tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72367394351309096802024-03-13T22:05:11.012-07:00C n D TravelsFull time RV'ers. Sometime Camp Hosts. C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-82080194329966945002019-07-30T16:03:00.000-07:002019-07-30T16:03:52.117-07:00Deschutes River Recreation Area - Heritage Landing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">June was a pleasant respite from the noise and hustle bustle of a more urban setting like Wenatchee Washington but I'll tell ya, we worked our fannies off! We logged slightly over 100 hours each of mowing grass, clearing trails and cleaning campsites. Well over the expected 20 hours each and you know what? LOVED IT!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several of the places we host at restrict us to a golf cart, litter pickers, and buckets. Not so for Goose Lake. There we got to play with some of the big toys and we both found ourselves, once we had started a project, swept up in getting it finished so we could move on to another, and another, and another. Which brings us to why we only had these two entries here. Simply put, we were too busy and to be honest, having too much fun to sit in the coach to write a blog. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ramp is in the background, down the hill.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That brings us to Deschutes River and our assignment at Heritage Landing. We return to more hustle and bustle (there were 8 vehicles in the parking lot after all!). The rumble of I-84 traffic is a faint drone in the background and is easily overcome by children's laughter emanating from the campground across the river. The noise of bird song we had at Goose Lake has been replaced by the occasional thump of a paddle hitting the side of a kayak and the transitory boat motor running up the river. I would be remiss in not mentioning the bi-hourly trains going by on at least one of the three tracks bracketing us. Depending on the wind direction they can sound far off or, unfortunately, in the motorhome with you which can be just a tad disconcerting when they sound the horn. Oh, and the wind - the infamous Columbia gorge wind.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shearers Falls</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Deschutes river is the most highly regulated river in Oregon with restrictions on everything from fishing equipment and areas, power boat operations, raft drifting and even the size of groups going together. Drift tubes, floats and even swimming has their own places and times. When you add it all up and toss in rafts, drift boats and power boats launching or landing it has the potential to be a really busy place. Luckily for us, the fish run had not really taken off so things have been at most, moderate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our job? To be a presence on the launch ramp to encourage compliance and answer questions on all the various regulations on the river. What this boils down to is reminding the various types of the different launch fees, remind folks that life jackets are a good idea, and in the cases of 12 and younger, no water craft fun unless a PFD (personal flotation device) is on and fastened correctly. During our downtime we cruise the beach looking for litter and assist in building sand castles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with any river with rapids, we had our share of spills. One set, called Washout, lived up to its name in July claiming two rafts whose owner were foolish enough to not follow the recommended line. Washout is a backspill set so the rafts, after dumping the not so smart cargo, tend to stay in the backflow current. It usually takes the wake of a passing jet boat or a grappling hook to bounce or drag them out. In either case, afterwards it's a "some assembly required" sort of situation. No serious injuries and the only other damaged property was a damp cell phone in a leaky dry bag.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly we also suffered a death when a father attempted to save his son who had slipped in some fast water. The 37 year old man slipped and disappeared in another set of rapids. The boy made it ashore safely. The father was found 4 days later over a mile and a quarter down stream from where the Deschutes meets the Columbia, 3 miles from the scene of the tragedy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To return to a lighter note a boat launch can be as entertaining as a dump station but without the smell. Well almost. Because the Deschutes runs through areas where there are no rest rooms, rafters bring their sani cans then use the ramp's sani dump machine for disposal. Think of it as a dump station with the need of a LOT of hands-on thus increasing the potential for mayhem (read that entertainment for the host). Another form of entertainment was the almost daily "chase the raft" or "snag the boat". While we were down on the ramp this little gem would rarely happen. It was only when we were up the hill at our hosting spot looking down that we were able to observe the entire evolution. It usually happened like this: The folks would have pulled in to offload their equipment then run up to grab their trailer. Once the trailer was backed down the ramp they would drag or tow their boat to the trailer. Invariably, once they had reached the trailer they would turn their back to get set up and sure enough the current would give a free trip down stream without them. It was off to the races to try to run in knee high water to catch up or to abandon all hope of staying dry and dive in to swim to the boat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our month went by far too fast and while I can't quite pin down where all the time went, a goodly portion of it was simply sitting and observing. The antics of the guests, the soaring of the pelicans, the industriousness of the beaver (wow, didn't know they got that big!) Heritage Landing was a noisy, bustling, yet relaxing place to volunteer. </span></div>
C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-53488160493963309442019-06-17T17:58:00.001-07:002019-06-17T17:58:36.302-07:00Goose Lake State Recreation Area<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXz3s6pZT0q1PCy_Depv4FpD2yjhwYIkEpx6JZmPkdy7mH8GQK9UgpSr0N2q9BcNnBM7nVlQJ4Hmh_920dAOnIDoqznHQuQfKnb2r8mim5k6-A_o6GEsH0jZ9fkQG7TRpob2pU32lIHEc/s1600/GooseLake_sunset%255B4%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="1024" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXz3s6pZT0q1PCy_Depv4FpD2yjhwYIkEpx6JZmPkdy7mH8GQK9UgpSr0N2q9BcNnBM7nVlQJ4Hmh_920dAOnIDoqznHQuQfKnb2r8mim5k6-A_o6GEsH0jZ9fkQG7TRpob2pU32lIHEc/s400/GooseLake_sunset%255B4%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Just one year ago we were enjoying this wonderful little park (more like slice of heaven), totally oblivious that we would suffer the biggest scare we could imagine - a head on collision. Since then we've counted our blessings and given thanks every single day for being able to walk away from that accident with only minor injuries. Those injuries are now healed, the car has been replaced and but for a few twinges and some small scars we would not know it happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">This blog entry could have been a same ole thing type entry except for some telling differences. We're in a different host site, just a short distance from the one last year and with it came a bigger parking area, more shade and a bigger "yard" to relax in. Goose Lake, like a lot of the interior this year has experienced a very wet and green spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The lake, which for several years had become a dust bowl has water. While not full to the brim, it has quite a bit of water in it - so much so the fish and game folks are looking at a return of the Redband trout and their spawning up the little creek that borders the park. Funny thing is, the fish are waiting for the water level in the creek to fall a bit more and the flow to slow some before they'll go up stream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Last year I posted about the small town atmosphere here and thought I would share some more. Back in March when we were headed back north for Lincoln Rock the only route with dry or at least only damp roads was the 395 so we decided to take the route knowing we would be going past Goose Lake and Lakeview on the way. Leaving Reno we were struck by some pretty severe high winds which were followed by rain, sleet and generally really lousy weather. By the time we made it to Lakeview our tempers were short, our bodies beat up and our knuckles seemingly permanently white from hanging on. We mutually agreed we were done traveling for the day so made some phone calls around to see where we could stay in what is usually the off season that early in the year. We got through to the fairgrounds and the girl who answered actually remembered us from the year before when she had met us in the park. Site for the night - SCORE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Asking about a place to eat (most places were closed), the girl from the fairgrounds recommended oddly enough the bowling alley promising we wouldn't be disappointed. The bowling alley is separate from the little six table cafe avoiding the hustle and bustle of league night and set off in a corner. Our waitress? A person we had met at Safeway last year and chatted up in the produce section. So, despite the appearance of being an after thought and expecting a meal liken to a vending machine, we sat down prepared to leave hungry and contrary to the promise, disappointed. Oh how wrong we were. First a fresh, homemade broccoli and cheddar soup; just the ticket for some cold and weary travelers. Chris went for the club sandwich which featured not a single deli slice in it. The turkey and the ham were hand carved and the portion generous enough to require a carryout box. I had what they simply called the brisket sandwich. What was not mentioned was this cross between a Philly Cheese Steak and a French Dip that was loaded. Yep, dinner as promised and so much more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I mention these two encounters because we were only at Goose Lake for two months last year and yet despite us usually keeping to ourselves folks had remembered us and asked after us as if they had known us for years. Can you tell? I love small towns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">If it wasn't for the excitement of going to some place we've not been and the impending swarms of mosquitoes that return to Goose Lake with the summer heat, we would really dislike leaving this idyllic setting at the end of the month. Oh well, Deschutes River State Recreation Area awaits. Oh. Did I mention? It's near another small town.</span><br />
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C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-52487428078108674812019-05-30T20:45:00.000-07:002019-05-30T20:45:27.760-07:00On the Road Again - Returning to Goose Lake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wonder just how many now have that little tune running in the back of their head - probably with a Willie Nelson twang as well. You're welcome.<br />
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Sorry about that. Not really. If I was anti-social I would have come up with the theme song of Barney the Dinosaur. Or I could have dredged up the Disney classic involving a small world. Perhaps I shouldn't mention where we are headed. I'm pretty sure there could be a few who would like to snag a bit of revenge right about now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9PVzD7hm2_eLaypEQ0f_SovxKubt7y0DPbZTS1LXDtLQWTgUxDsi9a_J5OiVN8jXugdNRds0y00PDwOz1x1Qkj9bHgCMFGnfpwVf1OeXkkexmaSpt3u2ihcSQ2j6ezqrMLCFy22_jY8/s1600/IMG_20190504_150104205_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9PVzD7hm2_eLaypEQ0f_SovxKubt7y0DPbZTS1LXDtLQWTgUxDsi9a_J5OiVN8jXugdNRds0y00PDwOz1x1Qkj9bHgCMFGnfpwVf1OeXkkexmaSpt3u2ihcSQ2j6ezqrMLCFy22_jY8/s320/IMG_20190504_150104205_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Anyway. We're on the road this week returning to Goose Lake State Park for a month of what will be, in comparison to our stay at Lincoln Rock, a quiet reprieve. We have survived several storms, a spring break, an Apple Blossom Festival, Cinco de Mayo, and Memorial Day. We've gone from full capacity to a ghost town comprising of maybe 6 rigs in the park total and that's including the three cabin host couples and us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd2klcHJMHeCmChvhtlPKnVGdhGY1gIFc4xD9YcBVmX487iW4hMg1wBMZX60WmK_FAh2GYmLjZPtZxBCfc2Lb1yyg0wKY1pFhX_ZYbcifqXvNwi1nDQgnLJb4RVmA_L4JjHS-dE6qJJo/s1600/IMG_20190519_110228850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd2klcHJMHeCmChvhtlPKnVGdhGY1gIFc4xD9YcBVmX487iW4hMg1wBMZX60WmK_FAh2GYmLjZPtZxBCfc2Lb1yyg0wKY1pFhX_ZYbcifqXvNwi1nDQgnLJb4RVmA_L4JjHS-dE6qJJo/s320/IMG_20190519_110228850.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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An added bonus was for the third year in a row the park was the gathering spot for T@B travel trailer owners. While mostly confined to Washington state and labeled the East Meets West gathering we actually had participants from British Columbia, Alberta and one from as far as North Carolina. Taking up one full loop and spilling out into two others, over 45 owners shared tips, tricks, and customizations. An impressive showing for a not-so-good weather weekend.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDl7_uLiOBlYw1dgHS_MlEguQmzubJJlWSU1YbcE8m9A1CoeCbJdgJiqJBNRdh7mY2L9WysxoSkqcfYJqhWH9YDmZCyeAtU6vwHevURP1p63MYPulyn6lO6rC6CAgbCnHnUlHtrAhvBk/s1600/IMG_20190519_103425726_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDl7_uLiOBlYw1dgHS_MlEguQmzubJJlWSU1YbcE8m9A1CoeCbJdgJiqJBNRdh7mY2L9WysxoSkqcfYJqhWH9YDmZCyeAtU6vwHevURP1p63MYPulyn6lO6rC6CAgbCnHnUlHtrAhvBk/s320/IMG_20190519_103425726_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a>We've now reached the end of our stay here for this year. Our doctor appointments are done. There are no missing check marks on our checklist for repairs and tweeks to the motorhome and we are once again stocked with the essentials for hosting in a more remote location. Last year we experienced the high of discovery at the new place and we survived the low of crashing our car. This year we're making a solid pledge for only highs and if we have to avoid a pizza run, so be it.<br />
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Oh, its good to be on the road again...</div>
C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-25955348824128013002019-05-04T14:49:00.000-07:002019-05-04T14:49:48.685-07:00We Are Back!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrNv-Ucdq5MgGUNhLmBONlBIqRtHtACDH2KevUESOcdY-irAUDRR2PIHN1YXlZGORR6qC-YrVjnYwxVq6d8dusZPkPawohPwsgRS_0yVbRz_QwYKnnlJcWq0Jsu4ffTMApEdWEdLJTIg/s1600/blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrNv-Ucdq5MgGUNhLmBONlBIqRtHtACDH2KevUESOcdY-irAUDRR2PIHN1YXlZGORR6qC-YrVjnYwxVq6d8dusZPkPawohPwsgRS_0yVbRz_QwYKnnlJcWq0Jsu4ffTMApEdWEdLJTIg/s640/blog1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Sometimes you just have to take a step back to put things into perspective and that is just what I’ve done. Nearly a year has gone by since the last blog entry if there is one thing I have learned is while it may be nice for the readers to have fresh material it is even more critical for me to write the material. I have found I must sit down, gather my thoughts and express them in logical manner to preserve my well being. It is either the blog, yelling at people, or participating in some other less than social occupation. Since blogging is one of the few things I can do and not be arrested or assaulted, I’ve chosen this medium as the preferred course of action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Now to catch up. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauwh_0-gLDMWejzqVwjjM3brzUhUXxTD2DZ6ILTrvdWUHmUVwwUCDk6ITfTIWirABJwhXZBIE2TfWFff-OhWwk4Y9O7SLGlnitLnzT4LzSLpRwDoviRD4HiJBLqg59iAt8qpEYt4sCQI/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauwh_0-gLDMWejzqVwjjM3brzUhUXxTD2DZ6ILTrvdWUHmUVwwUCDk6ITfTIWirABJwhXZBIE2TfWFff-OhWwk4Y9O7SLGlnitLnzT4LzSLpRwDoviRD4HiJBLqg59iAt8qpEYt4sCQI/s320/blog3.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Our last blog entry left us leaving Goose Lake State Park to go to our family reunion in Hyrum, Utah. We had a new toad in tow and while a month has passed since the accident, we both were still discovering bruises and suffering from limited motion. Amazing just how much banging around we must have done in such a short moment. Physically we’ve healed up but mentally we have a bit more time ahead of us. Both of us cringe when opposing traffic crosses the line or someone rolls out in front of us and we are keenly aware of our position in the road. Looking both ways twice, even three times has become the norm.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mhYgYUifee-egIS5S2FeQjvqAQ7p7yYGVrJoQtiTe7q3DfBOWC5Ghy5gIJwfURebxdnb60AT8EZ8XnWHjhbkNFrY55kAbqpCijIsuE-QGf3Wsr1lyzo3rsZs1BY4rgI9LKElYYvCm3g/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mhYgYUifee-egIS5S2FeQjvqAQ7p7yYGVrJoQtiTe7q3DfBOWC5Ghy5gIJwfURebxdnb60AT8EZ8XnWHjhbkNFrY55kAbqpCijIsuE-QGf3Wsr1lyzo3rsZs1BY4rgI9LKElYYvCm3g/s320/blog2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After a fun filled and thankfully uneventful meet up with the family and the accompanying catching up, we turned back to the west to take on a park neither of had been to: Wallowa State Park outside of Joseph, Oregon. While we had not stayed in the park, we had enjoyed our <a href="http://cndtravels.blogspot.com/2017/09/" target="_blank">visit so much in 2017</a> in </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">that we just had to return to spend more time exploring the area. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPd5DucHet5C5SkDeni8uDJC5ivGcnFSvF7R5aTTaJ2jfSDAaHr0xrGJYgtRnRA7j87lXSDOWXsMjg5FbHQwQVNIosLWKrYfbFLcDJOaqYKeVoptz2q76kHPD2G7QLo7ijgpXqWhP82A/s1600/blog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPd5DucHet5C5SkDeni8uDJC5ivGcnFSvF7R5aTTaJ2jfSDAaHr0xrGJYgtRnRA7j87lXSDOWXsMjg5FbHQwQVNIosLWKrYfbFLcDJOaqYKeVoptz2q76kHPD2G7QLo7ijgpXqWhP82A/s320/blog4.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Wallowa is the largest park we have hosted at so far and with three other couples working the obviously most congenial. We all shared the wood selling duty so needless to say the woodshed became our evening gathering spot. Hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to host with these folks somewhere else in the future and perhaps we’ll even return to the park.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaICtxh5PDgP-RXVGnzAmQGC6tbt_n5ZqAMn8fufK1qW24XCf2Y5z29lqVvReJmC043COWxs58jgESL6b7qTw_84-zicEnfDGFiwj_PTBdJFIDsh24sHM6g-BGU75Nnmon_tvTVl1C_7w/s1600/blog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaICtxh5PDgP-RXVGnzAmQGC6tbt_n5ZqAMn8fufK1qW24XCf2Y5z29lqVvReJmC043COWxs58jgESL6b7qTw_84-zicEnfDGFiwj_PTBdJFIDsh24sHM6g-BGU75Nnmon_tvTVl1C_7w/s320/blog5.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">October and November brought us back to Sunset Bay and a new host coordinator who was also new ranger! Before you ask, yes, we were gentle to the new ranger so as to not break him. We also had a bevy of hosts which for us was unusual and more surprisingly, a couple who were going through the application process to become hosts. We must have done something right as they are still hosting at parks and they’ll return to Sunset Bay this fall to host with along with us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBgEz9ZYVbzkzZcpVhfzA3AhnTnPf6a3fzV_1QeeWJZnERc2v72hOnRcYI09Lso9764a8JQAms_vuVV2GVkrWllVMesgi4cg457MXEZjF0sD5UMWs_KgUSMcnHEmRuA9rMxe4XFEEetw/s1600/blog7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBgEz9ZYVbzkzZcpVhfzA3AhnTnPf6a3fzV_1QeeWJZnERc2v72hOnRcYI09Lso9764a8JQAms_vuVV2GVkrWllVMesgi4cg457MXEZjF0sD5UMWs_KgUSMcnHEmRuA9rMxe4XFEEetw/s400/blog7.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Winter struck during our trek south and I found out what it was like to drive on snow for a short time while crossing the Laseen Pass. We should have got used to the storms for from that point on we were either going into, suffering through or coming out of one storm front or another. If memory serves, I believe we actually had perhaps 3 days of nice weather in Yuma before we headed further south to the Gulf coast and Rockport Texas.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPATk2hsqGjlNWGE8DHuhDyznQjD27zkRZYLPZFZljp63vS7JY6foxI15aT7Igc1b71_jTShS33ee2ZMC92KFwKEem3PGifvb55DyjKhtiPIcalNesXDGRT2JFdkV0uQySgMdZySHJVg/s1600/blog9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPATk2hsqGjlNWGE8DHuhDyznQjD27zkRZYLPZFZljp63vS7JY6foxI15aT7Igc1b71_jTShS33ee2ZMC92KFwKEem3PGifvb55DyjKhtiPIcalNesXDGRT2JFdkV0uQySgMdZySHJVg/s320/blog9.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A day with sun and this happened</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The weather came with us. Rockport had one of it’s coldest, wettest, windiest, everything yuckiest winters on the books. If it wasn’t for the outstanding Texas BBQ, the gulf shore fish fry, and the wonderful southern hospitality I’m pretty sure that trip would have been a bust. Oh, and the consolation prize of being able to hang out with my sister and brother-in-law. (I’m pretty sure my sister Tricia is going to kick my butt over that consolation prize comment.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Our time in the south came to an end so Chris and I headed back north in March in our typical fashion – staying off the interstates as much as we could and taking routes we’ve not been on. This took us to an RV park in Van Horn Texas where we huddled near the electric fire (yep, still winter cold and the wind blows in Van Horn). The good thing finding an outstanding steakhouse in the small town. A week stop in Deming New Mexico was also in order as the “spring” (really, just late winter) winds and dust storms crossed the high plateau. Much safer to sit and let the rig rock in the winds than to risk a journey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Instead of taking the Escapee stop at Benson as we would normally do, we headed south on highway 80 to Douglas and ending up at Fort Huachuca. What a serendipitous find! This small famcamp was just what the doctor ordered. Easy sites to park in, a gentle breeze, and lots of sun to warm bones that until that stop, been in a constant state of brrrrrr. We so wanted to stay longer and make more use of the commissary but alas, there was simply no room at the park. Seems we were not the discoverers of this great place to stay. Who woulda thunk?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08U_IYKW-ORjXZJJNSBw7HfDUbSLvWa_HKGO4FcQe853_WzzgBWw2nuTa8dbeC7PK2KtpmAvi1DSI23E7lHcou_NDaVEWJvl1PWRcLbakpWyZyYhhJwa7IMzsUJ204a1QEBFO86eHfAg/s1600/kofa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08U_IYKW-ORjXZJJNSBw7HfDUbSLvWa_HKGO4FcQe853_WzzgBWw2nuTa8dbeC7PK2KtpmAvi1DSI23E7lHcou_NDaVEWJvl1PWRcLbakpWyZyYhhJwa7IMzsUJ204a1QEBFO86eHfAg/s400/kofa.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Back to Yuma we went with our route bordered by blooming flowers, sunshine and not much else to hinder us along our way. The short day trip saw us arriving at KOFA Koop to settle down for a solid week of thawing out, getting various geegahs and resting up for our next long stretch – the run up to Pahrump. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">One of the things we did while hunkered down trying to stay warm was to thoroughly research and explore the Harvest Host (HH) program. We don’t mind the occasional dry camp and have availed ourselves of the random Walmart at times. What we have come to dislike however is the noise and crowds usually associated with an overnight stay at such locations. Enter HH and why we joined the group. While HH has participants such as golf courses and commercial settings, the ones that attract us are typically rural in nature; located in places that tend to roll up their sidewalks at sunset. For a modest yearly fee, Harvest Host provides you with a phenomenal list of potential FREE stops. Why do I mention this? Because our stop in Pahrump was at such a location.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/dkkep/AppData/Local/Temp/OpenLiveWriter567464273/supfiles659BE0F4/sanders[3].jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oZK7m4GRjrFaqabZQ9R0S-ORW1-nhnT_STP9-OyC8rToM8UMskTJuX1H8or6PpqFM0zq3Iph39kosy8TOfVcNnH0QyiOLw14hfSOqStMWOXQA3GprksL6QpUr9TfO1HFjs99S3GT5JQ/s1600/sanders.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oZK7m4GRjrFaqabZQ9R0S-ORW1-nhnT_STP9-OyC8rToM8UMskTJuX1H8or6PpqFM0zq3Iph39kosy8TOfVcNnH0QyiOLw14hfSOqStMWOXQA3GprksL6QpUr9TfO1HFjs99S3GT5JQ/s640/sanders.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Located a good five miles outside of the city is the Sanders Family Winery. For us it was a quiet, peaceful stop with a really nice wine tasting in a country day room setting. We could have stayed at the Escapee park in Pahrump and been closer to town but for the cost of a bottle of wine we had the winery all to ourselves; parked in paved and level spot located in the rear of the large estate. Loved it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">So ended spring. All I can say is the rest of the trip north to East Wenatchee and our hosting gig at Lincoln Rock State Park consisted of wind, rain, sleet, slush, snow and sometimes all five together. It wasn’t until our arrival in Prosser Washington that we saw sunshine again and only then briefly between rain squalls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjXTCBJMTohZGZnIKN9bh7l4uGZz-zfld96VadACyMCng_chKmDyAOw-dzSeM9UVwDuvNCSl2VeEEoEMoRWK_ozqfMAz07E3el7x9YLGyInzjKM6C2DRHGA2RESMSKPKS_7DjNEtHRhc/s1600/blog10.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjXTCBJMTohZGZnIKN9bh7l4uGZz-zfld96VadACyMCng_chKmDyAOw-dzSeM9UVwDuvNCSl2VeEEoEMoRWK_ozqfMAz07E3el7x9YLGyInzjKM6C2DRHGA2RESMSKPKS_7DjNEtHRhc/s640/blog10.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">So, here </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">we are. Back at Lincoln Rock. Back to blogging. And yes, even back to sitting in the sun and simply taking it all in. This year we’ll be in two new to us parks; Deschutes River and the Coquille River Lighthouse at Bullards Beach. Come along for the ride.</span></div>
C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-48056128429603042942018-07-29T15:45:00.000-07:002018-07-29T15:50:32.171-07:00Farewell Goose Lake<p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cv7ndgxdAR8/W15DdbabViI/AAAAAAAAW-Y/DN3G6dd-ZmcFIpizE2DmUpeMeed49CHBgCHMYCw/s1600-h/Berk_Selfie%255B4%255D"><img width="343" height="430" title="Berk_Selfie" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Berk_Selfie" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EMODLG3vbsc/W15DesjdIpI/AAAAAAAAW-c/DG02JHeqSv8bwZmsz-XKjSbMMX_lgmxtgCHMYCw/Berk_Selfie_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Small towns. You know, those ideal communities you've seen on television where everything seems way too good to be true. My first recollection of such small towns were Mayberry from the Andy Griffith show and of course Hooterville from Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. Regardless of the story plots one thing rang true for all of the shows, people in the town cared and watched out for people in the town.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jJeKYQmiRnU/W15Dgazs0CI/AAAAAAAAW-g/w6pgK-BXJI0BSSxX6p2wVsapWM7aQ7D1wCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180722_112224265_HDR%255B4%255D"><img width="306" height="230" title="IMG_20180722_112224265_HDR" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180722_112224265_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KkrTwiQPvVg/W15DhuC-M3I/AAAAAAAAW-k/-rgUITErAc4AJUBqRv2dWwuE3CWduyjQQCHMYCw/IMG_20180722_112224265_HDR_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>A few weeks ago my wife and I were involved in a nasty car accident that left us with no transportation and doctor appointments some distance away – the closest being 14 miles one way and the other just over one hundred. Enter two small towns: New Pine Creek (population 120) and Lakeview Oregon (2300 people). New Pine Creek, when all is said and done consists of the post office and an antique store across the street. The post master allowed us to use the general delivery address and she kept an eye out for our prescriptions and other incoming mail and we got the word we had mail. Sort of critical when we had to chase down transportation to get there (about 2 miles from the park).</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6VgF1pOEt_I/W15DiqY8-oI/AAAAAAAAW-o/47m2ktPMhj0aDVfJUGFhRHHgwD0JV5sDQCHMYCw/s1600-h/GL_Distance_sunset%255B4%255D"><img width="544" height="272" title="GL_Distance_sunset" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="GL_Distance_sunset" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9z-XPQF-nWs/W15DjQ99jlI/AAAAAAAAW-s/X803fT3tIp42wCR89k789C2-EeXwH2YPgCHMYCw/GL_Distance_sunset_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Lakeview has a Safeway grocery store and we had been going there about once a week during the month of June so I guess we were “regulars” - at least the cashiers made us feel that way by always greeting us with a hello and a smile. A few days after the accident we were shopping and I can't count the number of people who asked after us and offered help in one form or another; not just store folks but fellow shoppers as well. Made us feel like we were back in the small town of Ucon Idaho (pop: 640) where we grew up and everyone knew everyone else.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FeWgEC_WkfA/W15Dk4-pYBI/AAAAAAAAW-w/uHpVn23J8Rw0Vf7ENQRJrNHS0jpA40qkQCHMYCw/s1600-h/DSC_0343%255B4%255D"><img width="428" height="287" title="DSC_0343" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="DSC_0343" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SDgKJtxONFY/W15DlyzyHtI/AAAAAAAAW-0/8GJO8novcoocY-ish0eHvJptZy1w9wxRACHMYCw/DSC_0343_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Now here we are the end of July and our time at Goose Lake is coming to a close. Tomorrow morning we'll be heading to Klamath Falls for a post surgical evaluation on Chris' wrist and since we'll be in the “big” city, we'll of course pay the obligatory visit to Wally World to stock for our next journey – Hyrum Reservoir in Utah.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dfRBJ69PwAk/W15DntLlSNI/AAAAAAAAW-4/cpv5213GfdQyFIxE7QMpTE6vT2IK18xIQCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180722_110822791_HDR%255B4%255D"><img width="315" height="237" title="IMG_20180722_110822791_HDR" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180722_110822791_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FqF5rmk3lCA/W15DowdEHHI/AAAAAAAAW-8/n_w84luT88EtZ-tpIX6o6PCidJqrZI_EQCHMYCw/IMG_20180722_110822791_HDR_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>It has been a little hectic what with doctor appointments and a little painful discovering new bruises on an almost daily basis but despite the adversity a couple of facts remain. Our stay here was very rewarding, leaving us with a feeling of accomplishment and sure in the knowledge we have indeed made a difference. Further, we have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Our permanent ranger Rick and the seasonal ranger Lee and of course, our guardian angel and park aid Tina have made us feel right at home. Without their guidance, input, and support our time here could have been quite the opposite. Couple the environment these three fostered with our co-hosts Charlie and Becky and you know what? We were our own very small town.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Shoot, it certainly is not too much of a stretch to say... We're home.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Perhaps we’ll return next year.</font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-71695124229836665782018-07-12T19:40:00.000-07:002018-07-12T19:42:39.628-07:00Pizza Run!–NOT<p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4HqXu_Z3qZQ/W0gQw4s0v6I/AAAAAAAAWyg/UHBdUxfZNTsMOgMk7lHwR_up4SHiwmIgwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180709_164904701_HDR%255B5%255D"><img width="321" height="242" title="IMG_20180709_164904701_HDR" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180709_164904701_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-acQMytEJti4/W0gQzVJH6UI/AAAAAAAAWyk/uHjp01L594YGHaieJ_R5zMJcpGkW4LgiQCHMYCw/IMG_20180709_164904701_HDR_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"><br></a></font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">I'll tell the tale about this a bit later in the blog but...</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">“Sun's up in ...”</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">So begins the early morning message from fellow RV'er Millie Duffin. She and her husband Dick have traveled around the country for years and each morning Millie will get up with the sunrise and post her news of the day, plans for the future, and sometimes, as she put it, “just ramblings of an old lady.” What I've found in the years I've been following her is these “ramblings” as she put it, are actually short, simple messages very much like the song birds she observes each day; pronouncements of simply the joy of life.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">We met the Duffins very briefly on a hot, black parking lot just off the I-5 freeway in what used to be the Monaco motorhome factory in Coburg Oregon. This was the year after we had purchased our first class A diesel pusher and the parking lot which used to be known fondly as “Camp Monaco” had become the service center for a consortium of active and defunct motorhome brands called the Allied Recreation Group. I have always thought of it as the “ARG” (said in my most piratey pirate voice) – usually after seeing the invoice for the repairs.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">There we were, a group of people as widely diverse as the our rigs, held hostage by the whims of the service managers. With only a truck stop and McDonalds within easy walking distance and not a heck of a lot to do except hang out in the customer lounge, I'm sure you can understand just how welcome any diversion can be.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3PCxRMOEr6o/W0gQ1vm8T0I/AAAAAAAAWyo/191RiEXKT7sVdO0dyaNVvQ7WviBI_WdvwCHMYCw/s1600-h/millieduffin%255B4%255D"><img width="581" height="223" title="millieduffin" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="millieduffin" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1YefNfrI2zs/W0gQ78MNBMI/AAAAAAAAWys/sunYepJFR3ATs6HwEUKPBEpU-RC3UNPPwCHMYCw/millieduffin_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Enter the Dillie Muffin party. As rookies Chris and I had yet to experience an RV'er potluck and being the kids of the group, honestly thought this would simply be a group of really old people sitting around eating soft food. Not so for we had not calculated on the tornado of energy, the monsoon of ideas, or the sheer force of will that is Millie. While folks will toot their horns under the direction of a band leader and fancy people will play in the orchestra following a conductor, true brilliance and awe inspiring audacity can only come from that rare individual bestowed with the title – maestro. In our little corner of the universe we have something better, we have Millie. Nuff said.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Years have passed since that one time parking lot gathering and the only contact has been via the almost daily “Sun's up” posting. That is, until this past week when Chris and I were privileged to host Dick and Millie at Goose Lake. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll be saying it again, one unique aspect of the RV lifestyle is though often separated by miles and years, friendships, even if those formed in a matter of minutes, can be picked up and continued as it was only a day.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Sure did miss them when they pulled out. Of course chances are always pretty good we'll run into each other (in a good way!) in the future.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RHvYpXiqhrU/W0gQ96NEBaI/AAAAAAAAWyw/FwicMcBgl6ICQ0yIUo6w_S83zgu9EEIcwCHMYCw/s1600-h/GooseLake_sunset%255B4%255D"><img width="631" height="270" title="GooseLake_sunset" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="GooseLake_sunset" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9RH6koArx5Q/W0gRBmNpsoI/AAAAAAAAWy4/l6keJU7Ox-sf5LUVufx4XWO1PTMcQC55gCHMYCw/GooseLake_sunset_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DGX30OJMf6c/W0gRF7IpUiI/AAAAAAAAWzA/4WHXmgiUcP0ym4oAHU8Nl6LGkzcX5nrpQCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180709_164913308_HDR%255B4%255D"><img width="373" height="281" title="IMG_20180709_164913308_HDR" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180709_164913308_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gqr9FdPyPg0/W0gRL-pVC9I/AAAAAAAAWzI/xptYQx15pTs2qn6OvPybUDyDQK9SPgxCQCHMYCw/IMG_20180709_164913308_HDR_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Now, about that picture. Yes, that is our toad. Yes we were in an accident and yes we were injured. Chris got the worst of all yet truthfully it could have been much worse than her broken wrist. For those who follow some of our Facebook posts; no we did not get our pizza which was the reason we were traveling in the first place. </font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">To make a short story even shorter, neither of us has recollection of what exactly happened other than the sudden appearance of another car as it smacked us or we smacked them. No matter; the end of the story is our car is totaled and Chris will be having some surgery to correct the break which was probably caused by the airbag going off. She has also been blessed with some really awesome purple bruises from the seat belt. I have been calling her stripes. She says I will pay for it. </font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">Folks that saw the accident say we must have had angels watching over us. If they were, they have since handed the job off to the park aid here who stayed with us in the emergency room for the five hours while we were evaluated, drove us back to the park and then loaned us her vehicle to use. Tina, if you are reading this, words cannot express our gratitude.</font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">So, we'll be staying at Goose Lake for a while longer to get some doctor appointments out of the way and the obligatory post surgery followups. I've already got a lead on a replacement toad so we can get around and as I write this, the soreness has lessened enough so we don't need help getting dressed. </font></p><p><font face="Verdana" size="3">What's the phrase? “It's nothing but a thang.” When all is said and done things can be replaced or fixed. And us? We survived.</font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-45026150404825914212018-06-18T18:30:00.000-07:002018-06-18T18:32:18.909-07:00Goose Lake–Avoiding the Crazy<p><br></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CBmBzauDBuE/WyhcfTOb95I/AAAAAAAAWX4/PJRXTFpjQaUyY91AG4I9iKfTEXM5ZqtNwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180618_164138408_HDR-EFFECTS%255B4%255D"><img width="249" height="331" title="IMG_20180618_164138408_HDR-EFFECTS" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180618_164138408_HDR-EFFECTS" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jAbuA7y-rBE/Wyhcg3VPhDI/AAAAAAAAWX8/LMZeh6cnmoQko_8R1wL06MabRNho3-xSwCHMYCw/IMG_20180618_164138408_HDR-EFFECTS_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>RV'ers
are crazy. I know this is fact based on my observations in the
campground (and I read it on the internet so it has to be true).
Einstein perhaps said it best with “The definition of insanity is
doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different
results.”</span></span></font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3">This
week has been a case where the theory is proven. The evidence
involves several short stories so please, indulge me.</font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font color="#cccccc" face="Verdana">
<font size="3">Camper
#1 Actually not a camper, just a visitor to the dump station. Yes, I
do hang out there on occasion solely for the entertainment um, er, to
assist campers; yea that's it, assist campers. I digress. </font>
</font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font color="#cccccc" face="Verdana">
<font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pMTWnkPa01Q/Wyhci0aNztI/AAAAAAAAWYA/m4pAaPJ2JposkdDJ1Sk8NG8DYcP_iODLgCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180618_120851290_HDR%255B4%255D"><img width="257" height="341" title="IMG_20180618_120851290_HDR" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180618_120851290_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LOHTHsO4oPo/WyhckQ6EewI/AAAAAAAAWYE/xQM0Rct1Cd4cNRn4OOsUaexGg0ddrmS3gCHMYCw/IMG_20180618_120851290_HDR_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>The
subject of our study enters the park missing the actual turn into
the dump station area and so ends up going into the exit instead. Not
a major problem as the whole thing is a looping affair which in his
case, takes him right back to the entrance. Of course, since he went
the wrong way on the loop, his dump side was on the opposite side
from the actual dump station. He stops and you could almost hear the
gears going round as he thought of his predicament. No worries, he'll
simply go around once again and that should fix the problem. As he
approaches the station this second time round he's already realizing
it just isn't going to happen – again. Without stopping he speeds
up ever so slightly and; want to take a guess?; yep, goes around for
the third time. I figure he sped up thinking a faster pace will make
it all work better. Upon arrival at the dump station for this, the
THIRD time, our visitor finally realizes something is just not
working. He's not sure what but there must definitely be a trick to
lining up on that silly dump station. </font>
</font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XgGxTO3KsNU/WyhcmRpF8qI/AAAAAAAAWYI/zYG8lFVdC8I85fQSHa_L17lFm9sKjJVzACHMYCw/s1600-h/path3%255B4%255D"><img width="632" height="294" title="path3" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="path3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7fZaVhvxUX0/WyhcoMvTW5I/AAAAAAAAWYM/wKThiPV_gCoz3W_cIbkL-OReAv3FpcbsQCHMYCw/path3_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Cue
the park host, aka, me.</font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3">I
calmly arrive in our little host gator (going the correct way) and
inquire if there is a problem. The visitor, who obviously saw me
approaching across the VERY LARGE turn-around area, sheepishly admits
he was just a bit disoriented. You see, this was his first time at
this campground and was unfamiliar with the layout. I nodded
understandingly and wisely did not mention the three foot long
reflective white arrows painted on the pavement nor did I point out
the large square sign marked “Wrong Way, Use Turn-Around”. I did
give them a long hard stare and wished him good luck as I mounted
back up and went off to patrol the park.</font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font color="#cccccc" face="Verdana">
<font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4kQ4pjksKa4/WyhcqaggTzI/AAAAAAAAWYQ/dy-aYD9sSPMT1kzHh83bwUJC9PZXsZhGQCHMYCw/s1600-h/path1%255B4%255D"><img width="260" height="374" title="path1" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="path1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9YUgqzi3H0/WyhcsLRuU2I/AAAAAAAAWYU/Hod6YGGuv-g1jmQcThPDTqd3fCH5OxLJwCHMYCw/path1_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Campers
#2 and #3. Yes, a group of campers occupying two sites and perhaps
partying just a bit past their limits. This group decided to pool
their resources and have a communal campfire at one site. </font>
</font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3">I
have to break away for just a moment. Our motorhome is a 2015
Berkshire which features a full frontal, one piece windshield. The
anti-glare treatment and the lighting differences makes it very
difficult for outside people to see inside though I can assure you
looking outside is completely unrestricted. For the purposes of this
missive, simply think of our windshield as our own one-way glass
bubble looking out into the wonderful world of crazy campers. An
added bonus is the thickness which renders it a very effective noise
blanket.</font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font color="#cccccc" face="Verdana">
<font size="3">Returning
to the partying campers. I happened to be sitting in the passenger's
seat (it has an electric foot rest and really reclines nicely – cozy), and
was looking out over the campground. I could clearly see them
gathered around the fire ring attempting to light their fire with
wooden matches. Match after match was struck, lowered into the ring,
and promptly snuffed out by the very light breeze. About every third
match or so, the person lighting them would become mesmerized by the
flame and forget the objective was to actually light a larger fire.
I'm pretty sure they went through about half of the box before
someone in their group decided it was the location causing the
problem. In just a matter of minutes the fire makings had been
stripped from the one ring and moved to the other and our expert
match lighter once again began striking matches. </font>
</font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AfMcA-UVU0Y/WyhcuNLc3JI/AAAAAAAAWYY/T0f8gnlcxyQi_2XsyCdc-GjVEgvdWSlcACHMYCw/s1600-h/central_fire_pit%255B6%255D"><img width="470" height="171" title="central_fire_pit" align="left" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="central_fire_pit" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kkn1Z5mWtKk/Wyhcv_CdqiI/AAAAAAAAWYc/M1I1bnwHLws_wZUgAhjDBu3OG11r66lXgCHMYCw/central_fire_pit_thumb%255B3%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Perhaps
it was the mesmerizing flames holding the match too long or maybe a
match held incorrectly when transferring to the ring, but at one
point our fearless not-maker of fire burnt his fingers. I am now very
familiar with the allure of the silent movie. I had a front row seat
watching the victim mouth words and swing his arms about trying to
cool off his burnt hands. I'm sure my rather crusty, retired sailor
vocabulary did not diminish the impact of what words were probably
actually spoken.</font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3">I'm
also assuming it was the guy's wife who gathered up the spilled
matches, (there were really not that many left), gave the patient a
cold beer and proceeded to crumple up some paper, add it to the wood,
and light the fire. All with just one match.</font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3">The
last camper, #4, demonstrated either an immeasurable amount of
perseverance or, more likely, a truly serious case of crazy. Standing
about 10 feet from a gopher hole, camera at the ready, our camper was
bound and determined to snap a closeup of one of our park residents.
Every time he moved back a few paces the gopher would rise up out of
the hole only to drop back down as the camper/photographer stepped
close to take the shot. I watched this activity for quite some time
and finally saw what was happening. The gopher, after dropping down
one hole, would peek out a nearby one to see if the coast was clear.
I believe it was a toss up between the gopher and myself on who was
having the most fun.</font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x7MhnM4EHOU/WyhcyBbKXhI/AAAAAAAAWYg/Ku92iAn6hcofY7R8slRH-zfreX2d-tljACHMYCw/s1600-h/picnic%255B4%255D"><img width="653" height="320" title="picnic" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="picnic" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j1tgXfnd5aY/Wyhcz0cq4PI/AAAAAAAAWYo/rlfYCGU2HwMJUR5HzQ1xzWYy21PMzk-8wCHMYCw/picnic_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3">I
can't say it enough. Goose Lake State Park is one of the most
peaceful, laid back, and relaxing stays we have experienced. Cell
service is sketchy, TV non existent for non satellite users, there is
no internet to tempt, and the nearest town is far enough away to
discourage running in on a lark. No matter though. If you hang around
the dump station or simply observe your fellow campers, there is some
really good entertainment to be had.</font></font></font></p><p><font face="Verdana"><br><font color="#cccccc"></font></font></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana"><font color="#cccccc">
<font size="3">Until
next time, safe travels and please, avoid the crazy.</font></font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-18490969798657670422018-06-06T10:03:00.000-07:002018-06-06T10:05:47.913-07:00Goose Lake State Recreation Area<p>
<br></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KlruKmc4m38/WxgTvWP0PGI/AAAAAAAAWLM/LCpuq7v0t8oImUXrtjrTU9MGWw9hHCvJwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180602_125256637%255B5%255D"><img width="323" height="182" title="IMG_20180602_125256637" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline;" alt="IMG_20180602_125256637" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y_UPTjjsEmc/WxgTwMdJ_AI/AAAAAAAAWLQ/lLJAthZ33coJwNM0Orz0Eb3MzYRHS3V_ACHMYCw/IMG_20180602_125256637_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800"></a>The first of June has
arrived and so have we – to a new campground that is. Welcome to
Goose Lake State Park located just off highway 395 on the Oregon
California border. This non-descript park consists of nearly 72 acres
with 49 partial hookup sites (water and 20amp service) sitting on the
banks of a very large but extremely shallow Goose lake. You could
almost call it a wading pool if you disregarded the miles and miles
of “pool”. Remember those old western movies where they show a
flat desert and the heat shimmering like water as far as the eye can
see? Like that. But with water. And no desert. At 4500ft. With trees.</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kQevwhTHKgQ/WxgTxDYNeSI/AAAAAAAAWLU/nZ4mCWsHlFUEf--RJAPigfZYZFpxD00AACHMYCw/s1600-h/gooseLake%255B7%255D"><img width="641" height="94" title="gooseLake" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="gooseLake" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qoTmzlUecXw/WxgTyA42y_I/AAAAAAAAWLY/clzJ64ljkQYntdsrkxPB9zim4RT6MrAxQCHMYCw/gooseLake_thumb%255B4%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C7MoMfUuSUw/WxgTzW3OJ2I/AAAAAAAAWLc/_FJQLTbj5gsAvHeRYW9b131q7_ywggFOwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180602_125416992%255B8%255D"><img width="376" height="178" title="IMG_20180602_125416992" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180602_125416992" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ocXrzzcAnw8/WxgT0Mjm87I/AAAAAAAAWLg/9YAt-3NMiqAzvY13kWTRtoTNfJ96HQnvgCHMYCw/IMG_20180602_125416992_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>What struck us on
arrival was there was no one here. The park did have at least one
guest since there was a travel trailer parked but the occupant had
already left for the area's primary past time of hunting rocks. The
quarter mile single loop has, as I mentioned, 49 well spaced out
sites on both sides of a paved albeit gravelly road with a large
communal space in the center holding picnic tables and fire ring.
There is about a mile long trail that runs along the perimeter of the
campground as well. I call it a trail but it really is just a 6ft
mowed swath through the grass. Very nice for an evening stroll bird
watching.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XEQ0Qc5IA4M/WxgT1e0g2mI/AAAAAAAAWLk/ofpPckHD6foO-QRhLrgJEfjXV9eHppIDACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180603_104906563%255B4%255D"><img width="311" height="177" title="IMG_20180603_104906563" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180603_104906563" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R2Pm58BZfVQ/WxgT2NvQyDI/AAAAAAAAWLo/hAQbz2CvHq0E_IodYOQbQl9pYN3HcKMjQCHMYCw/IMG_20180603_104906563_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Twice the size of the
campground, the day use area is split by a huge paved parking lot
bracketed on one side by an open grass area about the size of a
soccer field (it really could be a soccer field if it wasn't for all
of the ankle twisting, leg breaking gopher holes) and another large
area holding horseshoe courts. Tucked away may be the wrong phrase to
describe the remaining area since it is comprised of a full baseball
field sized, shaded picnic area scattered about with tables. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Combine the two areas
and you have what could be a little bit of heaven for a myriad of
people. For the artists there are the numerous lilacs, trees,
flowers, and critters in settings made for the canvas or paper. For
birders, sit back and simply listen the the cacophony from the song
birds or the screech of the eagles and hawks or look out on the
majestic pelicans in the lake. For the botanist the area also offers
an excellent example of where high desert meets wetlands with its
vast diversity. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Okay, enough of that,
I'm starting to sound like some sort of chamber of commerce
travelogue!</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GTFlboXj7-g/WxgT3KpRJMI/AAAAAAAAWLs/yk5op_35CtoeTkcsTp2N8c553SRaehMBgCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180602_102652168%255B7%255D"><img width="622" height="321" title="IMG_20180602_102652168" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180602_102652168" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wf2xr7F79aI/WxgT38AFO5I/AAAAAAAAWLw/fc1WwIPkIzoMuQ-2vA9ldejw7i2JS3tsgCHMYCw/IMG_20180602_102652168_thumb%255B4%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Our camp hosting duties
are very much similar to the other camps we've been at with one major
exception - I get to run a John Deere diesel lawnmower. Just think of
the ape sounds Tim Allen made in his show “Tool Time” and you'll
get an idea.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">That's all for this
week, I'm off to cut some more grass (yea, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!) Chris is cleaning the two
fire rings left from departing campers. </font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-73676961613286509332018-05-06T17:58:00.000-07:002018-05-06T18:00:31.944-07:00I’ve Sprung My Spring!<p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-irZJ7sbDu9I/Wu-koSwptrI/AAAAAAAAVHs/xQLmLtTkUWkcC4pKRxRI2GLEMixmfNYGACHMYCw/s1600-h/Lizard%255B3%255D"><img width="244" height="214" title="Lizard" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Lizard" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dcNJXI8rPxo/Wu-kpPXybWI/AAAAAAAAVHw/oI_f4TUVjoQtv1B9zGexrX-ThW5K0XkSQCHMYCw/Lizard_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Ah spring. Birds
calling, flowers beginning to bloom and the cherry trees blossoming
with color. Marmots coming out to fatten up on new growth grass and
other greens. Kids chasing after each other, dogs chasing after kids,
squirrels, and marmots. And amongst it all? Well for the experienced
camp hosts, the unmistakable occasional and somewhat muted
exclamations of campers working out the bugs.</font></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"> </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lnv0eSBP-nM/Wu-kp37BGdI/AAAAAAAAVH0/PpGsiayhqdoCFbjOqdvH1he7T2yH5Zf-gCHMYCw/s1600-h/Berk_side%255B3%255D"><img width="244" height="123" title="Berk_side" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Berk_side" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZRq5_FrzFO4/Wu-kqt-wSqI/AAAAAAAAVH4/HCLZGZJG7LskWZR8GkHW-jkK6IRgMWQhwCHMYCw/Berk_side_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>In the words of the
famous Willie Wonka “So much time and so little to do.” <br>“Wait.”
<br>“Stop”. <br>“Reverse that.”</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Probably the most
contradictory thing about full-time RV'ing and in our case,
camphosting, is just how much there is to do and just how little time
there seems to be in each day. I'm pretty sure it is all some sort of
quantum physics thing and I have proven it countless times just this
year alone. You see, when you take a seat on a warm spring day time
slows to a crawl and everything takes on a wonderfully leisurely
pace. It is times like these where you can organize and prioritize
the your tasks for the day, plan future projects, and basically get
your life in order.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Yea, right.</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RuJ6kwnB2YI/Wu-krZDQ3eI/AAAAAAAAVH8/3pe03J-zU7A8NdEPEVf6tMqzdDQq-9j6wCHMYCw/s1600-h/River%255B4%255D"><img width="632" height="281" title="River" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="River" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O2LFIStqZmk/Wu-ksJ9ZpoI/AAAAAAAAVIA/VdfdQ5xIXdkuEOgUFEWqIn73HAvWJxaowCHMYCw/River_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">The very moment you
accidently close your eyes for anything longer than a blink it all
comes crashing home; time is relative. Upon reopening your eyes you
discover hours have gone by and you are suddenly pressed just to get
up in time to get dinner. Any thoughts of tackling a to do list or
making plans will all have to wait for another day. Curse you
Einstein!</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5B8aHiTpoDY/Wu-ks_i_VbI/AAAAAAAAVIE/_t4w97Rzvok8vyx_vpVfl_aIpbC98onnACHMYCw/s1600-h/sink1%255B2%255D"><img width="244" height="142" title="sink1" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="sink1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qEFOKalg_tA/Wu-ktn1_ubI/AAAAAAAAVII/bR9hqLkW_bkdVSPUQM8Tt_1dxZcD1d9TQCHMYCw/sink1_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Despite this hazardous
condition, we have remained at Lincoln Rock State Park and I really
have managed to work around the naps to replace a bathroom vanity and
sink. Frankly, when you look at that project and recall just how
absolutely hopeless I am mechanically, it remains something to brag
about even if I say so myself. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G1aVi05aARw/Wu-kuZPaOSI/AAAAAAAAVIM/aShJ7NVYkskDd7-WL8eCHTiipqCxcIpAgCHMYCw/s1600-h/sink3%255B2%255D"><img width="244" height="139" title="sink3" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="sink3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b-MUXh32-ZM/Wu-kvLBqKyI/AAAAAAAAVIQ/LWUnBNrBSAM66DmDYZQ5PgGt8sJD5t4OwCHMYCw/sink3_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Last year, shortly
after our departure from Sunset Bay while we were heading south, we
noticed the plastic laminate around our sink was beginning to wrinkle
and come away from the particle board comprising the vanity top.
Unfortunately, where the separation was occurring was not the only
place some water was getting under the plastic and it wasn't until
our first extended stop in <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ids7ecxxaaw/Wu-kvwrA1sI/AAAAAAAAVIU/87BmCr2coFU1PB36TONvDt7C3MD63txTgCHMYCw/s1600-h/sink4%255B2%255D"><img width="244" height="139" title="sink4" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="sink4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ioYJiRBMexs/Wu-kwpYcsoI/AAAAAAAAVIY/DY2cC7SehS8j2wF_pMryx1MzFlJlsk4NACHMYCw/sink4_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Pahrump that we discovered the faucet had
not been sealed either and had allowed water to seep under the
mounting.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p><br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Enter Mr. Murphy. Just
as I was able to take a solid look at the sink and formulate a plan
for fixing it, both Chris and I came down with the flu. Our entire
stay in Pahrump with the exception of just one day was spent
sequestered from everyone and everything. That one day? Restocking
groceries and probably the most serendipitous visit to Home Depot.
You see, Home Depot does custom sized vanities and sinks in solid
surface – something we had promised ourselves after seeing the
utter disaster of the laminate topped stuff. The salesperson was a
godsend! She knew the subject matter, had some experience with the
order process and was very understanding of my complete lack of
knowledge. Even though she knew we would be unable to purchase from
her store because of our impending departure, she still took the time
to answer all of our questions – even my dumb ones!</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">It was another three
months before we returned to the Wenatchee area and had reliable
access to a Home Depot for our order, then another month to receive
our new vanity top and sink. With that sort of extra time, even a
klutz such as myself can actually plan and execute a successful
installation as the photo shows.</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6y52XvUHH40/Wu-kxEF8hhI/AAAAAAAAVIc/tTI2R2DdX_cqC4-WBa8jeC2M8WZpbPEOQCHMYCw/s1600-h/sink5%255B3%255D"><img width="539" height="314" title="sink5" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="sink5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T5PoEpVTChk/Wu-kx9c-tgI/AAAAAAAAVIg/YZzCpHAAxR84yiwK5IMfWEg__eg2QnXWACHMYCw/sink5_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I wish I could relate
that our experience ordering the custom sink from Home Depot in
Wenatchee was as pleasurable as our shopping experience in Pahrump
but it wasn't. Plain and simple. Somehow, perhaps because of the
salesperson in Wenatchee was not familiar with the order process, our
order wasn't filled for two weeks. Then, due to a recent delivery
contract change, it took an additional two weeks to arrive. Kudos to
Home Deport though for recognizing and acknowledging the problems on
the order and giving us a $50 discount for inconvenience. Yep, will
be shopping there again but probably not in the Wenatchee store.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">In three short weeks
we'll be pakcing up and heading off to Goose Lake State Park near New
Pine Creek, Oregon. Until then, I'll leave you with the camper funny
of the month. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">It begins with our
normal rounds through the park when, in passing one of the pull thru
sites something caught my eye just every so slightly out of place. A
5<sup>th</sup> wheel toy hauler trailer – the kind with a master
bedroom up front and probably bunk rooms in the rear. What was
interesting was the sewer hose running neatly between the two gray
tank dumps. Thats all, just the hose connected to the front pipe,
running along the ground to the back pipe. Note, no Y-gate valve and
no connection to the dump. Yep, both dump valves were sticking out,
indicating they were pulled open. Wish I had taken a picture. Wonder
with the difference in heights, will the rear tank overflow from the
added fluid from the front tank?</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I missed the final
outcome. They were already gone before our rounds leaving only a wet
spot on the pavement. Granted, it was a HUGE wet spot.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Take care and safe
travels. Type at you soon.</font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-32465938650828275672018-03-26T13:45:00.000-07:002018-03-26T13:47:54.694-07:00Chasing the 70’s<p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8cJG9Vz_XKk/WrlaOaXlvSI/AAAAAAAAUrs/1GRJxn-ho1MuedYbrg-KXV0ekf0cKMUygCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180106_131500465_HDR%255B4%255D"><img width="187" height="330" title="IMG_20180106_131500465_HDR" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180106_131500465_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gIQw6b2LplI/WrlaPNfkjZI/AAAAAAAAUrw/xy3-BD15awALAfIoS_OeW3y9UbMtYIvuACHMYCw/IMG_20180106_131500465_HDR_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>We last left you in
Yuma nearly three months ago! Here we are, winter over and we're on
our way back north. That isn't to say we didn't run into some winter
though!</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">One of our goals this
season was to check out a park we have never been to yet have signed
up for hosting. Goose Lake state park is located in the south east of
Oregon along the border with California (the road into the park from
the highway is the borderline). I mention this because in order to
pay a visit to the park we needed to divert from our normal
northbound route a bit which in turn, took us right into the teeth of
a winter storm. Taking 395 out of Fernley Nevada we made the run into
the leading edges of the forecasted cold front towards the small town
of Alturas, California. Rain, slush and some not so friendly side
winds beat us up pretty bad so instead of going to Goose Lake and
then onward to Klamath Falls Oregon, we stopped at Sully's RV Park in
Alturas for a much needed break. I'm really glad we did as that night
the front went through with a vengeance – more rain, sleet, and
wind gusts over 45mph slammed into our rig causing a sleepless catnap
sort of rest that really isn't a rest.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bRsP7QhD9yA/WrlaP9C0aPI/AAAAAAAAUr0/ssf9jwSjx6QnOvPHfDtXMTR1kYzbULqOQCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180322_104642506%255B8%255D"><img width="192" height="339" title="IMG_20180322_104642506" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180322_104642506" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sbO33BJmY04/WrlaQp1sNmI/AAAAAAAAUr4/z4vB1j5LLs01ui-iPNm1Ycev-q-OyGddwCHMYCw/IMG_20180322_104642506_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Come morning we had,
according to the map, an easy 4 hour drive up to our destination,
Sutherlin Oregon and the Escapee park for a weekend of downtime with
visits to our favorite local restaurant, Fusion. Blatant plug: if you
are EVER within even 25 miles of this place you simply have to check
them out. This very small cafe located on the main street of
Sutherlin is a definite keeper. What's the phrase? Oh yes, nirvana!</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Okay, back to the trip.
Uneventful all the way to Klamath Falls. Changing over to highway 140
we had bare and wet roads and to my shame, I grew complacent and
mentioned how nice the roads were. Oops. Within a span of just 5
miles we went from high overcast skies, and as I mentioned a really
nice road to a snow covered mess, lowering clouds, and the promise of
a lot more snow to come. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, no place to
safely pull over. Wouldn't have mattered anyway, we weren't carrying
chains.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">We learned a few things
on this trip. Number 1: NEVER, nope, not EVER travel into a snow
storm again. Not even if we have chains (we won't, too much
temptation to use them). There is always plenty of time to take our
time. Number 2: There is really no good reason to press on in high
side winds – period. Why take a beating if you don't have to.
Lastly: we have a motorhome. That means we can pull over, heat up
some water, make lunch, watch a movie, take a shower, do laundry –
virtually ANYTHING other than risk our safety or make a trip less
enjoyable. (This last one will require numerous applications of a 2X4
to the side of my head to ensure I learn it.)</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ta5VBjHGEp4/WrlaRXGoOoI/AAAAAAAAUr8/VF2Lu7maDGcfn2o3WH9UyJyC-Qvud1iLwCHMYCw/s1600-h/chiricaua%2Bntl%2Bmonument_pano%255B7%255D"><img width="645" height="138" title="chiricaua ntl monument_pano" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="chiricaua ntl monument_pano" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qYlUSFNqZes/WrlaSDFh1EI/AAAAAAAAUsA/3JIiNh4bCf0omQiS77g0BX7V2RRisxNrwCHMYCw/chiricaua%2Bntl%2Bmonument_pano_thumb%255B4%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZF2HW1f2jFI/WrlaS29XIwI/AAAAAAAAUsE/hSLLar6YWkA6ZF16VQbUCgnxJ6oRHB-ngCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180106_112154072%255B3%255D"><img width="139" height="244" title="IMG_20180106_112154072" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180106_112154072" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--HpILeRNamQ/WrlaTyn4IvI/AAAAAAAAUsI/nuDbzEcDzwculs5ljMku8EBGmRhXGBJSgCHMYCw/IMG_20180106_112154072_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Our nearly four months
this winter season consisted of visiting museums, arts and crafts
shows, small quirky towns, and trying to enjoy what was a cooler than
previous winter's weather. I believe, unlike last year, we experienced
at least 4 nights where it froze or frosted up pretty good. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TyVX8vlICZ4/WrlaUjB5s6I/AAAAAAAAUsM/MRMYpnMxZiUwlIAQTLU8M5J7TU1WJ19SwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180102_143140482_HDR%255B3%255D"><img width="139" height="244" title="IMG_20180102_143140482_HDR" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180102_143140482_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vOmlSxCE_lw/WrlaVefaN1I/AAAAAAAAUsQ/b_pKAKfVVJswu94PcwRHETFin0W-Nxh1QCHMYCw/IMG_20180102_143140482_HDR_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Didn't
matter too much as each day was topping out at 70 degrees or more
with tons of sunshine to sit and enjoy. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">The title of this blog
is chasing the 70's. We really didn't have to do much chasing, just
kicked back testing lawn chairs and let the 70's catch up to us.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><br></font></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><br></font></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CG7SLuHyiaE/WrlaXb0zYaI/AAAAAAAAUsU/v3tHKO2U5gghsmRrqk008xa68Vx_v04jwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180107_120621101%255B4%255D"><img width="599" height="339" title="IMG_20180107_120621101" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180107_120621101" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-72Gy3lT6NTc/WrlbyvHps2I/AAAAAAAAUs8/nqOgnavf0DoDVR5HeU6lwA3ShBHu3jj7QCHMYCw/IMG_20180107_120621101_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>We're currently two
days out from our first hosting gig of 2018 – Lincoln Rock State
Park. The rest of 2018 has also firmed up so here's the CnD Travels
hosting schedule for the summer season:</font></font></p><blockquote><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><br>April/May: Lincoln Rock
State Park, East Wenatchee, WA<br> June: Goose Lake State Park, New
Pine Creek, OR<br> July: Collier Memorial State Park, Chiloquin,
OR<br> August: travel and goof off month. You could run into us in
UT, SD, MT, ID, WA, and OR. Perhaps even CO.<br> September: Wallowa
Lake State Park, Joseph, OR<br> Oct/Nov: Sunset Bay State Park,
Coos Bay, OR</font></font></p></blockquote><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d24KXqZ5rsw/Wrlb0CE8Y8I/AAAAAAAAUtA/BJWf8c3lMSEKk7qu8b9EVINJLtFlBPy6gCHMYCw/s1600-h/iron_donkey%255B3%255D"><img width="168" height="244" title="iron_donkey" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="iron_donkey" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d-hmPHIv6Ik/Wrlb1Sv0M5I/AAAAAAAAUtE/MyFXkxK_kRMhm3_MiHDN9lKjnrfJjBkRgCHMYCw/iron_donkey_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jOzDKN9XkHc/Wrlb2tQiAWI/AAAAAAAAUtI/aDgQeTuRO2Iq84yhtRraV-ST_KYw6LyYwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20180107_155010862_HDR%255B3%255D"><img width="139" height="244" title="IMG_20180107_155010862_HDR" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180107_155010862_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fVaKpJTA1Vc/Wrlb3r5h93I/AAAAAAAAUtM/RsHzM_7TkpwGCl-_bd7WuODrBlrkh1zZgCHMYCw/IMG_20180107_155010862_HDR_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Until next time – and
I can assure you the time gap between blogs will be MUCH shorter. Shoot, new campers seem to guarantee it.</font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-82350598159484034902017-12-22T09:16:00.000-08:002017-12-22T09:41:46.455-08:00Mosquito!<p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m9PvukWO9Sk/Wj09wvbl2rI/AAAAAAAAT0g/ul782vIuXfsi9QpXjAf0OH-kk_btpjmaQCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171129_143701595_TOP%255B4%255D"><img width="640" height="216" title="IMG_20171129_143701595_TOP" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171129_143701595_TOP" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fQytXdF37kY/Wj09xRmxVpI/AAAAAAAAT0k/bdJbbyvh0esy167Xfl9cBcvRCW7rO3KJQCHMYCw/IMG_20171129_143701595_TOP_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>After reading the last
blog my sister, who with her husband just started this adventure
called full timing, recommended another way to deal with campers.;
one she had read about in one of those RV travel magazines.</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eaLDqcC9zQM/Wj09xwwqlKI/AAAAAAAAT0o/6mK5y4uqfDEWPLhSAU_rWrWMd0NUrYsXACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171129_163630589_HDR%255B4%255D"><img width="408" height="231" title="IMG_20171129_163630589_HDR" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171129_163630589_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b7pNr2B4DSY/Wj09yf6bMvI/AAAAAAAAT0s/NAf1kXb59csgNzD6XLpau3CEpAvSWX49QCHMYCw/IMG_20171129_163630589_HDR_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"><br></a></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
“<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Whenever dealing
with someone who is simply not getting it” she said “you can
impart a little bit of wisdom AND get away with a bit of minor
assault by using a vigorous slap quickly followed by the announcement
of “Mosquito!” in a somewhat loud voice.” </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I've thought about this
during our three week trip southward; reflecting on how useful this
technique could be not just in camp hosting but pretty much in all
aspects of life. There are so many nuances you can utilize; in fact
you are pretty much only limited by your own imagination. </font></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O3h9eypTb_8/Wj09zXflGkI/AAAAAAAAT0w/MD-OCp340I4IpxcsYnJO0lGI0zsNVdyAQCHMYCw/s1600-h/hands%255B8%255D"><img width="368" height="209" title="hands" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="hands" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HUb9DoELZnw/Wj09zxRa1uI/AAAAAAAAT00/rCzR7Ahm2pMQH6Uf53EIYrT_DkYuJ0uJgCHMYCw/hands_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Here are a
few examples.</font></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><strong>The polite planned
slap:</strong> This is where you are facing the camper listening to what to
them is I'm sure a very serious situation but all you hear is “Blah
Blah Blah”. Calmly announce “Hold still” then quickly but
gently slap the person. You MUST follow this by the obligatory
“Mosquito!” else you risk physical confrontation.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PeSdz6O5tOY/Wj090m49sDI/AAAAAAAAT04/zDeR0ZiOSXwNBz3-6m9MwKhd51CUqy3vACHMYCw/s1600-h/RedRockDonkey1%255B4%255D"><img width="328" height="171" title="RedRockDonkey1" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="RedRockDonkey1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4U_Dhn917E/Wj091LOsL_I/AAAAAAAAT08/K3D9ebtkx2wdlR5HbNatJCJOPUFQMAyIACHMYCw/RedRockDonkey1_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a><strong>The surprise slap:</strong> Used
in a number of ways and circumstances usually involving the
observation of a potentially really stupid activity. A good example
is the subject reaching for the black tank valve and not having a
drain hose connected. This one is time sensitive so quickly apply the
slap and shout in a somewhat louder voice “Mosquito!”.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><strong><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jDfmP02HMzY/Wj092TuRS5I/AAAAAAAAT1A/oiqvkqkBY74aUc9j048TIbKLGc0kxO4KACHMYCw/s1600-h/RedRockPeacock2%255B8%255D"><img width="267" height="317" title="RedRockPeacock2" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="RedRockPeacock2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GY_Ls9JfGO8/Wj093gMms8I/AAAAAAAAT1E/JgUevSJXP94A6Sa3QoTpBFtFipyVylebgCHMYCw/RedRockPeacock2_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>The gracious slap:</strong>
Usually used when you are a third party in a conversation and notice
the intelligence literally draining out of the involved parties. As
the case warrants you can combine the polite planned slap with the
surprise slap by announcing “Excuse me” at the exact moment you
apply the slap. Then of course, follow the action with the obligatory
“Mosquito!”.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IZ15fWNPdL8/Wj094u2DeHI/AAAAAAAAT1I/5utBh2LI9HgmLNQoxS0ZHcK7j_GCsNzzACHMYCw/s1600-h/RedRockTurtle%255B4%255D"><img width="335" height="190" title="RedRockTurtle" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="RedRockTurtle" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JzneEEgn08o/Wj095NBB_aI/AAAAAAAAT1M/7MLP1OKx-xwD4y6yaF9rE5MyQsCEmLxwgCHMYCw/RedRockTurtle_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>As I mentioned, it took
us three weeks to get down to the sun belt. Two weeks were used
parked in Pahrump Nevada while suffering through then recovering from
some nasty colds. Between the long desert drives and the two weeks
sequestered, I have given this method some deep thought. I vaguely
recalled my mother using something very similar though rarely
codified in such a distinct manner. If memory serves (I was usually a
little dizzy at the time), she said “I'm applying some common
sense.”</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">My father did the same
thing but it usually involved a boot to the rear. He explained the
different location as simply going to where my head must be residing.</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4gkWvq4YVjk/Wj096muu-cI/AAAAAAAAT1Q/WqzRfQs7RjAOPZ7E1u3vVFV6sbpZP5ALwCHMYCw/s1600-h/RedRock3%255B4%255D"><img width="623" height="352" title="RedRock3" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="RedRock3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jXb63vgZ7sw/Wj097zKD_cI/AAAAAAAAT1U/jataFxnQLWQLnGU39cluzS2sb3WQsx9PwCHMYCw/RedRock3_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I can't shake the
glimpses in my mind's eye of what the world would be like if we all
practiced the mosquito defense. Of course now days we would have to
come up with a way to do it online. Hmmm, imagine a computers or
phones capable of reaching out and applying a slap – social media
would blow up!</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jje5ELauiC4/Wj098Tx-sJI/AAAAAAAAT1Y/G5yoMMCMF-sbAKA7o2AQHfEgagIK1I4KACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171209_122745117%255B4%255D"><img width="213" height="375" title="IMG_20171209_122745117" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171209_122745117" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y9Q_2VK80RQ/Wj099BrfpZI/AAAAAAAAT1c/_1UkgE4RO-kXLolXml0bvWj2qgR7CjC5wCHMYCw/IMG_20171209_122745117_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Enough for now - today
its hello from Yuma Arizona. </font></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Our intention is to meander the
southwest and perhaps wander as far east as Rockport Texas this
winter season. </font></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Chris is teaching herself how to knit and I'm
puttering around fixing things, breaking things or simply just
rearranging things. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Who knows, I might just
break down and change the Jeep's oil myself. </font></font></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Mosquito!</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en-US" style="padding: 0in; border: currentcolor; border-image: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-34826475179939075942017-11-19T12:17:00.000-08:002017-11-19T12:23:13.418-08:00The Downsides of Camp Hosting<p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SkqXg604zGQ/WhHmjNftYlI/AAAAAAAATXc/YvjhHb8ZZBgnwQry_NjyIpjHaqGBJn1MACHMYCw/s1600-h/biz_card1%2B%25282%2529%255B4%255D"><img width="231" height="261" title="biz_card1 (2)" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="biz_card1 (2)" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Qg0r16aNtA/WhHmlUQKbmI/AAAAAAAATXg/oRPlzC0j26g0q-0x1hF2DKupwy8XcjUUACHMYCw/biz_card1%2B%25282%2529_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"><br></a></font></font></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">First
off, our slide has been healed! Sacrifices to three of the RV'ing
gods were completed in good order: The god of travel – to ensure
the slide would go out only when we wanted and return on demand. The
god of glamping to release our access to the washer, dryer, and our
sock drawers, and lastly the god of underwear (not really sure why or
even if there is such a thing but I'm confident it has something to
do with socks and not going commando.)</font></font></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">For
two weeks we have suffered with cramped living and the necessity of
using the campground laundry in a most public manner (hmmm, perhaps
this is where that underwear god comes into play) thus tarnishing our
aura of camp hostlyhood (is that a word?). Can't have that, we could
destroy the false impression some campers have of our absolute
perfection. Isn't there a saying about a fool born every minute? This
leads me to the theme of this blog's entry.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Keeping
up the mystique surrounding being a camp host is just one facet of
the job. Probably the hardest is the one of restraint – in taking
that extra moment to bite one's own lip to prevent saying something
untoward, or sitting on one's hands to stave off the temptation of
slapping an errant camper up side the head or turning one's head so
avoid seeing the resultant disaster occur when a warning is not
heeded.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FqrCCyqWuRA/WhHmqbZkidI/AAAAAAAATXk/mZBBZJaHrJ00eX933AwjM9Q-e9ftlPr_ACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171119_081559%255B3%255D"><img width="196" height="244" title="IMG_20171119_081559" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171119_081559" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HkcN_Xa5WPs/WhHmsBbzpRI/AAAAAAAATXo/0iTmNcxL-HwURMzUo7FOoyLoMI95l7SNACHMYCw/IMG_20171119_081559_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Walking
hand-in-hand with restraint is perseverance. The ability to recite
with utmost precision the very same words carved into the sign you
are standing next to when asked about that same sign. (example:
“Exact change required”) - [see sitting on one's hands].</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">A
camp host must be resolute; steadfast in his or her duties when faced
with a camper who starts the conversation with “Can't we just...”
or “I was wondering if ...” These are the moments when a
combination of biting lip and hand sitting are highly recommended.
This past week's example: Camper approaches and says “Can't we just
unhook the sewer hose without closing the valve so it can continue to
drain?”. This while knowing said camper has yet to open the other
valve.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Another
example is when the same camper continues with “I was wondering if
I can use some gasoline to get this fire started?”. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">This
is probably an excellent time to mention camp hosts should have an
encyclopedic memory and instant recall of all the local emergency
numbers for any campground they are hosting at. Further, when faced
with areas of no phone service, what alternative means of
communication are available – not withstanding the smoke signals
and screams our campers inevitably produce.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oDtFbLNL32Y/WhHmvT8Ze6I/AAAAAAAATXs/wzEQUGGxIkIi7Ti3s1SI9UQXSNzCn5HBwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171119_081424340_HDR%255B3%255D"><img width="139" height="244" title="IMG_20171119_081424340_HDR" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171119_081424340_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V-FT5iTv08Y/WhHmw61hT0I/AAAAAAAATXw/gv7R7fVn6p05DNFkK5bWXT_La_489TQuwCHMYCw/IMG_20171119_081424340_HDR_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Camp
hosts are available. At all hours. In all kinds of weather.
Regardless of the large, well lit sign saying “Off Duty”. This
morning provided a fine example with a knocking on the door at 6am
waking me from a very warm and cozy sleep – one which I had planned
to continue until at least 8. The knocks continued while I dressed
for the day, even though I shouted quite loudly that I was coming
(yes, there were some under the breath and through a bit lip
explicatives following that advisement.) Approaching the door I
notice a bit of frost on our jeep roof and see the thermometer
reporting a brisk 35 degrees. While walking over to our duty sign and
making a production out of changing it from “Off Duty” to “On
Duty I greet the camper with a smile on my face (amazing how
expressive you can be while biting your lip) and say “How may I
help you at this EARLY hour?”</font></font></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana" size="3"><br></font></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana" size="3">“It
got cold last night, do you think my hoses are frozen?” followed
without taking a breath with “I was wondering if I should defrost
them and how do I go about it?”</font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Normally
I would have asked if the camper had actually checked his hose. Normally I
would have advised the hoses were probably okay since it was just an early
morning frost that would soon to disappear with the sun. Normally I would have
done that. IF it was a bit later in the day. IF I hadn't been
woken up so bloody early. IF I had had even one small sip of coffee.
Instead I practiced one of the up-sides of camp hosting – that of
giving out information that sounds thoroughly plausible but is
absolutely useless to the recipient.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I
replied “While this was an early morning frost, there is the
distinct albeit remote possibility some portion of your hose may have
experienced freezing temperatures. Thawing the hose at this point can
be tricky as a too cold hose can easily crack if stressed. I highly
recommend the chaffing method to defrost your hose as long as you do
it gently. Get a soft terry cloth or those new micro-fiber
ones and slowly begin wiping and rubbing the hose to make it pliable.
You'll need to do the entire length, gently testing as you go to
ensure you are not stressing the hose and risking rupture. Do that
for about an hour or so and you'll be good to go.”</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Yep,
I'm bad. But lets look at it this way. The hose may well indeed have
experienced freezing temperatures (true statement). For maybe a
minute or two. If a hose is at absolute zero it can indeed crack if
stressed (I've seen those liquid nitrogen videos on YouTube.) Rubbing
the hose may indeed provide enough friction to warm them slightly.
(Okay, this one was a stretch but it does keep the camper occupied while I
returned my warm rig and made a fresh pot.)</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rHoxcsm7S8k/WhHmyV0lrFI/AAAAAAAATX0/RFe3JXuCr0If_uL_5Uxm7gWr0laX77byQCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171006_095739854_HDR%255B3%255D"><img width="639" height="271" title="IMG_20171006_095739854_HDR" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171006_095739854_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ms6o-EO4OiQ/WhHm1SU8WaI/AAAAAAAATX4/ifLyuVj6g5EmtLi7EqTZQXz33yQPbcpgwCHMYCw/IMG_20171006_095739854_HDR_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Probably
the biggest downside of being a camp host is eventually you have to
move on. I wasn't kidding about the frost on the jeep – its time to
head further south and a warmer climate.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">As
I look out the window I can just see the camper through the bushes.
Weird how he's only about 10 feet from the water spigot yet he has a
50 foot hose he's wiping down.</font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-50243595515732253702017-10-31T09:21:00.000-07:002017-10-31T10:09:52.620-07:00A Blog is a Diary–Right?<p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Dear
Diary,</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YsJPK15pNlk/WfiiboPQPWI/AAAAAAAATJ0/EShuehABYzwMaPFMjAUBv8zvMVVlyq6iQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20150615_121457%255B4%255D"><img width="335" height="190" title="20150615_121457" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20150615_121457" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Y0-8kUu4GY/WfiifR0Xu7I/AAAAAAAATJ4/rJeLtQJ48j0k4OTX5eN2X77VjSNN_k28QCHMYCw/20150615_121457_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>I
know its been nearly a month since my last entry but I have excuses!
Between crabbing, clamming, viewing and just plain laziness, the time
has simply slipped away. Far faster than it should I'm sure.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iRiX4Pj51xI/WfiiiZ77qaI/AAAAAAAATJ8/TEMb25URjLov3bpLq9Si1iyvdz1t_T1WACHMYCw/s1600-h/lighthouse%255B4%255D"><img width="308" height="202" title="lighthouse" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="lighthouse" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2fUDzN7rICU/WfiilfgogcI/AAAAAAAATKA/wwuAAXR08tQUyL9O7_CVaE9CJbJc4daBwCHMYCw/lighthouse_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>You'll
be happy to hear that during this lapse no serious injuries to
ourselves nor breakages to our home have occurred. I won't count the
two times I slipped and fell into the creek or the time I had my back
to the surf and got slapped by a wave. Getting soaked isn't an injury
and the part of my body that hit the ground first has oh so plenty of
cushioning.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">We
are hosting and awaiting parts for one slide's gearbox which began
shedding teeth faster than a meth addict. The slide remains in so our
bedroom is just a little more cozy for the time being.</font></font></p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0yUqJW2CMuY/Wfiirq8e2mI/AAAAAAAATKE/Ac5J7bmsZcgnDdXhuBxVNveOXXjRmPbtQCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171029_155039380%255B4%255D"><img width="367" height="208" title="IMG_20171029_155039380" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171029_155039380" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NEZG9EU31V8/WfiiumoDQDI/AAAAAAAATKI/er_zLwyHnvIdjiREfFUS28uHZhMhJSTMQCHMYCw/IMG_20171029_155039380_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Today,
October 31<sup>st</sup> we have two seminal events occurring that
have me reminiscing of past times. The first is a far too fast
approaching 60<sup>th</sup> birthday. The second is Chris and I have
reached the magical threshold of being the senior park hosts present
and will be assisting in the training of a brand new host who arrived
last night. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6hJSgqnBjeg/Wfiixjys7RI/AAAAAAAATKM/OglBWGcLaxUmhhTDDLBbYRL1CwuYQLsYQCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171030_111056755_HDR%255B3%255D"><img width="139" height="244" title="IMG_20171030_111056755_HDR" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171030_111056755_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-883Da5jaO7Q/Wfii0z5hYDI/AAAAAAAATKQ/8B03Q3X2ga08aIVXwDvnvp4twOo9spzRQCHMYCw/IMG_20171030_111056755_HDR_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>As
I do look back it has been one glorious ride! Sure there were a few
potholes in the road but overall there is not much I wouldn't do
again - not just because I'm a slow learner! </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I
treasure 20 years spent in the Coast Guard working in a variety of
assignments, all with some of the finest men and women you could ever
meet. A few of us remain connected and each contact with them is a
reminder of just how fortunate I am to have met and now know them. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_N5b7F1MeAs/Wfii4fW84cI/AAAAAAAATKU/wom2O0hOKGUS2sstcdrRzMPeKIMmSNWnwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20171030_113021948%255B4%255D"><img width="341" height="194" title="IMG_20171030_113021948" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20171030_113021948" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9pJWOGN0JHs/Wfii7ojCexI/AAAAAAAATKc/Wj2xYsSe3ukQohdopxFDkyJZYL4attloACHMYCw/IMG_20171030_113021948_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>I
also fondly recall nearly 20 years as a 911 dispatcher. Another group
dedicated to helping people who are experiencing their worst moments.
Despite the seriousness of the job there were fun times and I do
cherish them. Most of all, I do miss the people I had the privilege to
work with. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">By
any measure we are still rookies at this full-time RV'ing thing
and I must say it is shaping up to be another 20 years of wonder and
joy.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">And
perhaps the occasional sticky slide.</font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-30980402673208211982017-10-06T10:39:00.001-07:002017-10-06T10:39:19.849-07:00Stuck In a Rut?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And what a happy rut it is.</span><br />
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiIZdsVBmhat7yBd13c4tnEBQwSjbAD99XDMjIN0PhJni2g3Ab-QcLW2AXuvnOcV7GMOXgNDOOcZ_V6_YkffIlyqs-5x4i70EihabV2NE8abq7sYCRdBApj-86gQ5qT36IONklW6-DQQ/s1600/IMG_20171002_100829243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiIZdsVBmhat7yBd13c4tnEBQwSjbAD99XDMjIN0PhJni2g3Ab-QcLW2AXuvnOcV7GMOXgNDOOcZ_V6_YkffIlyqs-5x4i70EihabV2NE8abq7sYCRdBApj-86gQ5qT36IONklW6-DQQ/s640/IMG_20171002_100829243.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We're back at Sunset Bay for the fourth time and the place continues to amaze and entertain us (mostly the campers do the entertaining). This fall the weather has really cooperated with sunny days, cool nights and an occasional drizzle to keep us honest. </span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the questions we're always asked is why we return year after year instead of exploring the country. Aside from economics we have been very fortunate to have been able to work with outstanding people in gorgeous surroundings. I hope our past, present, and future photographs convey just how wonderful the places we've visited have been. Unfortunately, mere photos can not capture the smells, sounds and the caressing breezes.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like our visit to Charleston Bay where a fellow camphost is putting out the pots for the day. Can you hear the seagulls? How bout the buoy in the distance or the sea lions barking from the floating dock. Today was a warm one but the breeze from the ocean made it oh so pleasant while bringing with it a salty freshness to the air.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTflpNPwjcrdOtW6ZEXl2YAL8ugR7H_ZbKCVPxYe5u8WVHOPIN3gEcO9Tkg3Tw5Qk9hzpxZ-q4i_7KVkDraaZlgFozJ3Ccb3Jl5qjb06zBdsiu0y1bNLM6L0DO9C7m6zptEP4Z5OEsG-8/s1600/IMG_20171002_104417414_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTflpNPwjcrdOtW6ZEXl2YAL8ugR7H_ZbKCVPxYe5u8WVHOPIN3gEcO9Tkg3Tw5Qk9hzpxZ-q4i_7KVkDraaZlgFozJ3Ccb3Jl5qjb06zBdsiu0y1bNLM6L0DO9C7m6zptEP4Z5OEsG-8/s320/IMG_20171002_104417414_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLJN3fB3StGuQzVOhIQNQYdZGOeqNTm0TpHiPFCg5CUUd7mlCjQV8M-h6bRtiCMi-PrdiyR5uqXiH0N2hyKNNsuwaeXXp-I4A70Dn6zW44nGLn65n5CftW1qf8iXZc-vTkDmQFKVZUCY/s1600/IMG_20171002_121645183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLJN3fB3StGuQzVOhIQNQYdZGOeqNTm0TpHiPFCg5CUUd7mlCjQV8M-h6bRtiCMi-PrdiyR5uqXiH0N2hyKNNsuwaeXXp-I4A70Dn6zW44nGLn65n5CftW1qf8iXZc-vTkDmQFKVZUCY/s320/IMG_20171002_121645183.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back at the campground the host K9's made sure we were doing the job right. That and making sure I had the correct number of treats for a tour of the park. (Minus 2 for the inspection toll.)</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So in a rut? Not hardly. Consider it more of building new memories in places we call “home”.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have done something a bit different this fall though. During this past summer we found the numbers of RV'ers on the road have increased by an order of magnitude making finding spots to stay somewhat problematic. To combat this (okay, my bad, its all on me) we have changed stride and instead of spontaneous routes and stops where there is always a question of whether there will be space available, have actually broken down and made – dare I say it? PLANS!</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi163RU3W_wBWVEeQM5DzKLRpizwhMqIIrGfip3ukO_ViPhKPCtfuSRLfOotCjXD9rBIj9OA_PEQUN5vqrag6_F6UiucEeQMiijqDGS7ZuY7lvoOAAW6M8L5O-XQ038KqDLxmrijMqGNc4/s1600/IMG_20171004_151357244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi163RU3W_wBWVEeQM5DzKLRpizwhMqIIrGfip3ukO_ViPhKPCtfuSRLfOotCjXD9rBIj9OA_PEQUN5vqrag6_F6UiucEeQMiijqDGS7ZuY7lvoOAAW6M8L5O-XQ038KqDLxmrijMqGNc4/s400/IMG_20171004_151357244.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris learning how to prepare fresh caught crab.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Much as I hate a teaser, I’m going to have to do it. Plans have been made but at this point I hesitate to give specifics simply because nothing is carved in stone - yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OC2irZmb0Ig/Wcmf50YadVI/AAAAAAAASog/1tYqugNfg1QZtY52nVt2tfJnnRZZBAkrwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20170925_173118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="659" height="182" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OC2irZmb0Ig/Wcmf50YadVI/AAAAAAAASog/1tYqugNfg1QZtY52nVt2tfJnnRZZBAkrwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_20170925_173118.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In general, our 2018 schedule will be filled with visits to Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah and yes, we'll be returning to Oregon. Our intention is that for every campground we have hosted at in the past will be counter balanced by ones we have not and in some cases even camped in. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ApMsgLEzHYQ/WdQvtChx7uI/AAAAAAAAS6U/Gzb7BoS_HNgf-EPipijJkdvvxbFd3JtAwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_20171003_174709564_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ApMsgLEzHYQ/WdQvtChx7uI/AAAAAAAAS6U/Gzb7BoS_HNgf-EPipijJkdvvxbFd3JtAwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/IMG_20171003_174709564_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-72179225647580329182017-09-17T09:03:00.000-07:002017-09-17T09:07:54.930-07:00The Vagaries and Varieties of America<p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1FU3xFfb_rA/Wb6cbfSyRfI/AAAAAAAASdU/j1V0ZgUN3PEsdoCHbCh7ct0LSE1sidJuQCHMYCw/s1600-h/Berky%255B4%255D"><img width="502" height="305" title="Berky" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Berky" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hlsjWZ6kwCI/Wb6ccOuHdQI/AAAAAAAASdY/Pevzve2mntgO49kP8AvOhYHM9UgHzkPYgCHMYCw/Berky_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>And
our tourism continues. For you grammarians out there, yes, I know I shouldn't
start a sentence with “and” but hey, this is a blog which is
somewhat like a blob only it has pictures and in my case on a very
rare basis, a semblance of intelligent discourse.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><br></font></font></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4V1bFnTU0XY/Wb6cc7PCdNI/AAAAAAAASdc/fQybm5qN37MpqtCU4K5ICw_41tUeiQvcgCHMYCw/s1600-h/Family%255B4%255D"><img width="273" height="162" title="Family" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Family" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZnWFfTzXbOE/Wb6cdm_UWOI/AAAAAAAASdg/QvSnm0QNVLw76y8C9yegAjCPUH6GCWgFACHMYCw/Family_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Our
last entry left us on the road to Regent North Dakota, the southern
starting point of the 32 mile long, self proclaimed Enchanted
Highway. According to Wikipedia this backroad is the home for a
collection of the worlds largest scrap metal sculptures. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xifIq1o6u20/Wb6ceDOdlpI/AAAAAAAASdk/wxGC_pfvtD0UOT9PagPXoelZi1knNqS6ACHMYCw/s1600-h/Deer%255B3%255D"><img width="223" height="244" title="Deer" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Deer" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iL98AIe-zMw/Wb6chKkg7TI/AAAAAAAASdo/Ggubd2HdvM4RSw_f5pWm98PobNFYPiGiQCHMYCw/Deer_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>No, not
because there are a lot of sculptures, but because each one is huge!
Scattered along the highway about every 4 to 6 miles these creations
are quirky Americana at its best done by a guy who had never welded
before nor was considered an artist when he began.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o4eTD-BizcE/Wb6ciGF9TSI/AAAAAAAASds/5b9Iztv-vVwwbZnP3mS2I0u-DMmIkYnzgCHMYCw/s1600-h/TeddyR%255B3%255D"><img width="244" height="197" title="TeddyR" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="TeddyR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FqoBWFo32EM/Wb6cjEy_HmI/AAAAAAAASdw/i4xM4Y--AZwR_MfHZ94FKSt-0YKEc97MwCHMYCw/TeddyR_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>There
is no theme other than the underlying one of American Gothic and 60
years ago these would have been right at home on Route 66 except for
one glaring fact – no commercialization. Other than an
advertisement printed on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of paper posted on
the information kiosk and a donations box, there is nothing but the
sculptures, information about how they came about and an
acknowledgement of the folks that helped make each site happen. </font></font>
</p><p>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1LXlzFtiCIo/Wb6cj0FT6AI/AAAAAAAASd0/lgbvbq_mIg0Mrg8L3yr34xx7SZEi3QzkgCHMYCw/s1600-h/fish%255B4%255D"><img width="653" height="210" title="fish" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="fish" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a9dLkrrKpR4/Wb6ckrHbLJI/AAAAAAAASd4/yItjYxctgcs8BV_fsns46MeVW8aJnvGGACHMYCw/fish_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Another
feature of each site was the size of the turn-out/parking lot. When
in traveling mode we are about 56 feet in total length with a turning
radius of a small country and the inability of backing up. No problem
here. Each attraction was graded pretty smooth and there was tons of
room to get in and turn around when we were ready to leave. It is so
frustrating to see an attraction, gas station or other pleasant stop
only to have to pass it by because we didn't fit.</font></font></p><p align="center">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UlUnJcPSEEQ/Wb6clVEngMI/AAAAAAAASd8/38GSAwWFTiQtL4KQlIRGi6R3nmOty29owCHMYCw/s1600-h/quail%255B4%255D"><img width="283" height="119" title="quail" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="quail" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V5c3vmIeJx8/Wb6cl0wAebI/AAAAAAAASeA/PBgpFKhiCaAw__VK8ycPdFR-QliuHSFvgCHMYCw/quail_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--sT5RyfRWgY/Wb6cmq5OgAI/AAAAAAAASeE/N50BRIMezGw3HnD1F8oE8lg1K9cuB_agACHMYCw/s1600-h/grasshopper%255B4%255D"><img width="267" height="118" title="grasshopper" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="grasshopper" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X4Au4EEIIAE/Wb6cnBotgbI/AAAAAAAASeI/xNx8Zo-1ZAQOSEn1MC3QrC8O4h9ZRwK9gCHMYCw/grasshopper_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">From
Regent we headed for the beach. Beach North Dakota that is. Instead of a nice visit to this border town, we ran smack dab into a Montana grassland wind
storm that smacked us around like an MMA fight. At one point a side gust
grabbed our slide awnings, billowing them out like a parasail. Note to self: motorhomes are
really not made for parachute braking.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">After
pulling over to check for actual damage and a change of pants we very
cautiously continued south and ran face first into Wyoming's version
of a grassland wind storm that, combined with some rough roads guaranteed we’ll be visiting the dentist for loose fillings.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">You
know how a rainbow always makes you feel refreshed after a storm?
Well, after the windstorm there wasn't a rainbow in the sky but there
was an RV park on the ground. Fort Bridger RV Park in Fort Bridger was our
“rainbow”. An all grass park/campground far enough from the
interstate you didn't hear traffic and in the country enough to hear
the cows and horses. We met a really neat couple of ladies from
Virginia who were touring the western states – just friends we've
had all along but hadn't met yet. We talked for hours and when we
retired for the night, did so to a concert crickets. (There Annette,
I said you would make it into the blog.)</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kl1a6_5TWoc/Wb6cn2vRl2I/AAAAAAAASeM/BeIruo-jm-4vN82gyfL06G1wICeThFKfACHMYCw/s1600-h/Berky2%255B3%255D"><img width="267" height="201" title="Berky2" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Berky2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LlndeRXFu5g/Wb6co02dPxI/AAAAAAAASeQ/B6-rZOMpFwoRRjVRTDi3w9axoZ9ustlmgCHMYCw/Berky2_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>I had promised Chris' sister that we would return before summer ended so they could spend some more time together than just the reunion so
we headed back Riverside RV
just south of Preston Idaho. While the park is tiny in comparison to most we visit; a spacious grass site
with a 50 amp hookup and a view to die for is well worth the $20 a night. Look up serene in the
dictionary, their picture should be there. Only downside is their spring water is at very low
pressure so you have to fill up your tank and rely on the onboard
pump for use.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sPMtjy6IJWw/Wb6cpa_TlaI/AAAAAAAASeU/sF3JfheHhR0kWhdT3rMPsQ-6zEjHkTrFwCHMYCw/s1600-h/j_summer_dress%255B3%255D"><img width="139" height="244" title="j_summer_dress" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="j_summer_dress" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-It3VW6sAfzQ/Wb6cqE8bcNI/AAAAAAAASeY/P9Z1f8eFvSEASplvJ2MYrdPZ1CqCFxinwCHMYCw/j_summer_dress_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Next
stop – Joseph, Oregon. Why? Absolutely no reason whatsoever. We
were on the road, had no destination, and pretty much had all month
to get there. We wouldn't have known about this little gem if it were
not for another camp host who mentioned it. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AtVuQ2En964/Wb6cqyZoFRI/AAAAAAAASec/Vww8V4M4jy4qIQEoLJQIrcH8d6b3B2hyACHMYCw/s1600-h/j_cougar%255B3%255D"><img width="244" height="135" title="j_cougar" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="j_cougar" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UWqXcazF4eE/Wb6crayZ-mI/AAAAAAAASeg/hcPRWHIJwwQxBXJwc-MUOzo_ZcmjwMH2ACHMYCw/j_cougar_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Located east of La Grande
Oregon on the shores of Wallowa Lake and named after Chief Joseph,
this small town of around 1,000 people was founded on timber but when
the market crashed, the only thing holding it together was
agriculture and even that wasn't doing too good a job. Then, a little
over 30 years ago, three bronze foundries opened up in the area
giving the town a real boost. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TefighdjVMI/Wb6ctb_L6TI/AAAAAAAASek/_d7yMcsvVD0Y6Wj54AXBj9IVwDpYsE41ACHMYCw/s1600-h/j_chief_squaw%255B3%255D"><img width="206" height="244" title="j_chief_squaw" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="j_chief_squaw" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Z4tutxA_-o/Wb6cuK4148I/AAAAAAAASeo/JyiWVLey454zaVk8l0QIMj1Nky2sp2McgCHMYCw/j_chief_squaw_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Along came some artists as and you can
see their work on nearly every street corner. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Yep,
tourist candy.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Uqij6MIQscE/Wb6cungyitI/AAAAAAAASes/2jVCyVaYYdAEmGD9Fr_cZ1UTIS4aKvIIACHMYCw/s1600-h/j_chief%255B2%255D"><img width="122" height="244" title="j_chief" align="right" style="float: right; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="j_chief" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zqC5D36kRvo/Wb6cvSF658I/AAAAAAAASew/W4xT84Rvq1UPEF45wG6h4Zek48VLaa0wQCHMYCw/j_chief_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Wallowa
Lake is the other attraction and with it comes a very popular state
park. Chris and I took a drive through and were really impressed.
Pretty easy to do when we had to stop every 100 feet or so for
meandering deer, bunny rabbits and squirrels. We've applied for a
hosting position for next year and we'll keep you updated.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7-kwoWcew5c/Wb6cv1Km9MI/AAAAAAAASe0/mmZLxJqH7e43b2wqMsobtHFRrqUBRN47wCHMYCw/s1600-h/j_cowboy%255B3%255D"><img width="139" height="244" title="j_cowboy" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="j_cowboy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DoS49Ywigo4/Wb6cwkd6tYI/AAAAAAAASe4/BhRtkHxrf8kyQRuoHt-hjcnC9Ms-xJb9ACHMYCw/j_cowboy_thumb?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>Reluctantly
we left Joseph and continued our way back to the Wenatchee area to
pick up mail, do some light maintenance on the motorhome and get
prepped for our 2 months of hosting in Coos Bay before heading south.
I wish I could say it was a wonderful drive with amazing scenery and
wildlife but it was not the case with the number and size of the
wildfires cloaking the country in smoke. The news has been covering
hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Jose and in doing seem to have
overlooked the fact Montana, Washington, and Oregon have been the
victims of some huge fires this year. Yes, I should also mention the
Los Angeles area but they at least got some news coverage. Anyway,
enough venting. </font></font>
</p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GoDUlUnPVb4/Wb6cxGszAUI/AAAAAAAASe8/0PXq2zZEFiwF_64X0u9-PSxA6elsJ88ugCHMYCw/s1600-h/Crescent_Bar%255B5%255D"><img width="439" height="249" title="Crescent_Bar" align="left" style="float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Crescent_Bar" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tlcm2n1Y1ts/Wb6cx37_2OI/AAAAAAAASfA/W-ACppyeAogn0DQ9eZr_aioAsVF26b5ywCHMYCw/Crescent_Bar_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>What
we did was to detour ever so slightly and stayed low, along the
Columbia River at a place called Crescent Bar, outside of Quincy. We
were still within 40 minutes of Wenatchee but since we were out of
the valley we avoided a good portion of the smoke. Besides, not much
could beat the view even with a bit of haze in the air.</font></font></p><p>
<br></p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I've
used the past week's downtime to finally wire the Jeep's lights so we can do away with the magnetic ones we’ve had for the past 3 years. Took me a couple of trips to the city for parts, some
scraped up knuckles, and a stiff back but I got 'er done. Mr.
Keppner, would you like to visit the hot tub? Oh yes!</font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-2111849855258646772017-08-22T19:05:00.000-07:002017-08-22T19:05:37.410-07:00Oh Good Grief, We've Become Tourists!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhint26f9pALYL8L9xr1X1fFFxEQm6qSCbDJ6KFdgNk_Ow8r9EzYLQFO5pvFZanARQ5M58uMD6ff6krFdSjOjTQ59TkWcRen6sMrZK7_rrjHqkjn_FVgOyKJCizgF9OcpLbMEqL0Cs0Sa4/s1600/turtle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="991" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhint26f9pALYL8L9xr1X1fFFxEQm6qSCbDJ6KFdgNk_Ow8r9EzYLQFO5pvFZanARQ5M58uMD6ff6krFdSjOjTQ59TkWcRen6sMrZK7_rrjHqkjn_FVgOyKJCizgF9OcpLbMEqL0Cs0Sa4/s200/turtle.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn40QszUkU1JJb4FoWgVYaF5vvTZmD5nyJAhIJBoXmjbMCzLZDWwY5NllGlqoXPHtGpSP-xHki-jtW6z5Tvpmr-N0cHOVud71W_sIRHScD5h6WSEjVYb4PCpfQTAJUEEfd7D_B15rh5Q/s1600/IMG_20170726_140945656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn40QszUkU1JJb4FoWgVYaF5vvTZmD5nyJAhIJBoXmjbMCzLZDWwY5NllGlqoXPHtGpSP-xHki-jtW6z5Tvpmr-N0cHOVud71W_sIRHScD5h6WSEjVYb4PCpfQTAJUEEfd7D_B15rh5Q/s200/IMG_20170726_140945656.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since
our last blog entry another 1000 miles have gone by. We spent almost
a week with family at our annual family reunion and while the venue
changed and the kids have grown, the familial comradery and hijinks
remain. I mentioned the location had changed – for the better as we
left the dry, dusty Twin Lakes of Preston Idaho behind and set up at
the beautiful Hyrum Lake State Park outside of Hyrum Utah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XkCRPp8bhPUvrO8OHWRXweig1cOaXDQYprHT9KIperBki6jIKzq3jC1AMFNk68ww7qerlRd7ojycY4efz_1R2JKt-Am-BtAFmRmUT2c1LekXa__8QTfITkX0IoSkXLdvSIXiTw60Iss/s1600/utahmarker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XkCRPp8bhPUvrO8OHWRXweig1cOaXDQYprHT9KIperBki6jIKzq3jC1AMFNk68ww7qerlRd7ojycY4efz_1R2JKt-Am-BtAFmRmUT2c1LekXa__8QTfITkX0IoSkXLdvSIXiTw60Iss/s320/utahmarker.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good
food, good conversation and the peaceful surroundings (except for the
kids, their assignment was to run around screaming alot!) contributed
to our sense of homecoming and renewal. I've always found myself torn
between the allure of the open road and the sedentary security of
family. I say torn but to be honest, love of the open road wins out
for now and well into the foreseeable future, hitch itch will
continue to direct our movements.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeqlgcs5XUciz-aUXNDIfXmQVd68qXQ_2dKH4wieN8tPtTw0UVEcDsBRULOwxHrvXoGnWWaGl6cPtCVkxYjzBdPBjy-EYH6pMP1Ryroxm9vOl4McstwBiqbAHsczxgI32szehR2S9IHc/s1600/IMG_20170812_164839892_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeqlgcs5XUciz-aUXNDIfXmQVd68qXQ_2dKH4wieN8tPtTw0UVEcDsBRULOwxHrvXoGnWWaGl6cPtCVkxYjzBdPBjy-EYH6pMP1Ryroxm9vOl4McstwBiqbAHsczxgI32szehR2S9IHc/s320/IMG_20170812_164839892_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjBFG9Lkljz1wZ5iPkUTEAEffavZrtl5fTRWXSYHBsFj8-ws7pjNyK8e_1GTDFfPInNujfKr4ATnHI7H6wFDmPk2Zt3VfvuUmidxIoYinz4qn4BHFMAPKhs3ee6s43XCLfk-5wbHGgYA/s1600/IMG_20170812_164917325_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjBFG9Lkljz1wZ5iPkUTEAEffavZrtl5fTRWXSYHBsFj8-ws7pjNyK8e_1GTDFfPInNujfKr4ATnHI7H6wFDmPk2Zt3VfvuUmidxIoYinz4qn4BHFMAPKhs3ee6s43XCLfk-5wbHGgYA/s320/IMG_20170812_164917325_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back
in July I posted we had purchased the Tire Patrol system from RV i
Brake to monitor the pressure and temperature of all 10 of our tires.
Due to one thing or another - mostly modifications to the sensors and
program improvements, our equipment had not been operating at 100%
and when the company was notified the owner, Dan Decker, offered to
replace everything and start from scratch. We countered his offer by
saying we would travel to Castle Rock Colorado so he could
investigate the problems directly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two
days travel and about two hours of shop time later we had a fully
operational system. Seems there was the perfect storm kind of
variables going on which prevented us from having a straight out of
the box success and really confounded the owner and technicians. Yep,
we are “special”.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf612epOvVwbQqhLYdAPA5RBHAIq3-lvWaPr6jM3kSCWX-12NR3atiB2UqJDcwvUC1ar0h7VTJhlYDUr9Fy5yAr1Ujl_BCtN0lXn5joHJc0m51QcMXBiiaCoBi38PWwVdADM1Nfrns5yA/s1600/IMG_20170811_155209380_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf612epOvVwbQqhLYdAPA5RBHAIq3-lvWaPr6jM3kSCWX-12NR3atiB2UqJDcwvUC1ar0h7VTJhlYDUr9Fy5yAr1Ujl_BCtN0lXn5joHJc0m51QcMXBiiaCoBi38PWwVdADM1Nfrns5yA/s320/IMG_20170811_155209380_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So
here we were, sitting just outside of Denver with its big city
traffic snarls and road construction EVERYWHERE. We wouldn't have
minded snagging a spot at a local RV park but there was not a single
campground within 50 miles that had an opening and could accommodate
our size. Yep, in the RV'ing world, size matters. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's how we ended
up in a Walmart parking lot outside of Evergreen Colorado
scrutinizing the paper atlas, googling every possibility, and calling
far too many campgrounds to mention. I'm pretty sure it was after our
second trip into the store that we found a spot just a little over
four hours away in Grand Junction. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had never been there but had
heard plenty of positive comments about the place from the times we
had hosted at Flaming Gorge. Added bonus, we would be taking the pass
over to Vail to get there. As a lover of mountain passes, curvy roads
and the breathtaking scenery, this was a no brainer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwOQV-F5m5ng5QWDxroqQKyYrJDJe0CXFovStRfj-gmsU5D5KXuMEhq38oqpAWh3JncTDnLQ2s4tgnaYEAdJCLtzgvPwIQmoNGVrwQo3mEPe9Ei3ozDFr3vnfwzyjE3QNEv_mcHhUv3c/s1600/bankbuffalo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwOQV-F5m5ng5QWDxroqQKyYrJDJe0CXFovStRfj-gmsU5D5KXuMEhq38oqpAWh3JncTDnLQ2s4tgnaYEAdJCLtzgvPwIQmoNGVrwQo3mEPe9Ei3ozDFr3vnfwzyjE3QNEv_mcHhUv3c/s320/bankbuffalo.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three
things stand out about Grand Junction: </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1.
Junction West RV Park is a gravel parking lot that has very spacious
sites, wide roads, very little dust, and it is very quiet at night
despite being a short ways from the interstate and a truck stop. We
can highly recommend it as a good stopping over place. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2.
Grand Junction and the surrounding area has some young but pretty
good wineries. Perhaps in a few years they'll also have the
restaurants or eateries that we were looking for. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Old
town Grand Junction and the newer shopping areas on the outskirts are
night and day. The newer stores offer the fast, in your face
marketing we are now accustomed to while old town turns the clock
back to a time where a leisurely walk past store fronts and the
occasional visit within are expected and welcomed by the vendors. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UMa-FQ8zeVX_RJe2RtKzYDL1jvNPZnLLgWTFjKSB5zcn9JgWX_W4vdwju9BuxOgDQ9u7mjTcEN7WDt6UwAHilGNp0ZPCPhViphY6tz1oXdCcL4r3mcRffXN1S7DHTVCI-hL-W7ZEALQ/s1600/tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UMa-FQ8zeVX_RJe2RtKzYDL1jvNPZnLLgWTFjKSB5zcn9JgWX_W4vdwju9BuxOgDQ9u7mjTcEN7WDt6UwAHilGNp0ZPCPhViphY6tz1oXdCcL4r3mcRffXN1S7DHTVCI-hL-W7ZEALQ/s400/tunnel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So,
two days of downtime allowed me to fix our dining chairs (cheap
construction), shop for a new couch (just shop), and generally do the
little maintenance jobs we all have at one time or another. It also
allowed us time to decide on where to go.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need
to set the stage for this next part. In 1991 during one of our cross
country transfers we had the opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore.
With us was our trusty Canon AE-1 35mm camera. For the last 26 years
Chris and I have referred to the photos we took as some of the
absolute best with crystal clear focus, perfect exposure and superb
filter choice. I would post up some of the photos as shining examples
but for one thing - there had been no film in the camera. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That
brings us back to Grand Junction, just two travel days away from
redemption. Instead of roaming aimlessly with few cares of where we
ended up we switched to full on tourist mode with a planned, detailed
itinerary with every hour accounted for. To anyone who knows us I'm
sure we looked like lunatics on crack. Especially when we put on our
knee high white socks, slipped on our sandals, buttoned up our aloha
shirts, and hung our cameras around our necks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did we
finally get pictures? You bet we did! Things have changed in the
quarter century since our last visit. Cameras in our phones and no
film needed, just to name a couple. </span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHZFVU-6Za7g4yzDhCnb67TThnqDX_EiBPvcK16QIPZ0_aH7yxqtNxRNT1jFkKjLYRL6pqe85P3r7I8khPDOZ_KShbOXaLYYXYI00ogxVWQKwMQIXZmuyFbcdOA4wQ4yiPip7Zt_5VbQ/s1600/georgekillroy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="1600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHZFVU-6Za7g4yzDhCnb67TThnqDX_EiBPvcK16QIPZ0_aH7yxqtNxRNT1jFkKjLYRL6pqe85P3r7I8khPDOZ_KShbOXaLYYXYI00ogxVWQKwMQIXZmuyFbcdOA4wQ4yiPip7Zt_5VbQ/s640/georgekillroy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've
spent a full week at the Heartland RV Park and Cabins located in
Hermosa. Not a bad park at all with level gravel sites with patches
of grass in between. I will warn you though, the park is next to the
highway and there is considerable road noise. Of course the highway
makes it really easy to get to all the sights and parks in the area.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9CNxnoAENVAeE-QlLiMr1Ms7sd1i95CmRKhR_59U0qufOPmz6IPG7bdYepAEe6qD-WxuZoIm1D6Xsf9iqmaOP-b_Umg9OJB6TduCPmtUhu3EIHRE5EMSOTZtNOUYi-9OdZEsSlyHRcw/s1600/needles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="1600" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9CNxnoAENVAeE-QlLiMr1Ms7sd1i95CmRKhR_59U0qufOPmz6IPG7bdYepAEe6qD-WxuZoIm1D6Xsf9iqmaOP-b_Umg9OJB6TduCPmtUhu3EIHRE5EMSOTZtNOUYi-9OdZEsSlyHRcw/s640/needles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're
on the road again, this time to Regent North Dakota the beginning of
the Enchanted Highway.</span></div>
</div>
C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-7505729529786549122017-08-04T12:43:00.000-07:002017-08-04T12:45:53.848-07:00Boo Boo's Happen – Hanging out in the Pacific Northwest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-36eeCKaueck/WYTLY5ysibI/AAAAAAAARQw/y9BultoaXhgwkWSU71Vam4TEmxX7GEc0gCHMYCw/s1600-h/threeforks%255B4%255D"><img align="left" alt="threeforks" border="0" height="221" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EP7TBbsJH0c/WYTLZj5kn6I/AAAAAAAARQ0/Aut5PIXQNJI5AZ1E3zRffAVZd5D_bXIwACHMYCw/threeforks_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: left;" title="threeforks" width="371" /></a>Living
in a motorhome and traveling around may sound like life is all
cherries and bon bons but I'll have you know, more often than not,
its just “real life” - with all the bumps, bruises, hiccups and
hundreds of assorted unplanned events. Yep, life happens.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If
I mention them at all, I usually just gloss over these “happenings”
as they tend to be uninteresting. Okay, to be truthful they are in
all likelihood the direct result my own inherent stupidity which, if
I remarked on each one, would take up volumes.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EfmxjCeVFVM/WYTLaTUwtxI/AAAAAAAARQ4/nu_3_IHJvF4RGct5uszGoMTSATVuNN-PwCHMYCw/s1600-h/booboo1%255B6%255D"><img align="left" alt="booboo1" border="0" height="256" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ttzcwtjD3rA/WYTLa_fyRjI/AAAAAAAARQ8/OIb4JTU9odovdltinKYBOP4TfWMTh2zhgCHMYCw/booboo1_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: left;" title="booboo1" width="146" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ga_Bs6eXxkY/WYTLbd-6B0I/AAAAAAAARRA/jshpGwe2cDcauxS8QWNHbvKBcguaSLqWgCHMYCw/s1600-h/booboo3%255B9%255D"><img align="right" alt="booboo3" border="0" height="256" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A6P6i37iLKA/WYTLb9Sd8kI/AAAAAAAARRE/1X2567j9Y3wOllJSW8X83HHzLR3xbJDCQCHMYCw/booboo3_thumb%255B3%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: right;" title="booboo3" width="146" /></a>Case
in point. In the last entry I mentioned returning to Wenatchee for
some final punch-list items. What I did not mention was the argument
I had with a small, hidden tree stump that snagged the front corner
of our home. Obviously the tree stump won resulting in some cosmetic
fiberglass damage. Fortunately, Larry at Interstate Autobody and
Truck in Cashmere Washington once again came to our rescue (yes
indeed, this was not our first visit to his shop). His superb
workmanship and ultra-fast service is second to none.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
don't believe I mentioned killing my cell phone while we were at Alta
Lake and I'm going to gloss over it still. I'm sure everyone knows
that dangling your phone by the charge cord really isn't good for the
phone or the cord. All I can say is thank heaven for extended
warranties.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Are
there more examples? You bet there are! We have these really cushy
floor mats in the kitchen. They make doing chores like standing and
washing dishes more comfortable. They also act as outstanding dart
boards for dropped knives. Which reminds me of just how thankful I am
for shoes.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Time
to change subjects.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U4wNTlvSwHo/WYTLcuCnKpI/AAAAAAAARRI/TZFWN3whdvEdZMPVhjHyEAw63OrMkxLEwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20170726_094812276_HDR%255B1%255D%255B3%255D" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img align="left" alt="IMG_20170726_094812276_HDR[1]" border="0" height="227" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Iif1anBgNiw/WYTLdExtrkI/AAAAAAAARRM/92GYf_iJ7RQ6hOa6A4f_SzORqE-dpNeCwCHMYCw/IMG_20170726_094812276_HDR%255B1%255D_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: left;" title="IMG_20170726_094812276_HDR[1]" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of all places, the most deer seen were in my sister's back yard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GihOEuUVxs8/WYTLeXZLWxI/AAAAAAAARRQ/51ip6IzaUucMMpUK41bWWtHr1WcB0f0oACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20170726_183634103_HDR%255B1%255D%255B3%255D"><img align="right" alt="IMG_20170726_183634103_HDR[1]" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k_ZgMzG7u-c/WYTLe1_QkwI/AAAAAAAARRU/th68Itnks5MIzheH-tmQIxVf88--k7umQCHMYCw/IMG_20170726_183634103_HDR%255B1%255D_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: right;" title="IMG_20170726_183634103_HDR[1]" width="139" /></a>We've
traveled a little over 2000 miles since the last entry. </span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We've crossed the
continental divide twice, going from sea level up to 7200ft.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> No matter what form it has come in, we remain in awe of the majesty and beauty of our country.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d6BknkRP0S8/WYTLfvCGRXI/AAAAAAAARRY/4exYSaT8z6o27BDJQCbtK3S75HYoO2ZtACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20170726_183512483_HDR%255B1%255D%255B4%255D" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IMG_20170726_183512483_HDR[1]" border="0" height="227" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5RecNUgocns/WYTLgNZOmWI/AAAAAAAARRc/lA7SAVGGCoEesW6XC2_UkJIMDhqZ8VuZwCHMYCw/IMG_20170726_183512483_HDR%255B1%255D_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_20170726_183512483_HDR[1]" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 9/11 memorial in Cashmere, WA. Stunning!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lDpR6_FFNVo/WYTLhCq3OdI/AAAAAAAARRg/V630td8dcOcBnSuupehhxJxVWxLOntDSQCHMYCw/s1600-h/custer2%255B4%255D" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="custer2" border="0" height="192" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sN9R_LRwevg/WYTLh4O2DrI/AAAAAAAARRk/G9FSxBRFgSY0nwK8ih6Xw2RhLuXbVKzKACHMYCw/custer2_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="custer2" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Bighorn Battlefield</td></tr>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LjCsdW0RdzE/WYTLiWEYryI/AAAAAAAARRo/nyxdI6Ln_5o9nCwfkVPj3dK8WSIgT0zhgCHMYCw/s1600-h/custer3%255B2%255D" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="custer3" border="0" height="180" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-55FtFNkCfk0/WYTLjFaneuI/AAAAAAAARRs/PSVrAac4jxM_kh-_cWBJrBzN2iqjygLRACHMYCw/custer3_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: right;" title="custer3" width="244" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GCrlVaxOLyI/WYTLjvjDwaI/AAAAAAAARRw/8nNXS20LY3Ei0UZgPfsqfHRGXbwUzVE8QCHMYCw/s1600-h/custer1%255B4%255D"><img alt="custer1" border="0" height="263" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tclkt8EG4Qg/WYTLkZMj4kI/AAAAAAAARR0/z7fKnXErUf0-rFbKwGAuzCxXKj6ZUCipwCHMYCw/custer1_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline;" title="custer1" width="626" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rUMiBD4fd1c/WYTLk4QlmII/AAAAAAAARR4/IBu-FI2PXt4CDx-sm57ypHhJKLf67LqkwCHMYCw/s1600-h/fishing%255B3%255D"><img align="right" alt="fishing" border="0" height="147" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ze6yPP2DUdQ/WYTLlp2VqtI/AAAAAAAARR8/_3T_0QL0L1QX3Z-s5lLUKFVryyL18NBwgCHMYCw/fishing_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: right;" title="fishing" width="244" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">This last picture pretty much sums up my luck this past month. Fortunately, it IS called fishing for a reason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d6BknkRP0S8/WYTLfvCGRXI/AAAAAAAARRY/4exYSaT8z6o27BDJQCbtK3S75HYoO2ZtACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20170726_183512483_HDR%255B1%255D%255B4%255D"><br /></a></span></div>
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C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-10612783682829320682017-07-19T16:12:00.000-07:002017-07-19T16:12:34.149-07:00Vagabond–Back on the road.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dGJ9wru_Tyg/WW_krBQBrtI/AAAAAAAARAo/6lH76f5gaqE-5eCreoErBReJutqcIf_iwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20170715_131309545%255B3%255D" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img align="left" alt="IMG_20170715_131309545" border="0" height="197" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AAmGkJ5S-98/WW_ktl_2PiI/AAAAAAAARAs/vwUEX9npHoY9aHMA62DawlSVBsGgGg9NwCHMYCw/IMG_20170715_131309545_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: left;" title="IMG_20170715_131309545" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy grandma</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Vagabond.</strong> <em>noun</em>. A person who wanders without home or job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">As a kid the word was used by my mother as a dire threat and a predicted outcome if I didn't complete my chores. I can still hear her voice “Pick up your room right now or you'll end up shiftless and a vagabond like those men living out by the tracks.” To this day I'm unsure what the correlation was but back then it always resulted in me cleaning my room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This morning it struck me. Here I am, over a half century later, sitting at the dining table while using a laptop computer (didn't exist when I was a kid) to access the internet (nope, neither did it) to find the definition of vagabond. The fact we haven't been in a house for several years didn't even cross my mind until I read the definition and even then it was jumbled about with the thought that I really need to do laundry at some point today – and figure out where we're going next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">No job: check. Wanders: check. No home: in the classical sense, check. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dDlg48xXa1M/WW_kxOsB1HI/AAAAAAAARAw/HZIFj7gVqh0mOaZqYKWrfKjK9-gLRtLZgCHMYCw/s1600-h/crop_circle%255B4%255D" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img align="right" alt="crop_circle" border="0" height="180" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3o-7MfS9gRg/WW_kzjr-p9I/AAAAAAAARA0/1evCWc__7T4xbAhVON67C97waIayeHcUwCHMYCw/crop_circle_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: right;" title="crop_circle" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't think this qualifies as a crop circle.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Yep, I'm a vagabond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And best of all, my room is picked up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We returned to Wenatchee to complete our motorhome punch list with a modification to two of the slides and a replacement of our water heater cover. I really can't say it enough just how good All Seasons RV has been to us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Back in April we arrived with a myriad of items needing repair, replacement, or just tweaking and they really came through. They accepted the challenge of us being vagabonds (full-timers) with the need to have our home back each night and went the extra mile (see what I did there) to ensure each work session ended with a fully functional home each and every time. By coordinating the parts, work, and time in the shop, even though the total time-span was just over three months, the actual work was in the neighborhood of about 32 hours. This was broken down into 5 visits with no session greater than 8 hours which allowed us ample time to return the rig back to the park and continue our hosting duties. This was a novel approach for us and one we'll keep in our bag of tricks if we need it again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So hats off to All Seasons RV in Wenatchee Washington.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IK6HVXtYK4c/WW_k2VHw-0I/AAAAAAAARA4/P68u0p0lDMYcylHZI8Sau5r7_4Dq3ONnQCHMYCw/s1600-h/Shelve1%255B5%255D"><img align="right" alt="Shelve1" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NDGi8JfYE2E/WW_k4NLwZHI/AAAAAAAARA8/pkRdBuuX1704hv-5gb2XvoZZhK7Na63YgCHMYCw/Shelve1_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: right;" title="Shelve1" width="139" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">While All Seasons worked on warranty items, my brother-in-law created our first modification to the motorhome in the form of shelves in the bathroom. Outstanding workmanship using old growth fir that will definitely last a lifetime. Chris did the final finish work in sanding and staining and matched the rest of the coach's wood perfectly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E2uBziGDM08/WW_k8kFmh5I/AAAAAAAARBA/amkRt2hYisMBePRdWhgwh2rpPRPK5joZQCHMYCw/s1600-h/Shelve2%255B5%255D"><img align="left" alt="Shelve2" border="0" height="139" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9-4PrU4Ztrc/WW_k_qAEydI/AAAAAAAARBE/N31R7YEWHzkmOXoI5bNnhwFQG36ZkRcqACHMYCw/Shelve2_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: left;" title="Shelve2" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GOID39dRaHE/WW_lEktMQ4I/AAAAAAAARBI/SzPdYwdHH3kdhGTYDEwIxi4OIcwDT1jVwCHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20170716_091308584%255B3%255D"><img align="right" alt="IMG_20170716_091308584" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2V_GXKb9qHo/WW_lG_Bbr1I/AAAAAAAARBM/vMw3xQP_wlw1QVrja8CvJKpXxwh7TfK2QCHMYCw/IMG_20170716_091308584_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: right;" title="IMG_20170716_091308584" width="139" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our tire pressure monitor system finally arrived! After backorders, redesigns and other delays the Tire Patrol system we ordered back in December finally showed up. I'm sure you're wondering why we waited 6 months for a system we could have got cheaper and quicker if we had gone with another manufacturer and answer is pretty straight forward. Simplicity, expandability, and customer service. Unfortunately, there have been some hurdles to clear on this state of the art system so both we and the company are learning new things. Once the dust settles I'll have a full review and lessons learned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This morning we are in Sutherlin Oregon. We intended to stay away from Oregon until our hosting gig this fall but I couldn't shake the worry of our rig not having a documented oil change in the past two years. Being a lot orphan, Monster's (yes, we did name the rig) only mileage consisted of delivery, short moves around the dealer's lot, and our one trip to Arizona so while the miles were low, I just couldn't shake the idea of having two year old oil. Since we were free of hosting duties, had no set plans, and were close to the border, a quick trip to a no sales tax state to get the service job done seemed to be a good idea. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UOph9Il4SXw/WW_lO_zj-vI/AAAAAAAARBQ/Gfim4TvCWww3TBs5S-SerVX0M3CoyyUhACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20170719_131914294%255B4%255D"><img align="left" alt="IMG_20170719_131914294" border="0" height="131" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v9Jyn_RhRCk/WW_lYv3NifI/AAAAAAAARBU/BZCcNSQK8fcmQctJ8bIApbBpOKyALq4XQCHMYCw/IMG_20170719_131914294_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: left;" title="IMG_20170719_131914294" width="231" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Just one problem. Full campgrounds up and down the coast. Our only recourse was to stay inland and as luck would have it we found an open park we were familiar with just a short trip down the road. Timber Valley SKP. This beautiful, quiet, slow-paced park is where we had our first experience with the Escapee community and frankly, I have no idea why we had delayed our return until now. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QcKyOMEvfa4/WW_lekRv0HI/AAAAAAAARBY/xKasgIaf7IcFP1Ssy7oScsr64YrE4ehSACHMYCw/s1600-h/IMG_20170719_145024299_HDR%2B%25282%2529%255B3%255D"><img align="right" alt="IMG_20170719_145024299_HDR (2)" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C_i9znFS0YM/WW_lip8zsWI/AAAAAAAARBc/JTrUwa93O_YlKroOzuoA9Xfov4T7xX5kACHMYCw/IMG_20170719_145024299_HDR%2B%25282%2529_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; display: inline; float: right;" title="IMG_20170719_145024299_HDR (2)" width="139" /></a>Okay, granted you have to dodge the occasional wild turkey while parking but I don't feel that qualifies as a down check. Peaceful? Oh yes! When a doe is comfortable enough to nurse her fawn on the side of the road it speaks volumes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We'll probably stay the weekend. Oh darn.</span></div>
C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-88994443108059618052017-06-29T22:39:00.001-07:002017-06-29T22:40:32.148-07:00Alta Lake State Park<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CO4hcASEyQw/WVXjF34VUAI/AAAAAAAAQ3A/GHhvjuBihKsgi1G55foK491jMd3PJp7WACHMYCw/s1600-h/3_fishing%255B3%255D"><img align="left" alt="3_fishing" border="0" height="260" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bt8EtJTCqcw/WVXjJAb8NVI/AAAAAAAAQ3E/otT-N8f5LO0SkvQi3AVMpoQieCEGKw-zACHMYCw/3_fishing_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="3_fishing" width="391" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When faced with tasks which can only be described as drudgery, look outside the task and discover wondrous avenues to enliven the mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IWvu7LjOwLQ/WVXjKmNSq6I/AAAAAAAAQ3I/rdoHWnpYBZomrhpDhTgiMUuHSYdgCulGACHMYCw/s1600-h/4_alta_lake%255B4%255D"><img alt="4_alta_lake" border="0" height="198" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SmHRf2Y7S6U/WVXjM92xAII/AAAAAAAAQ3M/c3cE-VksGoAb6QT-iRE8Kc0l5m2XAGJWQCHMYCw/4_alta_lake_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="4_alta_lake" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AlTdTGHgB-k/WVXjOtavxYI/AAAAAAAAQ3Q/rYTSwKGaHt0KtepVvC_hG3JNQZ9RHc04ACHMYCw/s1600-h/5_lavender%255B8%255D"><img align="right" alt="5_lavender" border="0" height="277" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_ksTLEEkaMY/WVXjP867KsI/AAAAAAAAQ3U/VsNhk0QPlpMZ2-IVYlwhF5P_I_blaKIuwCHMYCw/5_lavender_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="5_lavender" width="221" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm paraphrasing that quote from a college professor in a lecture I was fortunate to sit in on and though he said it decades ago it has stuck with me. Especially true when faced with some facets of a camphosting job that are not only repetitive but also far from intellectually stimulating at the best of times.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alta Lake State Park has provided both this past month; the drudgery of watering lawns, cleaning fire rings, and picking litter countered with stunning scenery. The photos really don't do the place justice and when you consider the area was devastated by wildfires just 3 years so, the recovery is astonishing. (If you are curious, search for “wildfires Carlton complex”.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iRprbQi_6RI/WVXjQjaEF2I/AAAAAAAAQ3Y/VaCqJ08QxrUBZWZjL9FYrD20Ts-w-HhbQCHMYCw/s1600-h/2_bakery%255B2%255D"><img align="left" alt="2_bakery" border="0" height="139" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Iq6KDZArkRU/WVXjSkv1yeI/AAAAAAAAQ3c/9hPozgLQcm4oZF8u-KuOz9TxYlYnv825wCHMYCw/2_bakery_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2_bakery" width="244" /></a>Of course it wasn’t all work. Visits to local wineries and bakeries provided welcome diversions during our down time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KeKE4hdusNs/WVXjTVLeW3I/AAAAAAAAQ3g/qnJVKMCnQOUynZt-fQZm49Y4QZWYFgw0QCHMYCw/s1600-h/1_tsillan%255B2%255D" style="font-family: Verdana;"><img align="right" alt="1_tsillan" border="0" height="139" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GkNerUi4n3A/WVXjUqKsyxI/AAAAAAAAQ3k/KgCOQPEkCEQt4tiVfb99JSIOTp2dMKo3ACHMYCw/1_tsillan_thumb?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="1_tsillan" width="244" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The scenery, the outside visits and the occasional spell of surveying the local fish population provided some short term diversions the most rewarding was the opportunity to mentor a brand new camphost on her first gig. Pam, I know you'll be reading this at one point and I am not sucking up; it really has been a wonderful time working with you and we both hope we'll get to do it again in the future.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We're heading back to the Wenatchee area for some final warranty fixes before we return to wandering. Still haven't decided where, just know there will be grandkids involved at one point or another.</span></span></div>
C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-78089696169773357832017-05-03T18:43:00.000-07:002017-05-03T18:44:48.033-07:00Campers–Lincoln Rock State Park<p> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fyw_7HKovEA/WQqHS5PO0FI/AAAAAAAAQjI/tbjCN3iXP4UvdoLdmyWiOHYyCXk33i6GACHM/s1600-h/fred_marmot%255B2%255D"><img title="fred_marmot" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="fred_marmot" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BpCIz_m-SSs/WQqHTzERKvI/AAAAAAAAQjM/ztUTA0l5rBAtc7QZVaXmden5lozmHYrhgCHM/fred_marmot_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="184"></a>When I was fresh out of boot camp a wise old chief petty officer once told me, “Take it slow and keep a steady strain.” At the time I had no clue what he meant as I had just begun sweeping grass clippings off a sidewalk. Come to think of it, I still have no idea what he was talking about yet his words have obviously stuck with me for upwards of 40 years!</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">When we first arrived, spring break was beginning to wind down with the older kids headed back to school leaving the parents busy in an almost futile attempt to keep the younger ones contained yet entertained. I believe one prime example would be the one group who seemed to take hourly walks around the park. This special train consisted of two pre-school aged children obviously making their first forray into bike riding struggling to balance on the training wheels followed by at least a couple of adults voicing their encouragement minute by minute (I'm pretty sure there was an alterior motive behind this as I for one can recall the difficulty of carrying the bike AND the tired kid back to camp). The older siblings, while not getting the hands-on encouragement were shouted at all the same with such phrases as “Watch for traffic.” or “Keep off the grass.” and even the “Stop pushing your sister/brother over!” Being situated in the middle of the park as we are, we can easily observe the goings on and silently cheer for the obvious underdogs.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I think I still owe Chris on a lost bet or two of who would crash first. Next time I think I'll bet more on the parents.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Thursdays and Fridays are definitely the fun days with out of towners rushing into the park and around the loops so they can hopefully be the first to the popular sites. Since our full hook-up spots fill first and are guarenteed to provide the most entertainment, that's where you can usually find us just in case someone “needs our help”. For people watchers like us, there is not much that beats an arrival day at a campground. There is no end to the different ways people can bash their heads, splash themselves with the output of their grey and black tanks, or break a folding chair. Add sharp tools like an ax or hatchet and I am amazed we don't have an ambulance on standby. Recently, we did have one very talented camper who beat the odds and managed to accomplish all three goals and by only the slimmest of margins avoided the fourth. Quickly. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">I guess what first caught our eye was the blur going past our window. Looking down the road the blur resolved into a very large combination of 5th wheel trailer towed behind one of those super large diesel powered dually pickups – you've probably seen similar, the trailer has a garage or party room in the rear and usually has a severe weather type name like Typhoon or Tsunami painted in large swooping letters. The camper had obviously been here before, knew exactly what site he wanted, and by golly no one was going to pass him along the way. Pretty inspiring if you discount the narrow, one way road and complete lack of traffic.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Making a beeline to one of the prettiest sites overlooking the rest of the campground our camper whipped into the pull-thru and arrived with the groaning of stressed steel and a loud thump the overcompressed hitch. What caught my eye first off was what appeared to me to be sort of a backwards order on the steps to set up. Usually it consists of leveling, slides, and then hookups but what our guy did was to hookup his sewer hose first thing. Not sure if there may have been an emergency need to dump the tanks or not but right after hookup he pulled his front gray tank valve.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">All could have proceeded without incident except for what happened next. The guy went back to the truck and began moving back and forth to I guess find the most level parking spot. Of course while doing this, he unknowingly disconnected the sewer hose from the dump pipe. Fortunately, the tank had emptied itself in the time it took him to begin his maneuvering. No harm, no foul odors, and the driver is still without a clue of what happened.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">After a good dozen back and forths on the site he must have found a spot he was happy with as he commenced to set jacks and unhitch. There is something to be said for automatic levelers for this was the one procedure we observed where things actually progressed normally. I apologize up front for the visuals to follow, you can shut your eyes if you need to.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Okay, what we have now is a 5th wheel trailer that is level (this is assumed as Chris and I both saw a thumbs up). Connected to the trailer is a sewer hose with the other end laying beside a closed dump pipe. Our camper goes to the front of the trailer and hits the side twice. Unseen by us was the guy's wife who had entered the trailer and was waiting for just such a signal to put out the forward slides. Once done, the guy went around the trailer and was out of our sight but I'm pretty sure he was getting the patio slide out. For a brief moment I thought he was not going to put the off-side slide out until he completed the hookups but out they came while we watched. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">All would have been perfect but for one minor miscalculation. You see, the posts guarding the services area stick up about 42 inches from the ground. The bottom of the guy's rear slide sits at 38 inches from the ground (we measured it afterwards). Wouldn't have been so bad except apparently he had gone inside to run slide rather than have his wife do it while he watched. Only after the very loud “kee-runch!” did the slide stop coming out. The damage must have looked much worse than it was as he did manage to get the slide all the way back in.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Not letting a little thing like structural damage get in the way our camper went back to the patio side to set up all the little sundry things we carry to make our camping comfortable. Chris and I were just about ready to move on for some fresher entertainment when we saw the guy come around the trailer carrying a chair. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">You know, the neat thing about 5th wheels is that you can stoop and walk under the front end by the hitch and shorten the number of steps it takes to get around the trailer. There are two problems with doing so however; bumping your head and, if you are really tall, the lower back strain from stooping. Our camper was tall and I believe he had a prior back injury. At least that's my assumption because he was really slow in picking himself up off the ground after slamming his head on the hitch. I'm sure it was the distance and wind that prevented us from hearing what he was saying.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Rubbing his head the guy took the chair over to his wet bay and sat down. I'm not sure if he was running through a mental checklist or what but he sat there for a good 5 minutes occasionally rubbing and shaking his head. Time passed and the camper began finishing his hookups – first electrical, followed by fresh water. Note, he still doesn't notice the unconnected sewer hose.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">He pulled the black valve. Out came a brown torrent with the full force of a only totally topped off tank can provide. This tragedy could have been mitigated and been a minor clean-up if only the guy had kept calm. That and maybe not become entangled in his folding chair. All he had to do was reach over and close the valve; ignoring the splash back effect the flopping hose spewing I don't what to know.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Third time's the charm I guess.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">This was all within 30 to 45 minutes of his arrival and while Chris and I would have loved to stick around to see what else might have happened, we are volunteers and need to report spills such as this as soon as possible. That and quickly become busy doing something very important somewhere else.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">A side note here. Did you know you can tell an experienced camper from one just beginning by their ability to distinguish black and gray water just by catching a whiff? </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Whoever did do the cleanup while we were busy with important stuff elsewhere did a good job. When we returned to clean the fire ring and pick up litter two days later you couldn't tell what all had occurred there. Our park has an outstanding staff!</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%" align="center"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C-hvHOw7JhE/WQqHU-U77bI/AAAAAAAAQjQ/BhN6WdXY5XcIRXC3jhijtpXfzlByExEJgCHM/s1600-h/campfire%255B2%255D"><img title="campfire" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="campfire" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mzkT_eTG1Vk/WQqHVog7tOI/AAAAAAAAQjU/ap5oQgi8TgIOIcWTX-oWyYrv-p_tzVTmwCHM/campfire_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244"></a>See you next time. Take it slow and keep a steady strain.</font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-73119208574124878152017-04-10T14:00:00.000-07:002017-04-10T14:03:03.299-07:00The Journey Back–East Wenatchee<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gpmmAuQr97U/WOvyK0A87qI/AAAAAAAAQbo/TfbLjl7e0Ng/s1600-h/donkey1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="donkey1" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K4EEyMrDg1U/WOvyLtbz7TI/AAAAAAAAQbs/ranpHSxsuY0/donkey1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="donkey1" width="139" /></a>We have been traveling in company with my sister and brother-in-law; on their first adventure in their new to them, 2007 Winnebago Journey. Way out of character for Chris and I, we actually had sat down and planned our trip back north; surfing the forums for suggested routes and things to do. We had plenty of time so the need for running on the interstate never materialized and looking back we've all come to the conclusion taking highway 95 was probably the best decision we could have ever made. Excellent roads, light traffic, and either touching or in very close proximity to all the folksy Americana you can ask for in one trip. Our last blog entry is a fine example of what I'm talking about and if memory serves (it does, I looked it up) we left our readers in Oatman with the donkeys. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EzCNZNrLWl4/WOvyMg4jYVI/AAAAAAAAQbw/GK4hFJXxOA0/s1600-h/IMG_20170321_115400801%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="IMG_20170321_115400801" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G264SS5NStI/WOvyNckvDTI/AAAAAAAAQb0/YTAsGO-tEMM/IMG_20170321_115400801_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20170321_115400801" width="139" /></a>Picking up from our last entry, I would be doing a disservice if I didn't mention Moon River RV Resort in Fort Mojave. The park had just changed hands and there was talk of the planned improvements. At the time of our visit it was still gravel, close sites but with good room to maneuver. Having the standard amenities, Moon River makes for a good, quiet, overnight stopping place. At the time of this writing, I could not recommend it for any long-term stays.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From Fort Mojave we continued north and again had a short travel day. It just so happened our next stay was to be in Pahrump, Nevada at the Wine Ridge RV Resort. This planned two day stop allowed us to thoroughly check the rigs for anything that may have rattled loose after being parked for such an extended period and gave us time to see the area a bit better; popping into some of the nearby attractions easier. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9OnQ95B06aA/WOvyODxF11I/AAAAAAAAQb4/Y0WgthoMWCc/s1600-h/IMG_20170321_120617694_TOP%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="IMG_20170321_120617694_TOP" border="0" height="139" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eDr_sH9sC8A/WOvyO4eTO5I/AAAAAAAAQb8/x3pog5Krkcc/IMG_20170321_120617694_TOP_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20170321_120617694_TOP" width="244" /></a>That was the plan, what actually happened was we spent a good amount of time indoors avoiding the results of a cold front that had come through. No worries, being next door to a winery did have its advantages.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lsHxqkZ7Mf8/WOvyP-aweJI/AAAAAAAAQcA/7JfSe832tPU/s1600-h/IMG_20170322_154225807%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="IMG_20170322_154225807" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q69Hy1dfSlg/WOvyQnKRxaI/AAAAAAAAQcE/182InV6fDBw/IMG_20170322_154225807_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20170322_154225807" width="139" /></a>Before we could even try to find some of the neat places to go in Pahrump, it was time for us to leave with our longest, and what could be considered our most boring leg ahead of us to Winnemucca. Over 470 miles. Seven driving hours which makes for close to ten on-the-road hours. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ctmmmJ6baL8/WOvyRSc8mrI/AAAAAAAAQcI/tiJd9QXQsTY/s1600-h/IMG_20170321_120942453%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="IMG_20170321_120942453" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LHI2pTvu7bs/WOvySRxXNkI/AAAAAAAAQcM/u-qgtvFGrLo/IMG_20170321_120942453_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20170321_120942453" width="139" /></a>Of course the cold front that had plagued us during our stay wasn't quite done shaking things up with and generated several storm and flood watches. All reported constantly by the Garmin along our route. These alerts, which consisted of heart stopping beeping and with minimal information, quickly became a thing to dread and ultimately to despise as each alert while along our route was well ahead of us in distance. By the time we reached an area of one of the watches, the storm had already passed; usually only leaving a damp stretch of pavement.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arriving in Winnemucca in the early evening we could finally see the sad results of a flood warning with some side road closures and flooded fields. Get your notepad ready, if you are ever in this neat little town, stay just a bit outside at the New Frontier RV park. The park is brand spanking new with paved and gravel sites generously spaced apart. The “club house” has tons of room with an attached mini market/store, a TV room fit for any superbowl party, and from what we could see, a steam line for snacks and such during the season. Of course, being Nevada there is the obligatory casino and grill next door.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qmzZhsxvwb0/WOvyTT8N9HI/AAAAAAAAQcQ/r9JQGJXvDZo/s1600-h/IMG_20170326_150007%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_20170326_150007" border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WFlaVHOuipE/WOvyT16bfwI/AAAAAAAAQcU/R1oWyretd1Q/IMG_20170326_150007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20170326_150007" width="244" /></a>Still on highway 95 but soon switching over to OR-78 our next destination is one I've mentioned several times before – Crystal Crane Hot Springs. This was our original reason for taking 95 before finding out how nice a road it was as offered the shortest, most direct route to our most favorite stop. We had actually made reservations early on so we were able to park in two of the three full-hookup sites with a very short walk to the springs. While the pond is free with unlimited access if you are in an RV spot or cabin, for a small fee you can book one of the huge private hot tubs which is what Chris and I did this time round. You see, spring break was in full swing there and we really couldn't see ourselves getting caught up in one of the numerous spontaneous water fights. After all the road time, the quiet soak was just what the doctor ordered.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We got to spend two very relaxing days at Crystal Crane and our brother-in-law Randy has become a convert; swearing they'll be coming back in the very near future.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LFrQIClvfUU/WOvyU0u4VuI/AAAAAAAAQcY/lpT37dd_Wd0/s1600-h/IMG_20170329_145809416%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="IMG_20170329_145809416" border="0" height="219" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o5WWP2JKx1I/WOvyVj6nzMI/AAAAAAAAQcc/-H-VjgBTfKI/IMG_20170329_145809416_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20170329_145809416" width="125" /></a>While our next planned destination was Prosser Washington to revisit the tasting rooms, we had a day to kill before arriving so we opted to take to the hills and come into Pendleton Oregon via the back way. What a simply stunning drive and while sure, there were a couple of grades and lots of curvey roads just north of John Day, it was nothing we hadn't seen before nor was it overly difficult. Four hours took us from the scrub desert of Crane, through the mountain meadows of Sylvie Valley Ranch and the high timber of Battle Mountain to the high plateau grasslands of Pendleton and the tribal lands of the Umatilla. It is really hard to pass up on the all you can eat buffets and senior specials at the Wild Horse Casino - nor having a shuttle bus at our beck and call from the RV park to the casino or the cultural center.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gQTXoy02SNM/WOvyWY0x-GI/AAAAAAAAQcg/nFqVTnPFucg/s1600-h/IMG_20170331_150338875%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="IMG_20170331_150338875" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38YewytO894/WOvyXfrAICI/AAAAAAAAQck/9pvF6isQHuE/IMG_20170331_150338875_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20170331_150338875" width="139" /></a>Wine Country RV in Prosser is quickly becoming another favorite of ours. Not due to the proximity of several tasting rooms but really in large part due to the friendliness and professionalism of the staff and of course the part itself. Wide, long pull thrus with 50amp full hookups, grass patios with picnic tables and ample room between even the tightest sites. We could have easily gone directly to our next hosting gig from Pendleton but this park deserves a visit; even when it took us 20 miles out of our way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, I'll admit it, the wine wasn't bad either.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TZLfeM8eaMs/WOvyYJmy7MI/AAAAAAAAQco/PZfDkbsazk0/s1600-h/marmot1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="marmot1" border="0" height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uNq9Cj-UC98/WOvyY3QqlCI/AAAAAAAAQcs/lPttOZ9h7hM/marmot1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="marmot1" width="236" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That's it, we've been sitting at Lincoln Rock State Park for the past week picking up our campground hosting duties like last year and just trying to keep warm. Seems this year we may have come north just a bit too soon.</span></span></div>
C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-8784474408657675052017-03-23T10:28:00.000-07:002017-03-23T11:40:16.717-07:00Touristy Stuff and a Departure - Yuma<p> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--Z80KUSka-A/WNQPUzqUSQI/AAAAAAAAQRc/3ht9pHUrHaw/s1600-h/CastleDome%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="CastleDome" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="CastleDome" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kDVJfJ5Aaeo/WNQPVwXnVFI/AAAAAAAAQRg/jCamEKlPf8Y/CastleDome_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="293" align="left" height="339"></a>Our stay in “Canada's Southern Most City” wouldn’t be complete without hitting some of the tourist sights in the area. So much to see and do in a short time so buckle up, this ride makes frequent stops and detours.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">As a trading and transit hub, the Yuma area is rich in history and diverse in culture. Any visit here can be quickly filled with the quirky, the oddball, the normal, and endless combinations of all three with little or no effort on the part of the visitor. So we’ve found out for ourselves this winter season along with the fact one visit is simply not enough if we wish to see it all.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"></font></font><font size="3" face="Verdana"></font> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"></font></font> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"></font></font> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rtoPZY66sAU/WNQPXLhZlOI/AAAAAAAAQRk/5OcxEi3B0Jk/s1600-h/MardiGras%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="MardiGras" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="MardiGras" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f7OsjUVZkag/WNQPX4hA_gI/AAAAAAAAQRo/_ysvED8BNgg/MardiGras_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="196"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-enfUY1LNhHQ/WNQPZrpVrNI/AAAAAAAAQRs/7nI1ei64Csw/s1600-h/StPatty%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="StPatty" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="StPatty" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-loukxdPZwAU/WNQPaRgQAYI/AAAAAAAAQRw/DH50j6v9baE/StPatty_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" height="188"></a>What happens when you get a bunch of 'seniors' in one place with temperatures in the 80's? We've found the usual result is just about any excuse for a party. What has me puzzled is “Where did these people come from?” “How did they get here?” and what have they done with all the serious parents and grandparents we knew as we were growing up. Prime example: we are no where near New Orleans but someone in the park heard “Fat”, another heard “Tuesday”. They put the two together and a park-wide Mardi Gras was formed. Last week one of the residents mentioned how much he enjoyed corned beef and cabbage. You guessed it, St. Patty’s Day party followed shortly after.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-16q3tNpNwJQ/WNQPcaK5odI/AAAAAAAAQR0/KlRvWVf4iAA/s1600-h/PDesert%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="PDesert" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PDesert" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m3b6wgHsaBs/WNQPdHEa9WI/AAAAAAAAQR4/Bfir7K0uzmg/PDesert_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="166"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9f7eSCq2fWo/WNQPeNl9nxI/AAAAAAAAQR8/X7QlkVmH28A/s1600-h/barrel_and_skull%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="barrel_and_skull" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="barrel_and_skull" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QLOTA8Uuu44/WNQPe6ZfBaI/AAAAAAAAQSA/y_zTbY4LHEo/barrel_and_skull_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" height="161"></a>In the “normal” category; a day trip the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Martinez and the Painted Desert Trail. Starting at the visitor center we met a fellow volunteer host who was trying out camping in the desert for the first time. A hard worker for sure, the center was clean and well kept with perhaps the exception of some pretty old and beaten up mounted animal displays. Outside, the rains of January and February had yielded an explosion of blossoms in plants, bushes, cactus and of course weeds. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jKw973Q5qT0/WNQPgB3WlUI/AAAAAAAAQSE/LvtOxVdqJBo/s1600-h/tortoise%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="tortoise" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="tortoise" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Nef9U2joTt0/WNQPgx-nPAI/AAAAAAAAQSI/HE6Uj7BTWCc/tortoise_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" align="left" height="150"></a>A pleasant surprise was the desert tortoise habitats around the perimeter of the visitor center building. I couldn’t tell you the difference between a tortoise and turtle on the best of days but I can definitely tell the difference from a rounded boulder and something that isn’t a rounded boulder. Especially true when the not boulder blinks. I know it was a desert tortoise because there was a placard proclaiming that very fact.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--5SEDjIfKWc/WNQPibJxDNI/AAAAAAAAQSM/o4PB4qENhYc/s1600-h/painted_landscape%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="painted_landscape" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="painted_landscape" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yy4ZpMR_bUI/WNQPjCzGLQI/AAAAAAAAQSQ/KHuo3NZxak0/painted_landscape_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="633" height="266"></a></font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6YQA5D7jcwU/WNQPjz-VVjI/AAAAAAAAQSU/nbeswG2VMv4/s1600-h/flowerbush%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="flowerbush" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="flowerbush" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PfnkecFIiK0/WNQPkVDJMCI/AAAAAAAAQSY/TaGzK6J2gl8/flowerbush_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" align="left" height="244"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pb5u34K_TjQ/WNQPmeQSSHI/AAAAAAAAQSc/2q8tOIPw1GU/s1600-h/flowercactus%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="flowercactus" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="flowercactus" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Pc56xuXL0M/WNQPnEqHnAI/AAAAAAAAQSg/kkGva_ivuPk/flowercactus_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" height="150"></a>A short distance down the road from the center is the Painted Desert Nature Trail, a 1.3 mile trail from gullies to ridgelines and back again, featuring the variegated colors and terrain of the seared land. After the hike in the overly warm temps I could swear there had been mistake in the length of the trail with someone reversing the numbers! </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"></font></font> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wPinZLIAo8I/WNQPpM9zU4I/AAAAAAAAQSk/aYhS_YPy5Xk/s1600-h/CastleDome2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="CastleDome2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="CastleDome2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZJqrKOJ9Uow/WNQPp9CkRWI/AAAAAAAAQSo/-FO6v4Tf7jY/CastleDome2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="359" height="304"></a>Later in the week brought us a a touch of oddball mixed with historical in a visit to Castle Dome, a recreated mining town featuring abandoned buildings and artifacts dating back to the late 1800's. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rFrtid3fRRU/WNQPrbkgi5I/AAAAAAAAQSs/G_SWSHUcrz0/s1600-h/CastleDome3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="CastleDome3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="CastleDome3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-REEPsgtukXQ/WNQPsrdUAEI/AAAAAAAAQSw/dMN70oSjBgQ/CastleDome3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" height="137"></a>Similar to many towns of the west, this ghost town of silver mines showcases items not only of mining endeavors but the simple, everyday things used to make a living and life out in the desert. We all found it amazing people seemingly dropped everything and walked away when it no longer remained profitable. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"></font></font> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GW0Yd4-xsMw/WNQPvP2qDuI/AAAAAAAAQS0/NkQykEoAlaM/s1600-h/CloudMuseum%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="CloudMuseum" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="CloudMuseum" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-isxR2glXlhk/WNQPwV3y0NI/AAAAAAAAQS4/h6RQ8GdGrUw/CloudMuseum_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="202" align="left" height="244"></a>For a touch of quirky blended with historical the Cloud Museum, just outside of Bard California, fills the bill. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wlhii0vfEEc/WNQP0oz2KWI/AAAAAAAAQS8/CtfM261LEoY/s1600-h/IMG_20170314_143249939%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_20170314_143249939" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_20170314_143249939" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W8WfLZF5WWI/WNQP2OF3D6I/AAAAAAAAQTA/RYKMsWqjF1k/IMG_20170314_143249939_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" align="right" height="244"></a>Covering over 2 acres the museum , as noted by the Model T Ford Club of America, “probably the largest collection of Model Ts in the world; each and every one lovingly returned to running condition by Johnny Cloud. No idle boast as Johnny will gladly start up any of the vehicles despite the dilapidated, rusty, exterior.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Though mostly known for the vehicles, there is also an eclectic collection of period tools ranging from industrial applications to those commonly found in the home in years gone by. Mr. Cloud is usually less than a shout away and seems to have a sixth sense if you have a question regarding any of the exhibits or artifacts.<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u17N6sS71Gw/WNQP3unWpwI/AAAAAAAAQTE/YKp1SFxqniY/s1600-h/IMG_20170314_144517567%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_20170314_144517567" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_20170314_144517567" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8sdwwTIMOA8/WNQP4uXdhSI/AAAAAAAAQTI/8BKqvHRPutM/IMG_20170314_144517567_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="630" height="356"></a></font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qoMtBE4QyxI/WNQP6GXFkLI/AAAAAAAAQTM/RvDRNiO5-FI/s1600-h/IMG_20170320_150056790%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_20170320_150056790" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_20170320_150056790" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ofPoCJG0K68/WNQP65xF4RI/AAAAAAAAQTQ/vPyXdTgKow0/IMG_20170320_150056790_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="72" align="left" height="42"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k5-3NDmwM74/WNQP8LrbvfI/AAAAAAAAQTU/BUWI3fwOkqI/s1600-h/Oatman1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Oatman1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Oatman1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t3ikAJHHK_o/WNQP84ajXwI/AAAAAAAAQTY/4EXWscIf7uU/Oatman1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" height="182"></a>For truly oddball we recalled information from our travels down here last year describing another mining town where the tools of the prospectors left to fend for themselves are now in charge. I speak of the donkeys of Oatman and while they are considered wild because no one owns them they are demonstrably quite civilized in their behavior. This calm demeanor could be their personality but I’m thinking a good portion of their considerable patience results from waiting for the next opportunity to part tourists from purchased carrots and feed pellets. The cost to the donkey? Enduring camera flashes and an occasional scratch behind an ear.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h2dDE08CK0c/WNQQNPnUmjI/AAAAAAAAQTc/L77yrcOCI48/s1600-h/Oatman2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Oatman2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Oatman2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ag02VwfV3hM/WNQQOBgJccI/AAAAAAAAQTg/Ta_Ug_bcc10/Oatman2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" height="204"></a>Located on old route 66 which is also the main street of Oatman, the donkeys can be found wandering outside and in some cases inside the shops filled with local artwork, curiosities and sundry trinkets in this quaint assortment of Americana. </font></font></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><span lang="en">Our own role as tourists has come to the end for we are now slowly wending our way back north. We are hoping to drag a bit of the summer with us as we come. We’ll have to see.</span></font></font></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-59967709943956163472017-03-07T08:07:00.000-08:002017-03-08T14:04:36.930-08:00<h2 style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Where are the little
people? – Yuma</span></h2>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5ZtY4EpbYub8ccMX2nvX3MANtcKPOwcZT3VnDXmHA_XdFmbrowalmYoXeUh2DCsppNieDTqCTC1s-ZuXeR28jP6Wj6BqcCszHP-Z61n5Q4ciYx0KXIc9e-d4vFOAkTa5Y462WZwmEv0/s1600/clowns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5ZtY4EpbYub8ccMX2nvX3MANtcKPOwcZT3VnDXmHA_XdFmbrowalmYoXeUh2DCsppNieDTqCTC1s-ZuXeR28jP6Wj6BqcCszHP-Z61n5Q4ciYx0KXIc9e-d4vFOAkTa5Y462WZwmEv0/s400/clowns.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This
week will mark the second month we've been down here and it just
dawned on us, probably due to the grandkid's birthday; there are very
few little humans about. Okay, I'll grant you school is in session so
they've been locked up as they should but even on weekends we've not
seen much more than a handful. Short of creepily hanging out at
playgrounds and schoolyards, we probably won't see the critters much
and to be honest, I sort of miss the miniature terrorists.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of
course, when I do begin to ponder on such critical things invariably
along come proofs where it is not a lack of the children but rather
my observation skills having fallen woefully short once again. An
example was just last night when, while minding my own business
hunting down the not so illusive ice cream parlor, a sound rivaling
at least a hundred screeching chalk boards arose. Thinking they were
filming another episode of Jurassic Park I rushed to see what was
going on. Sadly, upon rounding the corner the truth was revealed as
we were presented with a 3 foot tall tantrum spewing young male of
the species who simply was gong to die if he did not have the bright
orange shoestrings instead of the lime green ones.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now
that I write about it, more examples begin to flood back into my mind
as I review the memories. Its sort of like playing a movie of a train
wreck over and over to capture each and every nuance. For instance
when I was observing the cereal aisle theorem of snowbird Walmarts
versus local Walmarts I do now recall seeing the crumb snatching,
curtain climbing, mucus factories loudly proclaiming what brightly
colored box of sugary fluff they preferred and had to have RIGHT NOW!</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don't
get me wrong, I like children, especially those who go home with
someone else. As a keen observer of the human condition there is
quite a bit of entertainment to be had when you have parents and
their children out in the “wild” so to speak. The interaction and
resulting chaos stemming from adults attempting to create structured
environments outside of the home is something to behold and
definitely defies description. </span>
</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If
you are just starting as an observer you will quickly find this is
not true when it is grandparents out with their grandkids. First off,
while they may be considered adults, grandparents are often times
living through their second, third, or more childhood (or have simply
forgotten they are adults). Yes, there is a possibility I'm speaking
from personal experience. </span>
</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
digress. Back to the subject at hand, one of the primary reasons for
the grandparent/grandkid contradiction is simply put, because the
children do eventually go back home with someone else. This relieves
the grandparent of any obligation of creating a structured
environment and/or establishing any rules of conduct. For my son when
he reads this, now you know why we buy the loud, obnoxious toys
instead of the soft quiet ones. We can easily imagine all the fun you
are having.</span></div>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-T4QK7RIqDv2w-1QT4_oZ7p84TmMUWvQr8UVvVtngf6UlMCuf5t9dLlUpmuelpQLsXTzpSO3eOyUCst4cS2Z3xh1TYGxLiR5I1ad0PLhSRXDnUsAlQZmc0Q3f0REwkAZBJVDmcsImvI/s1600/crazies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-T4QK7RIqDv2w-1QT4_oZ7p84TmMUWvQr8UVvVtngf6UlMCuf5t9dLlUpmuelpQLsXTzpSO3eOyUCst4cS2Z3xh1TYGxLiR5I1ad0PLhSRXDnUsAlQZmc0Q3f0REwkAZBJVDmcsImvI/s400/crazies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enough
drivel. I wrote about kids because I find myself missing our
grandkids this week as they celebrate their birthdays – yes, we did
mail off some loud, obnoxious toys. To Rebecca and Ariel, happy
birthday. Talk your parents into taking you to the store. Visit the
cereal aisle.</span></div>
C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-49727472078565447392017-02-25T16:31:00.000-08:002017-02-25T16:33:39.475-08:00A little of this, a little of that - Yuma<p> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fvC2NXuLmlg/WLIhxR7TagI/AAAAAAAAP50/CETH5woQhik/s1600-h/rainy_day_HDR%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="rainy_day_HDR" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="rainy_day_HDR" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--B6_ZMty24Q/WLIhyHNIAkI/AAAAAAAAP54/ZvBY7s2L64A/rainy_day_HDR_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" align="right" height="270"></a>Last week we had high winds and dust storms followed by an odd occurance for Yuma - rain. Being past camp hosts in Oregon and hence considered experts in the quality of rain, I must say we were impressed. For almost a full 24 hours we had a steady albeit light rain fall; some say it seemed like the yearly rainfall for Yuma all wrapped into one day. After the 3 days of strong winds and dust storms it was a welcome relief and an air cleanser for sure. Now to dispose of the sand dunes inside the motorhome.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">One of the questions we got this past month is “What neat things have you seen?” and that brings us to a confession of sorts. For the most part, we have tended to stay close to the motorhome and not really do the tourist thing. We work on our hobbies, read, do maintenance and basically just kick back. It boils down to what we are doing and full-timing is a lifestyle, not just a never ending vacation. Shoot, if we stayed in vacation mode every day we would quickly become totally exhausted and definitely pennyless. So, we do what most people do in a home, ours just has wheels and okay, yea, we go vacation mode alot more often.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jgmX0WUSV6c/WLIhywD4HXI/AAAAAAAAP58/Q8gXUJyomh0/s1600-h/roadrunner2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="roadrunner2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="roadrunner2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JyQ-TdqA7bw/WLIhzqe5eeI/AAAAAAAAP6A/WS4CEVFEr70/roadrunner2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="295" align="left" height="232"></a>Case in point, my sister and brother-in-law will be arriving down here in about a week and in anticipation of their vacation, we have put off visiting some of the more popular sights so we have something we can experience together. I figure this coming month will be our vacation too. Of course that doesn't mean we haven't already done some neat stuff on our own. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">As you might have gathered in our last entry “Observations” we do spend a good deal of time people watching and in order to do so, we have had to visit those places where people tend to congregate. While Walmart can be an outstanding place to observe the human condition, another more realistic one is a venue called The Arizona Marketplace. This outdoor flea market initially had us envisioning something like the massive market we found in Quartzsite last year. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3BpcYP3hbzw/WLIh0Xk5gaI/AAAAAAAAP6E/pfoVPWHWaD0/s1600-h/marketplace%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="marketplace" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="marketplace" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X9o6EG8QZ7w/WLIh1BoajJI/AAAAAAAAP6I/qLbUuhI1sow/marketplace_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="171" align="right" height="301"></a>Sadly, that wasn't the case during our first visit with vendors outnumbering the shoppers probably 2 to 1. At first I was a bit confused, here we were in a relatively warm, sheltered marketplace with all sorts of things to see and yet there weren't very many people. Okay, I'm just a tad slow – the reason there were so few people was they were all at the show in Quartzsite! Since the RV show concluded things have picked up in earnest and our weekly visit to the marketplace is now often met crowds that make it difficult to walk the aisles without bumping into someone. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">On the bright side, the large number of people make for excellent people watching conditions and unlike Walmart we get the added bonus of the occasional people with pets. Interesting side note here: things can get really fun if you happen to have a squeaky toy. Not that I would ever carry a squeaky toy – out in the open. We'll leave it at that.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Tonight we'll be cooking outdoors. Nothing special since we usually do so when the weather allows. I only mention it because we will be dining with the sunset.</font></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0IBfYGST314/WLIh1-e916I/AAAAAAAAP6M/o2nSgqq5cYk/s1600-h/sunrise_yuma_1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="sunrise_yuma_1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="sunrise_yuma_1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-miR6g3h0qMQ/WLIh2g8gD5I/AAAAAAAAP6Q/01KsxbkIhVc/sunrise_yuma_1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="282"></a></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7236739435130909680.post-78117625461600413632017-02-10T12:47:00.000-08:002017-02-10T12:50:15.422-08:00Yuma – Observations<p> </p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WrXtkoo5lOg/WJ4m2xdkPyI/AAAAAAAAP0Y/hrwMhwQhIfU/s1600-h/IMG_20170206_111228881%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_20170206_111228881" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_20170206_111228881" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3erXiIFP-8k/WJ4m3qdNqvI/AAAAAAAAP0c/BZa1nKyETRs/IMG_20170206_111228881_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="293" align="right" height="389"></a>What is RV'ing? To travel to new and exciting places so you can park and fix the things you broke while traveling to new and exciting places.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">In the urban dictionary a snowbird is an elderly yankee who travels south when it is too cold in the northern climes of New York, Ohio or Michigan. Meriam-Webster generalized the brand more by saying a snowbird is “one who travels to warm climes for the winter”. While this last definition makes it difficult, I maintain Chris and I are not snowbirds but rather declare we are Weather Explorers. Further, we specialize in discovering and residing in mild to moderate weather areas. This tough job is fraught with risks such as mornings with frost and even the odd chance of having to use an air conditioner. </font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Probably easier to simply think of us as storm chasers without the storms.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Being weather explorers in constant search of our speciality we find ourselves residing in places typically associated with the snowbird genre. As a result we also quite often become erroneously classified as snowbirders. To clarify this common case of mistaken identity, Chris and I have come up with several characteristics to assist the observer. While some of the differences may be very subtle, two techniques have a proven track record and by using just these you can quickly spot snowbirders in their natural environment - out in the wild so to speak.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ooiwjP22XP0/WJ4m4fv_a2I/AAAAAAAAP0g/pL8Bq-q2fMM/s1600-h/row_end1%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="row_end1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="row_end1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T2-F5g46y3Q/WJ4m5BPRSvI/AAAAAAAAP0k/bq9R8vE3NiU/row_end1_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" align="left" height="327"></a>When first encountering what you believe may be a weather explorer or snowbirder you will need to make a gender assumption. If the gender is believed to be female, your next observation will at the head. If male, your next look should be directed at the feet. The reason will become clear shortly.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Weather explorers, particularily those with a mild to moderate weather speciality tend to not worry too much about their hair. Headgear such as hats are not for style but to provide shade or protection from variances in the weather (usually encounterd during moderate conditions – see rain). Snowbirders on the other hand are usually well turned out and take great care in not developing “hat hair”. When hatless, the female snowbirder can be quickly categorized by the purple, blue, or pink hair tints. Note, some experience is now required to distinguish intentional coloring from unintentional consequences of attempting to hide grey or white hair.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">The male snowbirder is easily spotted by the combination of knee socks and sandals. A confirmation of this will be the bright plaid long golfing shorts worn in combination. Conversely old, worn, flip flops are a virtual sure sign of a weather explorer.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TDAvxfXKXAo/WJ4m5glBSNI/AAAAAAAAP0o/KzWGFlKkHX0/s1600-h/massage%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="massage" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="massage" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--hzgK2F9pLw/WJ4m6dKAeHI/AAAAAAAAP0s/MolUWpdEqp8/massage_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="496" height="297"></a></font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%" align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, sans-serif"><em>Obvious snowbird trap. No challenge. Avoid when possible.</em></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">There are many other differences and we highly recommend those of you who wish to perfect your observation skills to identify potential snowbird gathering areas. We recommend honing your skills while still challenging yourself by avoiding the obvious areas such as flea markets, anywhere in Florida, or Branson Misouri. Here are three common and easy ways to spot gathering areas:</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">First up, look to the grocery stores. Areas with multiple stores in fairly close proximity will need a bit of scouting out to ensure your time is not wasted. Yuma Arizona is a fine example with multiple Walmarts, Albertsons and some other grocery stores. A really quick and easy way to see if the store caters to the locals or to a snowbird population is to visit the cereal aisle. Any store that is fully stocked with sugary, cartooney covered cereal boxes yet has a descimated shredded wheat shelf (or other fiber type cereal) will definitely be a target rich environment heavily frequented by snowbirds.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">Another dead give away? This one applies to stores having food court or other fast food type restaraunt within. The first clue will be if there is a line of shopping carts outside of the eating area with groceries bagged and waiting. Almost guaranteed, if you take a peek inside you will hit the jackpot with a plethora of snowbirds in their habitual light cotton plaid shirts, bermuda shorts and socks inside their sandals. For the most part, they will all be having a small ice cream cone.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">A bit tougher one is the restaraunt and can require some research combined with on-scene scouting. Establishments offering buy one get one free, all you can eat, or have a history of serving very generous portions that can be split will be excellent candidates. If the parking lot is full between 4:30pm and 6:30pm yet empties out completely by 7:30pm your chances have improved expotentially. With this in mind, understand thepossibility of snowbird spotting is dramatically reduced the closer you approach the 7:30pm nesting time.</font></font></p> <p lang="en" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="3">There are so many other ways to spot the snowbird and Chris and I encourage you to discover your own particular style. Just know there are also Weather Explorers like us out there and we aren't afraid of snow or bad storms; we just prefer to stay within our specialty.</font></font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MRYxD-bjnjo/WJ4m612At9I/AAAAAAAAP0w/eg-xc_7csCs/s1600-h/stress1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="stress1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="stress1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DtCd5vEHI1Y/WJ4m7uQMkXI/AAAAAAAAP00/1lj35Qs0tJQ/stress1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="605" height="355"></a></p>C n D Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649274933656727384noreply@blogger.com0