Coming to you from Cherry Valley Lakes resort, Beaumont, California and yes this was our second stop back on June 7th for a week. We will leave here on Wednesday or Thursday and head towards Overgaard, Arizona for a couple of weeks in hills of Arizona before landing in Phoenix and ending this our journey of 2017!
It's been a different trip this year, spending more time at each stop and even spending time in Hotel rooms while the motor home had some remodeling done. New flooring, some new furniture and this old 2006 model looks as good inside as the 2016's.........at least the one that counts thinks so, Beverly. The coach turn over 70,000 miles coming into this stop and will most likely be at around 71000 by the time we get back to Phoenix and the Friendly Village of Orangewood. I give the old girl credit, she's been running very well and had one hellava lot of mountains to go up and down over this trip.
I think we missed the kids and grand kids more this trip and than any other trip we've taken. I also think our newest grand baby Mia we really a big part of that because we really hadn't got to know her or her us before we left. They change so much from two months to six months and not sure she understood face time on the phones and ipad's! The same goes for Jack and Dalila, they just keep getting older and smarter and........................well we just love them so much!
All in all the trip up the west coast line was very enjoyable and the cool temperatures helped, it wasn't hard at all to get used to temps in the 60's everyday, and the sound of the surf lapping against the shoreline in the evenings was nice to sleep by. If not for the fact that California is so expensive to live there with the high taxes, high gas prices and a governor that continues to give away the store and take, take, take from the residents to fund so much bullshit it would be a great place to live. If that "State of Jefferson" ever takes off, that would be the place to live.........but making north California another state might take much to do. The north of California doesn't deserve the problems of SoCal and it's limousine liberals! Oregon's coast line is spectacular and so beautiful but then you have the extremely liberal crap to contend with, stay way south of Portland and you may be OK and not have to survive their riots! The sea food and especially the salmon is all so fresh and abundant, even got Bev to try and like I might add BBQ/grilled oysters. We now wish we'd have done some salmon fishing while there, maybe next time. Speaking of fishing, we would like to do a little of that while in Arizona for the last two weeks, maybe some trout can be had while we're there.
I may have another blog while spending those last couple of weeks in Arizona's mountains and then again maybe not............I'm not sure these are being read or viewed by as many folks this year, the counter seems to move a bit slower this year. This may just might not have been as an exciting journey as in years past as far as blogs go!
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Monday, August 28, 2017
I can't believe it's been almost 30 days!
If you know me and my blogs you too may find it unbelievable that I've went this long between blogs on one of our summer journeys! Oh how so much has happen and at the same time not much at all happened. Of the past 28 days since the last blog we've actually spent 20 of those days hotel rooms, yes the motor home travelers have spent 20 days in hotel rooms living out of suit cases like days gone by. If you've haven't been following us on FB or one of the other social networks you may not know that we planned on having the motor home remodeled a bit, like in flooring, furniture and repairing some much needed water leaks we found to becoming major problems. Also during this time a dear friend and cousin passed away in Sacramento so we drove back there for a few more days which started our hotel stays. The remodeling which was supposed to take 4 to 5 days (we actually new that was being very optimistic) ended up being close to 2 weeks. This gave us the opportunity heading back from Sacramento to stop at Lake Tahoe for a couple of days and then Reno for a couple of days before returning to The Mill Casino in Coos Bay for 8 days.........opportunity, thank God we game enough to have received complimentary rooms in both Tahoe and Reno and ended up getting 6 out of 8 nights comp'd at the Mill also. I might add that we did win and lose a bit and probably came out way ahead considering the free rooms and meals we received, but that long it all became quite boring!
We both agreed that hotel traveling is not the best for us, we like coming HOME at night after a days golf, sightseeing, or shopping or just sitting around the camp all day. The eating out in restaurants gets old fast also, home cooked meals in the coach are still the best and cheapest way to go. That's not to say Vinny's Burger's in Coos Bay weren't the best burgers ever bar none, and the breakfast at the Timbers at the Mill were more that welcome each morning or early afternoon as it turned out most days!
We're back on the road.........yes, just in time for Labor Day and the traffic it causes and the lack of space in RV parks when you travel like us, "by the seat of your pants" without a lot of reservations made days and weeks down the road. As of right now we're here in Olema Camp grounds outside of Point Reyes Station/Petaluma, Ca. about an hour from San Francisco. We leave here on Friday for who knows where at this point, hell it may just be a Wal-Mart down the road a piece or back to Reno, NV. for a couple of days. As a matter of fact I just made the reservations for the Grand RV resort, Reno for 3 days so we are set for the holiday weekend.
All in all I probably should have blogged more often because this has been one hellava journey to say the least, and by the way Beverly's cat Bentley was very happy to see her after 20 days of care at the local Coos Bay Vets, he is just now a few days later getting back to his normal self. He did lose his favorite riding (hiding) place while traveling............likes to hide himself rather than ride with her or on the dash while traveling. Since we're trying something different this year, remember we started off spending a couple of weeks in Arizona (the Parker, Havasu area) to begin with and now we plan on spending the last two weeks in the mountains of Arizona in the Overgaard area of the state. That will put us home the first week of October.............unless we change things while there. We miss the kids so much and the grand-kids including out newest Mia who might just be walking by the time we see her again that extending just might not be happening. We hope they all come up and see us while in the Overgaard RV resort. I must say traveling the coast line of California and Oregon was surely the coolest as far as temperatures went that we have ever spent.
Like I said it's just over an hour to San Francisco from here, but we now hear there is a new train from Petaluma to a ferry that takes to the San Francisco.........will have to check that out maybe. Would hate to get stuck in the Bay area and not know how or when to get the ferry or train back, sounds like it's a pretty new (like only a week or two old) venture. San Geronimo is the nearest golf course to us here, about 25 minutes down the road, sounds like a good one that we may have to try! This camp has 440 site and as of today maybe only 20-25 are filled but ii is fully booked and they are starting to arrive today already (Monday) for the holiday weekend. Camping...........amazing the folks getting out and enjoying this sort of living.
Seen a grilled oyster joint up the road, maybe on day after laundry is done we'll venture up the road and try some now that Beverly can join me in a taste! I'll try not to be so long between updates from now until the end of this journey!
..........hope it's all OK grammar wish, not proof reading today.........
We both agreed that hotel traveling is not the best for us, we like coming HOME at night after a days golf, sightseeing, or shopping or just sitting around the camp all day. The eating out in restaurants gets old fast also, home cooked meals in the coach are still the best and cheapest way to go. That's not to say Vinny's Burger's in Coos Bay weren't the best burgers ever bar none, and the breakfast at the Timbers at the Mill were more that welcome each morning or early afternoon as it turned out most days!
We're back on the road.........yes, just in time for Labor Day and the traffic it causes and the lack of space in RV parks when you travel like us, "by the seat of your pants" without a lot of reservations made days and weeks down the road. As of right now we're here in Olema Camp grounds outside of Point Reyes Station/Petaluma, Ca. about an hour from San Francisco. We leave here on Friday for who knows where at this point, hell it may just be a Wal-Mart down the road a piece or back to Reno, NV. for a couple of days. As a matter of fact I just made the reservations for the Grand RV resort, Reno for 3 days so we are set for the holiday weekend.
All in all I probably should have blogged more often because this has been one hellava journey to say the least, and by the way Beverly's cat Bentley was very happy to see her after 20 days of care at the local Coos Bay Vets, he is just now a few days later getting back to his normal self. He did lose his favorite riding (hiding) place while traveling............likes to hide himself rather than ride with her or on the dash while traveling. Since we're trying something different this year, remember we started off spending a couple of weeks in Arizona (the Parker, Havasu area) to begin with and now we plan on spending the last two weeks in the mountains of Arizona in the Overgaard area of the state. That will put us home the first week of October.............unless we change things while there. We miss the kids so much and the grand-kids including out newest Mia who might just be walking by the time we see her again that extending just might not be happening. We hope they all come up and see us while in the Overgaard RV resort. I must say traveling the coast line of California and Oregon was surely the coolest as far as temperatures went that we have ever spent.
Like I said it's just over an hour to San Francisco from here, but we now hear there is a new train from Petaluma to a ferry that takes to the San Francisco.........will have to check that out maybe. Would hate to get stuck in the Bay area and not know how or when to get the ferry or train back, sounds like it's a pretty new (like only a week or two old) venture. San Geronimo is the nearest golf course to us here, about 25 minutes down the road, sounds like a good one that we may have to try! This camp has 440 site and as of today maybe only 20-25 are filled but ii is fully booked and they are starting to arrive today already (Monday) for the holiday weekend. Camping...........amazing the folks getting out and enjoying this sort of living.
Seen a grilled oyster joint up the road, maybe on day after laundry is done we'll venture up the road and try some now that Beverly can join me in a taste! I'll try not to be so long between updates from now until the end of this journey!
..........hope it's all OK grammar wish, not proof reading today.........
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Trees...Trees... and more trees!
We've drove throughout this country and have seen many a forest of tall trees, pine trees, big trees, huge trees like the redwoods or sequoia. We've seen miles and miles of trees where we never knew trees to have grown in numbers like we've seen. Logging trucks in the north, logging trucks in south and southeast and for sure in the northwest where we're at today. These all are used for the usual like building wood, paper, cardboard, and the scrapes being used now days in plywood type products and pressed boards. I never gave it a thought that trees would be something we would "export" until I visited Coos Bay, Oregon and this part of the Oregon coast.
We see down the street piles and piles of wood chips, not only piles but mounds and mounds of chips of wood. Then a little ways down from the mounds of chips are stacks and stacks of rough cleaned logs 30, 40, 50 feet long logs stacked 10 - 20 feet high and higher. Then you see ships, big ships that don't look like they fit in this little bay that looks too narrow but has been dredged to depths of 40 feet and more in the middle.
Now I hear on the local news that the ship docked along side of the docks near the wood chips is on it's maiden voyage from Japan and it's here to be loaded with wood chips! Yes, it will take 4 days to load this big ships haul with wood chips! What the heck is Japan going to do with ships full of wood chips? You ask the questions and find the answers which is Japan takes these chips and make all sorts of paper products, cardboard products etc. I guess when all your trees are "bonsai" trees they may be too small to make a small fire let alone paper products for a nation like Japan.......LOL.
Now you look the other direction and see all those trucks and truck loads of logs long rough cleaned logs stack high and find out what's going on with those.............making more chips? No, all those are awaiting the arrival of ships from China, yes China who has had to clear forest for people!
All in all we learned a lot about Coos Bay and this tiny bay and how these huge ships get in and out with "pilots" since the narrow inlets need experienced pilots to take over the the ship captains and get the ships to the dock in and out of the Bay with the help of tugs to turn them around. Amazing stuff learned here in Oregon.
We see down the street piles and piles of wood chips, not only piles but mounds and mounds of chips of wood. Then a little ways down from the mounds of chips are stacks and stacks of rough cleaned logs 30, 40, 50 feet long logs stacked 10 - 20 feet high and higher. Then you see ships, big ships that don't look like they fit in this little bay that looks too narrow but has been dredged to depths of 40 feet and more in the middle.
Now I hear on the local news that the ship docked along side of the docks near the wood chips is on it's maiden voyage from Japan and it's here to be loaded with wood chips! Yes, it will take 4 days to load this big ships haul with wood chips! What the heck is Japan going to do with ships full of wood chips? You ask the questions and find the answers which is Japan takes these chips and make all sorts of paper products, cardboard products etc. I guess when all your trees are "bonsai" trees they may be too small to make a small fire let alone paper products for a nation like Japan.......LOL.
Now you look the other direction and see all those trucks and truck loads of logs long rough cleaned logs stack high and find out what's going on with those.............making more chips? No, all those are awaiting the arrival of ships from China, yes China who has had to clear forest for people!
All in all we learned a lot about Coos Bay and this tiny bay and how these huge ships get in and out with "pilots" since the narrow inlets need experienced pilots to take over the the ship captains and get the ships to the dock in and out of the Bay with the help of tugs to turn them around. Amazing stuff learned here in Oregon.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Back to Coos Bay, OR.
I'm beginning to feel like I'm becoming an Oregonian in many way but surely not politically! We've been in Oregon that long and will be now for another 10 days or so, I don't mind the cool temps but not waking up to sunshine each morning is kind of a bummer!
We're in Coos Bay earlier than expected, the coach goes into the shop on the 6th of August for the new flooring and water leak repairs and some new furniture. We're here early to not only make all the arrangements for the coach but to get all secure so we can make a trip in the car back to Sacramento for a few days. We got news of my cousin Rich Papers wife, Lynn passing away and a service will be on August 5th. Lynn was a great person with a contagious smile and we only wish we'd met her a lot sooner and got to know her much better. It had been way too many years between visits to our family in the Sacramento area, where I lived and hung out with these guys so many years ago. For the past 5 years of so we have been making it a stop during our travels anytime these travels take us near the western United States. We send Rich and his family our deepest sympathy and will miss Lynn and her hospitality shown us on our future visits, she will be missed by so many for sure.
Yesterday we picked out the new couch recliners for the motor home, theater seating type setup, and will pick out another chair for just inside the doorway today or tomorrow. We do look forward to all this work being done so we can get back to traveling.......... we like Oregon but it's time to move on even though we'll miss the cool temps we've so enjoyed.
Checking out a 9 hole golf course today, Sunset Bay golf course which was designed by the same designer, John Zoller, who designed Poppy Hills and Spyglass in the Monterey area. Two par 5's, five par 4's and two par 3's and 3000 yards sounds like a nice challenge. www.sunsetbaygolf.com We visited Poppy Hills a couple of years ago, super nice track..........so beautiful and I'm hoping this place is just a bit as nice! You know I will have pics on FB sometime after the round of golf so be on the lookout for those.
I'm not impressed with the bulk of the movies in theaters right now and the past few weeks. We do patronize theaters wherever we stop and are having a hard time finding those real good movies not like "apes" or "transformers" or superhero's"..............even though that new Spider movie wasn't too bad and we hear Wonder Woman is pretty good, my find out tonight.
Not many blogs and not many exciting things on this trip, staying for extended times at stops rather that traveling every day or two make for a much different journey. The gas usage is way way down and that cost is a welcomed change, but at times I think we miss rolling down the road.
We're in Coos Bay earlier than expected, the coach goes into the shop on the 6th of August for the new flooring and water leak repairs and some new furniture. We're here early to not only make all the arrangements for the coach but to get all secure so we can make a trip in the car back to Sacramento for a few days. We got news of my cousin Rich Papers wife, Lynn passing away and a service will be on August 5th. Lynn was a great person with a contagious smile and we only wish we'd met her a lot sooner and got to know her much better. It had been way too many years between visits to our family in the Sacramento area, where I lived and hung out with these guys so many years ago. For the past 5 years of so we have been making it a stop during our travels anytime these travels take us near the western United States. We send Rich and his family our deepest sympathy and will miss Lynn and her hospitality shown us on our future visits, she will be missed by so many for sure.
Yesterday we picked out the new couch recliners for the motor home, theater seating type setup, and will pick out another chair for just inside the doorway today or tomorrow. We do look forward to all this work being done so we can get back to traveling.......... we like Oregon but it's time to move on even though we'll miss the cool temps we've so enjoyed.
Checking out a 9 hole golf course today, Sunset Bay golf course which was designed by the same designer, John Zoller, who designed Poppy Hills and Spyglass in the Monterey area. Two par 5's, five par 4's and two par 3's and 3000 yards sounds like a nice challenge. www.sunsetbaygolf.com We visited Poppy Hills a couple of years ago, super nice track..........so beautiful and I'm hoping this place is just a bit as nice! You know I will have pics on FB sometime after the round of golf so be on the lookout for those.
I'm not impressed with the bulk of the movies in theaters right now and the past few weeks. We do patronize theaters wherever we stop and are having a hard time finding those real good movies not like "apes" or "transformers" or superhero's"..............even though that new Spider movie wasn't too bad and we hear Wonder Woman is pretty good, my find out tonight.
Not many blogs and not many exciting things on this trip, staying for extended times at stops rather that traveling every day or two make for a much different journey. The gas usage is way way down and that cost is a welcomed change, but at times I think we miss rolling down the road.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Florence, OR
We've been in Florence for a couple of days now and will be here until the 23rd and it looks like we were lucky to get the reservations. We're at the Port of Siuslaw Marine and RV park, nothing real fancy but very adequate for sure. The best part might be that we're in walking distance to the marina, down town "Old Town" and all the great eateries and shops!
We decided on Tony's RV Service and Repair of Coos Bay to find and fix our water leak and do the remodeling of the coach, basically new flooring. Bev opted for an interlocking wood grain looking laminate that's very durable and has much elasticity to it. We've also decided to eliminate the couch-hid-abed, the recliner that came with the coach and replace them with new. We are leaning toward theater type seating recliners and a simpler one for the other side. Tony's plans on keeping the coach for only 4-5 days to accomplish this, as long as we don't continue to ad little this and that's! So now we'll be traveling who knows where at this time until August 6th when we need to be back in Coos Bay, OR. to drop of the motor home.
We have been traveling the west coast of the United States since we left Havasu Springs RV resort the first week of June, and other that a week or so visiting family in Sacramento the weather has been in a word "chilly"....... Even Sacramento cooled off into the mid to upper 80's while we were there. Today we're looking at partly sunny with a high of 65 and little breeze off the coast.
Our friend Al Rojas moved here to Florence some years ago and we're visited him two years ago and again last night and days to come. Al tends bar at the Bridgewater Fish house and Zebra bar, so we had dinner and drinks there last night. It was good seeing Al again and even his son Sean was working there taking care of tables last night. Some wonderful seafood, Bev had Halibut and I had the Seafood Thermadore..............after crab cakes and oyster shooters!
We will be enjoying a walk into old town after getting our yard further setup.......need lounge chairs out to relax and enjoy this weather! Checkout our digs here: www.portofsiuslaw.com
We decided on Tony's RV Service and Repair of Coos Bay to find and fix our water leak and do the remodeling of the coach, basically new flooring. Bev opted for an interlocking wood grain looking laminate that's very durable and has much elasticity to it. We've also decided to eliminate the couch-hid-abed, the recliner that came with the coach and replace them with new. We are leaning toward theater type seating recliners and a simpler one for the other side. Tony's plans on keeping the coach for only 4-5 days to accomplish this, as long as we don't continue to ad little this and that's! So now we'll be traveling who knows where at this time until August 6th when we need to be back in Coos Bay, OR. to drop of the motor home.
We have been traveling the west coast of the United States since we left Havasu Springs RV resort the first week of June, and other that a week or so visiting family in Sacramento the weather has been in a word "chilly"....... Even Sacramento cooled off into the mid to upper 80's while we were there. Today we're looking at partly sunny with a high of 65 and little breeze off the coast.
Our friend Al Rojas moved here to Florence some years ago and we're visited him two years ago and again last night and days to come. Al tends bar at the Bridgewater Fish house and Zebra bar, so we had dinner and drinks there last night. It was good seeing Al again and even his son Sean was working there taking care of tables last night. Some wonderful seafood, Bev had Halibut and I had the Seafood Thermadore..............after crab cakes and oyster shooters!
We will be enjoying a walk into old town after getting our yard further setup.......need lounge chairs out to relax and enjoy this weather! Checkout our digs here: www.portofsiuslaw.com
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Oregon.......we have arrived.
First stop in Oregon is Coos Bay along the coast mid state I'd say. We plan on spending a little time here in Oregon maybe getting some things done to the coach if the price is right! We had a great time in California and visiting family in the Sacramento is always nice, we miss seeing them the rest of the years. If you follow Bev or I or both on FB you've seen a lot of pictures from the July 4th bash at Don and Sharon's to golf and the road in and the road out of California.
The pictures on FB of the coast line of California and especially the early scenes of Oregon are amazing, and we've traveled way more of the Hwy 101 this trip than ever before.........no interstates or freeways after Santa Barbara and even some of the Hwy 1. I do get tired of the ups and downs of the roads and the winding curves which can take a toll on ones arms and psyche, just ask Beverly! I will add that most of the other vehicles on the road wish me and other motor home travelers would take different routes, but what the heck. I do pull off when possible to let everyone by but it seems California has very few "slower traffic lanes" on their roads, we have already found Oregon has many many more and it was smooth sailing this morning. For a Sunday the 101 from Crescent, CA to Coos Bay was really light, not many travelers from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm anyway so I didn't ruffle too may feathers today so far!
Tomorrow we begin the quest of an RV repair and remodeling shop to start getting ideas and the cost of what we can do to upgrade our 11 1/2 year old coach which I noticed this morning is nearing 69,000 miles on it. We may be in Oregon for at least a week or two if I'd have to guess.....just hope we can get some stuff done!
Two blogs today, both short and sweet in my estimation..........readership is actually down this trip, am I getting boring or do most of you hate this anymore? If you'd like let me know via a FB post or something, thanks in advance for your input.
The pictures on FB of the coast line of California and especially the early scenes of Oregon are amazing, and we've traveled way more of the Hwy 101 this trip than ever before.........no interstates or freeways after Santa Barbara and even some of the Hwy 1. I do get tired of the ups and downs of the roads and the winding curves which can take a toll on ones arms and psyche, just ask Beverly! I will add that most of the other vehicles on the road wish me and other motor home travelers would take different routes, but what the heck. I do pull off when possible to let everyone by but it seems California has very few "slower traffic lanes" on their roads, we have already found Oregon has many many more and it was smooth sailing this morning. For a Sunday the 101 from Crescent, CA to Coos Bay was really light, not many travelers from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm anyway so I didn't ruffle too may feathers today so far!
Tomorrow we begin the quest of an RV repair and remodeling shop to start getting ideas and the cost of what we can do to upgrade our 11 1/2 year old coach which I noticed this morning is nearing 69,000 miles on it. We may be in Oregon for at least a week or two if I'd have to guess.....just hope we can get some stuff done!
Two blogs today, both short and sweet in my estimation..........readership is actually down this trip, am I getting boring or do most of you hate this anymore? If you'd like let me know via a FB post or something, thanks in advance for your input.
Bandon, OR to Coos Bay ranting about golf
The plan was to stay in Bandon at an RV park and maybe do a little golfing at one of the Bandon courses, that changed when we checked into the green fee's and caddie fee's! You need to keep in mind that we have here a 20-21 handicap golfer and his wife you just took the game back up a couple of years ago. We both enjoy the game and even enjoy playing with each other (from time to time) and we do spend a good portion of our travels looking for and playing some of the nice courses in the areas of our travels. I really was looking forward to maybe playing a round at Bandon Dunes or one of the six course at the complex, until I heard the rates for this time of year and the "no golf carts" policy! That's right it's a walking course only and this 70+ year old right now can't walk one hole let alone 18 of them with my hips the way they are. I might have given up the $325 green fees, plus the $60 caddie fee plus any tips involved which there always is if you're any kind of golfer. This is all not to mention Beverly would have most likely hated it by the 3rd hole because these aren't even for 20 handicaps let along a hacker (not going to mention her potential handicap right now) but I'm sure I'd have come away with some great pictures! We ended up going right on by and stopping here at Coos Bay and see they have a couple of course that we'll be most likely giving them a go.
The average golfer in America shoots rounds in the mid 90's to low 100's which is like a 20 to 30 handicap and the average woman golfer in America has a 28-30's handicap or rounds in the 110's and above. Even the above average golfers have handicaps in the teens and shoots in the upper 80's to low 90's yet golf course like this try and keep us away unless we pay through the nose to play. We take Jack Nicklaus's and Arnold Palmer's advice and play from the "up tee's" because we should based on handicap and to help speed up the game! I guess I'm just pissed off because I don't want to shell out $810.00 plus tipping the club loading guy and the club cleaning dude not to mention the cart gal for drinks..........ya right, nearing a cool $1000.00 to play Bandon Dunes, we'll have to come back in the winter when the fee's more near $100 and my legs/hips are healed!
We will play here in Coos Bay and I know we will play in Florence because there is a very nice course there we've played and really enjoyed.
The average golfer in America shoots rounds in the mid 90's to low 100's which is like a 20 to 30 handicap and the average woman golfer in America has a 28-30's handicap or rounds in the 110's and above. Even the above average golfers have handicaps in the teens and shoots in the upper 80's to low 90's yet golf course like this try and keep us away unless we pay through the nose to play. We take Jack Nicklaus's and Arnold Palmer's advice and play from the "up tee's" because we should based on handicap and to help speed up the game! I guess I'm just pissed off because I don't want to shell out $810.00 plus tipping the club loading guy and the club cleaning dude not to mention the cart gal for drinks..........ya right, nearing a cool $1000.00 to play Bandon Dunes, we'll have to come back in the winter when the fee's more near $100 and my legs/hips are healed!
We will play here in Coos Bay and I know we will play in Florence because there is a very nice course there we've played and really enjoyed.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Oh where oh where has Mike's blog been?
I can't believe it's been over two weeks since I posted a blog on the journey of 2017. Yes we've been busy but in many different ways from past trips around the country. We've now been on the road since May 29th (38 days) and are still only 756 miles from home! As you may remember the marathon of last year was 9,000 miles (8995 to be exact) so we decided to try and stick to the west coast this year and stay longer at each stop. To this point in the trip we've only stayed at five locations which is averaging a week per stop, but I must say each types of travels both have there pluses and minuses! Sometimes I miss rolling down the road every day or so but then again I like the idea of not having to hook-up and unhook every day or two also! To this point in our travels (just in our motor home) we've visited all but 7 states in the lower 48 of states, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Delaware. The way those last few are situated we could probably hit all of them in a matter of a day or two, but the idea is to visit and enjoy all corners of this great country of ours! Maybe next year after Iowa.
Except for the first few days and this past week here in Sacramento we been on the coast with ocean breezes and sea mist everywhere we've stayed. Those conditions have been enjoyable and relaxing to say the least, and a might chilly in the mornings and evening too for us warm blooded Arizonians. Even Sacramento cools off in the evenings into morning with the delta breeze reaching down into the 60's and below each day.
As the first 30 days have been enjoying the coast and what it has to offer, this past week has been spent visiting family and friends here in the Sacramento area. My cousins the Papers and their families have been as you might imagine most hospitable. Since we've been visiting over the past few years on and off and after many years of no contact at all we have thoroughly enjoyed each and every visit to my old stomping grounds of the early 60's (I lived in this area from 1959 to 1964)! Cousin Don has been throwing his 4th of July bash for almost 30 years and we have enjoyed two of the last four with great pleasure, that is along with the 100 other guest on and off throughout the day.
Now we start thinking about leaving here on Friday (in two days) and continuing our travels northward, but from here on out we have no pre-reserved camp/RV parks we're heading for. The idea is to continue through northern California into the redwoods and on into Oregon. We'd like to end up at some point in Bend, Oregon to see about some upgrades to the motor home in the way of flooring and furniture.............depends on if they can get us in and how much it will cost!
Beverly and I are still enjoying playing a lot of golf at many course during our travels, we have played some very nice golf course so far this trip and plan on doing a lot more of it as we travel north into Oregon.
Can someone get burned out on San Francisco? I'm even having a hard time believing we have been an hour away from the Bay area for a week or more now and haven't paid our usual visit for at least lunch at the Grotto/Wharf or in China Town or the Italian villages of San Francisco. I mentioned going and Bev said "I don't have to so San Francisco this trip"............to my surprise! We drove down to Bodega Bay home of the movie the "Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock back in 1963 and home to some of the best fresh oysters anywhere! If we had only new, we drove over there, had a few places in mind we were told about by the young man at the Verizon store but took no small cooler with us. The places we visited all have hour plus waits for standing room only for oysters on this Sunday afternoon. Besides flocks of folks waiting for these morsels another flock of folks were taking coolers to another window and getting dozens to go! We ended up not getting any fresh Bodega Bay oysters or Tomales Bay oysters and now I regret not waiting in line (Bev I don't believe cared, she wasn't too keen on sucking down a dozen oysters anyway).
Did you notice I said the fella at the Verizon store? Yes, we seem to only visit our carrier Verizon while traveling for some reason. I was reminded via a text message from our last time at a Verizon store by a gal from a store in Gulfport, Mississippi that we were upgrade eligible. I've been trying to get Bev to have our plan looked at since Verizon as others have now been offering unlimited Date and we've been paying for 50GB...................hey we saved quite a bit by stopping by and now have unlimited data too! Sometimes we waste so much money by not keeping up on things like this. We both got new phones, but also a new JBL Flip 4 speaker (Free) and an upgrade jet-pack capable of running up to 17 devices! Now..............where is my 10 year old grandson Jack to help me figure this new phone out? Our last 5 visits to Verizon Stores have been in the reverse order, Sacramento, Gulfport MS, Des Moines IA, Davenport IA and Coeur d'Alene ID, go figure?
Well I've bored you enough for this blog, and I hope to do better on the rest of this journey in keeping up to date, even though readership is down compared to years past, I must be losing followers or getting very boring. Maybe too much posting on FB of the same stuff without all the insight and particulars of out stops along the way, just more pictures. Oh well, I enjoy these writing and will keep keeping on for those that care.
Let me close this blog by asking for your prayers for someone dear to us here, prayers that the pain will diminish and some healing will follow. I know pray helps and Beverly and I ask for your prayers, thank you.
Except for the first few days and this past week here in Sacramento we been on the coast with ocean breezes and sea mist everywhere we've stayed. Those conditions have been enjoyable and relaxing to say the least, and a might chilly in the mornings and evening too for us warm blooded Arizonians. Even Sacramento cools off in the evenings into morning with the delta breeze reaching down into the 60's and below each day.
As the first 30 days have been enjoying the coast and what it has to offer, this past week has been spent visiting family and friends here in the Sacramento area. My cousins the Papers and their families have been as you might imagine most hospitable. Since we've been visiting over the past few years on and off and after many years of no contact at all we have thoroughly enjoyed each and every visit to my old stomping grounds of the early 60's (I lived in this area from 1959 to 1964)! Cousin Don has been throwing his 4th of July bash for almost 30 years and we have enjoyed two of the last four with great pleasure, that is along with the 100 other guest on and off throughout the day.
Now we start thinking about leaving here on Friday (in two days) and continuing our travels northward, but from here on out we have no pre-reserved camp/RV parks we're heading for. The idea is to continue through northern California into the redwoods and on into Oregon. We'd like to end up at some point in Bend, Oregon to see about some upgrades to the motor home in the way of flooring and furniture.............depends on if they can get us in and how much it will cost!
Beverly and I are still enjoying playing a lot of golf at many course during our travels, we have played some very nice golf course so far this trip and plan on doing a lot more of it as we travel north into Oregon.
Can someone get burned out on San Francisco? I'm even having a hard time believing we have been an hour away from the Bay area for a week or more now and haven't paid our usual visit for at least lunch at the Grotto/Wharf or in China Town or the Italian villages of San Francisco. I mentioned going and Bev said "I don't have to so San Francisco this trip"............to my surprise! We drove down to Bodega Bay home of the movie the "Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock back in 1963 and home to some of the best fresh oysters anywhere! If we had only new, we drove over there, had a few places in mind we were told about by the young man at the Verizon store but took no small cooler with us. The places we visited all have hour plus waits for standing room only for oysters on this Sunday afternoon. Besides flocks of folks waiting for these morsels another flock of folks were taking coolers to another window and getting dozens to go! We ended up not getting any fresh Bodega Bay oysters or Tomales Bay oysters and now I regret not waiting in line (Bev I don't believe cared, she wasn't too keen on sucking down a dozen oysters anyway).
Did you notice I said the fella at the Verizon store? Yes, we seem to only visit our carrier Verizon while traveling for some reason. I was reminded via a text message from our last time at a Verizon store by a gal from a store in Gulfport, Mississippi that we were upgrade eligible. I've been trying to get Bev to have our plan looked at since Verizon as others have now been offering unlimited Date and we've been paying for 50GB...................hey we saved quite a bit by stopping by and now have unlimited data too! Sometimes we waste so much money by not keeping up on things like this. We both got new phones, but also a new JBL Flip 4 speaker (Free) and an upgrade jet-pack capable of running up to 17 devices! Now..............where is my 10 year old grandson Jack to help me figure this new phone out? Our last 5 visits to Verizon Stores have been in the reverse order, Sacramento, Gulfport MS, Des Moines IA, Davenport IA and Coeur d'Alene ID, go figure?
Well I've bored you enough for this blog, and I hope to do better on the rest of this journey in keeping up to date, even though readership is down compared to years past, I must be losing followers or getting very boring. Maybe too much posting on FB of the same stuff without all the insight and particulars of out stops along the way, just more pictures. Oh well, I enjoy these writing and will keep keeping on for those that care.
Let me close this blog by asking for your prayers for someone dear to us here, prayers that the pain will diminish and some healing will follow. I know pray helps and Beverly and I ask for your prayers, thank you.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
It's been 9 days, 9 full days!
Last blog post was when we were leaving Cherry Valley and now we've landed in Marina, CA just a couple of miles north of Monterey. We've spent 4 days at Morro Strand RV park on Morro Bay and another 4 days at Mugu Beach State Park campground, all this along highway 1 the PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy). If you follow Bev or I on FB then you've no doubt seen pictures of all these stops already and some of the golf and other activities we've encountered, and folks we've hooked up with.
The weather has been fantastic if you like cool breezes off the Pacific Ocean, wrapping up in blankets and snuggles come bed time. I didn't pack enough warm clothing and have had to buy a couple of hoodies and a long sleeve shirt just to keep warm while golfing and sitting around the camps in the evenings. Oh well............was more than glad to have to buy them.
A dear old friend hooked us up at Mugu Beach State camp, Otto Laszlo and his wife Pam camped there often and had just the right connections to accommodate the group for the 5 days there. I met Otto through the tile business many years ago, he rep'd products we used and that I ordered and the friendship grew from there. After I retired and Otto changed companies we didn't see each other as often but remained friends via FB and other means. Otto is an animal, at the age of 70 he still surfs, paddle boards, mountain bikes the most rugged trails in California, and still finds time to still do a bit of work...........he's my idol. We had some great chats around the camp fire at nights with Otto, Pam and their friends that camped there with us. Thanks to Bernie,Igor, Chaya and Sasha and Bert for helping to entertain us and make for such a wonderful 5 days of camp life. This was "dry camping" which means no hook-ups of electricity, water, sewer etc., boon-docking if you will. We learned we could do this last year at Bristol for a week, so five days was a snap, and meant no TV which was kind of refreshing for a change!
Now we're in Marina, CA and looking forward to some golf along the coast (no, not Pebble beach the two day package of $1577 just seems a bit steep for a couple duffers like we are) and some beach exploring. This course we play on Thursday looks like a poor mans Pebble beach from the pictures, we'll see about that (only $98 a round) and take some pictures on Thursday, but they do have some holes along the coast line that ought to be picturesque if nothing else.
We're back in the part of the country that produces a big percentage of our nations fruit and vegetables among a whole slew of other things including some pretty good wine! Our visit to the community of Solvang, CA, a Danish community right down to the style of buildings to the food available in most eateries. And we can't forget the World famous Andersen's Pea Soup, so thick and creamy to, was really some of the best I've ever eaten. It was good having some locals (Otto and Pam from Simi Valley) giving us ideas as what to see and where to see it, like Solvang for example.
Well tomorrow is laundry day in the morning and some sight seeing in the afternoon in preparation for our golfing tomorrow (Thursday the 22nd), check out FB for some additional pics in a few days.
Morro Bay....The Rock
Otto and Bev heading to the beach at Mugu Bay
Slovang, CA
The weather has been fantastic if you like cool breezes off the Pacific Ocean, wrapping up in blankets and snuggles come bed time. I didn't pack enough warm clothing and have had to buy a couple of hoodies and a long sleeve shirt just to keep warm while golfing and sitting around the camps in the evenings. Oh well............was more than glad to have to buy them.
A dear old friend hooked us up at Mugu Beach State camp, Otto Laszlo and his wife Pam camped there often and had just the right connections to accommodate the group for the 5 days there. I met Otto through the tile business many years ago, he rep'd products we used and that I ordered and the friendship grew from there. After I retired and Otto changed companies we didn't see each other as often but remained friends via FB and other means. Otto is an animal, at the age of 70 he still surfs, paddle boards, mountain bikes the most rugged trails in California, and still finds time to still do a bit of work...........he's my idol. We had some great chats around the camp fire at nights with Otto, Pam and their friends that camped there with us. Thanks to Bernie,Igor, Chaya and Sasha and Bert for helping to entertain us and make for such a wonderful 5 days of camp life. This was "dry camping" which means no hook-ups of electricity, water, sewer etc., boon-docking if you will. We learned we could do this last year at Bristol for a week, so five days was a snap, and meant no TV which was kind of refreshing for a change!
Now we're in Marina, CA and looking forward to some golf along the coast (no, not Pebble beach the two day package of $1577 just seems a bit steep for a couple duffers like we are) and some beach exploring. This course we play on Thursday looks like a poor mans Pebble beach from the pictures, we'll see about that (only $98 a round) and take some pictures on Thursday, but they do have some holes along the coast line that ought to be picturesque if nothing else.
We're back in the part of the country that produces a big percentage of our nations fruit and vegetables among a whole slew of other things including some pretty good wine! Our visit to the community of Solvang, CA, a Danish community right down to the style of buildings to the food available in most eateries. And we can't forget the World famous Andersen's Pea Soup, so thick and creamy to, was really some of the best I've ever eaten. It was good having some locals (Otto and Pam from Simi Valley) giving us ideas as what to see and where to see it, like Solvang for example.
Well tomorrow is laundry day in the morning and some sight seeing in the afternoon in preparation for our golfing tomorrow (Thursday the 22nd), check out FB for some additional pics in a few days.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Moving on
Sunday morning and it's time to start breaking down thinks around the camp in preparation for our departure to the coast on Monday morning. Hard to believe this week at Cherry Valley is over already, but we are looking forward to making it to the coast. Next stop Morro Strand Bay and a few days camping at Morro Strand RV park.
It's been a very relaxing week here at Cherry Valley Lakes, and the one local activity we planned on taking in we actually missed. The annual Lavender Festival was held this weekend, and we tried to get there but my God the traffic and the walk to get into the farm was a nightmare! Parking was in places close to a miles walk from the car to the farm, and they even had shuttles from in town parking at the high school and shuttling to the farm..........shuttle lines were blocks long! Bottom line, this must be one helluva big deal to folks around here to see a field of lavender flowers. Well it was probably the lavender ice cream, lavender smoothies, lavender jams and jellies, lavender cheese, lavender this and lavender that................besides, the smell of lavender is not one of my favorites!
We did some face-time with Matt and the girls this morning, miss them as usual and enjoyed seeing and talking to them. Mia is getting so so big...........we'll have to get acquainted upon our return home later this fall.
I'll be checking it when we get settle at our first stop along the coast, hope it's a nice place since all we've seen are pictures on the web. Time to get started putting things in there places for travel.......until next time!
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
What a difference........
On this our 9th day of this journey of 2017, I fine a couple of differences already. The first that comes to mind is after 9 days there is a huge difference in miles driven. After 9 days in the last 8 years trips we would have driven a minimum of 1800 miles by now, this year only 335 miles so far. Another difference is the temperatures, boy what a difference that has been! This will be the last trip we start out near Havasu/Parker AZ this time of the year, and what a difference just going another 180 miles down the road to Cherry Valley/Beaumont CA. It was 108° when we left Havasu Springs RV Resort and this morning we woke up to 64° with a high predicted of 88° and going down as the week moves forward. No A/C needed yesterday, windows open and a great breeze all day and into the night.
After last years 9000 mile journey this is what we wanted to try this year, more time spent in stops and less miles driven over the length of the trip. The only place we spent a week or more in years past were in Des Moines and Davenport Iowa, other than that it was a day or two here or there and moving on. Don't get me wrong, we both like being "on the road" but this is going to be closer to traveling as full-timers rather than road warriors! I just did some quick calculations, by traveling like this, we so far have spent $696.00 less in gas based on $2.40/gal and 6.2 miles per gallon (which is what we average). Now a lot of this years trip will be in California and Governor Browns huge gas taxes on his people. When leaving AZ we saw gas at $2.27/gal. and now in California we're seeing signs of $2.69 and a bit higher! I filled up (topped off) at the last Flying J before entering CA and paid $2.22 with my nickle discount, we'll see what's ahead and report back.
Going to scout out a couple of golf courses today, we are so close to Palm Springs/Palm Desert and all those great course of the Bob Hope Classic days but not sure we'll tackle one of the big boys. There is a couple of courses within a mile or two of our campsite, we'll check them out first and maybe give it a go tomorrow.
I've got some work to do around the coach this morning, and the weather is very suitable for taking care of those outside chores, taking advantage while I can. Beverly is so happy to have internet and WiFi, she can get a bit of work done in the morning and hopefully have time for golf and stuff as the day moves on...............and my Amazon Fire Stick works now that we have WiFi too!
After last years 9000 mile journey this is what we wanted to try this year, more time spent in stops and less miles driven over the length of the trip. The only place we spent a week or more in years past were in Des Moines and Davenport Iowa, other than that it was a day or two here or there and moving on. Don't get me wrong, we both like being "on the road" but this is going to be closer to traveling as full-timers rather than road warriors! I just did some quick calculations, by traveling like this, we so far have spent $696.00 less in gas based on $2.40/gal and 6.2 miles per gallon (which is what we average). Now a lot of this years trip will be in California and Governor Browns huge gas taxes on his people. When leaving AZ we saw gas at $2.27/gal. and now in California we're seeing signs of $2.69 and a bit higher! I filled up (topped off) at the last Flying J before entering CA and paid $2.22 with my nickle discount, we'll see what's ahead and report back.
Going to scout out a couple of golf courses today, we are so close to Palm Springs/Palm Desert and all those great course of the Bob Hope Classic days but not sure we'll tackle one of the big boys. There is a couple of courses within a mile or two of our campsite, we'll check them out first and maybe give it a go tomorrow.
I've got some work to do around the coach this morning, and the weather is very suitable for taking care of those outside chores, taking advantage while I can. Beverly is so happy to have internet and WiFi, she can get a bit of work done in the morning and hopefully have time for golf and stuff as the day moves on...............and my Amazon Fire Stick works now that we have WiFi too!
Friday, June 2, 2017
Temps are rising!
Our first week can't end too soon, the temps next week here will be in the 106's to the 110's and we see our next stop will be a bit cooler. Cherry Valley forecast looks to be in the 80's and that we can handle, hope that will be the case.
Riding into town today, driving along the Colorado river I couldn't help but think of all this great river does for so many. Just the fact that it supplies water to so many in itself is amazing, but the sheer enjoyment it bring all year to water craft enthusiasts amazes me. Here it is Friday and the river for as far as I can see in either direction from our camp at Havana Springs to Parker, AZ is already bustling with boats of all sizes. Then to that you add the jet skies, wave runners and floating devices and you have fun running amok!
The small to the very large canyons it forms, like the Grand Canyon are in themselves a major pary of the beauty of this river and the great southwest we call home. We've been tempted more than a few times to join the watercraft crowd, at one time wave runners to most recently pontoon boats. Yes I heard all the stories of the two "best days of my life"......when I bought my boat, and when I sold my boat! At this point I'll just wait for my family or friends to take me out when they join the club!
I can't help but think today that in years past we'd be setting up camp at Adventureland in Des Moines for a week about now, then onto Davenport for both family reunions after that. With all that's happen in our country this past year and some of the feeling not shared by some, this is going to be bitter sweet to some. I just hope both reunions have the same and even more enthusiasm as the past few years. I'm a firm believer we need to keep these family units and gatherings going strong especially for the little one to know their extended families. Hope to see a lot of pictures from my nieces and nephews of these gatherings in the days following on FB etc.
Well the library is closed here on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays, so our wifi today is Bev's hotspot while taking up space in a McDonalds......get me out of here!!
Riding into town today, driving along the Colorado river I couldn't help but think of all this great river does for so many. Just the fact that it supplies water to so many in itself is amazing, but the sheer enjoyment it bring all year to water craft enthusiasts amazes me. Here it is Friday and the river for as far as I can see in either direction from our camp at Havana Springs to Parker, AZ is already bustling with boats of all sizes. Then to that you add the jet skies, wave runners and floating devices and you have fun running amok!
The small to the very large canyons it forms, like the Grand Canyon are in themselves a major pary of the beauty of this river and the great southwest we call home. We've been tempted more than a few times to join the watercraft crowd, at one time wave runners to most recently pontoon boats. Yes I heard all the stories of the two "best days of my life"......when I bought my boat, and when I sold my boat! At this point I'll just wait for my family or friends to take me out when they join the club!
I can't help but think today that in years past we'd be setting up camp at Adventureland in Des Moines for a week about now, then onto Davenport for both family reunions after that. With all that's happen in our country this past year and some of the feeling not shared by some, this is going to be bitter sweet to some. I just hope both reunions have the same and even more enthusiasm as the past few years. I'm a firm believer we need to keep these family units and gatherings going strong especially for the little one to know their extended families. Hope to see a lot of pictures from my nieces and nephews of these gatherings in the days following on FB etc.
Well the library is closed here on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays, so our wifi today is Bev's hotspot while taking up space in a McDonalds......get me out of here!!
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Golf day 2 of day 4 of the journey.
Played golf again today, this time an 18 hole course, Emerald Canyon Golf club Parker, AZ. A very slow round with back-ups on each hole of a few minutes, but who's in a hurry right? Interesting course, back in the canyons of the river and lakes of Havasu area.
With the lack of wifi at the camp site, here we are at the library once more taking care of business. I haven't visited a library since last years journey, what a great place to get this stuff done. As you may have seen on the FB page, it's time for a BOMB or two when we get back to the coach. The next two days will most likely be just relaxing around the camp and getting ready to hit some cooler temperatures heading west.
This will be very short, just adding this because I'm here in the Parker, AZ library waiting for Bev to finish her work for the day. It's hot here and we need to start heading towards the coast this weekend....................see ya later.
With the lack of wifi at the camp site, here we are at the library once more taking care of business. I haven't visited a library since last years journey, what a great place to get this stuff done. As you may have seen on the FB page, it's time for a BOMB or two when we get back to the coach. The next two days will most likely be just relaxing around the camp and getting ready to hit some cooler temperatures heading west.
This will be very short, just adding this because I'm here in the Parker, AZ library waiting for Bev to finish her work for the day. It's hot here and we need to start heading towards the coast this weekend....................see ya later.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
2017...Our summer journey begins
We begin on May 29th, 2017 and for the first time since taking these journeys we head west out of town rather than towards the east. We're going to hate missing the Anderson and the Ackelson reunions this year, but after last years marathon of 9000 miles and covering from the Midwest to the South, to the Southeast and back to the Midwest before finally heading home, we're sticking to the West. As members of Colorado Rivers Adventures RV resorts our first few weeks will be cost free for the camping with full-hookups and many great services. First stop Havasu Springs RV Resort for a week...........but dude we're starting off in the summer heat of Arizona! Havasu Springs is a pretty nice facility with a very challenging executive golf course (made perfect for mountain goats though), it's a nine hole "walking only" course up and down very steep hills. Maybe I'll attach a picture of a couple of the holes, very picturesque for sure. From here it's into California and a place called Cherry Valley RV resort for another week or so of free camping through the CRA club.
As you may or may not remember, Bev does do a little work in the mornings while on these journeys and internet/WiFi is a must for her.............not much here and that's the only downfall. Today we've drove into Parker, AZ. to spend some time in the library to take care of her work and my blogging and catching up on FB etc. As you might imagine, a very nice quiet place to get all these things done.
It's times like this that I/we can't imagine the way it was before internet and all the gadgets we depend so much on today. Some of you will be happy that I can't be on FB very often this first week, even though I believe I've toned down the political crap by a lot and still trying to refrain for the most part. Anyway, this is the first installment of my blog for this journey of 2017 and I hope whomever checks them out over the next 3-4 months enjoy reading about our travels and adventures.
Havasu Springs Resort Golf club
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