the road has been great and we are looking forward to more and more travel and all the great folks we will meet…

This letter comes to you at this “Christmas Time” of the year to let you know that we love you all and are hoping and praying for a Blessed Christmas and a Bright and Prosperous New Year for you and yours…

Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

We love you all,

Mike and Charlie

Inside The Ship...

2007-09-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

Lunch on the Ledo...Beautiful "Fish" Ice Sculpture...Oh yes and Mike too...
Live music to eat by...really nice...
More Lido at lunch time...

The Deck A Bench on the Deck
The Lights by the Elevators
The Stairs in the Atrium
The Hall by the Dinner House
The ship was Gorgeous!!!!!! This is one of the lounge areas...kind-of a quiet areaThis is another one...this one got kinda lively at night...I just loved the model of a ship...Chairs on the Ledo...Dolphins on the Ledo...Umbrellas on the Ledo...
Our State Room...

The train that Joe and Dianne went for a ride on and our ship...Cool picture, huh???

Our SHIP...

2007-09-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

Wanted to show you the ship it is the MSS Zaandam of the

Holland America Line

On the smoke stack you can see their LOGO...This is a picture I took of the ship while we were stopped in Juno...It is truly a beautiful Ship... These are the Life boats...fortunately we had no need for them...

This is the Aft part oft he ship...also those windows on that you see in the middle part of the ship are the windows of the dinning room...
This is the front of the ship...the business end..."so-to-speak"!!!

This is the Ledo Deck Aft...a great place to spend time with good friends or meeting new ones or just watching the world sail by...

Such a beautiful place...
Our window was the middle one on the bottom row...

We loved it there...

Sail Day...08/08/07...Off to Alaska!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-09-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

Well...here we are Sail Day...The views have been magnificent...The trip here from Chinook and the trip to Whistler and the getting on the ship and all have been really great...no hitches at all...just "smooth sailing"...We are, hoping and praying, at this point that that will be indicative of the remainder of our trip...

This the view from our room just before we left...the sun was shinning and all the misty clouds that we had experienced the two days before had dissipated...We didn't know it then,but that was just a peek at what was to come for the whole week that we would be on the "Zaandam", sailing through the waters of Northern Canada ands Alaska...
Joe and Dianne...leaving us...in their Taxi,on their way to the boarding dock...We had breakfast???at the hotel where we stayed...just a little hot breakfast...not much to write home about...but it was breakfast...
OUR SHIP...

OUR HOME FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS

Here is another of Mike's "self portraits" ...I hate them but he seems to get them goin where ever we are...
We're sitting on the "Lido Deck, Aft" Where we would spend many delightful hours as we sailed from place to place...sometimes sipping a cocktail or two...sometimes just gazing at the beauty of the sights that each ands every moment provided...you will soon see just what I mean...Then there is the obligatory, emergency action drill...every on the whole ship has to get ready to board the lifeboats...doesn't Mike look cute...yep...he always looks cute... This picture was taken from our stateroom...I watched the planes and the watercraft for an hour or so once we were in our room...it was beautiful...The sea planes were amazing and there were so many of them...
Just another shot out our window...I loved our window...FIRST PARTY......"THE SAIL-AWAY" Lots'a people...Sailing away from the City, looking back at the terminal and a Carnival Lines ship...They were going the same places we were...I talked to lady that was part of a whole family that was vacationing together...
Here you see us sailing under the bridge...you know...the one that looks like the Golden Gate...it was pretty cool...there were even folks standing on the hills around waving to us as we passed by...it was really cool...This was Joe and Diane's State room Number

"3404"

I couldn't remember it so we just took a picture of it...

Yep, we were on the "Lido Deck, Aft" having a little fun before dinner...

September 8...w so soin Vancouver...and getting on the ship, the Zaandam...

2007-09-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

Here is Vancouver...the last time we were here we celebrated our 5Th or 6Th anniversary,on the way...now we have been married for almost 32 so that was a little while ago...we were there with a "ministry team" that included about 2,000 teens...boy am I glad that I was younger then...I can't even imagine that today...It was so big...I didn't remember it being so big and busy,but it is big and buys...Unfortunately we were only gonna be there for the afternoon and evening before our ship sailed...I can't wait to go back and just be a tourist in that city...I vet you could spend a month there and just soak in the "stuff"...

These first two pictures are us entering the city through "China Town"...

I took this picture of the Kings Way sign because that is the street that we came to and the Kingsway Foursquare Church...

These next couple of pictures were taken from our hotel room window... Then from the Sears Tower on are just a couple of shots on our little "trip" (got home at midnight) to Whistler, BC for dinner...There was lots of road construction...now I can understand (our waitress at Baker's Square in Plesanton, CA went to college there and she was telling us all about it) all the construction all around that area...I guess that they are having the 2010 Winter Olympics in that area...what a beautiful place for an Olympic Event...or any event, for that matter...

The Views were so beautiful...the water in the rivers was turquoise...much like the water in the Gulf Coast...The bridge is quite similar to the Golden Gate in San Francisco...We will sail under it tomorrow evening...

Then there is the little town of "Whistler"...so quaint and so elegant...looks like Vale or Aspen, Colorado...little villages that could have been transported from little villages in Germany or Switzerland...

Here's the "Motley Crew...
We were ready for whatever the next week would bring, full of excitement and expectation of the Inside Passage of Alaska...But right now we were just plain hungry...so we are on the prowl for a good eatery...there are many, I am sure...but we were just "poppin-in" for dinner so we just popped into the first, no... second place that we saw...what a good dinner we ha...awesome atmosphere...sure wish I had taken pictures inside...from where I sat I could watch the salad maker make all the wonderful salads that they pump outta there...I think I had a Salmon Salad, they had great Iced Tea...All of the meals from that night on, were somewhat of a blurr...and I have no complaints on any of them...Next will be Sail Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

August 6...living to meet Joe and Dianne in Seattle

2007-09-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

As you can see Halle is really not gettin in the groove...she just wants to sleep in the suitcase...

The next picture is of the Capitol building in Olympia, WA and Seattle as we entered..

The Pancake Chef is where we had breakfast before heading out to Vancouver, B.C. Very Good Breakfast

This is our sights as we drove out of Seattle. Seattle is a beautiful city...I hope to go there and stay a while sometime and explore all the tourist attractions there...and there are many...

As we approached the Border between the USA and Canada...Mike got really nervous...you know him...but he made it through with no serious mishaps...

The views of the landascape there was beautriful...lots of pretty flowers and stuff to look at...good thing...we sat in line about an hour...waiting for out turn with the Border Guard... I would love to explore this beautiful park as well...so many pretty flowers and bridges and stuff to look at....this picture is of the actual border beteen the countries...
These kids were just begging me to take their pictures...I know they must have been board waiting swo long to cross the border...as they played in the window...I really started to fe afraid that they might even "MOON" me...but they didn't...Thank goodness... Everything around the Border was very formal looking...very important...very, in a way, very proud looking...I was proud to be an American as we entered the country of Canada...

This is Joe and Dianne getting to the gard finally...

I'll post this and get Izzy's lunch and add more later...hope you enjoy the beginings of our trip...

Last day before the Cruise...

2007-09-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

Got the last dormer ready for weather...the finishing the job will need to wait 'till after "Hunting Season" now...men do have their priorities, you know!!!

This is what the front looks like...lots of progress was made in just a few days of work...
Even a little flower box...which Suzanne put mini white mums in...very nice looking...
Celebration...I made Baby Back Ribs...then there were SOMORES!!!

Kaley was really having fun with the melting marshmallow...

This is Zoe...their new little mimi Doxie...

Here is Tom with his little puppy Gidget...she weighs about 40# and she is about 4 months old...thinks she's a lap dog...LOL

This last picture...is a lesson to all you men out there...this is what happens...in the Beautiful Pacific North West when you neglect the gutters...LOLOLOLOLOLOL

I'm babysitting with Isabelle today so I am working on my blog...good signal here...

Hope I get it finished...

Lunch at Camp 18

2007-08-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

Early in the month we met Marty and Mary Martin at Camp 18 for lunch...It is in a little community named "Elsie" somewhere between the coast and Portland...On our way over the Megler Bridge there was a huge barge bringing containers up the river... It was very colorful and very BIG...
Camp 18 is an old logging camp that has been restored to house a wonderful restaurant and a logging museum...
It was really warm that day...very unusual for this part of the country...but we loved meeting Marty and Mary and spending a good part of the afternoon with them...good friends are very hard to find and they are two of the best...
Mike was busy taking pictures...as you can well see...

There were some really neat artifacts there that Mike took pictures of...I'm sure that they had something to do with mining or logging but I really don't know what they were all used for...
I just loved these little artful projects that someone did...

Very fun to look at and find the tools or parts of tools that they sere made of...

The food was gret and the company was really good too...thanks again guys, for lunch...We really had a good time...

I'm gonna post this and hopfuly get some more catchng up done today...we'll see...

Lot's has been happening in the past 2 months and we have gone many places...and I really wan to do nd overvies of our last year...our first year as full time RVers...The Good the Great and the Wonderful...

Trip to Redmond to see the Bordman, OR. contingency of The Caudron Clan

2007-08-01T20:34:00.002-07:00

From Right to Left...Tim, Tracy, Kelsey (11), Kaleb (7)...

Well...let me tell ya...it's a long way to Redmond, OR from Chinook, WA...

About 5 hours over and 6 hours back...We both had tired b***...

We stopped on Mt. Hood at the Ski Area and they had these summer sleds that you could ride in a tube...really cool looking...

You can see the run that they go down...sure looked like people were having a great time doing it...Then there was thi poster of some"Extreme Bike Rideing"...it reminded me of the "Ropes Course" at "Old Oak Ranch"...Looks pretty extreme to me...
Then there was the desert...again the "High Desert"...it is awesome and really unique...I really don't care for it but it is awesome...
Then there was the river...Yep..."A River Runs Through It"...really pretty in the midst of all that desert ...
This was the view from the veranda outside our very nice bedroom...With "Spa Tub" and all...we were treated like royaltywith the best meals on the planet as well...Tim and Tracy do a really good job of Hpspitality The view from the opposite direction...Thats the Dechutes River at the bottom of the slight gorge there...

Here is a view of the Condos...it is a really nice place...we were properly impressed... Here's the playground... The very first thing that Kaleb wanted to show Uncle Mike was that he could ride his bike with "No Hands"...
It seems like they grow up so fast...but then again...we hadn't seen him for 2 years...hopefully that won't happen again! Way too cute...
Then there was the Uncle Mike took them to the pool and submitted these photos of the event...
Here's Kelsey inching her way into the pool in her new "Tankini"...

Here we are...Kelsey got her hair cut into a very cut "BOB"...Made her look like a teenager...they arwe both great kids.,..very smart and very talented...Wejust loved getting to know them all better...I'm not sure if this picture was of Mt. Hood or one of the other mouintains you can see in the distance there...but I do know that is Tim's truck...we followed him into Bend, Or. for breakfast the morning we left... These are the "Sisters" Mountains...I do know that...
This is a piece of copper art at the "Brown Bear" resraurant in Bend...we love "Brown Bear" and were very surprised that there was one iun Bend ans also in Madras... Waiting for the FOOD toget there...Keeping the cameras going kept the kids busy...Then the FOOD...Mike got this "Mongo" Burrito with sausage, ham, bacon, eggs, potaroes, cheese and what ever else they could find to put in it... it looked great...and he left no crumbs...Now we are headed back to the coast.,,,ir is getting hot over here...and you know I don't like hot...But here are a couple more views of Mt Hood...It is a beauriful mountain...I took many pictures of it...but not as many as Mt. Shasta... This is the Columbia River...on our way home...I love that river...Like I have said many times before...there is not a place that you can look up here that isn't simply beautiful...
Check out these wild sweet peas...
We were waiting on the highway...while they were working on the road...so I just had to take a picture or two...

This was a spur of the moment trip...and one that was very nice and lots of fun...visiting with the kids and Tim and Tracy was really nice...can't wait 'till we can do it again...

Workin on the House

2007-07-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

The weather has been great...so there's time to get work done...Well here we are working on Tom and Suzanne's house again...I use the word "WE" very loosley...I just "Watch" and Take Pictures...It is lookin really good...don-cha' think...
They settled on this color...is "Autobon Rusett"...I tnink it is pretty...they are keeping wth the historical colors and configuration of the cedar "shakes" & "shingles"...
It was pretty hard watching them climb up on those high ladders...

Mike ran up and Down, oh, probably 100 times cutting and delivering product...
Tom's handy work is amazing...
I just love his little special touches...
While they were working...Kaley and her friend Serena werw over at the Scrapbook Connection having a nice littlw class and having a gret time...

More to come!!!

My Little Baby Boy turned 40...Can you believe it?>>>

2007-07-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Every man has his day...and this was Tom's...His 40Th Birthday...I just really don't know how he got so old ans I stayed so young...LOLOLOLO~~~~

Here he is opening his presents whole his Dad and Randy oversaw the action... Then Kaley joined them and I really think she was trying to get a little closer to those "cards" that he was getting...She gave him a great "Report Card"...you'll have to ask her about it sometime...
Well he was pretty happy, he got lots of "cards" and some really nice gifts...

Dinner was pretty good too...BBQ ed ribs...mac salad, baked beans and fruit...it was a very nice birthday meal...

That little girl...she loves her Daddy...I just love that!!!

Here you see Suzanne, her mom Nancy and Niece-in-Law Leah and in the kitchen door Suzanne S. and Suzanne's best friends...The three Suzannes...

This is one of their new additions to their family "Zoe"...she is a 6 mo. old Mimi Doxie

Tom is sitting with "Penny"...the resident "old lady dog"...still one of the sweetest dogs ever made...

And this is the "BIG BLACK DOG"...she is a 3 mo. old Black Lab...she weighs about 25 pounds...Her name is "Gidget"...she will be his "bird hunting dog"...

Right now she is tearing up all the back yard...she loves to dig and to tear things up...check out the rug on the railing...

Well that's all for now...enjoy!!!

Trip to California Cont.

2007-07-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Lunch with Great Gampy...He will be off to visit his sister Ella and in Phoenix and brother in San Antonio...tomorrow morning...so we had to get our visit with him early on...We are at Lenny's...oh...no... I mean Denny's for "Linner"...you know that time between lunch and dinner...Isabelle and Papa were handling the other end of the table...with Isa belle telling Papa all about "it"... I really don't know what this was all about, but she was surely telling him something...

Now we're back at Dan and Marilee's...where they are playing "Pirate Ship/Captain Jack"

"AARRRRRR Matey!!!"
Kaley was havin just as much fun as Isabelle...or at least it sure looks like it!!!
I sure love these little sweeties...

It was really not as hot down there as it could have been...but for me it was not comfortable, so we tried to sty where it was cool...We went to the movies once...7 of us...to see "Ratatouille"...then one evening Dominic, Johanna and Kaley went to the show to see the latest "Harry Potter" movie...

We spent time with our friends Joe and Dianne one day and finished up our planning for our up-coming Cruise to Alaska... I can't wait to get on that ship...

I spent one afternoon with Jenn and Autumn and Jackson...

Being there for just a few days was really hard when it came to getting in all the visits...and no we didn't make it to each and every person that we wanted to see...

But the real reason that we were there was to spend time with Dominic and Johanna...our nephew who just retired from the Marine Corp and his daughter that lives with her mother in Iceland...she is 9 years old...In the first picture, below...you have Johanna and Isabelle and in the second one is Dominic and Kaley...Yep, you're right...we're at "In-&-Out Burgers"..for the second time that day...The girls all love it so that's a GOOD place to go for dinner...

Dominic has spent his 20 year career in the Marines...he has done many tours in the "Sand Country"...protecting our soil from terrorists...We are so proud of him and love him dearly, and wish him all the luck in the world in his quest for a new career...and thanks so much for bringing Johanna to visit us...

Yep...I was there too...Here the girls are making McDonalds dinner...it is amazing to watch the the three of them interact...age doesn't seem to be a problem at all...they just got along so well and played endlessly...Having a wonderful playroom with all the needed props is pretty good too... None of them eat much so a "pretend" McDonald's diner was just what they needed...

Seeing Kaley, Johanna & Isabelle together has been really nice...They are so much alike...in so many ways...yep they are all girls...now there's a good place to start...Their hair is almost all the same color, they all like "In & Out", they all like ice cream!!! and most of all they love their Mema and Papa...

Thursday,our last day in Sacramento!!! The kids (Kaley and Johanna) along with Mike and Dominic went to "SunSplash" in Roseville...for the whole day!!! They had a great time...you'll just have to take my word for it until someone sends me pictures,that is when i went to see Jenn, Autumn and Jackson...Then we went to dinner at Granny's favorite restaurant "Jumbo Chinese"...we just love it...The food is wonderful...

Kaley and Johanna playing...Aunt Patti and Johanna checking out the Chinese Calendar...Now we have Kaley eating SHRIMP...now that's a first...she was really stepping out of her comfort zone...she tried several different shrimp dishes and other dishes as well...I was really proud of her...Now we have Marilee taking a picture of Kaley eating Shrimp...this ws a big event guys!!!Here's the group...there were: Marilee ans Isabelle, Aunt Mimi and Uncle Ralph, Dominic and Johanna, Lee Merchant, Aunt Patti, and Mike and I...it was a great dinner and a great time...

Thank you Lee for dinner...it was so nice of you...Our little girls...

Kaley, Johanna, Isabelle

Trip to CA with Kaley

2007-07-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

We left on the 13Th of July...this is just before we pulled out...Our sleepy little fishing village RV Park otherwise known as "Mauch's Sundowner" has been quite busy...as you can see...it is quite full

We just love it here...I don't believe that I've told ya'll that little bit of info before...LOLOL

Now here's a "TRUCK"...I just loved this truck...Kaley and I decided that her daddy(Tom) would love it too...so we took a picture or two of it...It was at the Truck Stop were we stopped for lunch... Now,here's the "Klamath River" Rest Area...we have been told by Bob and Sharon that it was a good place to "hold-up for the night"...so we decided to give'r a try...It is a beautiful Resat Area...
And we weren't the only ones there either...Boy does "TAD" look small next to those "Big Rigs"...
It really was pretty there ans the weather was still really cool and nice...
Inside the coach...yep there's Kaley...and the back of me...she's waitin' for dinner...

We wanted to stop at the "Black Bear" Restaurant in Yreka for breakfast...If you have never eaten at a "Black Bear"...you just haven't lived...they have great food especially breakfast...Well there was a group of racers that stopped too so we had to take pictures of their cars...they were really neat...

All of the cars were different so we couldn't really figure what kind of racing event that they might be going to...but it was interesting to see all the cars...

Of course this is the one that Kaley ans Mike liked the best...I really liked the two in the previous picture...

We are already gettin' back into the HOT weather...I really don't like HOT weather...Oh yeah...I have told you that before...thus...stayng in the BPNW for the summer months... Well here you have the "CO-PILOT"...??? Well, you see, as we slept at the "Rest Stop" at the Klamath River...the big rigs were there too... and it seems...that when they decided to rev-up their engines and get going in the morning...it was approximately 5:45AM...WELL...at about 6:15AM...Kaley came in our room and stood at the foot of the bed and announced that...

IT WAS TIME TO GET UP AND GET ON THE ROAD!!!

OK...OK...OK...

So we got up and got ready and left...but now she is napping...go figure?!?!?!?

Not only was Kaley napping but, yep you guessed it, Halle was too!!!

This is what I see from my seat in the Living Room...very comfortable...but...different...We were ALL anxious to get to Lake Menden...But we knew that it was gona be along day of driving... probably won't arrive'till about 4:00PM ... I hate these long driving days... but it's

"a-means-to-an-end"

Well...here's the end of the road...Menden Lake and Isabelle tapeing up Papa...There's just nothing like tapeing up your Papa...

Then there was playing chase with Kaley...both girls had a great time...running and playing all evening...but let me tell you how hot it was ... We had hambergers and chicken and I made a MONDO fruit salad with fruit from the "BPNW"...

This is the love of a 2 &1/2 year old for her 12 year old cousin...

More to come ...

More from Astoria

2007-07-11T09:42:00.001-07:00

These first pictures were taken on Monday evening between 9:00 & 10:00PM...

The first one is of the Young's Bay Bridge between Astoria and Warrenton, OR and the others are taken of the Megler bridge between Astoria and Chinook, WA... It truly stays light here until about 10:00PM...that's not so good for an old gal who likes to go to bed around 9:00PM...well maybe 10:00PM...and sometimes even 11:00PM...Just depends what's goin' on...or not...
Yesterday wewent to the Gray's River Falls with Kaley leading the way...well, we ran into a huge constriction site...but in the end we made it there... We have found tha t in other states...the road safety regulations for road work are not the same as in CA...you just ride along the roads with the big equipment...it is really crazy...But we got there and it was worth the ride...but you gotta know that this "Old Broad"...was not in her element...I had to "HIKE" down to the river...now remember it was 93 degrees here...never that hot in Astoria...???...and I can't usually make it through the grocery store...on flat ground... without sitting down...Well...off we went...knowing all along that "what goes down...must come back up"...

Isn' it beautiful??? This was taken at the top of the hike down to the river bed...See Mike and Kaley...if you check out the slant of the foilage on the right you will see the grade of the path down to the river...I sure wish I had take a picture of the path before we started back up...then you'd be really impressed...I hate it when Mike takes pictures of me...but this one is OK...atleast you can see that I really did make it to the bottom, all the way to the river...It was truly a beautiful sight...and I would make the trip again...There is really nothing like a beautiful waterfall...there were lots of people down there getting cooled off from the very un-common heat of the day...Kaley did stick her toes in the water...but that was as far as she went...sometime I would love to take a picnic down there and let her and a friend play in the water...It would make a nice day and a great blog posting...
There is this little cave looking place along the pats...a good location for a Papa and Kaley Picture...We are really enjoying our stay here in the BPNW...there is really nothing in the world like it...

Cathlamet, WA and the road to it...

2007-07-08T19:01:00.001-07:00

A Sunday Drive

Today we went to Cathlamet...on the way is the Gray's Harbor Covered Bridge...

It is really cool...much different from the Covered Bridges that we found in the Catskill Mts. Of New York State...

I tell you...there is not a view up here that isn't a picture...as I said before...Just too beautiful...

I was hoping you could read this historical plate...but as you can see...it is un-readable... The surrounding country side was amazing...there are lots of Scandinavian Farm out here in this neck of the woods and they are beautiful...landscapes that movies are made in...
Then there is Cathlamet...it is on the Columbia River...Awesome little town...very deserted today so we just drove around and found a cute little place for an early supper...Check out these ducks...they were basking in the sunlight...
This is the river as it comes into the marina area...
This was one of the store fronts in Cathlamet...so pretty...Then there was this BUS...what a BUS!!!This morning we went to the Sunday Market...didn't stay long but it was really awesome...

Tomorrow I'll go to Kaley's house and we'll work on her New York scrapbook pages to enter into the Clatsop County Fair...

Yesterday I did two pages of pictures I took of Isabelle and Autumn on Mother's Day and entered them into a contest at the Scrapbook Connection in Astoria...I'll include the pictures of the pages when I get them back...I think they turned out pretty good...we'll see...how the public sees them...

Cathlamet, WA and the road to it...

2007-07-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

Working on the House

2007-07-07T21:49:00.001-07:00

There was originally these beautiful Cedar Shakes on Tom and Suzanne's house...then someone along the line put Blue Vinyl Siding on it...and covered up an awful lot of the history and character of their little house...Here you see Tom putting a coat of paint on the little alcove wall...they are just trying out this color..It really did look good as it dried...it is called Maryville Brown...it is an authentically historical color that was used in this area in the years that this house was built...
Mike was the "clean-up" guy...he went around pulling all the nails he could reach ands picked up all the debris as Tom threw it all on the ground...If you look to the Left of mike at the back of the house there is a pile of light blue "stuff"...well that is the siding that they took off today...it is all piled up in the driveway...that driveway goes down at a good slant behind the house...that pile would be up to Mike's shoulders if he were standing on the ground next to it...

You can see the difference here ... the alcove is really lookin' good...what do you think???
It's a long way from the pitch of that roof to the ground...watching Tom tear the siding off was kinda scary... SO...we went to Tokyo Tereyki....for "take-out"...YUMOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Some Shots from Astoria

2007-07-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

Well...here are a few pics from Astoria...the first 2are taken down town...I was sitting in the car for Mike and Kaley...You know, up here, every where you look there is a picture waiting to be taken...I know that I must have taken thousands of pictures up here...but there seems to always be another one just around the corner...

Then it was time for the fireworks on the 4Th...

You know it doesn't get dark up here until about 10:00PM...it is 9:30PM as I write this and there is still daylight out there...tonight it is cloudy...so it is a little darker than usual...because of this the fireworks didn't start until about 10:00PM and it was still a little light for a food viewing...

I really don't have a clue...about taking pictures of these fireworks...but some of them came out looking pretty good...I had a lot of really bad ones too...I love "digital delete"...

The weather has been really nice...very "cool"...and mostly sunny...just the way I like it...today was a little chilly but I still love it...you will never hear me complain about "cool" weather...

Kaley is wonderful...she is turning out to be such s lovely young lady...she is so polite and attentive to the needs of others...most of the time, that is...

OOPS

2007-06-29T21:29:00.001-07:00

I forgot the pictures of the marina and the oyster house...so here they are...

So there you have it...

Sunset at Winchester Bay

2007-06-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well...Today we went to the Movies again...we saw "Live Free and Die Hard...with Bruce Willis...and, as Mike says, it was a "Kick-A**" movie...did a little shopping...had a little dinner and visited a little with the guys around here...

I did get some killer pics of the sunset tonight so I will share them with you...

Then there is the marina right outside our door and the "Oyster House"...too pretty to not chronicle here on our blog...

Tomorrow is cleaning day and then Sunday we will head up to Astoria/Chinook...

Hope all of you are haveing a great evening...

Shore Acres State Park

2007-06-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

Then we went to Shore Acres State ParkHere you see Mike letting me know where he is... He is standing in the view area of where the mansion of Louis J Simpson use to be... He lost the mansion and property during the depression and the main house was in such disrepair that when the

State Park System purchased it they had to tear it down...

It was really too bad...it looks, from pictures, that it was a beautiful...and the view was to die for...

The vistas are remarkable...the wind swept cliffs are beautiful and very unique and interesting...

This is another view...they are so beautiful...Mr. Simpson must have been devastated to loose this wonderful piece of property...

They there are the formal gardens that have been gloriously kept up...This is the gardener's home...These are some of the beautiful views in the gardens ans a couple of the flowers...it is sooooo pretty

Then we went over to Cape Argo and watched the seals and sea lions...

And then I got to see my first "Bald Eagles" in the wild...I was so excited...it was even a little emotional...I really love this part of our new lifestyle...

Today it rained...so we went to the movie...we saw "Ocean's 13"...I am so glad we got in on the senior matinee...it stunk...not like the first two at all...This evening the storm is over and the sum is gonna make a great sunset...maybe I'll get out there and take a couple of pictures...

We found a great Mongolian BBQ place in Coos Bay today...I think it is the only one in the Pacific North West...and it is a really great one...we will go back...

Winchester Bay Stay Part 1

2007-06-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

We made it to WB and the party was closing down...but we did have a couple of days of fun and frolic before the biggest percentage of the people left...

These are just a few of the rigs that were here...I think that there were upwards form 20 rigs here...Here is one of the things that we do best...sittin' and eatin' and havin' a little Happy Hour...

This is what I call triple pullin'...

HDT, 5er, Toad...

And then there is our baby "TAD"...lookin' pretty sharp, if I do say so myself...He, like us, is so happy to be back on the road...

Here you see some of the nitty gritty stuff of RVing..."dumpin' da tanks and fillin' with fresh water...and you usually have to line up to get it done...so here we all are gettin' the dirty work done...

These are Two rigs that were passing each other...The white Volvo, the triple puller is Bob and Sharon...then in the Red Volvo is Ted...our "Knight in Shinning Armor" with the great Internet hook-up...Thanks so much Ted...

Now here you see the Chili Dog of a life time...Mo's is the greatest in many ways...Clam Chowder...and Chili Dogs...OH MY!!!!

We are having some visitors...in that first picture you will see 2 ducks and on the right just under the top duck there is a squirrel...hopefully you can see him...then the geese...oh my goodness...our neighbor is feeding them so they come all the time...There are between 12 and 16 of the geese at any one time...They all are so beautiful ...Here you see the geese scootin' off to another place in this day...

and this one is a view from the front window...I love it...

This one is taken from the window of the "Portside" restaurant where we had lunch yesterday...The scenery here is just breath taking...

Back on the road...

2007-06-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

I've been gone for a while...

Life takes it's turns and hills...the ride is always a beautiful ride...but the bumps sometimes take front row seats...

For the last couple of months we have been dealing with the bumps and hills...the ride, as always, has turned out beautiful...watching our Mom and Grammy take the RIDE of her life to the most beautiful place known to men and angles...yep...it was hard and we will miss her greatly...but she was and is the greatest...
**************************************************************

We Love you Mom

**************************************************************

Now we are in Winchester Bay, Oregon...one of our favorite places on Earth...

The following pictures are of our trip up and our "Second Annual West Coast HDT Rally"...it has been great...

We left Auburn on Friday morning and made our way to Trinidad, CA on the Northern CA Coast...We decided to take the back way over HWY 20 and then up101...It was long ride...but it was such a "Beautiful Ride"...pretty relaxing and kinda cathartic...we were leaving the past behind and gettin' back to our new found lifestyle...we love this "road" and are glad to be on "it" again...

These pictures are of Clear Lake on Hwy 20...And our coach "TAD" in the Emerald Forest RV Park ...that's where we spent the night...

These are of the Beautiful Pacific Ocean...the temperatures are now in the 60's...ansd I am a HAPPY CAMPER...

These tfour are of the Rogue River access to the Ocean...An awesome bridge for an awesome river...

This is the first hill you see in the Oregon Dunes State Park...I just love to watch the Dune Buggies...

2007-06-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

These are just some of my favorite pictures that I took wile on our trip East...There are so many but I wanted to show you guys a few... This first one was take in Galveston Texas...at the beach, of course
Then we have the Alamo...I was just really proud of this picture...

This is a picture taken out of the window on the tour bus of the City of San Antonio...

The tree on the left is on the site of the Alamo...just pretty....

This is one of the Missions that are in San Antonio...next time we go I want to go on the Mission Tour...

The next few were taken in Quartzite, AZ...

It is really a beautiful place...although I really don't appreciate the desert too much...but some of the sites are truly wonderful...

Makes great photos too...I love these of the moon rising...

The next two were taken at our wonderful stopping place in Grass Valley, CA...Thanks again to Sally and Dave for the hospitality of the century...

These were taken right outside the door of our coach...gorgeous or what???

Well we are at the Thousand Trails Preserve at Lake Minden...we will be there 'till at least the 19Th of the month...then off to the Pacific North West...Winchester Bay first then up to Astoria, OR/Chinook, WA...for the rest of the summer...

Till next time...y'all take care now ya hear!!!!

Little update...

2007-05-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

We have been in the Sacramento area (Grass Valley) for about three weeks now...
We have been busy while here...as usual...Here are some of the things that we've been doing...

This is what we looked like when we drove into Sally and Dave's driveway.."Vetta" nor "Tad" had never been so filthy dirty...

Then we are clean...and this is our first choice of parking spots on Sally and Dave's lawn...There was only one problem with this perfect parking place...and that was that their house was blocking our Satellite Dish...so it was either Move the coach or burn down the house...sooooo, we moved the coach to almost where it was when we first arrived...now we have TV, Internet sand all the comforts of home...not to mention the best neighbors that any one could ever have...they even put the paper on our porch every morning...now that is hospitality...
Halle is a happy camper too... she has a whole yard to play in...and a "Cow Dog" Molly...I gotta get a picture of Molly...
Then came Mother's Day...We went to Woodland to see and ride "Thomas the Train" with Isabelle and her Mommy and Daddy...
This little engine really pulls a crowd...we really thought this event was great for kids of all ages...

The Birkholz family: Marilee, Dan & Isabelle...

This was the bus that we rode from the parking area to the site where "Thomas" was...

The train cars were beautiful...they has some that were open and some that were the dining cars of old...great looking...

Then there is the Isabelle and Papa factor...

After that we went to Auburn for a picnic with the rest

of the family...

We must take a hundred or so pictures at each and it's hard to decide which to put on the blog...I know that I can't put them all on...but if I could I would...These next few are just random of the kids as they played at the park...

Autumn

Isabelle

They had on the same overall shorts ...Their moms shop at the same stores...mostly Old Navy ...

Are they too cute or WHAT???

These last few are just randpom and of course of our new little Jackson...

Here you see Dan, Marilee (holding Jackson) Jenn checking out her camera...and Great Uncle Ralph...

That's all for now folks...

A Quick over view of a little of our trip home

2007-05-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

I tell you what, this country of ours is awesome...the beauty is beyond belief...The farmlands are something else...Living here in Northern CA since 1960 has darkened my memory of what the rest of the USA looks like...but it was revived during this trip...

The storms that were all around us were quite frightening but they did make for some great photo shots...I did try for quite sometime to get a shot of the Lightening cracking down through the sky...my camera is just not quick enough for that...so you will just have to take my word for the fact that the Lightening was awesome...and the thunder earth shaking...

From Missouri we entered Kansas...the day of the tornado in Greensburg...they were in the South West of the state and we were in the North East...but what a night we had at the WW...Lots of lightening and thunder and very hard rain...in fact when we got up in the morning they were telling people in our area to head for higher ground...so we got up and headed West...quickly...

This actually posted before I wanted it to...so I think I will finish it...

Most of the photo shots I have gotten have been taken from the coach at 65 or 70 mph...this is not the way to see the country...but...I did get some kinda-good shots of some nationally known things...like the arch in Kansas City... We will go back someday ands see and explore all of the areas that we blew through in that incredible 8 days... We crossed the Mississippi several times on our trip out and back... but this time I got pictures...well, of the sign and the bridge...I do have a picture of the river it's self somewhere in my archives, but who knows where at this moment...

Now this picture is one that I think I got from Richard and Shirley on their first trip West...If I remember correctly, they blogged this very shot...I do love bridge and water...

This is the Busch Stadium where the Kansas City Royals play...We also saw where the KC Chiefs play too
This a city scape of Kansas City

Then there are the TOLL ROADS...

Really not much better than the regular roads...you just have to pay to drive on them...

Is this a beautiful country, or what???

Weeeee'rrrrreeee Baaaaaaaaak!!!

2007-05-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

Yep...we got back to the Sacramento area last Tuesday...We are staying at Jerritt's Dad and Mom's house up in Grass Valley...what a gift they have given us...It is gorgeous up here...and cool...

Look who is with Papa...yep it's Izzy...She was so happy to see her Papa...she was happy to see me too, but there is no-one like her Papa to her...

Look at this yard...it is really lovely...

Izzy and Sally are putting feed and seed out for the baby bunnies and the birds...what an experience for Isabelle...she even saw a deer about 20 feet from her...

On our way home we ran into many different issues...Such as "Lisa", our GPS girlie...took us on a wild goose chase...Does this road look like it is wide enough for us and the bicyclists??? I didn't think so...neither did I...I was having a "freaking" heart attack...Here you see Mike in blue...We parked in front of a church and Mike walked down to a group of "good ole' boys" standin' in the middle of the road, to try to get some kind of direction on how to get outta' here...

There was one young lady there too...they were makin' wagers as to whether he was the Traveling Preacher or were we lost...???

Well...it was not long 'till they found out that we were lost...and they were nice enough to show us their 5 day old baby horses...

We did find our way out and headed on West with Kansas City in our sights...

Just a Quickie to let you all know where we are...

2007-05-08T04:31:00.000-07:00

We Left Patrick AFB and Harmony and Arron with their little combined family on the 1st of May...The following picture was taken at dinner the night before we left...from Left to Right are Niccole, Aaron, Alina, Harmony & Lukas and of course Mema and Papa...Lukas is having a sinus and ear infection, poor baby... On the first night we stayed at a really nice campground in Tiffton, GA... Amy's Campground...we had pulled into a truck stop and the temperature gage said 104...so we went looking for a campground with 50 amp service...so the temp was 104 and you know that the humidity was at least that...so fortunately we found this lovely park just a mile up the road...This picture was taken of the sunset from our from window...the red sky is due to the smoke from the Georgia fires...the smoke everywhere was pretty bad...

The weather in Florida had been kinda hot too with really high humidity...

The next day we traveled to Indiana by way of Nashville, Tennessee...While in Nashville we visited the Grand Ole' Opry...what a thrill that was... We arrived in Indiana at the Rock Falls RV Park in Evansville,Indiana..and got parked just before the rain started...but Gene and Shirley met us there the next afternoon...Great time was had by all...I'm gonna post this and do more tonight...hopefully...love to you all...

2007-05-03T04:55:00.000-07:00

On the left is the entrance to the RV Park...lovingly known as "Fam Camp"it is really a very nice place...

This is a lovely park,known as "Chevron Park"...It is where families can go to fish in the river picnic and simply play...they have a sand volleyball court there too...

Here you see "TAD" in our spot ,we were here for a week and could have stayed longer...The price was right at $99.00 per week and the views were wonderful...and we got to visit with the kids in Florida...Hopefully we will return again next year...

As I said...the views were great...this taken from our patio...This is the Banana River at Sunset...

We can credit the beautiful red sky to the Horrible fires up in South East Georgia...In fact we had to alter our travel plans because of the fires...I had us routed right smack dab in the middle of them...But I think the rain is coming for them...they need lots of it on the Southern East Coast...They are in an over 20 month drought and they are ready to burn up...the vegetation is so thick in the forests here that once a fire gets started it just smolders and burns for ever...

Then there were the Pelicans...There were usually between 3 and 10 out here fishing in the morning and the evening...they might have been there during the day too, but we weren't there to see them...But they would fly up in pairs or groups like these on the left...then they would all dive into the waster simultaneously and get their respective fishes...Like this:

Sometimes when they dove they looked like a dancing group and they all did exactally the same dive and entered the water at the same time in the same pose and came up with their fish at the same time...it was incredible to watch...

Now this is what they look ,sometimes , when they are just l

anding...awkward and all out of

sync...but they fish gracefully...kinda...

And on the right is actually an Ospry with a fish in his mouth...

Now here is the Lucky Shot...

SometimesI amaze my self...LOLOLOL!!!!

This is a Great Blue Heron...I think...??? But he was amazing and needed his picture taken...and I got a good one...

I got lots more but I'll publish this for now...

Various pictures taken in and around NASA

2007-05-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

On the left is the Fuel Container in the "VAB"...getting ready for a launch this month...And on the right is the Shuttle Launch Pad...

This is where the Alligators Hide...

This is an Alligator....And another Alligator

Alligators are prevalent all around Florida...they have screened in back yards to prevent them and snakes and bugs away from pets and young children...

The next pictures will be of the rest of the day...

NASA...

2007-04-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

We first were treated to a great lunch at "Grills"...it is at the port near Capes Kennedy and Canaveral...Harmony and I had Mahi Mahi sandwiches and Sweet Potato Fries and Mike had a Grilled Ruben...I tell you...we have eaten our way clear across the US of A and the meals only get better and better...We sat on the deck outside and let the tropical breezes blow us right through Lunch...then off to the Capes...The Pelicans were just an extra added a attraction...

These are either the Atlas or Delta Rocket launching pads...and this is the door to Harmony's office here on the Cape...she is an EOD...(Explosive Ordinance Disposal person)...pretty impressive huh???

These little numbers are my favorite things in the world...besides my kids and grand kids that is ...Lighthouses have a large part of my heart...I guess the ability to help, guide and save those who are lost...that's the hook...

These are the covers for the exhaust cones for the shuttle...and a bomb type rocket that was left by the Army group that us to do the same job that Harmony's group does...

Seeing the "VAB" (Vehicle Assembly Building) as we were getting closer ands closer was very exciting...there is lots of smoke...smoke from Georgia obstructing our view...

This picture is of the container that they keep the very large fuel booster cylinder in...

This picture below is a view of the gravel path that the "crawler" takes to move the Shuttle from the "VAB" to the Launch pad...it moves very very slow...with many people walking and riding along side of it to make sure it arrives in perfect condition...The one next to it is the NASA Administration Building...

These are pictures of a shuttle Launch that were e-mailed me...

I'm gonna publish this tonight and finish all the other pictures from that day in another post...it'll just work better...

More from Sunday the 29th in Florida

2007-04-30T17:03:00.001-07:00

I Love the beach and the color of the Atlantic Ocean...

Tom these are for you, lots of great boats out here...

These last ones were taken at Harmony and Aaron's house

we were there for Aaron's famous BBQed Ribs...

YUMOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

And of course there are the little ones...

With Papa you see Niccole and Alina

And littleLukas

I just love seeing all these kids...

Gonna' miss them when we are gone...

Traveling Viet Nam War Memorial Wall and Sebastian Inlet State Park

2007-04-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

This really is an inspiring event...I really don't know how many days the Memorial Wall was here but we drove by a couple of times and there were lots of people there...It's like I told Harmony and Aaron...I have so much respect for anyone who has sacrificed their lives or time in their lives so that the rest of us could live FREE...Freedom isn't free...someone has to pay a price for it...These events show so clearly the COST OF FREEDOM. I'm glad we went...

What an emotional event...your pride ans sorrow and gratitude all take their place in your heart...

These people are Proud to be Americans

We were really impressed with this State Park...It is simply beautiful...I'll show you:

You know my love for the Pelicans...from the BPNW...but let me tell you...these Pelicans are as big as some of the small jets...This is where the Banana River empties in to the Atlantic Ocean...

More interesting Crane Types... They look like Wood Storks

Now these pictures are of a young man who was fishing with a net...and we even saw him catch a Mullet...in the last picture he is getting ready to get it out of his net and put it in his bucket...That was really cool to watch...

I'm gonna publish this one while I know I can...I'll publish the rest of yesterday later on...

Just some shots taken around the area...

2007-04-29T05:22:00.000-07:00

This is us on Harm's Back porch...Luke was not in the mood for pictures where he had to be still...can you tell??? View from the back porch at sunset...it's amazing...They are right on this little lake...They will be getting a screened in area so that the little ones can't get out and the alligators and bugs can't get in the area that the kids will be playing in...and for BBQing, etc. The bugs and alligators area problem out here...and other creepy crawleys too...like snakes and armadillos... Aaron and Harmony's house...Aaron has two little girls that live with him, one 7 and one 10. And of course our Harmony has our little Lukas who's almost 1...Quite a house full...I'd say!!! But the house has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths,a very big living/family room a great kitchen with an eating area and a dinning area too... Is this beautiful,or what? That's what I think tropical water looks like...that beautiful turquoise blue that only the water can make!!! You guys know that I just love the ocean...this being the Atlantic...and the one that I'm us to is the Pacific...they are two distinctly different creatures...in color and attitude...but equally as beautiful...They are distinctly different too...the East Coast ocean, in Florida, produces a very humid and tropical climate...in the West Coast the ocean produces a clean crisp cool air that is much more to my likeing...but I do love the color of the Atlantic Ocean here in Sattelite Beach...

2007-04-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

I'm making this an experiment...I can't get my blogs to post now...I can create them...but not post them...so I changed a few things and I'm gonna try to up-load to the Internet right now...hope you all get this!!!

This little guy has quite the personality, he is just like the rest of the kids...his own person...and lets everyone know it...he sure can keep you laughing and busy as well...

Our little Lukas...at Mema and Papa's House, he's gonna have a burger too... A Tired couple after moving for 8 or 9 days...they are over for BBQed Burgers

2007-04-27T19:49:00.001-07:00

I am having a terrible time with my intetnet signal and I'm really tired so this is all ya get tonight...But I promise I'll try again tomorrow to get more pictures to you guys of what we are doing now and of Harm and Aaron...

Some pictures along the way...

2007-04-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

We all have gotten weather shock this summer. In trying to be in a warmer climate we have only run into COLD, WINDY, SNOWY & ICY, ICKY Trip to Ozona:

The trip was more of the same…COLD, WINDY, and not very comforting… weather…

Sure does make for some very interesting photos…This one I like really well…it shows the spires of the Yucca Cactus being fully frosted with a complete coating of ICE… There were so many beautiful sights that I took hundreds of pictures...these are just a few to give you the idea...

All along the road was ICE; you can even see the icicles on the sign boards…

And…yes there was ice on the bridges…as you can plainly see in this photo…Made for kind-of a freaky ride…But as we always say, this is an adventure, and we’re retired so what does it matter???

Here you see, we are back amongst the beautifully carved plateaus and the stark desert…and the beautiful, though sparse, Wild Flowers…

We really are seeing an awful lot of this country of ours…I think, by the time we return to Sacramento, we will have been in about 20 states…and that will be from March the 16th – June, about the 10th…almost 3 months…

Well as I said there was a Chuey's Eatery...well here are a couple of pictures of us outside...First Gene ans Shirley and then Mike and Me...It was so cold that we were about to freeze to death... This is in
Van Horn, Texas

These pictures are to show you that West Texas is just like Arizona ands New Mexico...desert...,just a few more hills and mountain formations...

This is a picture of the Limestone lines in the hillsides that they dug out to put the highways in...some of the lines are so straight that you would think it was drawn by an artist...

This is Ozona...Nice Entrance Plaque...

Some beautiful buildings...there were lots of pretty "old" homes here too...very small town...great big school sports team town...the signs were everywhere...they had 2 large buses for their girls and boys teams...

But our parking place sucked...big time...we had electric, water and sewer...but no CTV, and very poor Internet signal...Oh Well...such is the life of a "Full-Timer"...

I am gonna go ahead and publish this section of my blog...they maybe a little outta whack...but you will get the jest of it...Traveling with Gene and Shirley was kick . It is nice not to be out there alone and to make such great friends...

Last Night at Deming...Trip to Van Horn...

2007-04-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

Now this is a perfect shot of two "old men" havin a couple of beers and trying to cure the ills of the world...while the "little ladies" are fixin' dinner...

Next is the last picture of the sunset here in Deming...The sunsets here will give the "BPNW" sunsets a run for their money...I sure didn't think I could ever say anything that nice about the desert...but I gotta give credit where credit is due...and the sunsets get the nod...
Now...here is the Princess of the "TAD" Moblie...yep you guessed it...Halle...Gene and Shirley were just leaving after "dinner and a movie" (we watched "Happy Feet") and Halle took up residence with her toys for a good night's sleep, at least until she gets into bed with us...The next morning we headed out for Van Horn, TX...I got to put a new State on our map...and it was a big one...We missed the first turn outa-the-bag,,so we went 13 miles on this frontage road...OH WELL.........so you can see West Texas is just more of the same...desert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don-cha like the bug juice in the window...

West Texas is quite like New Mexico and Arizona and Eastern, Southern California...you're right...desert...But there were some wild flowers and it wasn't far 'till we were in Texas...We stopped in El Paso for fuel and lunch...had a great lunch at the Flying J... this happened to be a good one...for all you truckers that might read my blog (Marty), if you ever get to El Paso...the grub is good there!!!
After lunch we continued on Eastward...and we saw this great big "Road Runner"...Had to take a picture of it...You know when you are going through three states of desert...you jump at the chance to see anything that is unusual. As we continued on through the El Paso Area we were as close o Mexico as we would come on this trip...you can see the houses in the background...that's Mexico...Just the other side of the Rio Grande...This was a water tank that we passed on the way into Van Horn...It was funny that Mike and Gene had just been talking then night before about small schools playing in a 6 man football league...and Low and Behold...Van Horn has a winning one!!! That' about all Van Horn has...that and the Eagle's Nest RV Park...
Then there was the dreaded "Border Patrol Inspection Station" and it's Easter Weekend...Holy Crap...now what do we do??? You know that those kinds of things just sends Mike into a frenzy...me too for that matter...They had dogs and they were searching and sniffing thies big passenger bus...right beside us...BUT...they just flagged us through!!! Hallelujah!!! The wild flowers were really gettin' pretty though...the weather was looking a little threatening...but the flowers were nice...Here is another picture of the flowers...they are such a delicate contrast to the stark dryness of the desert...Just goes to show ya...there is always a bright side...even in the desert!!!Some of the mountain ranges were pretty interesting though...I really was impressed with some of the formations of the rocks and the hills...We were suppose to run into snow?...sleet?...Ice?But you know...it is still the desert...and without the flowers it is still not very inviting...
We stayed at the Eagles Nest RV Resort...there was no other good thing in that town EXCEPT Chuy's Eatery...and not even a good one at that...but we did eat there...just cause it was Chuy's...
I have had a terrible time with the Internet lately...so It is taking quite a bit of time and patience to get this done...so bare with me and I'll get you caught up with us as soon as I can...
But...just know...that even though, most of the time, this is lots of fun...it can also be a very "BIG" learning experience...and we're getting really usto making "Lemonade" outa lemons!!!

On the Road...in Deming...

2007-04-07T08:51:00.000-07:00
Well guys...I got this all done last night and something happened...and it disappeared...never happened before...hope it doesn't happen again...it takes a long time to get these composed and published...so when you loose one...well, let's just say...it ain't good...

Any way, in this first picture you will see the "Bobbsy Twins", yep you guessed it...when Mike and Gene came out of their respective Coaches they were dressed alike...Lt. blue knit Golf shirts and Khaki shorts...now don-cha-tink that's kinda freeky...well, Shirley and I laughed a lot about that...that usually happens to the female gender not the male gender...Oh well, go figure!!??!!
Here is the road outta the park...it ain't good...but we did like it at this park and we will probably stay here again "if", we're ever through this part of the country again...it is about 2 miles ling this way then you are back on blacktop...
Now this is an orchard that is along the road to town...we decided that this was our first "Dried Fruit" orchard that we had ever seen...Get it??? "Dried Fruit"...Guess you had to be there...we laughed so hard...
Now this next picture is of a hay field...we were parked quite close to a dairy farm there are lots of them down here in the Southwest...We were up-wind from all the cows, which was a blessing...but the hay field did give us that touch of GREEN that we have been craving... Here you will see the Luna Deming Museum...we were told that it was a really good museum...that there were things in it that the Smithsonian wants to have in it...and the Customs House across the street was a great place to go too...so we went to town with these two places in mind along with a couple of errands and to find a good authentic restaurant ...Well we found a great Mexican restaurant...all the locals Mexicans and Good'ol'boys were there so we knew that we were in the right place...Right down to the sopipilos (sp?) with honey...YUMOOOOOOOO!

Well the museum and the customs house were closed for renovation... you might have known...but we had a great lunch and then went to Wally World...what more could you ask for???

When we got home there were visitors...Shirley had mad contact, earlier in the day, with a couple they had met on their first leg of travel out of Washington...they are Robert ands Myrna, Montana Owners...so, as this lives sends it's self to...they were able to stop and have dinner and spend the night with us before they headed out toward CA...In this picture you will see, from Left to Right, Myrna, Bob, Yours-truly, Shirley and Gene...Mike was behind the camera...we had a great time visiting and getting to know them and again Gene was the MAN at the BBQ Grill...made some outstanding burgers...
Poor Halle...she wanted to join the party...she has become quite good at this traveling bit... but she still barks occasionally and we really do try to keep her separated from others so that she wont. Thus...she is in the coach...watching...but as usually Shirley sent her in a treat...made her a happy girl.
Then there is always dessert (Chocolate Cake, Strawberries & Whipped Cream)...gonna have to quit that stuff...but it's soooo good...And Sir Gene...the BBQ King...
Here is a picture of the sunset...words...aren't enough...

Well guys I will stop and and publish this one before something else happens to it...But I do find myself in a catch-up mode again...Have patience...I'll "Get-er-Done"!!!

"READY TO ROLL"...Off to Deming, NM

2007-04-04T08:09:00.000-07:00
Well...we left Valley Vista RV Park in Benson, AZ...and good rittrens to it...If I ever go there again it will be too soon...We had a lot fun with our friends there but the park we were in was not friendly at all...This was our friendliest acquaintance...if you remember...This is kind-of the first picture that I posted from Benson...Friendliest critter on the place...
Here we are at the Safeway parking lot...Gathering supplies...and mailing our Easter stuff at the Postal Annex...This is us gettin' ready to roll down the road toward Deming, NM...Lookin' good, I'd say!!!
ou know the desert is interesting...like the way the wind has carved this beautiful piece of sculpture into the side of this hill...it is outstandingly interesting...
I took this picture so that you could see that there is not much difference between Arizona ans New Mexico...This is New Mwxico...Can you tell the difference??? Didn't think so.....Neither can I...
Now I know you guys aren't gonna believfe this...but that yellow you see in thin picture...well...it ...is...WILD FLOWERS!!!! I coldn't believe it...there were really yellow folwers in the field...I wasso surprised...I just had to take a picture...Wild Flowers on the desert..."who-da-thunk-it"???
Then you look again and you'r back in the sand and dirt again...there was some white sand here along the road...we are not far from White Sands National Momument...I think...Probably won't get there to see that this time...

Then we crossed the Continental Divide...The kast time I took a picture like this we were crossing the divide near Yellowstone or in Yellowstone...I can't remember which now..But here we are at 4585 feet and there's not a pine tree in sight...but I bet if you looked hard enough you could find a scorpion, ir a sidewinder or a road runner...but nothing green...
As we were approaching Deming...I got out our Passport America directory to make sure that Lisa was heading us in the right direction... she had gone in a straight line for so long, I was afraid that she might have gotten hypmotized from the boredom of it all...but sure enough...she was leading us in exactally the right direction...
Now I hadn't read the directions before myself...and as I read go on...it said to turn right on HWY 549 past the Livestock Auction to HWY 377 and turn Left...well you had to stop in the fast lane of the HWY and turn Left...then go until the road becomes gravel and continue on to the stop sign and turn left on the dirt road...This stretch of the road was about 3 miles long...I think (it seemed like 20 miles of BAD road)...and at the end it said to look for the trees...
So we did look for the trees and sure enough they were there just as the directory said...We got to the gate and the manager was right there to open the gate for us...John...is a very nice man who saw to it that we were all settled...it is a great place to park...but we drove about 10 miles back and along the HWY 10...we can see it our our windows...but there are no on/off ramps closer...so there you have it...El Rancho Lobo RV Park...And there are trees...
Here we are all settled in for the next couple of days..."TAD" and Gene & Shirley's New Alfa...

More to come tomorrow...

Last Posting from Benson, AZ

2007-04-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

I Just couldn't resist this advertisement...it reminded me of Autumn...I know she is so sweet that she could never make a face like that...But I just laughed when I saw this little impish face...Too cute...

This is the view from where we have been parked for the past 11 days...Mike took this picture...isn't it great!!!
This park is OK...but the next time I think we will go to the "Escapee" Park just up the road...The people here aren't that friendly...in fact we have not met anyone here...But the manager did tell us, three times, that our friends couldn't park in the sites next to us...no one has been in either of those sites, (or any where around us), since we have been here but no one could park there when they came for a visit...Oh well...What ever...The evening view of the Mountains to the East is worth it all...oh yes...the spot was free too...I guess that amounts to something...

Tomorrow Morning, we will take off with Gene and Shirley to Deming, NM, for a couple of days...Gene and Shirley have been in Tucson at an Alfa (the maker of their coach) Rally...They will come by Benson and we'll fall in line and get this show down the road again...I really have "hitch-itch" this time...I'm "Ready To Roll"!!! We will make 9 stops on our way to Melbourne, FL...to see Harmony and Lukas...

We'll keep you posted along the way!!!

More from the Desert in Arizona...

2007-03-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

This is a very interesting part of the country...Where Cochise, Many Indians, Matt Dillon, the Clayton Gang, Doc Holiday and other notorious people spent their lives back in the 1800's...

There were the Marshals, the Calvary, the Bounty Hunters, the Miners and the "Ladies of the Evening"...There were Doctors, Lawyers, Pharmacists, Saloon Owners and Cattlemen...I'm sure that there were many other various and sundry of people...like Moms and Dads and Kids, School Teachers and Preachers...There were houses, mines for copper, silver and other precious minerals and stones, there were Churches...Saloons, Brothels, General Stores, Restaurants, One Room School Houses, Stables and many other necessary places and things that were used in that day and time...

In the past few days we have been seeing the results of that era..,,from Fort Huachuca to Tombstone, and Boot Hill...
There were the Indian Wars and the Mexican Wars...That brought the Calvary...The Gun Slingers, and everyone that felt like making a new life in the new country "Out West"...When you see the starkness of the landscape and the topography around here you wonder why anyone ever came here at all...Why they fought for the land...All that there is, is...dirt...cactus...wind...and more of the same...and starting in just a few days it will begin to get really hot...and stay that way 'till next winter...when it will get bitterly cold...lots of wind...you know when the wind blows out here it blows that dirt all over...The starkness of this part of the country really amazes me...In this picture you can see about 20 miles from Arizona 80 over to Ft. Huachuca on Arizona 90...with the snow capped mountains in the background... There is virtually nothing between but dirt, rattle snakes and horny toads...oh yes, there are some Javalinas...they are a member of the Hippopotamus family but they look like hairy wild hogs...

This is a picture of a post card I purchased of the Javalina...and a baby...ugly little beasts, huh???

As we've been driving around this part of the country...we've seen many "homesteads" that are right out in the middle of nowhere...there are no electric lines or phone lines in sight...and this is not an area where there might be underground utilities...Only windmills and solar panels can be seen...and that's only on some of them...I know that the property must be fairly cheep...but really...I just don't get it...

Anyway folks...There is much more to tell but I must stop all this fun and frivolity and fix dinner for "Hubby Mike"...we are both hungry...
'Till next time...

More of the dinner at our house last night...

2007-03-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Mike taking a picture of Shirley taking a picture of Mike...nutty, nutty, nutty... I had to swipe this photo from Cathy's blog it is so good it has us all...except her and Chris in it...asmyou can see we were freezing...coats and hoods and all... See we did make it...this is the "livingroom" where all the boys sat and ate healthily...Dave, top right, next to him, is Chris, then Gene...then on the other side is Mike in the foreground then Richard next to him...There is definately no walking room...but eating was fine...

And here's the girls...on the left is Shirley then to her left is Cathy and across from her is Dianne...I'm taking the picture...but you can see my plate right next to Dianne's...
We had a great dinner and a great time with our new/found fulltimeing friends...
Here you see Shirley and I in the "kitchen"...We're gettin' outta Richard's way as he fixes his plate...You know that you don't wanta get between a man and his food...
You know...it is interesting out here...we hang on to those that we have met and are meeting...I think that is because we are in such an un-known lifestyle...none of us have done it before...we are all in the beginning stages of something that we don't know much about...but together we are learning as we travel and see new parts of our country, meeting new people...and learning so much about ourselves and our mates...so much more that we could have ever learned in any other lifestyle...it is sort-of un-nerving sometimes...things go wrong, you can't find some things, and when you have a little "tiff" with Mr. or Mrs. Wright...there is really not many places to get away from each other...outside works but that is just about it...we've been looking for warm weather ever since November 1st...we had a couple of nice days before we left Lake Minden in Northern CA, and a couple of nice days in Desert Hot Springs...but that's it...so if you need to get outside...you're outta luck there too...it's is really cold and usually windy out there...It also brings you closer together...much closer than when we were affected by all the distractions of work, family, and all the stuff of our previous lifestyle...not that any of that was or is bad...but I know that for us...it has been wonderful...yes we still have our moments...and we miss family and friends at home...but for us, for the most part it is a wonderful way to spend our retirement...
Today we went out to breakfast with Gene and Shirley and then to Wally World...we also went to a pecan sales place and bought some really nice pecans...After that we went to Gene and Shirley's and proceeded to plan out our trip East...Tomorrow I will get all the reservations made...I hope...
Well guys...that brings you up to date...so I'll be posting more later...

March 29, '07

2007-03-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

Well, how did you like the date on my last post???
The 38th of what???

But now we have dinner at the coach...Our guests were...Gene & Shirley,Dave and Dianne, Chris and Cathy and Richard...there should have been 10 of us but it turned out to be 9, as Shirley of Richard & Shirley was "under-the-weather"...So in this first picture you see Richard on the left, then the back of Chris with Cathy his "better-half" on his right then there is "Scubadave" in the blue jacket on the right...You will notice that they are all bundeled up...well...it was cold, cold, cold, cold...and very windy... Here you saee Gene and I "conflabing "over the "Pork Tenderloin...Boy did it turn out good...We had Pork Tendeloin, Enhanced Potatoes, Cole Slaw, Rolls and Pretzel/Strawberry Dessert...of course that was after a few pitchers of Margaritas!!!

Wednesday, March 38Th.

2007-03-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well...this is Gene and Shirley in front of their new Alfa, See Ya!!!
Is it pretty or what???
They are "Happy Little Campers"!!!
We went to Happy Hour at the Saguaro SKP Park here in Benson...You know...there is a great life out here...and we are finally doin' it...and we are surprised each and every day...we met lots of new people there who were very nice... This is Shirley listening to some area Info.

This little guy showed up whe we got back to Gene and Shirley's patio beside their coach...he fussed and fussed at us before he finally got up there to eat...
Hope you can see the snow still on the moumntain in front of us...we are on our Way to Sierra Vista, to pick up our mail and to go the the museums on FT. Hauchuca...the Army Base close ro here...It is a huge facility...we went to the Intelligence Museum as well as the History Museum...

The Entrance to Ft.Hauchuca
This is a water tower at Ft. Huachuca that says
"A Great place to enlist or re-enlist"

Here you see some of the vehicles that are sitting waiting to be used...there were lots of these and other kinds of vehicles stored in this area...

Cool Picture, hugh???

Iam gonna go ahead and publish this because I want to clean house...the gang (Gene & Shirley, Chris & Cathy, Dave & Dianne, Richard & Shirley) are coming over for a pot-luck tonight...so I got lots to do...
But I will finnish it later with more pictures of tonight as well...

Sunday March 25th, '07

2007-03-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

We went to lunch and to Wally World with Gene ("Reb") and Shirley...we had a great dinner of Fried Chicken and all the trimmings..
We thought it was a "fitting" place for lunch..."wha-da-u" think??? When we came back to Gene and Shirley's we decided that we would drive around the "Saguora", "SKP" Park where they are staying...waht a beautiful place...they have these sites that you can purchase and build a little "Casita" on it...so I took some pictures of the ones that we liked the best...I can see us doing something like this down-the-road, when we get to where we don't want to travel so much...but not in the desert...but these were cute...The sunsets are wonderful around here...especially as the sun shines it's colors on the Mountains behind the park, so lots of them have roof-top Patio areas for sunset watching...

You can tell that everyone that has built these little places have really put love and personality into it...

This one was one of our favorites too...But it is a lot more interesting from the back...although the round stained glass window is georgeous from this side as well as the back...

Cute or what???

This one was on a corner...lots of space and such a cute little place. We were really taken with the prospect of doing this at some time in the future...

Then we went home for a nap...when I got up to make the salad and go back over to Gene and Shirley's for BBQ Burgers...I checked my e-mail...Lo-and-behold...I had an e-mail from Cathy Hayden (a fellow '06er) with the info. that she and her husband were at the sam park as Gene and Shirley. Cathy follows our blog and the SKP Forum...where I had posted where we were...... as it turned out...they are parked only about 6 spots away...so when we got over there, Shirley and I went to roust them out and invite them for dinner...they came and we had a blast getting to know them...

They were the first organizers of the "Class of '06", but were unable to be at "Q" so we hadn't met them yet...but now we have and it was a really good evening...looking forward to more later in the week...

This is the group:

2007-03-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Now this little guy was a great surprise...Never say a real "Road Runner " before...The cartoon, "Wiley Coyote and the Road Runner" was my Dad's favorite cartoon ever...it was kind-of Nostalgic to see a real one...they are really cool...

Here you see one of the landscapes of the desert...now I know it is beautiful in God's eyes...it serves a purpose for those that love it and the habitat that thrives in this sort of climate...but as for me...I choose the "BPNW"....

This was kind-of an ominous looking cloud...don-cha think????

We started to get yhe picture...we were running into some inclimate weather...and boy did we!!!!!!!!!!! It poured...notice...where we were the sun was shinning...over on the mountain it was only black clouds...

Were here...in Benson, Arizona and this is the view in the back of "TAD". We got here about 6:45PM on Friday...we left "Desert Pools" at 9:30AM...Mike had "Dead Butt" when we got here. That was a two day drive all wrapped up into one...but we were anxious to bet to where Gene and Shirley were so that we could start traveling together, so Mike drove for over 9 hours instead of our 4 we promised to do in a day's trip...oh well, I want you to know that the sacrifice was worth it...

Gene and Shirley were waiting for us with an open bottle of wine and a great spahgetti dinner, to die for...in a NEW COACH...we couldn't even find them because we were looking for their Montana and their Big Truck...well...now they have a Brand Spankin' New, Alfa, SeeYa... gerogous coach...and much easier for them to handle than the 5th wheel and truck...Congrats...GENE & SHIRLEY...........pictures will come later...

This is one of the locals that I met yesterday morning...he is a very different looking quail from the ones that we saw in CA...Very interesting and very pretty...there are lots of them as well as other birds around here...the park managers have made it a bird sanctuary of sorts...I'll get pictures of the feeding area later on...

Just us girls havin' fun at dinner, it got cold outside so we had to come in for dinner..."TAD" is a little tight for 6 for dinner...but we managed...and had a great time doin' it!!! That's Shirley on the Left ansde Diane on the Right and yoiur's truly...
And here's the guys...on the left is "Scuba Dave" and on the Right is Gene...the boys were jawi' as much as us girls were...Oh yes, Mike was takin' the pictures...and by-the-way...he took the picture of the "Road Runner" too...you know...gotta' give credit where credit is due...

Today Mike gave "TAD" a very needed bath...as well as the Jetta...Now we are gonna go with Gene and Shirley, out to lunch and to Wally World and just to check out our new digs...so I'll have more to share later...at least I have you all caught up to now...have a great day all...

2007-03-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

While we were at Desert Hot Springs, we went to "Joshua Tree National Park". This is a "Joshua" Tree..."Kind-a-cool" looking in a wiered sorta way...All of the trees that you see in this picture are "Joshua" Trees...they provide very little shade...they are sorta dry and dead looking, for-the-most-part...But there are millions of them in this area...Thus the title "Joshua Tree National Forest"... Really nothing like any forest that I've ever seen...

There are many interesting rock formations there, as well...theis is just one of many that we saw...I thinik you are at about 6,000 feet at the top of the mountain and there are many places that you can lool out over the sprawling valley where Palm Springs, the Salton Sea, Desert Hot Sprngs, Rancho Mirage, etc. are located...

Here is a picture of one of the vistas...it was kinda hazey but still...you get the picture...

While we were at Joshua Tree, we met some "'o6ers"...Duane and Linda...whe spent the better part of the day and evening with them touring the park and having dinner together...it was really lots of fun, getting to know them...this life really is a "surprise party" each and every day...meeting new people and seeing new things along the way, we are so blessed to be able to live this way...

This next picture is of us following Linda and Duane on the way out of the park...I know that we must have put at least 100 miles on our both cars that day...but it was really fun to see...

Now this is a photo of "Cap Rock"...Very cool...don-cha-think???

This is a grove of cactus...that looked like it had been in a forest fire, at one time, and had grown new life after the fire...it was a burnt brown on the bottom and a light green on the top , it also had evidence of the fact that it had bloomed this spring...Now there is "HOPE" for ya...We were talking about the look of the cactus and Linda said that it looked like the grove had suffered some kind of "STRESS"...maybe from the extremely cold winter that the desert had this year...but they "SURVIVED"...Like we allk do in this life...we must be strong...,but we do survive... and not just survive, but "BLOOM" right where we were planted...some more of my 2 cents...free to all of you...

2007-03-25T08:35:00.000-07:00
It has come to my attention, that you cannot comment on my new blog without signing up for "gmail"...I am in the process of finding out how to remedy that problem...but thus far I have been unsuccesful...Bear with me, I'll get to the bottom of this yet...

2007-03-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

This is looking out the back of where we are staying...Stark land...kind-of pretty, in it's own way...I really don't like it...it is too"dirty"...I'll take the "BPNW" much better...

Now here is a critter...I think he's a "stick bug"...what do you think??? He was sunning himself on a post right in front of our coach...kinda cool...better than a rattle snake which, I hear, are quite populas around here and out in mass right now and they say they are hungry!!! Gotta look where you walk...

Here is our spot at Desert Pools Resort in Desert Hot Springs, CA...my little Flamingos mark it nicely...doncha think???

We are really enjoying our trip, so far...

Ya know, life throws a ball at us each and every day...and we choose how we swing the bat...

Sometimes, we get a hit and get to first base, sometimes we get a hit and get to second base...and then some times we hit that ball that is thrown at us and we get to third base, or even get a home run...or maybe we just get a walk...but the truth of the matter is, is, that the balls keep coming at us and we have to swing...or not...depending on how the ball looks to us...

Sometimes we strike out...but the important thing is that we keep going up to bat...expecting to get a home run.............................

That was for free...just something I've been thinkin about...it would be so easy to just quit, sometimes...but if we keep playing the game expecting the best...it WILL happen!!!

2007-03-22T18:30:00.000-07:00
Now these two little guys are our "super/egos"...they stand in our windsheld (a boy and girl Flamingo) they are dressed in hula skirts and shades and are just lookin for fun...they shake their booties all the way down the road...they have joined the "red bear" and the "over-the-hill" pony and the" talking cow"...between them they keep our perspective in tact...and that is:

What's "out there" is there for us to be having fun with...and that we do!!!
Well, we were on the road on the 16th of March...and when we got down to the HWY South...and this is what we ran into...yep...you guessed it...FOG...

Here you see us as we go down the road...we had no idea that we would run into fog...and the traffic was pretty testy too...lots of trucks and they're challenging when you're climbing the mountains...We did fine, but it's a little un-nearving for the passenger!!! "ME"

2007-03-21T12:33:00.001-07:00

This was taken at Isabelle's house on the Thursday before we left...all you moms amd dads of our grand kids...keep this photo handy so our little guys won't forget us while we are gone!!

This was taken the day we left "Lake Minden"...This is a Sunrise...not a Sunset...God's creation is certainly beautiful...

These next two pictures were taken to show "Son" Tom...it was taken at the 49er Truck Stop in West Saceamento, CA. They were inb the process of detailing this rig...something about Toyota????

It was a really pretty truck and trailer though...we were there gettin' "TAD" serviced...and having lunch...you know...truck stop food "sucketh"...I feel sorry for truck drivers...

This is a picture of the Navagator 9 GPS system that Mike purcdhased on the E-Bay...It really does work really well...if we follow her directions...sometimes we think we know better...and danged if she ain't always right...her name is "Lisa"...she even tells us when Mike gets over the speed limit..."Lisa" tells us where all the RV accessable restuarants are and points of interest as well...she is a fun gal to travel with!

This was taken from the coach as we traveled down I-5 of the "Railroad Crossing" fire...this was on Friday the 16th...it surely burned for a long time...I hope it is out by now...

If you look closely you will see the "Blimp" that was in Sacto. for the March Madness Games at Arco Arena...it is just to the left of the pole that is to the left of the water tower...

This is what the fire looked like from Elk Grove...

This is the end of that day so I will publish this post and work on the next one.,..now that I can get the pictures on the page I gotta catch you guys up on all the places that we have been so far...we really are having a great time...

2007-03-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

This was taken at Isabelle's house on the Thursday before we left...all you moms amd dads of our grand kids...keep this photo handy so our little guys won't forget us while we are gone!!

This was taken the day we left "Lake Minden"...This is a Sunrise...not a Sunset...God's creation is certainly beautiful...

These next two pictures were taken to show "Son" Tom...it was taken at the 49er Truck Stop in West Saceamento, CA. They were inb the process of detailing this rig...something about Toyota????

It was a really pretty truck and trailer though...we were there gettin' "TAD" serviced...and having lunch...you know...truck stop food "sucketh"...I feel sorry for truck drivers...

This is a picture of the Navagator 9 GPS system that Mike purcdhased on the E-Bay...It really does work really well...if we follow her directions...sometimes we think we know better...and danged if she ain't always right...her name is "Lisa"...she even tells us when Mike gets over the speed limit..."Lisa" tells us where all the RV accessable restuarants are and points of interest as well...she is a fun gal to travel with!

This was taken from the coach as we traveled down I-5 of the "Railroad Crossing" fire...this was on Friday the 16th...it surely burned for a long time...I hope it is out by now...

If you look closely you will see the "Blimp" that was in Sacto. for the March Madness Games at Arco Arena...it is just to the left of the pole that is to the left of the water tower...

This is what the fire looked like from Elk Grove...

This is the end of that day so I will publish this post and work on the next one.,..now that I can get the pictures on the page I gotta catch you guys up on all the places that we have been so far...we really are having a great time...

Just a note...

2007-03-20T22:24:00.000-07:00
Well...I have the posting part worked out...now I just need to get the photo inclusion part together...have patience...I'll get it yet...

Today we went to Joshua Tree National Park with fellow '06ers, Duane and Louise...we loved meeting them and had a great day and dinner at the truck stop...by the way...out here in the desert it is atleast 25 miles from where-ever to where-ever...believe me!!!

We will go to Palm Springs tomorrow...I think...

Halle needs her second "parvo" shot so we will do that first...then go exploring again...

This is the stuff "fulltimeing" is made of and we are enjoying it emensly...

2007-03-20T20:48:00.000-07:00
Hello...is this working???