We Made It

Where we Are at Fantasy Springs Casino



We made it to Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio Christmas Eve night too late to celebrate Christmas Eve with Tim and family, but in time to get a good night's rest in order to be ready for Christmas morning.

When I wrote in my previous post about the excitement of being on the road, I had no idea of what was to come.  We decided to take the "back way" to Indio by going through Temecula and the outskirts of Hemet.  Instead of traveling on a well-lit several-lanes-wide freeway, we found ourselves on a very dark 2-lane road which turned out to be very exciting indeed.  My eyes were never so wide open trying to see the road as I "helped" Bob drive.  "Watch out."  "Go that way."  The headlights coming at us were blinding.  Turning on the defroster helped clear the moisture from windows that we hadn't realized was inhibiting our ability to see the road.
The biggest positive on going that way was that we had no semi-trucks by our side.

We are grateful to our friend Jim Custeau for locating a starter for us on Christmas Eve morning in time for Bob to install it and still be able to reach our destination for Christmas.

"Look Grammy, It's Just What I Asked Santa For"

We had a great time at son Tim's house Christmas Day.  A lot of presents were exchanged and a lot of play was accomplished.  Santa was very good to this very loved little boy.
                                  

Cars 2 Toyko Spinout was a hit.  "This is just what I asked Santa for".

                                   

 



A Quiet Moment for jimmy

                                                           

~Our Very Special Family Photo~
Pretending to look for a spider did not encourage Jimmy to join us in the photo.

He did, however, use the remote control to snap this memorable moment.

 

It turned out to be a very Merry Christmas.

Bob and I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and wish you a very healthy and happy New Year.

We are enjoying Being Where We Are.

We Are on Our Way

With a little help from a friend we are on our way to Indio~4:00pm Christmas Eve. Soon after I posted our situation about the broken starter, Jim came to our rescue. Jim is a long time friend of my brother and just happens to be a recent retiree from Cuyamaca College where he was the head auto shop teacher. He offered to contact his parts suppliers first thing this morning to find the part we needed. And that is exactly what he did.

Jim contacted us by 9am with the location of the part which was only 8 miles away. By 10:15am we had said part in hand and on our way home to get on with it.

Bob had a few snags during the installation of the starter, but eventually he got the job done. It’s comforting to know that the almost 80yr old still has what it takes.

We don’t know if we’ll make it in time for Christmas Eve dinner or if Christmas Eve desert will have to do. At least we are counting on being there for Christmas Day.

Being on the road is rather exciting on this Christmas Eve evening. I can feel the rush in the air as the cars whiz past us carrying moms and dads, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, girl friends and boy friends, and a lot of single folks in a hurry to get to the mall for that last gift, to the grocery store for the forgotten eggnog, or to the extended family’s home for their Christmas Eve celebration, or simply to get home from work.

We are driving in the dark...and we NEVER drive in the dark.  Oh, for the new experiences.

Once again..

Merry Christmas to All

　

　

　

We Tried to Go to Indio Today

Where We Are at Jean's in Chula Vista, Ca.



"I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! May your hearts be open, your bellies full and the spirit of Christmas in your RV". 

So was the wish from our RV friends Nina Fussing and Paul via her blog at http://wheelingit.wordpress.com/.  Bob and I were counting on doing exactly that - having full bellies and the spirit of Christmas in our RV - in Indio, Ca. with the RV parked at Fantasy Springs Casino near Tim and Rosemary's (son and daughter-in-law) house so we wouldn't have far to drive to enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at their home.

We intended to depart our Chula Vista location of 5 weeks early this morning.  We awoke with a strong desire to pack up and ready the motorhome as quickly as we could in order to take on gas at the local Costco which is only 3 miles from our location at Jean's and 5 miles from the Mexican border.  Although a Costco gas station, it is very near the parking lot for Wal-Mart, which is usually very busy on Sunday mornings, especially the Sunday before Christmas.  We wanted to beat the crowd so as to not get our home on wheels in the middle of the madness of the Christmas Shopper traffic.

After a quick breakfast we went to task to rearrange our possessions in a matter so they would ride comfortably and safely to our destination.  We retracted the slideouts, relocated the stuff stashed in the front seats to the bed, moved the 42" TV that is in-limbo-sitting-on-the dash-until-Bob-attaches-it-to-its-permanent-bracket to the bed, dumped the black tank and unhooked the sewer hose, unhooked the water hose, lowered the TV Satellite dish, unhooked the power cable, switched the refrigerator to operate on propane, and lowered the motorhome off the jacks.  After a last minute photo with Jean, we were ready to go....so we thought.



Jean, Kathie, and Bob with our "new" thrift store purchsed wreath

 

I turned the key in the ignition to let Bob know I was "ready to go" and .......

 

The engine wouldn't start! 

 

So 3 hours after our "ready to go" status, Bob is still under the motorhome continuing to work on the starter after a brief interruption to clear his eye of something that had fallen from the undercarriage of the motorhome.  (He is now wearing his safety glasses.)  We are still hoping beyond all hope that we will get this thing on the road today, but I am losing that optimism very quickly.

 

My grandma always said, "Things happen for the best".  I can't help but think that we were not intended to drive the motorhome to Indio today. 

 

Fortunately, we have the option to drive the car to Indio to spend Christmas with our son and family (Rosemary, Jimmy, and Nana).

News alert:  Bob has just informed me he has extracted the starter from the motorhome and predicts if he can get the part early tomorrow, he can replace it in time for us to still get to Tim's by Christmas Eve night.  That is very good news.

However, there is a high wind warning issued from midnight tonight to 4pm tomorrow for the passes through which we intend to travel.  O my, there is always something.  I firmly believe that Rvers are a strong bunch, and we proudly include ourselves in this family.  We will see this challenge through to a happy outcome.

Now to undo all the packing we did this morning and carry on with our day.

Bob and I wish you a Christmas filled with joy and without such obstacles.

 



Around Calaveras Big Trees

 

Where We Are at Calaveras Big Trees State Park



Two years ago Bob and I were fortunate to fall into this Camp Host position at Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Arnold, Ca.  We volunteered here in 2010, 2011, and are happy to be here again.

 

The park is located 75 miles east of Stockton on Hwy 4.  At 4800' elevation, its summers are pleasant when the valley temperatures average in the mid-90's, and it's winters are cold when Sockton's average temps are in the mid-40's. 



One morning in September on my usual walk from our campsite to the park's entrance station, I discovered a dogwood tree in bloom. It shouldn't have been in bloom. It's supposed to bloom in the Spring! The leaves were turning color as they were supposed to do in the Fall, but it was very strange to see flowers. 

A little research by Tami, the Visitor Center's retail manager, revealed that the dogwood tree will bloom out of season if it has been under stress during a drought for a period of time followed by a period of rain.  There was very little rain last winter and this past summer.  And then one day in early September the area received a significant amount of rain in a very short period of time followed by a spell of unseasonably hot weather.  This is the first time the locals remember dogwood trees blooming in the Fall.

Mumbert Cabin

On our day off today, we decided to gander about the park and search for the famed Mumbert Cabin.  We knew it was about a mile down the fire road that parallels the back side of the campground.  So off we went for a little stroll and soon came upon the rustic cabin that is used by the Parks Department personnel for R & R.  It was very peaceful here on the porch as we sat and rocked
                                                                              on the rustic metal chairs and contemplated the universe.

The Meadow

On our way back "home" we strolled past sites that we have become very accustomed to seeing on a daily basis.   The meadow is the center of the campground and offers a sunny and warm escape from the shade of the trees.  A newly re-contstructed boardwalk is the center piece and offers a quick way to get from one side of the campground to the other.

Sequoiadendron giganteum

One of the few Giant Sequoias in the park that is visible from a road is a good example of the species' adaptation to grow with a twist.  This is a characteristic that serves to strengthen the tree which promotes it's longevity. Sierra redwood trees are the largest trees in the world. Many sierra redwoods are between 250 and 300 feet tall, the tallest being about 325 feet high. While their height is impressive, the real wonder of a sierra redwood lies in its bulk. Many of these giants have diameters in excess of 30 feet near the ground, with a corresponding circumference of over 94 feet.

The largest redwood in Calaveras Big Trees State Park is the Louis Agassiz tree.  This tree is "only" 250 feet tall, but it is over 25 feet in diameter six feet above the ground. The largest tree in the North Grove is said to be the Empire State Tree, which is 18 feet in diameter six feet above the ground.
 

 The Fallen Sentinel





A Dogwood in Fall Colors near the Fallen Sentinel





A Douglas Squirrel (aka: Chickaree) 



The Chickarees are fattening up for the winter



We resume our camphost duties tomorrow amidst all this beauty.  As long as we have committed ourselves to volunteer for 2-3 months out of the year, this is a pretty good place to do it.

No real post yet.....

I know. I know.  It has been a while since I posted anything.  Heaven knows I have a ton of stories to tell.  It's a matter of having time to put words on a page and then when that time arrives, my internet connection fails.  But life is not that tough.

Bob and I are comfortably (almost) settled at Calaveras Big Trees State Park located on the western side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range along Highway 4 in California at 4800' elevation.

And that's about all I have to say now, as our workday as camphosts begins.

On the Way to Forks, Wa.

Where We Were at Forks RV Park (Aug 11)

As we prepared the car for travel behind the motorhome yesterday (leaving Port Townsend), Bob discovered the Brake Buddy (an auxilliary braking system that helps to brake our car in tow) failed to operate.   He found it wasn't getting the power it required from the 12 volt outlet.  While I was shopping at Wal-Mart in Sequim this morning, he diagnosed the problem and determined the outlet was faulty.

We opted to continue our trip without the additional braking assistance.  Our first stop after leaving our overnighter at Wal-Mart in Sequim was Costco in Sequim for gas ($3.719).  I went out to begin the pumping process as usual, but noticed it was taking Bob a long time to join me.  He eventually showed up with a sheepish green on his face and divulged the reason for his tardiness.  He had to lower the satellite TV dish.  We had forgotten to take it down before departure.  Not good, but we got away with it.  You would think after 11 1/2 years of full-time RVing, we would pay better attention to such details.  One of these days, we'll have to look at our check list.

Soon the gas tank was full and we were on our way.  A block or two from Costco, Bob decided to enter the parking lot of O'Reilly Auto Parts in search of what he needed to repair the faulty 12 volt outlet for the Brake Buddy.  The parking area looked fairly adequate for a 55' of motorhome and car.  Sure, the parking was adequate, but we soon found out there was no outlet at the other end.  Thus, we would have to turn the whole 55' of motorhome and car around and exit the way we had come. 

Bob was able to buy what he needed and then we addressed our challenge.  We worked hard to keep our cool, took advantage of our predicament, and did what a reasonable vagabond couple would do:  we had lunch.

Our temperament improved after lunch and we worked together to decide how far to turn the motorhome into the bumpy dirt and weed covered field in order to negoiate a U-turn.  The first attempt fell short, and we had to back up the whole unit.  Not wanting to remove the car from the tow position, I monitored the front wheels on the car so they remained straight.  Alas, we were successful on the 2nd try and were able to exit the parking lot unscathed, with no threats of divorce, and happy to be on our way.


A quick shot of Lake Crescent as we drove by

After 30 miles or so on Hwy 101 we entered  Olympic National Park and came upon beautiful Lake Crescent.  It seemed like we drove forever on the winding and bumpy narrow 2 lane road around this gorgeous lake.  There were few turnouts that would accommodate our size of rig which would allow us to pull off the road, take a break, and take in all this beauty.  Most of those turnouts were occupied by other vehicles, but we eventually came upon one that allowed us to stop for a few minutes and revel in the view.  


Lake Crescent from Turnout

Lake Crescent, as reported on this referenced website, is nestled in the northern foothills of the Olympic Mountains.  It lies about 18 miles west of Port Angeles (directions). The pristine waters of this deep, glacially carved lake make it an ideal destination for those in search of natural beauty.
A massive landslide isolated Lake Crescent from Lake Sutherland approximately 7,000 years ago. There are two uniquely adapted populations, the Crescenti and Beardslee trout, that resulted from genetic isolation following this event. 
Parking for our size rig is very limited at this lake and thus we were unable to spend any time here.  The nearest campground, Fairholme Campround, will accommodate up to 21' motorhomes.  Unless we elect to downsize, tent camp, or stay at the Lake Crescent Lodge, we are out of luck.



A lone kayaker had the entire lake to himself

At least we had a few minutes at a pull-out to enjoy the view and watch a kayaker paddle by.

We continued on Hwy 101 to milepost 200 - Lake Pleasant Mobile Home and RV Park where we had intended to stay.  We entered the park and soon realized it wasn't for us.  The title "Lake Pleasant Mobile Home Park" should have been a clue.  It wasn't exactly meant for folks on vacation.  And since we consider ourselves on vacation, we decided to continue on towards Forks, Wa. where more of a tourist vibe can be found.

And that is how we ended up at the Forks RV Park located on Hwy 101 in downtown Forks, Wa., made famous by The Twilight Book and Movie series.

We are here for one night and plan to drive the car out to Rialto Beach tomorrow morning.  I don't know anything about the beach other than it's part of Olympic National Park and it's 12 miles away. 

Life is good Being Where We Are.








Sequim, Washington and Washington Inn and Lavender Farm

Where We Were (Aug. 10)

Bob and I left Point Hudson RV Park and Marina in Port Townsend, Washington today where we shared 4 out of the last 5 days with friends Lynda and Howard of stillhowlyn2012. 

We walked and ran and took pictures and had ice cream for dinner one night and had noodles another night before going to a movie at a small-town-type movie theatre (Rose) that was simply wonderful.  Safety Not Guaranteed won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was quite thought provoking.  That is all behind us now and will always remain a special memory.

We are now parked for tonight at Wal-Mart in Sequim, Washington (as illustrated above).  We had to drive only 30 or so miles today so had plenty of time to explore the area. I had wanted to see a Lavender Farm and selected this one that was one of many highlighted in the Olympic Peninsula's Visitor's Guide.   I think I chose a winner.




All I could say was WOW! when I saw the entrance to the Lavender Farm.




Entrance to George Washington Inn and  Lavender Farm



George Washington Inn and Estate
http://www.georgewashingtoninn.com/



Gorgeous Lavender Field that was in its peak in mid-July is still gorgeous!



The Proprietor of the Inn and Lavender Farm

We were fortunate to talk to the owner of this magnificent property.   10 years ago he and his wife were looking for property in the area where they could relocate from the South and build a future for themselves and their family. 

The couple had a $50,000 budget to buy a piece of property on which to build their dream.   They were riding with their real estate agent researching property in the area when they drove past this acreage that was a hay field at the time.   The agent discarded this prime piece of heaven as being out their price range.   The now owner of this property said "Whoa! Let's talk about this".   It was just the piece they were looking for with a view of the Olympic mountains to the south and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north.  

Well....they got the financing together, designed the Bed and Breakfast in the image of a favorite homestead in the "South", hired a friend to build it, and 10 years later have no regrets.

We had a wonderful day exploring this area and are truly Being Where We Are.

Where We Are - Silverton, OR

Where we were at the time of this post

Bob and I have covered a lot of ground since enjoying Oh! Ridge CG at June Lake.  Our 4 days at Lassen NP flew by as did our 6 days at Silver Falls SP in Oregon with friends Joe and Judy Dotson.  A lot of pictures are waiting to be shared (in spite of my short, but traumatic, camera-in-the lake episode), but will have to wait as we are off to see the Oregon Gardens in Silverton today.

Our home is parked at the very nice Silver Spur RV Park in Silverton.  We will be here until tomorrow when we begin another adventure with friends John & Maxine in Olympia, WA.

I hope all is well with you and yours.  Being Where We Are.....Kathie & Bob

At Oh! Ridge Campground - June Lake

We had a good 235 mile drive today and are happy to be settled in our campsite.  Oh! Ridge Campground is a Forest Service CG in Inyo National Forest situated on a hill overlooking June Lake.  There are no hookups, but there is a dump station, and water is available at various places around the campground.  Many sites have a view of June Lake, but ours is not one of them. 


The wind is blowing with gusto through the trees, but the motorhome seems to be sheltered from the worst of it.  In fact the fierce wind in the tree tops is a lot calmer at ground level and provides a nice breeze through the motorhome windows.

Bob is working on setting up our portable DirecTV dish as the dish on top of the motorhome is pointing right through a tree.  It's tough to get a signal that way.  I would be ok without TV for a change.  I welcome more time to read a book and to take a walk.   Good idea.  I think I will and enjoy being where we are.

First Stop: Kramer Junction

The sound of the waves hitting the beach and the noise from the traffic on Hwy 75 have been replaced with the steady base hum coming from the engine of the diesel truck whose driver decided it was a good idea to park next to us last night in the dirt lot where US 395 & CA 58 meet, known as Kramer Junction.  The steady hum was almost like a white noise lullaby....almost.

After camp hosting at the Silver Strand since late March, we are more than ready to get on the road again.   We had a myriad of tasks to accomplish in San Diego before leaving it all behind to make new memories and are pleased that most of those tasks were completed. 

With all the effort of seemingly endless taks behind us we are looking forward to our trip to Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.

We left the Silver Strand yesterday after last minute dental appointments.  Even afer 11 years of traveling in the motorhome, it is still an effort to get all the pre-travel chores taken care of.   We had to dump the black and grey tanks, take on fresh water, and gas up.  By 2pm we were FREEEEEEEE!!! and headed north on I-15.

Bob does a great job finding the right lane.

We encountered light traffic through Cajon Pass on I-15.  This pass is a lot less intimidating than Tejon Pass on I-5 where there are many more trucks traveling inches away from the side of our motorhome.

 We turned off the 15 in the high desert onto 2-lane US 395.  This section of highwy can be dangerous, but we made it through just fine.  The wind speed was reported to be only 14mph and driving was a breeze.

   Our overnight site at Kramer Junction

 We'll be leaving Kramer Junction by 10am on our way to Oh! Ridge campground at June Lake.  Lots of beautiful scenery and relaxation awaits.

A Day at the Silver Strand

WHERE WE ARE relative to this post

(I added the photo to show where we are at the time of the post and I think I have to publish it again....oh for the learning curve to be over)

Summer has arrived at the Silver Strand. 

How do I know? I know because I haven’t seen the sun in days.   June Gloom is here.  The May - June typical weather pattern that brings cloudy, overcast skies, and cool breezy afternoons is brought to us by a marine layer common to the southern California coast.  Some days we will see the sun, and some days we won't.

Yesterday was one of the days the sun decided to make a hazy appearance early in the afternoon.  I took advantage and shot a few photos and then decided to enhance them with a filter in Digital Image Suite.

Not very many sunbathers were on the beach, but it turned out to be a beautiful afternoon for a stroll along the beach with Point Loma in view in the distance.

 Few people braved the cool temps to grab as many rays as possible and to frolic in the surf. They didn’t seem to care that it was 66 degrees under cloudy skies and a brisk breeze. They came to the beach for their summer vacation and they are determined to wear their beach clothes and bask in whatever sun is available.

The beach front sites are full every day in the summer.

 Broadway was quiet at mid-day

 

 

The Campground kiosk area on Flag Day

.

Our Day Today and Oh, What a Day

WHERE WE ARE relative to this post

 

Today is the first day we have been able to get out and do our walk since last week.  I decided to take my camera and would like to share some of the sights we encountered on our 4 mile outing.

We are blessed with varied terrain here at the Silver Strand.  We can walk along the beach, walk the nature preserve in the park, walk on the bike path towards Coronado, or walk in the luxurious housing area of Coronado Cays.  Today we chose to walk in the Cays and see what we would see.

Today also happened to be the 2nd day of the Ragnar Relay race which began in Huntington Beach yesterday at 5:00am.  The race covers 203.5 miles with 6-12 member teams.  You can read about it here:  Ragnar Relay So. Calif.

We saw all the activity of preparing the finish line at the beginning of our walk.  The runners were still 4 hours away so we knew we had plenty of time before the first team arrived.

The Ragnar Relay Finish Line near the Lifeguard Tower

We continued our walk through parking lot #2 and through parking lot #1 where we came upon the sail boat that beached last week.  The registered owner was found to be in Oregon, but was no longer the owner.  I understand if no one claims it in 4 weeks, the State will have it removed.

A very nice sail boat washed ashore last week and rests in Parking Lot #1

We continued our walk past the boat, past the entrance kiosk, and across Hwy 75 to Coronado Cays.  We enjoyed the blooming landscaping and in particular these birds of paradise along the public road.

A Double Dose of Birds of Paradise

Around the corner from the Birds of Paradise we were treated to another world; a world of water and boats and better than average housing.

Boat Docks at the Doorsteps - I could get used to this

On the outskirts of this well healed housing area is a nice natural preserve featuring a walking path through the native plants and a sandy beach all around on the edge of San Diego Bay.   Some of the plants are in bloom.

Pride of Madeira along San Diego Bay (thanks Gloria)

This plant blooms from Spring to Summer

The spikes on the Pride of Madeira are captivating

Rock Rose

Each flower lasts only 1 day on this perennial shrub

We continued our walk through the Cays to one of the many marinas.  This one has a sidewalk that leads to the Coronado Cays Yacht Club on San Diego Bay.  The club is for members only, but open for pedestrians to wander through.

One of the many marinas in the Cays

 



More boats, water, and houses

More boats, water, and houses

The Bronze Fisherman at the Yacht Club

We left Coronado Cays and returned to the Silver Strand State Beach - Bay Side and walked down the same path that the Ragnar Runners will run just before finishing the over 24 hour race.

Tunnel #2 at the Silver Strand SB that joins the Bay Side to the Ocean.

This is the route the Ragnar Relay Runners use to travel to the finish line.

The runners pass through the tunnel and come out on the beach side near the Silver Strand Grill.  They turn left at the end of the path and find the finish line right in front of them.

A short straight run before the turn

A sharp left turn before the finish line

And there is the finish line

12 Boys in Speedos were the 4th team to cross the finish line

The sights and sounds of our morning walk left us refreshed and ready to return to the campground. 

Many campers were in the campground for the weekend - all having a good time

I hope you enjoyed going on our walk with us today.  I enjoyed your company. 

Let's do this again soon.   Kathie and Bob enjoying Being Where We Are.