2014 JULY

I started this blog to record Debbie’s and my wandering in the Horizon. I started out making a post every day with a lot of pictures and a little bit of narrative.  I discovered it was difficult to keep up a daily post and very difficult to catch up when I missed a day or more. 

Then we stated traveling the same routes and staying in the same places so repeating the same pictures in a new post seamed pointless.  Also we spend some time, a month or so, at home parked at the side of the house, when we pass by it, a couple of time a year. During this time we visit friends and family and the holiday season.

Why go to AZ when we have sunset views like this parked at the side of the house!

As I continued to take pictures and snapshots I realized I still had a lot of  documentation I could do.

Now I’m almost a year behind or more and the task to catch up seams to be insurmountable….But I’m going to try, and instead of one post for each day I’m going to do a “big gulp” at a time.  So here is the start back in July 2014.

JULY 2nd

Stopped in a Casino parking area to drop the tow. 

We are about fifteen miles from Port Susan at this is the last convenient stop before we enter the wilderness on a two lane shoulder-less road. The entrance to Port Susan, past the ranger station, is narrow and arrival is easier disconnected. We also check the restaurant in the Casino for lunch.  Sad to find out the food quality is has gone down and the prices have gone up.

JULY 18th

We have been here at Port Susan for a couple of weeks and have settled in. Gazebo cover is on, outdoor furniture is out.

Sammy drops by to welcome Ty back

 

Ty cleans up and then relaxes with the family

And that finishes up the month of July, 2014

Port Susan–July 3, 2014

We arrived here yesterday afternoon traveling through Seattle around 11:30 am on I5. At that time we avoided the worst of the traffic.

We setup and relaxed.

 

Ty exploring the area.

Ty’s  resting, apparently everything checked out .

Finally Leaving Phoenix–Jun 30th 2014

The jacks have been fixed for a few days now and seem to be working fine, so we’re finally leaving and heading north again.  I tested them  each day with my fingers crossed and so far so good.

We left for Hee Hee Illahee RV Resort just on the north side of Salem , OR. around 9am. We arrived around 2pm. The resort is nice. The sites are long and level. Green lawn between the sites. It was in the high 80’s when we arrived.

Later in the day I cleaned the windshield and Ty laid on the cooled cement pad.  It’s a where’s Waldo, he’s at the front of the rig at the edge of the natural and the  pink colored damp cement trying to cool off.

Now you can see him.

Later after it cool off a little he came over and joined me on Debbie’s chair.  He just ignored Debbie.

We just stayed here over night so we just left the Jeep attached. Behind Debbie is the office and pool. There were a lot of kids cooling off back there.  We’re headed on up to Kelso, WA tomorrow. 

Phoenix, OR–Jun 26, 2014–Its Fixed

HURRAY

The jacks are fixed, so far anyway. Glen from Central Point RV Center called this morning to let us know the circuit board had come in. We got the rig ready to roll, including picking up the leveling blocks we were forced to buy, and dropped off the Horizon at the shop.

We stopped at the Black Bear Restaurant for breakfast. It was identical to the one in Walnut Creek, the menu, the food and service, which was good. After breakfast we decided to drive south to Talent. Debbie found an “antique” store and spent more time than money.

While driving around we went by the Sno-Cat factory in Medford, Oregon.  They were originally made in a factory in Grass Valley, California, where the first production line was established, before moving to Oregon.

New Sno-Cats lined up and ready to go.  The overcast sky gave way to rain a few hours later.

Just before noon Glen called and let us know the Horizon was ready.  We pick it up and came back to our spot at Holiday RV. The jacks worked great.

Debbie brought in a box of coffee and left the empty box on the front seat. It proved too tempting to Ty.

 

We paid for a week beginning yesterday so we’ll stay here until next week and give the jack a good work out before we move on.

Phoenix, OR–Jun 21, 2014–Crater Lake

The Crater Lake web site said the weather was going to be clear today so we decided on a visit.  From our RV park its about an hour and a half drive. Although its been years since either Deb or I had been to the lake, it looked the same.

We walked along the rim path and a Clark’s Nutcracker landed next to usjust off the trail.

We left the path to walk over to the Crater Lake Lodge to see what their lunch menu look like.  It look expensive with a salad at $11 and salmon $34 so we decided we weren’t that hungry.  Debbie walking from the dinning room toward the gift shop.

Debbie leaving the visitor center.

I wonder if he wakes up with a stiff neck.

Phoenix OR–Jun 20, 2014–Not So Bad

We are waiting for a circuit board to be fabricated by HWH which should end our leveling jack problem. They don’t work.

This morning we moved from our level site C18 to an un-level site C3.  We didn’t want to move but it turned out this is a very good spot. Has a great view out the front. Its shadier with more trees and Ty like the view better too.

Ty is staying near the front door, he wants to go back across the drive where he’s found some kind of varmint hole that require watching.

 

This is our view out the front window.

There is a lawn in front of the trees and creek. Here is a shot of Bear Creek behind the trees.

I went out and purchased some leveling blocks and then spent a half hour or longer using them to level the motorhome. I should have grabbed one of the 5th wheel trailer guys to lend a hand.  Finally got it fairly level. Anxious to get our hydraulics working.

Here’s a picture of the RF tire on the blocks.

Tomorrow we’re driving over to Crater Lake.

Phoenix, OR–Jun 18, 2014–Day 2

Still no fix for the jacks. We took the MH up to Central Point RV this morning only to learn the master mechanic was called away for jury duty. Geez will we ever get these jacks working?  I added another day to our stay at the RV park.

Around 11 o’clock Glenn the master called and said he was back. He narrowly avoided being selected for the alternate jury pool. The pool was filled by the person just ahead of him in the line. Whew!

Debbie, I and Ty used or day to explore the mining town of Jacksonville. This is a sample of the architecture in the small town.

We couldn’t find a parking place in the shade to leave Ty, so we just drove around the town.  Afterward we went back to the RV park and hung out on the lawn next to Bear Creek.

Debbie holding the leash as Ty explores.

 

Ty found a varmint in a hole in the lawn and made a pounce, but missed.

Around 4:30 we drove back to Central Point and met Glen.  He had found a loose bolt on the motor but it was not the jack problem. He was still waiting for a call back from HWH for help in the diagnosis. If they call back tomorrow, and they have the part needing in stock, and can they get it overnighted, and Glen can get the part install Friday, we may be back on our way Saturday.  That’s the best case scenario, so tomorrow I am going up to the office to see if I can change our to the weekly rate.

Medford, OR–Jun 17, 2014

We arrived at the Holiday RV Park in Phoenix, OR early afternoon. Assigned space C17 we found it was not very level so we moved over to C18 and were almost able to get completely level. Yes the jacks are still not working. They will probable work fine tomorrow at the RV shop!  The weather here is on the cool side and expected to drop down to the mid forties overnight.

Left JGW RV Park after a leisurely morning due to an early (for us) rising, 6am. We started toward Medford.  Mt. Shasta looks like it should be end of summer not the beginning. (Debbie took the picture.)

Ty explores our site.

Tomorrow it into the shop for the third time for the HWH to be repaired, this time by a manufacturer’s certified master service center.  If this doesn’t work then I’ll be heading to the factory in Iowa and camping out until they get them working.

We’ve always looked at checking out Crater Lake as we went by on one side or the other so if the repair schedule works out we will take a day trip over from here.

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 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 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.

Malibu California

The sunset view standing in front of our Horizon. 

We are in the Malibu Beach RV Park on the edge of a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Horizon is behind another RV. The Jeep is parked next to it.

Horizon front end sticking out high up on the cliff as seen from the Pacific Coast Hwy.

Debbie is standing in the parking lot of Paradise Cove where  Jim Rockford’s house trailer which used to be parked when they were filming the TV show, Rockford Files. We were unable to find the trailer but we did find the Paradise Cove Beach Café and had a great lunch. Some of the outdoor part of the restaurant is in the background. 

A view of the Paradise Cove Beach Café from the beach.

I know this looks familiar but its not the same photo. Note those are different shirts. (same cat)