"2012"

We are two weeks into the new year and things are not slowing down !

Our holidays were spent in Denver & Winter Park, CO. with our kids.  Had a great time in all that snow but it's ever so nice to be back in warmer weather.

Norm & Bob had prepped the coach for new paint along the roof-line before we left and Bob  had it all done  by the time we got back.  He did a super job and we are grateful !  Griz looks brand new again !   The inside is next.   We're back outside the big motorhome garage, now, and loving the beautiful sunsets every night.

People have told us many, many times how they don't know how they had time to work after retirement because they are so busy......well, now we know what that feels like.....and it is fabulous !   With most of the coach-work done we have been able to get out and see the area.

Norm found some interesting hikes so we did a nice easy walk the first day out to Lk. Havasu.  The next day was a 6 miler through "Crack in the Mountain".  You may have seen the pic's Norm posted on FB.  It was MUCH more strenuous involving climbing...even down dry falls in a crease through the rocks.  At some places the space between the walls was only a couple of feet wide, not for the claustrophobic, but quite an adventure. The trail getting back was either back the way we came (which was not an option....this girl was NOT going to get her back-side  back up that 7 ft sliding rock!) so we went around and uphill but no climbing was involved.  The scenery is breathtaking....no trees to obstruct the view. Really a fun day !   Until I got home and sat down for awhile !  OMG !  My legs were NOT going anywhere soon ! 
Took two days to feel anything but pain in my legs !  

 Oatman is an old gold mining town about 50 mi. from here.  It lies on the old Route 66 highway .  Don't know much about it so I'll need to do some research.  What I do know is there are about a dozen wild burros that make Oatman home.   They like to be fed alfalfa chunks but they LOVE carrots....which I had....two pockets full!    Two baby burros followed "mama" around town and were adorable !  They have stickers on their heads saying "Do not feed me ANYTHING".  Because they are still nursing it's difficult for them to digest hard food and they could choke.   Locals in town staged a shoot-out for us tourist-types.....fun but a bit too noisy for me.

Saturday, we have a meeting for the Balloon-Fest volunteers.  This is the 2nd Annual Lk. Havasu's Balloon-Fest. These are the big hot-air balloons and this year they are expecting between 68-70 of them.   When we were at the Visitor's Center we heard some folks mention the need for volunteers.   We asked about it and were quickly escorted around royally, so now we'll be helping with the ground part of landing and loading the balloons.  It's called the Balloon Glo....the balloons are lit inside by the burners against the night sky.  Don't know much more than that til it happens....next week !

The Parks Dept. has put together a variety of classes,  over a week's time, called "Spring Frenzy".  People with knowledge of any specialty have donated their time and expertise to teach the rest of us, hopefully.  We signed up for computer classes, digital camera info, journaling and of course quilting !   This happens the first week in Feb.   Soooo much to do !
We haven't even had time to get the kayaks out, yet.

I posted this on FB but I would like to say it again....."Thank You" to all our friends who have insisted we visit Arizona !  We are having the best time...waking up (at a civilized ) time to sunshine everyday, knowing we don't have to be to work,  there is always an adventure waiting to happen and then watching the gorgeous sunsets out our living room window at the end of the day......doesn't get much better !

LK. HAVASU, ARIZONA !!

      With the help of the 'map app' on Norm's phone we made it to our friends place in Lk. Havasu.  They have a beautiful home...all done in Southwest decor.   Bob has done much extra work on their landscaping, tile floors, a new motorhome garage and shop, stucco fence on the property lines and much more that I can't think to list here.


      They built a 'pad' on one side of the house for those of us in our own homes.  We got settled and spent the next few days catching up on 'stuff' and seeing some of the tourist attractions.   This is a very nice place and we are enjoying it.   One thing we have wondered about is the weather....it's been cooler than we were lead to believe !  Linda says it's because we brought the clouds with us....hmmm.....hope not !   They are great hosts and have made us feel very much at home.


       Monday nights we have a standing date for $1.00 tacos at BAD MIGUELS.   Love it !   Norm and Bob's birthdays are just two days apart so we used both free burger coupons at RED ROBIN.  Loved that, too !  They drove us out to Parker, AZ. and then to Quartzsite.  BIG eye-opener !  There are not alot of motorhomes in Quartzsite, yet, but you can see it's starting to fill more and more.  Norm says, Nope !  Don't want to see this place with a gazzillion coaches around....you couldn't even go out for lunch....way too busy !


      I have to share this story....Norm came in awhile ago and is hungry for lunch.....okay, I'm ready....we go...eat and then he wants to go to London Bridge and take some pic's again.  (He accidently deleted them from his camera the other night !)  We're looking at these funny looking ducks in the lake when a man walks up and starts telling us about these birds....one thing leads to another and he's not only from the Seattle area but from Bothell and he used to be a Firefighter.  "Hmmmm...." Norm says...you don't happen to know a guy named PP do ya ?"   The man looks at him funny and says "Yeah....I'm PP !"    Here's two old farts who haven't seen each other for years looking at one another...can't believe how old the other looks...and finally they start to laugh !   They both were very involved , many, many years ago in fishing, any fishing but primarily Bass fishing.  The expressions on their faces was PRICELESS !!     They talked forever about who's where and where to fish here in AZ, etc.  It was one of those moments we will remember but what were the chances of this happening ?   CRAZY !!!


      Norm and Bob are doing some paint work on 'Griz' so at the moment we are parked in the motorhome garage.  They have the spots almost sanded so Norm is putting up tarps and paper to protect the rest of the coach.  Really is a big undertaking.....Bob is the best when taking on these projects....we are lucky to call them friends.  


      Next week we leave for the Las Vegas Airport....going to Denver to see our kid's.   Nikki and her husband, Wes just moved into a new home there, so Brian and us will fly in for Christmas.  Staying the week to enjoy the snow and then back to Lk. Havasu.  


      There really is so much to do here.  One of our planned trips is to Oatman.  Apparently it is an old mining town, but the wild burros hang around and we can feed them.... carrots !   (We are so easily entertained !)  There are cool marsh areas and coves on the Bill Williams River so we'll take the kayaks and do some day paddling.   The Visitor's Center gave us a list of trails to hike.....so that's on our list, too.   I found a Quilt Store and it's helping host a week long Quilt-fest.   Exciting !!!   The Rotary is looking for volunteers to help with the 2nd annual Balloon-Fest in Jan.  so we're signing up for that.   Lots to do and we haven't even seen much of the state....could take us years to get out of here !


     This may be my last Blog for the year so I'd like to wish each of you "A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS"!

THE STRIP !!

      Well, boys and girls.......we put on our big girl/boy clothes and ventured into unknown realms (at least for us).    Took the kayaks off the Jeep roof so we could enter parking garages downtown.   

      Our first stop was the Fremont Street Experience.   It's at the north end of the Vegas Strip and is a covered mall.   Several casinos such as the 'Golden Nugget and Binions' take up much of the area but little shops for cigars, fake perfumes, cowboy clothes and of course Booze are found here.   As we walked up one side and down the other we were buzzed overhead by some zip-liners.   Must be part of a night-time act.  Being here in the day-time, it looks like the bad part of downtown Seattle but maybe at night it gets comes to life and is impressive.   We'll have to check.   There are people all over outside the casinos who try to give you "free" tickets for stuff ....must be a gimmick in there somewhere.   We must have TOURIST written all over us !  Just cause we look like deer in headlights !    OK. so enough of this fun let's head down the really good stuff. 

      We head south a couple of blocks and we're now on the "Strip".   The first major obstacle is parking.   Some places have metered parking for $1.50-$3.00 an hour but being the frugile people we are a free parking is what we'd like.    Oh yea, free parking at the Miracle Mile Shopping mall !   Floor 5C, and we're on foot again.   The escalators take us to a mezzanine but we don't know where the exit to the strip is.  A nice concierge guy says that way just stay to the right.   We walked forever until we saw daylight !   This mall is literally a mile around !  Incredible !   I might mention the fire alarm is blaring in our ears and that nice guy said if it was REALLY important he would have been notified.  Right....all we can think about is should we go get the Jeep outta there or is everything OK ?

      Finally, out on the street and the Bellagio Hotel is in front of us.    Everybody says "Go to the Bellagio. it's fabulous!"  Things must be different cause it isn't the grandeur we expected.   Yes, the ceiling is beautifully covered with huge blown glass Flowers done by Dave Chihully but they all are casino's and from our perspective they all look the same inside.   The conservatory was closed for a change in decor (Christmas), ... bummer... so we opted to splurge and have lunch at their buffet.  YUMMY......it was delicious but spending $50.00 + for lunch ??????  It's all quite ........I don't even know what the right word is but this is not us..... ...I'm glad to experience all of it but we are both exhausted.    Guess we are more at home with simpler things !

LAS VEGAS !!

      We are in Las Vegas until Wednesday.   It's totally a different place than we are used to or even comfortable with.  After spending an hour at AT&T, (Norm's new smart phone is not being very smart) we opted to stop across the street for a burger at Carl's Jr.  Norm had his famous star burger with side salad and I had a teriyaki burger...YUMM !   I had to go to the restroom to wash off the teriyaki sauce that was all over my hands when the gentleman sitting behind me said "Don't think you want to go in there right now".  Ok, I thought he was pulling my chain so I went anyway...you guessed it !   There was a drunk (man) sitting on the throne in the Women's room !    The gentleman laughed and then went to tell the clerks behind he counter.  They weren't even going to check til the gentleman went first.   Crazy ! He finally did leave, some minutes later.    Whew !!   Well....so much for that......just then two younger boys got up from their table, meandered to another table that a guy just left to go get salsa for his burger, paused, reached into the bag and out the door they went with the guys burger !  OMG.... I think we're in the wrong place !   This sure doesn't help us feel all warm anf fuzzy !

      Thought we'd drive out to Hoover Dam and get out of town for awhile.   It is HUGE !  Our first stop was going to be the Visitor's Center (it was actually the Men's Room, but that's a different story) only to find out they charge and admission fee...for the Visitor's Center ?   There was a fee for everything (except the Men's Room) so we walked the perimeter of the dam and took lot's of pic's.   The constuction began in 1931 and took 4 years to complete.  Over a million tons of concrete was poured by the end of completion.  The eerie thing is several workers lost their lives during construction and a few (didn't hear the exact number ) are still entombed here.   Standing over the very top and looking down the face of the dam gives an almost nauseous feeling......it is a  L O N G  way down.  Lake Mead is the result of the Colorado River being dammed and the border between Nevada and Arizona runs down the middle of the dam.  Our Jeep was parked in Arizona (which is an hour ahead in mountain time ) and we were in Nevada.  Cool !  

      Tomorrow , we venture out again to find the paint store that mixes the formula for our Coach. ( I guess it takes a couple of days to mix. )  Then, I think we'll find the Apple store to see if they can help with the 'dumb phone'.   Norm's making me crazy over that thing.  Many more adventures to come !  ( I can't help but be a little nervous as to what they are !!)  :)

     

ON THE ROAD AGAIN !!

      I am finally back online.   We have spent the last month going to Doctor's and Dentist appt's, visiting Norm's Mom and cleaning out un-necessary 'stuff ' from the coach.  Lots to do but the weather was getting worse so we left 4 days ago.

      The first night out we spent the night in Eugene, OR.  It was quite cold (about 39*) .  The next morning was just as bad and we heard they were expecting several big rain storms for the rest of the week.  Norm's goal was to just get over the Siskiyous before they got really bad.  As it turned out there was a bit of snow but none on the roads. ( Interesting, the sand they use is red.)  California has inspection stations near the border.  We were expecting they would be concerned about plant materials so we had none.  Who would have thought it was fruit of any kind that is not allowed.  Now, I know many of you are saying to yourself ...didn't they know that ?  Let me exlain.....NO we didn't !   Our travels, though extensive, are really limited to the Pacific NW.  This trip has placed us in areas we have not been in before.  So, if some of this sounds naive it's because it's all new to us.

      Willow, CA was our next overnight destination but it was under construction.   Darkness now comes earlier and since we don't know the area Norm decided to press on.   60 miles later we stopped in Woodland,CA which is a bit N. of Sacramento. 

      Day three, we are seeing palm trees pretty regularly and groves of trees lined the freeway as far as we could see, until we turned  E. to Bakersfield.  Truck drivers are even more dangerous here than in Seattle.   They pass, then cut over right in front of our coach kicking up anything on the road.  Norm says, if we get to Lk Havasu with our windshield intact it's gonna be a miracle !

      So now we are officially in southern CA.  We're both a little nervous, Norm thinks it's cause everything is 'unknown' .  Even the trees are weird....I think they're Yucca's but not sure.  I feel like a fish out of water, as it were, nothing is familiar to us...so very cool...but scary! It even smells different !   We arrived in Las Vegas yesterday afternoon and OMG !!!    I've never been here before and I couldn't believe all these huge hotels in the middle of nothing but desert!  I'm quite anxious to get out & explore "the Vegas Strip".   We got the coach settled in for a few days & temps are in the high 60's.  We hear birds singing away....again.... don't know what kind... but it's nice.

      Today is Thanksgiving !  We woke to blue skies and about 75*.  Norm's Mom told him it's still raining and cold in Bothell......we are grateful to have sun and warmth.   Dressed, fed and in the Jeep to go see town.   Talk about overwhelming !!   We can't even find a grocery store...don't they fix meals at home ?  By the middle of the afternoon we're exhausted...all I do is check the map and Norm's I Phone map app and all Norm does is make U-turns cause I got him on the wrong road!!   Sheeesh !!   Think we'll go back to the coach and fix tuna sandwiches for dinner !

      HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !!

     

      

     

HALLOWEEN WINDOWS !!

             Yesterday was a very busy one for us.   First,  there was alot of commotion, etc coming from the Men'S side of the Park's bath-house.   Norm came out screaming like a little girl !!  "What on earth is going on?" I asked.   "Group shower !"  he pants back.   Turns out it was Norm and three frogs !   This man is soooo funny !

       We had an appointment with a guy who fixes 'creepy' windows.  AKA...Halloween Windows !   He drove to our site about 9:30 am  in a truck pulling a smaller, nice, work trailer.  He and his helper immediately began removing all the windows of our coach on the passenger side.   We were impressed with the efficiency and the care that was taken reguarding our house.   One guy on the out side and one on the inside.   In no time at all they had removed the inside levelor blinds and valances and placed them on the clean drop cloths they brought.  OOOooooo....this is scary !  Our house looked so.....busted !   The windows were wisked into the trailer and some pounding and banging began .   Our thought was this must be some kind of secret formula that cannot be revealed to anyone !

       I decided, since the blinds were out I would use the time to clean them.   I forgot...each slat has to be cleaned ...on each side.   My back was killing me by the time I finished one and I had three 72" x 33" blinds to do.   Should never have started that project !  =(     Norm held the lawn chair down and supervised.

      A couple of hours later the windows were brought out and carefully put back in place.   Outside guy put them in the gaping holes as inside guy screwed them in .  When each one was back where it belonged outside guy put a neat little bead of silicone around each window, to keep the rain out, and inside guy had the task of putting the rubber seal around them and replacing all the blinds and valances.   They worked very well and efficiently.  We were impressed with how quickly and meticulously they did their jobs.  Whew ...

      Norm called the friend who recommended this company to us earlier in the day...no answer.    When Norm called later to tell  'friend' how pleased we were with the job...low and behold....'friend called back !  He must have thought Norm wasn't happy and wanted to wait until it was all over and done well before he answered !  HA  =)

      We can't believe the difference this makes. Check these pic's.  We knew our view and some light was obstructed..but now we almost have to wear sunglasses !  COOL......VERY COOL !

       Sooo.....one more project completed and on to the next.   I'm pushing, hard, for a new couch ! Yay !!

(Just a note:  that is Norm's kayak on top of our Jeep, outside the window,  I knew somebody would comment !)

BEND, OREGON

      After spending time with family and friends in Idaho we ventured on into Oregon.   It is approximately 320 miles from Boise to Bend and it is more than we normally like to travel but we pulled into the  CAT Service place by 4:00pm.   Monday morning Griz went in for new fluids, belts and filters.   Big smile on its front bumper when we returned !

       We are now at the Sunriver, Thousand Trail RV Park and Wednesday, tomorrow,  Griz gets it's windows de-creeped.  (The seals around the insulated glass are no longer staying in place....looks like they are 'creeping' toward the center.)   Soooo,  Mr Dave is coming to repair them.   We're hoping for....fabulous results !  

      This morning we drove to Bend.   It has a great waterfront park along the Descutes River complete with bike/ jogging trails, pic-nic areas and large manicured lawns and natural gardens.   We happened to  noticed a group exercising  in a covered gazebo and dogs playing in a dog park near-by.  Statues and creative sculptures dotted  the parks.   My favorite is this kayak sculpture.  These are Eddyline Kayaks.....just like the ones we have so we found it very fun !

     Norm and I come here almost every summer to kayak and enjoy the warmer weather.   In October, we are usually back at work, driving school bus, so we are feeling like we are playing hookey !    I keep telling him we just finished working so, now, it's our summer.   The problem is...the weather is cool.  Fall has definately arrived !   (Whole different place when it's not hot.)  

      We did get one very important thing done today.   I was finally able to get my SENIOR PARK PASS !
This enables the holder to enter any National Park, BLM area, US Forest Service or Fish & Wildlife area, free and only costs a one-time ( in your lifetime) $10.00.   Everyone who turns 62 should get one.  It's one of the few benefits us "old" folks still have to look forward to.   Rumor has it, the Government is talking about 'adjusting" this which would mean some kind of additional fee would be charged at each park, maybe 50% etc .   Anyone who already has one would be "Grandfathered" .   Soooo...go get yours !     My only complaint was....I was expecting a marching band, balloons, trumpets and maybe ice cream !!   All I got was a grumpy, heavy-set, older woman gruffly asking to see the ID of the purchaser.    Hmmmmm........just not what I envisioned !    Oh, well....Ouuuuuu....Norm said we'll celebrate with a teriyaki burger at Carl's Jr !!
YEAH !!!   Now, for a little chocolate cake !  =)