Brookings November 2, 2013

I missed a couple of posts, Coos Bay and Brookings. This post catches up.

Just staying one night here at the Brookings Elks. Only offers 30 amp and no sewer for eighteen dollars a night. A dollar more than we paid at the Mill Casino RV Park. This year the lot was a lot fuller than previous years.

The site is not quite level and we are listing to the left so we only put out the right front slide at first. The leveling jack are still not working.  They did work at our last stop, Coos Bay. Just love intermittent problems.  I decided to try some blocks on the left side and then it was listing to the right but a  little bit less and we were able to put the rest of the slides out.

Coos Bay Oct 31–Nov 1

I missed a couple of blogs on our way down the coast. This is the first one was this one and the other was Brookings.

Here in Coos Bay at one of our favorite RV parks ‘The Mill Casino RV Park’. We are fairly level without the leveling jacks which are refusing to go down. Curiously, the slides all work and they are in the same hydraulic system. 

The highlight of our stop here was finding a great restaurant ‘Little Italy’. We stopped by for lunch, which was wonderful, so we went back for dinner. The chief-owner came out and told us the history of his restaurant which started out in the San Francisco bay area.

Cape Disappointment 10/21–10/23 2013

Monday, 10/21/13

We drove into Shelton this morning to meet Jim and Helene downtown at the Suzan restaurant for breakfast. We had an excellent breakfast here last year and were anxious to share it with them. It was very good again.

We made it back to Little Creek Casino in time to get on the road around noon.  Foggy and overcast which cleared and became sunny by the time we arrived at our site 36, in Cape Disappointment State Park at around 2:30pm . Easy site to get into and good satellite view but no Wi-Fi signal and no cell phone.  Ty needed out so Debbie and I took him on a walk to the beach. It’s a long way, about an hour there and back. He decided to lie down on the way home. I guess he tired out and he was happy to be carried the rest of the way back to camp.

Tuesday, 10/22/13

Today we drove over to Warrenton across the bridge from Astoria to get tires for the Jeep. Les Schwab questioned why I wanted Michelins, they don’t carry them, and priced some Toyo’s at around 950 dollars.  We then stopped at Costco and ended up buying a set of Michelins for 650 dollars. We were going to eat lunch over in Astoria at the Brewery but we settled for a $1.50 hot dog and coke at Costco while they installed the tires. 

Wednesday, 1/23/13

Debbie pulled out and set up the sewing machine last night and was hard at work this morning completing a table runner for the Thanksgiving Holidays. 

For lunch we headed up to Long Beach to the Lost Roo for some fish tacos but it was closed for a private event so we regrouped and stopped at the quilt store instead where Deb picked up some fabric for the back of her “one hexagon piece of all my fabric” quilt.  We stopped at Goody Restaurant for lunch. We both had fish and chips. They were in the top five best. I think Goody’s is our new lunch stop in Long Beach.

2013 July 1 - Still Home Claire Visit

Today we enjoyed another visit with Claire. We spend most of the time in the motorhome because that's where Claire wanted to play. The weather is warming up and you can see some of the reflective insulation in the window on the sunny side of the Horizon.

Oboy, new toys

Poker Chips make great baby toys.

You mean we have to pick them all up?

2013 Jun 18 - Evening with Calire

This evening we visit with Claire while her parent enjoy a night out.

After a shower I go back to the bedroom to get my pants. Ty seems to be asking, showing his claws, "Do you feel lucky?"

2013 Jun 11 - We Visit Claire

Tuesday

No Grandma, One of the Black Ones

Yeah That's the One, I Can Do It.

Here's another black one.

Ok, That's Enough of  This Stuff. Bring on the Desert.

What Do You Mean There's NO Desert?

Meet Claire's cat, Spragga Benz. He's not Jamaican but his namesake is.

He's a Big Kitty!

2013 Jun 08 - Claire Visits Horizon

Saturday

Claire came over to the Horizon for a visit this afternoon.

Here Debbie and Claire are going over the rules for preparing and eating cherries. From the looks of those cheeks she already has a mouth full.

I Don't Like Your Rules

Here's How We Fix the Cherries

Here's How We Eat the Cherries

No Paparazzi Please

Keep E'm Coming Grandma

Just One More Please

2013 May 04 - Claire Visiting

May 4, 2013
Claire came over to our home on wheels today and was dressed in a mommy original. I can't remember if this was for a special occasion but she looks like one

Looking for the Cat

Ty is very good at avoiding the little ones.

Joy of Walking

May 18, 2013
Bbq at our house. We have a patio next to the Horizon with a grill, sink, and marble counter along the side.

Debbie's Favorite Thing - Her Induction Cooktop

Ribs Are Ready

Ty has already staked out a spot at the table.

2013 Apr 28 - Claire's First Birthday

We made a quick trip from Fort Davis, Texas to arrive home in time to celebrate our granddaughter's first birthday.

The Big Day
It's a birthday party at Claire's house.

Claire and Her Proud Parents

Guests Arriving

Noddle Traffic Jam

Food While Kids Are in the Pool

How Come Its So Small?

Its Not So Bad, Proud Mom

In Fact Its Pretty Good

Cleaned Up a Ready for Presents

We made the party with time to spare. We're now at home in Concord for a couple of months waiting for it to warm up at Port Susan, Washington.
There will be a google of granddaughter snaps and maybe a few family photos for the next few months.

2013 Apr 24-25 - Las Vegas to Concord

Wednesday - Orange Grove RV
9:30am - Left Oasis RV in Las Vegas. With the generator still not working we anticipated a warm drive. The drive was hot but bearable.

2:30pm - Arrived at Orange Grove RV just east of Bakersfield. I love this park which is built in an orange grove with orange trees between each site. On check in they give a large sack of oranges. The aroma in the park is pleasant, relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable.

Thursday - Concord
8:30am - Today we are driving up through the central California Valley on Interstate 5 and this route is normally is hot. Hoping that we're early enough in the year to beat the heat.
Twenty miles down the road we stopped for fuel at the Barstow Flying J truck stop and used the RV pumps. Horizon took 47 gallons at 3.87 for a total of 181.78. The rest of the trip, while long and warm, didn't get excessively hot.

2:30pm - arrived at our home in Concord and pulled into the RV pad next to the house, connecting to 50amps, water, and sewer.

2013 Apr 22 - Las Vegas, NV

Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort

Monday
We left Hidden Oasis RV Park, around 9am heading to Las Vegas.

Made a fuel stop in Kingman, AZ at the Flying J Truck Stop using their RV fuel island. The Horizon took 49.6 gallons at 3.899 per gallon for a total of 193.31.

We arrived at Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort at 2:30pm.

I called a mobile repair service and set up an appointment for the tomorrow to change the fuel filter on the generator. I hoped the problem might be a clogged filter and that was causing it to stop running after a couple of minutes.

I called my daughter, Karie, and arranged for her to meet up with us.

Tuesday
Karie came by and we had a nice visit. We had lunch together in the Oasis Cafe located in the park. The lunches are simple salads and sandwiches, the ones we had were very good.

Ty Enjoying Some Clean Clothes

Well the mobile RV service came by this afternoon and replaced the fuel filter. It cost about 130.00. Unfortunately it didn't fix the generator.  We'll have to plan our travel with the weather in mind.

Tomorrow we'll head for Bakersfield, CA and the Orange Grove RV Park. It's about a four hour drive so the earlier we leave in the morning the better.

2013 Apr 21 - Wikieup, AZ

Hidden Oasis RV Park
We began our trip back to California, via Las Vegas, this morning leaving Arizona around 0930 hrs. We traveled through Phoenix and on north on State Route 90 and then on to SR 93. After passing through Wickenburg the traffic became sparse and it was evident we were on a road less traveled.

We traveled though some beautiful and desolate country on this road. As the day progressed it began heating up inside and outside. The dash air hasn't worked for a couple of year and when it warms up, we turn on the diesel generator and use the residential air which keeps the entire coach cool. Glad we just had the residential air fixed! I turned on the generator and waited for it to warm up. and that's when Murphy visited us again, the law that is. It stopped running. I restarted it and after a couple of minutes it quit again. I tried to get it to run but it just refused. No generator means no air conditioning so we decided to stop early to avoid the hottest part of the day.

At around 1430 hrs we were midway between Phoenix and Las Vegas when we stopped at the Hidden Oasis RV Park in Wikieup. We maneuvered between the large trees into a pull through site with a 50amp pedestal. Plugged in right a way and turned on the air conditioner. This was a great little stop and I would spend a few more days here except we need to get home for grandchild's 1st birthday.

Tomorrow morning we'll be leaving and heading to Las Vegas.

2013 Mar 22 - Amado, AZ

Friday - De Anza RV Resort
We arrived here at 1440 hrs in the middle of a heat wave which isn't so surprising since it's Arizona, but it's only March. It has been in the 90's here instead of the normal 70's it usually is at this time of year.

De Anza RV Resort

Being from the computer field, I am very familiar with "Murphy's Law" and I have found it carries over into the RV world. It figures, our air conditioner stopped working in our time of need. I tried to evaluate all the RV service possibilities available. One explained that their were no accessible service areas from outside and the unit would have to be removed to be evaluated and repaired or replaced. And sometimes the cabling is wrapped around the framing which adds to the removal time. The Horizon has a residential central heating/air conditioning unit in a rear side compartment.

Fortunately I found Lance's RV Mobile RV Service in Tuscon. Lance Davis came out to our site and traced the problem to a bad circuit board. He didn't have to pull out the the unit but opened a large inspection plate on the front side. He was able to order a replacement and have it overnighted. The next day he came back with the new board. He was able to read the circuit diagram to make some necessary changed and after installing, it is working great. The valuation of Service Performed: Excellent
Value of Service:   Excellent
Quality of Service:  Excellent

Elephant Rock on Left and Observatory on Right

A view out the back of the camp ground. Below is a closer look at Elephant Rock.

Elephant Rock

He's looking past us to the right. His head is the top of the rock and you can see his black eye and ear while his trunk lays down the right side. You can also see his rf leg and his hind quarters. He appears to be smiling at me for taking so long in recognizing him.

As the sun is setting, you can already see the difference in light and color between the two images. After staying here many times in the past, while pulling out these images I finally saw the elephant.

 Color moves to the sky from the mountains as the sun begins to sets.

Debbie's mother had been in the hospital and returned home just before we arrived.  We'll be here for a month visiting and helping out a little.

One day a RV/Boat spent a couple of nights in the campground in a site across from us. Cruising on the highway or waterway.

Debbie has been putting out a humming bird feeder and she finally has attracted a bird, although it's not a humming bird.

Ty didn't seem to care what kind of bird it was, he studied it for some time before he tried to touch it.

The bird didn't like the sound of claws scraping on the window and moved over.

The month past by way too fast. We have spent most of the time just hanging out with Debbie's folks, visiting, eating and relaxing.

We'll be leaving for home tomorrow Sunday, April the 21st.

2013 Mar 21 - Las Cruces, NM

Thursday

Today is a travel day as we leave Fort Davis and head to Amado, Arizona. We got underway at 9:30 and traveled up highway 90.

At about 1300 hrs we stopped for fuel at Love's Travel Stop in Anthony, TX. I pumped just over 50gal of diesel fuel at 4.029 a gallon for a total of 202.89.

At 1448 hrs we checked into Hacienda RV and Rally Resort, which is just off of I -10, at exit 140 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The elevation is approximately 3900 feet.  We have stayed at this park many times and have seen it devolve from a resort which provided pet treats and breakfast and other amenities to a run-of-the-mill RV park.

This is only a layover for the night. Tomorrow we are back on the road.

2013 Mar 20 - Alpine, TX

Thursday

After our visit to Marfa, we went down, southeast, to Alpine to visit the Museum of the Big Bend on the Sul Ross State University campus. The museum didn't disappoint and was well worth the drive down from Fort Davis.

An Example of the Excellent Displays

As it turned out, our timing was perfect, because just as we were coming out...

A Class Visits the Museum

As dusk fell we traveled north, this time to the McDonald Observatory for a Star Party. The parking was down hill from the observatory and it was a long walk uphill. We explored the visitor center while we waited for the event to begin. Learned a lot about the facility including that the program is very popular as the Star Party was a full.

As Darkness Approaches all the Lighting is Red

We took our seats which are outdoors, cement benches. We learned you should dress warmly and bring a cushion to sit on!

The program was great and we identified many constellations with the help of the presenters.

Tomorrow we leave the Fort Davis and Texas after a fun-filled time with my aunt and uncle and head back to Arizona.