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.