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….

As is our current routine, we are planning to  make our annual exodus to California and Arizona in Jan 2019. This year, we have the pleasure of Nicole joining us for the first couple weeks before she flies back to Seattle on Jan 2. Also, this year we are getting an earlier start – leaving on Fri Dec 21 to give us a chance to swing by the body shop (Chehalis Collision) to get an estimate to repair the scratches that were incurred when our neighbor at the storage facility backed into the side of our RV. Our current agenda is as follows:

This will allow a couple days at the Orange Grove RV Park followed by a couple days boondocking at Sawtooth Canyon BLM where Nicole is planning to meet with her friend Jen. We will then head over to Indian Waters RV Park for a week before Nicole heads back home on Jan 2. After this, the Rallies begin (7 days at Indio, followed by 4 days in Quartzsite). We are aiming to spend a few extra days in Quartzsite before heading to Sun Vista RV Resort in Yuma for a month. Then, on Feb 26, we head to Las Vegas to spend a week with mom/dad in Vegas before starting our return trip home.

December 21, 2018 – Friday
We’re off on our next big adventure with Nicole in tow! She plans to see some friends in California and fly out of Palm Springs back to Seattle on January 2^nd. We departed the RV storage unit at 9:15 to begin our long trek south. After stopping at Chehalis Collision to get an estimate to repair some minor damage our storage unit neighbor inflicted on our RV (when he backed his commercial truck into the side of our RV), we continued on. We had a little bit of rain at the start of our day, and a few more showers later in the afternoon but mostly it was sunny. Our travels were slowed by several traffic accidents but we made it to our first stop, Seven Feathers Casino/Hotel/Truck Stop/RV Park, in Canyonville, OR, just about 6:00pm. There was plenty of room in their dry lot (no hookups). Dinner was Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice quickly heated up in a fry pan, then we headed off to the casino to show Nicole around. Being the good parents that we are we taught her how to gamble – we had her sign up for their Player’s Club and she got $10 in free slot play. You have to play the entire $10 which Nicole did 10₵ at a time on a “Wolf Run” machine. She then walked away with $16! We chatted for a bit back at the RV before turning in early.

December 22, 2018 – Saturday
We all woke up 7:30, got dressed, and had breakfast. We walked over to the casino to fill our Thermos’s with coffee and Nicole filled hers with hot water to make hot chocolate back at the RV. We hit the road just after 9:00, stopping at the truck stop for gas. It was a gorgeous drive through the Siskiyou Mountains into California with fog wound around the mountains and evergreens. The pavement was clear and dry although there were some beautiful areas of frost. Northern California’s Mount Shasta looms over the California landscape like Mount Rainier does back in the Seattle area, snow covered with clouds brushing across the summit. We arrived at Rolling Hills Casino/Hotel/Truck Stop/RV Park in Corning, CA, at 2:15 where we parked in the truck lot for free. We had a snack, rested for the afternoon, had a Trader Joe’s Broccoli & Beef dinner, then headed to the casino. Nicole signed up for their Player’s Club and got $10 of free slot play. Once again she played through the $10 but this time walked away with another $31 (we tried to convince her that this usually doesn’t happen)! After trying out some beverages from their complimentary soda machine, we retired to the RV to relax, chat, and read before turning in early so we can try for an early start tomorrow.

December 23, 2018 – Sunday
We actually hit the road 10 minutes earlier than our planned time of 7:00! A mostly cloudy day but periods of sunshine. We drove straight through arriving at Orange Grove RV Park in Bakersfield, CA, about 2:15. We had a nice pull-thru spot surrounded by loaded orange trees. After hooking up and settling in we samples the oranges and they were delicious! The office said they would get sweeter after a freeze which they haven’t had yet. It’s was very hazy but the temperature was in the low 60’s. We spent the afternoon in the RV and had a dinner of homemade stuffed spinach pizza which we brought from home. After dinner we watched the movie “The Shape of Water” which was very different but very good. We had an ice cream break in the middle. We turned in early but as early as on the road.

December 24, 2018 – Monday
Laurie was up early, Nicole and Pat followed about 7:00. We hung around the RV all day. Laurie was “equalizing” the RV batteries, we walked to the office for free donuts, did a load of laundry on the RV, started the crock pot with some white chicken chili, went for a walk, picked some more oranges, watched CNN, ate the chili, and watched “La La Land” which was great. It was mostly sunny and warm today.

December 25, 2018 – Tuesday
Mostly cloudy, a few early showers, and a temperature drop of about 20 degrees (down to 55) from yesterday. We spent the first part of the day relaxing, reading, and spending time on our computers. About 3:00pm we decided that rather than spend another night in Orange Grove for $50, we could drive 1 ½ hours to Antelope Valley RV Park located within fairgrounds in Lancaster, CA, and spend 2 nights with hookups for $30 a night. This is also the town where Nicole’s friend Gen lives so it makes it more convenient for her to visit. It was a short, beautiful drive through rolling hills. We starting out in Bakersfield with clouds, went through darker clouds and drizzle in the hills, and came out of the hills to bright sunshine. Had leftover chili for dinner.

December 26, 2018 – Wednesday
A lazy day for us while Nicole visited her friends. We read, went for a walk, watched some Planet Earth episodes, and ate leftover chili again. Nicole was out from 11:00 until about 8:00 and had a good time visiting with 5 friends, 3 of which she had only known online before.

December 27, 2018 – Thursday
A slow start to the morning but we fortified ourselves with some Malto-Meal and headed out by at 10:30. We drove about 3 ½ hours (due to construction traffic) to Sawtooth Canyon Campground outside of Barstow, CA.  The road into the area was about 1-1 ½ miles of washboard conditions. We had to go extremely slow but made it and found an unoccupied spot off by itself right next to a rock wall, although it took a 3 point turn in the RV to get in. There are only about 13 “official” spots scattered around. We were surrounded by low rocky mountains with flat sagebrush filled desert in the lowlands. This spot is popular with rock climbers and is also known as “New Jack City” to the climbing crowd. Laurie did a duct tape repair of a slide covering that was ripping. (There’s always something to fix or clean with an RV!) Except for a little climbing on the rocks right by us, we decided to leave exploring until tomorrow. We had an Italian skillet dinner and watched “The Theory of Everything” before going out to look at the night sky. There are absolutely no lights around so despite a few clouds we still had a wonderful view of the expanse of stars above us.

Study of Sawtooth Canyon – December 2018 (By Nicole)

• Dragon’s teeth of stone line the mouth of this basin, making it into the fossilized maw of some ancient beast. Despite the winds that have aged them, the teeth are still jagged and distinct, stark silhouettes against a sky of hazy blue. Shadows stretch long from their bases to create a checkerboard pattern all down the mountain wall. Here it is sheltered, an oasis nestled away from the rest of the world.
• The daring see the dragon’s teeth as a challenge to be scaled, and they come armed with ropes, harnesses, and belts laden with clips, markers, and spikes. They are flecks of color amidst the scattered browns of rock, rattles of sturdy metal into the open air, and calls of orders or cautions to their teammates yet on the ground. They come seeking adventure and glory, and what better place than the mouth of the dragon?
• Steam. Early morning, but the sun, though it lights the sky, has yet to crest the mountains. Me? I’m not among those particular adrenaline junkies. Bundled in blankets, I clasp a cup of tea and watch as steam swirls forth from it. Each plume is distinct, crystalized by the cold that makes the air here crisp and refreshing. Here, stress is like that breath of warmth curling placidly into the cool air and dissipating.
• Silence is everywhere here, though some might consider otherwise. Occasional puffs of wind, like a dragon’s breath, make the walls of our shelter creak and rattle. Coarse gravel crunches crisply underfoot with every step. The brush growth –greens, browns, and yellows– rustles and sighs every so gently. And yet, despite all that, it is a profound silence here. It is not as if the world has stopped –it is as if the rest of the world, for just a little a while, simply isn’t.
• Darkness. Here there are no streetlights, no lanterns, no fairy lights to fleck the ground. Here, when the sun disappears behind the hills, the purest darkness descends. Staring into the night is like coming face-to-face with the void itself, fellow campers disappearing into it should they venture more than a couple strides away, their voices floating back to you as if coming from the air itself.
• The stars. In the thickest of night, when the clouds are scarce, a million trillion pinpricks of light crowd out the sky. Some are as bright as diamonds, outshining others that can scarce be seen out of the corner of the eye. The sky positively teems with this gentle, glittering light such that even the most distinguishable of constellations are hard to pick out. Perhaps such gemstones are what all those climbers seek: a treasure trove unreachable –such is the night sky witnessed from the maw of the dragon.

December 28, 2018 – Friday
Despite getting down to freezing overnight, Laurie kept it nice and warm inside. Nicole is being a trooper and getting up earlier than we think she would like every day. We try to stay quiet as long as we can to give her a little more time. We each did our own thing in the RV during the morning, then had some lunch and headed out to explore. We are located at one end of the canyon and we walked to the other end which was active with several climbers on the rock walls. We walked up in between some rocks where we got a good look at the interesting rock formations as well as a view across the canyon and out to some distant mountains. It has gotten down to freezing overnight but made it up to 43 degrees by the time we went out. It was also windy so it was very cold in the shade but better in the sun. We are at around 3,300 feet in altitude, which is part of the reason for the cold. After returning to the RV we wrapped our hands around mugs of hot chocolate. Leftovers for dinner and then just relaxing. After dark, we went out briefly to get another glimpse of the stars.

December 29, 2018 – Saturday
We were up early but didn’t depart until 11:00ish for Indian Waters RV Resort in Indio. It was about a 3 hour drive. Our site, 32, is usually a handicapped spot which is very wide, and has a concrete patio as well as RV and car pad surrounded by grass. Our site is right across from the clubhouse and pool. After getting settled in we walked around the resort which has nicely landscaped grounds (no jackets needed!). A relaxing afternoon and evening doing our own thing. Salmon and broccoli rice for dinner.

December 30, 2018 – Sunday

Slowly started the morning but headed out by 11:00. We stopped at a Verizon store to purchase a pre-paid data plan and went to Walmart to food shop. By mid-afternoon it had warmed up enough for Nicole and Pat to go swimming in one of the two heated pools as well as the hot tub while Laurie sunned himself in a lounge chair. We had both pools to ourselves during the time we were there and it was really nice. Very cold feeling when we first got out but after sitting in the sun and drying off some we warmed up. It was sunny and warm so we grilled hamburgers which were yummy and had onion rings to go with. Tonight’s movie was “Birdman” which was entertaining but weird. It was still early so we relaxed until going to bed.

December 31, 2018 – Monday
We woke up to clouds and cool temperatures. Tried making a “Giant Pancake” in the Instant Pot which came out okay. It’s sort of a 3-4 inch high pancake-flavored cake. It took longer to cook then stated and was crunchy on the bottom but a bit gummy on top (maybe should have had a paper towel over the top of the pot as it cooked to catch moisture). However, we had bacon with it so all was good. We lazed around the RV. Nicole played some Dungeon and Dragons podcasts for us to listen to and she also made a cheesecake in the Instant Pot for dessert. We went for a walk around the RV park which was chilly, breezy, and cloudy. Back in the RV we had some Trader Joe’s French Onion Soup Bite appetizers for a snack. Dinner was grilled steak and seasoned oven roasted fries. Delicious! We watched “Leave No Trace” which was just okay. We were all in bed by about 10:15 but at midnight we could hear various fireworks going off.

January 1, 2019 – Tuesday
Happy New Year! Breakfast and a relaxing morning in the RV. In the afternoon we went for drive to Fantasy Springs Casino nearby to check it out as we plan to boondock there Saturday night before heading to our rally on Sunday. Free overnight parking in a big gravel lot that had plenty of parking. We drove around Indio/La Quinta and got the car washed as it was filthy from our adventures. Surprisingly the RV doesn’t look too bad. Must be that Laurie’s wax job makes the dust slide right off! When we got back we went and sat on the clubhouse terrace near the pool and enjoyed the sun and blue sky for a while. Had a nice chat with M&D who are in Las Vegas celebrating Mom’s birthday. Dinner tonight was potato soup made in the Instant Pot. Our movie tonight was the second “Jumanji” which was pretty good.

January 2, 2019 – Wednesday
Nicole’s departure day 🙁 . We had a great time and really loved having Nicole along. She’s fun, adventurous, and up for anything. We left for the airport on this bright, sunny morning just after 9:00. Palm Springs Airport is a beautiful, cute little airport. She had no problem finding her way and her flight left 4 minutes early and arrived in Seattle a little early where Robin was waiting to pick her up. They went back to Robin’s place where Daniel and Sijia joined them after work and Robin made pulled pork and macaroni salad for dinner. Then Nicole went home with Daniel to happily return to her cats. The RV felt a bit emptier without Nicole but we have happy memories of her time with us. We went out for a long walk in the afternoon and met another Beaver Monterey owner in the park, Dave Moore. It turned out that he bought his Beaver 3 months ago from Dean and Anita Johnson (other Beaver’s). Small world! Our dinner was leftover potato soup. We started the series “X Files” watching the pilot and second episode. We both dozed during the second show so we may have to re-watch it. Not sure yet if we’re going to like the series or not. It needs more time – and for us to stay awake! We also finished up the cheesecake Nicole had made which was yummy.

January 3, 2019 – Thursday
A calm, sunny morning. Today was shopping day: Home Depot, Walmart, and Costco. We split a Costco hot dog for lunch. Back at the RV we did some odds and ends and went for a walk before watching episodes of “X Files”. One more night of leftover potato soup. More “X Files” and early to bed.

January 4, 2019 – Friday
Another sunny day. Most of the morning we were in the RV, then headed out to Trader Joe’s and to Great Clips so Pat could get a haircut. Relaxed in the RV the rest of the afternoon. We had Chicken Gnocchi Soup made in the Instant Pot for dinner.

January 5, 2019 – Saturday
After packing up we left Indian Waters late morning and drove a short distance to Fantasy Springs Casino where there is a free overnight parking lot, no hookups. We ventured over to the casino which is much larger than the other two casino’s we went to on the way down. Of course we joined their player’s club. They had a deal for new members – play $20 in the slots and get $60 slot play credit. So the next couple of hours we wandered around playing $10 here and $10 there. In the end the two of us walked out with $98 ($40 of which was our initial investment)! We also bought Starbucks and sat in an area away from the casino (and smoke) for a while. Back at the RV there wasn’t much to do since we were conserving power so we hung out and read some. Dinner was leftover gnocchi soup. We were in bed just after 8:00 and made it through the night without turning on the heat.

January 6, 2019 – Sunday
After seeing that the batteries fared well overnight Laurie had the living area warmed up by the time Pat got up. About 10:30 we headed to the Riverside Fairgrounds for our first rally – a Beaver rally within an FMCA rally. The coaches lined up in a staging area and they took us 5 at a time to our sites. The area is a huge paved parking lot with room for RV’s and their tow cars which had 35 AMP electric hookups. We settled in and Pat made ham and Swiss sliders for a Beaver social gathering at 4:30. As usually there was a ton of delicious food. We saw quite a few people we knew from previous rallies. Despite a small fire pit in the middle of the group, it still was very cold and everyone left shortly after the announcements were done about 6:00. The warmth of our RV felt soooo good!

January 7, 2019 – Monday
On today’s agenda is a 1:00 security training meeting and a 5:30 lobster boil. Made tortellini pasta salad in the morning to bring to dinner. Picked up our welcome bag with all the FMCA rally information, then went to our security meeting. The lobster boil was messy but delicious. We decided that next year we’d take the $50 we spent on 2 whole lobsters and buy 2 lobsters tails to throw on our grill at some point during our travels. There was also a big spread of sides, salads, and desserts. More than enough to make a big meal out of which is what a lot of people do. After dinner there was a singer from Branson, MO, named Chuck Crain. He sang some country songs and then gospel. We didn’t know most of the songs but he did have a good voice.

January 8, 2019 – Tuesday
Pat’s birthday! Our morning started with working a security shift from 8:00-11:00 at the vendor tent. There wasn’t a lot going on yet so we just sat in the sun and chatted with whoever came by. It started out chilly but once the sun got higher in the sky it was warm. Mandy stopped by with donuts and coffee. We had lunch in the RV then walked about a mile to Starbucks to get Pat’s free b-day drink. She got a venti size iced drink and an extra cup so we could share it. On our way back we stopped and chatted with others that were doing their security shifts. We relaxed a bit and had a beverage before heading over to the main building for the FMCA volunteer dinner of BBQ beef or pork (not sure which it was)! We sat with other Beavers but mainly talked with Sherry and Jerry Pattison from Las Vegas whose coach happens to be parked next to ours. Laurie and Jerry had a lot in common as Jerry used to work at Tektronics so they talked electronics and former business. Back at the RV we talked to the kids and relaxed some more.

January 9, 2019 – Wednesday
A gorgeous, sunny day! Started our morning with coffee and donuts provided by FMCA in the main building, then we walked over to Indian Waters to pick up a package that was delivered there after we left. We really didn’t do much until our 2:00 volunteer time. Tonight half of the Beavers brought a Crock Pot dinner to the gathering area. Everything was yummy. We didn’t feel like playing Bingo in the evening so we watched some “X Files”.

January 10, 2019 – Thursday
Another beautiful morning. Coffee and donuts. Pat put a tortellini dish in the Crock Pot for tonight’s pot luck dinner. We did volunteer security duty from 11-2 (our final shift). In the afternoon we relaxed in the coach before going to dinner at our gathering spot which was more Crock Pot dishes. After the dinner they served ice cream with toppings. We were tired and decided not to go see the singer who sang Glen Campbell songs tonight. Instead we hung out in the RV doing our own thing.

January 11, 2019 – Friday
Usual start: sunshine, donuts, and coffee. We hung out at the RV in the morning so we could have the Hydro Hot serviced – just routine maintenance. In the afternoon we headed over to walk through the vendors and get an ice cream bar at the ice cream social. At tonight’s dinner gathering salad, Costco pizza, and ice cream was provided. After dinner we went to see the entertainment which was a comedian, Ken Kaz. He was just okay. We were seated near someone with a hilarious laugh and his laugh was way funnier than the comedian.

January 12, 2019 – Saturday
It was starting to drizzle early morning so we hurried over to get our coffee and donuts. Not too long after we got back to the RV the rain got heavier. It rained most the morning so we stayed put. In the afternoon the sun peaked out now and then. We went to Walmart and Costco, picking up a salad and a turkey sandwich in the food court for our dinner. It rained a little more after our return. (We had great timing today!)

January 13, 2019 – Sunday
We drove over the laundromat ½ block away very early and started two large loads of laundry. Then we walked backed over to the fairgrounds to have our morning coffee and donuts. Once we finished up the laundry we hung out in our spot until late morning and most of the other RV had already left. We then headed over to the Fantasy Springs Casino free parking lot to spend the night. Leftover white chicken chili from the freezer tonight.

January 14, 2019 – Monday
Mid-morning we departed for River Breeze RV Resort in Ehrenberg, AZ, and arrived around 2:00 local time. (We are now 1 hour ahead of WA time until March.) We are mainly here to dump our gray and black tanks and fill up our fresh water tank after nine days of boondocking and before we start another 11 days of boondocking in Quartzsite. We enjoined our full hook-ups (long showers!) and got in some computer time. Used the oven to cook Chicken Cordon Bleu, and then watched some X-Files. It started raining in the evening.

January 15, 2019 – Tuesday
A very rainy morning after a very rainy night. We took off from River Breeze late morning and arrived at the desert in Quartzsite early afternoon for our Beaver rally. Disconnected the tow car, parked, put out our slides, and we were settled for the week. It’s still raining off and on making it very mucky. There are over 60 coaches in our rally so there are 110+ Beavers attending. We registered and relaxed until 4:00 at which time we had duty prepping and serving dinner. Luckily the rain had stopped and the sun came out shortly before. Each night social time is at 4:30 with dinner served at 5:00. Different people are assigned to help prepare or clean up after each meal. Tonight’s dinner consisted of yummy pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, and coleslaw. Those assigned to help with meals also brought desserts for that day. After dinner there is a campfire but we aren’t big fans of getting all smoky smelling so we returned to the coach to watch some X-Files.

January 16, 2019 – Wednesday
A bright, sunny morning with a beautiful sunrise. Breakfast at 8:30 was French toast, scrambled eggs, and sliced ham. Another delicious meal – especially since we didn’t have to make it! This morning Laurie did some odds and ends around the RV while Pat played bingo. She won the first game but that was it. It was fun and a nice morning to be outside. Later in the afternoon it was time for beanbag baseball – men vs the ladies (who had won last year). This year it was the men who won. There is a board with holes representing: home run, out, single, double, triple, foul. You toss beanbags at it until you get something or until you get three strikes. Pat got a home run her first time up! We relaxed a bit until dinner. Tonight they served salad and enchilada stew which had ground beef and lots of different beans and vegetables. We watched more X-Files in the evening.

January 17, 2019 – Thursday
Another gorgeous sunrise and a delicious breakfast of biscuits and gravy along with scrambled eggs. Steve Huber introduced us to Wes and Evana who he thought might be helpful with the BAC website. In the late morning we headed into town to explore the vendor tents that were open already (the big show tent doesn’t open until Saturday). Pat bought a couple a sun visors for a total of $5. Upon our return it was time was for the Beaver races. Six Beaver markers named for different Beaver RV models, are moved along a marked mat with throws of dice. Dollar bets can be placed on any Beaver model. We were not lucky in our choices but it was fun and the weather was warm and sunny.  Dinner tonight was a salad bar with grilled chicken, rolls, and dessert. They were showing a movie tonight related to Quartzsite and the use of camels to transport supplies in the late 1800’s (Hawmps!) but we chose to watch more X-Files since it was very cold once the sun went down.

January 18, 2019 – Friday
This morning’s lovely sunrise was followed by a filling breakfast of pancakes, sausage patties, and scrambled eggs. Laurie attended a discussion on RV maintenance with some of the group “experts” while Pat played bingo again (and won one game). We relaxed in the coach then walked over to chat with our neighbors who were having their RV tested by Dave Atherton, and arranged for Dave to come by when he was done. Everything tested out good on our coach which is nice to know and gives us a baseline of test results for the future. We enjoyed the afternoon sun by going for a walk in the desert. We visited “Schoolie Palooza” which is a gathering of people who have converted old school buses of various sizes into RV’s. Most of them were decorated with some type of painting or nature scene. We were ready for the rally dinner of Angus burgers, baked beans, chips, and dessert. By the campfire tonight they had karaoke but we stayed in where it was warm and smoke-free to watch X-Files.

January 20-24, 2019 – Sunday-Thursday
The sunrises aren’t as colorful this week because it’s been clear blue skies without any clouds. The sun rising over the rocky mountains in the east makes a unique profile all along the horizon. When the sun gets up above the mountains it’s rays hit the mountains to the west highlighting all the ridges and folds making interesting shadows. Sunday, ToughTop Shades came over about 2:30 to replace one of our slide toppers that had torn (we scheduled this with them before we left home). Monday and Tuesday were windy days with lots of blowing dust. Other afternoons we took desert walks collecting stones along the way and relaxed out in the sun. Tuesday morning we ventured into town. After finally finding a parking spot we visited the big tent where lots of vendors have booths. It was very busy and it was a reminder of why we usually don’t bother going into the big tent. There are also booths with vendors set up in a wide area all around the tent but we had enough after a short time looking. Next up was the Hi Jolly Monument in the local cemetery. Before the civil war, the government had the idea to use camels to carry supplies in the Quartzsite area. A Middle Eastern man named Hadji Ali (nicknamed “Hi Jolly”) was a local character who was the caretaker and driver of the camels. The camels didn’t work out but Hi Jolly was endeared and remembered by the townsfolk with a stone pyramid memorial serving as a tombstone in the cemetery. The “pioneer section” of the cemetery we walked through had graves dating back to the late 1800’s with some of the remnants of the original wood tombstones in place. We then went to a huge store called Gem World that had aisles of rough and polished rocks/stones of all sizes and everything needed to make a wide variety of jewelry. It was interesting to explore before driving back to the RV. Over these five days, we ate various easy-to-fix leftovers from the freezer – chili, hamburgers, and steak – since we’re still boondocking. Evenings we enjoyed watching X-File episodes while the generator was on charging up the batteries for the night.

January 19, 2019 – Saturday
Our last meal provided by the rally was leftovers from the previous breakfasts which was still yummy. The rally is officially over with some people leaving already today. With no planned activities we hung out in the RV, went for a walk, ate sandwiches, and watched X-Files.

January 25-26, 2019 – Friday-Saturday
Yuma! After about an 1½ hour drive south of Quartzsite we arrived at our home away from home for the next month at Sun Vista RV Resort. Our site faces east and there is one row of park models in front of us then we look out over an open field. The models partially obstruct our views of mountains off to the east but it’s still pretty. We have a patio on the south side so it gets lots of daytime sun and a little orange tree at the front (but it’s been picked clean). This resort is huge with 1,200+ sites, indoor and outdoor pools and spas, workout room, ceramics room, wood workshop, pickle ball courts, shuffleboard courts, a café, large laundry room, plus many scheduled activities and probably somethings we haven’t discovered yet. We spent these 2 days getting settled in, doing some errands, doing some cleaning/laundry, grilling brats, and watching X-Files. The weather is fantastic here – sunny or mostly sunny and mid-70’s with a nice breeze. It does get chilly at night but it’s nice for sleeping.

January 27-February 10, 2019
Now that we’re settled in here in Yuma,our lives have become a bit less exciting. We mostly hang out at the RV watching CNN and X-Files, reading, using our computers, and sitting out on our patio in the afternoon sun. We go on walks around the park and played shuffleboard one afternoon. We were terrible but improved the more we played. It’s a lot harder than it looks to get points! A couple of times we went to Walmart for supplies and checked out what other shopping is available in different parts of Yuma. We also checked out some of the other RV parks in Yuma for next year. The Palms RV Resort next door looks wonderful but is expensive. However, they said that they might have a “pay for one month get another month free” offer which would make it more reasonable. We’ll have to wait and see if they have that sale. The grill is set up on a table on the patio and we’ve grilled brats, chicken, and burgers which were all yummy. The weather has been a little cool at times (60-65) but is supposed to improve. We have plans for some activities coming up so we should have something more exciting to write about.

February 11, 2019 – Monday
A chilly but sunny morning. Today we are heading to the Imperial Wildlife Refuge about an hour away. There is a visitor’s center that has exhibits showing some of the wildlife in the area and information about different hikes. We came to do a hike called the Painted Desert Trail. It was only a 1.3 mile loop but was very rocky and had a few ups and downs. The scenery was ruggedly gorgeous with different shades of rock color including rusty red, chocolate brown (the mountains there are called the Chocolate Mountains), and many shades in between from almost white to golden. Aside from some cute little 5 inch lizards the only wildlife we saw were insects – lots of little butterflies, caterpillars, and beetles. We did see droppings from burros and there’s supposed to be bighorn sheep but the animals themselves remained out of sight. It was comfortable hiking weather and a good length – not too long or too short. On the way back we stopped at Martha’s Date Gardens and had extremely delicious date shakes. We think they are just made with vanilla ice cream blended with bits of dates but they were thick, rich, and very creamy. After our outing we just relaxed, napped, ate leftover grilled burgers, and watch X-Files.

February 12-13, 2019 – Tuesday-Wednesday
Tuesday was a relaxing day around the RV spending time inside and out following our usual routine. On Wednesday we ventured across the border into Los Algodones, Mexico, about 20 minutes away. We parked in a lot for $6 on the US side and then just walked across the border. The town is a crazy place visited by many people staying in Arizona and Southern California. They peddle many products – the most common businesses being inexpensive dental care, prescription medicine, eye care and many knick-knacks for sale. Street hawkers try to chat up everyone to direct them to their particular business. Good dental care can be had here but you have to do your homework and schedule appointments beforehand. There are endless souvenir stores/booths selling art, clothes, tiles, jewelry, blankets, leather goods, etc. We came away with a small metal roadrunner sculpture ($10), silver and blue opal (maybe not) hummingbird earrings ($12), a large bottle of vanilla (almost certainly imitation but still good) for $4, and a liter bottle of Kahlua that was only $7.50. We also were daring and we each got haircuts at a little shop in an enclosed square with shops and food. Our haircuts were $3.99 (men) and $5.99 (women) and were pretty good for the price – $10 for the two of us! We were both due to try some place before we left Yuma so this was as good as any to try and was less than half the price of Yuma barber shops. The day was overcast but mid-60’s so comfortable for walking around. There was a huge line waiting to go back through customs but we made it through in about 45 minutes. The weather wasn’t good for sitting out so we stayed in, had Instant Pot Bang Bang Shrimp for dinner, and watched X-Files. A very nice day!

February 13-20, 2019
Many of our days are similar to those mentioned previously. The weather here has been in the 60’s (running about 10 degrees below average) and with the often brisk wind it’s tended to be a little chilly most days. There were a few things we did that varied from our usual routine. One was attending the Sun Vista Showcase Open House here at our RV park. It was an event to promote the park and everything they have to offer. There were demonstrations and entertainment, a couple of raffles, radio-controlled car racing on the large outdoor track, and free tacos and soda. We discovered workshops we didn’t know about: a woodworking shop, ceramics studio, and lapidary workshop. We were impressed and decided if we can’t get a deal on our first choice of parks for next year (The Palms), we’ll stay here again.

Pat, with her new friend. (We need to get a new hummingbird feeder…)

We went to the Tuesday morning Farmers Market in Downtown Yuma. There were many booths with a wide variety of items. Some had produce that not only was priced well but also looked excellent. There were also a lot of craft booths and we bought a small hummingbird screen decoration which is now on our RV window. We sampled some dates and there were also tacos and ice cream to purchase as well as homemade goodies. We will definitely go again next year earlier in our stay so we can make use of the fresh produce.

The Colorado River is very narrow in this area

On Wednesday we hiked the East Wetlands Trail near old downtown Yuma. Part of the trail runs along the Colorado River. With the tall, grassy wetlands around the water, the variety of trees/shrubs, and the mountains off in the distance, it made for some beautiful scenery. Horses are allowed on the trail and we saw a couple of them. There was also a paved trail along an aqua duct that we walked on. It was a pleasant, breezy day for hiking and we covered about 5 miles!

February 21-24 – Thursday-Sunday
More below average temperatures and some rain. We understand that this is unusual for this time of year. (Of course as soon as we depart for Las Vegas the weather is forecasted to be sunny and mid-70’s!) We continue to follow our usual relaxing routine hanging around the RV, going to Walmart, walks, shuffleboard, happy hour, X-Files, and absorbing sun when possible.

February 24 – Monday
Monday we departed Sun Vista mid-morning on a beautiful, sunny, warm day to head north. The drive along I-95 was extremely scenic at times with wide expanses of desert backed by mountains in the distance that were varying colors and heights – some far off with snow on top! We spent Monday night at a rest stop about 1½ hours south of Las Vegas. The rest area was pristine and looked new. There were bathrooms in a building with car parking on one side, 2 large well-lit truck parking lots on the other side, and a huge level gravel lot at a far end where we parked. We had plenty of light from the truck lot and felt very safe. At least when we were there the rest stop wasn’t heavily used. Overnight there were 3 other RV’s, a couple of trucks, and maybe some cars at the other end.

February 25-March 4 –Tuesday-Monday
We arrived at Las Vegas Oasis RV Resort just before 9:00 Tuesday morning and were able to get into our site (171) since no one was in the site. We immediately headed out to meet up with M&D at Harrah’s where they are staying the week. It was fantastic to see them and they looked wonderful! We chatted while they unpacked and settled in. Since they have Diamond status with the Caesar’s group of hotels they get some great benefits. One of which is the Diamond Lounge each day and the one at Harrah’s has hot food along with salads, nacho chips with toppings, and pastries so we could make dinner out of it. They also get free drinks in the lounge. Other benefits are priority seating at restaurants, restaurant credits, and free valet parking which we took advantage of everyday.

The entire week in Las Vegas was a blast and days tended to blend together with mostly warm, pleasant weather. Each day some time was spent visiting in M&D’s room, watching some CNN, cheering M&D on at the slots, and visiting the Diamond Lounge. These activities were interspersed with other outstanding highlights:

• M&D treated us to the brunch buffet at the Flamingo hotel. The food was all amazing with an egg station, lox and accouterments, an elaborate salad bar, many hot options, a taco bar, made-to-order crepes, and beautiful pastries that looked as good as they tasted. One of our favorite things on the buffet were the fried sesame balls filled with bean paste. While we ate we had a nice view of the hotel’s wildlife habitat that included pink Flamingos, a black swan, ducks, and many huge koi. Entertainment while we ate!
• We saw “Menopause, the Musical” at Harrah’s thanks to M&D’s Diamond benefits. It was a very entertaining, funny show about the title topic. The show only consisted of 4 women but they were wonderful singing and moving around the stage. Women “of a certain age” can easily relate to the subject but so can men who have to endure women “of a certain age”.
• Mom had a restaurant voucher which we used at Guy Fieri’s restaurant in the Linq Hotel next door for a huge, delicious lunch. Each couple got a large ½ pound burger and fries to share, and we also had yummy trash can nachos and BBQ chicken wings. Too much food but we enjoyed it all – well, we did leave a little bit!
• M&D took us to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for dinner celebrating Pat’s past birthday. We started with an ahi tuna appetizer that was a very tasty way to start the meal. The filets we had were about the best we could remember ever having – tender, melt-in-the mouth beef perfectly seasoned and cooked. Each couple got a loaded baked potato to share and that was memorable as well. For Pat’s b-day they brought out a little cheesecake with chocolate-almond bark on the side. A great way to end the meal.
• Dad had a crown come loose so we found a local highly rated dentist online. He was able to temporarily put the crown back on but said it may not last long. Dad will have to watch what he eats and be careful when he chews until he can have it looked at by his regular dentist back in Skokie.
• Dad’s turn with a restaurant voucher: There were only 6 restaurant options and we enjoyed Guy Fieri’s so much the other day we went back again for lunch. They have a menu item called “Pork Emporium” consisting of 4 meaty BBQ ribs, 3 thick strips of candied maple bacon, a pile of sliced andouille sausage, a slice of Texas toast with a mound of pulled pork topped with sliced dill pickles, coleslaw, and macaroni and cheese. We ordered 2 of these along with a side of fries. Everything was sooooo good. We had lots leftovers which we saved for appetizers during happy hour for our trip home.
• We also made a return visit to the buffet at the Flamingo. (See above.) We enjoyed it as much as we did the first time.
• M&D once again used their Diamond benefits to take us to the Mat Franco magic show at the Linq. It was an extremely entertaining show and Mat Franco is a great showman with a quick sense of humor. He didn’t use any major props – lots of cards, cups and balls, a $100 bill from audience, coins, etc. He really punched up some classic tricks. It was a great way to spend our last evening in Las Vegas!

March 5, 2019 – Tuesday
Time to hit the road and begin our journey home. After prepping what we could at the RV we went and picked up M&D at Harrah’s at 9:30. We got them settled in, hooked up the tow car, and headed out by 11:00. It was a relaxing, uneventful drive although it got cloudier and rainy the closer we got to the Orange Grove RV Park in Bakersfield, CA. We ventured out in the rain to the laundry room a short distance away to do a couple loads, then warmed up the Guy Fieri leftovers to have with happy hour. Still yummy! Dinner was White Chicken Chili that had been slow cooking all day as we traveled. It pretty much rained all night, very heavy at times with some lightning and thunder thrown in. (Sadly, no chance to pick oranges due to the constant rain!)

March 6, 2019 – Wednesday
Everyone was up early fr an early start on the drive. It stopped raining but everything was soaked. The remaining oranges were at the tops of the very wet trees and we decided it wasn’t worth it to use the picking poles and get drenched. We had coffee, walked over to the office to pick up free donuts, and were on our way by about 7:15. It rained off and on, heavy at times, as we made our way to Rolling Hills Casino RV Park in Corning, CA. We arrived mid-afternoon, relaxing with a happy hour, leftover chili, and some TV.

March 7, 2019 – Thursday
Today we headed to Seven Feathers Casino and RV Park in Canyonville, OR, where we plan to stay 2 nights. Since it wasn’t as long a drive we didn’t leave until mid-morning. Again we ran into some rain with the temperature getting cooler as we continued north. We welcomed our arrival with a happy hour before taking the free shuttle over to the casino for dinner. Tonight they had a $9.99 special on their International Buffet and all the food was very good. M&D had a quick run at the slots before we headed back to the RV. We started watching a 6 episode series called “The Night Manager” based on a John Le Carre book. It’s off to an interesting start.

March 8, 2019 – Friday
A day spent enjoying time together in the coach, after everyone had showers (M&D used the park showers -large private bathrooms with showers). We watched another episode of “The Night Manager” in the afternoon, had some yummy Instant Pot Italian Pasta for dinner, and watched another episode in the evening.

March 9, 2019 – Saturday
Homeward bound on a very cold, foggy morning. It was a long day so we got an early start, stopping for brunch at a rest stop. We arrived home around 3:00 extremely happy to see the kids and be home. They welcomed us by helping unpack everything and Nicole made a delicious Jambalaya dinner. Looking forward to another week and a half with M&D at home!

Now to plan for next year…

Jul 9, 2018 – Jul 19, 2018

<Rally Pictures Here>

July 9, 2018 – Monday – On the Road
On our way! Departed late morning to avoid Seattle’s rush hour. Stopped by Chehalis Collision to get a quick estimate on fixing a couple small patches of flaking clear-coat on the back of the coach. (Too expensive at this point – we’ll monitor the spots.) From 3:00-6:00 we napped, relaxed, and ate dinner at a rest stop in southern WA to wait out the Portland rush hour. Then we headed out to a Camping World in Wilsonville, OR, to spend the night. Despite being right next to I5, we had a good night’s sleep.

July 10, 2018 – Tuesday – On the Road / Arrive Bend, OR
We got an early start and stopped at Speedco to have the RV’s oil changed, as well as the oil in the generator. Friendly, efficient staff. Less than 2 hours later we were on our way to Bend. It was a very scenic drive through the Cascade Mountains (Sorry Mom! We didn’t think we were going thru any!) and national forests, often with a river alongside the passenger side. We arrived in Bend about 12:30 and settled in. The RV park is connected to the Deschutes Expo Fairgrounds where club activities will take place. There was a Happy Hour followed by dinner consisting of heavy hors d’oeuvres that everyone contributed, followed by a meeting with Beaver founders Frank and Jim, as well as Bob Tiffin. It was very informative about the history of Beaver coaches.

July 11, 2018 – Wednesday – Bend, OR
A gorgeous, sunny morning. The area here is considered high desert. It looks kind of like desert but has evergreens instead of cacti. We were fed a breakfast of cheesy eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt with topping, and fruit. It was nice to have a free morning to relax since the rest of the day was so busy starting with a “Waterfall Poker Challenge”. We were teamed up with another couple to visit three waterfalls where each couple received playing cards to go with cards we got at the beginning and end. Tumalo Falls was a beautiful, tall waterfall, but the other two looked more like powerful rapids. One of the falls had an “Amazing Race” type of challenge which involved making a paper airplane and flying it a certain distance. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed spending time with the other couple despite taking a time consuming “detour” on one of the falls. The idea was to see which couple had the best poker hand. (Ours was probably one of the worst!) After a long, tiring afternoon we had a welcome Happy Hour and a Mexican themed dinner including marinated shrimp and skewered steak. Dinner was followed by live country music by Darryl Worley and 2 others. We’re not usually country music fans but these three were entertaining.

July 12, 2018 – Thursday – Bend, OR
After another big breakfast spread we relaxed at the coach before heading out to the High Desert Museum about half an hour away. A lot of the museum was outdoors including an old farmstead with a tiny house, garden, stables, corral, and sawmill. There were a few animal exhibits including otters, eagles, and owls. Indoors were exhibits on rock climbing and the ecology of the high desert. It was very interesting but not a place we’d feel compelled to revisit. Back at the fairground a Pet Parade was held followed by root beer floats. Each day has been getting a little hotter with the temperature today just missing 100 degrees so the root beer floats were especially wonderful! Tonight’s Happy Hour was followed by yummy grilled salmon, vegetables, and grilled peaches. After dinner there was an auction to benefit the Future Farmers Association with local kids who are members present and helping out. The auction raised about $6,000. We came away with 2 bottles of wine and a mini slow cooker. We were beat so we returned to the coach despite another planned gathering.

July 13, 2018 – Friday – Bend, OR
Today we had breakfast delivered to our coach by horseback (people in horse costumes)! After breakfast sandwiches and mimosas, we relaxed until Pat went to a driving class. The class taught some basics of driving, turning, and backing into a parking space. We had a little more down time until the Mint Julep Happy Hour held at a coach across from us. We all tried to stay in the shade while we enjoyed our beverages as it was another scorcher. After a group picture, we were given a choice of boxed sandwich dinners then loaded onto two charter buses for a 45 minute ride to the Crooked River Roundup for an evening of horse races. Despite the heat (at least we were in shade) it was a fun evening. Just before the first race we found out that they had lost power back at the RV park. Pet owners were given the opportunity to go back on one of the buses to take care of their animals. As soon as we got back about 10:30 we turned on the generator to cool down the RV until the evening air started to cool off. It was a very long, hot, tiring but fun day and the official end of the rally.

July 14, 2018 – Saturday – Bend, OR
Still no power this morning so we turned on the generator to make breakfast and coffee. Today is an open house and dinner put on by Beaver Coach Sales (BCS) in Bend. We went late morning and attended a presentation dealing with tow bars as well as a discussion about BCS starting their own online forum. We enjoyed a delicious BBQ brisket sandwich lunch and visited with people. Then we learned the power had come back at the RV park on so we went to Target for a few items and returned to the RV to crank up the A/C and rest for an hour before heading back to BCS for a wine Happy Hour. The dinner provided included salad, baked beans, BBQ chicken, brisket, and cheese bread followed by cookies and brownies for dessert. They also had a raffle for some small items but we didn’t win anything. We said our good-byes and thank-yous, toured a couple coaches for sale, and returned to a somewhat cool RV for the evening. Tomorrow is travel day!

July 15, 2018 – Sunday – Bend, OR – Westfir, OR
We started our morning with an early breakfast at a nearby Original Pancake House. The food was delicious and the service outstanding. Laurie had an apple pancake and Pat had Eggs Benedict. Laurie said the pancake was very good but none have ever lived up to the apple pancakes we got years ago at Walker Brothers back in Illinois. We packed up and were on the road about 10:30. After a 2+ hour drive through some beautiful scenery, we arrived at Casey’s Riverside RV Park on the Willamette River. Our spot faces NE on the river with gorgeous views of the water out the front and passenger side windows. Despite being surrounded by trees the sun beats down on the RV most of the day. As in Bend, it is running in the 90’s here but gets down into the low 60’s overnight. A nearby pavilion has a self-serve soft-serve vanilla ice cream machine for $1 a cone. We enjoyed cones then returned to the coach as we were hot and tired. We watched CNN, had a spaghetti dinner, watched a couple episodes of the “Limitless” series, and had some more ice cream.

July 16-18, 2018 – Monday-Wednesday – Westfir, OR
The past few days we have been doing exactly what we planned – basically, nothing! It’s been very hot and a bit humid so we go out for a little while in the morning and try to stay comfortable inside in the afternoon. We drove around Westfir and Oakridge, very small towns with older, mostly ranch-style, homes. We walked around the RV park enjoying the beauty of the Willamette River and surrounding wooded mountains. There are rapids right in front of our RV as well as some calmer water in another area. There’s even a small sand beach where you could wade into the river. A lightening quick, 2 inch lizard scurried across our path, there are birds around, and at night we hear frogs in a pond behind the RV. It’s a beautiful setting although I think we’d try for a shaded spot if we stayed again at this time of year. On Wednesday we drove to a nearby covered bridge (Office Covered Bridge) which was built in 1945. We walked a short distance on a trail to a train trestle by the bridge. Then we got a better view of the dark red bridge by stopping down the road from it. It was a picturesque setting with the bridge over the swift flowing river which had a half dozen ducks paddling madly upstream. We also were adventurous and drove a single lane road through woods and ended up at the Buckhead Nature Trail. This was a half mile loop trail through a wooded area with interpretive signs that gave some background on the area. We caught a glimpse of the river, saw a few butterflies, but mostly we saw a lot of plants and trees, often covered in a carpet of moss. It was good to get a little exercise and the day was a little cooler, only the mid-80’s. We watched a cute movie called “Waking Ned Devine”, CNN, and some more episodes of Limitless. We enjoyed dinners of lasagna, hamburgers twice, and had ice cream every night.

July 19, 2018 – Thursday – Westfir, OR – HOME
Travel day! Due to a problem with the tow car base plate we were not able to hook it up to the RV so Pat drove the car behind the RV. We had a couple walkie-talkies so we could chat during the 6-1/2 hr drive. We hit the road just after 7:00 so we’d get to the Portland area after rush hour, or so we thought. We stopped at a rest stop briefly before Portland, but then encountered a bit of traffic going through Portland. We stopped at another rest area for lunch and stopped to gas up the RV as well as the car. We dropped the car at TorkLift (a facility that specializes in the installation of tow bars) to have it looked at then drove to the house together in the RV arriving about 4:00 to unload and pick up Laurie’s car so we could get home after putting the RV back in it’s home at the storage place. We still have the car to deal with but overall it was a fun trip and we had a wonderful time.