Sept 29th to Oct 2nd - Mesa

Sept 29^th – Mon – Mesa

We had a late breakfast and then rode our bikes to see Jerry & Becky. We all decided that we should check out the Salt River and the road that was closed to see about doing a float trip this week. We brought our bikes back & Jerry picked us up.

The road is open with lots of dips that have dirt graded to the side of the road which shows how much water washed across the road. We stopped at a sheriff's station to see when the dam will be closed and shut off the water to the river. They said we can float the river for another month but you have to organize your own transportation as the company that runs float trips closes at the end of September. We checked out the take-out point to make sure we knew where it was and then continued on the the spot where we start the trip. The water doesn't look much lower than last year so a trip will be planned.

Jerry dropped us off and we took the truck to get a late lunch at a Mexican restaurant just down the road. We have not eaten there before – Losbelos - and found the chimichangas to be very good. Now it was time to join a group at the pool.

We were playing computer games and watching TV when Bob & Bobbie knocked on the door. They were out for a walk and decided to visit which was a nice surprise.

Sept 30^th – Tues

We made three trips to the hair salon to change an appointment for Terri since they weren't open on the first 2 trips. We went to Larry & Julie's so Terry could drill holes in cabinets to route cables for TV through the shelves rather than having them hanging over the front. We stopped at Patti's to help her determine how she could fit a larger TV in her place.

At 3:30 we went to Mesa Regal for a steak fry. There was happy hour from 4-6, dinner at 5 and music continued until 7. Harry Matthews provided the music and he is really fun. He gets lots of people up to do easy line dances. Jerry & Becky asked us to come over later but after we played a few computer games and rode our bikes over, they still weren't home.

Oct 1^st – Wed

We took the bikes to run some errands & visit some friends around the park – picked up my left-behind sunglasses, checked out 2 new floors installed in motor homes by the owners, bought tickets for the Halloween dance and picked up some float tubes from Neil and delivered them to Rick & Barb. By this time it was time for lunch so we went out & grabbed a burger.

Next stop was Fry's for some groceries. Larry came over with our old MiFi that he had activated at Verizon and Terry helped him set it up on his computer.

We went to listen to music and dance in the ballroom at 3. It was really nice to have Bobbie and Terry (also knows a lot of dances) to lead us in some line dances. Then a whole group went to Roosters for karaoke. We did the same as last time - picked up Patti, parked the truck by the Ranchos gate and walked across Main Street.

Oct 2^nd – Thurs

We went on our delayed float trip today. There were 11 on the outing – us, Jerry & Becky, Chief & Debra, Howard & Gina, Larry, Charlie and Linda. We left here about 8:30 and were delayed a bit when Howard & Gina's tubes weren't tied securely in their truck. We all went to the put-in spot and blew up tubes that were carried there not inflated. Then the four vehicles were taken to the take-out spot and all the drivers came back in one rig.

We were ready to float at 10. The water seemed a little cool when you first got in but it only took minutes to get comfortable. We made a stop for lunch and got off the river about 2. Howard took Jerry back to get his rig and we all headed home.

After completing the tube deflation, washing sand out of our water shoes and putting everything away, we took it easy. Terry got a message from the motorcycle repair place yesterday and finally got hold of them later this afternoon. They thought it would be ready to pick up today so we delayed our “happy hour” and then it wasn't ready. Lazy evening.

Sept 26th to 28th - Mesa

Sept 26^th – Fri – Mesa

After a mostly lazy morning – catching up the blog does not count as lazy! - I finally made a very late breakfast. Then we returned the external wifi to Best Buy as our new computer is working so much better. We stopped at Frys on the way back to get some chicken for lunch tomorrow when we float the river. Howard stopped by to borrow our air pump as they bought float tubes for tomorrow.

We went to music in the ballroom at 3. When the band – Wild Rose - started to play they counted 22 people attending but a lot more arrived shortly after. The music was good for listening and for dancing (for us!). A couple of electric slides got a lot of dancers on the floor.

We just got back when Joe stopped by to use our printer. Unfortunately the “wifi” printer didn't show up and we ended up having to connect it with a cable and reinstall it. That meant we had to dig through too much stuff in a couple of baskets – first Terry unsuccessfully and then I found what we needed in the place he had just looked! But he did remember where the installation disk was stored!

Jerry & Becky called to say they were going to the hot tub so we joined them there just after 7:30. We kind of missed dinner so we had pie & ice cream when we got back.

Nasty weather is predicted for tomorrow so we and Jerry & Becky made an executive decision to move the float trip to Sunday. We each notified some of the people and unfortunately some can't make it on Sunday.

Sept 27^th – Sat

Jerry called at 9 to see if we wanted to go to breakfast with them. We weren't dressed yet but we said we would be ready in 20 minutes and they picked us up. We went to Red Mountain Cafe for a good breakfast. Then we went to the Mesa Marketplace for the first time this season. Two rows are fully open, the third one has lots of vendors and there are a few open stalls in the 4^th row. Of course we had to walk it all. We stopped at Culver's on the way back for frozen custard which is rich ice cream.

We saw that Bruce & Ann had arrived so we walked over to welcome them. They were just getting ready to have a very late lunch so we left them to eat and then come to visit us. A HUGE storm changed those plans as each time the rain & wind let up a bit and they were going to walk over, it would start in earnest again. Ann finally called to say that Bruce was “very relaxed” and they were just going to stay home and rest.

This is the tail end of monsoon season and it is going out with a bang! We had to hustle to get our awning up, chairs folded and small tables & float tubes tucked under the rig. There were lots of pictures on the local news of storm damage.

Sept 28^th – Sun

Jerry and Chief called to cancel this morning so our reduced group of 6 – us, Howard & Gina, Larry and Charlie left at 8:30 for the float trip. Unfortunately, 6 miles from our destination, the road was closed and we had to scrap the float trip for today.

We talked to Howard & Gina about playing golf instead so they rode their bikes over after they unloaded their truck. In the meantime I had called Desert Sands golf course and found that they were closed for over seeding until Oct 10^th. So we ended up going to the casino!

Howard & Gina had purchased the “$50 slot play for $25” coupons at Ft. McDowell casino. We introduced them to slots that we like and we all went out separate ways for a while. We met up to have lunch and then gambled some more.

When we got back, we joined them at the pool and found Larry & Julie and Bruce & Ann already there. Dinner was quite easy as I heated up the chicken strips that we were going to eat for lunch on the river.

Sept 22nd to 25th - Mesa

Sept 22^nd – Mon – Mesa

I REALLY need to get more disciplined about entering the blog. Darned if I can remember most of what we did today after I caught up the blog!

I do know that we went to the pool and Howard & Gina were there. When we were all sufficiently pruny, we came home to change and then rode the bikes back to their place so we could check out their 5^th wheel and have a drink. The layout of their Mobile Suites is very similar to ours. We ended up having several drinks – Howard shared a very nice bottle of Scotch with Terry – and some snacks that ended up being dinner!

Sept 23^rd – Tues

We didn't have much going on today so after coffee, etc we went to the casino. When we got back, Terry went to check the mail and talked to Chief. A big group was going to Organ Stop pizza so we went to find Howard & Gina to see if they wanted to join us. There were in the pool but wanted to go so we gave them barely ½ hour to get home & change and we picked them up.

We arrived in time to join the group & listen to part of the first set of music. Then we stayed for part of the second music set.

It still wasn't late so of course Howard & Gina had to come in to see our 5^th wheel and have a drink(s).

Sept 24^th – Wed

We did laundry this morning. When the clothes were washing we walked over to talk to Beth and then went to the office to put money on the laundry card. While I was putting clothes in the dryers, Terry went back for a couple of empty water jugs and returned sunglasses to Howard. So we got a tiny bit of exercise!

Larry came over to pay us for a step stool that we found for them and said he had moved Julie's crystal from the china cabinet but he couldn't put the cabinet in his car. So we went and got the cabinet, put it in their park model and visited for a bit.

We made a trip to WalMart to get a frame to replace the one with the picture of me & my halibut which fell off the wall. We had a light late breakfast there as well. Then we had a lazy couple of hours before going to music in the ballroom.

A new singer – Dakota – provided very danceable music. He has a very nice voice, a county look and a bit of a “performer” set up rather than just a bunch of speakers. We did a few line dances in addition to 2-steps & waltzes. Bob & Bobbie (line dance instructors) arrived late today in the park and came to the ballroom to have a bit to eat. It was very nice to have Bobbie lead us in a couple of line dances. We went to Roosters again and will not be going again. A lot of our group has been getting disillusioned with the place so unless we hear of changes we won't be going back. Jerry & Becky, Beth and Charlie & Pat dropped by for a drink afterwards.

Sept 25^th – Thurs

We started with coffee & doughnuts and not much new in the way of information about construction projects. Everything is moving along – some things slower than others.

Terry dug out & inflated our float tubes in preparation for float trip on the Salt River on Saturday. On the way back from getting a haircut, I stopped at Patti's to pick up her tube as she cannot go and is lending her tube to Beth. Of course I had to visit for a bit.

I made a late breakfast/early lunch before we went to do a bit of shopping. We returned the external wifi connection that we were going to use on our old computer and got some groceries. When we got back we were in time to join a group in the Fiesta pool.

Now it was time for some dinner prep as we invited Howard & Gina over for baby backs for dinner. They brought salad, dessert & wine so it was easy for me. We had our usual great time with them.

Sept 19th to 21st - Mesa

Sept 19^th – Fri – Mesa

We have had an “idiot light” showing on the motorcycle that indicates a problem with the power steering unit so Terry took the motorcycle to the CanAm dealer in Chandler. Jerry, Larry & Bill followed him and then they all went to the VA – Jerry for medications, Larry for hearing aid batteries, Terry to finally sign up and Bill just for the heck of it.

Terry got a phone call from the CanAm dealer saying it would cost a lot to replace the power steering unit and they needed Terry to come in a pay for the unit before they would order it. Their attitude kind of ticked him off so we went and picked up the bike and brought it back. It still drives just fine but presumably the steering could fail any time. We stopped for a burger on the way back.

We went to Music in the Ballroom at 3. Music was provided by Rick Mancini who does a good job. Terry was still wound up so we didn't dance much. When it finished at 5, we came back for the truck, picked up Patti and drove to the Rancho's gate where we parked the truck and walked across Main Street to Roosters. Curtis bought pizzas this time and we left fairly early as the music was blasting louder & louder from the speakers.

Sept 20^th – Sat

Terry found another CanAm dealer in Mesa so we took the truck to see if they could help us with the motorcycle. The service employees were very nice & knowledgeable and said they could look at it as soon as Terry could bring it in. We hustled back, Terry took the bike and I did alterations on a couple of tops.

Terry called and said there was indeed a problem with the power steering unit and I needed to come pick him up. The dealer has to make some phone calls next week to get more info. We stopped at Frys for groceries on the way back, came back, put everything away and had a late lunch. We took the non-working ice maker to Camping World but they are still closed from being flooded and might not reopen until until Nov 1^st. We had stopped by Jerry & Becky's and Jerry needed a door latch so he came with us. We stopped at the Montana dealer where we buy parts but their service department is not open on Saturday right now.

We lazed around the rest of the afternoon. Julie called about 4:30 and asked us to come over for dinner. She would have called earlier but she thought we weren't home since the motorcycle wasn't parked in front. Jerry & Becky were also there and we had a nice dinner & evening.

Sept 21^st – Sun

The usual morning – coffee, computer games, TV and then breakfast. We went to Best Buy to try to figure out what to do with our new computer. It is really slow and we get TONS of ads every time we get on the internet. The Geek Squad guy said we probably had viruses and we could buy a support contract from them for $249 to get it cleaned up. We didn't spend much more than that on the computer! So we bought an external wifi for our old computer – only catch is we have to download a driver from the internet to install the wifi!! We figured we could do that on the new computer and move it over on a flash drive. We stopped at WalMart for printer ink and found a folding step stool for Julie.

When we got back, I decided to try a free virus checker on the new computer. I had used Adaware years ago so I downloaded it (actually SpyHunter) and started the scan. When it finished the scan after at least 3 hours, we found we had to purchase the software to remove the 781 “threats”. But it seemed like a good idea so we went ahead and purchased it and removed all the junk. A fairly quick trial showed the computer running much faster without all the mega annoying pop-up ads.

We were sort of planning to go to Filly's to listen to Holly compete in a singing competition but it was so late by the time that we finished with the computer that we had dinner at home. We found fillets marked down at Fry's again – super good.

Sept 14th to 18th - Mesa

Sept 14^th – Sun – Mesa

After putting laundry in the washers we walked back to the rig and I made breakfast. We went back to put laundry in the dryers and got a couple gallons of water which we took back to the rig to get a little more exercise! In short order the laundry was done and the bed was made.

Since we got a bit of work done this morning, we headed to the casino. We played slots for several hours before Terry finally lost his allowance and I didn't even lose all of mine. Actually I did lose my allowance but Terry was doing well at that point so I increased my “stake” and recovered most of my previous losses.

I had baby backs thawing so I boiled them up while we had a salad. Terry did an awesome job on the BBQ for another great dinner. We went to check in with Larry & Julie to see if Julie bought a ceiling fan which Terry would install. She didn't make a decision but she pretty much has the picture wall in the bedroom planned out.

Sept 15^th – Mon

It's a good thing we got the laundry done yesterday as the water was off for hours today. Workers demolishing the old courtyard & fitness center keep hitting old water lines that no one knows about.

I needed to do a bit of shopping so we went to JoAnn Fabrics, Bealls and Frys. The rest of the day was basically lazy.

Sept 16^th - Tues

After breakfast we went to Verizon to see if we could find out why our data usage is so high compared to previous months. We decided to change our phone plan and up our data allowance so our bill barely changes. Then we got a new wifi unit called a Jetpack which will “run faster and jump higher”!

We continued on to Power Square to visit a large kitchen store. In a weak moment after he won money in Las Vegas, Terry insisted that I order a Nu Wave cooktop when it was shown on an informercial on TV. I delayed the delivery until we were back in Mesa and have enjoyed using it with the 2 fry pans & one large, shallow pot that came with it. I used it outside to boil ribs on Sunday which was great as it kept all the heat & steam out of the rig. It is induction cooking so “special” pots are needed. Actually, as long as a magnet sticks to the pot it will work on the cooktop but had looked in other stores with no luck. A lady working in the kitchen store was very knowledgeable & helpful and I ended up with a big stock pot and a medium saucepan.

We stopped at Larry & Julie's and Terry helped her hang the last, large picture in their bedroom.

Sept 17^th – Wed

After a lazy couple of hours this morning we went to Five N Diner for breakfast since we still had a “buy one, get one” coupon from last season. They have good food. From there we went to the bank to sign a new signature card and then across the street to WalMart for some groceries.

When we came out of WalMart it was pouring rain. Raindrops were bouncing up from the pavement. Terry ran to the truck and I walked since I was wearing slip-on Crocs which immediately were wet & slippery. Terry was just as wet as I was! As we drove home we saw small rivers running down all the streets.

Larry & Julie stopped by with a drink about 2:30 on their way to “music in the courtyard (MCY)” which is being held in the ballroom until the new courtyard is done. They forgot their name badges so we walked over while they went home to get the badges. Of course it started to rain again just then but we stood in a carport behind us until it let up in a few minutes.

Guilty Pleasures provided the music and the park provided free wings. We danced a bit and had our usual good time with good friends.

We came back to drop off our booze bag and Patti came by to take us and Larry & Julie to Roosters for karaoke night. Of course we don't sing but there were lots of good & “not as good” singers. Again we did a bit of dancing.

Sept 18^th – Thurs

We went to coffee & doughnuts this morning and sat with Howard & Gina who just got back. I found a new recipe for pork tenderloin in the crock pot so after I got it going I made a late breakfast. We were waiting for someone to look at the toy hauler for warranty repairs so we just hung around until he showed up shortly after 2.

Luckily Terry went with him and I stayed home because Jerry & Becky showed up with drinks in hand. They just got back today. After Terry got back, Bill & Beth arrived and then Larry & Julie showed up in their golf cart. We had a great time catching up and getting the social scene under way. Bill & Beth left for a while to water the dog and grab a bite to eat. I made some snacks for a light dinner for the rest of us. We all had a great time!! It will be nice when it cools down enough to sit outside.

Sept 10th to 13th - Mesa

Sept 10^th – Wed – Mesa

We helped Larry & Julie move more stuff. They had packed up items that they didn't want from their new park model so we unloaded that into the old place and then refilled the boxes with mostly kitchen items and took them to the new home. We left them to unpack at their leisure.

We picked up a couple of good looking filets yesterday so we had a great dinner today. We ate early as we didn't have lunch so Terry was able to BBQ in the daylight!

Sept 11^th – Thurs

We went to coffee & doughnuts this morning where they had a couple of moments of silence in honor of the people killed & injured when airplanes hit the World Trade towers in New York.

UPS delivered the parts to convert our satellite dish to SWM so after we checked it all out we had to go shopping for cables, etc. We went to the Montana dealer for adhesive for the roof, Radio Shack for cables & connectors and Kmart for a caulk gun. Good thing they are all reasonably close by.

Larry & Julie dropped in for a drink(s) after taking Larry to minor emergency. He had not been feeling really well and had no appetite. The doctor found his heartbeat at 51 bpm and after an EKG he adjusted some medication which they had to pick up at WalMart. Unfortunately the prescription was called into the wrong WalMart so they had to go to 2.

Sept 12^th – Fri

Terry was up early to install the SWM system. It involved several trips to the roof, much testing & redoing connections but we finally got it done about 5 hours later partly due to waiting for phone calls to be returned by Wineguard. 

Our ice maker quit (!!!!) so we took the motorcycle to Camping World to see what kind of warranty it had. Unfortunately the store was closed due to water damage from the floods last Monday and will be closed at least another week. This is the brand new store that just opened last spring. We stopped at the dealer where we got our toy hauler and arranged to have some warranty work done on it.

Shabby Shack came to Julie's to buy some of the furniture that she no longer needs. We found them at the old place preparing to take a couple of large end tables. We came back to our rig to get the truck, went to Julie's old place to load a square dining table & 4 swivel chairs, and went to the new place. There we found the sliding door removed so the couch could be taken out and Julie had hired the 2 young, strong guys from Shabby Shack to return to the old place and bring over the huge couch before replacing the door. Good idea!!

Now we had to decide where to place the big, heavy couch and then bring in the table & chairs. We all relaxed and decided the table was too big so we went back to the old place to get a round, drop leaf table that had been used outside. It is perfect with the swivel chairs but Julie will have to paint it black.

Now it was time to really relax with a drink. Chris stopped by to cool off and we had a nice chat with him.

We definitely didn't feel like cooking so we decided to get Papa Murphy's pizza as I was sure we had coupons from last year that don't expire until the end of the month. Terry had sucked down 3 drinks to my 1 ½ so I drove to pick up the pizza which was a great choice. We were home and Terry was snoozing in his chair before 7:00.

Larry is feeling much better.

Sept 13^th – Sat

The installer arrived shortly after 8 to connect our Genies (DVRs to non DirecTV people!). He discovered fairly soon that he needed something that he doesn't normally carry for the bedroom TV as it is cabled in a non-standard method. But he arranged to pick it up later and continued to set up the Genie on the living room TV and he connected the bedroom receiver to the living room TV so he could program it also.

Terry went to Larry & Julie's just in time (10) to help Bill & Rick take the bed from the new home to Rick's place. Then they went to Julie's old place to take apart the head & footboards on the massive bed frame in order to bring that bed to the new place! I went to visit with Julie while this was happening.

The guys put the bed together and were missing one piece. Larry went back to the old house and couldn't find it so Terry & I went over on the bike. Still couldn't find it so I asked Terry to drive the route they took when the bed was on the truck. He said it was the way we just came but went that way again and he finally spotted the flat piece of metal on the street a block from the new house. The bed ended up oriented differently than originally planned and now Julie has an entire wall to decorate with paintings.

The DirecTV guy came back about 2:30 to finish the installation. Terry is a happy camper!!

Larry & Julie took us to dinner at the China Buffet. We all ate too much as usual but I have learned not to pig out too bad!

Sept 6th to 9th - Mesa

Sept 6^th – Sat – Mesa

We went to another coffee & doughnuts this morning. It used to be held in the Ranchos community center but that was converted to a fiber arts center so coffee is now in the ballroom and we thought we would just check it out. It is a much different format from the Thursday coffee and there is more time to chat with others at your table. Right now there are round tables in the ballroom which is nice for talking to others but they take too much room when more people return to VVV.

Terry was antsy since we had no definite plans after coffee so we ended up getting an online coupon - $40 slot play & breakfast for $25 – and went to Ft McDowell casino. We had lunch when we got there and proceeded to donate money!

We went by Larry & Julie's when we got back and they had just arrived so Larry made us a drink. Neil & Robin and Terri & Ken (Robin's sis & her husband) came by and then they went to pick up KFC for dinner for all of us which we had at our place since we have more seating than anyone else. We were ready to hit the sack shortly after everyone left.

Sept 7^th – Sun

It was extremely hot today so we were very lazy. We took the bike to Alberstons for a few groceries. At 5 we went to Al & Linda's for a pot luck dinner. They provided burgers & hot dogs. Their site has shade from neighbors & a sun shade but we were all overheated after dinner so most of us went home to change and went to the pool.

The pool was lovely! There was another super moon and we stayed quite a while.

Sept 8^th – Mon

We had a HUGE monsoon rain storm last night and into the morning. We woke at 2:00 when the rain & wind started and Terry watched out the window for a while until he figured the awning was OK in the wind. Rain was coming off the awning in a stream that arced out rather than just falling down. We didn't sleep too well for the rest of the night. There was such a huge clap & rumble of thunder at one point that we both jumped.

Local TV had nothing but coverage of the rain storm and widespread flooding in the entire Phoenix area. Julie came by after she went to the sales office to get a key for the park model that they bought just before they left in the spring. The patch we put on the vent cover didn't do a bit of good with the rain! They tried a couple of different things during the night and managed to keep most of the water off the bed.

We went to inspect their new park model and I took pictures of some furniture that Julie wants to sell. The park was pumping water out of the catch pond that is also the horseshoe pit so Julie had waterfront property!

We went back to pick up Larry and they took us to lunch at Fat Willy's before going to Shabby Shack which is a second hand store that buys furniture. Unfortunately they were closed due to the flooding. Their parking lot was a small lake and we saw buckets & garbage cans catching leaks when we peeked in the door.

We all decided earlier that Larry & Julie should take bedding and a few necessities to the new place and stay there. We turned on the AC earlier so it was nice & cool. The “necessities” included ice & booze so we had a drink to christen the new place. Back home for a light dinner, computer games & TV.

Sept 9^th – Tues

I rolled a bunch of coins to take to the bank before making a late breakfast and putting a roast in the crock pot. Then we went to run a couple of errands.

We went to the bank with the coins and to sign a new signature card as we received a request to do that. We forgot to take the letter with us and the new employee couldn't figure out what was needed so we will go back another time. We stopped at the Montana dealer to get a replacement for a screen door latch that broke. We also got a panel for the screen door that allows you to push a spring loaded “button” to open the screen rather than sliding the panel to the side to access the latch. We have one on the toy hauler and got to like it.

We had some fun installing the new latch as it was just a tiny bit different from the old one. We eventually got everything figured out and went over to see how Larry & Julie were doing.

After they finished a very late lunch, we decided to go back to Shabby Shack. We were walking back to our rig to get the camera & the truck when Bill & Lauri drove up so we had to visit with them for a while. At Shabby Shack, Julie made an appointment with the owner to come out Friday to buy some stuff she wants to get rid of. Then we went to 2 WalMarts on an unsuccessful hunt for an ice maker for Julie and finally ended up at Fry's to get one there. It was more expensive than WalMart but at least they had one. We dropped them off, came back to put some groceries in the fridge and to get some ice for Julie. Then we returned to their place for a drink.

We saw Beth ride by on her bike but she didn't hear Terry whistle. Then she stopped to check Brian & Bev's park model so Terry got her to come see Larry & Julie. She phoned Bill and suddenly we had a party! We finally came home for dinner.

Sept 3rd to 5th - Mesa

Sept 2^nd – Tues – Mesa

Terry took the truck across the street for an oil change & a new fuel filter this morning. When we came back from the casino on Sunday, a light came on indicating a problem with “stabilitrack” system on the transmission and the lights showing which gear you were in didn't work. When he took the truck in, he could barely make it across the road when traffic cleared so obviously he had them look at that also. The bad news was a malfunctioning transmission communication module. The worse news was the price of the module and the repair place having to get someone in to reprogram everything. So we didn't get the truck back today.

We thought a couple that we met in Keystone was staying here so we stopped to see them. Turned out they had worked in Keystone at the same park as Chief & Debra but it was not the couple that we expected as there were 2 Barbs working there. Oh well, now we have 2 more friends – Rick & Barb Osgood. They are replacing the carpet in their motor home so we will see how it turns out and maybe do something in our 5^th wheel.

Sept 3^rd – Wed

Terry took the bike to check on the progress on the truck and came back to get me so he wouldn't “have to walk all the way over to get it”. We paid the ransom and got the truck and then moved the toy hauler its new home in the storage area.

I boiled ribs for dinner Friday outside on the propane stove so it wouldn't heat up the inside any more than it already was. I had to do them in 2 batches so it takes a while.

I didn't have to make dinner tonight as we attended a steak fry here in the park. It was well attended and music was provided by Guilty Pleasures so we were able to dance a bit. We even remembered some line dances with help from Jill.

After it was over at 7, we joined a group at newly reopened Roosters which is a bar across Main Street from the Ranchos gate. We got a ride with Bonnie so we could enjoy a few drinks as Bonnie was the DD. They had karaoke with some good singers including Curtis and Holly. There is also a decent sized dance floor which we used a few times. Previously Roosters was a “biker bar” and a little grungy so we will have to wait and see how it turns out.

Sept 4^th – Thurs

We started the day with the weekly coffee & doughnuts in the ballroom at 8:30. We went to the beauty salon to make an appointment for Terri B next month.

Then we went to Larry & Julie's place to sweep the leaves & seeds out of their patio/driveway. We took the tarps off everything that was covered and moved their patio furniture from the living room back outside. A vent cover came unlatched and we couldn't fix it so we found a garbage bag & tape to cover the opening on the inside to try to keep dust out. Just hope it doesn't rain! We turned on the AC so the place will be cooled down when they arrive tomorrow.

Now it was time to do laundry. Got everything loaded in the truck and discovered that the main laundry room was closed on the 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th to clean the floors. We came back to the rig to get quarters for the other laundry and also got our bathing suits as the laundry in Fiesta is right beside the pool. Rick & Barb were in the pool along with their neighbor Kerry so we got to visit with them.

Sept 5^th – Fri

Bill Cross picked us up at 6:45 to golf at Greenfield Lakes and Bonnie joined us to make a foursome. We all golfed about the same – great shots spoiled by ugly shots. We finished just after 10 and went to the Duchess for breakfast/lunch. The rest of the VVV group joined us there to make a table of 10. This golf group has been going to the Duchess all summer and has a great server – Jill – who gives everyone a bad time and must hug everyone when they leave.

We made a trip to Albertsons for a few groceries and I did some dinner prep. As I mentioned, Larry & Julie were supposed to arrive today but we got a text message about 3:30 saying they had just settled into their room in Las Vegas. We obviously got our wires crossed with the date but Neil & Robin and Joe came for baby backs for dinner anyhow.

Aug 29th to Sept 1st - Mesa

Aug 29^th – Fri – Mesa

Terry got up early to fix the bicycle tires before it got too hot. After coffee, I started cleaning the toy hauler – fridge, shower, floors, etc. I left the door on the freezer open and put microfiber clothes in the bottom to soak up water – easiest way ever to defrost a freezer. While the freezer was self-defrosting, I made breakfast.

I caught up the blog – always fun when I have not kept up. We decided to get a Genie (DVR) for our TVs so I spent quite a while on the phone setting it up to be installed tomorrow. Terry was so happy to get it organized that we had an early drink.

We ended up going to our favorite Chinese buffet for dinner.

Aug 30^th – Sat

We got going reasonably early to wash the toy hauler – always a fun job! After we had breakfast, the DirecTV installer arrived to hook up our Genie but it didn't get done as we don't have the correct satellite dish. He rescheduled the installation and gave us the part we needed to change the dish. We need to get a knowledgeable person to do the fix so we went to Camping World. Of course they could not do anything until Tuesday due to the Labor Day holiday but they gave us a phone number for an independent contractor that they do use. Unfortunately we just got to leave a message there.

We stopped at Kmart to stand in line to pay for a couple of items. A bit later we went out for a burger for a late lunch and picked up a few groceries at Safeway. They included our favorite individual fruit pies which became dinner later.

Aug 31^st – Sun

After breakfast we went to run an errand and ended up at the casino! I didn't donate any money but Terry left his allowance so he can pick it up another day!

Later in the afternoon, we rode the motorcycle all around the park to check everything out. We went into Larry & Julie's to make sure they wouldn't have any surprises when they arrive in a few days. We stopped at Robin & Neil's new-to-them park model and were just in time to help Robin & Joe decide on a color to repaint an accent wall in the living room. Neil very cleverly got out of town for a week or so and avoided the decorating decisions. We had a beer with them before continuing our tour of the park.

Then the usual computer stuff, dinner & TV for the evening.

Sept 1^st – Mon

There was a pot luck lunch today at the park and I had forgotten to plan a dish so I made some cornmeal muffins. The park provided fried chicken and everyone else brought too much yummy stuff. After we ate and the tables were cleared, we played bingo for some little prizes that Lynn & Nelda scrounged up. Our table had a lot of fun! There were at least 50 people for lunch which is a good turnout this early in the season.

I had a pork tenderloin in the fridge that I forgot to put in the crock pot so I went through my recipes and we made a trip to Albertsons for ingredients. We left our helmets so we could carry the entire shopping list back in the motorcycle. Then I decided that we had a lot for dinner so I called Patti and she joined us for an enjoyable evening.

Aug 26th to 28th - Mesa

Aug 26^th – Tues – Mesa

Terry put out the patio mat and set up chairs & tables so it is starting to look homey.

We put some money on the laundry card and headed to the laundry for the first of many trips this season. After the washers were all started, we stopped by for a short chat with Joe who is parked near the laundry building. We ate breakfast before I went back to put clothes in the dryers. The washer with the towels had not spun dry so I ran them through another machine and took a malfunction notice to the office. If it had been another load I would have wrung the clothes out and put them in a dryer but it was impossible to wring out the towels. Terry came by to help with folding & carrying.

We moved some stuff from the toy hauler – it is nice to have it right beside the 5^th wheel – but it still takes a lot of time to get everything back in the right spots.

We went to Camping World to wander around and buy a couple of little items. We stopped at a flooring place to talk to them about replacing the carpet in the 5^th wheel with solid flooring. We decided to put it off - or not do it all - as it is pretty expensive to have it installed and we don't want to tackle it ourselves.

I got a haircut at 5. I had one no-so-good haircut since we left here in the middle of April. I like the ease of longer hair with the motorcycle helmet but it is hot. So Holly trimmed up the back & sides and left the top longer but thinned out.

Terry went to KFC while I was getting my hair cut so dinner was ready when I got back.

Aug 27^th – Wed

We are back to our own wifi which is really nice. I don't think I could handle the slowness of the park's wifi. I will have to monitor our usage and see if I can tell what is using so much of our 6 gigabytes.

We headed for Fry's and decided to get the truck cleaned up. We buy a book of wash tickets each year and we still had one ticket from last season. They weren't very busy so had time to do a great job. Back to Fry's (good thing we weren't on the motorcycle!) and then home to unload & put away. Leftover chicken for an easy lunch.

Now it was time to move a lot more stuff from the toy hauler. We also emptied out the big storage bay in the 5^th wheel, cleaned it up and designated some stuff for a patio sale. The fifth wheel hitch was stored in there – I don't know how Terry put it in by himself! Since we were cleaning, I tackled the front storage as well. I think there was 8 year old dust & dirt in there!

Terry called the mobile RV repair guy and he said he could be here in 40 minutes. He arrived in 30 minutes and it took him about 3 minutes to start the panel repair. He had to remove it all first and them screw it back on and replace the molding.

Madeline stopped by and we had a nice visit while Terry was supervising the repair guy. Then she stayed for a drink before leaving to get ready to go to work. I put a roast in the crock pot so dinner was half done.

Aug 28^th – Thurs

We attended “coffee & doughnuts” this morning. There were only 5 round tables mostly filled with people. Pat knew we were back and had a bag of books for me. She & Kay have been reading a series and passing them on to me and they completed quite a few over the summer.

We moved food from the fridge & freezer to complete emptying the toy hauler. Then we went to Total Wine and from there to Costco where we had an early lunch after shopping. We went to Garden Ridge which is now Total Home (I think) and then to WalMart for a few items – how could Terry lose his hammer?! Back home to unload & put away again.

By now it was time for a drink, computer games, dinner & TV.

Aug 21st to 25th - Parker, Mesa

Aug 21^st – Thurs – Laughlin

Darned if I remember if & how this day differed from others here so this is the entire entry for today!!!!

Aug 22^nd – Fri – to Parker AZ

We had a short drive today so no need to get going early. After getting diesel in Parker, we stopped for a burger for an early lunch. The next stop was at the Bluewater casino of course! I didn't lose any money but I didn't cover any of Terry's losses.

We paid for 3 days at La Paz County campground and set up which doesn't take us too long. I took meat out of the freezer and it was thawed by the time I was ready to make dinner. The AC runs full time and the temperature is tolerable.

Aug 23^rd – Sat

We went to the casino for a late breakfast at the buffet. Surprisingly enough we had enough points on our cards to make the meal very inexpensive. Then we enjoyed – sort of! - the cool of the casino for a while. We went to WalMart for some groceries and some other items that we had no idea that we needed until we saw them!

Terry dug out a couple of chairs and found a nice shady spot by the Colorado River which runs right past the RV park. I put on my swim suit and cooled off in the river a couple of times. We enjoyed watching all the river traffic and a drink in the shade of a palm tree. Baby backs on the BBQ made a nice dinner.

 

Aug 24^th – Sun

We are reaching the limit of data usage on our Verizon “mifi” so I have been monitoring it on the computer. The Verizon site was messed up this morning so we decided we could still play computer games but could not turn on the mifi to connect to Facebook and get more lives. What a change to our morning routine!!!

After I made breakfast, we hopped on the motorcycle for another trip to the casino. Once again it did not treat us well. This time we went to Safeway for dinner ingredients.

Terry had leftovers for lunch and I had nice cool grapes & a doughnut. At one point I thought about going out to sit by the river but all the boaters went home so it was too quiet, boring & hot out there. We have cable TV with a lot of channel choices.

Aug 25^th – Mon – to Mesa

Yes, we are heading to Mesa already. We want to check out the condition of our 5^th wheel and there was no where else that we really wanted to go for a week.

We left at 8:30, stopped for inexpensive diesel - $3.69 – and arrived at Val Vista Villages about 11:30. We got a site for a week right beside our “stored” 5^th wheel, parked the toy hauler and went to the ballroom for a salad lunch. Most people were done eating since it started at 11:30 but there were a couple plates of lettuce and enough toppings to make a light meal which is perfect in this heat.

Then Terry started undoing the ropes on the 5^th wheel and bundling the shredded cover into garbage cans. A few things velcroed to the walls fell off but generally the inside was in good condition. A lower panel on the big slide needs rivets to repair a section about 3 feet long that popped loose but otherwise the outside looks OK too. Terry has to get 3 tubes for the bikes before we can ride them.

We were both overheated so we went for a swim in the Fiesta pool. We were the only ones there at first and then 3 others came but we didn't chat much. On the way back we went past Bill & Beth's park model and they invited us in for a beer and a nice visit. I made dinner and we crashed early.

Aug 18th to 20th - Laughlin

Aug 18^th – Mon

We went to the Riverside for a buffet breakfast. They had a miserable toaster and by the time Terry's bread was dried out – not really toasted – his breakfast was cold so he was not a happy camper. The redeeming factor was a seat by the window and a view of the river traffic.

Of course we had to check out our favorite slots and Terry actually came out ahead. We took a break which included lunch at the rig.

Then we had to get rid of the winnings that were burning a hole in Terry's pocket.

Aug 19^th – Tues

The Riverside complex has a Cinnabon store so that is where we went for breakfast. By the price and calorie content, we should have split one – but Terry doesn't like the version with nuts!

We stayed and played slots for quite some time until we spent our allowances.

Back at the rig, I finally called Costco's computer support as our new computer is being a pain in the butt with ads popping up everywhere to the extent that I can hardly get things done. The guy was not as helpful as I hoped but he did suggest that a security check would be OK. I got it started and it was obvious that it would take a long time so I got a case number for future calls if necessary. One problem was found & quarantined. Then I uninstalled a bunch of programs that I didn't recognize and that were loaded on Aug 15^th. Things seem to be a bit better.

A large wind & rain storm moved through and had water running down the street. Once it lightened to a sprinkle, we went shopping at an enclosed mall just down the street. I was looking for a belt – no, I have not lost weight!! - which we found along with some shirts for both of us and a wild pair of shorts for Terry.

By now it was time to settle in for the evening with TV, dinner & computer games.

Aug 20^th – Wed

We walked to the Aquarius casino and decided on breakfast in the cafe after seeing the $14.95 price for the buffet! Breakfast was very good and inexpensive thanks to some points on our cards.

We did quite a bit of walking to other casinos which means we didn't do too well gambling or we would have stayed in one place! On our way back, we stopped for a burger for a late lunch.

We took the motorcycle across the river to an RV dealer to see if they knew what to use to remove tire marks from our floor – no help. We went back to WalMart for a few items and stopped by my favorite -BigLots. By the time we got back we were very hot so we headed to the larger pool to cool off. The water was very refreshing and we had lounges in the shade which was perfect.

Back to the rig for the usual evening activities including a late dinner.

Aug 15th to 17th - to Laughlin NV

Aug 15^th – Fri

We hung around a bit this morning so we wouldn't hit rush hour traffic which is wicked in Las Vegas. In our infinite wisdom we are going to Laughlin which has hot weather at this time of year. Call it climatizing for AZ!!

We parked in the parking lot at the Riverside and went in to get players' cards and to see if there was an RV special available. We checked out a few slots before we drove across the street to get an RV spot. We got a returning guest price of $99 for a week but we don't know if we will be here for the whole week. We unloaded the motorcycle, set up and walked back to the casino.

We are able to use the hotel pools so we checked them out first. A small pool is in the shade in the afternoon and a larger pool on the 3^rd floor is in the blazing sun with a few shaded lounge chairs. The water temperature of both is wonderful.

For a change I did OK on the slots which in a way is too bad as it makes me want to play more! Terry not so good. We eventually came back to the rig and I made dinner. Boiling potatoes & eggs for salad is not a good choice when the AC is trying to keep the place cool.

Aug 16^th – Sat

I made breakfast before we headed out this morning. We went back to the Riverside as it is right across the street and then you can go along the river walk to other places which is what we ended up doing. We cooled off with ice cream somewhere along the line and I eventually gave back the money I made yesterday!

We came back and put on our swim suits and went back to the small pool where the water felt great. We took our tablets so we could play games between cooling dips. The pool ended up getting too crowded so we came back to the rig for TV and dinner.

Aug 17^th – Sun

We got going a bit earlier to ride the bike to Walmart for a bit of shopping. We thought we might beat the heat somewhat but not so. I made breakfast after we got back and put everything away. It is amazing how much we can buy and fit in the storage compartments on the bike.

We rode the bike to some casinos a bit further away and managed to spend the entire afternoon playing slots. We didn't even have enough time to go to the pool!

We hibernated for the rest of the evening and I made dinner again for a change. I play Words With Friends with Marg. Our cousin Pat is visiting her right now and we got quite the rapid exchange of turns going at the end of the game.

Aug 12th to 14th - Las Vegas

Aug 12^th – Tues – Las Vegas

After coffee, computer games and a nice long chat with Marg, we went shopping. We went to Costco for another folding chair. It turned out to be a “business center” which has larger quantities suitable for small businesses but it did have the chair we needed. Then we went to a WalMart looking for a folding card table – no luck so we headed back to the park and then walked to Fremont Street.

We first stopped at Binions for breakfast and we both had a small amount of cash available on our cards which of course we had to spend. We wandered through several more casinos, marveled at the weird characters on the street and finally ended up back at Main St Station casino where we had an early dinner.

Aug 13^th – Wed

Today we went looking for a card table. I had done some searching on the computer and found a Target store with a table in stock. Sure enough, found the store & found the table. It was one of the biggest Target stores that I have seen.

We had gone on a street parallel to “the strip” so we cut across to find a place for breakfast. We stopped at an older casino – Silver Sevens – got a players card and found a cafe. Just as we were being seated, there was an announcement that the fire alarms were being tested and to ignore them until an announcement saying the testing was done. We got coffee and ordered breakfast and then the testing started in earnest! Every 40 seconds or so (less than a minute), 2 long, LOUD “sirens” would sound followed by a spiel about leaving the building by the stairs & do not use the elevators. We finally decided that we could not handle any more and got up & left without getting our breakfast.

We went a bit further and stopped at the Tuscany where we had a good breakfast and played some slots. From there we drove down the strip a ways and found a surface parking lot with some empty spots. We spent a long time checking out many slot machines. I actually recovered my money from the Tuscany plus a bit more.

We returned to the rig, put the table in place, had a drink & generally relaxed for a while. We went back to Main St Station for dinner as we have enjoyed the restaurant there for the last 2 evenings. It didn't disappoint us today. Then it was back to the slots where it was Terry's turn to get some money back.

It is very hot here but the weather forecast says to enjoy the last of the 90's as it is going to 3 digits soon! Better than the floods in other parts of the country.

Aug 14^th – Thurs

We were originally going to stay here for 3 nights but decided that since there is a laundromat here and the dirty clothes basket is full that we would stay another night and get that chore done. Also, the $14 per night rate is good.

After coffee we went to Main St Station to see what they offered for breakfast. We saw that the buffet was only $6.99 and we were sure that we could find something that we wanted to eat. We probably found more than we needed but what else is new! And it was a better deal than we thought as points on our player's cards paid for it all. After we gambled a bit we came back and did the laundry.

Later in the afternoon we headed back to Fremont Street to hit a few favorite spots and decide what to have for dinner. I am really having a nice break from cooking!! Full and nearly “gambled out”, we came back to the rig to enjoy a drink & some TV since we get many channels on the antenna.

Aug 8th to 11th - Utah, AZ, NV

Aug 8^th – Fri – to Zion Ntl Park

We had a very short drive to an RV park just outside the east entrance to the park. On the way, we stopped for breakfast at a nice little cafe in Hatch. We registered and set up and headed into the park on the bike. The east entrance is close to the big tunnel.

At this time of year, there are a lot of oversize vehicles traveling through the long, low clearance tunnel so traffic takes turns in each direction rather than stopping traffic just for one or two big rigs. Again because of the traffic, you have to take a free shuttle past the main visitor center. The parking lots were full so we went to a lot a bit further near Springdale where there is also a shuttle stop. The shuttles have a main “bus” and a “trailer” to accommodate more people. The trailer is like the bus but without an engine.

A lot of Zion is best seen by hiking and we are not hikers – especially in hot weather. So we rode the shuttle all the way to the end of the road, transferred to another shuttle that was at the head of the line and rode back down. We sat on the right side of the bus each time so we could see scenery on both sides and were quite happy with our tour which was narrated by the drivers.

Now it was time for a cooling snack so we found a place for ice cream and a shady table outside. We headed back out the way we came, visited the store at the RV park to try to get some wifi and relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Aug 9^th – Sat – to Page AZ

We are getting good at short trips! We stopped in Kanab for a less than great breakfast at McDonald’s – sometimes the parking dictates the eating spot and McDonald’s is usually OK.

We were quite surprised by the size of Page and the large motels in town. We stayed at Page Lake Powell Campground which we found with only a couple of wrong turns. The office personnel informed us that the “best” tour company for Antelope Canyon was booked up until the end of next week. This was the reason for our trip to Page!

We set up and took the bike on a tour. We stopped at another tour company and they had an opening tomorrow at 3:00 or suggested that we could go to the parking lot where all the tours enter the tribal area and get on a tour “first come, first served”. We checked it out and turned around when everyone else started doing the same because there were no openings.

We went to the Glen Canyon dam to check out the visitor center and take some pictures. We made a quick stop at Walmart and then hibernated for the rest of the afternoon and evening. We checked out the indoor pool but decided all the kids could keep it to themselves.

Aug 10^th – Sun

We got up reasonably early and went to the tour staging area. There was a line of cars extending onto the shoulder of the road as the gate wasn't open yet. Soon the line was allowed to pull up to the entrance kiosks which weren't open until 8. When we finally moved, an employee told us that the earliest tour with space was at 1:30 so we joined umpteen other vehicles turning around and leaving.

We went back to the tour company that we visited yesterday to see if they still had room at 3:00. Nope – they had room on an 8:30 tour in a few minutes!! We grabbed some water and climbed onto the open back truck to go back to where we just came from.

The vehicles drive on a dusty, bumpy wash to get to Antelope Canyon. Our truck only had 8 people instead of a full load of 16 – go figure with people waiting for tours! - and everyone was having a good time. Our tour guide (Irene) was great and showed us amazing angles for pictures in the canyon which was beautiful. The bad news was large tour buses on Sundays and it was a bit crowded.

After the tour, we went to Dennys for a late breakfast. We stopped again at WalMart for dinner ingredients and headed back to the rig. We enjoyed computer games, PGA golf and AC for the afternoon and evening. It was quite hot.

Aug 11^th – Mon – to Las Vegas

We have been continually confused by the time since we got to Page as phones pick up Utah cell towers and Utah recognizes Daylight Savings Time – unlike AZ. It didn't really matter this morning as we got up & left when it seemed right!

We backtracked to Kanab and then went a bit south & west to Utah which avoided going through Zion park. We stopped in Mesquite NV for breakfast at a casino. We played slots a bit when we finished eating and I won enough so that we only added a few dollars to the reasonable price of breakfast.

We have not tried to find Main Street Station RV park from the north and the GPS kind of let us down due to fairly recent freeway modifications. We would have been fine if Main Street was not torn up and barricaded where we needed to turn! We had to go around a block or two and then made a sharp turn around construction cones – whew!

We set up and before Terry finished hooking up utilities & leveling, I made some changes inside that I thought about as we drove today. I figured if we removed one “bed/bench” in the back area, we could put both recliners back there when we take the bike out and leave the area across from the kitchen for a small computer table & folding chairs. Before we walked to Main St Station casino & hotel to register we had taken out the bed/bench and put it in the back of the truck. We also put the heavy table - that I have to take out every time we load & unload the bike - in the truck. It is going to be great!

The weather is very hot so we played some slots rather than going back to rig. We played for a short time when Terry hit a JACKPOT! We were both amazed to see the amount of $5,043.38 on the screen requiring a “hand pay”. YAHOO!

Once pictures were taken, paperwork was signed and money changed hands we were ready for more fun. About 4:30 we had dinner and then played more slots. We called it quits about 8 and were thankful for AC when we got back.

Aug 4th to 7th - Utah

Aug 4^th – Mon – Moab

We discussed getting an earlier start this morning so we would be in Arches Ntl Park before it got so hot but that didn't happen! After breakfast we headed out on the bike.

We were surprised that there was a long line of cars to get into the park at 10 but traffic really spread out once in the park. We have been to Arches before but you could swear you didn't see some formations previously. We stopped at a couple of viewpoints and were keeping an eye on some black clouds. Just as we were heading to another area, it started to rain big fat drops. We pulled into a big parking area, got out the motorcycle cover and pulled it over the bike and ourselves! Then the lightning & thunder started. At one point, a guy in a car yelled “hey you people on the motorcycle, do you want to come sit in our car?” We declined and couldn't help but get the giggles every once in a while. The rain let up so Terry crawled out to check. There was another big black cloud and sure enough the rain & thunder started again and Terry joined me back under the cover.

Finally the storm moved over but we didn't take any chances and bee-lined out of the park. We stopped at a grocery store in town and bought enough that we had to wear our helmets (helmets optional in Utah) to provide room to carry everything back. Terry put the cover back on the bike so it could dry out but as soon as it was dry another rainstorm hit.

By the time we were ready to cook dinner, it was sunny for Terry to cook baby backs on the BBQ. We sat outside to eat and had to pull the picnic table into the shade of the rig as it was too hot.

We went for a little stroll around the park and stopped to talk to our neighbors Charles & Sandi from Tennessee. They told us about an RV park in Louisiana (Betty's RV in Abbeville) that is definitely going on our list of places to go.

Aug 5^th – Tues

We rode into town to find a place for breakfast and ended up at Dennys which is always a decent choice. Then we rode Hwy 128 along the Colorado River for a few miles. It used to be the highway into Moab & Arches. We stopped in town and shopped both sides of the most touristy area of the main street. The weather was lovely today.

Back at the RV park, I did 3 loads of laundry which took a bit longer than usual as there were only 2 washers & 2 dryers. It was close to our site though so I walked back & forth several times and got a little needed exercise. We relaxed the rest of the day and Terry BBQ'd again for dinner.

Aug 6^th – Wed – to Bryce Canyon area

We weren't sure where we were going to end up today. We stopped at the visitor center in Capitol Reef Ntl park and decided to keep going as we have been there previously. We had lunch in Torrey and then turned onto Scenic All American Hwy 12 which we traveled once before but in the opposite direction and pulling the 5^th wheel. This time we were able to pull into several view points to ooh & aah and take pictures.

We got a site at Red Canyon RV which is a few miles past Bryce Canyon Ntl park. When we registered they said we could pick our site and might want one with shade. A couple of hours later a neighbor said we might want to move the motorcycle as the trees were “sapping” and little drops get on everything – but they wipe off easily! AC required.

Aug 7^th – Thurs

It really cooled down last night and Terry even turned on the furnace when he got up early. I made breakfast before we cleaned the bike and left for Bryce Canyon. When we stopped at Red Rock Canyon to take pictures, we chatted with 2 couples (Ralph & Linda Beggs and Carroll & Sharri Bain) from Oregon. They both have Spyders and we ended up telling them about VVV.

We entered Bryce Canyon and drove all the way to the end (18 miles) and then stopped at view points on the way back as you don't have to constantly cross traffic doing it that way. It was another gorgeous sunny day. We stopped on the way out and found ice cream which we enjoyed sitting in the shade.

We made a quick stop at the rig and then went Panguitch for a bit of shopping – cleaner for the bike, groceries, booze and gas. Now it was time again to relax – we are good at that! - and have dinner. Terry tried out the new cleaner and shined up the bike.

Aug 1st to 3rd - CO to Utah

Aug 1^st – Fri – CO

We didn't feel a need to get going early as we would run into rush hour traffic on I25 so we drank coffee and played computer games after Terry got up at the crack of dawn. We waffled back & forth about where to go and finally decided to hit I70 and head west as other routes would be longer and end up in almost the same place.

The weather was nice until we exited the Eisenhower tunnel into rain. There was a group of people on motorcycles on the side of the highway putting on rain gear and we were very happy that we weren't doing the same. We pulled into “who-knows-where” for lunch when we saw a Burger King sign. Bad choice! We had no option but to pull into their parking lot which required going over a curb to get out and then they didn't have the “2 for $5” special which was advertised with a big sign on a window!

Terry started to get a bit sleepy so we decided to stay in Grand Junction. I made a phone call to get an RV site and we set up in Junction West RV after being registered by a wonderful employee. We took the bike to WalMart for some groceries and settled in for the evening.

Aug 2^nd – Sat

We relaxed again this morning and I finally made a very late breakfast. Hot & sunny.

We went to the Colorado National Monument which I had seen in a brochure and which is not far out of town. This is another place where we can use all of our superlatives.

There is a 23 mile drive along the rim and the scenery is fantastic. The winding road climbs for great views of the town and down canyons. There is mostly red rock which makes for super pictures. We stopped at several places and walked to view points for even more amazing sights. There was not a lot of traffic which was nice with all the curves.

When we got back we went to a mall as I noticed that one of Terry's sandals was coming apart. We lucked out big time with Terry's size on clearance sandals at Kohls. Then he felt guilty as he has been buying more stuff for him than me so we had to do more shopping. I did quite well also. We ate an early dinner in the food court of the mall and headed home for a refreshing beverage.

The people in this park continue to surprise us. We needed propane and knew that they filled tanks here so Terry went to the office at 5:30 to see if they were still open and could fill a tank. The guy came by here to pick up the tank and then dropped if off with the bill. How nice!

Aug 3^rd – Sun – to Moab UT

We had a short 2 hour or so drive today so didn't leave until 9. The landscape quickly became quite boring until we turned south to Moab. We stopped on the way through town to pick up some bottled water which is one item that is hard to carry on the motorcycle. We ended up getting a few other small items as we were right beside a hardware store.

We checked into the OK RV Park and chatted with the employee who is from the Spokane area but moving to Moab. We set up, had lunch and took the bike into town to buy tickets for tonight. It was hot so we stopped for milkshakes and brought them back to drink so we didn't try to drink too fast and get brain freeze.

We had a few hours to kill so we stayed inside with the AC on, watched TV and played computer games. About 5:30 it started to pour and we thought our evening would get rained out but it was just sprinkling when we left at 6:45 – in the truck – to go back to town.

We took the advice of people at our last RV park and went on a “Canyonlands by Night” tour. At 7 we had a cowboy dinner buffet (inside but the rain had stopped) and then boarded a wide, flat boat for a ride on the Colorado River.

We went upstream for about an hour with a guide providing lots of information about the history & geology of the area. He kept things light by pointing out faces and other figures on the rock walls. By now it was nearly dark so the “light & sound” part of the show started.

An excellent sound system provided the narration which included music. A truck with huge spotlights was on a road running along the river and highlighted parts of the canyon walls as we drifted down the dark, still river. A quarter moon came out from behind spotty clouds just in time for “Moon on the Colorado River” which was recorded by Sons of the Pioneers. I probably enjoyed this quiet activity more than Terry but he wasn't bored. We got back to the dock right on time at 10.

July 27th to 31st - SD to Colorado

July 27^th – Sun – Spearfish

We started a bike ride this morning by heading south through Spearfish Canyon which is very scenic. We stopped and walked on a short path to Roughlock Falls where the water is super clear. We had a great map with different colored routes which made it quite easy to follow the loops. After going through Lead we headed SE to Silver City, missed a turn and ended up talking to a couple of guys about CanAms. We swung around the bottom of the “blue” loop and headed north to end up in Sturgis where we had lunch and shopped a bit.

The big motorcycle rally in Sturgis does not start until Aug 4^th but there are thousands of bikes around the area already. We drove back through Deadwood and then up to I90 for 17 miles back to Spearfish.

We stopped at a WalMart because I am making Terry throw away a couple of pairs of decrepit shorts and he needs replacements. Of course he found 3 pairs and I found nothing. Between drinks & dinner prep, I did a couple of loads of laundry. We were really close to the laundry room so I could easily walk back & forth which made it nearly painless.

July 28th – Mon – to Keystone

Chief & Deb (from VVV) are workcamping at Spokane Creek RV just out of Keystone. We had already planned to come here so we made a reservation on Saturday and had our replacement credit card sent to the RV park.

When we made our reservation, the employee said we would be getting a confirmation email. What she didn't tell us was that it would include driving directions and not to use the GPS. We didn't get the email and didn't think much about it. Of course we used the GPS and realized we were in trouble when we drove a short ways on a road with a sign about low, one-way tunnels and Wanda announced in the middle of nothing that we had arrived at our destination! Luckily we found a little road where Terry could turn around and when we got back to Keystone & had cell service I called the park for directions. It was still a winding narrow road but at least we were confident that we would get there.

We saw Deb as soon as we arrived and Chief came by just as we parked. We made arrangements to go for a bike ride when Chief & Deb got off work. Joe, also from VVV, is here and joined us for the ride but first we went for lunch here at the park where Deb is cooking.  Deb ended up not going on the ride.

We rode part of the Iron Mountain Road which is well known for curves, hills, pigtails & tunnels. This is the road that we started on to get here! We stopped at the third tunnel to get a picture of Mt. Rushmore framed by the tunnel. We stopped in Hill City - where the main street was lined with motorcycles – and had a beer & watched people. Then we returned via Keystone for another refreshment stop (yes, we were drinking & driving but with lots of time between) before taking the road back – Playhouse – that we ended up using to get here.

Terry got out chairs and I made “snacks for dinner”. Joe joined us but Chief & Deb had a meeting to attend. Lovely day!

July 29^th – Tues

Chief & Deb are working today so we had breakfast here at the park and went riding with Joe. We entered Custer State park just south of here and in a few miles were in the middle of a huge buffalo herd. I say “in the middle” because they were on both sides of the road and constantly crossing the road. It was a little nerve wracking being on the bike instead of safely in a car. We got great pictures before the traffic jam moved and we were on our way again.

We drove the big loop of the park and stopped at a visitor center. We saw a few pronghorm antelope, people feeding donkeys and a prairie dog town. We stopped at Blue Bell lodge for a very nice lunch and then got rained on a bit as we rode the Needles Highway before we ended up in Keystone at the same bar as yesterday. This time Joe & I had Irish coffee to warm up before heading back to the park.

We had a late dinner and a quiet evening.

July 30^th – Wed

Chief & Deb had the day off so we went riding with them & Joe. First we all had breakfast at the little restaurant here at the park. I had a yummy breakfast sandwich made with a biscuit just out of the oven while Terry had his biscuits covered with sausage gravy.

We first went south to Hot Springs and stopped to check out a couple of tourist sites. Then we rode west & north to Custer City. We had a beer at a bar with sawdust on the floor and then walked a few blocks to a grocery store where we got steaks & other stuff for dinner. On the way back we went into a T-shirt shop and Chief got a shirt.

My camera battery ran down when we got to a very scenic area of the Needles Highway yesterday so we returned that way to get pictures. The small stopping area by “the Needle” was packed but we squeezed in so I could get pictures. This area is also congested as there is a low, narrow one-way tunnel right there. There were a couple of climbers preparing to rappel down a cliff and people were watching them as well.

Back at the park, I husked our corn, put together a salad and we went to Chief & Deb's site for the serious business of drinking & eating. Of course Joe joined us as well. After dinner, we went to watch people playing horseshoes. Terry brought our buddy burner so I got to tell people how to make one while he was playing a game of horseshoes.

Another wonderful day!

July 31^st – Thurs – to Colorado

We packed up, dumped the tanks and then had breakfast at the RV park restaurant before we headed south. Once out of the Black Hills, the landscape was quite flat. We made a stop for fuel and then a late lunch just north of the Colorado state line.

We were planning to go just north of Loveland and continue east but the GPS wanted to take us on a big loop north first. Terry asked at a service station when we stopped again for fuel and they said the canyon roads weren't open because of the major flooding last year. I had been looking unsuccessfully for an RV park so now we headed to a park east of Loveland. We got the last available site and can only stay one night.

We wiggled into our site and luckily could park far enough back that we didn't have to unhook the truck. We relaxed outside with a drink & computer games and then I made a light dinner.