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Showing posts from April, 2011

Change of Plans!

A major asset of full-timing is flexibility! We have changed our schedule, and are waiting for word from the Northwest Tiffin Tech regarding warranty work on our motor home roof. We will make it to North Bend, WA on schedule--we are in "flex-mode" for this next week. We can stay where we are, or, should we need to, make our way to Washington state to meet with the Tiffin tech. Monday we will know a little more! We get so focused on the fact that we have campground reservations and that we must stick with them, that we don't think of possible options--like re-scheduling our reservation for this upcoming week...! Addressing issues such as warranty roof repair IS important....! Well, we "saw" the light, and have re-adjusted both physical and mental schedules...!  (still working on the mind schedule...!). Today is a glorious day in the North West....!  Temps up to 68 degrees!  Rain forecast for this evening and tomorrow....We have stowed all items outside--jeep

Sacramento--back in time-- World War II

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World War II and the Pacific Coast had to be a very interesting time. Lindy's father was a temporary "civil service" appointee at Sacramento Air Service Command, McClellan Air Field. We visited the new museum (California Aerospace Museum) and discovered that they had little information on that section of history of McClellan Air Field. In material Lindy found regarding her dad's training, they were not to talk about what they did, take pictures, etc. In the northern California Redwoods, as we drove along a gravel coastal road, we found a radar facility disguised as a farm that was manned by the army to guard the coast. Then south west of Coos Bay, Oregon, in Sunset Bay State Park, is this old battery installation. Fort Stevens, on the Oregon side of the mouth of the Columbia has extensive installations, and there are probably many more. It is interesting to see these sights and to begin to explore the depth of emotions of that scary time. Dim out orders wer

Mill Casino and RV Park - North Bend, OR

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We saw this park last summer, and really liked it! You can park looking out at Coos Bay! We saw one ship and a barge. Not quite like Tom Sawyer's RV Park in West Memphis, AR, right on the Mississippi--but still fun! We stayed two nights, and discovered Dutch Bros. Coffee--much better than Starbucks and so tasty in the chilly weather! The Casino had a small smoke-free room, where we had fun with our usual small amount for the slots. We came out even...! Rupert had green grass to play ball. He absolutely LOVES it! He would play ball until he dropped! It is so much better to play on grass than the desert of the South West. (one blessing of the rain...!) We departed Friday morning, after hooking up in the rain, and traveling through rain all day, and unhooking in the rain. We have been "fortunate" to be here during the wettest spring in some time....! Until next time! Paws and Friends

Heading up the Coast

Our last day just east of Crescent City was partly cloudy, cool (50 degrees), and we spent it leisurely getting ready to head out tomorrow. It was very chilly last night....in the 30's...! We miss the warmth of the southwest sun!  Most outside jobs are finished:  jeep is packed and hooked up to FRED, tanks dumped and poop tube, etc., stowed. Rain is forecast beginning tonight, and looks like we'll have it for our journey into Oregon. Kind of reminds us why we both left the northwest for the sunny southwest 40 plus years ago! But, we shouldn't complain, for we have had sunny days to explore the Redwoods and ocean views. No whales were spotted, sadly. Another time, perhaps! The rain does give green!  The animals have enjoyed the green grass to play in and Puff really has enjoyed the time outside--just sitting in the grass! Until next time! We are moving on up the coast--Mill Casino RV Park, here we come! Paws and Friends

Journey to the Redwoods

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We have had beautiful weather so far! Sure, we had rain at Willits, and ran into some rain with what we have called "corn snow" on the way to Crescent City, but only for a short time. Country side beautiful! This is where we stopped for lunch. The sun shone gloriously when we arrived and "made camp" at Hiouchi RV Resort--a beautiful place. Puff approved! We explored Stout Grove, 2000 year old trees, Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City, and a nearby beach. See the sunshine through these great old trees! Later! Paws and Friends

Rain, snow, hail....NOT in Arizona any more!

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Drove from Sacramento to Willits, CA today. Was cool and windy in Sacramento. On our journey here we experienced rain and hail, in between lots of sun. There is a freeze warning for this area tonight, so have filled up the fresh water tank, drained and stored the water connections. We have seen where there has been lots of water here, as there were several instances of slides cleared from the highway. We understand 101 in northern Oregon has experienced mud slides as well. It is what it is! We are warm, sitting in the motorhome watching these light rain storms ("light" as they are not yet like the northwest gushers we are expecting....). While in Sacramento we explored McClellan Air Field as it was known in the early 40's. Lindy's dad worked there as a civil service employee along with many others repairing planes (mostly P-38's and P-39's) of the Pacific Theater. She had several papers from Dad--his orientation booklet from February 1943, along with rule

Pony Express

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The Pony Express began mail service April 1860 between St. Joseph, Missouri and San Francisco, California. The route was divided into five divisions, numbered east to west. The first leg ran from St. Joseph to Fort Kearny, Nebraska Territory on the Platte River. The second went to Horseshoe Station near Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory. These traced the route of the Oregon and California trails, with a dip into today's Colorado at Julesburg. The third took the emigrant trail to Fort Bridger and the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. The fourth, to cross the Great Basin, ran south of the Great Salt Lake desert to Roberts Creek Station, north of today's Eureka, Nevada. The fifth leg was the toughest of the trip, crossing the Nevada desert and rugged Sierra Nevada, finally arriving at Sacramento and San Francisco. We have seen bits of this fifth leg:  Cold Springs Station on US 50, west of Eureka, and Sacramento. Here is Cold Springs Station where we stopped May, 2008. Then, in Old Sacr

Departing the Heat!

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April 1st (NO April's Fool!) we left the heat of Phoenix (or so we thought!). After stopping at RV Tech to confirm the operation of the TOAD brake--yes it is working, no the LED lights are not working--we headed for Needles, CA. We arrived about 3:45, Desert View RV Resort. What a beautiful little park! Definitely a very nice location for spending a few weeks in the winter sun! We discovered it was similar to Goodyear, however, in temperatures. We ran the AC that evening. Each site was separated by a 6 foot flowering hedge--really nice! Bakersfield was the next day--so nondescript we have no pictures.....but The Lakes RV Resort in Chowcholla was spectacular!  Rupert has his own area to play ball---well, he had to share it with Rusty and not just for ball playing but it served double duty nicely! And to think, if we only played golf, we could have played on a very nice 72 par course (whatever that is!)  Pictures below: You'll note that Rupert, a herding dog, does not a