If you read our blog you know that when our visit with Bob and Linda came to an end, one of our leveling jacks wouldn't come up. I of course blamed on bad Bob. Linda commented that bad things happen in 3's, but i ignored her because I'm not the superstitious type.
We traveled on to Rockport where on Friday we received a call from our bank. It seems that someone stole our credit card info so they were canceling our cards. Strike 2. Of course new cards couldn't be shipped out till Monday, so we changed plans and stayed put until the new cards arrived yesterday. No big deal, and the cards arrived when they said they would.
This morning we paid our bill and when I went to hook up the Explorer I noticed we had a problem. Somehow the electrical cable which goes to our toad was missing. I apparently didn't tuck it away under the hood and it fell on the ground and we ran over it, or something like that. A quick stop at Walmart for some wire and a plug and a few crimped connections in the pouring rain and we were ready to hookup. Strike 3.
Now where is that pin? Yes we were missing one of the connecting pins for our tow bar. I have never lost one in all our years of Rving, but this was the morning. Fortunately I do have a spare and after digging it out we were hooked up and on our way. Strike 4.
We are now safely parked for a few days in Huston at the Elks Lodge. Full hookups, concrete pad, and level. Maybe we should stay here until it's time to head back to Michigan. See Linda, bad things don't happen in 3's, they happen in 4's. Oh well life happens and you deal with it.
Until later
P.S And I didn't even mention how we had to unhook and turn the RV around on a 2 lane street without going in the ditch. After everything else today that seemed like no big deal.
Feb 6, 2013
Jan 31, 2013
Retama Village top 10 list
We are currently hanging out in a small rv park in Rockport TX. Yesterday I poked fun at "Bad Bob" so I wanted to follow up and talk about how much we enjoyed our stay there. The 10 days we were there went by much too quickly. I decided to sum it up by giving a David Letterman type top 10 list. So here goes.....counting down from number 10
10. Happy hour. Every evening around 5 we gathered for wine and a few snacks
9. The warm weather. 80 in January is great.
8. Shorts. When it's 80 you get to wear shorts and T shirts.
7. Getting to help with Bob and Linda's coach house. Brushed up on my electrical and plumbing skills.
6. Made some new friends. We got to know Roger and Diane better, and met Jim and Val from Canada
5. Bike riding. We finally made use of those bikes we've been carting around.
4. Open house. On Friday we attended their annual open house and got to see how everyone finished off their coach house.
3. Went to a wine tasting featuring Spanish wines.
2. Went on a boat cruise on the Rio Grande
And drum roll please.........
Number one on our list was just spending time with our good friends Bob and Linda.
Thank you for such a good time.
Until later
10. Happy hour. Every evening around 5 we gathered for wine and a few snacks
9. The warm weather. 80 in January is great.
8. Shorts. When it's 80 you get to wear shorts and T shirts.
7. Getting to help with Bob and Linda's coach house. Brushed up on my electrical and plumbing skills.
6. Made some new friends. We got to know Roger and Diane better, and met Jim and Val from Canada
5. Bike riding. We finally made use of those bikes we've been carting around.
4. Open house. On Friday we attended their annual open house and got to see how everyone finished off their coach house.
3. Went to a wine tasting featuring Spanish wines.
2. Went on a boat cruise on the Rio Grande
And drum roll please.........
Number one on our list was just spending time with our good friends Bob and Linda.
Thank you for such a good time.
Until later
Jan 30, 2013
Bad Bob, Mexican Train, and the Tifffin Flu
This is a strange story, full of twists and turns, so pay close attention.
Our time at Retama was coming to an end. We had a reservation in Rockport and someone else was moving into our spot at Retama. But let me back up to Monday.
Monday afternoon Bob and Linda treated us to a wonderful lunch at Riverside club on the banks of the Rio Grande. We were literally 50 yards from Mexico. Safe and secure with Boder Patrol both above us, and on the river, we enjoyed a couple of pitchers of margaritas and a big plate of Nachos.
Monday evening was to be our last meal together and since we had yet to play Mexican train, we invited Bob and LInda over. Judy fixed Salmon and Lobster pinwheels with a nice salad, sweet potatoe fries, and of course a nice white wine from Northern Michigan. After desert, the game began. What I didn't realize is that Bob would soon turn into Bad Bob. You can find his version of the evening on their blog, but the fact is I whipped him bad. He even tried to get us drunk with some wonderful Creme de Tequila. I of course let him win a few rounds, since they have been such great hosts, but all in all it wasn't pretty for Bad Bob...
A few hours after he had conceded defeat and slunk off to lick his wounds we got ready for bed. During the night I thought I heard some noise under the coach, but with all the talk of feral cats around Retama I just figured someone had forgot to feed them.
The next morning we prepared to leave. You know the routine, put away the grill and chairs, unhook the hoses, pull in the slide, all the usual stuff. We started the engine, I hit the button to retract the jacks and that's when it became apparent that we had been hit with the Tiffin flu. We have 3 leveling jacks on our coach, one in the front and 2 in the back. It was apparent that the driver's side rear jack would not come up.
If you are a serious rv'r you no doubt have heard of this. I recently read of an outbreak in Quartzsite which stranded several Tiffin coaches when their leveling jacks would not retract. So here's what I think happened. There are more Tiffin coaches at Retama than any other brand.
Bad Bob the sore looser snuck over during the night with some of the Tiffin virus and some how infected our coach. We have never had a problem before, but being that she is going on 15 years old (50 years in RV years) and she has not had her flu shot, I think she is vulnerable. In spite of giving her fluids, and letting her rest she still couldn't retract the jack.
Fortunately Bad Bod's wonderful wife Linda stepped up and found a Doc who still makes house calls. After a thorough examination and a few adjustments she finally responded. However she is not to use her jacks until we see our Primary Care Giver. Until then we have to park on level spots so she can rest up. After paying the Doc we hooked up and were on our way.
At least that's my story.
Until Later
Our time at Retama was coming to an end. We had a reservation in Rockport and someone else was moving into our spot at Retama. But let me back up to Monday.
Monday afternoon Bob and Linda treated us to a wonderful lunch at Riverside club on the banks of the Rio Grande. We were literally 50 yards from Mexico. Safe and secure with Boder Patrol both above us, and on the river, we enjoyed a couple of pitchers of margaritas and a big plate of Nachos.
Monday evening was to be our last meal together and since we had yet to play Mexican train, we invited Bob and LInda over. Judy fixed Salmon and Lobster pinwheels with a nice salad, sweet potatoe fries, and of course a nice white wine from Northern Michigan. After desert, the game began. What I didn't realize is that Bob would soon turn into Bad Bob. You can find his version of the evening on their blog, but the fact is I whipped him bad. He even tried to get us drunk with some wonderful Creme de Tequila. I of course let him win a few rounds, since they have been such great hosts, but all in all it wasn't pretty for Bad Bob...
A few hours after he had conceded defeat and slunk off to lick his wounds we got ready for bed. During the night I thought I heard some noise under the coach, but with all the talk of feral cats around Retama I just figured someone had forgot to feed them.
The next morning we prepared to leave. You know the routine, put away the grill and chairs, unhook the hoses, pull in the slide, all the usual stuff. We started the engine, I hit the button to retract the jacks and that's when it became apparent that we had been hit with the Tiffin flu. We have 3 leveling jacks on our coach, one in the front and 2 in the back. It was apparent that the driver's side rear jack would not come up.
If you are a serious rv'r you no doubt have heard of this. I recently read of an outbreak in Quartzsite which stranded several Tiffin coaches when their leveling jacks would not retract. So here's what I think happened. There are more Tiffin coaches at Retama than any other brand.
Bad Bob the sore looser snuck over during the night with some of the Tiffin virus and some how infected our coach. We have never had a problem before, but being that she is going on 15 years old (50 years in RV years) and she has not had her flu shot, I think she is vulnerable. In spite of giving her fluids, and letting her rest she still couldn't retract the jack.
Fortunately Bad Bod's wonderful wife Linda stepped up and found a Doc who still makes house calls. After a thorough examination and a few adjustments she finally responded. However she is not to use her jacks until we see our Primary Care Giver. Until then we have to park on level spots so she can rest up. After paying the Doc we hooked up and were on our way.
At least that's my story.
Until Later
Jan 24, 2013
I've hired someone else to write my blog
Since Bob did such a good job telling what we did yesterday, I'll just direct you to his.
http://because-we-can.net/Because_We_Can/Journals/journal130123.html
until later
http://because-we-can.net/Because_We_Can/Journals/journal130123.html
until later
Jan 22, 2013
On a Mission
Actually we are in Mission Tx. We are at Retama Village for 10 days. We are here visiting our friends Bob and Linda. Yesterday was Judy's birthday. Bob and Linda made sure she had a good time. Me....well Bob just put me to work. That's ok since I have a toilet project and according to Linda, Bob knows more about what goes into a toilet than anyone else so I figure can fix ours....
Since I'm on vacation if you want to see pics from yesterday go here.
http://because-we-can.net/Because_We_Can/Journals/journal130121.html
Until later
Since I'm on vacation if you want to see pics from yesterday go here.
http://because-we-can.net/Because_We_Can/Journals/journal130121.html
Until later
Jan 16, 2013
Weekend in San Antonio
We spent 3 days in San Antonio. We stayed at the Elks on the north side next to an even older American Eagle. Electric hookup only but since we came in with a full water tank and empty holding tanks, it was no problem. It was a good time to get stocked up and and few housekeeping things taken care of. We managed to fit in a nice walk and lunch downtown on the riverwalk and Mollie got a haircut. We also found the local Trader Joes and Whole Foods so we are stocked up to head further south. Maybe we can find some warmer weather. So far it's not much different than back in Michigan.
Jan 10, 2013
15 miles
It has been raining a lot the last couple days but it didn't stop us from making a few day trips. Monday we went to Austin to the flagship Whole Foods store. I went to have coffee with a photographer who's blog I have followed for several years and Judy to shop. Both of us had a great time.
Tuesday we had lunch with a friend that we hadn't seen in over 30 years in Marble Falls. Facebook can be a wonderful tool to contact friends from the past.
We have had over 3 inches of rain in just a couple days. I have been concerned about a leak that we have not been able to fix in our roof. I have spent several hundred dollars having various "experts" trying to fix it. Before we left Michigan my buddy Stan took a try. After driving through snow, sleet and heavy rain I am happy to report we finally have a dry coach. Good work Stan, and I owe you big time.
Yesterday we made a pilgrimage to one of our favorite restaurants, Salt Lick BBQ. We came home with enough leftovers for another meal.
Today our week was up at the park we were staying at, and even though we are not quite ready to leave this area we decided to move. Between an unlevel site and very poor cell phone reception we decided to move. Not far, only 15 miles. Thanks Thom for the recommendation.
Until later
Tuesday we had lunch with a friend that we hadn't seen in over 30 years in Marble Falls. Facebook can be a wonderful tool to contact friends from the past.
We have had over 3 inches of rain in just a couple days. I have been concerned about a leak that we have not been able to fix in our roof. I have spent several hundred dollars having various "experts" trying to fix it. Before we left Michigan my buddy Stan took a try. After driving through snow, sleet and heavy rain I am happy to report we finally have a dry coach. Good work Stan, and I owe you big time.
Yesterday we made a pilgrimage to one of our favorite restaurants, Salt Lick BBQ. We came home with enough leftovers for another meal.
Today our week was up at the park we were staying at, and even though we are not quite ready to leave this area we decided to move. Between an unlevel site and very poor cell phone reception we decided to move. Not far, only 15 miles. Thanks Thom for the recommendation.
Until later
Jan 7, 2013
A beautiful day in the Hills
Yesterday morning we drove to Johnson City to have breakfast with some fellow RVers Thom and Dar. We last saw them in Portland so it was nice to catch up on things. It took us almost three hours to solve most of our country's problems. We did save a few problems to work on till our next visit.
We then drove to Fredericksburg to go to the Nimitz museum. Our friends Bob and Linda volunteered here a few years ago. Well worth seeing, but I wish Bob had been our tour guide.
We were going to go to Cranky Franks for lunch but got there too late for lunch, so we headed back to the RV. Just another nice day in the hill country.
Until later
We then drove to Fredericksburg to go to the Nimitz museum. Our friends Bob and Linda volunteered here a few years ago. Well worth seeing, but I wish Bob had been our tour guide.
We were going to go to Cranky Franks for lunch but got there too late for lunch, so we headed back to the RV. Just another nice day in the hill country.
Until later
Jan 4, 2013
Hiding out in the Hills
Well, we changed our plans a bit. Instead of stopping in Waco we continued south to the Texas hill country between Austin and Fredericksburg. We are going to hang out here for a week or so. Time to wash up, stock up on a few provisions, and maybe sneak in a little texas bbq.
Until later
Until later
Jan 3, 2013
Crystal Bridges
When we left snowy Michigan we did not take our normal route south. Instead we headed towards St Louis and then SW from there. Our reason for doing this was to stop in Bentonville AR to visit a new world class art museum.
Founded by one of the heirs to the Walton (Walmart) fortunes, Crystal Bridges is indeed worth a detour. I won't bore you with the details, but a quick Google search will get you all the info you need. If you are interested in American art it's worth a visit. And best of all it's free.
Founded by one of the heirs to the Walton (Walmart) fortunes, Crystal Bridges is indeed worth a detour. I won't bore you with the details, but a quick Google search will get you all the info you need. If you are interested in American art it's worth a visit. And best of all it's free.
Almost to Texas
We spent the night on the border of OK and Texas. Nice little Rv park, passport rates and as an added bonus a busy rail line 50 yards behind our Rv. On to Waco today.
Until later
Until later
Dec 30, 2012
Spending the night in Cuba
This is why we we hate leaving in the winter. We definitely have some washing to do when we get a little warmer. At least there's no snow here in Cuba Missouri.
Dec 29, 2012
On the road again
After almost a year we limbered up the old Rv and are on the road again, at least for a couple months. Of course we left just as the snow arrived, but we are snug as a bug tonight in Remington Indiana. Mollie seems to have settled right into her old routines.
Till later
Till later
Dec 23, 2011
Just in the NICK of time
I know there are those of you out there having difficulties. Our friends Bob and Linda are still playing the "Norcold not Cold" game, and poor Nick can't find seat straps for his kayak, and even Howard can't find anything to write about. But all of these pale in comparison to our difficulties.
Just over a year ago we discovered what may be the best way to make coffee. It's called an AeroPress. Yes, I am addicted to coffee. But not just any coffee. It has to start with good beans, then made into an espresso strength elixir, and finally diluted with hot water. In coffee circles it's known as an Americano.
Our beloved Aeropress has served us faithfully for over a year. But lately it has been showing it's age, although I will admit I expected it to last longer than a year. The chamber wall became rough and the seal on the plunger started to leak and no I'm not talking about our toilet. Actually we had the seal replaced on our toilet last year, but I digress.
By now I'm sure you are saying, "no problem just get a new one, or order one on Amazon". Therein lies the problem. The Aeropress is hard to find, and as many of you know unless you are staying in an accommodating RV park, getting things shipped is a hassle. As a last resort we even hauled out an old French Press, but it just isn't the same.
We are currently at a wonderful Santa Barbara County park about 10 miles from the little towns of Solvang and Los Olivos, so this morning we headed out in search of the elusive Aeropress. We soon discovered that the Danes in Solvang are not serious coffee drinkers. Oh they drink coffee with all their wonderful pastries, but not the kind of coffee I'm wanting. We moved on to Los Olivos, another wonderful little town full of wine tasting rooms, but again no Aeropress. After a detour to support the local wine making economy we stopped at a little grocery store in Santa Ynez named El Rancho Market to pick up a few things for our upcoming feast day. As Judy was looking for a few special ingredients I wandered over to the coffee isle and what did I find?
There sitting all by itself on a shelf, my shiny new Aeropress. So tomorrow morning I can make myself the perfect cup of coffee, and peruse my blog list and find out all the important stuff going on in the world. You know the really important stuff, like is Bob and Linda's Norcold cold? And who's "moochdocking" with whom? All is right with the world once again.
Until later.
Just over a year ago we discovered what may be the best way to make coffee. It's called an AeroPress. Yes, I am addicted to coffee. But not just any coffee. It has to start with good beans, then made into an espresso strength elixir, and finally diluted with hot water. In coffee circles it's known as an Americano.
Our beloved Aeropress has served us faithfully for over a year. But lately it has been showing it's age, although I will admit I expected it to last longer than a year. The chamber wall became rough and the seal on the plunger started to leak and no I'm not talking about our toilet. Actually we had the seal replaced on our toilet last year, but I digress.
By now I'm sure you are saying, "no problem just get a new one, or order one on Amazon". Therein lies the problem. The Aeropress is hard to find, and as many of you know unless you are staying in an accommodating RV park, getting things shipped is a hassle. As a last resort we even hauled out an old French Press, but it just isn't the same.
We are currently at a wonderful Santa Barbara County park about 10 miles from the little towns of Solvang and Los Olivos, so this morning we headed out in search of the elusive Aeropress. We soon discovered that the Danes in Solvang are not serious coffee drinkers. Oh they drink coffee with all their wonderful pastries, but not the kind of coffee I'm wanting. We moved on to Los Olivos, another wonderful little town full of wine tasting rooms, but again no Aeropress. After a detour to support the local wine making economy we stopped at a little grocery store in Santa Ynez named El Rancho Market to pick up a few things for our upcoming feast day. As Judy was looking for a few special ingredients I wandered over to the coffee isle and what did I find?
There sitting all by itself on a shelf, my shiny new Aeropress. So tomorrow morning I can make myself the perfect cup of coffee, and peruse my blog list and find out all the important stuff going on in the world. You know the really important stuff, like is Bob and Linda's Norcold cold? And who's "moochdocking" with whom? All is right with the world once again.
Until later.
Dec 15, 2011
ELEPHANT SEALS, AND ZEBRAS, OH MY!!
Every year thousands of Elephant Seals arrive at the Piedras Blancas
beach in San Simeon to give birth and breed. The males begin arriving in
late November and the females in December, with the first birth usually happening somewhere between the 15th and the 20th.
We have visited the Elephant seals on previous visits to the Central Coast but never in December and we were curious to see if any pups had been born yet. So we loaded ourselves and Mollie in the car and headed over to the coast for the afternoon.
Highway 46 West is the most direct route to the coast from Paso Robles and is an absolutely beautiful drive. But most of the time when we head to the coast we take a detour and go the road less traveled route. Driving on Santa Rosa Creek Road can take 2-3 times longer but we love the back roads and the scenery is breathtaking as the road climbs up and over the mountain range and down into the small coastal town of Cambria.
John stopped to photograph some old farm equipment and as he was taking the picture he heard some galloping in the distance. He looked up and was startled to realize that a horse was running directly towards him.
He just wanted to say Hi!
After driving through Cambria and getting onto Highway 1, we headed north where we were surprised to see this group of Zebras grazing along the fence.
The beach had a few adult seals resting and basking in the sun but there were no baby seals yet. The docent I spoke with said that pups have been born as early as December 14th but they were still waiting for the first pup to be born this season. Thousands of pups are born here each year and by late January the beach will be covered with seals.
We stopped and had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants in this area, Moonstone Beach Grill.
A fish and chips platter for John and carnitas tacos for me. Delicious food and a priceless view!
After a quick stop in Cambria for some coffee to go we made our way out of town and headed home.
Highway 46 East is again the easiest and fastest route back to Paso Robles but we were still feeling adventurous, so after a few miles we detoured off of the highway onto the Old Canyon Road, headed south towards Whale Rock Reservoir, keeping an eye out for Santa Rita Road which heads east back towards town.
Slow, one lane and at times unpaved, it is a feast for the eyes and the soul. We slowly drove along and at times going no faster than 15 mph, carefully watching for oncoming traffic. Of course on this road there isn't much traffic. I think we only encountered 3 or 4 vehicles in the 11 miles of twisting, curvy roads. Fun!
That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by.
- Judy
We have visited the Elephant seals on previous visits to the Central Coast but never in December and we were curious to see if any pups had been born yet. So we loaded ourselves and Mollie in the car and headed over to the coast for the afternoon.
Highway 46 West is the most direct route to the coast from Paso Robles and is an absolutely beautiful drive. But most of the time when we head to the coast we take a detour and go the road less traveled route. Driving on Santa Rosa Creek Road can take 2-3 times longer but we love the back roads and the scenery is breathtaking as the road climbs up and over the mountain range and down into the small coastal town of Cambria.
John stopped to photograph some old farm equipment and as he was taking the picture he heard some galloping in the distance. He looked up and was startled to realize that a horse was running directly towards him.
After driving through Cambria and getting onto Highway 1, we headed north where we were surprised to see this group of Zebras grazing along the fence.
The beach had a few adult seals resting and basking in the sun but there were no baby seals yet. The docent I spoke with said that pups have been born as early as December 14th but they were still waiting for the first pup to be born this season. Thousands of pups are born here each year and by late January the beach will be covered with seals.
We stopped and had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants in this area, Moonstone Beach Grill.
A fish and chips platter for John and carnitas tacos for me. Delicious food and a priceless view!
After a quick stop in Cambria for some coffee to go we made our way out of town and headed home.
Highway 46 East is again the easiest and fastest route back to Paso Robles but we were still feeling adventurous, so after a few miles we detoured off of the highway onto the Old Canyon Road, headed south towards Whale Rock Reservoir, keeping an eye out for Santa Rita Road which heads east back towards town.
Slow, one lane and at times unpaved, it is a feast for the eyes and the soul. We slowly drove along and at times going no faster than 15 mph, carefully watching for oncoming traffic. Of course on this road there isn't much traffic. I think we only encountered 3 or 4 vehicles in the 11 miles of twisting, curvy roads. Fun!
That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by.
- Judy
Dec 12, 2011
WINEING
Elks Lodge rv park
Atascadero, CA
12/6 - 12/17, 2011
Posted by Judy
While John takes a blogging break, I thought I would jump in and let everyone know where we are and what we have been doing.
A week ago we made the short drive from Salinas to just south of Paso Robles. Without question, this is one of our favorite areas to visit and explore. The area surrounded by rolling hills (or huggable hills as I like to call them), is about an hours drive from the ocean, and is smack dab in the middle of one of the best wine regions in the country.
As new Elks members, we are able to stay at the local Elks rv park this year and this particular park has full hookups and 50 amp electric, which is definitely an added bonus. It has turned out to be a very convenient location for touring wineries and driving to the coast, and is just a few miles from one of our favorite stores, Trader Joes! In fact we like it here so much that we have extended our stay by another 5 nights.
This past week we drove over to Lowes and found a small table top tree. With a string of lights and some inexpensive ornaments we now have a festive Christmas tree sitting in our front window.
Yesterday and again today we took a break from wine tasting and exploring and just stayed close to home. I finished up a couple of knitting projects and we finished wrapping and packing gifts that we were mailing to family in Michigan. After the boxes were mailed and sent on their way, we did a little organizing and purging of the motor home and even managed to fill a box with a few items for the local thrift shop. We can now see most of the floor again!
This evening was BBQ ribs night at the Lodge so we walked over there and enjoyed some wonderful, tender, Santa Maria style ribs served with pinquito beans and tossed salad. Ribs so good, they didn't need any sauce!!
That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by.
Atascadero, CA
12/6 - 12/17, 2011
Posted by Judy
While John takes a blogging break, I thought I would jump in and let everyone know where we are and what we have been doing.
A week ago we made the short drive from Salinas to just south of Paso Robles. Without question, this is one of our favorite areas to visit and explore. The area surrounded by rolling hills (or huggable hills as I like to call them), is about an hours drive from the ocean, and is smack dab in the middle of one of the best wine regions in the country.
As new Elks members, we are able to stay at the local Elks rv park this year and this particular park has full hookups and 50 amp electric, which is definitely an added bonus. It has turned out to be a very convenient location for touring wineries and driving to the coast, and is just a few miles from one of our favorite stores, Trader Joes! In fact we like it here so much that we have extended our stay by another 5 nights.
This past week we drove over to Lowes and found a small table top tree. With a string of lights and some inexpensive ornaments we now have a festive Christmas tree sitting in our front window.
Yesterday and again today we took a break from wine tasting and exploring and just stayed close to home. I finished up a couple of knitting projects and we finished wrapping and packing gifts that we were mailing to family in Michigan. After the boxes were mailed and sent on their way, we did a little organizing and purging of the motor home and even managed to fill a box with a few items for the local thrift shop. We can now see most of the floor again!
This evening was BBQ ribs night at the Lodge so we walked over there and enjoyed some wonderful, tender, Santa Maria style ribs served with pinquito beans and tossed salad. Ribs so good, they didn't need any sauce!!
That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by.
Dec 2, 2011
NOTES FROM THE NORTHWEST
According to my wife, a few family members and the large audience of faithful readers.... (at least 3) have inquired about our whereabouts and well being. So here is the bullet point version of what we have been up to for the last month.
1. Had car repaired. It was more expensive than I thought. Two thousand dollars. I have to say that Allied Insurance and the body shop were great to work with.
2. Went to the Evergreen Aviation and Space museum in McMinnville to see the Spruce Goose.
3. Joined the Elks.
4. Had Thanksgiving with family.
Oh, did I forget to mention it rained. It rained some more. It kept raining. It rained so much that we had moss and mildew growing in our window seals. It rained so much even Mollie refused to go outside. She just sat by the door with her legs crossed hoping for the rain to at least let up long enough for her to take care of business.
We also got to follow the antics of the Occupy Portland movement. Based on what we saw on television I'm not really sure what they accomplished except to destroy a couple of beautiful parks and leave the taxpayers with several million dollars in repairs and overtime bills, not to mention the lost business for the local merchants.
I do understand the frustration that people are feeling right now, but there must be a better way to work for change. As a small business owner I am only too aware of our current governmental policies and lack of leadership. I don't care whether you are Republican or Democrat, I think we can all agree that there is a giant void between most of us and Washington. There that is my political rant for the rest of the year. By the way did I mention it rained a lot in Portland.
We were packed up and hit the road while the part of Portland that wasn't protesting was shopping. We were rewarded by our effort with a beautiful sunny day. Wow Oregon is a pretty state when it stops raining. Our first night found us in Yreka Ca. at a convenient but expensive park just off the highway. Our second night found us in Chico Ca. We decided to try out the Elks rv park. We paid half the price as the night before, and were just as happy, so happy that we stayed two nights. We then moved south to the Escapees park in Coarsegold. We were here to visit Yosemite and did make one trip up to the park. We had planned to go back, but with the high winds predicted, decided it would be best to stay home. Other than losing power for a few hours the wind didn't really bother us. I won't bore you with the details, since the national media covered the story pretty well. I think because this park was built into the side of a hill, we were protected from the heaviest of the winds. Just south of us in Fresno it was a very different scene.
This morning we decided it was time to see the coast so we hooked up and headed west. We made a quick stop in Medera to fill our propane tank and enjoyed the drive in the sun. Things were going smoothly, too smoothly as it turned out. We were less than 15 miles from our destination when our GPS thought it would be fun to mix things up a bit. Normally I cross check our directions with Google map before we leave, but neglected to this morning. Our GPS decided to take us the shortest way, not the fastest. Never mind that the short route went up the side of a mountain.
Those of you that know me know that I am pretty fearless, or foolhardy depending on your point of view, when it comes to taking our 40 foot motorhome and towed Explorer down narrow country roads. Well I think this may have been the most daring or foolhardy thing I've done in a long time. By the time I decided this wasn't a good idea there was no room to turn around. In fact there was barely enough room to go forward. So for the next 10 miles we crept up the one side of the mountain and down the other. I'm sure the 3 or 4 cars that met us wondered who the fool was that decided to take a motorhome on this road. So I'll finish by saying that if you find yourself in California, a little north of Salinas, you might want to avoid taking the San Juan Canyon road otherwise known as the Old Stage road. Just saying....
We did manage to find our way to the Salinas Elks where we are safely secured for a few days. So now you know what the TireSwing gang has been up to. By the way, did I mention it rains a lot in Portland.
Until later.
1. Had car repaired. It was more expensive than I thought. Two thousand dollars. I have to say that Allied Insurance and the body shop were great to work with.
2. Went to the Evergreen Aviation and Space museum in McMinnville to see the Spruce Goose.
3. Joined the Elks.
4. Had Thanksgiving with family.
Oh, did I forget to mention it rained. It rained some more. It kept raining. It rained so much that we had moss and mildew growing in our window seals. It rained so much even Mollie refused to go outside. She just sat by the door with her legs crossed hoping for the rain to at least let up long enough for her to take care of business.
We also got to follow the antics of the Occupy Portland movement. Based on what we saw on television I'm not really sure what they accomplished except to destroy a couple of beautiful parks and leave the taxpayers with several million dollars in repairs and overtime bills, not to mention the lost business for the local merchants.
I do understand the frustration that people are feeling right now, but there must be a better way to work for change. As a small business owner I am only too aware of our current governmental policies and lack of leadership. I don't care whether you are Republican or Democrat, I think we can all agree that there is a giant void between most of us and Washington. There that is my political rant for the rest of the year. By the way did I mention it rained a lot in Portland.
We were packed up and hit the road while the part of Portland that wasn't protesting was shopping. We were rewarded by our effort with a beautiful sunny day. Wow Oregon is a pretty state when it stops raining. Our first night found us in Yreka Ca. at a convenient but expensive park just off the highway. Our second night found us in Chico Ca. We decided to try out the Elks rv park. We paid half the price as the night before, and were just as happy, so happy that we stayed two nights. We then moved south to the Escapees park in Coarsegold. We were here to visit Yosemite and did make one trip up to the park. We had planned to go back, but with the high winds predicted, decided it would be best to stay home. Other than losing power for a few hours the wind didn't really bother us. I won't bore you with the details, since the national media covered the story pretty well. I think because this park was built into the side of a hill, we were protected from the heaviest of the winds. Just south of us in Fresno it was a very different scene.
This morning we decided it was time to see the coast so we hooked up and headed west. We made a quick stop in Medera to fill our propane tank and enjoyed the drive in the sun. Things were going smoothly, too smoothly as it turned out. We were less than 15 miles from our destination when our GPS thought it would be fun to mix things up a bit. Normally I cross check our directions with Google map before we leave, but neglected to this morning. Our GPS decided to take us the shortest way, not the fastest. Never mind that the short route went up the side of a mountain.
Those of you that know me know that I am pretty fearless, or foolhardy depending on your point of view, when it comes to taking our 40 foot motorhome and towed Explorer down narrow country roads. Well I think this may have been the most daring or foolhardy thing I've done in a long time. By the time I decided this wasn't a good idea there was no room to turn around. In fact there was barely enough room to go forward. So for the next 10 miles we crept up the one side of the mountain and down the other. I'm sure the 3 or 4 cars that met us wondered who the fool was that decided to take a motorhome on this road. So I'll finish by saying that if you find yourself in California, a little north of Salinas, you might want to avoid taking the San Juan Canyon road otherwise known as the Old Stage road. Just saying....
We did manage to find our way to the Salinas Elks where we are safely secured for a few days. So now you know what the TireSwing gang has been up to. By the way, did I mention it rains a lot in Portland.
Until later.
Oct 23, 2011
Sorry Officer, I didn't get the license number
Well it finally happened to us. The kind of thing you hear about on the news and that only happens to someone else.
We are currently staying in Silverton, Oregon and since the weather cleared this afternoon we decided to go find Silver Falls State Park. We arrived too late to really take advantage of the trails but made plans to come back this week.
On our way back to Silverton we were on a tight, twisty, two lane road. We were not in any hurry but driving close to the speed limit. I noticed two cars coming up on us at a rapid rate. I could tell they were impatient to pass us, but with all the twists and turns it was all marked as a no passing zone. Finally the first car made a quick move and was by us. I noticed that it was a bunch of kids. That's ok, we all were impatient when we were young.
What happened next though was just plain stupid. The second car decided he needed to catch up with his friends and decided to pass me on a blind curve. What he didn't see was the on coming pickup truck. I hit the brakes, the pickup truck swerved, and the driver of an older mustang tried to split in between. He didn't make it. He did avoid the pickup but scraped along the side of our Explorer. And then...... he drove off. He had to have known he hit us, but he just drove off. In shock, I pulled over to see what damage was done. While we were standing there the pickup driver who he had almost hit head on pulled up. He had turned around to make sure we were ok. We were happy to see he was ok and exchanged info, and he went on his way.
We did call 911, and also talked to the Oregon State Police.. Of course it all happened so fast that we didn't get a license number. With just a description of the vehicle there is little they can do, but I will say they were very professional, and wanted to make sure that we were ok.
It was one of those moments that you are once again reminded that God reached in and intervened. And for that we are grateful. What could have been a tragic accident is now just an unpleasant memory. It appears that the damage is minor, and will probably be less than our deductible. I have to remember, it's only stuff and stuff can be fixed or replaced. With a life, not so much.
Until later.
We are currently staying in Silverton, Oregon and since the weather cleared this afternoon we decided to go find Silver Falls State Park. We arrived too late to really take advantage of the trails but made plans to come back this week.
On our way back to Silverton we were on a tight, twisty, two lane road. We were not in any hurry but driving close to the speed limit. I noticed two cars coming up on us at a rapid rate. I could tell they were impatient to pass us, but with all the twists and turns it was all marked as a no passing zone. Finally the first car made a quick move and was by us. I noticed that it was a bunch of kids. That's ok, we all were impatient when we were young.
What happened next though was just plain stupid. The second car decided he needed to catch up with his friends and decided to pass me on a blind curve. What he didn't see was the on coming pickup truck. I hit the brakes, the pickup truck swerved, and the driver of an older mustang tried to split in between. He didn't make it. He did avoid the pickup but scraped along the side of our Explorer. And then...... he drove off. He had to have known he hit us, but he just drove off. In shock, I pulled over to see what damage was done. While we were standing there the pickup driver who he had almost hit head on pulled up. He had turned around to make sure we were ok. We were happy to see he was ok and exchanged info, and he went on his way.
We did call 911, and also talked to the Oregon State Police.. Of course it all happened so fast that we didn't get a license number. With just a description of the vehicle there is little they can do, but I will say they were very professional, and wanted to make sure that we were ok.
It was one of those moments that you are once again reminded that God reached in and intervened. And for that we are grateful. What could have been a tragic accident is now just an unpleasant memory. It appears that the damage is minor, and will probably be less than our deductible. I have to remember, it's only stuff and stuff can be fixed or replaced. With a life, not so much.
Until later.
Oct 19, 2011
Just hanging somewhere between Boring and Idiotville
We are currently hanging out in the Pacific Northwest and yes there really are towns in northwest Oregon by those names.
We were in Portland for three weeks before moving a little south. We have 2 married daughters and 2 grand kids there and there was lots of visiting and eating out and even a sleepover with the grand kids on the RV.
Strange how we can go a couple of weeks without eating out when we are by ourselves. But if you are a confirmed foodie, like I am, then Portland is the place to be. We have sampled Vietnamese, Mexican, German, Mediterranean, Micro Brewery Pub Grub, French, Thai, Gluten free pizza, and of course several great home cooked meals.
We were in Portland for three weeks before moving a little south. We have 2 married daughters and 2 grand kids there and there was lots of visiting and eating out and even a sleepover with the grand kids on the RV.
Strange how we can go a couple of weeks without eating out when we are by ourselves. But if you are a confirmed foodie, like I am, then Portland is the place to be. We have sampled Vietnamese, Mexican, German, Mediterranean, Micro Brewery Pub Grub, French, Thai, Gluten free pizza, and of course several great home cooked meals.
We also made some new friends while in town. For years we have followed Thom and Dar. They are from the Midwest like us and also, like us, have kids in the Pacific Northwest. We have never been able to meet up until now. While our visit was short, we enjoyed our time together and look forward to our next visit.
We also met Jeri and Terry, you can read about their travels at Just Wanderin. We have followed each other for a couple of years, and when Jeri emailed us about getting together we jumped at the chance. They are from the Pacific Northwest and are getting ready to head south. They brought another couple, Carol and Steve with them to join us for lunch. They are from Oklahoma and were staying at the Elks in Vancouver with Jeri and Terry.
We hope to meet up with both couples again in a couple of months in a warmer climate. Speaking of the Elks, since we are going to be here in the Portland area until Thanksgiving we decided to go through the process of joining the Elks. Jeri and Terry kindly sponsored us and we appreciate all their help.
We are going to be taking advantage of cheaper monthly rates and stay in the McMinnville area for a month. Close enough to Portland to drive in to see everyone and yet out far enough to be a little more reasonable. We will be in prime vineyard country, close enough to visit the coast on a day trip, and hopefully even visit the great air museum in McMinnville, home of the Spruce Goose.
The new header picture is from our visit to Mt Rainer. The picture below is from Ebey's Preserve on Whidbey Island.
The new header picture is from our visit to Mt Rainer. The picture below is from Ebey's Preserve on Whidbey Island.
Until later.
Sep 29, 2011
Looking West
I received several comments asking where our header picture was taken. The picture is of Hidden Ridge RV Resort about 25 miles south of Grand Rapids Michigan. This is where we spent 3 months this summer while working at our business in Grand Rapids. While it was a bit of a drive to work every day, it sure made a nice place to come home to in the evening.
When we left Michigan in August, our first stop was a small park in rural western Illinois. We were both a bit tired from getting ready to hit the road so this made a nice resting place for a few days. I took this scene one evening as the sun was slowly sinking in the west.
Until later.
When we left Michigan in August, our first stop was a small park in rural western Illinois. We were both a bit tired from getting ready to hit the road so this made a nice resting place for a few days. I took this scene one evening as the sun was slowly sinking in the west.
Until later.
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