December 25, 2010 Saturday Christmas Day

 December 21st we were in Daggett, CA at the Desert Springs RV Park We had supper in the little bar and grill that is on the park grounds.  Fun little place with really good burgers.  Cost for the night was $27.00.  Nice clean park. 

When we left Daggett on the 22nd it was raining.  It had rained all night and we heard there were mudslides and flooding in California and in AZ where we were heading.  We also heard they were expecting hail to come through Daggett so we left earlier than expected to stay ahead of the bad weather.

Road to Earp, CA This is probably the worst of the flooding we saw.

their drain system, called a wash.  You can see there's no flooding here either

 We fueled up in Daggett, CA $270 and had driven 1169 miles from home.

This first video is driving into Parker, AZ

This video is driving into the Emerald Cove RV Park.

We arrived Emerald Cove RV Park right on schedule.  $165 for 14 nights.  Can you imagine what a hotel would cost?  We spent the day setting up, relaxed, enjoyed the warm weather and went to bed late.  They go by AZ time here and we were still on WA time. 

The 23rd, we were up as usual; the day was bright and sunny.  Went to a   b o r i n g   line dancing class but what do you expect after Zumba?  Met a couple ladies interested in Zumba-ing with me on Monday.  We'll see if they show up.  I think I'll go to a Zumba class in Lake Havasu City in the evening on Monday.

Anyway, Chuck washed the car and RV while I was gone.

24th - We took a ride to Quartzsite, AZ to figure out where we'll boondock (that's camping with no services) in January.  We're meeting some Billings friends there around the middle of January.  We found an RV parts store open and bought a couple items he needed. It was a beautifully sunny day for a ride and about 69 degrees.

Called and talked to Pat, Chris, Penny and Brian to wish them all a Merry Christmas.


25th  Merry Christmas!!

Another beautiful sunny warm day!  We drove back to Lake Havasu City (about 35 miles) to see the movie True Grit.  A very interesting version of the old movie.  We both liked it and ate too much popcorn.  We love movies and have been watching a few more here at home today.

Highway 95 south going through Lk Havasu City

Parker Dam near our RV park

looking through fencing on top of Parker Dam

 Got to talk to my favorite son!!  Jen is in Canada skiing so can't call her.  I really enjoyed talking to family Christmas eve and our son, Jack, today.

Tomorrow I will probably have to catch up on some laundry.  We always start our Sunday with coffee and the Sunday paper.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

December 20, 2010

Tri Mountain RV Park, Ridgefield, WA
December 16, 2010

RV Park of Portland, December 17 and 18, 2010 Actually Tualatin, OR

December 18th, when we were in Tigard, OR, I attended a Zumba fitness workshop and am now officially an instructor.  Had the very best time ever but how could I not.  The energy in that room was amazing! 

Gina Grant, Zumba Instructor and one of the originals

December 19th we left the Tirgard/Tualatin, OR area and headed south on I 5, Sunday morning.  It was sunny but pretty cold by our standards.

At this point, we've driven 177 miles from Lake Sawyer RV Park in  Maple Valley, WA

We were pretty worried about the mountain pass on the OR CA border called the Siskiyous but they turned out to be warm, slushy and not so bad.  We wanted to get through there as we heard another front was coming through bringing lots of moisture.

We drove as far as we could after getting over the mountains but it turned out to be dark by the time we got to the RV park for the night.  Not the best park.

 This park might have been avoided if we had found it in the daylight.  Not our usual RV park choice but hey, it was dark and we were tired and it was raining.

looking out our side window

Looking out to the right from our windshield.  Can anyone say "Ma and Pa Kettle"?

It's actually run by some really nice men, very friendly and I think in the summertime, it would be a great place to go fishing and sightseeing. But a good lesson on how not to choose an RV park in the dark. 

We left this morning heading to Gustine, CA and had to stop for fuel and coffee.  Fuel was $274.00 but we drove 389 miles since leaving Lk Sawyer, Maple Valley, WA

We love these truckstops!  They have everything!  Even showers!  They really cater to the trucker nicely and the coffee is super strong and wonderful!

TA (Travel America) Truckstop, Redding, CA

We will be getting to our next stop we hope before dark but this next park has a website, be a little leery if they don't.  Last night the Trail In had no web site.   The website looks super nice and clean.  www.santanellarvpark.com

December 17, 2010 Friday

It's 10:40 am and we're leaving Ridgefield, Wa heading to Tualatin or Portland RV Park.  Tuallatin, Portland and Tigard all kind of run together.

The sun is shining and it's such a pretty day.  It was a little cold last night and there was frost on the car windows.

We had an amazing meatloaf dinner at Jen's last night, Grandpa got to spend some quality time with his grandsons while Jen and I were at her Zumba class.  She is an amazing instructor and should be very successful!  Her partner, too, they work very well together and compliment each other.  You wouldn't even know those two were new instructors........very professional and had an amazing class.  Thank you Jen and Tanya.

We're about ready to hit the road..........more later.

Tomorrow is the big day but I don't want to talk about it or think about it.

December 16, 2010

Left Lake Sawyer RV Park about 9am.  Cloudy but yet sunny and a bit cold.

Stopped in Fife for fuel:  $220 to fill up which will get us to the CA border.  Should have to fill up at least two more times.  We use diesel which costs a bit more than regular.

Lots of semis on the road but about the normal amount.  Then, of course, they disappear when you take a picture!  Still sunny at mile marker 44 on I 5 South.

 

 

Pixie and Frank love to travel!!

Will be there real soon at Tri Mountain RV Park in Ridgefield.  Will give Jen a call so we know when she's home to go over there.  It's 11:36 am right now.

Heading South in the AM

Gifts are bought, packages wrapped and mailed, tanks are full,  prescriptions filled, that's important you know, tires are checked, GPS loaded with necessary park  info, mail taken care of, bills paid, chassis checked, seeyas said and we're ready to roll!

We leave sometime in the morning tomorrow heading to Ridgefield, WA (Tri Mountain RV Park) to see Jen and I'll take in one of her new Zumba fitness classes tomorrow night.  We'll say our "seeyas" and be on the road again Friday morning heading to Portland. (RVPark of Portland)

Tigard, Or is our destination for a workshop on Saturday for me and then we'll leave Tigard Sunday morning.

We'll be going south on I5 and will be listening to the weather to make sure the Siskiyous are passable and if not, we'll cut over to the coast and take Hwy 101 south.

Pictures coming soon!

New Update!

 

Picture of the desolate Lake Sawyer Park

Taken out our kitchen window

We leave Lake Sawyer RV Park on Thursday, today is Tuesday, (see my last post for our schedule for the next few months) and will head south to Ridgefield, WA and we'll be staying at Tri Mountain RV Park in Ridgefield right on I 5 and about 5 minutes from Jen!

I'll take in her Zumba class Thursday night, say our goodbyes, and we'll leave for Tigard, OR. Friday morning.  We'll stay at the RV Park of Portland for two nights, leaving Tigard, OR. on Sunday morning.

The weather has been really weird with a tornado in Salem, OR. today, just 100 miles south of Jen.  Last night we had winds that blew in every direction and the whole park has been without power since 1am last night.  Good thing we have a healthy generator.

We can't wait to get out of this weird weather.  We've been known to take the rain with us, however, so let's hope we don't this time.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.  I won't be getting Christmas cards sent out this year! 

Update

December 7 and 8 - take the motorhome to Frieghtliner for a safety inspection

December 16 - leave Black Diamond and stop by Jen's in Ridgefield, WA

December 17 - leave Ridgefield, Wa and arrive Tigard, OR

December 18 - Zumba workshop

December 19 - leave Tigard and head south through California
 and cut across at Bakersfield

December 22 - arrive Earp, CA Emerald Cove RV Park - our favorite park
Christmas dinner and New Year's Eve party, karaoke in the bar

December 25 - Merry Christmas

January 1 - Happy New Year

January 5 - leave Earp, Ca arrive Bull Head City, AZ

Januray 19 - leave Bull Head City, AZ arrive Quartzsite, AZ
Dry camping (boondocking) for 1 week.  Take in the BIG TENT RV show, meet friends from Billings, MT

January 31 - leave Quartzsite, AZ arrive Winterhaven, CA Pilot Knob RV Park
have lunch and shopping in Algadones, Mexico a few times (this is where we went into Mexico with the Missionaries last year)

February 1 - 15th - leave Winterhaven, CA arrive Casa Grande, AZ


February 15 - 22 Casa Grande, AZ  leave and head ??????


Might not get into Texas this year as we think we'd rather go west and spend some time in southern California

This is all tentative right now but hopefully will work out this way.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!