Apr 27th – Wed – Redding
We checked out a small golf course nearby and thought we might play after we tracked down some reasonably priced diesel. Of course, there is no reasonably priced diesel in California – especially right now! If the prices keep going up, when a pump shuts off at $75 your tank will be ¼ full rather than ½ full!
We decided that since the bikes were already off that we would go for another bike ride instead of unloading the golf clubs. The weather remained beautiful and the trail was just as enjoyable the second time. We sat outside to watch the TV in the compartment and Terry put a couple of steaks on the BBQ for an excellent dinner.
Apr 28th – Thurs – to Eureka CA
We took highway 299 over the mountains to the coast. It was very windy and hilly with a couple of road repair delays. There is some type of tree/shrub that is covered with purple flowers right now and there were lots of them along the road. We stopped in a pullout so I could get a picture and I discovered that there are only flowers on the limbs – no leaves.
We are at an Elks club again and staying for 3 nights. I made sandwiches before we registered and then we went for a drive. We had some rain when we were driving and it remained cool & windy so we stopped at a tourist bureau and just explored in the truck rather than walking anywhere.
Apr 29th – Fri – Eureka
It was sunny but still cool & windy so we had a lazy morning and went exploring again. Eureka is not right on the ocean but on a large bay. The ocean can be accessed by driving across a couple of bridges and then walking over the dunes. Even here we found a casino to pass some time – and to get diesel at the lowest price that we have seen here - $4.54.
We stopped at a fish market and got fresh Dungeness crab for an exorbitant price, picked up some rolls, made a salad and had a marvelous dinner. Dinner was early since we didn’t have lunch which justified the Chocolate Pudding Cake I made later for dessert!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Apr 24th to 26th - Sparks to Redding CA
Apr 24th – Sun – to Sparks NV
It was nice to sleep in cool temperatures last night. We were walking to the casino to get coffee & breakfast when we noticed a sign advertising breakfast on the Elks club and went there instead. It was very busy and it was nice to see young families rather than just older members. They cooked part of the breakfast to order – choice of eggs, bacon, pancakes, potatoes – and you helped yourself to juice, coffee, sausage links and biscuits & gravy. It was a very good value for $6.00.
It didn’t matter that we didn’t leave until 9:30 as we had a short drive to the Sparks Marina RV park. It is a very nice place and the employees are friendly & helpful – and, yes, there actually is a small lake & marina nearby. After setting up and scanning over 200 cable channels on both TVs, we went for a drive and ended up at the Western Village Inn & Casino not too far away. I won some money right away and it kept me going for a long time. Terry found $2 Blackjack tables so switched from slots that weren’t good to him. There were hourly drawings for 10 $100 bills so we stayed through the last drawing at 4 o’clock (didn’t win!) and came back for dinner.
After dinner, we went to John Ascuaga’s Nugget as we had remembered it from a visit long ago. It is a totally different place now – huge & impersonal – but Terry found a $5 Pai Gow poker table and enjoyed that.
Apr 25th – Mon – Sparks – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOUG!
It was fairly cold this morning so we were slow to get going. After breakfast, we headed to Reno. We went to the Circus Circus casino – what else did you think we would do?! – and wandered and gambled for a while. Then to the Silver Legacy casino with much the same activity. There is a huge, fascinating, three-story, mechanical “contraption” in the center of the casino that is meant to represent the mining heritage of the area. On the way back to the RV park, we found a grocery store. Since we didn’t have lunch, we started with artichokes and carried on to a fairly early dinner.
I knew Terry was a little antsy so I suggested that he go back to the closest casino and play some 21. That left me to read and watch HGTV in peace!
Apr 26th – Tues – to Redding CA
We left at 9 for the 200 mile drive to Redding. The air is so clear in the Reno area and the sunny day made the drive lovely. Wanda did the usual great job of directing us to the Redding Elk’s club where we are staying. It is a beautiful facility with 20 RV sites. We set up and went into the bar to register. We had to have a beer and then very good hamburgers for a late lunch – accompanied by the second beer which is free.
We took the bikes off, put our shorts on and rode a trail right along the Sacramento River to the Sundial Bridge. The bridge is for pedestrians and has a unique construction method using a single tall, thin (sundial) support on one end with cables from there attached to the bridge deck. The trail is lovely with trees arching over in some spots and dogwood trees in full bloom. We rode 7 miles.
We sat outside for a while and then went to a grocery store for a few items that we forgot last time. Terry chatted with some neighbors. Of course, all the people staying here are Elk’s members so it is really interesting to talk to them and hear about other Elk RV parks.
The site here includes cable TV and Terry found a different, competition type show called Top Shot where people compete with different weapons – pistols, rifles, crossbows, etc. There were several episodes in a row and it was quite entertaining.
It was nice to sleep in cool temperatures last night. We were walking to the casino to get coffee & breakfast when we noticed a sign advertising breakfast on the Elks club and went there instead. It was very busy and it was nice to see young families rather than just older members. They cooked part of the breakfast to order – choice of eggs, bacon, pancakes, potatoes – and you helped yourself to juice, coffee, sausage links and biscuits & gravy. It was a very good value for $6.00.
It didn’t matter that we didn’t leave until 9:30 as we had a short drive to the Sparks Marina RV park. It is a very nice place and the employees are friendly & helpful – and, yes, there actually is a small lake & marina nearby. After setting up and scanning over 200 cable channels on both TVs, we went for a drive and ended up at the Western Village Inn & Casino not too far away. I won some money right away and it kept me going for a long time. Terry found $2 Blackjack tables so switched from slots that weren’t good to him. There were hourly drawings for 10 $100 bills so we stayed through the last drawing at 4 o’clock (didn’t win!) and came back for dinner.
After dinner, we went to John Ascuaga’s Nugget as we had remembered it from a visit long ago. It is a totally different place now – huge & impersonal – but Terry found a $5 Pai Gow poker table and enjoyed that.
Apr 25th – Mon – Sparks – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOUG!
It was fairly cold this morning so we were slow to get going. After breakfast, we headed to Reno. We went to the Circus Circus casino – what else did you think we would do?! – and wandered and gambled for a while. Then to the Silver Legacy casino with much the same activity. There is a huge, fascinating, three-story, mechanical “contraption” in the center of the casino that is meant to represent the mining heritage of the area. On the way back to the RV park, we found a grocery store. Since we didn’t have lunch, we started with artichokes and carried on to a fairly early dinner.
I knew Terry was a little antsy so I suggested that he go back to the closest casino and play some 21. That left me to read and watch HGTV in peace!
Apr 26th – Tues – to Redding CA
We left at 9 for the 200 mile drive to Redding. The air is so clear in the Reno area and the sunny day made the drive lovely. Wanda did the usual great job of directing us to the Redding Elk’s club where we are staying. It is a beautiful facility with 20 RV sites. We set up and went into the bar to register. We had to have a beer and then very good hamburgers for a late lunch – accompanied by the second beer which is free.
We took the bikes off, put our shorts on and rode a trail right along the Sacramento River to the Sundial Bridge. The bridge is for pedestrians and has a unique construction method using a single tall, thin (sundial) support on one end with cables from there attached to the bridge deck. The trail is lovely with trees arching over in some spots and dogwood trees in full bloom. We rode 7 miles.
We sat outside for a while and then went to a grocery store for a few items that we forgot last time. Terry chatted with some neighbors. Of course, all the people staying here are Elk’s members so it is really interesting to talk to them and hear about other Elk RV parks.
The site here includes cable TV and Terry found a different, competition type show called Top Shot where people compete with different weapons – pistols, rifles, crossbows, etc. There were several episodes in a row and it was quite entertaining.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Apr 21st to 23rd - Las Vegas to Hawthorne
Apr 21st – Thurs
We hugged Claude & Val goodbye about 9:30 and then headed to a nearby casino. We were going to have the breakfast buffet but they only have breakfast on weekends. We thought about waiting for the lunch buffet, but shortly after it opened at 11, we moved on (with money ahead) to a small casino which had a breakfast special that we took advantage of. This small casino had older machines so we didn’t stay long after eating. It was quite windy and we didn’t have other plans so of course we ended up at the huge Boulder Station casino. I hit a reasonable bonus on the first machine that I played there so we were able to stay for quite a while and for the whole day we spent $40. With the price of fuel this is not much more than a day trip!
The rest of the evening was relaxing, dinner, phone calls & TV.
Apr 22nd – Fri
What we thought would be a bit of sewing to fix a sagging curtain turned out to be a job that entailed removing the valence and re-stapling a Velcro strip that supports the curtain on the inside. Since the chairs moved out, I figured it was a good opportunity to vacuum and was just finishing when Billy & Lauri asked if we wanted to join them at Arizona Charlie’s for breakfast. They moved to our park this morning and of course we said we would join them. It is hard to beat $3.99 for ham or steak, eggs, potatoes & toast.
We can’t leave a casino without playing something so we each took $10. I picked a machine and Terry sat down beside me. I lost $5 while he turned his $5 into $45. As he was cashing in his ticket, I picked another machine and cashed out with my original $10. Again, Terry played a machine beside me and turned $5 into $43. Since we were with Billy & Lauri, we actually left with the money in our pockets.
I did 3 loads of laundry and did some cleaning. Terry went to an RV supply store and got a new clip for the sliding door on the wardrobe & installed it. We went to B&L’s to get some pictures as the battery on my camera was not fully charged when we went to Valley of Fire. I ended up putting a lot of their pictures on a DVD and then showing Lauri how to backup pictures using Picasa.
Just as we were finishing dinner, Billy came over and asked if we wanted to watch “The President’s Speech” with them. We have heard a lot about it so went to watch it. I really enjoyed it and so did Terry but he prefers “action” films. Our great host even provided popcorn!
Apr 23rd – Sat – to Hawthorne NV
We headed north this morning and ended up at the parking lot of a casino for a free night of dry camping. We paid an exorbitant $4.69 for diesel in Tonopah and had lunch there.
After putting out the slides, we went for a short walk and saw an Elks club with 3 camping spots but didn’t feel like moving. We lost a few dollars in the casino and went back to the rig. Terry hooked up the generator so he could watch TV and chatted with some neighbors while he was outside. Shortly after dinner, we put away the generator and watched TV in bed for a while as the TV in the bedroom is DC.
We hugged Claude & Val goodbye about 9:30 and then headed to a nearby casino. We were going to have the breakfast buffet but they only have breakfast on weekends. We thought about waiting for the lunch buffet, but shortly after it opened at 11, we moved on (with money ahead) to a small casino which had a breakfast special that we took advantage of. This small casino had older machines so we didn’t stay long after eating. It was quite windy and we didn’t have other plans so of course we ended up at the huge Boulder Station casino. I hit a reasonable bonus on the first machine that I played there so we were able to stay for quite a while and for the whole day we spent $40. With the price of fuel this is not much more than a day trip!
The rest of the evening was relaxing, dinner, phone calls & TV.
Apr 22nd – Fri
What we thought would be a bit of sewing to fix a sagging curtain turned out to be a job that entailed removing the valence and re-stapling a Velcro strip that supports the curtain on the inside. Since the chairs moved out, I figured it was a good opportunity to vacuum and was just finishing when Billy & Lauri asked if we wanted to join them at Arizona Charlie’s for breakfast. They moved to our park this morning and of course we said we would join them. It is hard to beat $3.99 for ham or steak, eggs, potatoes & toast.
We can’t leave a casino without playing something so we each took $10. I picked a machine and Terry sat down beside me. I lost $5 while he turned his $5 into $45. As he was cashing in his ticket, I picked another machine and cashed out with my original $10. Again, Terry played a machine beside me and turned $5 into $43. Since we were with Billy & Lauri, we actually left with the money in our pockets.
I did 3 loads of laundry and did some cleaning. Terry went to an RV supply store and got a new clip for the sliding door on the wardrobe & installed it. We went to B&L’s to get some pictures as the battery on my camera was not fully charged when we went to Valley of Fire. I ended up putting a lot of their pictures on a DVD and then showing Lauri how to backup pictures using Picasa.
Just as we were finishing dinner, Billy came over and asked if we wanted to watch “The President’s Speech” with them. We have heard a lot about it so went to watch it. I really enjoyed it and so did Terry but he prefers “action” films. Our great host even provided popcorn!
Apr 23rd – Sat – to Hawthorne NV
We headed north this morning and ended up at the parking lot of a casino for a free night of dry camping. We paid an exorbitant $4.69 for diesel in Tonopah and had lunch there.
After putting out the slides, we went for a short walk and saw an Elks club with 3 camping spots but didn’t feel like moving. We lost a few dollars in the casino and went back to the rig. Terry hooked up the generator so he could watch TV and chatted with some neighbors while he was outside. Shortly after dinner, we put away the generator and watched TV in bed for a while as the TV in the bedroom is DC.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Apr 19th to 20th - Las Vegas
Apr 19th – Tues
Another lazy morning followed by a busy afternoon and evening. Mid-morning, Claude & Val were going to WalMart so we tagged along. On the way I had to introduce Val to Big Lots where they got a couple of items and we bought a table to put between our recliners. We were using a small, “under sofa” table which was just a bit too small. After WalMart, we stopped to show them Sam’s Town and were just in time to have a beer and enjoy the water show in the courtyard right beside the bar.
We each had a late lunch and then we picked them up at 5. First we drove down and back on the strip where there were lots of people. Then we parked by Main St Station, went in there to get our parking fee refunded and went to Fremont Street. Claude & Val got players’ cards at the Four Queens which gave them 2-for-1 vouchers for the restaurant which we promptly used. We had a short wait to be seated but the long was much longer when we finished dinner.
We saw the 9 o’clock show on Fremont, gambled through the 10 o’clock show, – Claude did very well!! – watched the 11 o’clock show and headed home.
Apr 20th – Wed
Well, we ran out of superlatives again today. We picked up Billy & Lauri at their RV park at 9 and drove 55 miles to Valley of Fire State Park NE of here. It is another area of red rocks – and white rocks and striped rocks and grey rocks. It is incredible to see the nothingness of Nevada landscape change to this amazing area. We were stopping every few hundred yards to take pictures as there was a different view when you moved just a little bit. We went on one walk of ½ mile round trip to see the Mouse Hole (natural basin of water) and decided that was the only walk we needed to take as most of the trail was sand hiding treacherous rocks and it was quite hot. We found a shaded picnic table for our lunch and then wandered through the visitor’s center which is in the middle of the park.
We met a couple from Germany when we stopped in a campground and ended up giving them the name of a place to stay in Las Vegas and some information about Alaska. They shipped their small motor home from Brussels and will be touring the US & Canada for 8 months.
We made a total loop again for this trip so we came back near Lake Mead. We discussed taking a detour to walk on the new bypass bridge at Hoover Dam but we were all tired and decided to leave that for another time.
However, we weren’t too tired to have a beer when we dropped off Billy & Lauri. We had a short time to dump the sand from our shoes and I washed it from my feet before going to Claude & Val’s for a nice dinner. We came home to watch Survivor so Terry could fall asleep watching it in bed instead of at Claude & Val’s.
Another lazy morning followed by a busy afternoon and evening. Mid-morning, Claude & Val were going to WalMart so we tagged along. On the way I had to introduce Val to Big Lots where they got a couple of items and we bought a table to put between our recliners. We were using a small, “under sofa” table which was just a bit too small. After WalMart, we stopped to show them Sam’s Town and were just in time to have a beer and enjoy the water show in the courtyard right beside the bar.
We each had a late lunch and then we picked them up at 5. First we drove down and back on the strip where there were lots of people. Then we parked by Main St Station, went in there to get our parking fee refunded and went to Fremont Street. Claude & Val got players’ cards at the Four Queens which gave them 2-for-1 vouchers for the restaurant which we promptly used. We had a short wait to be seated but the long was much longer when we finished dinner.
We saw the 9 o’clock show on Fremont, gambled through the 10 o’clock show, – Claude did very well!! – watched the 11 o’clock show and headed home.
Apr 20th – Wed
Well, we ran out of superlatives again today. We picked up Billy & Lauri at their RV park at 9 and drove 55 miles to Valley of Fire State Park NE of here. It is another area of red rocks – and white rocks and striped rocks and grey rocks. It is incredible to see the nothingness of Nevada landscape change to this amazing area. We were stopping every few hundred yards to take pictures as there was a different view when you moved just a little bit. We went on one walk of ½ mile round trip to see the Mouse Hole (natural basin of water) and decided that was the only walk we needed to take as most of the trail was sand hiding treacherous rocks and it was quite hot. We found a shaded picnic table for our lunch and then wandered through the visitor’s center which is in the middle of the park.
We met a couple from Germany when we stopped in a campground and ended up giving them the name of a place to stay in Las Vegas and some information about Alaska. They shipped their small motor home from Brussels and will be touring the US & Canada for 8 months.
We made a total loop again for this trip so we came back near Lake Mead. We discussed taking a detour to walk on the new bypass bridge at Hoover Dam but we were all tired and decided to leave that for another time.
However, we weren’t too tired to have a beer when we dropped off Billy & Lauri. We had a short time to dump the sand from our shoes and I washed it from my feet before going to Claude & Val’s for a nice dinner. We came home to watch Survivor so Terry could fall asleep watching it in bed instead of at Claude & Val’s.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Apr 16th to 18th - Las Vegas
Apr 16th – Sat - back to Las Vegas
We had a short drive today so we went for breakfast at the casino after saying farewell to Bill & Georgia. It is hard to beat $2.99 for bacon, eggs & pancakes. My player card was upgraded to “silver” which included $10 free slot play which I had to use. Then we redeemed points for baseball caps.
As I mentioned, Bill &Lauri went to Las Vegas so we went to the park where they said they were going to stay. When we were checking in, we asked if we could be close to them and found out that they weren’t here. When we called them, Bill said there was no room when they got here and they were down the road at a “marginal” park with very reasonable rates. We decided we would like to be with them so we drove there, drove through the park and came back to the original park – Road Runner RV park.
After we set up and had a late, light lunch, we went to a flea market that Lauri mentioned. It is inside which was good as the weather was very warm. We stopped at a grocery store on the way back. After dinner, we went to Boulder Station Casino for a while. It is huge! We went out the wrong door when we left, walked halfway around the building, went back in and found the right door so we could find the truck!
Apr 17th – Sun – Las Vegas
We were lazy this morning and did laundry when we finally finished coffee & breakfast and got moving. After more “being lazy”, I made a late lunch and we headed to Sam’s Town Casino. It is another huge place with 3 parking garages, several restaurants, shops and a waterfall park in the center. Neither one of us did well on the slot machines. We stopped at a Big Lots – surprise!- on the way back and then had an evening of TV and reading.
Apr 18th – Mon – Las Vegas
At 9, Billy & Lauri picked us up for a trip to Red Rock Canyon which is about 20 miles west of Las Vegas. We drove into an “old west” town but there was nothing going on so we drove right back out. We did see burros – including a cute baby – on the way.
The visitor center at Red Rock Canyon state park is wonderful. We watched a 30 minute movie about the area and discovered that some of the red hills are sand dunes that fossilized and oxidized (rusted!). There are several informative areas outside the visitor center and a tortoise exhibit. Next up was a 13 mile scenic drive that ends up back at the main road. The 2 lane road has one-way traffic so you don’t have to worry about cars coming at you. We stopped at several look-outs to “ooh & aah” and take pictures. We enjoyed a picnic lunch at a stop with picnic tables. The weather was windy and much cooler than we expected so we didn’t go on any hikes. We made a large loop for the entire trip so we saw different areas of Las Vegas.
Claude & Val arrived at this park to stay for 3 days. Terry greeted them, supervised the parking and told them to come over when they were set up. I decided to make dinner for all of us and sent Terry to the store for a couple of grocery items. We had a lovely evening catching up and then watching DWTS.
We had a short drive today so we went for breakfast at the casino after saying farewell to Bill & Georgia. It is hard to beat $2.99 for bacon, eggs & pancakes. My player card was upgraded to “silver” which included $10 free slot play which I had to use. Then we redeemed points for baseball caps.
As I mentioned, Bill &Lauri went to Las Vegas so we went to the park where they said they were going to stay. When we were checking in, we asked if we could be close to them and found out that they weren’t here. When we called them, Bill said there was no room when they got here and they were down the road at a “marginal” park with very reasonable rates. We decided we would like to be with them so we drove there, drove through the park and came back to the original park – Road Runner RV park.
After we set up and had a late, light lunch, we went to a flea market that Lauri mentioned. It is inside which was good as the weather was very warm. We stopped at a grocery store on the way back. After dinner, we went to Boulder Station Casino for a while. It is huge! We went out the wrong door when we left, walked halfway around the building, went back in and found the right door so we could find the truck!
Apr 17th – Sun – Las Vegas
We were lazy this morning and did laundry when we finally finished coffee & breakfast and got moving. After more “being lazy”, I made a late lunch and we headed to Sam’s Town Casino. It is another huge place with 3 parking garages, several restaurants, shops and a waterfall park in the center. Neither one of us did well on the slot machines. We stopped at a Big Lots – surprise!- on the way back and then had an evening of TV and reading.
Apr 18th – Mon – Las Vegas
At 9, Billy & Lauri picked us up for a trip to Red Rock Canyon which is about 20 miles west of Las Vegas. We drove into an “old west” town but there was nothing going on so we drove right back out. We did see burros – including a cute baby – on the way.
The visitor center at Red Rock Canyon state park is wonderful. We watched a 30 minute movie about the area and discovered that some of the red hills are sand dunes that fossilized and oxidized (rusted!). There are several informative areas outside the visitor center and a tortoise exhibit. Next up was a 13 mile scenic drive that ends up back at the main road. The 2 lane road has one-way traffic so you don’t have to worry about cars coming at you. We stopped at several look-outs to “ooh & aah” and take pictures. We enjoyed a picnic lunch at a stop with picnic tables. The weather was windy and much cooler than we expected so we didn’t go on any hikes. We made a large loop for the entire trip so we saw different areas of Las Vegas.
Claude & Val arrived at this park to stay for 3 days. Terry greeted them, supervised the parking and told them to come over when they were set up. I decided to make dinner for all of us and sent Terry to the store for a couple of grocery items. We had a lovely evening catching up and then watching DWTS.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Apr 13th to 15th - Las Vegas to Pahrump
Apr 13th –Wed - to Pahrump NV
We all walked to Fremont St and had a $1.99 breakfast special (2 eggs, potatoes & toast). While Bill & Georgia were getting players’ cards, I won $10 on a slot machine and when we were going to the restaurant, I found a $5 bill on the floor. We shopped in a souvenir store, went to Main St Station to check out and returned to the park to pack up.
We left about 11:30 for the 55 mile drive to Pahrump where we are staying at Terrible’s Lakeside. This park is very popular with snowbirds as it is on a route from southern California to Canada so we weren’t able to get sites together. In fact, we are on opposite sides of the little lake but there is a lovely path by the lake. I had a little extra work to do when we set up as a jar of pickled asparagus had tipped over and the juice dripped all over the fridge.
We took B&G on a tour of the town and stopped at WalMart for a few items. I called Billy & Lauri and discovered they were already here and were going to the casino so we dropped off B&G and went to the casino which is very close to our site. We gambled a bit and then B&G and Billy & Lauri joined us at our rig for happy hour(s).
Apr 14th – Thurs - Pahrump
We went to the casino for breakfast and saw Billy & Lauri there so they joined us. We gambled until I figured I better get back and put dinner in the crock pot. Bill & Georgia had flat tires on their bikes so Terry helped Bill fix them and I rode over when I was done with dinner prep. We all went riding around the park and added Billy for one lap which included a stop at the office for some information.
Points on our casino cards were multiplied by 7 today so we went back and gambled a bit more. We ended up with enough points to get 2 sweatshirts and didn’t spend too much more than it would cost to actually just buy them!
B&G and Billy & Lauri came over for dinner with everyone bringing food so it wasn’t too much work for anyone. A slight breeze kept it cool enough that we spent the evening inside.
Apr 15th – Fri - Pahrump
Bill & Georgia came over even before I was out of the shower. No, they were not that early, we were lazy! They had eaten breakfast so Georgia went back and Bill joined us for another coffee when we went to the casino for breakfast again. Billy & Lauri left this morning for Las Vegas.
We had earned points gambling and the casino didn’t have some items in all sizes so we and B&G went to Terrible’s in town to see what they had. We gambled a bit more – Bill won money! – and redeemed our points for a shirt and plastic storage containers.
Next was another stop at WalMart. When we got back, Terry helped Bill hook up a longer sewer hose and program his TV and then I helped him download pictures from his camera to his new laptop. Back at our place, Terry chatted with some neighbors and then 3 neighbor couples and B&G ended up at an impromptu happy hour here. Dennis & Judy, Larry & Donna and Hal & Sharon travel together and are all from Washington state.
We went for dinner at the casino with B&G and then stayed for a drawing at 7. There were also drawings at 8 & 9 but we didn’t go back as we were busy trying to backup pictures using Picasa on Bill’s computer. We had a problem which turned out to be a bad DVD so it took a while.
We all walked to Fremont St and had a $1.99 breakfast special (2 eggs, potatoes & toast). While Bill & Georgia were getting players’ cards, I won $10 on a slot machine and when we were going to the restaurant, I found a $5 bill on the floor. We shopped in a souvenir store, went to Main St Station to check out and returned to the park to pack up.
We left about 11:30 for the 55 mile drive to Pahrump where we are staying at Terrible’s Lakeside. This park is very popular with snowbirds as it is on a route from southern California to Canada so we weren’t able to get sites together. In fact, we are on opposite sides of the little lake but there is a lovely path by the lake. I had a little extra work to do when we set up as a jar of pickled asparagus had tipped over and the juice dripped all over the fridge.
We took B&G on a tour of the town and stopped at WalMart for a few items. I called Billy & Lauri and discovered they were already here and were going to the casino so we dropped off B&G and went to the casino which is very close to our site. We gambled a bit and then B&G and Billy & Lauri joined us at our rig for happy hour(s).
Apr 14th – Thurs - Pahrump
We went to the casino for breakfast and saw Billy & Lauri there so they joined us. We gambled until I figured I better get back and put dinner in the crock pot. Bill & Georgia had flat tires on their bikes so Terry helped Bill fix them and I rode over when I was done with dinner prep. We all went riding around the park and added Billy for one lap which included a stop at the office for some information.
Points on our casino cards were multiplied by 7 today so we went back and gambled a bit more. We ended up with enough points to get 2 sweatshirts and didn’t spend too much more than it would cost to actually just buy them!
B&G and Billy & Lauri came over for dinner with everyone bringing food so it wasn’t too much work for anyone. A slight breeze kept it cool enough that we spent the evening inside.
Apr 15th – Fri - Pahrump
Bill & Georgia came over even before I was out of the shower. No, they were not that early, we were lazy! They had eaten breakfast so Georgia went back and Bill joined us for another coffee when we went to the casino for breakfast again. Billy & Lauri left this morning for Las Vegas.
We had earned points gambling and the casino didn’t have some items in all sizes so we and B&G went to Terrible’s in town to see what they had. We gambled a bit more – Bill won money! – and redeemed our points for a shirt and plastic storage containers.
Next was another stop at WalMart. When we got back, Terry helped Bill hook up a longer sewer hose and program his TV and then I helped him download pictures from his camera to his new laptop. Back at our place, Terry chatted with some neighbors and then 3 neighbor couples and B&G ended up at an impromptu happy hour here. Dennis & Judy, Larry & Donna and Hal & Sharon travel together and are all from Washington state.
We went for dinner at the casino with B&G and then stayed for a drawing at 7. There were also drawings at 8 & 9 but we didn’t go back as we were busy trying to backup pictures using Picasa on Bill’s computer. We had a problem which turned out to be a bad DVD so it took a while.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Apr 11th to 12th - Las Vegas
Apr 11th – Mon – Las Vegas
We went to Fremont St, had a breakfast buffet (not so good), gambled a bit and then walked back to the RV park as Bill & Georgia (friends from Spokane) were arriving today. As we were walking down the street, I told Terry that it would be funny if we saw them driving towards us as that is how their GPS should have taken them. Then I saw them turning around in a parking lot near the RV park so Terry took off running to catch them and direct them to the park as it is hard to find. We went to Main St Station to get them registered and changed their site to one near us. While we were there, we saw John who has a park model next to where we stayed in Mesa last fall – small world!
We sat and caught up with B&G and then walked back to Fremont St. We gambled, people watched, shopped a bit, ate dinner and watched a couple of the light shows on the overhead “canopy”. We also watched people on zip lines that are set up above the pedestrian mall of Fremont St. They start from a platform 67 feet above ground and go 850 feet to a lower platform. A couple of lightweight riders didn’t make it to the end so an employee hooks up to the line, goes out to the rider and pulls himself and the rider back in hand-over-hand. We end up back to our place for a nightcap.
Apr 12th – Tues – Las Vegas
I made breakfast for all of us before we drove to Mandalay Bay on the strip. We parked there and started walking – and walked and walked and walked! We went into every large casino/hotel, admired the décor & size and gambled a bit at some. The new Wynn property is very impressive and huge. We tried to get out a different way than we entered and ended up walking in a very long circle through all the conference rooms.
We didn’t have lunch and we were all starving so we settled for a buffet at Harrah’s – again just OK. We went to Harrah’s as we didn’t want to pay $45 for the buffet at Wynn’s even though we got $10 free play there and all walked out with money except Terry.
Now we had the long walk back on crowded sidewalks. The monorail doesn’t go far enough and would cost $5 each to ride so that wasn’t a good option. At Excalibur we could finally get on a tram and ride to Mandalay Bay so we could rest our weary feet & legs.
We were back in time to have a drink, watch DWTS and put our feet up.
Bonnie – Georgia says “HI”!
We went to Fremont St, had a breakfast buffet (not so good), gambled a bit and then walked back to the RV park as Bill & Georgia (friends from Spokane) were arriving today. As we were walking down the street, I told Terry that it would be funny if we saw them driving towards us as that is how their GPS should have taken them. Then I saw them turning around in a parking lot near the RV park so Terry took off running to catch them and direct them to the park as it is hard to find. We went to Main St Station to get them registered and changed their site to one near us. While we were there, we saw John who has a park model next to where we stayed in Mesa last fall – small world!
We sat and caught up with B&G and then walked back to Fremont St. We gambled, people watched, shopped a bit, ate dinner and watched a couple of the light shows on the overhead “canopy”. We also watched people on zip lines that are set up above the pedestrian mall of Fremont St. They start from a platform 67 feet above ground and go 850 feet to a lower platform. A couple of lightweight riders didn’t make it to the end so an employee hooks up to the line, goes out to the rider and pulls himself and the rider back in hand-over-hand. We end up back to our place for a nightcap.
Apr 12th – Tues – Las Vegas
I made breakfast for all of us before we drove to Mandalay Bay on the strip. We parked there and started walking – and walked and walked and walked! We went into every large casino/hotel, admired the décor & size and gambled a bit at some. The new Wynn property is very impressive and huge. We tried to get out a different way than we entered and ended up walking in a very long circle through all the conference rooms.
We didn’t have lunch and we were all starving so we settled for a buffet at Harrah’s – again just OK. We went to Harrah’s as we didn’t want to pay $45 for the buffet at Wynn’s even though we got $10 free play there and all walked out with money except Terry.
Now we had the long walk back on crowded sidewalks. The monorail doesn’t go far enough and would cost $5 each to ride so that wasn’t a good option. At Excalibur we could finally get on a tram and ride to Mandalay Bay so we could rest our weary feet & legs.
We were back in time to have a drink, watch DWTS and put our feet up.
Bonnie – Georgia says “HI”!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Apr 8th to 10th - Mesa to Las Vegas
Apr 8th – Fri – Mesa
Gloria came with us to the Mesa Marketplace where we had breakfast before shopping. We got a vase to fill a blank spot and Gloria got a fruit picker so we were both happy. When we got back we did laundry and stopped on the way back to visit with Phyllis who was one of Terry’s dance partners last fall. She broke her hip but is walking now and waiting for a clearance from her surgeon so she can drive when she gets home.
Dennis & Gloria came over for a drink so Dennis could see our new purchase. At 7 we went to their place to play cards with Steph & Garry as well.
Apr 9th – Sat – to Las Vegas
We got up early and were on the road at 7:15. It is so nice to travel on a weekend and not worry about rush hour traffic. We stopped to fuel up the truck and ourselves in Kingman and as we climbed a little hill out of there hit some snow. We slowed to 20 mph and put on the four-way flashers for 2-3 miles until we were down the hill and the snow stopped. There were warnings about high winds on the Hoover Dam bypass bridge and a sign recommended that high profile vehicles not go over the bridge but we had no problems at all.
We are staying at Main Street Station RV park again. It is very basic but has full hookups, is inexpensive ($19) and is within walking distance of Fremont Street. When we went to the hotel to register, we stayed and gambled for a couple of hours and came out even. After dinner, we walked to Fremont St and played slots for several hours and spent $29 which is cheap entertainment.
Apr 10th – Sun – Las Vegas
The RV park is right beside a freeway but the traffic noise is not bad especially since it was cool enough to have the windows closed. In fact it was downright cold yesterday.
We had coffee and then drove to the Rio casino and parked in their parking garage. We had breakfast there, gambled and then walked to 2 other casinos. Next we drove to the strip and found parking at Mandalay Bay. By the time we finished gambling there, I was ready to head for home and watch some of the Masters golf tournament on TV. Unfortunately, it was nearly over by the time we got back.
After dinner, we walked back to Fremont Street to gamble and watch CRAZY people. Terry won $269 on a bonus playing 40 cents so that will help even things out while we are here.
Gloria came with us to the Mesa Marketplace where we had breakfast before shopping. We got a vase to fill a blank spot and Gloria got a fruit picker so we were both happy. When we got back we did laundry and stopped on the way back to visit with Phyllis who was one of Terry’s dance partners last fall. She broke her hip but is walking now and waiting for a clearance from her surgeon so she can drive when she gets home.
Dennis & Gloria came over for a drink so Dennis could see our new purchase. At 7 we went to their place to play cards with Steph & Garry as well.
Apr 9th – Sat – to Las Vegas
We got up early and were on the road at 7:15. It is so nice to travel on a weekend and not worry about rush hour traffic. We stopped to fuel up the truck and ourselves in Kingman and as we climbed a little hill out of there hit some snow. We slowed to 20 mph and put on the four-way flashers for 2-3 miles until we were down the hill and the snow stopped. There were warnings about high winds on the Hoover Dam bypass bridge and a sign recommended that high profile vehicles not go over the bridge but we had no problems at all.
We are staying at Main Street Station RV park again. It is very basic but has full hookups, is inexpensive ($19) and is within walking distance of Fremont Street. When we went to the hotel to register, we stayed and gambled for a couple of hours and came out even. After dinner, we walked to Fremont St and played slots for several hours and spent $29 which is cheap entertainment.
Apr 10th – Sun – Las Vegas
The RV park is right beside a freeway but the traffic noise is not bad especially since it was cool enough to have the windows closed. In fact it was downright cold yesterday.
We had coffee and then drove to the Rio casino and parked in their parking garage. We had breakfast there, gambled and then walked to 2 other casinos. Next we drove to the strip and found parking at Mandalay Bay. By the time we finished gambling there, I was ready to head for home and watch some of the Masters golf tournament on TV. Unfortunately, it was nearly over by the time we got back.
After dinner, we walked back to Fremont Street to gamble and watch CRAZY people. Terry won $269 on a bonus playing 40 cents so that will help even things out while we are here.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Apr 5th to 7th - Mesa
Apr 5th – Tues
Steph told us about a couple of park models that were selling for $2000 or less so Terry thought we better check them out and maybe buy one and rent it out - !? The first one that we saw was old but very clean and included only some furniture. Steph had bought the washer & dryer as hers still work but need babysitting & manual intervention. Terry called Julie (who we met here last fall) to see if they wanted to rent it and she said she wanted to buy it. She & Larry stayed 3 months here in a very small motor home and had an accident on their way home to Spokane so they didn’t know what they would do this winter.
We took Dennis & Gloria and Ernie & Dianne to Hobby Lobby to look for a small coffee table for Gloria and a couple of small items for us. No coffee table and all we got was a basket for magazines. Dennis & Gloria came over to take measurements & pictures of our coffee table so they can build one this summer at home.
After an early dinner, I talked to Julie and said we could go to the park model, take some pictures and email them to her daughter. We just had time to do that before going to play bocce ball with a group of friends. The bocce ball court is lighted and the weather from 6:30 to 8 was just beautiful.
Julie definitely wants to buy the park model.
Apr 6th – Wed
After breakfast, we talked with Dennis & Gloria and then Ernie & Dianne to get information about transferring the title for a park model. We went to see Ed – the owner of the park model that Julie is buying – but he was taking a nap so we went to help Garry & Steph move out their old washer & dryer and move in the new ones. Later, when Terry was talking to Ed and Garry was changing the dryer plug, I talked to Julie while I was in the park model so I could answer any questions. She and all her friends are so excited about them getting this unit. Their daughter Natalie and her husband are going to come down with them in August and bring all their stuff in their toy hauler.
We made a quick trip to Costco (and grabbed lunch while there) and then I put together some appetizers for later. At 4 we joined Ernie & Dianne and Garry & Steph at Dennis & Gloria’s for a farewell happy hour(s) for Ernie & Dianne. It’s a good thing we were in a covered patio as it rained - at times very hard. The wind was blowing also and we had a hard time getting Dennis’ new buddy burner to light.
At 7 we dashed back through rain, changed to long pants and drove across the park to play LCR and Chase the Ace at Dan & Carol’s place – along with the other 6 from our earlier gathering.
Apr 7th – Thurs
We went to Denny’s for breakfast with Ernie & Dianne before they headed home to Kelowna. We got tickets for a potluck dinner here tonight and then had to go to the store for a couple of ingredients to make baked beans as our contribution. Dennis & Gloria came by on their bikes to tell us about an open house to show off a park model remodel so we had a look and then showed them the unit that Julie is buying and talked to the sellers a bit.
Dennis & Gloria came over to visit for a bit before we all went to the potluck. The park provided fried chicken and we had a wonderful choice of side dishes brought by a large crowd of diners. After we ate, the activities director had a slide show of pictures taken in the park during the past season. We stopped briefly at Dennis & Gloria’s to eat part – we were too full! - of the root beer floats provided for dessert and came home.
Steph told us about a couple of park models that were selling for $2000 or less so Terry thought we better check them out and maybe buy one and rent it out - !? The first one that we saw was old but very clean and included only some furniture. Steph had bought the washer & dryer as hers still work but need babysitting & manual intervention. Terry called Julie (who we met here last fall) to see if they wanted to rent it and she said she wanted to buy it. She & Larry stayed 3 months here in a very small motor home and had an accident on their way home to Spokane so they didn’t know what they would do this winter.
We took Dennis & Gloria and Ernie & Dianne to Hobby Lobby to look for a small coffee table for Gloria and a couple of small items for us. No coffee table and all we got was a basket for magazines. Dennis & Gloria came over to take measurements & pictures of our coffee table so they can build one this summer at home.
After an early dinner, I talked to Julie and said we could go to the park model, take some pictures and email them to her daughter. We just had time to do that before going to play bocce ball with a group of friends. The bocce ball court is lighted and the weather from 6:30 to 8 was just beautiful.
Julie definitely wants to buy the park model.
Apr 6th – Wed
After breakfast, we talked with Dennis & Gloria and then Ernie & Dianne to get information about transferring the title for a park model. We went to see Ed – the owner of the park model that Julie is buying – but he was taking a nap so we went to help Garry & Steph move out their old washer & dryer and move in the new ones. Later, when Terry was talking to Ed and Garry was changing the dryer plug, I talked to Julie while I was in the park model so I could answer any questions. She and all her friends are so excited about them getting this unit. Their daughter Natalie and her husband are going to come down with them in August and bring all their stuff in their toy hauler.
We made a quick trip to Costco (and grabbed lunch while there) and then I put together some appetizers for later. At 4 we joined Ernie & Dianne and Garry & Steph at Dennis & Gloria’s for a farewell happy hour(s) for Ernie & Dianne. It’s a good thing we were in a covered patio as it rained - at times very hard. The wind was blowing also and we had a hard time getting Dennis’ new buddy burner to light.
At 7 we dashed back through rain, changed to long pants and drove across the park to play LCR and Chase the Ace at Dan & Carol’s place – along with the other 6 from our earlier gathering.
Apr 7th – Thurs
We went to Denny’s for breakfast with Ernie & Dianne before they headed home to Kelowna. We got tickets for a potluck dinner here tonight and then had to go to the store for a couple of ingredients to make baked beans as our contribution. Dennis & Gloria came by on their bikes to tell us about an open house to show off a park model remodel so we had a look and then showed them the unit that Julie is buying and talked to the sellers a bit.
Dennis & Gloria came over to visit for a bit before we all went to the potluck. The park provided fried chicken and we had a wonderful choice of side dishes brought by a large crowd of diners. After we ate, the activities director had a slide show of pictures taken in the park during the past season. We stopped briefly at Dennis & Gloria’s to eat part – we were too full! - of the root beer floats provided for dessert and came home.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Apr 2nd to 4th - Mesa AZ
Apr 2nd – Sat – to Mesa AZ
We got an early start this morning and were in Quartzsite to join Clem & Marlene for breakfast at 9:30. After a good breakfast and catching up, we were on the road about 11 for an uneventful trip to Val Vista Villages RV park where we stayed last Oct through Dec.
It was very hot so we set up, put on our swim suits and headed to the pool where we ran into Ernie & Dianne. After a cooling dip and changing out of our suits, we went to Dennis & Gloria’s new park model where we met Harold & Laurie and then were joined by Ernie & Dianne.
I just had time to put together cheese & crackers as our contribution to snacks for a pool party here at the park from 6-8. It was well attended by fun-loving crazies, some with water guns which meant most people got wet at one or another. There was a band, games in the pool and even dancing on the small spots not taken up by tables & chairs. Terry had waaaay too much fun so we crashed when we got home just after 9.
Apr 3rd – Sun
We were up but not moving too fast when Stephane stopped by this morning to see if we wanted to play cards this evening. We visited a bit with Dennis & Gloria and then with Neil & Robin before riding with them to Filly’s for lunch. Garry & Steph went earlier and saved tables but there were 14 of us so some people had to sit in the sun which was very hot. We only stayed for a few dances after the band started at 1 as it was just too hot.
We went to the produce market and grocery store. Terry cooked a steak on the BBQ for himself but I wasn’t too hungry after a big lunch so just had salad & garlic bread. Then it was off to Ernie & Dianne’s to play cards with them & Steph and later Garry – Arizona Rummy and Golf.
Apr 4th – Mon
It cooled off nicely last night. We have a street light right by our site so it is very bright with the window & blinds open for air. We will be avoiding this site in the future.
After breakfast, Terry took the bikes off the rack and we rode around looking at sites and reserved one for mid Sept through Dec again. Out of curiosity, we also looked at a park model for sale. Even at quite a low price there is no way we could imagine anyone buying it as it was such a mess and so claustrophobic with small tip-outs, not slide-outs.
After lunch we made a trip to Camping World as we had a gift card with an unknown balance that we thought we should spend before it expired. We got a collapsible ice bucket that Dennis had told us about.
When we got back we joined a group at the pool for “bobbing” and sunning. We had time for a drink with Dennis & Gloria before going to Fat Willy’s with them, Ernie & Dianne and Harold & Laurie.
Dennis was watching a basketball game so Gloria came over to watch DWTS. It was so nice to sit outside and watch the TV in our storage compartment. Dennis joined us to have strawberries & dip for dessert.
We got an early start this morning and were in Quartzsite to join Clem & Marlene for breakfast at 9:30. After a good breakfast and catching up, we were on the road about 11 for an uneventful trip to Val Vista Villages RV park where we stayed last Oct through Dec.
It was very hot so we set up, put on our swim suits and headed to the pool where we ran into Ernie & Dianne. After a cooling dip and changing out of our suits, we went to Dennis & Gloria’s new park model where we met Harold & Laurie and then were joined by Ernie & Dianne.
I just had time to put together cheese & crackers as our contribution to snacks for a pool party here at the park from 6-8. It was well attended by fun-loving crazies, some with water guns which meant most people got wet at one or another. There was a band, games in the pool and even dancing on the small spots not taken up by tables & chairs. Terry had waaaay too much fun so we crashed when we got home just after 9.
Apr 3rd – Sun
We were up but not moving too fast when Stephane stopped by this morning to see if we wanted to play cards this evening. We visited a bit with Dennis & Gloria and then with Neil & Robin before riding with them to Filly’s for lunch. Garry & Steph went earlier and saved tables but there were 14 of us so some people had to sit in the sun which was very hot. We only stayed for a few dances after the band started at 1 as it was just too hot.
We went to the produce market and grocery store. Terry cooked a steak on the BBQ for himself but I wasn’t too hungry after a big lunch so just had salad & garlic bread. Then it was off to Ernie & Dianne’s to play cards with them & Steph and later Garry – Arizona Rummy and Golf.
Apr 4th – Mon
It cooled off nicely last night. We have a street light right by our site so it is very bright with the window & blinds open for air. We will be avoiding this site in the future.
After breakfast, Terry took the bikes off the rack and we rode around looking at sites and reserved one for mid Sept through Dec again. Out of curiosity, we also looked at a park model for sale. Even at quite a low price there is no way we could imagine anyone buying it as it was such a mess and so claustrophobic with small tip-outs, not slide-outs.
After lunch we made a trip to Camping World as we had a gift card with an unknown balance that we thought we should spend before it expired. We got a collapsible ice bucket that Dennis had told us about.
When we got back we joined a group at the pool for “bobbing” and sunning. We had time for a drink with Dennis & Gloria before going to Fat Willy’s with them, Ernie & Dianne and Harold & Laurie.
Dennis was watching a basketball game so Gloria came over to watch DWTS. It was so nice to sit outside and watch the TV in our storage compartment. Dennis joined us to have strawberries & dip for dessert.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Mar 30th to Apr 1st - DHS
Mar 30th – Wed
While Terry played golf with the men’s club, I worked on the computer and checked out several parks as we still haven’t decided exactly where we are going when we leave here on Saturday.
Terry did some packing and I cleaned windows & screens. After lunch we went to play golf. It was too warm for a lot of people so the golf course was fairly empty which resulted in a nicely paced game.
After dinner, our neighbors Jim & Debbie asked us to join them, Eldon & Elaine and Chuck & Faye for a drink as Jim & Debbie are leaving tomorrow.
Mar 31st – Thurs
We were on the golf course this morning when Carie phoned to ask us over for drinks & burgers. We had time to do laundry and make a quick stop to see Leon & Marilyn’s park model. They got possession today and are cleaning and painting ceilings before they go home.
We went to Desert Pools RV park to see Gary & Carie at 3:30. We went to the natural mineral water pool until we were all pruney. Their site was in shade when we got back so it was wonderful to sit out for drinks, snacks and dinner – and to catch up on news.
April 1st – Fri
Terry’s team won some money in the golf scramble again. My team ended up with 3 players as someone did not show up. We did OK without a low handicap player and had a lot of fun.
There was no breeze and was very hot even at 8:40 when we teed off.
We stood around – in the shade – for a while and had a beer and chatted with other golfers. Then we called Louis & Judy and went to Agua Caliente casino for about 3 hours. I was way down, got back up and ended up losing my allowance. Terry was doing OK and finally won enough so we were $20 ahead. Sounds like a winning day to me!
I had just enough time to put together an appetizer before going to Ron & Sharon’s for our last happy hour this season. Afterwards we went out with Larry & Barb for a so-so Chinese dinner.
While Terry played golf with the men’s club, I worked on the computer and checked out several parks as we still haven’t decided exactly where we are going when we leave here on Saturday.
Terry did some packing and I cleaned windows & screens. After lunch we went to play golf. It was too warm for a lot of people so the golf course was fairly empty which resulted in a nicely paced game.
After dinner, our neighbors Jim & Debbie asked us to join them, Eldon & Elaine and Chuck & Faye for a drink as Jim & Debbie are leaving tomorrow.
Mar 31st – Thurs
We were on the golf course this morning when Carie phoned to ask us over for drinks & burgers. We had time to do laundry and make a quick stop to see Leon & Marilyn’s park model. They got possession today and are cleaning and painting ceilings before they go home.
We went to Desert Pools RV park to see Gary & Carie at 3:30. We went to the natural mineral water pool until we were all pruney. Their site was in shade when we got back so it was wonderful to sit out for drinks, snacks and dinner – and to catch up on news.
April 1st – Fri
Terry’s team won some money in the golf scramble again. My team ended up with 3 players as someone did not show up. We did OK without a low handicap player and had a lot of fun.
There was no breeze and was very hot even at 8:40 when we teed off.
We stood around – in the shade – for a while and had a beer and chatted with other golfers. Then we called Louis & Judy and went to Agua Caliente casino for about 3 hours. I was way down, got back up and ended up losing my allowance. Terry was doing OK and finally won enough so we were $20 ahead. Sounds like a winning day to me!
I had just enough time to put together an appetizer before going to Ron & Sharon’s for our last happy hour this season. Afterwards we went out with Larry & Barb for a so-so Chinese dinner.
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