2 Weeks back in Phoenix

     Well it's been right at 2 weeks back in Phoenix and it's not the heat that makes me want to hit the road again already it's just that itch!   We haven't played a round of golf since returning, been a little hot compared to where we've been and what we're used to the past 3 months.  I might go down to the course and plays few holes today later.........or maybe not!  Hooked up with old friends Fred and Ruth last night, was good catching up and good to see that they're do well.  We do miss our friends and family while on the road, but then it again it's even  nicer catching up upon returning from the road.
     The golf cart batteries were dead beyond reviving when we got back so I bought 6 new ones and now we're back in business on that front, I love cruising the park in the cart and visiting and hope to throw in some walking now that I'm back on the weight control regiment.  Let me tell you on this past trip there was a lot of visiting friends all across the country, a few days here and a week there and in doing so there was a lot more eating out than home cooking in the coach.  Yes you can guess what that meant, some weight gain and not just a little unfortunately.  I had ballooned up to 335 pounds a few months before we hit the road and went online to www.myfitnesspal.com and by the time we left had gotten down to 300.6 pounds and didn't bother to check the scale on the road.  Upon returning I jumped (gingerly) on our scale and had regressed to 322 and since I've gotten back down to 318 and promise to keep going down!  Hey, it's that or my life expectancy will be greatly reduced from the 80 plus years old that it is nowto something much less and we don't want that.  Wish me luck folks!
     My daughter turns 40 this year and my son just turned 38.......are you kidding me?  Where has the time gone and if their that old how in the hell old am I, it's a bit scary thinking about it at times but everyone gets there and goes there it's just that I don't believe I'm reading for my kids to be middle age and that's exactly what they are I guess.  The times are tough and the things going on in our country are pretty scary to say the least, it always makes me think back to the wholesome times in years past.  Growing up today is a real challenge and I'm feel blessed to have been raised and to have grown up in the decades I did.  I pray times change and things go around once more for my grand kids and soon!
     Lets just stop there for now................... 
     

Attitudes change..........

     Still in San Diego, could be worst though, could be in the middle of nowhere with extreme heat or cold or wind or rain...............  Yes, the word now is Monday because transmissions guys don't work Saturdays and shouldn't.  Parts from LA arrived to late Friday to get the trans back together but mainly back together to give it a thorough test drive of 20 to 30 miles to make sure all is A O.K.  So here we sit in San Diego for yet another weekend, bummer is we have no wheels since the kids drove the Jeep back to Phoenix while we await the Durango's repairs.
     The funniest thing of all is I just read on FB where Beverly made a comment about "can't wait to get home"............oh how a couple of days extra in San Diego due to a bit of a problem can change ones outlook on things!  It wasn't more that a week or so ago and numerous times before that she was talking extending to the point of 4 months or more!  I remember when we turned south for the first time in Oregon and then again entering California how sad and disappointed she was we were even heading in the direction of home.  Yes it sure is funny how attitudes change when life throws a monkey wrench into ones plans!
     My biggest worry is we kept Jack with us while the rest of the family went home, he was off from school Thursday and Friday and we were to watch him anyway but now it will be another day off (Monday) and that will be three days of school missed and we didn't want that.  I know it's first grade and he's ahead anyway but still it bothers me to have to do this.
     Today we are venturing out via mass transit and going to try and enjoy ourselves a bit more than awaiting news of how the vehicle is coming along.  We can catch a bus right outside the gate of the park and ride less than a mile to catch a train into down town San Diego, old town and then maybe Mission Bay and who knows what.  Just getting out will do us all a lot of good after a couple of days so sitting and waiting!
     By the way the final (or as close and the service tech could estimate and he says it's right on) tally will be in the $3000 range for the transmission.  We can always wish that idiot Carlos could have been right and just an emergency brake problem but what the hell it will probably last another 110,000 miles now!  Once again we just thank the Lord we have the resources to handle another emergency, no one wants these things but you do need to plan or have funds set back just in case these things happen on a trip like this.
     Today will be a good day, we have enjoyed San Diego's train system in the past and will do so once again today.  The adventures never end on a trip like this and that's just part of the fun!

Carlos and West Coast Trans don't know shit from shineola!

     It's a good thing Carlos and the boys from West Coast Trans didn't charge us anything to speak of, because they could have and really didn't in the end know Transmissions like they think they do.  I did get brakes cleaned and check and the emergency brake repaired and all is working fine in that department....but they missed on the trans!  It acted up last night and once again we were lucky at where it all happen, right in front of Perry Jeep Chrysler and that's where it is now getting a transmission over-haul which will be a bit expensive.  In the end it will be a helluva lot more that a $100 but I guess we'll have a transmission until the old dog finally dies!  It's too bad the end of the journey had to be a bit stressful, but we've managed to roll with the punches very well and it's not getting us down.  Like I said before you plan for these things in you your home and we planned for things like this in our home on the road, so no big thing, we just deal with it and move on...................
     The kids did end up having a good time and some fun in the warm California sun, not sure it could have been too much better but regardless we made it and they even ended up staying an extra day or two.  Matt, Dayani, Dalila and Lisa took off this morning for Phoenix in the Jeep.  Lisa has some important things at work going on and Matt had some class assignments to get completed and Jack is out of school Thursday and Friday so he stayed with us (since he was going to even after we got home).  Now it's me and B and Jack makes three for the last few days...........Bev will be driving her Durango back to Phoenix and Jack will take over as my co-pilot.
     One thing I find and found hard to believe is that someone would think in our moments of dismay with vehicle problems that anyone of us would be lying about the problems just to get another day off!  No shit, I can't believe this, do we need to give the names of the service tech and the mechanic and send pictures of the vehicles up on the hoist?  I personally wish we had been lying because I have a whole lot of money in the bank that's not there now!  Better go for now before I go too far.................................

Was supposed to be home today.......................

      Well here we are still in San Diego and it's now Tuesday the 3rd of Sept. 2013.  Originally we had the kids coming over on Friday the 30th and spend the holiday weekend together and head back to Phoenix together on Monday the 2nd, and it all started off just as planned.  We went to Imperial Beach on Saturday and everyone had a great time, kids on the boards surfing the small waves and me getting my feet burnt in the sand just sitting there.  All this fun and frolicking in the surf came to and end when we left the parking lot to head back to the motor home, thank God we took both the Jeep and Bev's Durango (which the kids drove over in) because all of a sudden the Durango acted like the transmission was slipping.  Matt would put it in gear and it would start off and when it got ready to shift nothing, acted like it was in neutral, and even reverse worked erratic if at all.  So here we are on yet another holiday weekend, businesses closed or closing on a Saturday no less and I'm trying to push the Durango with the Jeep to a transmission shop.  First one on the GPS...closed!  Second one on the GPS just off I-5 on a busy Saturday and my pushing Matt to the next off ramp.  West Coast Trans of Chula Vista was not only open but very good guys willing to give it a look see and try and drive it to diagnose.  After trying to drive and no getting any where they just said it could be Trans or transfer case or who knows but they couldn't check it out until Tuesday, so we left it with them.
     Now we go back to the Motor home in Jeep, all 7 of us and Bev adds two more days to our stay at La Pacifica RV resort and Matt adds a couple of days to the Quality Inn he and Dayani are staying at just outside the RV park gate...literally!  So now we're here for a couple of more days at least and who knows beyond that at this time.  We had Matt's best friend Tim Anspach and a good friend of the Anderson family over for a BBQ on Monday since after Saturday for some reason Sunday became a non day and everyone was beat from the day at the beach and all the bullshit that followed.  We had a great visit with Tim who lives in San Diego now, Bev and Matt discussed conducting some business with Tim in the future and all in all had a great visit and time catching up with a good friend.
     The kids are on a mini vacation here and Mike is just concerned with the Durango and the problem not knowing what it is or what it may cost.  The rest of the family went to Mission Bay today and then maybe a park near the bay with a kids beach without the waves.  Mike I decided to stay here at the coach and await the phone call from Carlos with the verdict on the Durango, and whala..........long about 1:30 he calls with the news and the verdict.  Not the Transmisssion or the Transfer case, it was the parking brake which he said have been applied so hard that is never released and caused all the problems we encountered.  Sounded strange to me but just hearing "it's not the transmission or transfer case" meant it's not $1600 or upwards, it one hellava lot cheaper to fix and should be done by the end of the day.  The Lord really was looking out for us again in our estimation, this could have happen to the kids in the desert on the way over or on the way back instead of less that a mile from a open transmission shop with some very helpful dudes just  hanging out at the end of the day Saturday before their long weekend.  Besides that only one could speak any English at all and that was just enough to communicate with, so helpful and we're so grateful once more. 
      You know some may think....wow they've had some rough times on this trip, the motor home (A/C and Rear end), now the Durango what next, but you know it's been over 3 months and shit happens even if you're sitting home on your asses!  At this point we've had a few problems but nothing we didn't handle and nothing we didn't have the money to take care of.  I think we'd be naive if we thought we could travel down the many roads in all those states over all those miles (near 7,000) and think after 3 1/2 months all would be just as we left home.  No just like you home you have insurance against these sort of problems and you use it if you need to, we thank the Lord for all the good times and all the miles traveled and all the friends seen and new ones made.  Would be do it again..............for sure, it's been the past four years we've been taking these  trips and each one has been longer by miles and days and we already can't wait for the next adventure.  There have been no more problems on this trip that we might not have had if we'd have stayed home and sat on our asses wondering what if......................................this land is beautiful and vast and we love exploring it in our motor home.
     Tomorrow we'll close up and hit the road for Phoenix, it's seems a long time ago we left, but I'm sure once we get there it will be as if we never left.......except for the memories!    






         

San Diego..La Pacifica RV park (very close to Mexico)

     Well we got here a day early because the night before we had reservations for 2 nights at Harrah's Rincon resort just outside of San Diego but decided against going there.  Why you ask.....it's 20 miles into the mountains around San Diego on reservation property, not far but in a motor home pulling a Jeep it was a bit harry and besides a sign read "vehicles over 40' not recommended".  Our rig is 37' with 4' between RV and Jeep and what 8 to 10' of Jeep....so we're about 50' and that freaked me out a bit, and it was dark which made it even scarier!  So there was a Wal-Mart just back a few miles where we spent the night and the next morning came to the La Pacifica RV park a day early and they could accommodate us, so we'll be here for six days instead of five. 
     The RV park, La Pacifica is very nice and clean, all the amenities we need and close to buses, trains, and trollies into whatever in San Diego if we don't want to drive.  The place like I said is really kept clean and that is great and somewhat surprising because 95% of the RV's are full time here, and 95% of those full timers are Hispanic.  Not that Hispanic's aren't clean but we find no matter what the residence if a RV park has a lot of full timers it's usually not near as neat and clean as others.  If you think about it at a monthly rate of $620 a month including utilities for San Diego that's pretty cheap living for those folks.  Besides that we're only 4 miles from Tijuana, Mexico where most of these folks no doubt have family/friends, and there are buses running across the border hourly daily.
     Now we await the kids arrival on Friday and that is with great anticipation because we miss them all so much after 3 plus months on the road and 6400 miles it's been a while.  As a matter of fact I just checked and by the time we get home we'll have logged 6780 miles if we don't deviate from the usual route from San Diego to Phoenix.  I actually thought we might hit the 7000 mile mark this year but looks like we'll fall a bit short of that, but still 6780 is a lot of miles especially at roughly $3.65/gallon and 6.8 mpg on average.  Wow if you look at it like that it's about $3640.00 for gas on the trek, but you can't put a price on the friends we seen and met and the things we did and seen and the fun we had along the way.  But then again you could look at it this way, we'll have been on the road for 94 days and take an average of $75/night in hotel/motels and you would have spent $7050 just for a place to sleep.  Oh whatever.........money well spent in our minds and that's what counts, life is too short and we're taking in all we can while we can and enjoying every minute of the journey (well almost every minute...we do have our occasional spats) and it's sights and characters we meet along the way.
     We hope to meet up with Matty's best friend and one of ours Time Anspach while we're here in San Diego, it's always good to see Tim and catch up on his life here in San Diego.
     It's time to get outside and put my wind ornaments and garb like that around the motor home, didn't spend as much time in any one spot long enough to do that on most of the trip.  While in Iowa it was due to rain for the first week or so of that leg of the trip, and wind and rain in Des Moines but from there on it was really great weather.  Last year record heat wherever we went and this year after the first couple of weeks of rain the weather has been cool and comforting the rest of the way!
    







 

Last night in Monterey

     We spent the last night on the Monterey Peninsula on Cannery Row, yes the same Cannery Row of the John Steinbeck novel by the same name.  Only one problem, the wife likes Mexican and had a hankering for the south of the border food and believe it or not there was a restaurant serving that type of food.  It was OK since we've had quite a bit of sea food lately and it was a nice change.
     Stopped in one of the many shops selling T-shirts and other tourist crap and yes we bought some more stuff or the kids and grand kids.  I'm guessing we've spent $500 plus on gifts for the kids and grand kids, but it's all so cool and I know they'll really like the stuff we bought.  That of question never goes out of style I guess " what did you bring me back............." and once again everything has to be -Even Steven- if you know what I mean!
     Well the night was good and the day was another one of those lazy ones, yes I agree we've had a few of those lately haven't we.  The journey is coming to an end and we've invited the kids to join us in San Diego for the holiday weekend and so they will be coming over to San Diego to join us for our last few days on the trek.  Want to take the grand kids to Sea World, it will be so good to see them all, we can't wait.  We'll pull out tomorrow and head to San Diego and get there on the 28th and get set up for the kids and enjoy a good weekend before heading the coach to the barn for a few months.  It's been fun but it's not over yet!

Monterey Peninsula, California (and Salinas)

     We're actually in a KOA outside of Monterey in Salinas, California.  The place is gorgeous and so many fields of produce and fruits, mostly berries as it looks, and also the garlic and artichoke capitals of the U.S.  We just about 15 minutes from the Monterey Wharf and Cannery Row on the end of the Peninsula, once again great sea food and a lot of tourist stuff to do.  The weather is the best part I guess, we actually had to wear jackets on the way to the wharf but in the sun it was nice.  The high yesterday was 69 and supposed to get to 70 today and 68 tomorrow, yet one more place along our journey Bev says she loves!
     The trip out of Tahoe was very smokey, all the was down the hill into Sacramento but thickest up near Tahoe.  The fires around Yosemite are really blazing and only 7% contained as of this writing, it was very hard to breath even while traveling in the motor home until we got into Sacramento and went south from there. 
     We hit a town called "Los Banos" about 4:30 p.m. ................Los Banos, I believe that's "The Toilet" or something like that in Spanish and it was hot in the coach so we decided to go on into Salinas and glad we did.  We were her by 6:30 or so and got a great place in another great KOA, as Bev was making the reservations over the phone I heard her say 30 amp (the electric hook-up power the site provides and we prefer 50 amp in case we need both A/C units running at once) the guy on the other end heard me say 50 and he told her not to worry we would need the heater long before we'd need A/C and he was so right...just wonderful!
     Yesterday we road into or down the peninsula thru Sea Side and Sand City (major sand dunes along the coast) to Monterey and the Wharf and Cannery Row.  Sea food abounds once more and you know how we love it, start off with squid, clam chowder, shrimp, salmon and mahi mahi (durado) and then have no room for desert!  We think each time which chowder was the best and it's always the latest one seems the best, when in essences their all pretty damn good.  We started eating chowder in upper Wisconsin in Duluth/Superior and then once more in Oregon and the the Bay area and now the Monterey Peninsula...........all good, yep all good!
     It's already 10:00 a.m., Bev has slept in a bit and we're decided what to do today, we leave her tomorrow heading towards San Diego for those last days of the journey.  We have already made reservations at a place called La Pacifica RV park in San Diego, 4 miles from Imperial beach and 4 miles from the Mexican border at Tijuana............no not going any closer to that place!  We'll be there from the 28th thru the 1st and were damn lucky to get a place at all due to the Labor Day weekend, most places were booked up already.  We've invited the kids to drive over and spend the weekend with up in San Diego and we could take the grand kids to Sea World or something, hoping the all can make it, we miss them so and would love nothing more than to spend our last few days on the road with them around.  I'll let you know if this will all come to fruition. 

Last night in Lake Tahoe

     Yesterday we got up early and went golfing at Tahoe Paradise golf club, an executive course which suits Bev's game better.  Another golf course with tall pines and narrow fairways but the beauty of the northwest and the coolness of the same.  This course was probably the narrowest but yet both Bev and I hit the ball rather well and straight for the most part.  There was this gal that Bev had asked how the course was and she said nice but be sure and take a lot of balls, meaning being so narrow you'll end up in the woods quite often and lose a lot of balls................Bev only lost 2 and I did lose one that I might have found but didn't bother with it.  We did good, I shot an 82 and Bev a 108 which was great for her game!     Looking back on the past 2 1/2 months we played a lot of golf on a lot of nice courses, from top of the line to muni's and enjoyed all of them.  We visited a lot of friends and family along the way seen some new and exciting places in this wonderful country of ours, Diana Shore had it right when she sang "see the USA in your Chevrolet........check this out: Diana Shore 
We weren't in a Chevrolet per say but we do have a 496 cubic inch fuel injected Chevrolet engine on a Work Horse chassis, so we are in kind of in a Chevrolet I guess.
     Today was yet another of those lazy days around the camp site, Bev had some work to do and I just plain was a vegetable for the most part, a real retirement day I guess you could say.  We pull out of Lake Tahoe tomorrow heading back towards Sacramento and hooking up with interstate 5 heading south.  Not sure where we'll end up but we do know one thing we're on the last leg and heading home.  We'll probably be home in a week I'd guess or maybe a day sooner or later, depends I guess on what crosses our path on the way towards Phoenix.  It's a little sad not having anything or and place in particular to be heading to at this point but all good things must come to an end and this voyage is on it's last leg!
     Believe this, I'm already thing of the next one and which direction it will be in, why wait a year to hit the road maybe sooner...................................

Nice night on the Lake

     Last night was the dinner cruise on Lake Tahoe and everything from the weather to full moon made it a very pleasant cruise.  The weather had been threatening all day, forecast of thunder storms and overcast skies were present all day.  I guess it was about 4:00 p.m. and we were getting ready for the evenings activities when the sun came out, and thanks to a little breeze the skies cleared and the haze was gone.  Thanks to the good Lord the evening was just perfect weather wise and the cruise was a most pleasant 3 hour tour. 
     The views were great, high Sierra's surrounding this massive Lake of crystal clear blue water with average depths of 1000' with a maximum depth of 1645' and the best part to me is the clarity, a 70' depth clarity which seems even deeper.  There were parts of the lake we went through were the water was a mere 4 - 5' deep in spots and so many designs on the bottom looking from the boat.  I've never seen such blue and I mean deep blue water in a lake before, it is truly a sight you'd all enjoy taking in.
     The dinner was very good, choices of steak, chicken, salmon or pasta with all the trimmings included.  The bar was a different story though, drinks ranging in price from $8 to $5.50 for draft beer.  Don't get me wrong, the money was well spent and I would do it again tomorrow but they do make it rather pricy for the average family.  The tickets were $75 each and then $8 to park in the lot leading to the dock, then 3 drinks at $8 and a couple of glasses of wine with the meal for $6 each and then gratuity for the waiters.......of all these the only one that bothered me was the parking, no need to rape us for parking in what looked like a public lot.  Oh well, like I said it was well worth it for us and we enjoyed it but I'm sure a lot of families had to pass because of the high cost and that's a shame.
     I mentioned the fact that there was a full moon, as a matter of fact we didn't realize that until sitting up on the deck after finishing our meal.  Picture this, a brisk, breezy evening on a beautiful lake with the moon shimmering atop the water leading away from the boat towards the shore.  Leading to a shore of only a few lights spotted from here to there and all passing by oh so slowly as we made our way along the shore.  The upper and second decks were scattered with folks, guys with there special ladies and the occasional family wrapping up the little ones.  Yes, a very nice evening to be snuggled up next to someone special and the full moon made it all that much better. 
     Today is a new day and we're not sure as of now what it will bring, but you can be sure it will be enjoyed.

Very lazy and relaxing day today.

     In preparation for the dinner/dancing cruise tonight we're taking a day of relaxation, even Bev is caught up a bit on her work.  The site we're parked on is a bit uneven and I once again this morning tried to re-level and added some blocks to help, it's tolerable now let's put it that way.
     I took a walk around the camp grounds this morning after by chores were done ( besides re-leveling I had to fix a minor leak in the water line from the outside panel of the refrigerator, no problem just a snugging of a fitting) and believe me I feel the altitude in my breathing.  We're at 7400 feet and this can take a minor toll on even young lungs not to mention these old one I have, and the additional weight doesn't help either.  Speaking of weight both Bev and I can't wait to get home for one reason besides missing the kids and grand kids and that's to get back on our weight loss regiment.  Of the 33 pounds I had lost before we left I'm relatively sure I've put 2/3 of that back on and that makes me sick because it's too hard to take off!
     Anyway while walking that little bit I took a few pic's I'll share on this blog for those that won't maybe see them on FB if and when I post them.  No wind to speak of, 5-10 mph is the most expected and slight chance of rain today and tomorrow (40%) but it looks very sunny right now and I hope you can imagine the beauty of these trees and rocks in the pic's.
     The pic's tomorrow will include Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe, I understand it's one of the most photographed places in the country.  The shear beauty of the cove and the depth of the crystal clear water is supposed to be awe inspiring and we can't wait to take it all in.  They say you can drop a shiny penny over board and watch it for what seems like forever descending to the bottom which is literally hundreds upon hundreds of feet deep.

South Lake Tahoe

     We left Vacaville this morning at about 7:00 a.m. and headed towards Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe to be exact.  We made reservations at Zephyr Cove RV resort, www.zephyr cove.com 
We'll be here for the next 6 days basically just relaxing and doing some tourist stuff here at Lake Tahoe and that will include paying a visit to Harrah's and Harvey's casino's.  We stayed at Harrah's back in 1977 for the first time and where impressed by the place, as a matter of fact it was the first Hotel we stayed at that had a "mini bar" and all the luxury's they provided.  We saw Sammy Davis Jr. during that visit and just can't believe we waited so long to make it back, the place really hasn't changed all that much to be honest.
      By the way the motor home preformed just fine climbing the hills up to Lake Tahoe at 7382 feet, no noise, just cruised right along the way it supposed to.  We thank Charles "you can call me Tony" Anderson of Midway Truck repair for all he did to get us out of Vacaville, he squeezed us in and took great care of us and the motor home.  We have found so many folks like Tony in our many travels across the United States over the past 5 or 6 years, sure there were those few that could give a shit less but many more like Midway Truck Repair you can be sure of that.  Man do I love this country........you can have all your foreign countries and trips outside the United States, there is so much to see and do right here and good folks around every corner.
     Tomorrow we look into a cruise of the Lake or possibly the dinner cruise leaving from Zephyr Cove here where we're parked.  They have a couple of big paddle wheel vessels for day cruises and dinner cruises, and we also plan on getting Bev back out on the golf course too.
     Oh by the way..............the Arizona Cardinals are 2-0 and yes I know it's preseason but this is still good!   

Not the best of news today

     We got some bad news a bit ago, the gear cluster must be shipped from Tennessee and it's "heavy" and over-night is going to cost us big time! Next bit of bad news is the extended warranty is not going to cover all we would like it to! Next bit of bad news is if they (Tennessee manufacturer) get it out tomorrow it won't be here until Friday! Next bit of bad news is we are only hoping they get it out tomorrow! Good news is that if they do get it out the guy here said he'd be sure it was put in on Saturday for us.......he actually feels as bad as we do and wants to help. Regardless in 7 years of owning this rig the number of problems is relatively few and in our 50,000 miles of travels we realize there are expenses involved. A house on wheels has the upkeep of the home and auto combined...............we love it and plan for these things. No worries!
     At times we look at each other like a few minutes ago and think boy this thing is sure broke a lot, but then stop to count the times we've had problems and they are really very few.  Last year the compressor on the chassis a/c, this year one of the a/c units on the roof, lost a shroud off the roof a/c unit which was no big deal and the steps broke twice in Des Moines two of the last 5 years and the fresh water tank was replaced because of a leak in the first year or so we had the coach.  I guess we should be happy that's all but no matter how you keep up with the maintenance shit happens now and again and we're just glad we can handle this and get back on the road.  For the most part the warranty and extended warranty have covered most of these, the money spent on these have been well worth having them.
     The days spent waiting for repairs I guess would be the most annoying, but in all our days of travels I guess the 10 days or so we've spent waiting is once again relatively low but still a it upsetting don't get me wrong there.  Hey look at it this way if we didn't have the warranty and didn't have the cash on hand to cover these things we should have just stayed home, but you plan on mishaps etc. and try and be prepared for these types of crisis.  We're in hopes this will be all taken care of and we can still make it up to Tahoe before we head back to Phoenix.........it's still looking good.   

It's not that I didn't have the time.........................

     Well I just extended our stay in the Quality Inn in Vacaville, CA.  for a 3rd night because the motor home is not done yet.  Done?  If you haven't seen on FB or from anyone else, we have the motor in the shop getting the rear-end (differential) fixed.  The noise I had been hearing was coming from the rear-end and echoing through the drive train to the transmission as it does so I'm told.  I'm not a gear head or drive train mechanic but I know gear shavings when I see them and we had quite a bit of that in the housing.  All or at least the biggest percentage of your RV repair places even the super centers don't do much chassis work including drive train, so we had to take it to a big truck repair place just down the road from a camping world and another RV repair place that couldn't help us.  (was that a run-on sentence or what?)
     We have found things to do in Vacaville, CA. as tourist, they have a very nice and quaint old down town area with nice shops and dinning.  Been to the movies as we like to do when visiting smaller towns, ate out a few times and had salads in the room also.  Bev has been very busy so a good portion of the days are spent at the desk and watching movies on TV and that's why the title of this post...because I have had the time to keep you-all up to date but haven't.  Understand, as I'm sure you do this is not the exciting things you tuned in for and I understand, we're just hoping and praying the motor home will be done tomorrow so we can be on our way to points not yet visited.
     We've been in contact with Rich and Don and family as to how we're doing and only 45 minutes from their places but really need to be here in case Charles (you can call me Tony) Anderson who owns Midway Truck repair of Vacaville, CA. calls or needs us for something.  Besides Bentley has remained in the motor home these days and nights, yes with plenty of ventilation and food and water and the boys know he's in there and we've stopped by each day to check on him.
     The clock is ticking on this 3 month journey and we looked at each other yesterday and said "dead line" "need to be where by when" none of the above..........we still want to head to Tahoe for about a week if we finally get this rig back on the road before too long!  We are trying to be home around the end of August first of September but o'well................... hey Ron Burgundy just made his appearance on the tube think I have a few laughs this morning.  Later dudes!   

Last evening at KOA Sacramento

     Tomorrow a.m. we take the motor home into a truck garage to see what the hell the noise I've been hearing is.  Praying that it's no big deal but really don't know what to expect so not sure if we'll be pulling out tomorrow or stick around for a time to get whatever fixed.  We are awaiting tomorrow a.m. with mixed emotions right now.
     Had our last (unless we're here for a few more days) evening with all the Paper's with dinner at Rich and Lynn's with Don and Sharon and us.  It's been fun catching up and we vow not to wait so long to return.
     Short but sweet tonight, have to be at the garage at 7:00 a.m. and it's 35 minutes down the road so leaving at 6:00 to be sure not to be late...............you know me, early better than late!  Catch up when I have more news!

Friday the 9th in Sacramento, CA.

     Well it hasn't been exciting or at least exciting enough to blog about, just spending a lot of time with cousins we haven't seen for a long time.  We've had 3 BBQ's and a pizza party between Rich and Don's homes over the past 4 days, a lot of looking back and remembering times gone by.  Yesterday Bev and I in the morning and early afternoon drove around the old stomping grounds of Mike and family and friends in the years 1959-1964.  We looked up old homes and schools and hang-outs but like the years made so many changes it was hard to remember a lot or visualize a lot of things the way they were.  Memories are nice but memories come and go and there's only a handful of things that stick or make much sense at time like this 50 some years later.  One thing I took away from looking at some of the old homesteads was the fact that number one they were still standing and number two they really looked great for being over 50 years old.
     We rode up to Folsom, CA. were I attended my sophomore year of high school since Rancho Cordova wear we lived didn't have a high school at that time.  The place had grown and was not the little town down from the State Prison anymore, what a beautiful place it has grown into.  With Folsom Lake right there it has become a favorite place for boater and weekenders to gather, with a gigantic new high school and very nice homes.  A place I would live if I ever wanted to leave Phoenix (which probably will never happen).
     Today was breakfast with Rich and more reminiscing and another trip into Rancho Cordova and looking and talking about the old times and neighborhoods.  Bev did some work and is still at it at this hour (3:00 p.m.) and if I can pull her away we might just head down to "old Sacramento"  and walk around the shops and touristy things, an evening on the river will be nice I'm sure.
     We'll be heading to this awesome casino once more tomorrow with Rich for a few hours and then Sunday another BBQ at Rich and Lynn's before we take the motor home into this repair shop to see what the hell that noise is I've been hearing and bothering me.  If it's nothing too expensive after the diagnosis and can be repaired right away we will wait right here, but if it will take a couple of days or so we will take the Jeep up to Lake Tahoe for those few days.  One way or another Bev would like to go or go back to Tahoe and camp for a week after the motor home problem is taken care of.......and we hope it's nothing too bad.  Will keep you informed.

West Sacramento, KOA..Day 2

    After a very scenic ride into California through grape country and the infamous Lodi, California of Credence fame we arrived in Sacramento. Yes Lodi home to the annual grape festival of which I do remember going to with my parents to as a teen, and no one would mind getting stuck there for a while.  We got all set up for the week at the KOA in West Sacramento/Old town and gave Rich Paper my cousin a call.  Rich and Lynn invited us over that evening for a BBQ at their place, a great evening of catching up....hell it had been 5 years since we'd seen them in Phoenix and 13 years since we last seen them in Sacramento.
     Today Bev had some work to catch up on and her eyes to take care of, she contacted an infection in her eyes with swelling and itching and got some much needed antibiotic's from an emergency care center yesterday.  Already doing better today and she's feeling positive it will be cleared up soon.....thank God.  So Mike went golfing with Rich and a buddy of his solo this outing.  We played a course called Rancho Solano outside of Sacramento in Fairfield, CA., nice course, great shape, and good price....only $40 (senior, riding).       Remember the noise I mentioned in the motor home when decelerating, well went to two other RV centers after the round of golf and found out RV even the super centers don't work on chassis problems and  had to look up a truck repair location.  We have an appointment (being squeezed in again) a week from today to have it looked at and then what ever days it takes to fix the problem when they find one.  We're thinking if they have it for a few days we'll just head over to Lake Tahoe for a couple of days while it's being fixed, hope all this works out the way we anticipate.  Wish us luck on this one!
     As you know living in the Friendly Village of Orange Wood we have become bocce ball players and have enjoyed doing so, we cousin Don Paper whom we will visit tomorrow has put one in his back yard!  No shit, I would never have guessed something like that but we can't wait to give it a go with these fella's.  The week is set for the first four days, golf today with Rich, bocce and drinks and more catching up at Don's tomorrow, a trip to a casino with Don and friends Wednesday and dinner with Don and Sharon at their place on Thursday with Rich and Lynn too.  Bev and I might get out for a bit of golf on Thursday in the a.m. if we can find a nice executive course around here.  Sounds like the boys have us keeping busy for the first four days anyway.  Well bring you up to date...........................  

Last trip into the City

     Yesterday we slept in and Bev got some needed work done, so we didn't head into the City until about 10:30 or 11:00 and arrived in China Town in time for lunch.  The place is a zoo, folks everywhere doing shopping, selling wares, hawking restaurants, and preaching on the corner (I wanted to video this one dude but Bev said no) but he was preaching women taking over the world because they have the numbers and can do it if they band together...........a black dude shouting to the heavens and speaking to the women of the world.  Anyway we walked a bit and it seemed everything is up hill, no matter which way it seemed I was walking up hill but we didn't walk to far.  Got lucky and found a parking spot on one of the main streets (very lucky) and the joint we ate at was a 1/2 block down the street.  Bev loves to go there but is always apprehensive a bit when it comes to eating in some of these places, wondering what the meat actually is.  We ended up having a nice combo meal of a number of things at $19.95 each served as you might imagine family style.  I didn't taste any barking or meowing so it must have been good meat.......and besides I'm here on the computer the next day so I think all is well (left-overs still in the fridge).  Pic's, see the Jeep on the corner parking spot, proud of that job!

     Check out FB for a few more pic's of China Town and the Golden Gate, yes we finally on our last day made it across the Golden Gate bridge.  We had been commuting via the Oakland Bay bridge most of the time but took the long was around the Bay to the north and back down when leaving yesterday.  It's an awesome bridge and always nice to take that trip across it.  Noticed a lot more folks walking across and even biking across the bridge yesterday, in years past didn't see or notice as many.
     Getting ready to hook the Jeep up to the back and close up and head to the Modesto area for a few days to visit Bill Paper and his kids, always enjoy my visits with Bill and talk about all the huge ass buildings he has built in the Bay area and yes always reminiscing about the good old days.  Work to do gotta go for now!

San Francisco, CA.

     No matter how many times we visit San Francisco we can never get enough of it, we both enjoy the City by the Bay quite a bit.  After letting the rush hour traffic of which I just read an article yesterday stating that this was the 3rd most congested city for traffic in the United States, we headed into the City for the day.  After a late breakfast of clam chowder and sour dough bread from Boudin bakery (the supplier of sourdough bread for the city the past 100 years or more) we decided to take one of those tours.  It was a trolley type double-decker bus so we could sit up top and see everything from that perspective.  As we have learned from trips past to San Francisco you take sweaters and jackets and dress warm because as Mark Twain once said "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco." and goes for me too!  We wore jackets and long pants but still got freaking cold on the tour, especially when you approach the ocean and near the Golden Gate bridge.  The tour was actually a good one, and we learned more this trip than ever before, and it ate up over an hour and a half of our day.  The first place we looked for when arriving back from the tour was a coffee house for some Chai for "B" and coffee for me.........warm-up time.
     The wharf is a freaking zoo compared to years past, one big tourist trap selling everything from chocolate (Ghirardelli) to bread (Boudin) to Alcatraz prison clothing and T-shirts touting the "City".  The wharf other than #8 and #9 of pier 39 has changed immensely and just not as quaint as years gone by.  By #8 I mean Alioto's sea food and #9 the Grotto and those couple of stands in between.  Fresh clams, oysters, crab and fish right in front of you.  That's what I call "shucken and jiven"

      
     China town and little Italy are exactly as they were the first time we visited, narrow streets lined with stands selling every kind of Chinese treats under the sun to narrow streets of small Italian restaurants serving the most tasty Italian dishes you could imagine.  As a matter of fact today is Chinese day with a visit to China town on the agenda for lunch...........no not the little joints off those narrow streets down the alley ways, but the joints right along the main streets (that way we kind of know what the meat is we'll be eating)!  By the time dinner time rolled around rather than leave the wharf walking a mile or so, or getting the Jeep out of our $28 eight hour parking spot, we had the two day tour pass and decided to jump back aboard and take the trolley tour up to Little Italy for dinner then ride it back down to the wharf for the Jeep.  We hopped aboard and when we arrive in Little Italy we started off and I asked the driver what time about would the next tour vehicle came by and he stated this was the last one of the day (it was now 5:00 p.m.).......holy shit, we hopped back aboard.  Rather than walk  a mile or so we ended up taking the whole tour once more and getting in the Jeep a hour later driving to Little Italy for dinner, man were we both glad I asked the question!  The meal was great, the wine was good and the joint was Italian all the way............loved it!  Not sure if we'll park at the wharf again today and take the trolley to China town or just drive there, parking is a bitch but the experience is always worth the trouble and cheaper than another $28 bucks to park.  To tell you the truth between the Pacific coast of Oregon and now the Bay area I'm almost seafood'd out for a while, but we've had some very fine chowder in both places.
     Heading to FB now to post a few pic's of yesterdays excursion, check it out and I promise to be here tomorrow!















 
     

Just a note on the continuing saga of Obamacare and the jobs being created.

     Did you hear about some of the jobs being created due to Obamacare?  Of the thousands of jobs supposed to be created to just man call centers here in California answering questions about this fine piece of legislation, turns out it's about a 1/10th of those predicted.  Not only a very large reduction in the number of jobs but after these folks are hired their told it's only a part-time job at a lower wages than anticipated.  Why only part-time......because the State won't have to pay for health care!!!  The new employees are told health care will cost them approximately $1400 for single and $1900 for a family for health insurance.  Everyday it's something new being discovered about this Bill that no one could read until after it was voted on.  Just today the CBO comes out and once again RAISES the cost of another part of this joke......... we must scrap the Bill and not just the parts the president hasn't ALREADY scrapped, yes he has scrapped parts of his own joke of a bill.  Thank God more and more Democrats are moving away from this legislation each day.

California, near the Bay area...Pleasanton, CA.

     Holy cow why didn't someone tell me it's been 4 days since the last blog?  I apologize for letting you all hanging, no excuse just didn't sit down to the computer.  I'll try and catch up in short order......if I can be short.
     We left Oregon heading for California not know exactly what and where we were going.  I have cousins in the Sacramento area and in Modesto just west of the Bay area and we know we'd be stopping there to visit.  Oregon was a high point in the travels, it is a most beautiful State and we couldn't believe what all they grew there. As I mentioned here is so much beside lumber that comes from Oregon, not an acre without something growing on it and along the coast line the beauty is a whole different type of beauty, the ocean is very picturesque.  I'm sure of one thing, Oregon will be a State we come back to from time to time if not just to get to and from Montana or Washington and Idaho.
     There is this noise that keeps getting a bit louder as we go in the coach drive train or at least I think that's where it's coming from.  I stopped at at RV service center yesterday in Redding, California were we spent the night last night, and had the service manager take the coach for a ride to hear what I was talking about.  After we road long enough to hear what I was talking about he crawled underneath and surmised it was Transmission, but he was unsure what it was.  Maybe a catalytic converter, a baffle of some sort, flywheel....he just didn't or have a clue.  He suggested a truck transmission shop to look at it even though he didn't think it was a transmission problem, but maybe they might know what it was.  The thing drives great, the trans fluid is clean and not burnt, shifting is very good and not noise or problems.  If you know what this might be give me a call, it only happens when I letting off the gas and coasting, not when there is a pull on the engine or trans!  Any ideas Freddie?  If I find a shop on the way here to there I may stop but I thing I may just see if I can make it back home without problems.
     O.K. we're in Pleasanton, CA. just east of the Bay area, we're here for 3 days and will sight see from this as a home base for those three days.  A ride into San Francisco for sure, maybe up to Napa, San Jose is a idea or a second day in San Francisco because we both love going there and enjoy the Bay and the food.  You might be wondering why Pleasanton and it's only because where it's located with respect to Modesto and then back up to Sacramento.  We have reservations outside of Modesto for a couple of days to visit my cousin Bill Paper and his family, then we have a weeks reservations in Sacramento (near old town) where cousin Rich Paper and his wife Lynn live and their family and also cousin Don Paper an his wife Sharon and their family.  This should be about a week and a half full on keeping very busy and we can't wait.
     As soon as we entered California from Oregon Bev got a little bummed, she was noticeably upset and it was that from the coast of Oregon we started heading south into California and in doing so were actually heading down the last leg of the journey and it sadden her a bit.  I must say even though we still have about 4 weeks it does seem like it's winding down.  All good things must come to an end I guess, but it may not be too long between ventures next time.
     After all is done in the next week and a half and we must leave the Sacramento area we're hoping to have some cash left to head over to Tahoe for a few days  before making the final GPS setting for the Friendly Village of Orange Wood in Phoenix!
     I'll try not to leave you all hanging like the past few days............................  

The Pacific coast of Oregon

     Today we made it to the Pacific coast of the United States in the state of Oregon.  I was a bit worried about taking the coastal highway due to the fact that I'm driving a 37 foot motor home towing a 4 door Jeep and all in all we're about 50 feet long.  We travel from Albany/Corvallis west to the coast and then went south from Newport to Florence on the coastal highway which was about 50 miles of the coast.  Of the 50 miles about 20 was fairly straight and decent but the other 30 miles was a SOB, narrow, curves, not passing or pullouts on most of it and traffic pissed at times.  The coast looked good but Mike couldn't spend too much time looking because of the road being traveled, drop offs down to the ocean in many places that freaked me out many times!  We made it and plan on staying at the Pacific Pines RV park for two days and then I will be heading east once more to hook up with Interstate 5 south into California.  I would love to travel this coastal highway all the way down the coast of California too, but not in a motor home maybe it would have been best in our Corvette when we had it, now that would be fun!
     We got set up here in Florence at Pacific Pines and went down to the Bay for a little dinner, sea food was abounding don't ya know,  having a seafood dinner seemed a must.  I had a captains special of fish, scallops, prawns, and oysters with veggies and taters..............very good.  Bev on the other hand had surf and turf but felt there was no flavor in anything on her plate, too bad because the sea food was great and so was the bowl of award winning clam chowder. 
     They have a casino here which is a Nevada type with the table games and most all the machines you'd want to play.  Luck has been dwindling and we ended up losing  a couple of $100's (c-notes), the kitty is entering the danger zone pretty soon.
     Tomorrow we'll take the Jeep and travel a ways up and down the coast and maybe put our tootsies in the pacific at some point.

Portland, Oregon day 2

     After Bev finished some work like until 11:00 a.m. or so we took off for down town Portland for some lunch.  Ended up at a Bay...what bay I really don't know or care at this point.  We ate at a place called Lil Cooperstown but no part of our "Alice Coopers Coopers Town" in down town Phoenix.  Very nice sports type bar and some really good sandwiches and beer, PBR on tap.................Give me a Blue!
     After eating lunch we sat on a bench by the bay/harbor and just people watched for a bit and let our lunch settle before tackling the down town streets.  Not knowing what to expect we were actually pleasantly surprised with the many tree covered streets in nice shade on a semi-hot summers day.  Then we noticed the "Street Food" wagons lining one block the around the corner up another block the around that corner and down another block and so on and on........the pic's are on FB and show just a few of the street food vendors.
     We stopped at you guessed it Wal-Mart on the way home to pick up some supplies and necessities for the trip towards California.  We will be pulling out of Portland tomorrow morning heading towards the coast and down into California.  I've made contact with Rich Paper and we plan on stopping by Sacramento to visit my cousins and their families for a couple of days, right now it's hard to give them a date but maybe in a few days we'll have a better idea on a time frame.  We also want to swing by Tahoe and then over to the Bay area and down into the Napa valley and Sonoma for a bit of wine!
     Bev just asked me what route we planned on taking out of here tomorrow and I said "pick one" then she looked at me and said with a sad face........"we're heading towards home."  All good things come to and end eventually, but wait we still have a lot to do and another month to do it.

Portland, Oregon

     We spent the night last night in a suburb of Portland, Portland/Woodburn RV Park to be exact.  After a nice ride through the Columbia River Gorge we arrive early in the afternoon and got all set up by 3:30 or so.  We made contact with another friend from our home at the Friendly Village of Orange Wood, another snowbird who winters in Phoenix, Kitty Madlinger.  Kitty's from Germany originally and well renowned for her cooking ability around the park, and in charge of all our pot lucks and monthly meal get-togethers at Orange wood.  We did not intent for her to cook for us while here in the Portland area but rather than go out to eat she invited to her home for a home cooked meal.  We enjoyed an evening of conversation with Kitty, her daughter Connie and a very good dinner of pork chops, scalloped potatoes, apple sauce and salad.  The meal was much appreciated and really hit the spot, we thank Kitty and her daughter for the hospitality.  We are planning on Kitty coming to the motor home this evening for drinks and snacks and hope we can get this to happen before we leave the Portland area.
     We plan on leaving here tomorrow afternoon and heading to the coast and going down the coast as long as it visable for the motor home to navigate the sometimes narrow sections of highway.  We understand it's very beautiful but also understand it is more likely made for auto's of normal sizes and not 37 foot rigs towing 4 door Jeeps.......we see what happens, stay tuned.
     Today the plan is for Bev to wrap up some work and then do some sight-seeing of the Portland area and down town.  We do understand from friends and the news there is a real problem with homeless and the problems that go along with large groups and gatherings of these folks, so we may not spend too much time in the down town area.  Really don't like Oregon for the usual reasons, like being a PAC-Ten fan and Arizona State fan you really do hate the Ducks (O)'s and the Beaver's and the Trail Blazers for that matter!  I'm totally tired already of the freaking GIANT yellow & green "O" and saw my first copycat situation in a smaller Orange O with the word State under it for those pesky Beavers................Go Devils!
     I think it was on FB I mentioned "two months down and one to go" which means we've been on the road 55 days now, right at two months and the plans have been to get home towards the end of August.  Right now I'm feeling it wouldn't take too much to extend that after a brief stop to visit the family in Phoenix, who knows what will happen when that time comes to head home.
      
         

Back on the move

     We left Coeur d' Alene this morning and made a stop a few miles down the road in Liberty Lake, WA. just outside of Spokane at R' n R RV Super Center for some preventative maintenance on the motor home.  Made an appointment a few days ago the get the oil changed since we've put on over 4000 miles already since I had it changed before we left.  Thankfully the tech checked the generator oil and found it to need changing also so we went ahead and did a generator service on it, also the house batteries (the six batteries that power the house when not hooked to power or running down the road) had some corrosion on one of them so he cleaned them and seal to prevent the corrosives.  What the hell we're going to be here for about 6 hours so why not give the coach a washing too and so we did or they did, at .99 a  foot it was only $37 and that was cheap in my book.
     We hit the road about 2:30 or so and ended up here in Pasco,WA. (a place called the Tri-Cities) around 6:00 p.m. after a stop on the way for fuel...........which was the highest so far at $3.85/gal.  Some home-made chicken fajita's by Bev and dinner is over and we'll probably get up early and hit the road into Oregon fairly early.
     Our time in Coeur d' Alene was so enjoyable, we played three rounds of golf with friends Jeff and Margene, ate some good food and ice cream (huckleberry) and rented a pontoon boat and almost drowned............Not really but it was a scary moment for Mike anyway.  The week in Idaho with Jeff and Margene like the week in Superior, MN with friends Alan and Kathy flew by and we enjoy spending those weeks with some good friends and it will be nice when we all meet once more on the Friendly Village of Orange wood golf course or Bocce ball court this coming fall and winter.
     Short and sweet tonight and onward to visit another Orange Wood friend, Kitty Madlinger in Oregon! 

Next to last day in Coeur d' Alene

     Tomorrow is our last day in Coeur d' Alene and once again it takes me a week to remember how to spell the name of the place!  Today we are playing another round of golf at the Circling Raven Golf Club (http://cdacasino.com/golf/) which you can check out at the link I just put in ( )'s.  This day will be spent with Jeff and Margene DeSmet again and we've so enjoyed our visit and all the activities we've shared.  It will no doubt be a long day of Golf, probably some dinner afterwards and back to the bus to crash until we head out Tuesday morning.  We have that oil change at R n R RV in Spokane on the way out of town early Tuesday morning and then on to Oregon and just not sure of the route as of yet.  Tonight might be when we take a look at the map and see which way we'll be going through Oregon, we do want to stop by another friend in Oregon and will figure out how we're going to get there tonight.

     Yesterday we went down town and had lunch at a place called Crickets Bar and Grille, we ate lunch there last year and enjoy the place and the food.  It was a good place right on the sidewalk to do some people watching which is always interesting these days, no pic's of ink or chicks this year from the same local.  We had heard that yesterday was "National Ice Cream Day" so what the hell we decided (since we hadn't had huckleberry ice cream yet) this would be a good time and way to top lunch off with a scoop of Huckleberry!  We had the Huckleberry shakes in Polson but this was a scoop with all the berries and it was yummy.

     Well time to throw on the golf attire and get ready for Jeff to pick us up, today it will be dark blue shorts and subtle lime green V-neck T and the new kicks which are blue, black and lime green with my grey and lime green trimmed Calaway hat......................................Wow WTF was that, a fashion segment?  Sorry but you'll see the ensemble in the pics anyway.  Going to have a goooood day!

Pontooning on Lake Coeur d' Alene

     Yesterday (Friday the 19th) was a trip to Spokane, WA. to visit our favorite RV Super Store in the area.  We had some work there last year if you'll remember and was treated great and would recommend the place to anyone.  Anyway I made an appointment for Tuesday morning for an oil change since were now at 4015 miles traveled so far on the journey.  Based on the last few years and the 6000 plus miles we traveled those years we figure we'll be at or near 8000 or more this year.  We asked for and got two additional nights here at Blackwell Island RV resort so we'll have stayed in Coeur d' Alene for a week before we head towards and into Oregon.  Monday we have a tee time with Jeff and Margene for Coeur d' Alene Casino resort golf course, Circling Raven Golf Club.  Those of you interested in the course take a virtual tour at this link: http://dev.cdacasino.com/golf/  Awesome course it looks like.

     Today is the day we rented a 24' pontoon boat with 50 hp Mercury and spent the day cursing the lake, taking in some sun and sights, and having lunch in a little cove on the boat.  I posted some pic's on FB and a few pic's of some of the awesome homes around the lake, if there was one there was 101 fantastic homes well out of the normal persons price range for sure.  Being on the water from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. made for a long day but it seems as if it just flew by and it was time to return to the dock. 
    This old man found out almost the hard was that he's not a young man anymore.  We were hot on the boat and the water looked so refreshing, it was a bit choppy where we stopped and we thought we'd jump in to cool off a bit.  I opened the door/gate on the side of the boat and jumped into very deep, deep, cold water and this big boy went down in a hurry.  As I'm swimming back up to the top I'm finding I'm so out of shape and lacking in strength to fight my suite which was falling off and trying to get to the top and tread water.  My boat mates could see I was in trouble after the initial thought that Mike was just joking around and Jeff reached the ladder out to me to grab.  I grabbed the ladder  with one hand and was still trying to pull my suite up with the other while Jeff was trying to pull this 300 pound dude up.  I reached out and got hold of the railings left and right of the gate as Jeff replaced the ladder in it's place.  I started up the ladder but was sapped of strength and couldn't pull myself up into the boat, thank God for Jeff and between two big guys we hauled my ass back into the boat and it took a while for the old heart to stop racing and my breathing to come back to normal.  I actually was scared and a bit of panic set in and that was not good, when will I learn I can't do all things I used to do especially being so out of shape.  This trip has put some of that 33 pounds I lost before we left home back on and I need to start the program sooner rather than later and get back in the groove.  Pray for me because I need the help of the Lord on this one!
     We made it back and I'm just glad it was me that jumped in first and not Bev, not saying the same would have happen, but I'm thanking the Lord we didn't have to find out.  I think I need a bottom 8 to 10 feet down and not 100's of feet down when I jump from now on.

     Tomorrow will be another lazy day, resting up for a bit of golf and what looks like according to the virtual tour to be a challenge!

Coeur d' Alene, Idaho (Blackwell Island RV resort)

     Last year we couldn't get a site at Blackwell Island RV resort, booked up completely.  This year we called ahead a week and a half before our planned arrival and got a site for 5 days and wanted 7 days....still on a list to try and get those last two days.  Blackwell Island is the nicest RV park in Coeur d' Alene and we ended up getting stuck (they way we felt about it) at a place called Tamarack RV which was 95% filled with full time locals and when that's the case the places are usually pretty trashy.  Blackwell's is right on the lake, not really an island but Coeur d' Alene Lake on a side and the Spokane river on another, and has a beach area and all kinds of water craft rentals etc.  As a matter of fact we have reserved a 24' pontoon boat for Saturday for an outing/picnic on the lake with friends Jeff and Margene.  We're happy we were able to get the 5 days and hope for the additional 2 days but whatever, we either stay 5 days and leave or stay a couple of extra days.
     As I've mentioned before the best part of a trip like this is not having time tables or schedules to meet and having to be somewhere at or by a certain time or day.  We have always started out with a schedule to be met because of the two family reunions in Iowa  and then are free to roam if and when we feel like it, but booking RV sites seem to be a must anymore if you want a good one.  With all the motor homes, 5th wheels and pull behinds on the roads now days good RV parks and sites a usually full and reservations are becoming a must.  We like the idea of driving down the road and if we feel like stopping for the night no matter how early we do so and at that time look for an RV park or resort (as a lot of them are calling themselves now) but then a Wal-Mart parking lot may be all you can find.  We don't mind that for a night here or there, but for a few day or extended stay not a good idea as you can imagine.  It seems no matter the price of gas the highways and byways are being filled with recreational vehicles more and more.
     Back to Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.......We like it here and enjoy our visits, we jumped right in the first day and played golf and ate at our favorite Italian restaurant and now on our second day we're playing golf once more but only 9 holes today.  We'll find our way down town to roam the shops and sites for the likes of us tourist, this is another nice down town area with fine shopping and eateries along the main street.  Oh yes and we'll be indulging in a "huckleberry shake" from our favorite little ice cream shop just up from down town.
     Friday will probably be a ride over to Spokane, WA.( it's like 5 or 10 miles) for the day and just some putzing about and then getting preparations made for the picnic on the lake  with the pontoon boat.  There should be some good pic's on FB of our day on the lake so be sure and check those out come Sunday or Monday.
     Starting to really miss the kids and grand-kids quite a bit, face time works for a bit but just not the same and having them jump up on my lap, but it won't be long and we'll be heading back.  It's hard to believe we've been on the road for 47 days already but it really is just over half way of our scheduled 3 month trip, so there's still a lot to see and do between here and there.

       

Catching up time

     Well we're now in Polson, MT. right on Flathead Lake a most beautiful place and one I'd summer in if it was something I was looking to do.  But I'd need to accumulate some toys again, like quads, a bass boat, and/or a pontoon or house boat would be even better.  Oh well when the ship comes in if it ever does I'll give it some more thought.
     We pulled into Polson a day early for our reservations at the KOA so we spent the first night here at a place called the Eagles Nest RV park and would stay there again.  It was a bit cheaper than the KOA with the same type amenities but we have found you pretty much know what you're getting with a KOA before you even arrive.  When Bev finally retires (and that might be a while from now since she can preform her business at a high level even when traveling thanks to today's technology) I wouldn't mind being a worker camper for KOA, they pay you, give you free space, and you work for 2 -3 month or more stints.  Jobs range from working the desk, the store, cutting grass, maintenance, any of a number of things.
     Anyway yesterday we spent the day after setting up at the KOA reacquainting our selves with Polson and the Flathead Lake area.  We had our first Huckleberry shake of the season, and hope to get more Huckleberry products and oh yes it's cherry time in Montana's northwest and this is the right time of year with the festival this weekend.  They have said on the news that some stands selling cherries are not selling real Northwest Montana cherries, misleading the public since the real ones arrive this week.  I'm thinking of sending my good friend Dave some to make a pie (he makes a mean cherry pie) problem is I won't be there to help him eat it.  We had a nice Mexican lunch at Fiesta en Jalisco, it was as good as last year, we're weren't disappointed. 
     After checking the shows playing and times at the little theater down town, we did some sightseeing of homes in the area and a couple of golf courses.  The one executive type course we liked so much last year (Silver Fox) was in pretty good shape except for the greens, half of them had water problems and were red/brown in color on 75% of the green itself.  We'll probably play Polson golf club instead this year.  We had a couple of hours left before showtime so why not visit the local casino with some of the "casino kitty cash" we accumulated...so we did.  You must know by now we're not much different than the majority of senior citizens across the United States who enjoy gaming and can't pass one (casino) by without giving it a look see.  We've been very fortunate over the years, not bragging ma'am, just the facts I've usually got very good luck and if not today it all comes back tomorrow and more (knocking on wood here)!  Anyway Bev loses $80 and Mike wins $475 an so the kitty grows just hope I can still say that come the end of our travels.  So it's small town theater time and Bev loves going to movies, not so much me except when we're visiting a small town joint like this one.  We saw the "Heat" and laughed our asses off along with the 24 other folks in the theater (which seats 150) on a Sunday night, the movie was very funny but not an award winner in my opinion.
     Today is one of those lazy days around the camp, maybe a bit of laundry later, Bev has some work to do and I'll be doing some window washing and bug cleaning off the front of the bus!  I'll probably take a couple of pictures and post on FB of the camp and Lake later so be sure to check us out there also.  One more night and day here and it will be off to Couer d' Alene Idaho for about a week, it's only about a 3 or 4 hours drive so not a big travel day for another week or so.     

PC = Political Correctness!

     I know...no political crap, but bear with me just for this one for now.  I just was watching some news and seen where some politicians are proposing (it probably would never happen but may straighten some idiots out) to cut funding to schools etc. who's administrators and teachers punish, humiliate, scare, and send totally wrong messages to our young school children when it comes to PC.  When a child is asked to change his or her name because when he or she signs (as in sign language) a part of it looks or resembles a handgun.  We played "cops and robbers" "cowboys and Indians" with finger guns for ever, no harm folks.........no harm.  The harm is the emotional harm you're doing to our kids scorning them for playing with toys and kid games!  A Lego toy or a toy made out of Lego's is not a weapon, it scares no one, kids know this.  Wearing a T-shirt with for example an NRA symbol on it or multitudes of others like your country's flag or your love for God, you all know what I'm talking about...........stop it!

     Do you think the last couple of generations are who have the problems, this wasn't a problem in generations past.........why now!  Stop it!  Everything isn't about race you all are just making it so, guns are not the problem, the folks using them for ill are the problem.

     I could go on and on and on, but you know where I'm coming from and thinking about PC....why must everything have an acronym these days?  You're killing me here, your freaking texting and the like has pushed this stuff way beyond the limit.

Walmart and RV parking

     We're in Butte, MT tonight after about 250 miles of driving.  Couldn't get an RV spot because they have a jamboree and a Folk fest going on this weekend so it's Wal-Mart in a pinch.  It's a full house tonight, we're here with about 18 other units and thank God for Wal-Mart allowing this.  This letting RV's park overnight in their parking lots is just another in what has been great ideas by the Wal-Mart folks.  When we park at a Wal-Mart we 9 out of 10 times go in and pick up supplies, no different tonight and I know most all of the 19 units parked here tonight did the same.  We were in need of quit a few things and as usual when we get in there we pick up just other shit we had no intention of picking up.  Like to night I got a new pair of lounging shorts, Bev some footy socks, a couple of baskets for the coach and a throw rug.........then came the groceries!  So far our camping tonight was the most expensive nightly charge since we've owned the rig, $191.30 got us out the door!  Yep Wal-Mart came up with another winner and I don't usually like the store and never use them back home, but on the road there is no place better is seems.

     Not sure what we're going to do tomorrow, we can't get into KOA Polson, Flathead Lake MT. until Sunday the 14th and need to be to Blackwell's in Couer d' Alene til the 16th so maybe another night here or maybe check out down the road a piece.  

       Ran into a group of folks right out of the 60's man....in a small class C Winnebago and out of gas at the station I'm filling up at.  One of them asked for some money for gas, I said no man real fast.  Thought about it a minute and seen him walking across the lot and summoned him over.   "Dude where you from?" "San Diego man"....."Where you going?" " Denver man"...(just like country Joe would have said it.) How do you leave "San Diego for Denver via Butte Montana without gas money?"..."Don't need money man...need gas!"   Wow.........I've been fortunate lately and gave the dude $40 and said "make sure this goes into the tank" "Wow dude..thanks" He looked at the two $20's like they were hundred dollar bills and went to tell his mates!
Wait..........the best part is we're at the store (Wal-Mart waiting in line and ask the clerk if there is low unemployment since he's the only one working 30 check out lines and folks lined up 6 or 7 deep. He says as straight as he can "No one in Butte can pass a drug test!" Wondering who I actually gave the $40 to?  They call them rainbow people around here and don"t agree with giving them anything.............man right out of the 60's I'm telling you but it's their grandparents who actually participated in the "real 60's and their just wanna bee's!

     I love the "Big Sky Country of Montana" it's a beautiful place especially in the summer months!  Did I ever tell you I spent the coldest winter of my live in Great Falls, Montana in 1967-68.....the Hawk as it's known blows mighty hard and cold.

 

Short days travels full of stuff..............

     We didn't travel far today 195 miles that's only about 2 1/2 hours of driving.  Left Bismarck, ND and ended up in Glendive, Montana and the only RV park here is just that, a real DIVE!  It's cheap at $20 for 50 amps and water but I was just plain bushed and didn't feel like driving into Billiings which was our planned stopping point.  Why so bushed..........well we stopped for nine holes of golf at "Bully pulpit Golf course" in Medora, ND.  A young man at Nevada Bob's in Duluth was telling us if we came anywhere near this course we should give it a go, so we did and enjoyed it for the most part and found it to have some holes equal to some of the best holes in Arizona.  The North Dakota Bad Lands surround this golf course which was made by and with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, dedicated to preserving the rich history.  It was named "Bully Pulpit" because Bully was Teddy's favorite term and Pulpit because the way all the tee boxes are like platforms or pulpits looking down and over the fairways.  I'll be putting some pictures on FB of a couple of the holes and the beauty the course holds.
     On a different subject, I think of a lot of things while driving down the roads.  I have a lot of time to myself with Bev usually busy with her phone, computer and work calls especially when there's a 3 hour time zone difference.  At times it's nice just being alone with my thoughts and others it's probably annoying to Bev when I sing to my hearts content, especially when I can find an oldies station on the radio.  Anyway for the past couple of days I've been dwelling on who's the keepers of the highways and byways, the interstates and the back roads, who's constantly watching over these roads?  I've come up with what I think is the answer, it's the "Red-wing Black bird"............I find that no matter what State I travel in is seems these birds are always along the road side sitting up on fences, reeds, sign post, mile markers etc.  You usually can't travel much more than a mile without seeing one or two or flying across the road looking for something tall and skinny to lite on.  Other than watching those birds I also to this point must keep my eyes peeled for deer running onto the road.  Iowa and Wisconsin was freaking nuts with deer along the road sides and jumping out and running out and many just laying along the roads dead.   We've seen literally dozens of deer just standing along the roads in the weeds thinking about it, it seemed the closer to towns and cities they became more plentiful.  We had one close call with on yesterday darting out of the trees, I seen it running towards the road and started hitting the brakes and all of a sudden (with things flying off shelves and tables in the back) the stops at the roads edge as I pass it by..........close call.
     Gotta enhance, crop, shade and basically get my pictures ready for FB, check them out the golf course and Bad Lands should be some good pics.