alpine adventures

Fort Union and Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

We did get an early start since we were both upset with the Cedar Rail RV Park. Fortunately we didn't have a long drive.

We took our time and stopped at several rest areas along the way. At one of the stops we read a historical marker about the Fort Union Historical Monument. I jumped on the computer and it sounded like a very interesting place.

It was only 8 miles off of our route and we had plenty of time, so detour time!

We spent two hours wandering around the ruins of what was once the largest fort west of the Mississippi. This was the remains of the Officers Row.

Some restoration has been done but mostly imagination is required to visualize life on this post that was established to protect the travelers along the Santa Fe Trail and act as a supply depot. This was the prison.

The ruts of the Santa Fe Trail are still visible. In fact, the flagstone walkway that was built to the hospital has steps down to accommodate the path of the traveling wagons.

The hospital was built for the soldiers but for 50 cents a day civilians traveling through were also allowed to receive medical attention.

It was a nice break in the day and we arrived in Albuquerque in the middle of rush hour. Ooops!

We found our rv park easily and it was much more pleasant than the last dump. Enchanted Trails RV Park is an older park but fit our needs perfectly.

Being the day before the long Labor Day weekend, we were afraid that the park would be full and noisy. To our surprise we had plenty of room and nice neighbors. Hmmm......

Driving Through Colorado

2010-09-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

We decided to spend a couple more days in Lingle, WY while we plotted our trip south. There was a nice rock shop that Doug wanted to visit and we just were feeling like some down time. And that's what we did.

So, after spending hours with maps and guide books and campground books, we chose to just climb in the coach on Wednesday and drive. Let the chips fall where they may. I have been feeling anxious (for some unknown reason) to get back to the southwest.

Our plan was to find some place to stay in the middle of Colorado then head for Albuquerque. It was an easy drive through Cheyenne and across the Colorado border.
The scenery was pretty until we got to Denver. Typical big city, but it was fun to see the home of the Denver Broncos even though we aren't huge football fans.

Continuing on, we never found any place to stop that appealed to us and next thing we knew......we were in New Mexico. Barely.

We stopped for the night at a park at the top of Raton Pass called Cedar Rail RV Park. What a joke!

They parked us next to a cliff alongside the road going through the park. We were afraid to put the awning out since there was so much traffic going by us. There was absolutely no Verizon phone service and I was told on the phone that they provided wifi. When we got to the park we were informed that we were limited to 25 mb of wifi. We can go through that in an hour!

And to add injury to insult, it was the most we have paid for a night's parking all year. Obviously we won't be returning and certainly would never recommend the place.

We'll be out of here early!

Fort Laramie and History

2010-08-29T06:02:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me that we can stop in a little tiny town (Lingle, WY pop. 510) and discover so many wonderful things to see.

We found the Fort Laramie National Historic Site just a few miles west of the park near the town of Fort Laramie. It was established in 1834 as a private fur trading post and later became a military fort to help protect the thousands of migrants using the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail.

Of course, our first stop was the visitor center which happened to be the old commisary of the fort.

And we loved the authentic teepee inside the visitor center.

Outside, we wandered over to the barracks. Some of the doors are open to the public and the inside is decorated as if the soldiers just stepped outside onto the parade grounds.

The bunks and equipment as well as the dining areas were a step back into time.

Then, we happened upon this marvelous woman who was not only dressed in authentic costume but acted the part as well. Referring to herself as if she had just stepped out of her covered wagon, she spoke at length about the trials and tribulations of being on the Oregon Trail for months.

She was able to answer every question from the construction of the wagon and the care of the oxen to the preparation of meals and clothing. Easily the most fascinating part of the day.

We strolled the rest of the fort, peering into the officers quarters (they lived quite well) and getting a feel for life in a military operation.

Leaving Fort Laramie, we drove 15 miles further west to the Oregon Trail Ruts Historic Site near Guernsey, WY.

This is the best preserved path of the wagons, animals and people crossing the Oregon Trail. The trail, across a sandstone ridge, was worn between two and six feet deep in places. Truly amazing, the hardships that were endured.

And just a few miles away is Register Cliff. It's the huge sandstone cliff in the background.

Adjacent to an emigrant campground, thousands of travelers have carved their names into the soft sandstone to declare that they had made the trek across the United States. Unfortunately the practice has continued until the present day and we had to search for the names and dates of original emigrants. There were many, many inscriptions dating back to the mid 1800's.

It was a long, hot day of sightseeing but the history came to life for a little while.

Heading South

2010-08-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

With the temperatures dropping at night, we have had to turn the heaters on so it's time to head back south. During the day we've been experiencing temps in the high eighties and low nineties but we have such thin blood now that we don't like being cold.

We packed up the coach and headed south on Hwy 14A through Deadwood again. Oops, I didn't realize that there was a huge car show this weekend. Stop and go traffic through town cost us close to an hour although Doug thoroughly enjoyed the old cars. I was nervous as heck cuz he was watching the cars when I thought he should be focusing on the stopped car in front of us. But we made it through without a problem.

From there is was an lovely, easy drive through the Black Hills National Forest and into Wyoming. Once we crossed into Wyoming, the roads seemed to become much nicer for travel.

We stopped at several historical markers including this scenic view over Salt Creek Overlook.

The view was spectacular and Doug took lots of pictures.

But what you didn't see in the above photo is the barb wire fence he climbed over to stand on that rock overlooking the valley. Sometimes he drives me crazy. (Although he wasn't the first to do so considering the condition of the barb wire fence.)

By 5 pm we had covered a little over 200 miles and arrived in the town of Lingle, WY. Another Passport America park, Pony Soldier RV Park, was waiting for us with a mostly empty park.

Doug chose a site at the end of a row with a little shade, a picnic table and lots of privacy.

It's not a fancy park but the owner is friendly and helpful. There's a nice laundry room (which we don't need) as well as a book exchange (which I always need).

We'll be here a few days because there is quite a bit to see in this area.

Running Around

2010-08-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Whew......what a busy day running errands. A little after noon we received a call that our new air conditioner shroud had arrived at Green Star RV.

We already had a couple bags of unnecessary stuff loaded in the car for Goodwill, so we dropped that off on our way into Rapid City. And we didn't even buy anything more!

Then we went to Green Star Rv for the shroud and a new motor for the bathroom fan. Ouch....that stop was expensive, but nice people to deal with. Around the corner was an auto parts store where Doug picked up some paint to make the shroud match the coach.

From there we went to Americas Mailbox to pick up our mail before we leave town and then a quick stop at a pawn shop we passed. Doug is looking for a used lapidary saw but no luck there.

After filling the gas tank, we hit the grocery store and finally got home about 7 pm. Pooped!

Still, Doug found time to paint the air conditioner cover and while it was drying he climbed up on the roof to dismantle the bathroom fan. With my expert help (lol), he changed out the fan motor, put it back together and turned the switch. It worked.....yay!

It was after dark by the time he reinstalled the new air conditioner shroud on the roof and we called it a day.

Spearfish

2010-08-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

A neighbor suggested, a couple days ago, to be sure and take a ride along Hwy 14A, the Boulder Canyon. Since it was the road to Deadwood we thought today would be a good day to check it out.It was a nice, curvy road up into the hills and down through the canyon but not unlike anything we have already seen.

As we came into Deadwood we thought we would stop at the visitor center for more information. There's a huge parking lot and what surprised us was the parking meters at every single parking spot. Kinda made us mad so we skipped the visitor center.

We drove through town and there was absolutely no place to park that didn't have a meter. There were a lot of old and cool buildings but they all seemed to be casinos or restaurants. We were definitely not impressed with Deadwood.

So, we continued on along Hwy 14A through the town of Lead and several miles further we took the turnoff at Cheyenne Crossing towards Spearfish.

At last we finally found something wonderful. The narrow road winds through Spearfish Canyon following a lovely stream called Spearfish Creek for 20 miles. There were many places to stop and enjoy the scenery and most had fish, so Doug was in heaven.

It took almost two hours to drive the 20 miles with so much to see. This stop was Roughlock Falls. Beautiful and cool amidst the trees.

From there we took a detour down a dirt road to the filmsite of Dances With Wolves. I've never seen the movie so it didn't mean much to me, but Doug was thrilled.

Our next stop was Bridal Veil Falls. These reminded me of the some of the falls in Washington and Oregon. We had a nice visit with a gentleman who had ridden his bike eight miles uphill from Spearfish and then was going to coast back down. He advised us to check out the fish hatchery when we hit Spearfish.

So we did! And were we ever glad! It was fabulous. We arrived late in the day and we had the park mostly to ourselves.

The D. C. Booth hatchery was established in 1896 and filled with wood troughs and running water. Today it serves more as a living fisheries museum for the public. It's like a beautiful park.

There's a replica of an old Fisheries Railcar used when railroad cars transported fish across the country.

Hatchery workers used boats like Yellowstone Boat #39 to collect trout eggs on Yellowstone Lake to be brought back to the hatcheries.

We were disappointed that the museum was closed.

But I did get a picture of Doug with his new best friend.

There was so much to see that Spearfish will be on our list for a return visit.

To top off a lovely day, we had a full moon rise over the hilltops to guide us home.

Perfect!

Flying Air Conditioner Covers

2010-08-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

Crazy winds pushed us right out of Rushmore Shadows, north on I-90. We were buffeted for quite a few miles while listening to strange noises on the roof. Then, BAM......Doug watched in the rear mirrors as the air conditioner shroud flew behind us onto the freeway.

He pulled over as quickly as possible at 70 mph, then ran back to try and retrieve the cover. Thank heavens there weren't any cars behind us when it blew off. The shroud isn't heavy but it is large and sure could do some damage if it had hit someone.

The surprising part is that Doug had checked both of the covers when he was on the roof just before we left the park. Later we were told that the material becomes very brittle after several years under the hot sun and will just snap if the wind gets underneath.

We continued on another 20 miles after stowing the pieces in the car until we came to the Bulldog Creek Campground. The office was empty with instructions to proceed with a self-check-in. Half of the park has been shut down already for the winter. Their moneymaker time is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

As soon as we got settled, we jumped in the car and headed back to Rapid City to try and find a new air conditioner shroud. Green Star RV had one they said would be a good substitute but after comparing it with the destroyed one, it was apparent that we would need to order the correct one.

Our plan (carved in jello) was to begin our journey south on Wednesday but that will probably change since we need to wait for our purchase. Hopefully Thursday or Friday.

Pics tomorrow of the park.

Near Sturgis

2010-08-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

Bulldog Creek Campground is the park we chose for hanging out for the next few days. We're located about 5 miles south of Sturgis where it's very peaceful.

As you can see, it's basically just a huge open field. Behind the coach and trees is I-90 but we are far enough away that it is very quiet.

And this is the view from our front window. The hills are beautiful and the pasture contains two horses that we enjoy watching. There are even deer if we are vigilant.

Here is another shot of the park. It's really empty. There are a couple of other rigs but we have yet to see anyone near them.

So we are just killing time here with all the comforts of home. Tomorrow, we'll check out Deadwood.

Mundane Chores

2010-08-22T06:07:00.000-07:00

We haven't been doing too much the last couple of days. Doug had the urge to pick up rocks so we took a ride south through the towns of Rockerville, Hill City and Custer to an area called French Creek. It turned out to all be national forest where nothing can be removed. Oh well, a pretty drive with no pictures.

Then we spent some time going through closets and drawers eliminating piles of stuff that we have accumulated. The coach is approaching it's weight limit for the back axle and we need to lighten the load. It's difficult for Doug to part with treasures but he was ruthless. There's still more to do but we feel much lighter.

A weather front blew through during the day and tried to take out our garden. One of the poles went down, dumping the large tomato plant on the ground and throwing a lantern on top of the strawberry plants. We rushed outside to rescue everything but lost a couple of branches on the tomato that were loaded with green tomatoes.

Our tall cactus was also tipped over. It seems to be ok now that Doug replanted it. What a mess! Next year we'll grow tomatoes upright in pots, not in Topsy Turvy upside down planters. They are too heavy and awkward.

Tomorrow we'll be moving again. We're going north a little ways to the Sturgis/Deadwood area to do some sightseeing.

Official Again!

2010-08-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

Our main purpose in coming to South Dakota was to renew our drivers licenses. Hard to believe that it's been 5 years since we became residents of this fine state. Time flies when you're having fun!

This year, thanks to the National Real ID Act, we will need to jump through a lot more hoops in order to get our licenses. We started looking for our paperwork two days ago and Doug ran into a problem. No birth certificate. Instead of sightseeing and playing, he started going through boxes and drawers and his closet. It's been a loooooong two days.

Finally this afternoon, it turned up in an envelope in the big lockbox. We quickly gathered our social security cards, birth certificates, my marriage certificate and stopped at the park office to get receipts proving that we had spent at least one night in SD.

We got to the DMV about 3:30 and it was packed. An employee checked that our paperwork was all in order then had us fill out application forms and take a number. At that point I noticed a sign on the wall stating cash or checks only. While I waited in line, Doug ran to the local Safeway to get cash.

At 5 pm, our number was called and everything went smooth as silk. Paperwork was perfect, eye exam was perfect, pictures were less than perfect and we're good to go for another five years. What a relief!

So......be prepared if you haven't renewed your license this year. All states are in the process of rolling out the Real ID Act and they mean business.

Home Again, Home Again....

2010-08-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

First, a photo of the not so great park we just left.

Good, that's over. So, we left as early as we could get away and had another easy drive of about 150 miles to Rapid City, SD. There were a couple of light rainshowers along the way, but not enough to clean the coach.

The park is another ROD (Resorts of Distinction) park which means we can stay free for a week. Woot!! Lots of trees and green grass with our garden doing very well.

In the pictures it looks like we are very close to the coach next door, but it's deceiving. The park is very nice and we would definitely stay here again. Great power, water and internet!

So, tomorrow we'll head into the big city to pick up our mail at our mail forwarding company, America's Mailbox. We have dealt with them for 5 years now are very pleased with their customer service.

Carhenge

2010-08-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Another short travel day had us departing Creekside RV Park in Chappell, NE around 11 am. It's nice to not have to run around like chickens with our heads cut off getting ready to move.

The sun was shining and we chose a backroad that paralleled the freeway but took us through several small towns. I read the history of each one as we passed them and we were able to pick out a number of buildings or businesses that were over 100 years old and historical.

When we got to Sidney, only 30 miles away, we decided to take a detour based on something I had read about a bronze strip being place across the interstate where the east interstate met the west interstate during construction. We jumped onto the freeway and headed west hoping to see the bronze strip. Nothing......bummer.

A u-turn at the next exit brought us back to a rest area where we discovered this sign. It turns out that the Golden Link is a state marker, not a national one and the it's located north of the highway. Oh well, interesting detour anyway.

We turned north at Sidney and followed Hwy 385 for about 70 miles through gentle rolling hills. This road is nicknamed the Gold Rush highway because it was used to transport the gold that was discovered in the Black Hills to the railroads waiting in Sidney. Lots of history in this area.

In Bridgeport, NE we found the historical marker where the Mormons camped near the North Platte River. Bridgeport is recognized as the "Trail City" since the Pony Express, Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, Big Medicine Trail and the Sidney-Deadwood Trail all passed through here. I would have loved to see the actual ruts that are still visible nearby at Chimney Rock but it isn't alway easy to use the motorhome for sightseeing.

So, we continued on to our destination, Alliance, NE. where we found the Sunset Motel and RV Park. The original plan was to spend just one night here but we usually chose to not travel on Sunday and we paid for two nights.

The rv park appears to be an afterthought, tacked onto the back of the motel. Small and marginally acceptable, it will do as a stopover. Pics tomorrow.

After getting set up we jumped in the car to visit the highlight of Alliance. Carhenge! Yup, you read that right.

Just 3 miles outside of town is this hysterically funny take on Stonehenge built in a dusty field with 38 cars buried in the dirt. According to the "road culture" website Roadside America, this was constructed in 1987 much to the dismay of the people of Alliance.

It has now become a popular tourist sight with a visitor center and thousands of visitors each year. The American made autos are arranged in a 95 foot (diameter) circle copying the original Stonehenge in shape, proportion and size.

The admission is free and it's well worth the stop if you are in the area.

There are many other sculptures and "art" built from car parts in the field, including this ode to the four(d) seasons....

and a towering dinosaur.

Continuing down the road we discovered a rest area that Doug couldn't resist.

Perched on top of haybales is a recliner, toilet and pvc wifi pole. It's hard to take pictures when you're laughing so hard! Those Nebraskans have a great sense of humor.

It was a long day but very relaxed and entertaining.

Cabela's

2010-08-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

When Doug learned that the Cabela's main world headquarters was located in Sidney, NE, just 30 miles from us, of course we had to visit.

Right off the freeway we found this huge complex consisting of not just a large hunting, fishing and outdoor gear store, but they also have a big rv park, a horse camping area, truck and rv parking (overnight) and what appears to be their main headquarters buildings.

We checked out the rv park which was very nice, clean and well kept but a little too pricey for our blood. (Make that waaaay too pricey!)

Then we entered the store to wander and drool over all of the items Doug thought he needed. But as we meandered and checked prices we discovered that everything is horribly overpriced. Maybe we just haven't done enough retail shopping lately and are out of touch. Still even Doug was terribly disappointed with the place.

After our short visit, we picked up a few groceries and headed home.

Near our rv park we found the Pony Express Park with a lovely little lake. It was so peaceful and relaxing that we spent a while gazing over the water and watching the blue gills dart through the weeds.

The park was named for one of the hundreds of historical pony express stations that was located nearby. It was a nice way to end the day.

Another State To Add to the Map!

2010-08-11T17:28:00.001-07:00

Monday was a ho-hum day so nothing was blogged.

But today, Tuesday, was a travel day. After visiting with our new friends, Bud and Marietta, we fired up the coach and left Seibert, CO. The park owners were great people and we would not hesitate to spend a few days here again.

Our trip went just fine up until we missed the detour sign for trucks over 7 feet wide. Highway 385 was a nice road and easy to travel. Then we saw the flagger waving us down. He wasn't sure that we were over 7 feet, but we knew better. The coach itself is 8 feet wide with mirrors and exhaust pipes that extend it even wider. Oooops!!!!

The poor kid flagging was unfamiliar with the area and wasn't sure if there was a way around the road work that stopped us. After a little discussion and map searching, we turned right and started down Hwy 36. Not bad, we just had to look for the sign that said Beecher's Island and then turn north.

We missed the sign and Doug managed a U-turn on a narrow country road to get us back. The road north was a dusty, dirty, bumpy backroad that had us a little concerned. My mantra has become......it's all an adventure.......it's all an adventure.

I guess it worked because after about 10 miles, the road was paved and a kind stranger told us that if we just stuck with it, we would come back to Hwy 385 past the road construction.

From there, the drive was lovely, corn fields as far as we could see in every direction.

Then off in the distance we saw a brilliant yellow field and couldn't imagine what it was. As we got closer it turned out to be acres and acres of sunflowers. What a beautiful sight! Even through the bug-riddled windshield. There are a lot of grasshoppers here!!!

We were sure glad to see this welcoming sign as we crossed into a new state for us....Nebraska!

After a couple of more wrong turns, we finally arrived at Creekside RV Park in Chappell, NE.

From what I've read, this park is full in June and July as the harvesters flock to the area. But, when we pulled in, we were the only ones here.

It's a very nice park with 50 amp full hookups, lots of green grass and trees and a nice owner. We set up quickly and turned on the air conditioning. 95 degrees, but who's counting.

Aaaaah, home again, home again......

Sunday

2010-08-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

Another Nascar day to relax at home.

The Storm

2010-08-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

We spent the day at home where I spent most of the day sleeping. Between the Percoset and the Amoxicillin, I was exhausted and sick most of the day.

What a shame because we had a beautiful sunny day until early evening when the monsoon clouds rolled in. We even got some hail the size of quarters that pounded the coach to the point that we were afraid of damage.

As the evening progressed, the storm grew worse with two solid hours of lightning backlighting the skies. The thunder sounded right overhead.

Then the rain and wind started. The weather center called for extreme weather situations, so we pulled the slides in and closed the curtains in case of breaking glass. The power cut off several times while the coach swayed with the wind. By 11pm everything calmed down although the roads were flooded and we were able to open the coach back up. The humidity was ridiculous and it felt good to open the windows and vents again.

Kit Carson Carousel

2010-08-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Our first stop this morning was 35 miles away in Burlington, CO. Our choice for drug stores was 35 miles west to Limon or 35 miles east to Burlington. Did I mention that we are in the middle of nowhere? Since we had been through Limon on our way here, we chose to go east.

We found the drug store without any problems and got the prescriptions filled. I didn't think I would need pain pills but by this morning I was thrilled to get them. Doug had been told about the Kit Carson County Carousel and Museum nearby so we decided to find it.

I'm sure glad that we did.

This old fashion carousel was built in 1905 by the Philadelpia Tobaggon Company and was purchased by the town of Burlington in 1928 for the princely sum of $1200. Much of the town was horrified by the extravagance during the depression and the carousel was allowed to deteriorate. Many years later it was restored and is open every day, all summer long.

And the best part.....it costs .25. Yup, one thin quarter, the bargain of the century. We couldn't resist. Doug chose the magnificent lion.

I chose a reindeer. (If I look a little grim, I'm still in pain.)

The ride lasted 4 minutes at 12 miles per hour with the band organ playing Stars and Stripes Forever. The average carousel runs at 8 mph and we felt like we were flying.

This carousel is a stationary carousel, in that the animals don't go up and down. Which is just as well as you can get dizzy at 12 miles per hour in a circle. But the animals are fantastic! 46 specimens prance around the 45 foot diameter platform in 3 rows.

After our ride, we checked out the museum. There was a ton of information about the history of the carousel and a nice display of how the animals are carved, painted and designed.

A wonderful way to be a kid again.

Following our entertainment, we found a burger joint, Burger Delite on the way home. Doug chose a huge burger with lots of gooey toppings and about 3 bites into it, felt something hard. Upon closer examination, it was a piece of glass! Luckily he didn't cut himself. The manager apologized and offered us our money back or another sandwich. I was ready to split, but Doug thought the burger was so good that he would try another one. The second burger was very good. Needless to say, we won't be eating there again.

Moving into Eastern Colorado

2010-08-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

Moving day is always exciting. We said our goodbye's to the neighbors, finished packing and hit the road about 11 am. It was a beautiful drive along Hwy 24 through corn fields, wheat fields and several tiny towns.

About two hours later, we arrived in Seibert, CO. The rv park is called Shady Grove Wifi Campground and sits in the middle of a residential area. It's a family owned park with super friendly people and is a Passport America park. (1/2 price)

We have grass and trees and full hookups with excellent satellite reception.

My first question when we arrived was "Is there a dentist in your fine town?" I had another toothache that was getting worse by the minute. The owner gave me the number of his dentist in the next town, Stratton and they were able to get me in right away.

The bad news is I had 2 teeth that were infected and could not be saved. I spent an hour in the chair to have them surgically removed and 3 sutures to close them up. Not one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. By the time Dr Ley finished, there was not a drug store opened anywhere. They roll up the sidewalks in these little towns at 5:30 pm. He gave me a couple of prescriptions and said to be sure to get them filled in the morning.

I was feeling pretty miserable when we got back to the coach only to discover that the air conditioner in the bedroom was leaking and we had a huge wet spot on the bed. Just what I felt like doing.......stripping the bed, doing laundry and remaking the bed before we could retire.

What a day.

Pikes Peak Plans

2010-08-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

We intended to take a drive up the Pikes Peak highway today, but the weather turned bad. It's a toll road now that costs $12 each to drive the 19 miles to the top. And, if we couldn't see any of the views along the way, it seemed like a waste of hard earned dollars.

So, we just relaxed around home and started getting things ready to go since we are leaving tomorrow. I guess we'll hit Pikes Peak next time we are in Colorado Springs.

Ghost Town Museum

2010-08-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

Doug had the urge to pan for gold and the only place he could find is a tourist trap called the Ghost Town Museum. So that became our plan for the day.

I was convinced that it would be a waste of time and money but to my delight, it was quite fascinating. An entire town is recreated inside a massive building which is historical unto itself.

After fighting our way through the gift shop, we paid our admission and started wandering along the boardwalk peering into each shop and vignette.

There was the general store....

the barber shop/dentist office.....

the print shop for the weekly newspaper....

They even had old fashion telephones with party lines that you could listen in on.

When we reached the back of the building, Doug found the trough for panning. It was raining lightly and the minute we stepped outside to pick up the metal pans the thunder and lightning started. Standing in water and holding metal pans didn't seem like the best idea unless we wanted to attract the lightning.

We retreated back into another part of the building that was filled with more displays and artifacts, hoping that the storm would pass. Another hour went by and we could still hear the cracks of thunder. We finally gave up and beat a hasty retreat for home.

No gold for Doug but we really enjoyed the detail of the museum.

Mr. Fixit

2010-08-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Our furnace quit working several months ago and the repair job was put on the back burner (pun intended) since we didn't need it in the Arizona heat wave. We still don't need it but Doug decided since the neighbor had a mobile repairman charge him $125 for a repair, that he would take a look at the furnace.

It required several hours of tearing things apart, blowing air into it to clean it, wiggling wires and politely listening to all of the neighbors advice. When he came inside and turned it on.......it worked! My hero! Doug is so mechanically minded and isn't afraid to tear something apart.

After he finished, we ran into town so I could get my hair cut and pick up a couple groceries. Not a thrilling day to blog about but a good day for the pocketbook.

Nascar Sunday

2010-08-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday is our day to relax at home and watch the Nascar race. Go Kasey! oh......and Tony too.
Occasionally we accomplish a few household tasks during the day but I think the altitude is beginning to affect us a little. Our energy has been sapped and it's easy to just not do anything.
Hmmmmm.....

Garden of the Gods

2010-07-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

The weather here in Monument has sure been strange. We wake to beautiful sunshine and a few white, fluffy clouds. Definitely t shirt and shorts weather! But by late afternoon, the darker clouds start piling up and every evening we get a crazy thunder and lightning storm along with a good rain shower. It cools off considerably and we grab our sweatshirts.

Still that leaves all day to play and sightsee. So off we went to visit the Garden of the Gods. First we stopped at the visitor center and were disappointed. This marvelous 770 acre public park was donated to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909 with the stipulation that it would remain free to the public.

The visitor center is located across the road from the park and is a vision of excess. The prices of everything inside are outrageous beginning with a 14 minute film about the park for $5. We left quickly.

Across the road is the entrance to the Garden of the Gods.

The multicolored rock formations of sandstone are encircled by a narrow road with several parking pullouts which were all full the day we went. It's an incredibly popular park with miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, guided walks and picnic areas.

One of the favorite stops is Balancing Rock. There was no place to park so we weren't able to get a very good picture of this amazing boulder.

We will certainly visit this park again when it is not so busy.

Leaving the park, we wound our way along back roads into the town of Manitou. It's a cute little tourist area that didn't interest us too much but when we saw the signs for the North Pole, we couldn't resist.

Up in the hills on the way to Pikes Peak is Santa's workshop complete with an amusement park and gift shop.

We snapped a couple of shots then headed home.

Breakfast in Bed

2010-07-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

Today we took a well deserved day off. I was feeling exceptionally lazy, to the point where Doug brought me coffee and a doughnut in bed. It's been a long time since he was up before me. But it was such a nice treat that I think I will try for it again.

We just spent the day reading and playing on the computers until late afternoon when we went looking for a Verizon store. Doug's phone needed upgrading.

And that was our exciting day.

Moving on to Monument

2010-07-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

We were not the least bit unhappy about leaving Blanco, CO. The park was forgettable and the town even more so.

We knew that we had another tall pass to climb so we got an early start. It was only a 165 mile trip to our next stop but lately we never know what to expect.

All went well over the pass, down the other side and through the Colorado countryside. When we hit I-25 we stopped for diesel, then continued north through Pueblo and Colorado Springs.

Colorado Heights RV Resort in Monument was our destination, being a ROD park where we can stay for free. After all of the unexpected expenses the last couple weeks, that's a relief.

Doug settled us in just before the thunderstorm hit and within a couple of hours the sun came back.

This is a very large park that sells memberships. No thanks, not for us. The section we are in is not scenic. And the rvs are parked one on top of each other in long rows with no trees or anything to break the view. The other parts of the park are better, just barely.

Still, we are staying a week (the price is right) and sightseeing and resting.

Great Sand Dunes N.P.

2010-07-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

We were both extremely disappointed to discover last night that our Verizon phones worked just fine in Blanca, but they offered zero internet access. We found out just how much we depend on the world wide web!So, first thing this morning, we drove back to Alamosa to the McDonald's. It was a beautiful morning and we sat outside at a picnic table where we were able to log onto McD's free wifi. Thanks Ronald! I sent a quick message to ya'll to let you know we were incommunicado for a while and Doug caught up on his game.

After a quick sandwich, we drove back behind a line of mountains to the Great Sand Dunes N.P.

It's 20 miles from the highway to the visitor center where we got our National Park Passport Book stamped with the official seal, enjoyed the displays and walked a short, interpretive path explaining the formation of the dunes.

The sand dunes cover 30 square miles and at the tallest point rise 750 feet from the valley floor. The shadows from the clouds (it wasn't cold!) made for some great pictures.

We followed the crowds to the entrance to the "play" area but decided that it wasn't our cup of tea. Instead, Doug found out about the Medano Pass primitive road that leads to the back of the dunes.

About a mile into the road we came across this sign which explains why there are very few vehicles and people here. From this point on, only four wheel drive vehicles can proceed. While Doug was letting air out of the tires, down to 15 lbs, a couple of young men came walking out of the area. They had ignored the sign and were stuck in the deep sand less than a quarter mile along the road.

We had no way of towing them out but let them use our phone to call the ranger. They were given the numbers of the local tow companies and after I showed them the above sign (minimum $400 wrecking fee) they decided to figure out how to get the car unstuck themselves. Sure enough, about 10 minutes later they drove out and thanked us profusely.

Now, I was nervous! But there's no talking Doug out of a challenge.

With the Jeep in four wheel drive (low) we proceeded through the sand along the primitive road. About a mile in, we came to the area known as the Sand Pit. Doug kept going, slipping and sliding like in the snow. But the car did it's job and we reached a pullout called Castle Creek.

What a neat place!

We waded across the Medano Creek which was very shallow and were at the base of the dunes. I immediately started to climb but it's so steep and shifty that I kept sinking and sliding back down. There was only one other family there so we felt like we had the place to ourselves.

We decided not to continue along the road since it was getting late and I still wanted to visit Zapata Falls. The car navigated the sandy road back just fine and we headed back to the highway.

The road straight up the mountain to the falls was terrible and when we got to the top, the elevation was 8100 feet. The hike to the falls was half a mile and uphill. We passed. It was hot, hard to breathe and a mile hike just seemed too much. We took pictures and drove back down. Maybe another time.....

No Internet

2010-07-28T10:38:00.001-07:00

No internet where we are in Blanco, CO. We'll catch you up in a day or two. Sorry.

Back in Colorado

2010-07-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

It was a long day that started out short. We got an early start (for us) from Farmington and planned on a 100 mile drive to Pagosa Springs, CO. The brakes worked great and all was well until we reached the park where we had reservations.

Yuck and double yuck!!! It was poorly maintained, extremely unlevel and just didn't look appealing. So, we decided since it was only 1 pm that we would continue on to the next park 100 miles away in Blanco, CO.

The drive was beautiful with lots of mountains and trees.

We hit the Wolf Creek Pass about a half hour later. It's a steep climb with the summit at 10, 850 feet. That's pretty high for us with the coach overheating the way it has been. Doug decided that we should unhook the car and I would just follow him over the pass.

We started at about 8,000 feet and in a little over 8 miles we climbed to 10,850 feet. Even without the car behind, we stopped twice to keep the coach from overheating in the thin air.

Bingo! We hit the top and found the Continental Divide and rain. It was a nice, easy descent 8 miles down the other side and at the first pullout Doug pulled over and we re-hooked the Jeep.

The east side of the pass produced very different scenery. Instead of trees, we found miles of scrub. Not very pretty. Still the drive was easy and we pulled into Blanca, Co and the Blanca RV Park about 3:30.

It's a tiny park located next to some well worn mobile homes, but we knew that we wanted to see the Great Sand Dunes National Park nearby and for two nights this would work.

Doug set everything up (including the garden) and we spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

Ripped Off by Rocky Mesa Auto & Truck

2010-07-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

What a waste of today! We arrived at Rocky Mesa Auto & Truck Service before they even opened. The young man assigned to do our brake fluid change was slower than molasses in January. He kept disappearing for 10 minutes every hour and stood around and visited while he should have been working. Doug put in as many hours as the kid, helping him since it's a two man job. I think the only reason he finished at 5 pm was because it was quitting time.

Then they charged us 7 hours labor for what should have been a 4 hour job! Can you tell I'm angry? What a mistake!

To all of our rving friends......if you ever need work done on your rig in Farmington, NM, do NOT take your business to Rocky Mesa Auto & Truck. They will rip you off!!!!

Anyway, we are back in the park for another night then tomorrow we will get the heck out of this stupid town.

Shiprock, NM

2010-07-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

The day dawned very overcast with forecasts of heavy monsoon rains and flash flooding. But it was still warm so we decided to check out the area.

Our first stop was at Discount Tires to get a rear tire on the Jeep repaired. It had a slow leak that was driving Doug crazy and we didn't need it to blow while we were towing it. Nice people and pleasant to deal with.

Then we discovered a store called Fresh For Less. A produce store full of bargains could not be passed by. We restrained ourselves and only bought kiwis, mangoes, bulk pinto beans, asparagus and peaches.

A nearby town, Shiprock, was our next destination having been told by our friend Bill that the flea market was great on weekends. It was a nice, pretty drive and the day got warmer and warmer. The booths were mainly Indian jewelry, food and clothing. But Doug did find a rock and bead truck. He purchased some beautiful blue denim lapis for his wire wrapping projects.

We arrived back at the coach just as the skies turned black. Within minutes, the park filled up with trailers and rvs and the sky opened up. Thunder and lightning kept us inside for the better part of two hours. What a nasty, muggy evening!

Rolling with the Punches

2010-07-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Things don't always go as smooth as we would like, but since we have the time to solve problems without a great deal of stress we're rolling with the punches.

After a quiet night at Farmington Freightliner's back lot, they managed to squeeze us into the shop about lunchtime. The bad news was they work on air brakes, not hydraulic. Still, they were great people to deal with and didn't even charge us for the diagnostics. Highly recommend this shop and people.

So, off we went to a local rv park, Mom and Pop RV Park, to make some phone calls and find someone that can help us.

It isn't a fancy park, pretty much gravel with paved sites and picnic tables. But the power is good and we have water and sewer. Yay!!! I can do laundry again. Plus, if you pay for three nights you get the fourth night free. Works perfectly for our situation.

Our phone calls resulted in a definite maybe on the brake job. We quickly unhooked again and ran over to the Rocky Mesa Auto & Truck Service to have them look at it. We didn't want to sit here all weekend and then find out they couldn't do the job. Hooray! They can do it, hopefully at 7 am Monday morning. We'll be there.

Back at the park, we settled in for the weekend. Doug set up our garden outside. I've already had one strawberry and the plants are looking very healthy. I think they like traveling!

In back of the coach, Doug set up the other part of our garden with the satellite dish. We have two hanging tomato plants. One is full of baby tomatoes and the other is struggling.

It's nice not having to be upset by changes in our travel plans and it gives us a chance to see a little bit of the Farmington, NM area.

Never A Dull Moment

2010-07-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

We got a late start leaving the Sleeping Ute RV Park but since we were only going 200 miles it was not a big deal. The weather was nice with just a few sprinkles along the way and when we hit Durango.........the brake pedal went to the floor.

Doug managed to get us to Tarpley RV but they couldn't help us and recommended the Freightliner place in Farmington, NM. So after unhooking the car, I followed Doug as he gingerly made his way 50 miles to Farmington Freightliner.

It was almost five when we pulled in and they were nice enough to let us park behind their building for the night. Using the generator for a few hours, we had a pleasant night.

Here's us in the parking lot along with dump trucks, school buses, a Fedex truck, church buses, rvs and assorted vans and trucks.

To be continued.........

Silverton, CO

2010-07-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of ours, Bill and Wanda, are working in Silverton, Co. way up in the mountains. We have been wanting to visit them and decided that today was the day.

The drive through the San Juan National Forest is incredible. Several times we stopped for photos. At this scenic view pullout we were at 11,000 feet. The altitude certainly feels different.

Road construction and repaving stopped us in several spots along the way and the 100 miles took us two and a half hours. I'm sure glad we didn't bring the coach up and down these narrow, two lane roads.

Coming around the last bend we could see the Victorian mining town of Silverton sitting in a pretty valley.

We spent the day visiting and Bill played tour guide showing us old mines, tram lines with rusty mining buckets hanging from them, destroyed mills and miles of breathtaking scenery. It's like a whole other world there.

We had a good chuckle when we tried to find someplace for lunch. Apparently the town relies on tourist business from the Silverton/Durango train and when the last train leaves about 3 pm the restaurants roll up the sidewalks and lock their doors. After trying several of their favorite places, Bill and Wanda treated us to a delicious lunch at The Pickle Barrel.

Sorry I didn't get more pictures, but I was having such a great time visiting and ooohing and aaahing that I forgot about the camera.

Thanks for a terrific day Bill and Wanda! We can't wait 'til you get back to the sunshine in Arizona.

Mesa Verde N.P.

2010-07-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

OK...OK....this is the last post about ruins......I promise.............for a while.

Today we visited the huge National Park called Mesa Verde. It's about 10 miles outside of Cortez, CO and only about 20 miles from where we are parked. The day started with considerable overcast skies but cleared as the day went on.

The visitor center is located 20 miles into the park after driving up steep switchbacks that were being repaved. However, the top of the mesa and the views made the drive worthwhile.

After a quick examination of the displays inside the visitor center (no air conditioning!) we set out with our map to find some cliff dwellings.

The first place we found was the Spruce Tree House dwellings. This is the view from the top of the path before we started down the 1/2 mile trail.

At the end of the trail we were able to wander among the 114 room dwelling that is built into a natural cave measuring 216 feet wide and 89 feet deep. About 100 people lived here 800 years ago and the house has deteriorated very little due to the protection of the overhanging cliff.

One of the kivas (circular religious room) has a ladder that the public can use to climb down 6 feet into the darkened kiva. Doug could hardly wait his turn!

There was so much to see and so many questions to ask the ranger that we spent half the day in just this one exhibit.

With over 4500 archaeological sites in the park, of which 600 are cliff dwellings, it was difficult to decide which way to go next. Some of the places are only accessible by tour guide and that was not an option today. Some of the places required long hikes which again were not an option. So we chose a driving tour called Mesa Top, From Pithouse to Pueblo.

This six mile drive reveals a full range of architecture at Mesa Verde from the earliest pithouses to the latest cliff dwellings. Each stop, approximately every half mile, had a short walk to the site.

While the pithouses were interesting.....

and the pueblos were large........

it was the Cliff Palace that captured our hearts. This is one of the tour guided sites that is definitely on our list next time we visit. I haven't decided if I will do it or not. It involves descending uneven stone steps and climbing five ladders for a 100 ft. vertical climb. Ladders and I don't get along too well but my desire may overcome my fear.

We toured the museum and drove through more of the park and all of a sudden it was 7pm! Time to head back to the coach and put our feet up.

Day to Relax

2010-07-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

We needed a down day! There has been so much walking (in the heat) the last three days that all I wanted was to curl up with a good book and relax.

Doug spent some time outside with the metal detector and found about 30 cents along with a ton of garbage. Everytime he goes outside with that detector he attracts guys that are intrigued by what he's doing. A couple of the indians even told him the best place to go.

Then in the late afternoon, we wandered over to the casino. We each got our player cards with a promotional deck of cards and walked around to check out the machines. They seem to specialize in penny machines. We tried a couple of dollars and promptly lost. Those machines are really tight. That was enough.

It sure felt good to just stay home.

Hovenweep National Monument

2010-07-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are tired of looking at ancient puebloan pictures, you can skip this blog.

Cause here's where we spent a good part of today! Another Puebloan National Monument.

First stop of the day, however, was at this scenic trailhead called Sand Canyon. It was beautiful landscape with promises of many treasures along the trails. But at 104 degrees we decided not to go hiking.

Instead we continued on to Hovenweep. This park covers over 20 miles of ruins, many of which are in remote areas only accessible by high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicles. We started at the visitor center and were given maps to the Little Ruin Canyon hike.

It was another well paved trail to the overlook of the canyon where we could see several dwellings. First was the Stronghold House perched on the top edge of a steep drop.

Then, peering down into the depths, we could see the Boulder House. It's amazing to think that these structures actually were homes for people.

Even though it was 102 degrees we decided to continue along the path about 1/2 mile further. The entire trail loop is 2 miles which didn't seem doable in the heat. This is Hovenweep Castle. The work that went into building round structures like these is incredible.

There were several more structures that we photographed and marveled over such as the twin towers. By then, the sun had really knocked me for a loop and we hurried back to the air conditioned car.

Remember earlier in the post when I mentioned that most of the ruins were only accessible by a high clearance, 4 wheel drive vehicle? Well, Doug took that as a challenge and off we went in search of Painted Hands and Cutthroat Castle.

Part of the way was highway and then we turned onto a dirt road with lots of good sized boulders. Painted Hands was a small, round dwelling with remnants of hands painted nearby. But it was waaaaay down in a canyon and I was not interested in the long hike involved. So we just took a couple photos and moved on.

The road became much more interesting with deeper ruts and a couple of steep hills. It took us probably 30 minutes to traverse the 2 miles.

We finally arrived at Cutthroat Castle and it required another walk. But only .1 mile. I could handle that.

Unsurprisingly (is that a word?) we were the only ones there and had a great time wandering around the ruins. Each time we rounded a corner we were surprised by another building.

The main part of the "castle" was build on a humongous overhanging ledge and we didn't even see the building underneath until we climbed down into the valley. That's me standing at the top, left of the picture. You can see how large this castle is!

What a fun day! By the time we climbed back to the car and drove home it was after 8 pm again. This exploring is beginning to wear me out.

Anasazi Heritage Center

2010-07-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Today we pointed the car north on the Trail of the Ancients scenic byway to the town of Dolores, CO. Just before the actual town, we followed the signs to the Anasazi Heritage Center.

Sitting on a hill above the McPhee Reservoir and overlooking a gorgeous valley of farmland is the Heritage Center. It's a marvelous combination of museum, ancient pueblo site and gift shop.

At the entry are the remains of a small pueblo called the Dominguez Ruins. Part of the ruins (the kiva) has been backfilled with dirt to preserve and protect the site.

Inside, we were greeted by friendly volunteers that explained the traveling sections of the museum as well as the permanent area housing over 3 million artifacts, records and samples from southwestern Colorado. The picture above is only one small corner of the exhibits.

Examples of pottery, weapons, clothing, baskets, food and everything associated with everyday life of the 900 year old tribes was available.

This was an actual artifact that was transported whole from the site of a pueblo that had burned. It was easy to see pottery and shards, basket remnants and kernels of charred corn. Fascinating.

Of course there were hands-on displays where you could try weaving.....

and displays with large drawers that opened with samples of stones, animal furs, and thousands of items to touch and explore further.

We spent 2 hours perusing the museum before we received directions to the Escalante Pueblo ruins and the Lowry Pueblo.

The Escalante Pueblo was a 1/2 mile walk up the hill, near the museum. At 5 pm it was still in the 90's which made for a rather warm hike. But we didn't want to miss anything. And the trail was paved and comfortable.

Coming around the last turn of the trail, this maze of walls appeared. The Escalante Pueblo was occupied about 900 years ago and was a 28 room dwelling surrounding the circular kiva.

The kiva was used for religious ceremonies.

The pueblo overlooks the McPhee Reservoir which is the second largest, artificial body of water in Colorado.

We were a little tired by the time we walked back to the toasty car but decided to continue up the highway to the Lowry Pueblo. Wow, are we glad that we did!

Tucked way back in the middle of thousands of acres of farmland is this typical puebloan settlement that housed about 100 people. It is now protected with a modern roof.

We photographed it from a zillion different angles.....

and then we discovered that we could carefully enter through one of the 4 foot high doors.

Inside, we found the kiva area and the tiny rooms where the Indians worked and played. Because it was late in the day, we had the entire pueblo to ourselves.

Following the path we came upon the Great Kiva. Nearly 50 feet in diameter and approximately 12 feet deep, I couldn't even get it all in one picture. But you can still see the four holes where the posts where place to support a roof.

The stairs descending into the kiva are very steep and blocked to help preserve the area.

By now, it was 7 pm, so Doug plugged the home coordinates into the gps and she took us home by way of a backroads, circuitous route. The dirt roads stretched through miles and miles of farms but we eventually made it back. Loooooong day!

Sleeping Ute RV Park

2010-07-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

When the sun came up I got some pictures of the park we are in. It sits behind the casino so it's nice and quiet.

Here's our site between two nice, shady trees. The sites are long pull thrus with lots of space, a big picnic table, grass and a trash can.

We walked down to the office to register and pay for the night since it was closed when we arrived. The park is so nice that we decided to take advantage of the weekly rate and do some sightseeing in the area.

Here is the view at the end of the park lane.

And this is how empty the park is. There is no one parked near us.

After settling in a bit, we jumped in the car and backtracked to the Four Corners Monument. Unfortunately, the monument where you can stand in four states all at the same time is being renovated and is closed until the end of July. Bummer!

So, we just took a ride to Shiprock, New Mexico. Not much there but lots of scenic views along the way. Home again for the evening and big plans for tomorrow.

Verde Valley to Towaoc

2010-07-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

Our plan for today was to leave Verde Valley and head north. It was a lovely morning and we managed to pull out of the park about 11 am. The diesel tank was begging for fuel so a quick stop in Cottonwood where we found diesel for .20 a gallon less than anywhere else. Alllllrighty!

I had mapped out a short day of about 115 miles allowing time for us to take the coach through the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument ending at Cameron, AZ for the night. Piece of cake!

As we started north on Highway 17 towards Flagstaff the elevation rose to 7000 feet. And the coach started to overheat as the temp neared 100 degrees. Doug found a pullout and we let the engine rest for a few minutes then continued up the hills. Everything leveled out around Flagstaff and there were no more problems with overheating.

We caught I-40 east, then Hwy 89 north and about 12 miles north of Flagstaff we saw the sign for Sunset Crater Volcano. The road is a 35 mile loop road that takes up right back to Hwy 89 just 20 miles shy of Cameron.

It's a beautiful drive through the pines and then you come upon a pullout with an outstanding view of the crater.

This multicolored mountain crater was formed about 1000 years ago when molten rock spewed from the ground high into the air and solidified as it returned. The 1000 foot cone was built up over the next 200 years as debris accumulated around the original vent.

We continued deeper into the park to the visitor center where we were bombarded with information. There were videos, hands on displays, photos and geological demonstrations as well as the usual gift shop items.

Driving on, we stopped at the Lava Flow Trail to take the 1/4 mile path through the lava fields.

There were two major eruptions following the original event and lava stone covers the area. This bridge traverses one of the many deep gullies and fissures along the path.

Much of the area is stark barren rock with vegetation just starting to take hold in places.

Another view of the crater from the view point.

The day began to slip away from us as we hurried through the rest of the park and glimpsed a bit of the painted desert in the distance.

We arrived at the Wupatki National Monument and decided to bypass the visitor center at this time. Doug was anxious to get settled at our site in Cameron before it got too late. We saw several ancient ruins in the distance and will have to return for more exploration.

Arriving at Cameron was quite a shock. It isn't a town, just an Indian trading post with gravel, rv parking area across the road. We paid for one night and crossed the highway to the park. The first site we tried wasn't too bad but there was no water and the electricity was so poor we were afraid of damaging equipment. So, we moved to another site and it had water, but the power was even worse. And the temperature had risen to 112 degrees!

Doug had had enough! We got our money refunded and continued north on the highway. I tried to explain to Doug that there was very little in the way of towns and parks between Cameron and our next stop 212 miles away. He was determined to find somewhere else.

It was 5:30 when we left Cameron and still plenty of light for driving. The scenery was spectacular near the turnoff for Monument Valley. And as the sun began to set, the light on these mountains was breathtaking.

Tiny town after town yielded nothing in the way of parking spots. Then it got dark. We kept driving north through the Four Corners area where Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado meet. But we couldn't see anything and the road deteriorated.

Finally, we saw a sign for the Ute Mountain Casino. I've discovered that many casinos allow rv parking or contain a park. Quickly, I researched it on the internet (thank heavens for our Verizon aircard!!) and they do have a rv park.

At 9:30 (that's pm) we pulled behind the casino into a nice park. We found a semi-level site in the dark and set up temporarily for the night. A quick bite to eat and we collapsed exhausted. Hmmmm......it was supposed to be such a simple day........

The Well

2010-07-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Last year our stay in Verde Valley included visits to Montezuma's Castle and Well. It was late in the day when we arrived at the Well and the time flew by so quickly that we missed some of it.

So, back to the well we went today. We decided to take a different route this time and detoured through the town of Camp Verde. There was much more to it than the glimpses from the highway.

As we got off the beaten track we discovered the Pecan Lane. This historical marker explained about this agricultural area dedicated to the hundreds of old pecan trees lining the road.

Eventually, we found our way back to Montezuma Well, the ancient limestone sinkhole. 368 feet across and 55 feet deep, this unique ecosystem is fed from underground springs and hosts several animals and plants found nowhere else.

But, to me, the most fascinating part are the small dwellings built right into the sides of the steep cliffs. Just accessing these homes must have been a challenge.

The native Sinaquan Indians carved irrigation ditches from the well to the outside valley. Some of these are still used today. One part of the original channel, located in a nearby picnic area, is waist deep.

We visited with the park ranger who again impressed us with his vast knowledge of the area, history and culture of these ancient people. So glad we went back!

Stashed Rocks

2010-07-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

We had another quiet day to catch up with laundry and a few things around the coach. We aren't on vacation so there is no need to rush from one place to another. This is such a nice area with so much to see that we know we will be back.

Last year when we were here, Doug stashed a rather large pile of rocks that he had collected. In the afternoon, we took a ride back to the spot and nothing had been disturbed. Thank heavens, because he deposited another few hundred pounds of collectible rocks out in the desert.

I was going to take pictures but it's a top secret spot!

With most of the rocks out of the coach, there is now room to put away all of his other toys. And the fuel mileage should improve.

Red Rocks of Sedona

2010-07-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

Visiting Sedona and the Red Rock area was high on our list since we missed it last year when we were in the area.

But first we made a side trip to the Page Springs fish hatchery.

Doug needed a fish fix. It's been a long time since he's wet a line.

And these were real beauties until a looooong snake popped his head out of the water and just stared at us. Of course I shrieked, jumped backwards and didn't get a picture of him.

After our visit, we continued north on highway 89A until we came to the Upper Red Rock Loop. Unfortunately my camera doesn't begin to do justice to these gorgeous mountains.

As we got closer, Doug took a detour down a fire road and we were able to look straight up at the peaks.

After about a thousand shots we arrived in Sedona where there were more red hills to photograph. The opportunities were endless.

Sedona seemed to be a tourist trap and didn't interest us much. But we did stop at the Visitor Center which advised following 89A further north through the Oak Creek Canyon.

It was a beautiful, green drive that reminded us of Washington with switchback roads and tons of traffic. Slide Rock State Park is located along this road and is a very popular recreation area. Once the state realized it could be a moneymaker they fenced it and slapped large user fees on it.

At the top was the Oak Creek Canyon Scenic View. And wow, what a view. It was incredible! There were walkways and viewpoints all around the top of the mountain.

It was breathtaking just to stand near the stone walls and peer down 6000 feet to the canyon floor. Then Doug spotted this guy rappelling down a bare cliff. I was dizzy just watching him but he made it safely to a big ledge where others were waiting for him. I'm not sure how they will get back up.

There was also a Native American Market set up in the area with at least a dozen tables set up selling jewelery and souvenirs.

From this view you can see three of the switchbacks on the road back down the mountain. Doug wants to bring the motorhome up this road even though it isn't recommended. Very strongly NOT recommended by the state and me.

It was a long day but worth every minute. We are still amazed at the beauty of our magnificent country and looking forward to each new adventure.

Monsoon Season

2010-07-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

Arizona is into monsoon season now which always makes me think of wild tropical storms with crazy winds, driving rains and nasty humidity. Well, today was not up to my imagination but we had plenty of rain and some humidity.

The clouds from the night before never rolled on so we spent the day inside cozy and dry. It rained off and on all day (mostly on) which gave Doug a chance to work on the air conditioner that was leaking.

Mission accomplished, relaxed day and tomorrow we're off to visit Sedona and the Red Rock area.

Bignotti Beach

2010-07-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

This morning we spotted a sign pointing down a dirt road that drops deep into a canyon. Doug (of course) decided that we needed to see Bignotti Beach. So off we went.

I didn't get pictures of the narrow road carved into the side of the canyon wall, crossing a couple of washes because I was holding on so tightly that I couldn't get to the camera. Yeehaw!

But when we came out in the valley, there was a deserted parking area amid green trees and grass. We parked the car and followed the path above the Verde River for a ways.

It was still very warm outside and we were careful to listen and watch for snakes as we made our way down to the river. The water was so warm it was like bathwater yet rushing past us very swiftly. And that was Bignotti Beach.

When we got back to the car we had a visitor sitting on a nearby post.

His colors were so gorgeous that Doug had to have a picture. He crept closer and closer while the bold little guy just sat there waiting for his portrait. As Doug snapped this last shot, he hightailed it down the post and across the field.

We then made a quick run into Cottonwood to find a part for the hoses and got home just before the rain started. The lightning behind us put on quite a show along with thunder and huge raindrops.

Cottonwood and Tuzigoot

2010-07-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of our site in the Verde Valley Thousand Trails. There are very few 50 amp sites and we were fortunate to find this one with lots of privacy and a picnic table. It took a little bit of digging (by Doug) to get level but we're delighted to be on the move.

After spending the morning relaxing, we took a ride into Cottonwood. It's an interesting little town that is comprised of two parts. There is Old Town where the visitor information center is located in the historic jail. And then there's the newer part of Cottonwood with Walmart, Safeway, Fry's and every fast food joint you can name.

Next, we spotted the sign for Tuzigoot National Monument. It was on my list of things to see in the area so now was as good of time as any to check it out.

First stop was the information center where we obtained a new annual pass for all of the national parks. The ranger was very informative and fun to chat with while we discovered the indian artifacts found in the pueblos.

The park is a 1/3 mile walk through the dwellings of 12th century Sinagua indians. Unlike the cliff dwellings in the area, these pueblos were built on the top of a small sandstone ridge above the Verde Valley.

Although most of the rooms are just crumbling walls, the top has been reconstructed and is accessible. The 360 degree views of the valley are spectacular.

The settlement was abandoned in the 1500's and no one knows why this group of approximately 250 people deserted the 80 room village.

It was such a nice visit that we may go back up there if we are in the area long enough.

After stopping for a few groceries, we enjoyed a gourmet meal from McD's and a quiet evening with the tv.

Wickenburg in the Rear View Mirror

2010-07-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

Oh my, what a long day. We were up early, excited to be moving, but there was so much to do to break down camp and load the vehicles. Our hope was to be on the road by 12 or 1. Ha ha ha!

It was 4pm by the time we ran errands, packed and said our farewells to friends and neighbors.

Then we watched Wickenburg disappear from view as we headed for Surprise to fill the propane tanks. The rv place that sells propane closed at five and we barely slicked into their lot at 4:55. All done in 10 minutes and back on our way north on the Black Canyon highway (US 17).

It was a lovely drive and we watched the temperature drop as the road climbed into the mountains. It was 117 degrees leaving Surprise and only 92 degrees when we arrived in Verde Valley. Heaven!

The scenery was right out of Highways magazine! Except for the windshield washer in the corner.

We arrived at the Verde Valley Thousand Trails about 7:15 and by the time we found a spot, leveled the coach, hooked up the utilities and collapsed, it was too dark for pictures. In the morning, I will get some shots of our site for you.

My goodness, it feels good to be moving again!

Yippee Yahoo

2010-07-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

Get Ready!!!! The blog is about to be back in business.

We have decided to do some exploring. Sitting in one spot is not agreeing with me and we are both bored. It's too hot to be out in the desert digging and just puttering around inside the coach is driving us crazy.

So, we've been busy getting stuff put away and stored with the idea of hitting the road on Thursday. I am sooooooo excited.

We were going to give you our itinerary but I guess you'll just have to stay tuned and follow along. There will be lots of photos and new places to share with you.

All's Quiet on the Home Front

2010-06-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

The day almost got away from me with no blog. But, here I am.

This week was very quiet with the highlight being the opening of a new Dunkin Donuts. We had read that Monday was a pre-opening practice day for the crew and that the food would be free. Hmmmmmm.......free food. Guess where we went.

The place was packed and a little disorganized but we each got a croissantwich with bacon and egg and cheese along with a cup of coffee. They were pretty tasty but I don't see us spending much time there.

Afterwards, we rented a couple of free dvds at the local Redbox. The best was Avatar and the other was Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton's version). We both enjoyed Avatar and will probably pick it up when we find it on sale somewhere. Alice, on the other hand, was ok, but once is enough.

Wednesday was the crummy day. I had a dentist appointment and if anyone cares.....I HATE dentists! The worst of it is I'm on penicillin for a week for an infected tooth and then next Wednesday I get to have it pulled. Wow, I am not looking forward to that.

Yesterday was my sweet Emma's 7th birthday. Seems like yesterday I had the joy of watching her birth. Happy Birthday Sweet Emma-lemma-lemma!!!!!

That's about it. Weather's still hot, air conditioner still works and no trip into the desert. Aren't you glad you tuned in to hear this blather?

Hot, Hot, Hot

2010-06-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

First and foremost.......Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there! With a special hug to Bob!

We broke down and started using the air conditioner this week. I'm sure we won't be too thrilled with the electric bill but it feels nice inside. the downside (besides the bill) is that it's so comfortable in the coach that we don't spend much time outside.

Doug did some panning of the dirt he brought home last week. To our delight,

this appeared. It's a nice little flake along with some tiny pieces.

The gold called to us again on Wednesday so we spent the day in the desert.

This little guy was waiting for us in the wash where we like to dig. Those colors in the picture don't begin to do justice to his real colors. He was about 10 inches long with that tail and didn't seem to be the least concerned with us. It was about nine o'clock in the morning and already the temperature was in the 90's. He was just soaking up the heat.

After several hours of digging, we hopped back into the air conditioned car and decided to follow a jeep trail that we had never been on.

We discovered this old house way back in the desert. Of course Doug had to investigate! I was more than a little concerned about snakes but Doug poked around for a few minutes without any problem. It's interesting to find old places out here. My imagination takes off, dreaming of who took the time to build this home so far away from everything. And why? Gold, I'm sure. What a rugged way to live.

Other than that, we stuck close to home. A little garage sale-ing over the weekend netted us nothing. We found that sales here start early (7 or 8) and are over by 1pm. We'll have to adjust our timing a little if we want to find some bargains.

Stay tuned......we'll be back next weekend.

Once A Week

2010-06-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

It's just impossible to blog every day when we are staying in one spot. But, I am determined to blog at least once a week with a recap of our (not too much) adventures.

The highlight of last week was indubitably getting 50 amp power at our site. We have been here two months struggling with 30 amp power. If it's good power, we do ok. But in this park it is most definitely not good power. That meant we could only run one item at a time. If the coffee was cooking, no using the toaster or microwave. In order to use the hair dryer.......turn off everything else. When the power went off at 11:15 at night and the only thing drawing power was the tv, that was the last straw. Doug spoke to the park manager, who convinced the owner that 50 amp was a necessity. Yee haw!!!!

Wednesday morning at 6:15 the electrical guys showed up! Doug raced outside to help and spent 8 hours digging trenches and helping install stuff. The next morning they came back to finish the installation with new power meters and life is good.

Friday, we took a ride to Phoenix (actually Glendale) to Doug's idea of heaven......Harbour Freight. This place is Disneyland for tool guys. While he shopped there, I ran next door to the Oroweat Bakery Outlet. It's one of my favorite places. I stocked up on bagels and bread then met Doug with his treasures.

Doug took our neighbor Dale out to our favorite gold digging spot on Saturday. Dale is quite elderly and struggling with cancer but he loves the desert and gold. Following their trip, Doug spent the afternoon repairing the rear tire on the Jeep. He found a screw stuck in it, plugged it, aired it and test drove it. Hooray it works again.

The weather has cooled a little bit. In fact, we even had a few light sprinkles yesterday morning and the high only got to 92. Today we still have some clouds but we are creeping back into the mid to high 90's again.

There's nothing exciting planned for next week. So, if nothing exciting happens, you'll hear from us next Sunday.

In the Shop Again

2010-05-12T09:53:00.001-07:00

We dragged ourselves out of bed at the crack of dawn this morning so we could be on the road by 7:30 for our appointment in Phoenix.

Here's where we arrived a half hour before our appointment. Massey's Diesel Repair.

Tom, in the service office took our information, backed us into the shop and started work right away. I love this place.

Doug suspects that the alternator is bad and sure enough, the shop guys pulled it to test it and it was toast. Several hours later a new one was located and installed.

We finished off our afternoon with a nice visit with my son Mick. He lives only 7 miles away from where the work was done so it was just a hop, skip and a jump to his house.

The trip back to Countryside RV was easy even though we were in the middle of rush hour. Traffic was light and the HOV lane suited us to perfection. All in all, the day went well.

The Big City

2010-05-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't got back to you sooner. We have been busy and running ever since we arrived.

Our trip from Wickenburg was perfect and when we arrived at Countryside RV Resort we found it almost empty. I guess it's getting too warm for the snowbirds here. We have stayed at this park several times now and it has been difficult getting reservations, but this time we have it mostly to ourselves.

In between visiting and shopping and eating, we decided to defrost the refrigerator/freezer that was way overdue. It has been giving us an error code 13 and Doug researched it to find that we need a new heat tape. So, the refrig is in pieces all over the coach and we will order a new part this morning and have it shipped overnight. What a pain.

Tomorrow, we'll be heading to the west side of Phoenix to have the alternator repaired. There's a highly recommended shop that can do the work while we take the car and visit Mick, only 7 miles away. Hopefully it will only take the day to fix.

It's been a whirlwind couple of days and as usual the weather is gorgeous. We have been able to run the air conditioning because we have 50 amp electrical service here. That's a treat! Still, we are looking forward to going back to Wickenburg's peace and quiet, as well as getting back into the desert looking for gold.

Road Trip

2010-05-07T13:05:00.001-07:00

We thought that we would be sitting still in Wickenburg for the summer but have decided to take a road trip.

The utilities were unhooked, the neighbors notified, the fuel tank filled (ouch!) and everything stowed. We're off for Apache Junction for a few days. Two of our favorite people are in town and requested our presence for a visit. Yayyy. A day visit would be nice but several days is even better.

Heading east on hwy 60 on a beautiful 90 degree day with lots of scenery to enjoy. Hooray for us! I'm sending this blog as we roll down the highway. More to come.......stay tuned......

Patience is a Virtue

2010-04-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

I know, I know......you've all been waiting patiently for another blog. Well, here it is.

We're still enjoying the warm weather with a few windy days thrown in. It's been in the 90's most days and it feels wonderful.

Doug is still searching for the mother lode in the desert and to aid his efforts, he decided he needed a drywasher. For those not well acquainted with prospector lingo, this is a machine that sifts the heavier material (gold and black sand) from the lighter material (dirt, sand and small rocks). Well, these machines aren't cheap so Doug decided to manufacture his own.

Starting with a scavenger hunt at the local thrift shop and Habitat for Humanity Restore as well as garage sales and treasures found along side the road, Doug collected ironing boards, fabric, buckets, sheet metal from an old shed, chain, angle iron and various necessary items such as a fan blade and sewer hose. The blower was already in our possession.

Over the course of a week, Doug cut and bent and magically transformed these bits and pieces into a working drywasher.

And here is the final product.

The dirt goes through a rack (top of the ironing board) on the top bucket where the larger rocks roll off. The classified dirt then rolls onto the bottom half of the drywasher (a square bucket cut in half) and passes over the sheet metal riffles to land in the round bucket. The blower and fan push air through the fabric under the riffles while the whole contraption vibrates. Because gold is waaaay heavier than dirt and rocks, the motion and air allows the gold and black sand (which often contains gold) to get caught in the riffles.

After about 20 minutes, we clean out the riffles and Doug can pan the material to separate out all of the gold. It works!!!! We've been out in the desert twice and have found small amounts of gold with less effort.

We have also found snakes and scorpions. There were 3 snakes on Monday of which two were dead on the road. And this lovely fellow greeted us on Tuesday. (also dead) We're being very careful now about where we walk and where we stick our hands. I flipped a medium size rock to discover and ugly, little scorpion waiting to sting me. Doug sent him to scorpion heaven immediately.

Today, Doug is making a few minor modifications to the drywasher and we'll try again in a few days. It looks like there may be some bad weather coming in.

So that's our exciting news. For 50 bucks Doug has built a machine that costs around $500 new. It may not be as fancy but if it finds gold.....who cares?

Still Here

2010-04-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

Time to catch up! Still here, still playing.......

Our friends, Bill and Wanda headed for New Mexico a few days ago and we moved to a park that is on the edge of Wickenburg. It's an older park with quite a few permanent residents and is a little run-down. But, in the back of the park, away from the street is a section with several nicer rvs and a couple open sites. We chose one that has a little shed and room for Doug to set up his gold mining equipment. It's not beautiful, but it has some nice people and is a little easier on the budget. I'll get some pictures tomorrow.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the desert was beginning to bloom. Yesterday on our trip to the wash I took some pictures to share a little of the color.

My favorites are the ocotillo. These skinny, dark green stalks are budding out with red buds at the tips.

The colors haven't totally exploded but are prettier every day.

There are purples, oranges, yellows, whites and occasionally these.

They were tucked into the side of a steep canyon wall, waiting for us to notice them.

Beautiful.......no? Tiny flashes of color to brighten our day.

SnakeTime

2010-03-31T10:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry we've been gone so long! Same old, same old.

When we were out in the desert a few days ago, we ran across this fine rattlesnake. Almost literally! He was sunning himself right in the middle of the road. Big one too. Probably close to four feet long with lots of rattles.

We were all standing about four feet away from him when Bill kicked some dust at him and he just crawled off the road into the grass and finally into the bushes. The poor old guy wasn't the least bit interested in us. But he sure blends in well with the terrain.

Yesterday, we were back out at our digging spot where I had the rare and wonderful experience of digging up some snake eggs. They were buried about eight inches under the surface of the wash in the moist, cool dirt. There were probably about a dozen little rubbery, white eggs about the size of tictacs. We (Doug) brought them home to try to identify them but no luck.

On our way home we discovered the Octave Cemetery. This dates back to around 1863 with about 100 graves inside the fenced area and at least that many outside.

We wandered around for a few minutes and were saddened by the dilapidated, overgrown state of the cemetery. There were a few crosses still standing, but most have either fallen apart or have disappeared.

After that stop, we stopped again to look at some petroglyphs. Unfortunately, we didn't get pictures of the drawings themselves. We were exhausted from our long day digging and the climb was more than we wanted to tackle.

So ends another busy week doing not a lot. There's a nasty storm heading our way tomorrow, so we'll be inside I'm sure.

Mish Mash

2010-03-24T22:11:00.000-07:00

Today is a mishmash of blog stuff. First, on our last trip to the desert, we spotted this handsome creature.

He's one of the biggest lizards that we have seen with gorgeous blue legs and a black collar. He even sat still while Doug snapped some pictures.

Next in the mishmash is a picture of my latest bead creation. It's a patriotic, waving flag bracelet made with little tiny beads.

And finally in the mishmash is our neighbor. The wind was blowing crazily so he decided to fly his kite.

Here it is in the sky. But the wind got the better of him and it finally took a nose dive. Literally.

Still, it was a fun way to spend part of an afternoon. See.......we don't play in the dirt all the time.

Checking In

2010-03-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

Not a lot going on around here. Doug is still moving dirt through the equipment and I have started a new bead project. Still lots of visiting happening and today the park filled up. There's a wood-carvers convention at the activity center and every site is taken. They'll leave in a week and then there is a bead-week convention. So I expect the park will stay full for a couple weeks.

The desert is beginning to bloom with all of the rain we have had in the last few weeks. We're going back to dig dirt tomorrow and I will try to get some pictures of all of the pretties.

Thanks for hanging in here!

Another Desert Day

2010-03-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

We spent the afternoon in the desert wash digging for gold. The place we like is about 20 miles from home and we drive a dirty, rutty, rocky road most of the way.

Once we get to our spot, we drive down a steep path in four wheel drive very slowly to the wash. This picture doesn't begin to show how crazy the path is, but you can get the idea.

We picked up a gold detector at a yard sale last weekend and had to try it out. Here, Bill is showing us how to use it. Unfortunately he didn't show us how to find gold nuggets! But Doug found a scorpion when he was flipping rocks. It was a little tiny one and was killed quickly.

We spent several hours and got a little sunburned for our efforts. Next time we'll wear our hats and long sleeve shirts.

After we are done digging in a spot, we place a marker with our name and the date. Theoretically, no one else is supposed to dig within a shovel length of our marker for two weeks. We are usually back within 3 or 4 days and we have never seen anyone else in this section of the wash.

Our days just seem to blend into one another here.

Smiles on Our Faces

2010-03-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining and the sky is blue, blue, blue! What a lucky life we live. This morning I was pinching myself to remind me that this is what I dreamed about for years. Our time is our own, we are meeting new people, we move when and where we choose and it's easy to smile with such a sense of contentment.

Our place is still the center of entertainment. Yesterday Doug set a new record. He was outside 4 minutes before someone came to visit. He loves it! And sometimes he gets some work done too.
There are so many nice people here that are constantly helping and doing favors for each other.

I'm still beading, baking and digging dirt with Doug. What a great time we are having!

Happy Day!

2010-03-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu
Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu
Happy Birthday dear Mom Bev
Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu!!!!

Hope your day is joyful. We're sending you tons of love and a little sunshine.

Practical Joker

2010-03-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

When boredom sets in, the imagination goes crazy. After 3 days cooped up in the coach during the torrential rains, Doug needed an outlet for his sense of humor.

So when the rains abated for a few minutes, he darted behind the coaches and with great stealth crept across the street with a recent acquisition.

He and Frank found a well used life jacket alongside the road on their way to the store. Being men, they couldn't resist and picked it up with ulterior motives in mind.

Still hidden behind Bill's truck, Doug carefully attached the orange life jacket to Bill's sluice.

With all the rain, we were trying to keep the sluice afloat and from washing away in the next downpour.

Chuckling all the way home, we waited and watched to see if Bill would notice it.

Nope, it wasn't until this morning that he finally saw it. Meanwhile, we were rolling on the floor laughing at his expression. Somehow, he figured out instantly who had done it. He headed directly for our door with the life jacket around his neck, making swimming motions.

It's hard to deny it when we can't keep a straight face.

Hooray!!! Today the sun is shining! We're still bundled up in shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and hats but at least we can be outside.

So Many Raindrops

2010-03-08T18:18:00.000-08:00

We've spent the last couple of days inside the coach, thanks to the nasty weather. Rain, lightning and even some hail pounded us for 24 hours straight. And to top it off, one corner of the slide decided to leak. The electric heater is directed at the wet carpet and the magazines are spread all over the couch to dry. Yuck, if we wanted this, we could have stayed in the great Northwest!

Hopefully things will start to improve now.

Desert Days

2010-03-05T15:47:00.000-08:00

You'll never guess what we did today!

We went out into the desert and played in the dirt! Actually, we followed Bill and Wanda out into Miners Creek and helped setup and run their drywasher.

The day was perfect. 70 degrees and soooooo pleasant. We took turns shoveling dirt and running the drywasher for a couple of hours. Mostly, Wanda and I visited while we watched the guys get dirty.

The result was a very small amount of gold. Guess we'll try somewhere else tomorrow.

As we were leaving, we ran across this grave of a gold mine claim jumper. Pretty hilarious! Take a close look at his glove sticking out of the sand. Someone had a good sense of humor and a lot of time on their hands.

North Ranch Mining Operation

2010-03-02T08:37:00.000-08:00

Here's what goes on in our site every day that the sun shines.

These are a few of the guys that gather to help Doug with his dirt. Today's visitors are Frank, Fred, another neighbor & Doug. Missing from the picture are Bill, the Canadian neighbors, Gene and innumerable passers-by that just have to know what is going on.

I keep the coffee brewing and the guys have their own cups. I'm afraid if I start baking and serving cookies with the coffee that Doug will never get any work done.

Still, they laugh and tell tall stories and solve the world's problems. What more could we ask for on a lovely Arizona day.

Bracelets

2010-02-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

The weather cleared a bit so while I was beading, Doug was sifting more dirt. He is determined to find more gold.

I promised some pictures of my projects. So here goes.....

The first, beginner's project is a simple spiral bracelet. It was a fun, quick job and I didn't even put a clasp on it. I think I'll take it apart and reuse the beads for something else. It's pretty, but I would never wear it.

Next, came the Tic-Tac-Toe bracelet. Again, I will probably never wear it because of the dark color I chose. But, I did finish it!

The project that I worked on yesterday is my favorite. I call it the dagger bracelet because of the type of beads used. It's a little complicated and very popular here. Unfortunately, I made it a little too small and I don't want to take it apart. Oh well, I had a ton of fun and there's a zillion more things to learn and make.

I am constantly amazed at the number of activities in this place. While we were beading, there was line dancing in the next room and that was immediately followed by a nature hike. I also discovered polymer clay projects being taught. And of course, my personal favorite is the library.

Beading Classes

2010-02-24T08:30:00.001-08:00

The weather sure can't make up it's mind around these parts. After a couple days of rain and wind, we are now basking in the sunshine in shirtsleeves. But, the next storm is due tomorrow. I'm not complaining because we are still far luckier than most of the country.

Doug is still digging dirt (and finding flakes of gold) while I have been taking beading classes with our neighbor Wanda. It's a neat group of people here at North Ranch that are willing to share their expertise and they have lots of supplies at almost cost to complete our projects.

I'm out the door now to complete a bracelet that I started. Pics later........

Boring!

2010-02-21T09:31:00.000-08:00

Sure is hard blogging when the days all run together. We've just been doing the normal stuff......laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, and dirt.

Doug had an offer to help another guy with a huge dry washer that required three people to keep shoveling dirt into it. He and two of our neighbors spent a day in exchange for a bucket of the good part of the dirt.

They all came home stiff and sore from the work, but each worked their bucket and came out with a dozen flakes of gold. Definitely not worth the pain!

The weather has turned bad again with torrential downpours yesterday.....all day. So, when the desert dries a bit, we'll head back to our favorite spot and dig our own gold.

Nascar today!

Dinner with the Neighbors

2010-02-19T09:03:00.000-08:00

It's been a quiet couple of days. Just enjoying the sunshine while waiting for the next storm to roll through.

One of our neighbors is flying back to Wisconsin tomorrow (brrrrrrr) so we decided to have a farewell get-together last night. Six of us gathered on our little patio and barbequed hamburgers with all the fixings. Thanks to Wanda, we also had potato salad and chocolate cake. I provided the wine.

The neighbors, Roger and Debbie, have decided to become full time rvers after spending three relaxing weeks here in their trailer. They had tons of questions and we were glad to answer any that we could. So, now they are heading home to sell their house and belongings, look for a larger rv, let their friends and family know and start a new journey.

It was a fun evening until the wind kicked up and the temperature dropped. By 7:30 we were all tucked into our own little homes trying to thaw out.

Just another day in paradise.

Surprise!

2010-02-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

Yup, we spent the day in Surprise, AZ. Actually, it's a suburb of Phoenix. We had a ton of errands to take care of and that was the closest place that had everything we needed.

About 40 miles south of us, the town is one long strip mall with Hwy 60 running right through it. We found transmission fluid, haircuts, shoes and about a zillion other things. Of course, we didn't buy all zillion things but it's been weeks since we shopped in big, chain stores. It was fun seeing all the things that we didn't need.

That was our excitement for the day. Then, it was back home to play in the dirt. Doug's still finding flakes of gold.......just no more nuggets. But we'll keep looking

Many Happy's

2010-02-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!! and Happy Chinese New Year!!

We're still digging dirt and finding gold flakes. It looks like we'll be here another week.

Checking Out a Mining Claim

2010-02-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

Some friends of ours bought a mining claim, sight unseen, about 36 miles south of the park. After checking the maps, we all decided to take a ride out to see what might be there.

We drove out Vulture Mine Road for many miles until it turned to dirt. Then, we drove across some desert roads until we came to this big wash.

The cars were unloaded and we started hiking into the hills to try and find the corner marker for their claim. Here is most of the group. That's Debbie, Bill, Wanda (with her hand in front of her face) and Doug. The other member is in the background, Roger.

Here's Roger.

After finding the corner post and deducing the direction of the rest of the claim, we all headed into the hills to test some of the smaller washes for traces of gold.

Bill and Wanda found a good spot.

Doug and I climbed higher and found another good testing area.

After carrying small buckets of dirt back down to the cars, the guys panned the soil looking for traces of gold. I photographed their best side!

They weren't too appreciative of my sense of humor.

It was a warm, fun day in the desert that resulted in zero gold. Still, we had a good time visiting and got to see a new area. Who could ask for more?

Propane Problems?

2010-02-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

We thought we were out of propane because we had no heat the other morning, so we unhooked the power and water and sewer. Then drove to the entrance of the park where the giant propane tank is located.

.
While Doug and the propane-filler-guy took care of business......

I took some pictures of the sign out front......

and the clubhouse.

Then we drove back to our site, resettled in, hooked everything back up, turned on the propane furnace and nothing. No heat. I guess Doug's next project is to check the furnace.

Nothing to Say

2010-02-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

I'm at a loss for blog words. We're still playing in the dirt and hanging out with friends. Our stay here at North Ranch has been extended for another week. (gold fever)

The weather has been iffy with rain, then sun, then overcast with showers and today.....sun again.

We're feeling contented with our simple, quiet lifestyle and if we find enough gold we'll spread the contentment around. Wish us luck!

A Sightseeing Day

2010-02-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

It was such a beautiful day that we decided to take a ride to Stanton. It's about 6 miles along some washboard, dusty, dirty roads but there was a swap meet that we thought might be fun.

Wrong. The swap meet was a waste of time. Still, it was an interesting little place. This is the front of the Hotel Stanton that was built in the 1860's when the place was known as Antelope Stage Stop.

This is the original stage stop and saloon.

Interesting place......

After our visit, we decided to take a picturesque drive up the back roads to Yarnell. We were warned about this road but couldn't resist.

First we forded a stream in 4 wheel drive. (no picture....I was holding on tight.) Then the one lane road started curving up the mountainside. It was only about 10 miles but took us close to an hour to drive.

There were lots of hairpin turns and switchbacks with a loooooong drop off my side. At one point, we had to pull over to the edge and stop to allow nine 4 wheelers to zip past us.

Once we reached Yarnell, Doug had to stop at the hardware store and then we just cruised through some of the residential areas.

Someone's creative endeavor just screamed for a photo op.

Then we stopped at the St. Joseph Shrine. An interesting stone trail led up the mountain through the 14 stations of the cross, so we got our exercise. Another interesting place in an out of the way town.

Lazy Life

2010-02-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

Nothing much happening around here. We did go dig some more gold dirt yesterday. I intended to get some pictures and I even remembered my camera. Unfortunately, when I went to use it, I discovered that I had left the memory card in the computer. Maybe next time.

We haven't found anymore nuggets, but we are still finding some flakes. Those will add up eventually. Still, I'd be lying if I said that it was as much fun as finding nuggets.

It's a little overcast today. Compared to the rest of the US we are doing great! I think we'll take a ride up to the little town of Stanton. It's right in the middle of all of the claims and they're having a garage sale. From there we'll take the back roads up to Yarnell. We've been told that it's a really nice ride.

Perhaps I'll even get some pictures!

The Jail Tree

2010-02-03T21:16:00.001-08:00

We had such good luck with our first trip into the desert for dirt, we spent yesterday there too. Now we have buckets and buckets of dirt to pan. Keeps Doug busy!

Today we ran into Wickenburg for some groceries and discovered the Jail Tree.

This little piece of history was the method for detaining drunks and reprobates. Adobe jails were easy to escape from and because this was a gold mining area, the miners were too busy to build a normal jail. So, instead, they chained the bad guys to this old mesquite tree.

The whole town has figures like this guy to narrate the historical spots. He really looks real!

We finished our errands just as the black clouds started rolling in. The forecast is for more rain tomorrow so we'll probably just hang out at home.

There's Gold in Them Thar Hills

2010-02-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy couple of days for Doug. On Sunday, he and Bill heard about a couple of mining claims that were for sale for a really great price. Since they weren't too far from here, the guys decided to take a look.

After 4 hours in the desert and through a major wash, they came to the conclusion that there was a reason that the price was so cheap. Inaccessible and not much evidence of gold! So, that idea was bagged.

But yesterday was really exciting! Doug finished panning (by machine) his dirt from our trip to Weaver's claim a few days ago. Lo and behold!

A nugget! Not a flake, not a picker.....but a real honest to goodness nugget! Our mentors Bill and Wanda were just as excited as we were. In fact, they told us that it is worth more as a nugget than it's value as gold weight. Yippee! We're on our way to being rich.....well, maybe.......lol.

We also found enough small flakes to fill the bottom of one of our little bottles. What a good bucket of dirt! Now we both have gold fever.

That was our excitement for the day. Now, we can hardly wait to go get some more dirt to pan. To the desert and beyond............

New Hobby

2010-01-31T17:11:00.000-08:00

There's a class taught here at the park in wire wrapping jewelry. I thought it sounded interesting and Doug agreed. The only catch was.......it costs $25. So, since Doug is the meticulous perfectionist, we decided that he would learn and then teach me.

Here is his very first project. The lady provided everything needed......the cabachon, wire, tools and knowhow. I think it turned out gorgeous. It took a couple of hours for the beginning project but Doug feels confident that it could be done much quicker with a little practice.

Here's another shot of it. I hope you are as impressed as I was.

Now, we just have to get a few tools and some wire and we'll be in business. These sell really well here and I already have ideas for bracelets and rings too.

After spending the morning learning wire wrapping, Doug helped another neighbor repair the latch on her screen door. As a thank you, she gave him a couple of bottles of wine. Guess what! Doug doesn't drink wine........but I do.

Then, he spent the rest of the day working his gold dirt. A few more flakes in our gold vial!

Weavers Mining District

2010-01-30T16:58:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful day!

Doug got his gold washing setup finished with the help of our neighbor Bill. He and his wife Wanda have been spending time in Arizona collecting gold for a number of years. They are fun people to be around and eager to share their knowledge.

With the sluice running perfectly, it was time to find some gold. First, we joined the Weaver Mining District and got a membership card. Then, the four of us drove out near the Weaver Mountains and climbed down into the wash.

While the guys dug the dirt from the sides of the wash, Wanda & I sifted the bigger rocks out of the soil and filled the buckets with dirt full of gold. (We hope) After a couple of hours, we headed back home to begin running the dirt through the sluice.

It was after dark by the time Doug finished one bucket. He brought the final black sand inside and panned it. Woohoo! We found several small flakes! There must be at least .01 worth.

The sky was beautiful as the Wolf Moon came up over the Weaver Mountains. The native Americans called the first full moon in January the Wolf Moon after the hungry wolves howling outside their village. It is sometimes known as the Old Moon or Moon After Yule. There, you've had your science lesson for the day.

Yarnell, AZ

2010-01-29T17:52:00.000-08:00

This is a busy park with lots of activities. I went to the clubhouse to check out the library and discovered that it was time for a park jam session. The music was so good that I stayed for the entire two hours.

While I was doing that, Doug was busy with the neighbor figuring out how to make a high banker from his sluice. I think he has the gold fever!

He needed a submersible pump for the setup and we were told about a cool hardware store with excellent prices in the little town of Yarnell. So, off we went to take a ride up into the mountains to the little town of Yarnell.

There wasn't much to see in the town but the road winding straight up the mountain was a fun trip.

From the top, we could look out over the valley where our park in located. Just spectacular, the pictures don't begin to do it justice.

Doug found what he was looking for and we started back down the hill when we found a pull-out that overlooked the area. Lots more photos!

Tomorrow, we search for gold.

North Ranch

2010-01-28T10:21:00.000-08:00

Yup, we've moved. We arrived at North Ranch Escapee Park near Congress, Arizona. It was all blue skies when we arrived on Tuesday late afternoon and by nightfall we had rain. Yesterday it was very overcast and nasty looking all day. I meant to get pictures but it reminded me of Seattle weather which is depressing.

So, this morning I'll fill you in on the last couple days.

We left Quartzsite around noon and took I-10 to Hwy 60 east, passing numerous little towns that are still cleaning up from the storm last week. Mud everywhere!

After leaving the town of Hope we saw this sign that tickled us.

And this company that had Doug howling.

We arrived at North Ranch in the late afternoon and had our choice of sites. Usually this park is plumb full but this year there's tons of room. We chose this site because there is no one parked on either side of us. Lots of room.

This is the view out of our side window......

And this is the view out of the other side. Yuck. Basically this is a full hookup parking lot. But the majority of the people here are looking for gold. Everywhere you look are dry washers and high bankers. Of course, Doug is itching to go and find some. We'll make a good team. He'll find it and I'll spend it!

Shirt Sleeve Weather Again

2010-01-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

The last couple of days have been gorgeous. Shirt sleeve and shorts weather! Eighteen of the one hundred coaches stayed here so we spent the entire day visiting. It's so much easier to get to know someone in a small group.

That was followed by one last campfire and a glorious sunset behind the tent. One couple brought their guitar and autoharp and entertained us all evening.

This morning, the tent came down for the last time and most of us started packing up.

Doug practiced the ancient, lost art of rock stacking during his break-down duties. He's having so much fun with it, we now have several monuments around our site.

Here's one last shot of our site in the desert before we crank up that diesel engine and head east.

Zip...Two More Days Gone

2010-01-25T09:17:00.000-08:00

Wowser! Where have the last two days gone? We've been busy visiting, eating, touring the big tent in Quartzsite, eating, enjoying the campfire, eating and some more eating. The weather has gone back to warm and sunny which really makes visiting easy. We now have so many new friends to go see in the area that we may never get out of Arizona. (just kidding) It's nice when the invitations are sincere and heartfelt.

This morning people are pulling out of here like crazy. It's only 10 am and there are only a couple dozen coaches left. We are going to stay here again tonight with a few others, then head to Congress tomorrow. I'm not sure why everyone is in such a rush to leave. They are all retired with nowhere special to be, but they are hurrying.

Back tomorrow with more exciting stuff!

Just Visiting

2010-01-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

Another cloudy, drizzly day but with little wind. The guys spent the morning reassembling the tent for the potluck dinner this evening and reinforced it against any weather. Then they gathered for a gearhead meeting. That's where they discuss mechanical and technical problems with their solutions as well as improvements that have been accomplished.

The rest of the day was spent visiting and relaxing with no exciting happenings. The potluck was a success with three tables full of food. No matter what the weather is, we manage to eat well!

And, best of all, the weather is supposed to start improving. We are ready for some blue sky!

Tornado Warnings

2010-01-21T19:04:00.000-08:00

We woke to ugly skies but no rain and we were hoping that maybe the worst was behind us. No such luck.

After a quick meeting in the tent, Doug & I ran to Parker for groceries just as the rain started again. There was a little water on the road, but nothing too bad. It took us a couple of hours to finish our shopping since we were out of everything and we started home about 3pm. What a difference a couple of hours makes!

The rain was pouring across the highway in small streams and large rivers. We watched carefully to see if others were making it through the water ok, then continued ourselves. In a couple of spots, it was so deep, we were blinded by the water spraying up and over the windshield. Scary!

But, we made it back home in time for the hamburger and hot dog bbq in the big tent. Doug jumped right in to help with the cooking and the rain continued. Instead of a nice gathering of people, everyone filled their plates then headed back to their own coach. The wind kicked up, blowing rain under the sides of the tent making giant puddles inside.

The storm got worse and soon someone told us that there was a tornado warning for the Quartzsite area! About that time, the tent started to give way. Straps were snapping and the whole thing was swaying. Per Doug's instructions, I hightailed it out of there and back to the coach while a few of the guys stayed to put out the bbq and take the tent down.

We never saw a tornado, but I've never been out in sustained winds like that. It was difficult to even walk (or run) back to the coach. And within 10 seconds our clothes were totally soaked.

Hopefully, tomorrow will dawn a little brighter.

Happy Late Birthday Bob!

2010-01-20T17:12:00.000-08:00

Sorry it got away from us, but we're sending you hugs and wishes for many, many more. Who knows? Maybe next year we'll get it on the right day!

On a brighter note, there are no pictures today because I took a nose dive into the gravel and jammed my left arm pretty bad. Nothing's broken but it sure is swollen and sore. I scraped up both palms and my right knee while I was at it. Fortunately I am right handed so I can continue to type the blog! Just a little bit slower.

More and more coaches poured into the rally today. Maybe tomorrow I can get Doug to climb onto the top of the coach and get a picture of all of us. Quite a few people canceled but we still have over 100 Alpines here. It's quite a sight to see.

The weather held pretty well today. It was sunny all morning and afternoon. But the potluck broke up a little early as the clouds rolled in and a few raindrops splattered. The forecast is so bad that the potluck breakfast has been canceled in the morning. And it was announced at the happy hour that the 4 wheel jeep ride in the desert on Saturday is canceled because so many of the washes are running with water. And this is before the big storm hits tomorrow!

Still, we are having a great time seeing old friends again.

The Tent Goes Up

2010-01-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

The day started a little brighter with a few glimpses of sunshine.

And when the guys arrived to set up the tent, the wind started blowing.

They persevered and managed to get the roof of the tent up as a few more coaches rolled in.

New people arrived all day long and Doug was busy greeting them and helping them park. By early evening, over 50 Alpines had arrived. It's still a day early and almost 1/3 of the group is here.

Then the skies opened up and the wind tried to take the tent into the next county. Fortunately, Doug and a couple of the guys were inside to add dozens of bungee type cords to batten it down. You can't tell from this picture, but by dark, the ground was covered with small lakes and the washes were looking like rivers.

Except for a short happy hour in the tent, everyone stayed in their rigs.

Change in the Weather

2010-01-18T17:07:00.000-08:00

Holey Mackerel! The storm that hit southern California arrived last night and our blue skies disappeared. About bedtime, we heard the pitter pat of raindrops on the roof and then a downpour. For a minute I thought we were back in Seattle.

We woke to gray, cloudy skies and wild winds whipping at our outdoor carpet. Doug has it staked down but he made a trip farther into the desert to gather big rocks as anchors.

Several more Alpines arrived today and Doug had fun helping people get parked and making new friends. We are going to have fun in spite of this weather. There's some really hilarious people in this group.

One of Doug's favorite people set up his own power post along with sewer and water. It sure turns people's heads when they see that out here in the middle of nowhere. Doug can hardly wait to make one of his own.

Tonight, we found out several of the southern California people will not be able to make it to this rally. The storm has caused flooding problems all over the area. It's really too bad after all of the beautiful weather we've had for it to change this week.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.......tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, you're only a day away. (Thanks Annie)

Back in the Desert Again

2010-01-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

Our week at the Arizona Sunset RV Park was up today, so we filled the water tank and dumped the grey and black tanks and backtracked to Quartzsite.

We are out in the desert just a little ways away from where we were a week ago. Only the views are very different. The desert is absolutely loaded with rvs of every shape and size. We have seen two man pup tents and campers all the way up to a million dollar Prevost.

There are about a zillion rallies going on out here with some large groups. I don't think we would be here if it wasn't for our own rally. Too many people! And dust!

As you can see from the photo, the weather is still perfect. Since we are a couple days early for the gathering, we have no neighbors yet. But, by Wednesday, I'm sure we'll be surrounded by lots of Alpine Coaches.

The Missing Weeks

2010-01-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

Ok.....to backtrack a little in our travels. About the time that the computer refused to start, we were in Desert Hot Springs, CA. The park is a Western Horizons park and the pictures of it are on the dead computer. Hopefully I will be able to rescue them.

After a week at Desert Pools, we headed to Palm Springs Thousand Trails in Palm Desert, CA.

We have stayed at this park several times and while it is a little crowded, the price is right (free) and we always meet friends from the past.

This time, Doug spent an afternoon with our good friends Clyde and Jeri assembling their new bikes.

Following our week and a half there, the next stop was the Colorado River Oasis in Ehrenberg, AZ. It felt good to be back in Arizona!

This is a great park with lots of room in the ample sites. Plus, the park was less than half full.

A short walk took us right to the Colorado River.

We especially enjoyed this funny looking duck. I've never seen a duck with a top knot like this.

After our week in Ehrenberg, we decided to do some boondocking. One of our favorite spots is north of Quartzsite, just off of Plomosa Road.

When we arrived on December 29, we pretty much had the desert to ourselves. The days were sunny and warm.......

and the sunsets were spectacular. We spent our days relaxing with me reading every book in the coach (still no computer) and Doug picking up rocks. (surprise, surprise) The swap meets in Quartzsite caught our attention a couple of times and it was fun to wander through the sales pitches. We did end up buying a new water pump when ours quit working.

We also took a day trip to Bouse, which was a big nothing. And drove to Parker a couple of times for groceries. We even celebrated New Year's Eve in the middle of the desert.

One evening, we had a visit from my son Mick and his fiance Adrianna, along with their three boxers. That filled the coach!

Eleven days off the grid, we desperately needed to get back to civilization and a full hookup park. Unfortunately, this time of year, there are no vacancies on short notice at any park in the area. We finally found a park in Salome that is in our budget and acceptable.

Actually, it's a very small park in Salome with mostly semi-permanent rvs but the Arizona Sunset RV Park is perfect for our immediate needs. Those needs being...lots of water and electricity for laundry. At the two week mark in the desert, we are completely out of clean clothes and our water tank is empty as well as our black and gray tanks being full.

The residents here are friendly without being intrusive and we'll be ready to head back to the desert near Quartzsite for some more boondocking with our Alpine Coach Rally buddies.

We did take some time to get back into geocaching again.

We found the Sandstone Mushroom geocache .......

The founder of Salome, Dick Wick Hall memorial geocache.....

And the NRV (No Real Value) geocache near the Harquahala Gold Mine which is now defunct. We have managed to keep busy since Doug loves to drive in the desert.......where there aren't any roads.......and lots of deep washes.........to use the four wheel drive.

So, now you are caught up with us. We'll be leaving Salome soon and we'll keep you posted every day (almost) with our adventures. Happy trails!

My Apologies, Dear Friends

2010-01-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

We haven't gone into hiding. Or fallen off the face of the earth. Or disappeared into the sunset. We aren't ignoring you. Or forgetting you. Or pretending you don't exist. We haven't quit caring. Or loving. Or being your family and friend.

We've just had a break, I guess you could say. Partly from the lack of a computer (now remedied), partly from not realizing how much you cared (definitely remedies) and partly from laziness. (no cure) Soooooo......

We promise to be more attentive to you! The blog will go on. Even when there isn't much to tell you and even when we are being boring and even when life gets in the way.

Later today I will play catch up with our travels along with pictures (a few) and an updated map. Stay tuned! We're baaaaaaaaaack!

The Black Screen of Death

2009-12-08T06:35:00.000-08:00

I sat down to compose a blog post and without warning, my computer stopped. And, it won't turn on. We've tried everything and it's just gone. So, now, Doug and I are sharing his computer until I an afford a new one.

His computer runs Vista which I detest and haven't fully figured out yet, so it might be a few days before I can load pictures. It's funny how accustomed one becomes to a certain program or operating system and how diffiult it can be to start anew. But, we won't desert you. I will keep posting as best I can.

The weather here has turned awful. Yesterday, it rained (hard) all.....day......long. There was snow in the passes, including the one we traversed three days ago. And the Grapevine pass was totally closed due to snow and icy conditions. Then last night, the winds started shaking and rocking the coach. I know it's December, but I thought the weather was supposed to nice here in southern California.

Hopefully, we'll get a little break today so we can do some sightseeing.

Desert Hot Springs

2009-12-05T11:23:00.000-08:00

It sure is easy to get moving early when we only spend the night at a park. The car is hooked up, very few items inside the coach need to be put away and we are both anxious to go.

So, we were on the road by 10am. Unfortunately, it was the wrong road. By the time we discovered it, we were halfway to California City and there was nowhere to turn around with a 40 foot coach hauling a car behind.

I quickly checked Google maps of the area and found that if we just continued through California City, the road would bend south back to highway 58, which is the one we wanted. Thanks to Google, I discovered that California City was intended to be bigger than Los Angeles when it was first developed. But, no one moved there and it never quite became the dream city that was intended. Still, it is the third largest city in California, geographically. The Google earth website shows miles and miles of crumbling roads that were never finished for developments that never happened.

After finally getting back on track, it was as easy drive to I-10 and then east to Desert Hot Springs. The sun was shining and it was 75 degrees. Nice!

Our reservations were at an ROD park called Desert Pools. It's a nice park but everyone is packed in like sardines.

The neighbors are really nice. On one side are Bob and Terry in their Teton Homes 5th wheel. Bob and Doug got to visiting and the next thing I knew, they were off to shoot pool in the clubhouse.

After their fun, Doug came back to take me for a tour of the facilities. Their are three small pools that are each heated from the natural hot springs in this area. Each is set at a different temperature and delightful. The big swimming pool is also heated and like bathwater.

Inside the clubhouse are the pool room, a terrific lending library with half finished puzzles on every table, an e-mail room for computers, a card room and a large dining room. There are activities and meals all day long at this park.

Every time we step out of the coach, people stop to visit. I can see Doug isn't going to get to any of our projects at this stop.

Sierra Trails in Mojave

2009-12-03T18:04:00.000-08:00

Whew....that was a long day of driving. We left San Benito TT in Paicines, CA late in the morning and backtracked to I-5. From there it was 130 miles south on some boring, raggedy highway lanes. I suppose I-5 should be called a freeway but it has become so poorly maintained that I think the side roads would be safer.

We left I-5 at Buttonwillow and drove east through Bakersfield then across Tehachapi Pass to the outskirts of Mojave. All of the windmills were going full blast and the smog was almost choking us until we made it across the pass.

The park we chose for just one night was Sierra Trails RV Park. We had stayed there on our way back to Washington last spring and we knew it was not fancy, but was fine for overnighting. And the best part is it's part of the Passport America club which is half price camping.

The pull thru sites are located in the back of the park and are dirt. Still, they are level, have water and electric, picnic tables on a concrete pad and safe. Works for us!

It's still getting very cold at night (high 30's) so we will continue east in search of some heat tomorrow.

Reminders

2009-12-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

After a quick run back to Paicines to pick up our mail, we took some time to start putting things away for our departure tomorrow. While Doug was outside emptying tanks and cleaning up, a neighbor stopped by to visit and invite us to an informal seminar called RV 101 that he does at each park where he and his wife stay.

Of course we agreed to join them at the clubhouse in the evening and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be. Fred has obviously spent a lot of time and money preparing this rving seminar with handouts and booklets and door prizes. There were three couples and three singles in attendance, so it was laid back and comfortable.

Fred began with a discussion on the importance of checking electrical components starting with choosing a campsite to maximize your electrical power and minimize your electrical problems. He showed us the tools that he uses for testing and some of the disasters that have been averted.

Following the section on electricity, he spoke about fire safety and protection which lead into a warning about rv refrigerators being one of the major sources of fire.

It was well worth our time, even though we were aware of most of the information. But we came away with some new ideas as well as some reminders of how easy it is to become complacent with the equipment and lifestyle. Rving isn't all pretty sunsets and fun and games. There is a lot of maintenance and problems that constantly need to be addressed.

The other thing we came away with was.............a door prize! I won!

Running Ourselves Ragged

2009-12-01T17:13:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a busy day we had! We are leaving this park on Thursday and decided to run all of our errands in one trip.

Our first stop was in the big city of Salinas. It's actually a good size city and had just about anything we could need. We found the UPS office where we picked up some packages that couldn't be delivered, then headed to the nearby Jeep dealership that we had spotted.

Doug has been having trouble with his key fob and we needed to check the prices on having the oil changed and the blower for the heater/air conditioner quit working too. The quote we were given in the service shop took our breath away. So, we drove to a Kragens Auto Parts on the other side of town and bought a couple quarts of oil. We'll worry about the rest when our ship comes in................still waiting..........

A smoke shop was next on the list, followed by a recycling center to get rid of a sack of smashed pop cans. (Recycling pays very well in California if you can find some place that takes them.)

Finally, we headed to Gilroy where our favorite Super Walmart is located. Groceries are always on our errands list, but Doug was looking for a swim noodle that he could cut up and use to steady the speakers that are mounted above the dashboard in the coach. Well, there aren't too many swim toys in the stores in December.

But, across the street was a Lowes. There we found some foam pipe wrap which will work perfectly.

We were still a half hour drive away from home and needed to get to the Paicines post office to pick up our mail from South Dakota. Then we saw a roadside fruit stand with some really good prices posted on handmade signs. Of course we had to stop. Doug found mushrooms for $1.99 a pound and they had a terrific selection of garlic related spices, rubs and sauces. Gilroy is the garlic capital of the world.

At 5 minutes to 5, we arrived at the post office to see a closed sign. This little tiny post office behind the grocery store/restaurant is the entire town of Paicines. And they close at 3:30 in the afternoon. Oh well, we'll get our mail tomorrow.

I love it when we are so efficient and attend to all our errands in one day. (almost)

Late, But Online

2009-11-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late posting today because I have been online following the Cyber Monday sales. And what I've found is, unless you are shopping for computers and high end stuff, there aren't a lot of bargains.

I'm hoping that most of the stores will be extending their sales throughout the month of December and offering free shipping because I don't do mall shopping anymore.

And, it's difficult having items shipped when you move every week or so. It's important to know where you are going or how long you will be in one spot. I guess if that's the worst thing we have to worry about, our life is pretty good.

Life in the Fast Lane

2009-11-29T14:37:00.000-08:00

Life in the fast lane sure doesn't apply to us! In fact, it's been totally opposite. Blogging becomes difficult when the days sort of run together.

The park is very quiet with an occasional dog walker passing by and a glimpse of the local bobcat.

We've been playing on the computers, watching a little tv, reading and working on a few small projects. It's very easy to be lazy.

Doug found some time to sort rocks and get them ready for the tumbler while the turkey carcass is boiling. I'm about turkeyed out for a few days. Turkey pot pies, turkey sandwiches, turkey with pasta........please no more turkey for a while.

I guess that's our wild and crazy life in the fast lane.

The Aftermath

2009-11-27T12:33:00.000-08:00

Mmmmm.....we had a good dinner yesterday. After I thawed our turkey all night, Doug carved off the legs, wings, and thighs. They are in the freezer for another day. So, we just cooked the turkey breast in the convection oven....covered in bacon.

Does that look good or what? Then the real mess started. Doug made turkey pot pies from scratch as well as a huge mess. There was flour everywhere and I think every kitchen utensil and bowl and pan was used.

But the finished product was so tasty, I didn't even mind cleaning up after him. And we have tons of leftovers too!

Now.....on to Christmas!