Tanks, armored vehicles, full combat wear.....Main Street USA?

     I find since my last blog more and more folks and news agencies are talking about the same thing I blogged, the over arming of our local police.  We're giving money to our municipalities to arm law enforcement officers but hesitate to help arm the Kurdish (Kurds) in their war against Radical Muslims/Terrorist.  If I lived in Ferguson, Mo. or any other city like Ferguson I'd move my family to somewhere far away from any city that might in the future erupt into that sort of violence.  Why and how do folks remain in places so prone to that sort of violence, if it's not the nice quiet place you grew up in, hit the road for a more serene place.  Roots can be transplanted and we're sure proof of that, and have never been happier.  With today's technology you're only as far away from friends and family as you internet signal. 
     For the past 6 years we've been traveling this country and from North to South and Midwest to far West and who knows where in future trips, only to find multitudes of nice, quiet small communities.  We have had so much fun meeting folks, visiting these communities and participating in the many activities available which they open their arms to visitors to be included.  We participate in their celebrations, go to the movies with them, dine with them and golf on their courses and always meet the nicest people.  If you've done any camping or tenting or RV'ing you know that the folks in the parks, campgrounds and even Wal-Mart (Walmart) parking lots can also be a help or overnight companions.
     The visitors to Ferguson and communities like that, going through the problems they now have seem to be visiting for one reason and one reason only.............to cause as much rioting and unrest as possible.  Even folks like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson should be included in that group of agitators, all they seem to do is keep the violence going and stoke the fire with asinine comments which they never are force to apologize for.  Usually the statements they make have no validity and do no more that rile up their base.........can you tell me why they even have a base, aren't they both criminals?  Regardless it should be all over soon, another corrupt dude will arrive Wednesday to put in the administrations two cents.
     Oh well that's the opinions from this corner, but do visit your country far and wide whenever possible.........you won't regret it I promise.
      



             

Police State?

     In watching the news lately and with all the protest and unrest in a lot of our cities around the country, I've been noticing the local police departments with much alarm.  Is it me or do a lot of our police department look more like soldiers in combat, or like combat troops beating back the enemy with any means at there disposal?  At their disposal, the cops just don't have their guns and night sticks anymore, but they now carry full military gear right down to even wearing camo!  These cops are now armed to the teeth with assault weapons, smoke bombs, grenades, shields and body armor and our government wants to take our guns away.  I find it scary that if the government succeeds with taking our rights to bear arms away this could turn into just that and what some folks fear, a police state!
     Have you watched movies and documentaries of different conflicts, Nazi Germany and the gestapo and those type tactics to rule a country, that's what I'm reminded of at times watching our news.  It frankly scares the hell out of me when I see local law enforcement officers dressed like military storm troopers beating back civilian protesters like they were the enemy........we pay their salaries, these folks are their employers not enemies.  Does the fact that they do look like military and showing the type of force without evening knowing what folks are protesting cause more harm that just looking like law enforcement officers?
     Is this what the progressives, far-left liberals and tree-huggers are working for in trying to take our rights away from us?  Those of you that don't pay attention to what is happening in your country this maybe hard to believe but administrations like this that are the puppets and controlled and financed  by folks that what to rule the world seem to be working towards this end.  But back on track, this is most likely how it will start by having the police state and the rest of us as prisoners in our own country.  I'll most likely be long gone but I would like my children and especially grand-children to live in a country like I was raised in, family, trusting neighborhoods and looking up to the law to protect us from the bad guys. We can't let groups like the EPA have so much control over our check books and rights, the IRS is in a shambles and our borders are like a sieve.  All are welcome, just do it the right way and we welcome you with open arms...........do it wrong and you need to go back and do it right!  These are all part of the plans to reduce our independence you can believe that. 




             

Settled back in or not

     Back in Phoenix for 5 days now and it's been hot and now sticky since we had clouds and a storm with rain last night.  Shit has been happening and not the the best either, the golf cart seems to have a problem I can't figure out and will most likely cost to get it fixed.  The drivers side window on the Durango feel to the bottom of the door as soon as I touched the door for the first time. Spent 2 hours cleaning and blowing and vacuuming the yard and driveway and the entire area around the house just to have it storm, blow, and rain to the point that it looks like I did nothing yesterday!  Back still hurts and haven't been to a doctor yet, but soon..........I need to get back on the golf course.  We're looking at 102 to 105 degree temps for the rest of the week and I'm still seeing on my home page the temps in Watsonville running 62 to 70 the rest of the week...........why am I back in Phoenix before the end of September?
     I need to get the golf cart running or get a another one, I can't be without a golf cart living in a park/community like we live it.  Golf carts are so convenient for so many things living hear where jumping in and out of a auto running here and there is just a pain in the ass.  Yes, I do need to walk more and I plan on doing just that, but that's not what I'm talking about.........it's all the other stuff that a golf cart makes life so much easier.
     I feel for the family of Robin Williams, his three kids must be so heart broken at this time.  Depression is bigger than we think and needs to be addressed further, they say 16 million folks suffer from some form of depression in the United States alone, must be so hard for these folks to cope with as it must have been for Robin Williams.......to young and so talented.  In my opinion I enjoyed his serious rolls on the big screen far more than his comedy, the man was definitely a talented actor.
     There is no doubt as to what is right around the corner here in Phoenix and Arizona and I'm sure the rest of the country.   The street corners and by-ways here are being filled daily with signs of politicians running for all the many offices to be filled come November, this is going to be a fun next few months listening to all the bullshit being spewed once more by most of these folks.  Yes this blog will have a few opinions along the way so don't stop reading just consider it one man's opinion and take it from there........remember we all have one and are free to express it.   

Home again...Home again...jigidy jig.

     Well we ended up coming home earlier that expect by us and our family.  We showed up at grandson Jack's 8th birthday party to the surprise of family and friends attending yesterday.  On the way to the party Bev and I both looked at each other and said "you know after a day or two of catching up with family we both will wish to be back on the road" and we will and do each year it seems.  The back problems I've been having helped put a damper on the past few weeks, with Bev's knee doing so well and her wanting to get back out on the golf course my back just didn't want to cooperate.  It was starting to feel better a bit after leaving the Sacramento area but then while golfing in Watsonville early on I jumped on a 3 wood shot and tweaked it all over again and seems a bit worse.  At this point not sure what I'm going to do, I'm leaning towards my joint and back doctor right now to start with.  Bev wants me to try her chiropractor first I know, but I'm just not sure about that at present.
     I have a grocery bag (the new cloth ones everyone has now) full of mail to go through, you and I both know it will be well over 95% junk, but I'm one of those guys that looks at it all..........you never know you might find a gem in amongst the garbage!
     I've got to get down to the motor home today or tomorrow and get it ready to sit a while and then decide when and where I'll be getting this list of a few items taken care of as far as maintenance goes.  We've got one of the three slide-outs hanging up a bit when bringing it in, the small closet one in the bedroom and then the handle on the crank up antenna came loose and that I can take care of with a new handle.  I'm going to have the tires checked, they look pretty good as of yet but I believe I notice a little wearing on the front tires to one side that of each one....just might be a problem to take care of before leaving next trip.  The tires have over 40,000 miles on them and really look good from the laymen point of few but my gut says new tires at least on the front.  The coach has 49,400 miles on it now and I replace two very early with cracks on one and a bulge on another around 10,000.  We also developed a water leak somewhere when hooked up to city water towards the end of the trip, I believe it's somewhere in a line from the toilet.  Going to check with LaMesa who replaced the toilet before we left and were supposed to check lines for leaks at that time, nothing really major I think but very annoying!  All in all not a bad punch list for the miles and terrain traveled over the past few years, but it seems now each trip it's something and that gets old.  Just hope if it's anything big the warranty takes care of it again.
     A lot of debris around the yard to clean up today, the couple of storms they had here the past few weeks did some damage in the park, but luckily all we got was a dusty porch and leaves and dirt in the car-port and patio area.  Going to pick the golf cart up from Matt's this morning, gotta get to cruising the park and let the folks know we're back and available for PNP (park patrol) but I do plan on doing more walking this year.  Speaking of walking brings me to my weight loss program and how I've been doing.  Last year the journey of 2013 cost me 24 pounds, yes in that time I gain back 23 pounds while traveling visiting friends and family.  It took me almost until the time to leave this year to get that back off and I did plus a few pounds, and I vowed not to let it happen again this year.  Well mission accomplished, I did gain but only 8 pounds and I've already taken 2 pounds of that off in he past two days.  It's been hard for me, at my age now and not getting as much exercise it's very hard to lose especially since I really love a good meal especially Italian dishes and good old meat and potatoes as I was raised on.  With the help of  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ I've lost  38 pounds and now can continue working on my second goal of hitting 250 before next years journey if not sooner I hope!
     OK a bit off track there, but hope you enjoyed hearing about where we had been and what we seen and discovered along the way.  As usual we enjoy this journey very much and seen and stayed in some great places once more and had fun with family and friends along the way.  That being said we really can't wait to get "back on the road again" very soon, who knows maybe even a winter journey this next year.   I plan on blogging more now between journeys and will try to stay away from political stuff but may give an opinion now and again because you know I've always got one of those.  See ya around the water cooler..........................

Ready to "bug out"

     Watsonville, Ca. has been fun and there was so much to do, especially since we were here during their annual Strawberry festival.  Right now I'm starting to get a little antsy and after almost two weeks I think I'm ready to hit the road once more, even though we'd be heading closer to home as we travel on.
     The cool weather will be missed as we travel south/southeast from our location here, the cool days and chilly nights will eventually be exchanged for warm evenings and hot days.  What we normally plan as a mid-September return will most likely be a late August return, Bev has some meetings around the 26th and that will dictate a lot.
     The fact that it's been hard to find RV parks or at least nice ones that have vacancies has been a bit of a bummer, so many places need reservations now it's hard to travel the way we've been used to.  For the 7 plus years we've owned the motor home we have been "travel by the seat of your pants" travelers and now are finding out you need destinations on certain dates with reservations more often than not.  We really enjoy the fact that we don't need to be anywhere on any certain day or by any certain time, but you may just end up in a Wal-mart parking lot more often than not.  We've done Wal-mart and it isn't all that bad in a pinch for a night, but it is just there for a one night stand.
     We've had to revert to using our on board water and water pump the past few days, somehow it seems when on city water we have a leak under the floor around the bathroom area.  I think it may have something to do with the new toilet we had installed before the trip, but when on city water and water in the lines constantly there's a spot on the floor where the carpet gets wet.  Using on board water and only pumping when needed there is no leaking or wet areas, something I can't find and need to take back to La Mesa who installed the toilet and did a leak check for me!  Oh well, it's seems to be always something..........................
     My back has been really hurting and not sure exactly why, will definitely need to get it checked out upon our return to Phoenix.  One day it seems better and then the next day sore once more, it has cut us way back on the golfing and that's too bad since Bev and her knee have been ready to go! 
     Well as far as leaving I think it will be tomorrow we hit the road, Thursday at the latest.    

Watsonville, Ca. after a week..........

     Watsonville has been a great place to base from as it turns out, so much to do and see within 30 minutes from here.  In the past six days since the last blog we've done so much it seems but have yet done a lot of relaxing too.  Santa Cruz, the board walk along the beach, the pier (longest in California), the quaint little town with all the neat shops but also what seemed to be a haven for what would have been called hippies back in the day.  Young people being young people, some needing a bath and definitely a good washing of the hair, but seeming to enjoy the life of doing nothing but hanging out on the streets...........hell this is California they probably make more than most unemployed and on state assistance!  Even though a lot of them have the cardboard signs wanting this or that they all seem to have $200 skate boards in hand and 100's upon 100's of dollars in tattoo's.  To each his priorities I guess, they do look like they enjoy their lives right now.  The famed "Board Walk" on Santa Cruz beach is a great place for the kids, Jack and Dalila would just love it.....rides, games, carnival type games of chance and big stuffed things to win.  We couldn't help but wish they were there with us!
     Then there's Monterey, Cannery Row and dunes, and all the picturesque views of the ocean from the bay.  Sea food, chocolate and fudge shops, shirts and sweat shirts because most tourist don't realize how cool the temps are off Monterey Bay, normal highs upper 60's and most are looking to buy something warm to wear.  After being here last year, Bev wore her jacket but somehow and somewhere I lost my nice light weight yellow jacket (I think in Iowa somewhere or at someones home) so I made due.  We really like Monterey and the area, but I like a bit of warmth also, and actually miss the heat a bit of Phoenix at times.
     Another day trip from Watsonville is beyond Monterey and down highway 1 (pacific coast highway) to Pebble Beach area and Carmel, down where half the money in California resides!  We didn't spend much time in the tight narrow community of Carmel and all the resident and tourist shops, I didn't need anything Gucci or Tiffany, or Coach or you name the high end shops along Rodeo drive, yes that about sums up Carmel down town!  The have what they call 17 mile drive which takes you all around the Pebble Beach peninsula, they actually charge $10 a vehicle to take this 17 mile journey which goes by each of the six Pebble Beach golf courses and all of the multimillion dollar homes that line this 17 mile stretch.  Would love to have played all these golf courses with the boys and then again with Bev but I would need to hit at least two lotteries in order to accomplish that goal or bucket list of items!  Green fee's ranged from the cheapest at Poppy Hill of $235 to the most expensive at Pebble Beach Links of $495 plus a $125 caddies fee and one's required.  Took a lot of pictures and stood on parts of the course where the big boys play but maybe someday we'll get to spray some balls around the joint.  We shall return!
     Today it's the annual Strawberry Festival here in Watsonville, there are literally miles and miles of strawberry fields and the smell is wonderful.  They grow all year around, picking and replanting over and over and over again.  The field next to where we're parked here was being picked when we arrived last week for a few days and yesterday they plowed it under and are preparing it for another seeding.  Berries of all kinds, vegetables of all kinds, fruit of all kinds, sweet corn daily at 6 ears for a dollar..............and I must admit we've tasted sweet corn as good if not better than Grimes Iowa sweet corn and our nieces and nephews from Des Moines area swear by Grimes Corn and we've had it too.
     You literally drive down the highways smelling as you go by areas the different crops, from berries, to garlic, to the sea and that seafood aroma (that is sometimes good and sometimes not so good) but I must say the smelling of strawberries in the air is by far the best.............time to get ready to head down town to the Festival.