Sign at National RV
Monday, November 21, 2005
Sunday, November 20, 2005
11/20/05 Hello from Yuma, AZ. It is very warm and we are happy to be here. We are staying outside the home of our friends Eileen and Ray Cooper in the Foothills. Wednesday we will probably be heading for Mittrey Lake to have Thanksgiving Day with the RoVing Rods.
It took us 5 days to get here because we didn't hurry. First we stopped in Fresno to see Lou Stoetzer and Judy Farrow, Park Sierra friends, who were staying in their RV at Camp Kaiser. They call it that because there are 4 RV hookups in the parking area at Kaiser which they use when they have appointments, so we stayed there too. Moving on from there, we next stopped at the National RV factory in Perris, CA. Not only have we never seen how any RVs are made, but we also have pretty much settled on the Seabreeze LX as our next RV and we wanted to make sure they were well manufactured. The tour was interesting and we left there very impressed with all of their products.
The Escapees RV Club has 11 co-op parks, one of which is Jojoba Hills near Temecula, CA. We stopped there overnight and made sure we took the tour so we could see all of this lovely place. Luckily, our Boomer friends Dick and Carole Schneider, who have a lot there, were in residence. They invited us to join them for happy hour and dinner, a most delicious and pleasant experience. We also had enough time for several walks through the very hilly park, and a nice soak in one of the hot tubs.
Saturday we drove into San Diego and spent the day in a park on Mission Bay having a wonderful visit with Darran, Elaine's 28 year-old son. Next month, he is finishing his degree at UC San Diego, and will no longer be living in Pacific Beach, so we won't be seeing him in this beautiful area any more. Parking on the edge of the park grass, looking out at the gorgeous sunshine and calm water, and having all of the amenities of our RV right there just reminded us of why we enjoy this lifestyle so much. We had a barbeque lunch with him and also a long walk along the trail there. Since there are very few places to stay in an RV in that area, we left in the early evening and drove to Viejas Casino where we stayed overnight.
Today we stocked up on groceries and gas in preparation for spending the next several weeks out in the desert. Hopefully, after Thanksgiving, we will be able to move on to Quartzsite where Elaine can take some craft classes from the gem and mineral society.
It took us 5 days to get here because we didn't hurry. First we stopped in Fresno to see Lou Stoetzer and Judy Farrow, Park Sierra friends, who were staying in their RV at Camp Kaiser. They call it that because there are 4 RV hookups in the parking area at Kaiser which they use when they have appointments, so we stayed there too. Moving on from there, we next stopped at the National RV factory in Perris, CA. Not only have we never seen how any RVs are made, but we also have pretty much settled on the Seabreeze LX as our next RV and we wanted to make sure they were well manufactured. The tour was interesting and we left there very impressed with all of their products.
The Escapees RV Club has 11 co-op parks, one of which is Jojoba Hills near Temecula, CA. We stopped there overnight and made sure we took the tour so we could see all of this lovely place. Luckily, our Boomer friends Dick and Carole Schneider, who have a lot there, were in residence. They invited us to join them for happy hour and dinner, a most delicious and pleasant experience. We also had enough time for several walks through the very hilly park, and a nice soak in one of the hot tubs.
Saturday we drove into San Diego and spent the day in a park on Mission Bay having a wonderful visit with Darran, Elaine's 28 year-old son. Next month, he is finishing his degree at UC San Diego, and will no longer be living in Pacific Beach, so we won't be seeing him in this beautiful area any more. Parking on the edge of the park grass, looking out at the gorgeous sunshine and calm water, and having all of the amenities of our RV right there just reminded us of why we enjoy this lifestyle so much. We had a barbeque lunch with him and also a long walk along the trail there. Since there are very few places to stay in an RV in that area, we left in the early evening and drove to Viejas Casino where we stayed overnight.
Today we stocked up on groceries and gas in preparation for spending the next several weeks out in the desert. Hopefully, after Thanksgiving, we will be able to move on to Quartzsite where Elaine can take some craft classes from the gem and mineral society.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
11/13/05 Hooray – we finally have something to report on this blog. Our medical appointments are over and we are hale and hearty so we will be heading out on Tuesday. It has been a pleasant and productive time here at our Park Sierra “home”. We have cleaned up and re-organized our rig and storage shed. Happy hours and dinners with friends have enabled us to re-establish strong bonds with friends. The weather has been very pleasant and mostly dry, although cooler temperatures are now very much in evidence, particularly overnight. Like the birds and butterflies, it is time to head south.
Our short range plans are to visit the National RV assembly plant in Perris, CA, as well as stopping in San Diego to see Elaine’s son, Darran. From there we will head to the Arizona deserts where we are planning to spend time in Yuma and Quartzsite. Keep watching this space for further adventures!
Our short range plans are to visit the National RV assembly plant in Perris, CA, as well as stopping in San Diego to see Elaine’s son, Darran. From there we will head to the Arizona deserts where we are planning to spend time in Yuma and Quartzsite. Keep watching this space for further adventures!
Monday, October 24, 2005
10/24/05 We are still here on our lot at Park Sierra, although I am happy to report that since our last posting, we are both feeling much better and enjoying it more. Last week we had a few appointments at Kaiser for some routine tests with a few more scheduled in the next few weeks. Perhaps we will be able to start heading south earlier than anticipated.
This past weekend we had a visit from Elaine's daughter, Tarra. She brought her new "family" with her -Alonzo, her "significant other", and his three daughters, Ari, age 10, Alia age 8, and Analy, age 3. (See above photo) While they were here, we were on the alert, keeping them occupied at all times - the little girls, we mean. When they first arrived, they enjoyed seeing all the amenities of the park on a long walk. They were excited about the chance to see some wildlife, although we didn't see as much as they were hoping for. Twice we did see a tarantula right near our site, something Elaine and I hadn't noticed here before. They also enjoyed playing games outside, as we were having perfect weather. Elaine helped the older girls make bracelets with some crystal beads, and Analy got one too, which Elaine made for her. It was great to see them and we appreciated the fact that they drove 3 hours from the Bay Area in order to see us.
This past weekend we had a visit from Elaine's daughter, Tarra. She brought her new "family" with her -Alonzo, her "significant other", and his three daughters, Ari, age 10, Alia age 8, and Analy, age 3. (See above photo) While they were here, we were on the alert, keeping them occupied at all times - the little girls, we mean. When they first arrived, they enjoyed seeing all the amenities of the park on a long walk. They were excited about the chance to see some wildlife, although we didn't see as much as they were hoping for. Twice we did see a tarantula right near our site, something Elaine and I hadn't noticed here before. They also enjoyed playing games outside, as we were having perfect weather. Elaine helped the older girls make bracelets with some crystal beads, and Analy got one too, which Elaine made for her. It was great to see them and we appreciated the fact that they drove 3 hours from the Bay Area in order to see us.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
10/16/05
Today is an absolutely perfect day, weatherwise, so I took a few pictures of our park for you to see. Park Sierra is a co-op RV park under the Escapees RV Club, which means it was built by the first members 12 years ago. It is the only RV park we have ever been in where the RVs are not parked in rows very close to each other. Here we each have a small lot, with a shed for storage, a cement patio, surrounded by oak trees & Manzanita bushes, with many wild creatures as neighbors: Quail, rabbits, deer, hawks, bobcats, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and many other birds too. There is a huge clubhouse with a library, billiard room, craft room, laundry room, exercise mezzanine, kitchen, restrooms, and video library. There is also a pole barn for rig repairs and equipment for park maintenance. Volunteers do a lot of the work of the park and costs are kept low this way. We love it here and would welcome visitors when we are in residence. The very best times to visit are in the spring, especially March and April, and the fall, with October being another good month to be here. These are the months when we are usually here too.
Today is an absolutely perfect day, weatherwise, so I took a few pictures of our park for you to see. Park Sierra is a co-op RV park under the Escapees RV Club, which means it was built by the first members 12 years ago. It is the only RV park we have ever been in where the RVs are not parked in rows very close to each other. Here we each have a small lot, with a shed for storage, a cement patio, surrounded by oak trees & Manzanita bushes, with many wild creatures as neighbors: Quail, rabbits, deer, hawks, bobcats, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and many other birds too. There is a huge clubhouse with a library, billiard room, craft room, laundry room, exercise mezzanine, kitchen, restrooms, and video library. There is also a pole barn for rig repairs and equipment for park maintenance. Volunteers do a lot of the work of the park and costs are kept low this way. We love it here and would welcome visitors when we are in residence. The very best times to visit are in the spring, especially March and April, and the fall, with October being another good month to be here. These are the months when we are usually here too.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
10/15/05
Sorry about the lack of updates recently. We both have been having a few health challenges which have taken all our time and energy. While we were in the waning days of the Crabfest, Elaine woke up one day feeling like she had "thrown her back out". She lessened her physical activity and upped her intake of over-the-counter pain medications, and waited for some improvement. The Crabfest ended on Oct. 2 and we left Winchester Bay on Oct. 4, making stops in Canyonville, at the 7 Feathers Casino to see friends, Pat & Tom Bryant, who live near there. Coincidentally, we also had a nice visit in the parking lot with Diane & Jim Fisher-Baker, Boomer friends whom we camped with on the AZ deserts last year. Continuing south, we got a call from Laura & Gordon Bornkamp, who were staying with Chuck & Betty Goehring at their place in Lake Shastina, and we spent an enjoyable evening with all of them. They had all been at the Crabfest but there is always so much activity during those days, that we hadn't really had a chance to visit in depth with them and we welcomed this opportunity. Chuck and Betty had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Congrats, Chuck & Betty!!
Reno was our next stop so that I could have a visit with my daughter, Laura, and her daughters Adrianna and Michaela. (see photo above) Laura's 33rd birthday was Oct. 11 and we celebrated that early by having a nice seafood dinner at the Peppermill, where we were staying in the parking lot in our RV. Bruce and Maria Roberts, a couple who was on our Panama trip with us in 2004, were parked next to us and we had great visits with them. Elaine also spent time with them in the casino while I was with Laura, mostly talking and watching my granddaughters at swim practice. They swim on the Reno Swim Team and are both excellent swimmers.
Heading back into California, we stopped in Fremont to see Tarra, Elaine's daughter, and her new partner, Alonzo. We parked in front of their place and they made us feel very welcome. Unfortunately, I became ill with a gastrointestinal virus and was sick almost the whole time we were there. Elaine had some good bonding time with them, however.
On Oct. 11 we arrived back at our lot at the SKP park near Coarsegold, CA called Park Sierra. It felt good to be back again, although we mostly seem to use this place to store some stuff in our shed, and as a staging area twice a year to get ready for our travels. The people here are very friendly and supportive and we enjoy the many social events. Wednesday I was feeling much better and drove Elaine to our doctor. He put her on muscle relaxants and pain medication for her back. However, by now she had caught the virus I had previously and couldn’t keep anything in her stomach for the next few days. She spent the next 3 days sleeping off and on. Today she is feeling much better, with regard to both the gastroenteritis and her back pain, although she is still very limited in her movement.
We had intended to be here several weeks, cleaning up our car and rig and packing it for a winter in the AZ deserts. Now however, our departure will be delayed until we are feeling 100% ready physically, and we have had a few more doctor visits for some other tests and procedures, such as mammograms.
The weather here has been very warm and dry until today, when some light rain showers have been occurring. As soon as we have another sunny day, I will get out there with my camera and take some pictures so you can see this lovely park where we have our lot.
Sorry about the lack of updates recently. We both have been having a few health challenges which have taken all our time and energy. While we were in the waning days of the Crabfest, Elaine woke up one day feeling like she had "thrown her back out". She lessened her physical activity and upped her intake of over-the-counter pain medications, and waited for some improvement. The Crabfest ended on Oct. 2 and we left Winchester Bay on Oct. 4, making stops in Canyonville, at the 7 Feathers Casino to see friends, Pat & Tom Bryant, who live near there. Coincidentally, we also had a nice visit in the parking lot with Diane & Jim Fisher-Baker, Boomer friends whom we camped with on the AZ deserts last year. Continuing south, we got a call from Laura & Gordon Bornkamp, who were staying with Chuck & Betty Goehring at their place in Lake Shastina, and we spent an enjoyable evening with all of them. They had all been at the Crabfest but there is always so much activity during those days, that we hadn't really had a chance to visit in depth with them and we welcomed this opportunity. Chuck and Betty had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Congrats, Chuck & Betty!!
Reno was our next stop so that I could have a visit with my daughter, Laura, and her daughters Adrianna and Michaela. (see photo above) Laura's 33rd birthday was Oct. 11 and we celebrated that early by having a nice seafood dinner at the Peppermill, where we were staying in the parking lot in our RV. Bruce and Maria Roberts, a couple who was on our Panama trip with us in 2004, were parked next to us and we had great visits with them. Elaine also spent time with them in the casino while I was with Laura, mostly talking and watching my granddaughters at swim practice. They swim on the Reno Swim Team and are both excellent swimmers.
Heading back into California, we stopped in Fremont to see Tarra, Elaine's daughter, and her new partner, Alonzo. We parked in front of their place and they made us feel very welcome. Unfortunately, I became ill with a gastrointestinal virus and was sick almost the whole time we were there. Elaine had some good bonding time with them, however.
On Oct. 11 we arrived back at our lot at the SKP park near Coarsegold, CA called Park Sierra. It felt good to be back again, although we mostly seem to use this place to store some stuff in our shed, and as a staging area twice a year to get ready for our travels. The people here are very friendly and supportive and we enjoy the many social events. Wednesday I was feeling much better and drove Elaine to our doctor. He put her on muscle relaxants and pain medication for her back. However, by now she had caught the virus I had previously and couldn’t keep anything in her stomach for the next few days. She spent the next 3 days sleeping off and on. Today she is feeling much better, with regard to both the gastroenteritis and her back pain, although she is still very limited in her movement.
We had intended to be here several weeks, cleaning up our car and rig and packing it for a winter in the AZ deserts. Now however, our departure will be delayed until we are feeling 100% ready physically, and we have had a few more doctor visits for some other tests and procedures, such as mammograms.
The weather here has been very warm and dry until today, when some light rain showers have been occurring. As soon as we have another sunny day, I will get out there with my camera and take some pictures so you can see this lovely park where we have our lot.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)