April 20th - Fri - Jackson, WY
We went touring through Grand Teton National Park today. Not all the roads were open and clouds were hanging around the tops of the mountains so it was an abbreviated drive. We drove through snow coming to Jackson so our truck and 5th wheel were filthy. We cleaned them up a bit and then listened to the rain later!!
April 21st - Sat - to Idaho!
Took off this morning to head a little further south in Idaho. Spent some time in a casino just north of Pocatello and I talked to my sister on the phone. My Dad is in the hospital waiting for surgery to correct a blood circulation problem and is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday. So we decided to drive to Canada!
We drove to the 10,000 Silver Dollar Bar in Montana - once Terry has a plan and a destination there is no stopping him!
April 22nd - Sun - to Spokane
We had to get rid of some alcohol to get across the border into Canada so we decided to leave it a Terry’s Mom’s place in Spokane. Also wanted to pick up our mail while we were there. So we visited with good friends Bill & Georgia and then spent the night with Terry’s Mom. Our “change oil” message came on in the truck while we were driving on Saturday so Terry looked after that today as well.
April 23rd - Mon - to Kamloops, BC
Took off early today, picked up our mail and drove to Kamloops. Found an RV park fairly close to the hospital. Cousin Pat & Rick joined us for a drink and then we stopped in to check on Dad. He was in good spirits since he finally is scheduled for surgery. Went to dinner with Pat & Rick.
April 24th - Tues - Kamloops
Visited with Dad this morning and passed the time by showing him pictures on our computer. Surgery was scheduled for 2:00 so we did a bit of grocery shopping and came back to the rig. My cousin Bill who works at the hospital called at 6:45 to say that the surgeon had called him to say everything went well. At 8:30 he called again to say that Dad was in ICU and we could go see him. He was wide awake and feeling great.
April 25th - Wed - Kamloops
Sister Marg came from 100 Mile House this morning to spend the day and night with us. Just when we went to see Dad he was being moved from ICU to the surgery ward. So we visited for a couple of hours and then left him to rest. We went grocery shopping as we had invited cousin Bill and his wife Carol for dinner. Marg & I left Terry cooking ribs and went back to see Dad again before we had dinner. When we go back, Bill & Carol were here so we spent a lovely evening eating and visiting.
We do not have internet access so we are going to try to find somewhere tomorrow where we can get connected and post this blog.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
April 17th to 19th - UT,WY
April 17th - Tues - to Jensen, UT
Yesterday we stopped at an RV service place to see about getting a nut welded back onto our rear stabilizer and they said to come by at 9:30 on our way out of town. When we went there, the welder was gone and we were told that he should be back in a couple of hours so we could just hang around and wait! Not bloody likely!!
I think we have been ignoring Wanda’s (GPS) instructions too much as she sent us on a steep road over a mountain - Hwy 139 north from I-70 just over the border into Colorado. It was very scenic though - out of the desert and into green. By the time we hit the tourist information and got set up there wasn’t enough time to do much so we went and checked out nearby Vernal and fueled up - at $3.06.
While we were sitting outside enjoying the sunshine, a guy drove by in a pickup with a welder in the back. He dropped off another guy and drove out past our site. So Terry flagged him down and asked if he could/would weld the nut for us. Not only did he weld it, but he would not accept any money for doing so! He said that life was treating him well and he could do a favor for someone.
Later in the evening it clouded up and we had some lovely displays of sheet lightening and some rain.
April 18th - Wed - Jensen, UT
I guess we are just jinxed! The wind will not stop!
We went to Dinosaur National Monument. The main exhibit is a “dig” with bones left partially exposed. Unfortunately, the building was found to be unsound in July so it is closed. We are not interested enough in old bones and such to go for walks looking for barely visible fossils. Ended up back at the rig deciding on our next stop(s) and doing some reorganizing and a couple of small repairs. Then went out way too often to readjust the satellite dish as the wind kept knocking it out of alignment.
April 19th - Thurs - to Jackson, WY
Long day of driving today. We went to Craig, CO and then north into Wyoming. We could have taken a shorter route through the Flaming Gorge area but it is a very steep, windy road and there was snow all around us last night so we thought we better avoid it. We were going to stay in Rawlins, WY but it was still windy and there was snow and mountains everywhere (duh, we are in the Rockies!) so we decided to head a little west and try to get out of the snow. So, with Jackson, WY know for skiing, you’d think there would be more snow here but there isn’t. And there is no wind! We actually did not think we would get this far but we could not find an RV spot sooner.
We were coming this way to go through Yellowstone as Terry saw an ad for Yellowstone on TV (he thought). Well, when we got our campsite, the guy told us that Yellowstone is not open yet. Back to the drawing board!
Yesterday we stopped at an RV service place to see about getting a nut welded back onto our rear stabilizer and they said to come by at 9:30 on our way out of town. When we went there, the welder was gone and we were told that he should be back in a couple of hours so we could just hang around and wait! Not bloody likely!!
I think we have been ignoring Wanda’s (GPS) instructions too much as she sent us on a steep road over a mountain - Hwy 139 north from I-70 just over the border into Colorado. It was very scenic though - out of the desert and into green. By the time we hit the tourist information and got set up there wasn’t enough time to do much so we went and checked out nearby Vernal and fueled up - at $3.06.
While we were sitting outside enjoying the sunshine, a guy drove by in a pickup with a welder in the back. He dropped off another guy and drove out past our site. So Terry flagged him down and asked if he could/would weld the nut for us. Not only did he weld it, but he would not accept any money for doing so! He said that life was treating him well and he could do a favor for someone.
Later in the evening it clouded up and we had some lovely displays of sheet lightening and some rain.
April 18th - Wed - Jensen, UT
I guess we are just jinxed! The wind will not stop!
We went to Dinosaur National Monument. The main exhibit is a “dig” with bones left partially exposed. Unfortunately, the building was found to be unsound in July so it is closed. We are not interested enough in old bones and such to go for walks looking for barely visible fossils. Ended up back at the rig deciding on our next stop(s) and doing some reorganizing and a couple of small repairs. Then went out way too often to readjust the satellite dish as the wind kept knocking it out of alignment.
April 19th - Thurs - to Jackson, WY
Long day of driving today. We went to Craig, CO and then north into Wyoming. We could have taken a shorter route through the Flaming Gorge area but it is a very steep, windy road and there was snow all around us last night so we thought we better avoid it. We were going to stay in Rawlins, WY but it was still windy and there was snow and mountains everywhere (duh, we are in the Rockies!) so we decided to head a little west and try to get out of the snow. So, with Jackson, WY know for skiing, you’d think there would be more snow here but there isn’t. And there is no wind! We actually did not think we would get this far but we could not find an RV spot sooner.
We were coming this way to go through Yellowstone as Terry saw an ad for Yellowstone on TV (he thought). Well, when we got our campsite, the guy told us that Yellowstone is not open yet. Back to the drawing board!
Monday, April 16, 2007
April 15th to 16th - Moab
April15th - Sun - Moab
Truly nasty weather again today with wind all day. So we packed up all the laundry and went into town to get it done. The RV park only has 2 washers and driers and we had 6 loads so I would have monopolized the machines for half the day. It did not rain until after Terry had barbequed some steaks in the wind.
April 16th - Mon - Moab
Not to always go on about the weather but it does play a large part in the life of people living in an RV where chores don’t take a lot of time!
Actually, it was nice this morning so after I got a haircut we drove a few miles to a tourist attraction called “Hole N’ the Rock”. It was a fun place. In the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s a couple carved into a huge rock to create a diner. Then they continued blasting and drilling into the rock to end up with a 5000 sq. ft. house. We took the short tour of the house and it was quite amazing. The husband died in 1955 and the wife in 1972 so the house has been only a tourist attraction since then. You could not take pictures in the house. It was divided into rooms only by remaining pillars of original rock - no walls except for the bathrooms. Still furnished with original, now antique, items. The whole grounds have fun “stuff” all over and I did get pictures there. Wandered around shops in town for a while and came back to the rig for a late lunch. Just in time - a storm moved through with thunder, hail & rain along with the ever present wind.
Truly nasty weather again today with wind all day. So we packed up all the laundry and went into town to get it done. The RV park only has 2 washers and driers and we had 6 loads so I would have monopolized the machines for half the day. It did not rain until after Terry had barbequed some steaks in the wind.
April 16th - Mon - Moab
Not to always go on about the weather but it does play a large part in the life of people living in an RV where chores don’t take a lot of time!
Actually, it was nice this morning so after I got a haircut we drove a few miles to a tourist attraction called “Hole N’ the Rock”. It was a fun place. In the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s a couple carved into a huge rock to create a diner. Then they continued blasting and drilling into the rock to end up with a 5000 sq. ft. house. We took the short tour of the house and it was quite amazing. The husband died in 1955 and the wife in 1972 so the house has been only a tourist attraction since then. You could not take pictures in the house. It was divided into rooms only by remaining pillars of original rock - no walls except for the bathrooms. Still furnished with original, now antique, items. The whole grounds have fun “stuff” all over and I did get pictures there. Wandered around shops in town for a while and came back to the rig for a late lunch. Just in time - a storm moved through with thunder, hail & rain along with the ever present wind.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
April 14th - Moab
April 14th - Sat - Moab
Guess it is not winter - just spring with something different every day. Clear and sunny this morning with little wind. Ran out of propane halfway through making French toast for breakfast so that was the first errand of the day. Did a quick clean-up on the truck before heading out.
Went to Canyonlands National Park today. It is a HUGE park with 3 sections with separate access. We went to the north section - Islands in the Sky. Some wind but we were comfortable taking walks in short sleeves and long pants. More amazing scenery - totally different from the red rocks of Arches National Park less than 30 miles away.
Sat out in the sun to read, cook ribs and chat with a Canadian (Ontario) neighbor. Cooled off the minute the sun went behind the 5th wheel however. We have WiFi access in our rig which is great.
Guess it is not winter - just spring with something different every day. Clear and sunny this morning with little wind. Ran out of propane halfway through making French toast for breakfast so that was the first errand of the day. Did a quick clean-up on the truck before heading out.
Went to Canyonlands National Park today. It is a HUGE park with 3 sections with separate access. We went to the north section - Islands in the Sky. Some wind but we were comfortable taking walks in short sleeves and long pants. More amazing scenery - totally different from the red rocks of Arches National Park less than 30 miles away.
Sat out in the sun to read, cook ribs and chat with a Canadian (Ontario) neighbor. Cooled off the minute the sun went behind the 5th wheel however. We have WiFi access in our rig which is great.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
April 12th to 13th - Moab, UT
April 12th - Thurs - Cortez
It is winter again! Continued wind and some snow mixed with rain yesterday evening and night. Still windy and cloudy in the morning but we decided to go check out Mesa Verde National Park anyhow. Drove through heavy rain but just before the park the rain stopped and it started to clear. This park is noted for the cliff dwellings used by Indian farmers from 1500 to 700 years ago. They farmed on top of the mesas and build their dwellings in ledges in the cliffs. Scientists think they built in the cliffs to protect them from the winter cold and shade them from the summer sun.
The wind dropped enough that it was pleasant to walk on some of the viewpoints and down to the dwelling across from the museum. It ended up being a lovely day. We figured there were probably fewer visitors and less traffic than there might have been if the weather had been warmer.
April 13th - Friday - to Moab, UT
We listened to the forecasts for storms in the Rockies and decided to move on. Short (138 miles) drive to Moab today. The discount park (CampClub USA) was pretty full but they found a spot for us. Made some lunch and left to explore the town. Decided that we had enough time to go to Arches National Park. It was still windy but had warmed up some so I was able to talk Terry into walking on some trails for better views of some arches. Incredible scenery!! The road climbs very quickly once in the park and then winds around for about 13 miles in the park with the return on the same road.
Hit the grocery store on the way back to pick up something to cook inside - still not nice enough for the barbeque.
It is winter again! Continued wind and some snow mixed with rain yesterday evening and night. Still windy and cloudy in the morning but we decided to go check out Mesa Verde National Park anyhow. Drove through heavy rain but just before the park the rain stopped and it started to clear. This park is noted for the cliff dwellings used by Indian farmers from 1500 to 700 years ago. They farmed on top of the mesas and build their dwellings in ledges in the cliffs. Scientists think they built in the cliffs to protect them from the winter cold and shade them from the summer sun.
The wind dropped enough that it was pleasant to walk on some of the viewpoints and down to the dwelling across from the museum. It ended up being a lovely day. We figured there were probably fewer visitors and less traffic than there might have been if the weather had been warmer.
April 13th - Friday - to Moab, UT
We listened to the forecasts for storms in the Rockies and decided to move on. Short (138 miles) drive to Moab today. The discount park (CampClub USA) was pretty full but they found a spot for us. Made some lunch and left to explore the town. Decided that we had enough time to go to Arches National Park. It was still windy but had warmed up some so I was able to talk Terry into walking on some trails for better views of some arches. Incredible scenery!! The road climbs very quickly once in the park and then winds around for about 13 miles in the park with the return on the same road.
Hit the grocery store on the way back to pick up something to cook inside - still not nice enough for the barbeque.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
April 10th to 11th
April 10th - Tues - to Holbrook
We bypassed Flagstaff again and took I40 east for a ways to a tiny blip on the map called Sun Valley which is just past Holbrook, AZ. PA park, pretty primitive. The wind was really blowing. We drove through the Petrified Forest National Park which is in the Painted Desert. We would have appreciated the scenery more if we hadn’t been afraid of being blown off the edge the few times that we did get out. I got sandblasted once when I stepped out to get pictures. Back to the rig to make use of the satellite dish as the only place we wanted to be was out of the wind.
April 11th - Wed - to Cortez, CO
The wind wasn’t blowing too hard when we left this morning but a weather forecast said it would pick up again. No use staying another day as we had sort of planned to do. We drove to Gallup, NM and then headed north before going back west into Arizona for a few miles and then north into CO to arrive at the Four Corners monument. As the name says, it sits on the intersection of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah. The pictures that I took there are not good - I think some sand got into the lens cover and it did not open all the way. From there we headed to Cortez, CO. We stopped at a huge visitor center and had our choice of a lot of brochures about the area. is cool (46) and breezy - just right for a visit to WalMart where I found the shorts that I have been looking for and a few groceries.
We bypassed Flagstaff again and took I40 east for a ways to a tiny blip on the map called Sun Valley which is just past Holbrook, AZ. PA park, pretty primitive. The wind was really blowing. We drove through the Petrified Forest National Park which is in the Painted Desert. We would have appreciated the scenery more if we hadn’t been afraid of being blown off the edge the few times that we did get out. I got sandblasted once when I stepped out to get pictures. Back to the rig to make use of the satellite dish as the only place we wanted to be was out of the wind.
April 11th - Wed - to Cortez, CO
The wind wasn’t blowing too hard when we left this morning but a weather forecast said it would pick up again. No use staying another day as we had sort of planned to do. We drove to Gallup, NM and then headed north before going back west into Arizona for a few miles and then north into CO to arrive at the Four Corners monument. As the name says, it sits on the intersection of New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah. The pictures that I took there are not good - I think some sand got into the lens cover and it did not open all the way. From there we headed to Cortez, CO. We stopped at a huge visitor center and had our choice of a lot of brochures about the area. is cool (46) and breezy - just right for a visit to WalMart where I found the shorts that I have been looking for and a few groceries.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
April 8 to 9 - Prescott, AZ
April 8th - Sun - Prescott
Lots of room in the park so no change of plans today. Not far to travel so we all golfed in the afternoon. We wished that we had put long pants on instead of the shorts that we wore from Mesa. It was cool with the wind that was blowing - I think the temperature was about 70. Went for a bike ride around the park (it is pretty big) before settling in for the evening.
April 9th - Mon - Prescott
Yvonne and Barry played tour guide and we explored Prescott. There is a large “town square” around a courthouse and lots of fun shops to check out in the streets around the square. One place where we had to make a purchase was the ice cream shop! Then we took a ride through a section of town with some very nice houses. Prescott is a thriving town that is growing rapidly. It has much more “green” (bushes, trees) than the desert areas that we have traveled through. Almost the entire town is set on hills.
We stopped to visit the friends of Barry & Yvonne who came to see them in Mesa. Then we picked up some baby back ribs and had a nice dinner here at the park followed by a few games of “dice”. We’ll have to find out or make up a name for this dice game!
Lots of room in the park so no change of plans today. Not far to travel so we all golfed in the afternoon. We wished that we had put long pants on instead of the shorts that we wore from Mesa. It was cool with the wind that was blowing - I think the temperature was about 70. Went for a bike ride around the park (it is pretty big) before settling in for the evening.
April 9th - Mon - Prescott
Yvonne and Barry played tour guide and we explored Prescott. There is a large “town square” around a courthouse and lots of fun shops to check out in the streets around the square. One place where we had to make a purchase was the ice cream shop! Then we took a ride through a section of town with some very nice houses. Prescott is a thriving town that is growing rapidly. It has much more “green” (bushes, trees) than the desert areas that we have traveled through. Almost the entire town is set on hills.
We stopped to visit the friends of Barry & Yvonne who came to see them in Mesa. Then we picked up some baby back ribs and had a nice dinner here at the park followed by a few games of “dice”. We’ll have to find out or make up a name for this dice game!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
April 4 to 7 - Mesa / Spokane
April 4th - remainder of Wed
Here we go again with plans that don’t work out! We did not run into much traffic on the way to the airport so go there earlier than we thought we would. Parking at the airport is a mess and very expensive so I told Terry to just drop me off and we could each get something for dinner. When I got into the airport, my flight was ½ hour late - delayed in Denver for mechanical work. Later, it was reported as 50 minutes late which turned out to be pretty accurate. Landed in Spokane just after 11pm. GOOD friend Bill picked me up and dropped me off at EllaMae’s where I spent the night.
April 5th - Thurs - Spokane
SUCCESS!!! At 1:35 I finally was called for my 1:00 pm appointment, had fingerprints and picture done and a sticker put on my old green card to use until the new one reaches me in the mail. Took less than 10 minutes!
I spent the rest of the afternoon visiting friends and looking after some banking items. Had a good dinner with EllaMae and Don, did a bit of gardening (the weather was lovely) and got to bed early. Drove by our old house - looks pretty much the same, didn’t feel the least bit like I wish I was still there. Terry put his time alone to good use by cleaning the truck & 5th wheel.
April 6th - Friday
Poor Don - my flight left at 5:00 am so he had to get up at 3 to get me to the airport. No delays going back via Salt Lake City. After Terry & I stopped for breakfast, we hit another “swap meet”. I think of a swap meet being somewhere with used items but this is another one where money is “swapped” for all kinds of new items. Huge place, all under cover so it is bearable even in hotter weather like today. Terry got a California duster with an extension handle so he can keep the 5th wheel as clean as he keeps the truck.
We sat around our “buddy burner fire” with our neighbors later in the evening.
April 7th - Sat - Mesa
We took our neighbors (Barry & Yvonne) to the swap meet this morning. We were happy that we went fairly early as it started getting pretty busy by 11. I got a couple of kitchen items and our friends got several things. After we stopped for breakfast we came back to the park and Yvonne & I went to do laundry. We decided that instead of sitting in the laundry room we could wait in the pool. So we came back for our swim suits and the guys joined us in the pool. Makes laundry a much nicer chore!
Tried to make a reservation at a park in Prescott for a couple of days but there was no answer. Barry & Yvonne have a reservation so we are going there as well and hope there is a spot for us.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
April 1-4 - Mesa
April 1st - Sunday, to Mesa
Moved to Mesa today. We are staying at a park where we stayed in December. It is a PA park so the rent is very reasonable for a week and we found the people here very friendly.
Another couple (Barry & Yvonne) moved in next to us later in the day and we talked with them a bit. They had a tee time for Monday and asked if we wanted to join them. They have to call Monday to see if the course has put anyone with them. Found a Costco and picked up a few items. Relaxed in the warm/hot weather!
April 2nd - Monday -Mesa
Our tee time was later today (2:45) so we spent some time in the pool before golfing.
The golf course was a short course - par 3’s and short par 4’s but everyone needs practice on their short game. The course was in great shape. We went out for dinner with Barry & Yvonne to complete a nice day.
April 3rd - Tues - Mesa
Laundry day today. Then a shopping trip for some shorts for me and some groceries. Another hot day so we made another trip to the pool - lots of people doing the same thing. They float around in a circle on swim “noodles” and talk.
Our neighbors met some old friends in Casa Grande and then came back here with their friends just after we returned from the pool. We all ended up sitting under our awning and chatting. The friends just moved to Prescott, AZ so it was nice to get their opinion of the area.
April 4th - Wed - Mesa
Just lazing around waiting for it to be time to leave for the airport - I fly to Spokane today to get the processing completed for my green card. I thought my flight was at 7:37 am but discovered about a week ago that it was 7:37 pm. Oops!! We plan on being at the airport very early so we can miss the ugly rush hour traffic in Phoenix. We will have dinner there and Terry can catch the tail end of the traffic when he drives back to the RV park.
Moved to Mesa today. We are staying at a park where we stayed in December. It is a PA park so the rent is very reasonable for a week and we found the people here very friendly.
Another couple (Barry & Yvonne) moved in next to us later in the day and we talked with them a bit. They had a tee time for Monday and asked if we wanted to join them. They have to call Monday to see if the course has put anyone with them. Found a Costco and picked up a few items. Relaxed in the warm/hot weather!
April 2nd - Monday -Mesa
Our tee time was later today (2:45) so we spent some time in the pool before golfing.
The golf course was a short course - par 3’s and short par 4’s but everyone needs practice on their short game. The course was in great shape. We went out for dinner with Barry & Yvonne to complete a nice day.
April 3rd - Tues - Mesa
Laundry day today. Then a shopping trip for some shorts for me and some groceries. Another hot day so we made another trip to the pool - lots of people doing the same thing. They float around in a circle on swim “noodles” and talk.
Our neighbors met some old friends in Casa Grande and then came back here with their friends just after we returned from the pool. We all ended up sitting under our awning and chatting. The friends just moved to Prescott, AZ so it was nice to get their opinion of the area.
April 4th - Wed - Mesa
Just lazing around waiting for it to be time to leave for the airport - I fly to Spokane today to get the processing completed for my green card. I thought my flight was at 7:37 am but discovered about a week ago that it was 7:37 pm. Oops!! We plan on being at the airport very early so we can miss the ugly rush hour traffic in Phoenix. We will have dinner there and Terry can catch the tail end of the traffic when he drives back to the RV park.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Mar 31st - Camp Verde
Mar 31st - Saturday
We made a big sightseeing loop today. Went through Cottonwood (stopped at Wal Mart) to Jerome which is an old copper mining town. It is advertised as the largest ghost town in the country but people (lots of artists) still live there so I don’t consider it a ghost town. Then through Clarkdale to Sedona. Parking was very tough to find and a parking lot had low clearance so we didn’t want to try it. We ended up on the edge of town for a good lunch. Headed back through Oak Creek. Took it easy the rest of the day and evening.
We made a big sightseeing loop today. Went through Cottonwood (stopped at Wal Mart) to Jerome which is an old copper mining town. It is advertised as the largest ghost town in the country but people (lots of artists) still live there so I don’t consider it a ghost town. Then through Clarkdale to Sedona. Parking was very tough to find and a parking lot had low clearance so we didn’t want to try it. We ended up on the edge of town for a good lunch. Headed back through Oak Creek. Took it easy the rest of the day and evening.
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