As we close in on the end of the year, we will soon begin preparing for our upcoming trip south. Our plans are similar to prior years:

December 24, 2019 – Tuesday
And we’re off! Nicole is joining us for the first 10-1/2 days of this adventure. We pulled out of the storage unit around 8:30 into the foggy weather which cleared out to sunshine a little later. There were also a few brief, light rain showers thrown into the mix. The drive was very smooth with very light traffic everywhere being that it was Christmas Eve. Various shopping areas we passed along the way appeared to be full of last minute shoppers, though. The RV was very cold when we started out and it took a couple hours for it to warm up inside. We drove straight through except for one quick bathroom break and arrived at Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, OR at about 3:30. We parked in their free dry lot (no hook-ups) which is a short walk from the casino. We relaxed for a few minutes then decided to head over to the casino where it was warmer. We wandered around checking slot machines for left behind credits and found a few cents here and there. Nicole then used it to try her luck and more than tripled the amount! Up to a whole $2.54! After all that hard work we headed into the buffet where we got a reduced price of $9.99 with our Players Club Cards. We enjoyed everything from salads through a Coconut Curry (that tasted like laksa) and lots of other entrees finishing with a wide assortment of desserts. Afterwards we relaxed in a comfy sitting area in the attached hotel, digesting and chatting, until a homeless man sat near us talking crazy and seemingly looking for someone to get him a room for the night. Back at the RV we rested a bit to prepare us for turning in early after a very long day.

December 25, 2019 – Wednesday
We were up early when it was still very dark, although Nicole dozed back off, even though we didn’t plan to leave until after 10:00. We kept a close eye on the weather, as they got a little snow at Siskiyou Pass overnight and we wanted to ensure it was cleared before we departed. Once it brightened up we walked to the casino to have some of their free coffee, relax, and fill up our travel mugs. After getting gas at their gas station we started heading south again about 10:30. The clouds were low, winding around the evergreen covered mountains. Some sunshine broke through occasionally. We saw snow alongside the road and dusting in the trees but the pavement was bare. A while after crossing into California we encountered some more low clouds and rain showers. It was a dreary, often wet drive to our next stop, Rolling Hills Casino, where we arrived about 3:15. We hopped over to the casino which was very crowded so we got our free sodas from the machines there and returned to the RV. We had an early dinner of Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice then Laurie and Nicole spent the evening listening to a D&D podcast while Pat read. We turned in just before 9:00.

December 26, 2019 – Thursday
Today we were up early and left by 7:15 (after fetching free coffee from the casino). The sun wasn’t up yet but it was starting to brighten up. A clear, mostly sunny morning. We stopped at a rest stop about 8:45 to eat some breakfast before continuing on. As we drove south it gradually clouded up. About an hour out of Bakersfield we found out two main highways were closed due to snow (I5 at Grapevine, as well as Route 58), mainly above 2,500 feet. We were able to get to Orange Grove RV Park about 3:30 without a problem, but saw that the road we would take to Indio in a couple days was closed about 4 miles east of the park. We hooked up, picked a few oranges, and settled in. Dinner was a chicken-pasta-vegetable bag meal. We each did our own thing while Cirque du Soleil Kooza was playing.

December 27, 2019 – Friday
We all slept well and were up early. Relaxed, showered, grabbed free donuts in the office, and hung out in the RV. The sun was in and out (mostly in). There were still some problems on the roads so it was good that we had two nights here. We picked a lot of oranges early afternoon, some at RV sites and some from the perimeter of the park which is all orange trees. They are very juicy and sweet. Then we went for a walk to California Fruit & Nut Depot which is located a short distance away. They have free samples of everything they sell including olives, nuts, dried fruits, dried vegetables, peanut butters, jams, etc. We didn’t buy anything but it was good to stretch our legs some more. Dinner consisted of leftovers from the past two nights with dessert being our second donuts from this morning. (You’re allowed 2 each.) We watched the movie “Green Book” which was very good.

December 28, 2019 – Saturday
Once again we were up early and went for donuts in the office. After hearing that the highways were open and looking good we packed up and were on the road just after 9:30 on a bright, sunny morning. But first we picked a few more oranges! The drive to Indio ended up being almost 5 1/2 hours due to very heavy traffic in several areas (over the pass, as well as the main expressway into Indio). Over the Tehachipi Pass the road was clear and dry but we could see the snow in the surrounding areas that had closed the road in previous days. It was beautiful to see on the mountains and valleys as we went through there. After settling in at Indian Waters RV Park we ate chili for dinner and then relaxed, each doing their own thing until bedtime.

December 29, 2019 – Sunday
A mostly sunny day getting into the low 60’s. We are surrounded by distant mountains, some high enough to have a dusting of snow on top. We got a workout today washing the RV and car, cleaning inside a little bit, and several other odds and ends. Time to relax again. Dinner is white chicken chili that simmered in the slow cooker all day. We finished our day by watching “Hell or High Water” which was pretty good.

December 30, 2019 – Monday
It was overcast all day with late afternoon showers and a temperature near 60. Nicole and Pat ventured out to Walmart for a few things in the morning. Early afternoon was for running back and forth to do laundry in the park’s facility since our RV’s washer/dryer combo isn’t working – it doesn’t spin to get the water out of the clothes or to dry them. Dinner tonight was leftover chili(s) – red meat and white chicken. In the evening we watched “They Shall Not Grow Old” which was a colorized, semi-documentary of WWI. It was interesting, although sad to watch.

December 31, 2019 – Tuesday
A gorgeous, mostly sunny day with a light breeze and the temperature reaching 71. If you remember from last year’s trip, Nicole had good luck with the free slot play she got for signing up for casino players club cards at 2 casinos. It seemed fitting that we let her try her luck at the huge casino complex here in Indio called Fantasy Springs. The deal was you play $20 of your own money then you get $60 in free slot play. Nicole continued her streak and walked away with just shy of $50 profit! In the afternoon Laurie used a product on the RV tires that made them dark, shiny black. Nicole made a peanut butter, chocolate topped cheesecake in honor of Pat’s upcoming birthday. Then she and Pat went in the pool. It was heated but still a bit cool. Laurie relaxed poolside reading. Then they enjoyed the hot tub before showering and returning to the RV. One more night of white chicken chili. Tonight’s movie was “Fantastic Beasts II” which was okay. We ate some of the yummy cheesecake during intermission. We all turned in about 9:30 but were all awakened at midnight with the fireworks going off in the area. Nicole peaked out the front window and could see some of them.

January 1, 2020 – Wednesday – Happy New Year!
Another very pleasant day. We mostly hung out in the RV except for a short walk in the evening. Laurie did wax half the RV so he did the most out of the 3 of us. We also talked to G&G to wish Mom a Happy Birthday and both of them a Happy New Year. After a dinner of Chicken Cordon Bleu and pasta we each did our own thing reading, computing, etc. and had more cheesecake.

January 2, 2020 – Thursday
A repeat on the weather which is wonderful, although it gets a little chilly at night. Most days we see a hot air balloon or two early morning and/or late afternoon. Laurie finished up the waxing job and the RV looks very clean and shiny. Then we sat outside for a while reading and relaxing. Laurie grilled some delicious hamburgers for dinner which we had along with pasta salad. We got a call from Anela thanking us for her Hanukkah gift and had nice conversations with both her and then Greg. Tonight’s movie was “The Upside” which was a great “feel good” movie. Still working our way through the cheesecake.

January 3, 2020 – Friday
It was another mostly sunny, warm day. We relaxed and visited in the RV then went and sat in the sun by the hot tub, Nicole with her feet in the water, until early afternoon when it was time to take Nicole to the airport. 🙁  We will miss her wonderful company so much but she has a busy life to get back to – not to mention her cats! Palm Springs Airport is pretty small and Nicole had no issues getting on her Alaska Airlines flight (window seat) which left and landed on time. Daniel picked her up at Paine Field. We went back to the RV to adjust to the loss of her presence. We had leftover grilled burgers for dinner and spent the evening reading/computing.

January 4, 2020 – Saturday
Our last full day at Indian Waters with the fantastic weather continuing. We got out early to do two loads of laundry in the park’s facilities, including bedding and towels. Later in the morning we went to Walmart for some groceries. Then it was time to relax in the sunshine next to the RV. Dinner was sandwiches, pasta salad, and chips followed by another evening of reading, computing, and chatting. Tomorrow we depart for our first Beaver rally which is at the fairgrounds 2 blocks away.

January 5, 2020 – Sunday
Same weather, new location. We traveled 2 blocks to the Indio Fairgrounds where we are now parked among a field of RV’s with more to come. Our Beaver rally starts today but the bigger FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) starts Wednesday. The Beaver Coaches work security for this rally. It’s a Beaver rally within an FMCA rally. Today’s activities were registration and a late afternoon gathering where everyone contributed heavy appetizers and Mandy (the rally master) provided information about upcoming happenings. It was nice to see previous acquaintances as well as make some new ones. By 6:00 we were back in the RV (it was dark and cooling off by then) and we settled in to watch some episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

January 6, 2020 – Monday
Up to 77 today with a pleasant breeze but it felt hot in the sun. Made tortellini salad and relaxed this morning. Then we walked around and collected our information bag before attending the Beaver security meeting. They reviewed what we’re supposed to be doing during our assigned shifts depending where we’re posted. More relaxing, reading, and computing until the 5:30 lobster boil/pot luck dinner. We decided not to get lobsters this year and just ate from the huge pot luck spread, including desserts. Everything was delicious. We sat with Marilyn and Harvey from Alberta, Canada, and had some nice conversation. Mandy recognized Beavers for various contributions, including Laurie for all his work on the new website. We watched a couple more episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm before turning in.

January 7, 2020 – Tuesday
A bit chilly in the morning but sunny and it got up to 74. Our first security shift was from 8:00-11:30 at the doors of the exhibitors building. Mainly we made sure people entering were signed up or going to sign up as exhibitors for the show starting Thursday, directing people to where the service signups were, and keeping out people who didn’t belong. One of the attendees talked to Laurie about getting someone to go on his RV roof to fix a problem he had with his Internet connection. Laurie agreed to help him since he couldn’t find anyone else. Unfortunately what they did didn’t fix it. We spent the afternoon in the RV, reading, napping, computing, and watching a little news. The FMCA had a dinner for all the volunteers which included sub sandwiches, pasta salad, cold slaw, and eclairs. It was a huge group.

January 8, 2020 – Wednesday
Pat’s birthday! A sunny, chilly morning which turned into a warm day. We were out early to partake of free coffee and donuts. There we visited with Glen and Sally from Iowa who were also members of the Frustrated Maestros, a group that plays instruments and sings during the morning coffee/donut time in the mornings starting tomorrow. Pat started dinner in the slow cooker, meat sauced tortellini, for tonight’s pot luck. We “Face-Timed” Robin and Evie, then talked to Mom and Dad in Tucson. We headed out and ran into John again and Laurie said he had something else to try to fix his Internet. We met his wife, Carol, whose birthday was yesterday. John thought the problem was fixed but later found out it wasn’t and the manufacturer indicated that John had to order a new part. Then we did our 3 hour security shift followed by a quick trip to Starbucks to pick up Pat’s free birthday drink. We relaxed until dinner where there ended up being a huge amount of crock pots with a wide variety of foods. After eating and visiting for a while the wind picked up making it very chilly so we went in to watch some Curb Your Enthusiasm. We also talked to Daniel and Nicole to thank them for the b-day gifts they sent along with Laurie. A lovely day.

January 9, 2020 – Thursday
Same weather but a few clouds around – mainly towards the mountains. After coffee and donuts we went to Costco and Home Depot, and picked up some milk. Most of our afternoon was spent lounging around the RV. Dinner tonight was delicious catered Italian food. We had a good time visiting with 2 new Beaver couples as well as Cathi and Mike Stark. There was entertainment by a Brooks & Dunn tribute group tonight which we decided to skip since country music really isn’t our thing. Instead we watched some more Curb Your Enthusiasm stretched out on the couches.

January 10, 2020 – Friday
Another beautiful, warm day which we started with coffee and donuts. Our last security shift was today from 11-2. Before it started we checked out a few of the display RVs. We were especially drawn to a new 2020 Newmar Dutch Star that seemed well built, was gorgeous inside and out, and had almost everything we’d want in an RV. However, we don’t think we could justify the cost over what we have already. After our shift we did a quick tour of the exhibits before we relaxed in the RV. Tonight’s dinner was salad and Costco pizza. There was a show with a comedian this evening but we decided to enjoy the comfort of our “home away from home” watching more CYE.

January 11, 2020 – Saturday
This morning’s sunrise was spectacular with various shades of pink. It was a pretty chilly when we went for coffee and donuts but bright and sunny. We were extra lazy for a good part of the day but then in the afternoon we went for a long walk around the fairgrounds and surrounding area. Dinner tonight was a mixture of leftovers that everyone provided. Tonight we finally went to see the entertainment which was an A cappella group called The Alley Cats who performed 50s and 60s Doo-Wop music mixed with a bit of comedy. They were pretty good and entertaining but we’ve heard better.

January 12, 2020 – Sunday
Same fabulous weather. We were out early to do laundry at a laundromat near the fairgrounds. After starting the wash we walked over to get coffee and donuts before finishing up the laundry. We started prepping the RV for departure and we were on the road by 10:30. Tonight we are staying  in River Breeze RV Resort in Ehrenberg, AZ, on the Colorado River just over the border from California. There are some other Beavers staying here as well as at the park next door. We went for a walk to the river then through the other RV park and back. (Our park is definitely nicer.) Time to relax, eat some sandwiches, and watch more CYE.

January 13, 2020 – Monday
A cold start in the upper 30s but sunny and the temperature getting up near 70. We didn’t have to be out of our site until noon so we relaxed and Pat made a dessert for the next rally, taking advantage of full hook-ups while we had them. (Also had glorious long, hot showers!) It was only about a half hour drive to our Beaver rally location in the desert about 7 miles outside of Quartzsite, AZ. We parked in our usual area just outside of the main circle of RVs where it’s quieter and a little bit more private. We arrived at the rally a day early so there wasn’t anything going on yet. We spent the afternoon reading and chatting. Dinner was a frozen bag meal heated up on the stove. Another evening of CYE while the generator was running to charge up the coach batteries as well as our various electronic devices.

January 14, 2020 – Tuesday
Another fantastic weather day after a cold start. Today is when most coaches arrive. We relaxed inside until it warmed up then sat in the sun next to the RV. Laurie met with Mike Rump who drove in from Surprise, AZ, to discuss the Beaver website on Wild Apricot. The social hour started at 4:00 and we got to meet some old and new members. Dinner was a long table loaded with appetizers provided by all the Beavers. Everything was delicious. It was Roy Mueller’s 85 birthday and his wife, Carol, brought cake and ice cream for everyone. As the sky darkened we had a beautiful pink sunset and the temperature started to drop. Some people gathered around 2 big campfires to stay warm and then watched the movie “RV” on a screen outside Lamar’s coach, and others (like us) headed inside. We ended our day with some episodes of CYE while the generator charged up the batteries.

January 15, 2020 – Wednesday
Same cold morning. Everyone at the rally is divided into teams to help prepare and serve meals. Today is our day. Laurie was up early and started working at 6:00 cracking eggs, slicing up big pieces of ham, and cooking huge skillets of scrambled eggs. Pat came over about 7:30 and helped crack more eggs. Breakfast was served at 8:00 and consisted of French toast, sliced ham (perfectly sliced), scrambled eggs, fruit cups, and coffee/tea. It somehow tasted better in the cold but sunny outdoors! Then we headed the 7 miles into Quartzsite to wander around the exhibit booths that were set up already. The big RV tent show starts Saturday but we’ve learned to avoid it’s crowded craziness after going past years. Pat bought some sun visors to add to her collection. A quick stop at the little Roadrunner Grocery Store for a few things then back to the RV to rest up for the afternoon activities. We played bean bag baseball, men vs the women. The men won this time. It was fun and we enjoyed the sunny afternoon. Social Hour was at 4:00 followed by a dinner of salad, beef stew, biscuits, and a huge variety of desserts brought by about 1/3 the members. Back to the warmth of the coach for more CYE.

January 16, 2020 – Thursday
A different start to the day with a mostly cloudy sky but still very cold. As the day went on the clouds thinned and the sun warmed up to about 70. Since it was so cold out this morning we took today’s breakfast of biscuits, gravy, and scrambled eggs back to the coach to eat. After reading and relaxing we headed out into the desert to wander around and collected interesting rocks we came across. There were a lot of rocky “washes” we crossed with the few trees here mainly growing along the banks of these areas. It`s hard to believe water ever flows through the washes as it’s so dry and dusty. There were also many cacti and lots of shrubs trying to survive in the harsh environment. The only wildlife we saw were a few little birds and lots of ants busily pouring in and out of their holes in the ground. We covered about 2.5 miles before putting our feet up until social hour and dinner, which was salad, taco stew, and various desserts. More CYE this evening.

January 17, 2020 – Friday
We watched the spectacular sunrise which was a show of pink and gold on the streaks of clouds that stretched across the sky. Due to popular demand, breakfast today was at 9:00 instead of 8:00. It was warmer and brighter at this time. Today’s menu was pancakes, sausage patties, scrambled eggs, and fruit cups. Afterwards there was a group discussion (Question & Answer time) for members to ask any technical questions regarding their RVs. There was a panel of experts that would help out with any problems the members were experiencing with their coach. It was windy which made the air seem a bit cool even though it was in the upper 60’s so we hung out in the RV. Dinner was a “bring your own item to grill” night with the sides of salad, potatoes, gravy, veggies, and dessert provided. Our usual CYE evening.

January 18, 2020 – Saturday
Our day of departure was off to another sunny, clear start. Today’s breakfast was leftovers from the prior 3 days which tasted just as good as the first time around. We said our good-byes, packed up the RV, and were on our way to Yuma about 10:30, arriving about noon at Sun Vista RV Resort. How wonderful to have full hookups – water, electric, sewer, good Internet, TV! Our site is gravel with a large concrete patio which faces east and looks out over a row of park models. We can see an open area with mountains off in the distance out our front window – our home for about six weeks! After settling in we watched some TV, had sandwiches for dinner, and watched some CYE.

January 19, 2020 – Sunday
Another beautiful day. We’re still settling in. We did a little cleaning inside and out, and did laundry in the resorts laundry room ($1.25 wash, $.75 dry). Laurie dry-wash/waxed the lower half of the RV, then we relaxed in the afternoon out on the patio and inside the coach. Spaghetti (frozen brought from home) and French bread for dinner. We watched “American Sniper” in the evening which was very good but had a sad ending.

January 20, 2020 – Monday
This morning was the most spectacular sunrise we have seen yet. The various types of clouds in the sky were amazingly lit up in all directions. Surprisingly it turn into a cloudy day that barely got into the 60’s. We went to check out the Airbnb where Mom and Dad will be staying a couple miles west of here, got the car washed, and stocked up on groceries at Walmart. Laurie spent the afternoon on the computer and Pat started sorting through a huge bag of family photos she brought with for that reason. Leftover spaghetti for dinner followed by some CNN to catch the latest on Trump’s impeachment trail which starts tomorrow.

January 21, 2020 – Tuesday
Rain overnight! This is the first rain we’ve seen in over 3 weeks! The first part of the day was overcast but the sun came out in the afternoon and it was pleasant out. We spent the day in the RV doing projects that we brought with while watching/listening to the impeachment hearings. Leftover white chicken chili from the freezer followed by more Curb Your Enthusiasm.

(As we settle into more of a routine, our days will be more repetitive  so our entries will be shorter and not every day.)

January 22-29, 2020

Wednesday: A bright, clear sunrise was overtaken by interesting morning fog that lay close to the ground in some areas and wrapped around the mountains in other areas. It cleared out for a beautiful, warm day.

Friday: Had fun hitting the shuffleboard court. We had the place to ourselves which was great because no one had to see us getting the hang of the game again since we played last year. It was a gorgeous day to be outside.

Saturday: Today Sun Vista had an open house for residents and non-residents to promote the park and all that it has to offer such as woodworking, ceramic, and lapidary workshops; a wide variety of clubs and daily activities; many different sports; and a radio controlled vehicle racetrack. The Fun Park area of the park where some of the sports and racetrack are located had vendors set up, had live music, and provided free tacos and soda. It was a lot of fun.

Tuesday: We had a mini pickle-ball lesson early this morning by a fellow park resident named Jean. It was fun and seemed like something we could do if Pat’s knee can handle it. We’ll try it again in a few days after giving her knee a rest.

Wednesday: Another sunny day with a few clouds around but today it was very windy. Pat made a trip to Walmart while Laurie did some stuff around the RV. We finished Curb Your Enthusiasm! Now we have to wait for season 10, which just started, to come out on DVD to continue.

January 30-February 4, 2020
Thursday: The weather continues to be fantastic. Today was a busy day. We got an early start going to Albertson’s for a few things and stopping for gas. Then we were off for the 1 hour and 45 minute drive east to Gila Bend where we met up with Mom, Dad, Bette-Karen, and Bill who drove there from Tucson. We hadn’t seen Bette-Karen and Bill since Michelle’s wedding. It was great to visit with them over a pizza lunch at an Italian restaurant. Tomorrow they leave Tucson to return to Chicago by way of Texas where they’ll visit Michelle and her family who just moved to Frisco, TX. Mom and Dad returned with us to Yuma to spend 6 nights in the RV before they move into their Airbnb. We pretty much conversed non-stop during the drive making up for lost time. After the big lunch we had we just had a nosh with happy hour rather than dinner, and later had root beer floats. How wonderful to be together again! Our days have been mostly enjoying each others company including happy hours and CNN. Some other things we did were giving M&D a tour of the park, relaxing in the sun, playing a little shuffleboard, trips to Walmart, and getting Dad’s haircut at George’s Barbershop. The weather was near 80 through Sunday then we had 3 days of very windy, cooler weather but still sunny.

February 5-12, 2020

Wednesday: Today M&D moved into their Airbnb which is about 2 miles west of Sun Vista. They have a small house with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, one en-suite. The kitchen is large with an island with seating. The living/dining area is also large with oversize, comfy recline-able couches and a big TV. The home is spotless, nicely decorated, and was stocked with lots of food and non-food essentials. Outside there is a large table and chairs as well as a grill on a covered patio. Landscaping is still a work in progress but is mostly crushed stone with a concrete patio and large driveway that has room to park an RV. A very good find! After M&D got a bit settled we headed to Walmart to grocery shop for breakfast and noshing items. We stopped at Chick-Fil-A to pick up dinner, courtesy of M&D. It was very good but didn’t match up to all the hype. After visiting for a short time we returned to the RV.

Saturday: A little something different today from our usual eating, drinking, and relaxing inside and out with good conversation – the 4 of us played shuffleboard. Yep! Mom and Dad tried their hand and actually did very good! It was sunny and in the upper 70’s with a light breeze so it felt wonderful to be outside getting a little bit of exercise.

Monday: A rainy day – most the day and heavy at times. We spent the afternoon and evening at M&D’s Airbnb for a change of scenery. Mom made her delicious chicken and a yummy pan of kugel. Pat did 3 loads of laundry while we all visited and relaxed. A very nice day.

Wednesday: An outstanding day! The weather was perfect – almost 70, a baby blue sky with little wind swept clouds here and there. After picking M&D up at their place we stopped by The Palms, an RV resort right next to ours that we wanted to check out for a possible future stay. It’s a luxury park with beautiful small homes and RV sites. There are many amenities and everyone we met on our walk around the park was very friendly and helpful. The park is expensive ($1,200+ per month) but in the past they had a deal that if you stayed one month you got a month free. Unfortunately they are not doing that for next year because they are already filling up without the deal. We’ll probably stick with Sun Vista if we don’t find some place else before the deposit is due. After a brief stop at the RV the four of us walked to the shuffleboard courts where we played two fun rounds of shuffleboard. M&D really caught on fast. We played “Guys vs Dolls” with the “Guys” winning both games. All the exercise made us thirsty so we headed back for happy hour and to start dinner. Pat and Mom made soup in the Instant Pot – Copycat Zuppa Toscana from Olive Garden. A spicy soup with Italian sausage, potatoes, spinach, white bean, onions, garlic, and seasonings. It was yummy with some of Mom’s garlic bread leftover from dinner last night. There’s enough for dinner tomorrow. We took M&D back to their place to rest up for tomorrow.

February 13-21, 2020
Our relaxing, fun days continue as does the spectacular weather – sunny, near 80 degrees, and a slight breeze. We do our own thing until about noon when we pick up M&D. One morning we went swimming and in the hot tub just after 7AM. Another morning we started a load of laundry and then played a little pickleball. Laurie also went for a bike ride while Pat went grocery shopping at Walmart. After we pick up M&D we often play shuffleboard, have a happy hour, and eat an early dinner followed by relaxing and conversation. The last day Mom and Dad spent in the Airbnb we joined them with Mom making a fabulous salmon dinner including salad, oven browned potatoes, broccoli in cheese sauce, and an encore of another pan of Mom’s special kugel.

February 22-25, 2020
Mom and Dad are back on board for 4 nights before we all head to Las Vegas in the RV. Most days we relax in the morning and afternoons we play a game or two of shuffleboard. Another afternoon we went to Martha’s Garden Date Farm here in Yuma for rich, creamy date shakes. Laurie grilled two dinners of delicious chicken and hamburgers with Dad supervising. We also went swimming and relaxed in the hot tub a couple evenings. Lots of news watching (especially with the stock market 1K+ nosedive on the 24th), as well as interesting conversations. The last day we did laundry and started packing up for hitting the road the next morning.

February 26, 2020 – Wednesday
On the road again for about 5 1/2 hours as we drove from Yuma to Las Vegas. It was a scenic, uneventful drive. We stopped for breakfast in the Roadrunner BLM desert area outside of Quartzsite where we go annually for a Beaver rally. We are staying at the Las Vegas Oasis RV Resort by the south strip area for the third time. Spots are very close together but it’s a nice park and we’ll only be there mid-evening until late morning each day. After getting the RV hooked up and settled we took M&D to Harrah’s where they’ll be staying for the next 8 nights. They got their room and then we headed to Diamond Lounge for drinks and a buffet dinner courtesy of M&D’s status. Afterwards we parted ways as everyone was tired. Despite all the evening traffic we enjoyed the drive along Las Vegas Blvd. with all it’s assaults on the senses – bright lights, flashing ever changing signs, fountains, music, advertising trucks, incredible architecture, and some very interesting people.

February 27, 2020 – Thursday
We went to Harrah’s around noon to meet up with M&D. Due to their status they each get two show tickets each month with a variety of shows to choose from. We got tickets for the 4:00 show at Bally’s “Paranormal, Mind Reading Magic” with Frederic Da Silva. With over 3 hours until the show we slowly did the lengthy walk to Bally’s where Mom played some slots followed by a round of drinks as we sat by the machines and chatted. “The Magic Attic” where the show was performed was a cozy theater. The show was very entertaining with a lot of audience participation. After the show we walked rather quickly back to Harrah’s to partake once again of drinks and their yummy buffet before the hot food stopped being served. We returned to the RV mid-evening.

February 28, 2020 – Friday
Today we met at Harrah’s at 11:00 and walked to the Flamingo where we enjoyed the amazing brunch buffet thanks to M&D. The food was all delicious and ranged from breakfast fare including made-to-order eggs and omelets, an extensive salad bar, lox and all the fixings, carved meat, taco ingredients, sushi, a dessert bar, soft serve ice cream, and a lot of other items. Then we slowly “waddled” across the street to Caesar’s where Mom wanted to check something out. She then played slots as we visited while moving from machine to machine. Afterwards to went to the Diamond Lounge since we were thirsty and wanted to sit somewhere comfortably for a bit. We returned to Harrah’s to relax in M&D’s room, all of us still being full from the buffet and not needing dinner. Early evening we went back to the RV and M&D went to play slots.

February 29, 2020 – Saturday
Another relaxing day hanging out with M&D by slot machines as well as eating and drinking in the Diamond Lounge. We started with coffee and a snack in the lounge. Afterwards we walked to the Flamingo where Mom earned 25 points to participate in a reward promotion that would give her double that. Then it was on to the Cromwell to do the same thing. She had some great luck so she not only earned her points but also came out well ahead. We cheered her on. All that hard work made us thirsty so it was back to the lounge at Harrah’s to re-hydrate until the hot food was served at 4:30. Then it was time to eat again. It may sound repetitive, but we are thoroughly enjoying every minute. We returned to the RV where we watched “The Hunt for Red October” for about the 10th time. Still a great movie.

March 1-4, 2020 – Sunday-Wednesday
Our days continue to be the same with the four of us getting together in the afternoon to visit and go to the Diamond Lounge for Happy Hour and dinner. Monday M&D took us to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for a fantastic dinner. We started out with sashimi with pickled ginger and cucumber which was extremely flavorful. Then each couple shared a salad made up of many different yummy ingredients (including tasty crispy onions). For a side M&D split au gratin potatoes and we split a loaded baked potato. The main course was, of course, steak! It was melt-in-your-mouth tender and delicious. Laurie and Dad had stomach issues for a couple days (likely due to their systems not being used to having a large steak for a whileL. Tuesday we went to Planet Hollywood to see the “Tenors of Rock” which had good reviews and listed some classic rock songs that they performed. We ended up sneaking out in the darkened theater within about 10 minutes! The sound was excruciatingly loud and the singers screamed rather than sang. We couldn’t even understand the words and needed to keep plugging our ears. The fact that it was a very small, intimate theater made it worse. It was a relief to get away from it!

March 5, 2020 – Thursday
Time to depart the craziness of Las Vegas. After prepping the RV we picked up M&D at Harrah’s just before 9:00. After hooking up the car, getting settled, and stopping to gas up the RV, we began our journey home about 10:00. It was an uneventful, scenic drive that started out in desert with surrounding mountains, and ended up in green, rolling hills followed by expanses of flat farmland with more mountains in the distance. We did make a brief stop at a rest area to have a light brunch before continuing on our way. We arrived at Orange Grove RV Park in Bakersfield, CA, about 3:00. We had expected to pick oranges but they said they stopped allowing oranges to be picked just yesterday because the blossoms for the next crop were on the trees early.  🙁  Soon after arriving Mom was doing laundry in the nearby laundry facility. Then it was time to relax for a few minutes for Happy Hour. Dinner had simmered in the slow cooker all day during our drive and consisted of BBQ beef sandwiches and potato salad. Our after dinner discussion included talking about the Coronavirus and whether we should consider cancelling our mid-April cruise. We decided we’d see how the situation progressed over the next 2-3 weeks. On a lighter note we then enjoyed watching an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. After a long day we turned in a little early around 9:00.

March 6, 2020 – Friday
We packed up, grabbed some free donuts from the office and were on our way shortly after 8:00. Another smooth drive with a short stop for brunch. It was a long drive but we arrived late afternoon at Rolling Hills in time for Happy Hour. We had leftover BBQ beef and potato salad. The Coronavirus and our April cruise were topics of discussion once again. Today Royal Caribbean posted that through the end of July they would give a future cruise credit to those who felt the need to cancel their cruise within this timeframe but have to give at least 48 hours notice. We are seriously considering cancelling but have plenty of time to make a final decision. We followed our discussion up with a couple episodes of CYE and ice cream. A good way to end the evening.

March 7, 2020 – Saturday
Today is the day we travel through the mountains in northern California and southern Oregon. Unfortunately there was snow in this area overnight through mid-morning. Rather than take our chances and leave early, we kept an eye on the road conditions and cameras and finally hit the road at 11:00 when things looked better and temperatures warmed up somewhat. We drove through all kinds of weather as we changed elevations – sun, rain, sleet, and even snow for a short time. The roads were good so we didn’t have any problems. Mom doesn’t like driving through mountains at all so when we arrived at Seven Feathers RV Park about 4:00 she was ready for Happy Hour. Of course we joined her. Dinner was leftover tortellini in meat sauce we had in the freezer and fresh baked French bread. We watched a couple episodes of CYE. The clocks were moved ahead an hour tonight meaning we lose an hour so we turned in a little early to rest up for an early start.

March 8, 2020 – Sunday
The last day of a long journey! Everyone was up early and we were able to take off by 8:00. It was only 42 degrees this morning with low clouds, often twisting around the tops of both mountains and trees. After a smooth, traffic-free drive we pulled up in front of the house just before 3:00. It was great to see Daniel and Nicole and give them big hugs! Everyone helped unload all the stuff from the RV as well as put it in it’s place in the house. D&N did a great job of maintaining the house inside and out. It’s great to know we can travel and our home is in excellent hands. We took the RV to storage where it is now ensconced in it’s newly fully enclosed unit. Returning home Nicole treated us to a yummy meal of burrito rice bowls and scrumptious cornbread.

After a long, restful time snowbirding down south, we are better equipped to deal with the beginning of the era of Coronavirus COVID-19….