December 27, 2009 ~ RENO and LAKE TAHOE
We had a little time off over the Thanksgiving weekend so we took a trip to Reno and Lake Tahoe. From Bodega Bay it’s an easy drive over I-80. Our room at the El Dorado was nice and very reasonable, and we availed ourselves of their incredible buffet…more than once! We also tried the buffet at the Atlantis and it was great, but my favorite is still the El Dorado. Ok, enough talk about food; a diet is now the first item on the menu.
Although it’s a far cry from the granddaddy of sin cities, Reno has its share of lights and colorful flamboyance. The Fountain of Fortune, the focal point in the El Dorado, is a mythological collection of dolphins, cherubs, fish, seahorses, and tritons with Poseidon at the helm, and is made of bronze, marble and gold leaf. Over at the Peppermill, the ostentatious use of neon is the main attraction. I don’t know how much time I could spend there, especially since it seemed smokier than some of the other hotels, but I will admit, all that glitz from one end of the resort to the other is pretty impressive. On the other hand, I was glad to see folks out enjoying themselves at the local skating rink; it shows that normal, everyday life does exist in the midst of all that decadence.
At Lake Tahoe we found that there was just enough snow to give us the holiday feel, but not enough to affect travel. The mountains had small snow caps and the sandy beaches of the lake showed signs of the recent snowstorm. The aqua-colored shoreline with its smooth boulders is quite a contrast to the depths of the cool blue lake interior. At Zephyr Cove, the Ms. Dixie waited patiently at the dock for her next group of visitors. I find that Emerald Bay is one of the most picturesque spots along the scenic lake route and I would imagine it’s one of the most photographed areas. I did get a shot of Vikingsholm Castle at the head of the bay, although it’s pretty far away and somewhat secluded. Before winding up our day trip to Tahoe, we ventured off the main road to take a short hike through the woods to Spooner Lake, another beautiful alpine lake. It was another enjoyable getaway. View the images from this trip at "Reno-Tahoe 2009".
October 15, 2009 ~ THE SEASON ENDS AT SKOOKUM
Our season at Skookum Rendezvous ended October 8th and not a day too soon as the weather was changing quickly. Although the days were pleasant in the mid 50’s, we had 28 degree mornings the last 3-4 days. I understand it got down to 0 overnight a couple days after we left. Brrr! We were hired here at Skookum by the Owners Association to assist management a couple of days a week, but sometime in June we were offered another position with the developer helping out with sales. We had focused most of our time the last 3 months in the sales office. We really enjoyed the work and the people. And, call me crazy, but I decided it would be a good idea to get my WA real estate license before we left. It will help make things run more smoothly when we go back in April. We’re happy they’ve asked us back next season. The "Usk, WA Area" album has some miscellaneous shots of the resort, our visiting moose (taken by Ardie Jones), the popular Coeur d’ Alene Hotel, and some nature shots. We arrived back in Bodega Bay October 15th and have settled in for 6 months (yes, here we are again!). Our Assistant Manager job was waiting for us as was our familiar spot in the Bodega Bay RV Park. I don’t know how many more stories and photos about Bodega Bay I can post, but if I come up with anything, you’ll see it here. See ya back here again!
August 15, 2009 ~ THE POW WOW
The local Kalispel tribe celebrated their 35th Anniversary Pow Wow in early August. I went just to see the colorful, elaborate costumes and dances that I had heard about, but it’s so much more. A Pow Wow is a major social event. This gathering promotes a real sense of togetherness, spiritually and community outreach. The tribe hosts other tribes from around the region, and all compete in drum, dance and costume contests in various categories from golden age to tiny tots with huge cash prizes awarded. And the entire local community is invited for food and festivities without charge. I opted out of the buffalo barbecue! There were prayers and heart-felt speeches from both young and old before the grand dance entrance, and I felt a real sense of human oneness. Take a look at the images in the "Kalispel Pow Wow" album and see if you can feel the sense of pride.
July 31 , 2009 ~ NW MONTANA & GLACIER NAT’L PARK
Our trip through northwest Montana and into Glacier was at the beginning of June. From Usk, we traveled across the Idaho panhandle through Priest River, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry and Moyie Springs, and followed Rt. 2 into Montana. Our first stop was at Kootenai Falls, a beautiful rocky gorge with the powerful Kootenai River running through, and a swinging foot bridge above. Further along our route we passed several small lakes and amazing scenery before arriving in Kalispell for the night. We took time over the next couple of days to explore the Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls areas – very picturesque. We moved on to the small town of West Glacier just outside the southwest corner of Glacier National Park where we stayed at a cute little rustic motel for a couple of nights. Just inside the park we came across Lake McDonald – dramatic, glassy and reflective, and probably one of the most photographed sights in the park. Although the Going-To-The-Sun Road over Logan Pass was not yet open, we saw many beautiful areas of the park…pristine lakes, peaceful creeks, rushing waterfalls, giant cedars and spectacular mountains. We circled around the southern rim of the park and stopped at goat lick overlook, a deep gorge where the goats come down to lick the minerals in the rocks. Next we went over the summit at the continental divide, and then on to Two Medicine in the southeast corner of the park. At Two Medicine we ventured into "grizzly country" to see beautiful lakes, mountains and Running Eagle Falls. We saw a grizzly cub, and because we kept our distance, the photo is not too good (and a bit blurry, as I was keeping one eye out for his mom)! After we left Glacier, we headed south past Flathead Lake and into Missoula where we picked up I-90 and headed for home. Once again, I’m disappointed in my images from this trip and find they just don’t portray the breathtaking beauty of the area. It didn’t seem to matter what time of day it was, the lighting just wasn’t right. After all that positive talk, I’m sure you’ll want to go right to the "NW Montana & Glacier" album and take a look!
July 15 , 2009 ~ NORTHERN IDAHO
I’m posting our Idaho trips a little out of order, but as I mentioned in the May 18 post, I wanted to wait until we had seen more of Idaho. At the beginning of May, we took a drive over to Priest Lake. It’s a beautiful drive and a picturesque lake. All of Northern Idaho is easily accessed from our home base, and the panhandle is about 45 miles across from Washington to Montana. At the end of May we took another portion of the Selkirk Loop which took us out through Priest River, Sandpoint, past Lake Pend Oreille and through the tiny town of Clark Fork where we stopped for lunch. As we continued over this scenic byway, we crossed into Montana and stopped to look at the Cabinet Gorge Dam. We headed north past Ross Creek Cedars and then west through Troy, MT along the Kootenai River, experiencing some beautiful Montana scenery. I wish my images from these trips portrayed the beauty we encountered. On June 5th, we were on our way back from our Glacier trip (Glacier will be in the next post) traveling west on I-90 from Montana into Idaho through the Bitterroot Mountains. We happened upon the little town of Wallace, a quaint old mining community listed on the National Historic Register, where bordellos were a way of life as recently as 20 years ago. Wallace, Silverton, Osburn and Kellogg are part of the "Silver Valley", the silver capital of the world. Several mines still exist, opening and closing depending upon the price of silver. We were intrigued by the 1313 Club-Historic Saloon & Grill. "1313" has a special meaning to us, but if I tell you anymore, I’ll have to kill you! We decided it would be a good place to have a drink and dinner before heading back to our comfortable room at The Wallace Inn. We love exploring these historic little towns – and its even more fun when you come across them unexpectedly. The images from these trips are in the "N. Idaho May-June 09" album.
July 4, 2009 ~ FIREWORKS ON THE RESERVATION
The Kalispell Tribe celebrates the 4th of July with food, festivities and fireworks. Everyone is invited to join, and everything is free, a very generous community gesture. We skipped the afternoon fun, but staked out a good spot for the fireworks at about 9:00 p.m. It gets dark a little later up here, and while we waited, the mosquitoes had a nice snack. But the show finally started about 10:15 and ended by 10:45, and it was worth the wait. It was a fantastic display. Although there’s nothing like being there, I think I captured some decent images. Take a look at the "Fireworks July 2009" album but be patient-there are a lot of photos in the album and it might take a little longer to load; they were all so unique I couldn't decide on which ones to post. I may have to delete some, but for now, enjoy the show!
June 25, 2009 ~ IN LOVING MEMORY
KEN CHESLEY
March 31, 1932 ~ June 24, 2009
It's so hard to say goodbye, but today the angels rejoice.
His magnificent spirit will brighten the heavens for all eternity.
I love you, Dad, forever and always.
SAL IUCULANO JOAN MOULTON
1/20/1922 ~ 7/30/2008 5/30/1933 ~ 1/13/2003
They will always be with us.
May 18, 2009 ~ EXPLORING NORTHEAST WASHINGTON
We are now in the tiny town of Usk in Northeastern Washington on the Idaho border, about 50 miles south of Canada. Our temporary home is Skookum Rendezvous RV Resort, a private deeded park where residents own their lots here on the beautiful Pend Oreille River. Pend Oreille, pronounced "Pond-o-RAY", means "ear pendant" and was coined by French settlers for the earrings worn by the local Kalispell tribe.
We’ve had the opportunity to explore a little of the area since we arrived May 1st. The Kalispell Indian Reservation lies here in Usk and in the neighboring town of Cusick. Our Native American neighbors have a herd of buffalo, some of whom you’ll see in the "Northeast Washington" photo album. Also within their land lies the Manressa Grotto, a glacially formed above-ground cave system used for religious ceremonies by early American Indians and missionaries. Close to home and right off the road, it is an easy and interesting site to explore.
We take a daily five mile walk from the resort down to Skookum Creek, and are happy to say that nature abounds here in northeastern Washington. We’ve seen deer, elk and llamas, peamouth chub fish spawning, and delicate flowers and insects. It’s "baby" season, and there are new offspring of every living thing! The Canadian geese are very protective of their new broods, and a killdeer couple, a plover-type bird, spent some time in our yard tending to their newborns. Both parents take turns sitting on the chicks, especially when it’s cold and drizzly as it was the day my photos were taken. You’ll see the mother sitting in the gravel with several tiny legs sticking out from beneath. The gangly-legged chicks are up and about as soon as they hatch, and they are the cutest little downy fur balls you’ve ever seen! Once you’ve heard their distinctive call, you’ll always know they’re around. And this is interesting…unlike most species that protect in an aggressive manner, an adult Killdeer puts on a deceitful "broken wing" display. As you approach, you may notice it suddenly develop a broken wing. As it struggles pitifully and you instinctively try to help, it lets you come close, but stays one step ahead. It guides you further and further away from its chicks and when it feels you are no longer a threat, its broken wing suddenly heals and it flies away. Isn’t Mother Nature incredible! We haven’t yet encountered any moose, bear, lynx and bobcat, but we’re keeping close watch since we know they’re here.
My fascination for clouds has grown since we arrived. As was the case last time we were in the northwest, the cloud displays have been fantastic. You may see one or two in the album, but I’m determined to create a cloud portfolio before I leave.
The International Selkirk Loop runs through Northeastern Washington, the Idaho Panhandle and into British Columbia. We took a portion of the loop in Washington and Idaho. Our first day-trip took us north from Usk past Box Canyon Dam to Metaline Falls, about 10 miles from the Canadian border, and our second trip was a loop past the Little Pend Oreille Lakes, the wildlife refuge and the historic town of Colville. Although the lack of wildlife in the refuge was a disappointment, we did have a bit of excitement when we encountered a blizzard (note: it was May 12th).
Our day-trip into Idaho will be saved for the next post after we’ve had a chance to explore Idaho further and add more images to the album. Until then, thanks again for sharing our travels. We’ll see ya back here soon!
April 15, 2009 ~ READY TO ROLL....AGAIN!
Has is really been five months since the last entry? I guess it has. When I last posted, we had been back in Bodega Bay only a month, and already our stay for the winter season is just about over. We will begin our trip north next week to our next home on the Washington/Idaho border about 50 miles south of Canada.
In February, we took a 3 day road trip up to Redding and Red Bluff to check the area for a possible future stay. Redding is a very pretty city surrounded by snow-capped mountains and is home to the one-of-a-kind, pedestrian only Sundial Bridge. The glass-decked suspension bridge hovers over the Sacramento River and is a unique addition to the beauty of the surrounding natural landscape. Redding’s City Hall houses artwork throughout its interior, and the outside grounds feature the recently created "Sculpture Park". Visitors can stroll the paved walkways viewing various wood, stone, metal and mosaic art pieces.
Jason came up for a visit again a couple of weeks ago. Joe and Jason played golf at beautiful Northwood Golf Club. This scenic course is set among the redwoods along the Russian River in Monte Rio, just a few miles northeast of Bodega Bay. It was a fun day; I tagged along to photograph while they played 18 holes. All I can say is "watch out Tiger... you could be replaced!!" Jason looks pretty good! Joe plays a good game too. There are a few photos in the 'BodegaBay Jan-Apr 09' photo album of the Redding trip as well as the golf game at Northwood.
Well, I guess that’s about it from Bodega Bay. Stop back and visit our site again after we settle in up north. We’ll have new stories and images from what promises to be a beautiful area and another great adventure!
November 19, 2008 ~ BACK AT BODEGA - JASON'S VISIT
We’re back at Bodega Bay and back to our job as assistant managers here at the park. Aside from a few days of rain at the beginning of the month, it’s been beautiful and warm since we’ve been back. However, it seems to be changing, with the last two days shrouded in fog and quite a bit cooler.
The much awaited crab season opened on the 1st and although most feel it’s off to a slow start and may not be a fruitful year, we have been the grateful recipients of lots of crabs along with some rock fish and ling cod, right off the boats. Yummy! Jason came up for a visit last week and we indulged in "everything crab". We had steamed crab with drawn butter, crab cakes, and cioppino, which also included mussels that we got at our favorite tide pool beach, Miwok. Jason and I had fun looking for sea stars and jade stones while Joe collected mussels. Saturday we took a drive out through wine country through the towns of Kenwood, Glen Ellen and Sonoma. We sampled some tasty wines at Sebastiani Vineyards in Sonoma. Jason couldn’t resist picking some grapes off a vine along one of the side roads. Back at home, while taking a drive through the upscale golf community of Bodega Harbour, four wild turkeys approached. Actually, Mr. Tom Turkey charged the car being very protective of his three girls. He was squawking and pecking, grabbing at us and the car.…I was sure he’d do damage to one of us or the vehicle. But really, isn’t he the least bit afraid? After all, it is less than 2 weeks until Thanksgiving! Along with the photos of Jason’s visit, the "Back at Bodega" album features more coast and bay images including crab pots, crab boats and crab fishermen! I seem to be overloading the gallery with Bodega pictures, and I’m sure the next time you check back, there’ll probably be even more!
October 17, 2008 ~ AUTUMN IN QUINCY
They say the season is off to a late start this year, but during the past few days I have been out "Leaf Peeping" and have been in awe of the beautiful colors. Take a look at some of the fall images in the “Autumn in Quincy” album. The pigmentation seems to be changing daily and I will have to go out tomorrow for one last time to capture any last minute changes before our early morning departure this weekend. Unfortunately, our time here in Quincy at Pioneer RV Park will come to an end Sunday when we head back to Bodega Bay. It has been a wonderful seven weeks. We love this park, and have enjoyed getting to know owners John & Sandi, our friend Eric, and fellow workampers Mike & Dixie. Quincy is such a pretty little town and looks even more charming with all the trees dressed so beautifully for fall. We’ve been so many great places and love them all, but quaint little Quincy and the picturesque surrounding area will always hold a special place in our hearts.
October 3, 2008 ~ QUINCY and MT. LASSEN
We’re here in Quincy living and working at Pioneer RV Park, a comfortable and pretty 65 space park with large, roomy sites, tall pines and immaculate facilities. We enjoy our outside work which consists of raking, sweeping, weeding, planting and grooming flowers to maintain this park’s beauty and cleanliness. Thank you to resident owner/managers John and Sandi Johnson; we appreciate this opportunity. And we’re very fortunate, once again, to meet more great people.
Quincy is a cute, historic, pioneer town of about 6,000 built during the establishment of Plumas County in 1854. As with many of the old settlements, fire destroyed a lot of the town’s original buildings, but through preservation and restoration, much remains to remind us of the area’s historic past. Quincy sits at 3400 feet nestled in the Feather River canyon and is surrounded by the thick, green forests and pine covered mountains of the Plumas National Forest. The Feather River Scenic Byway is the east/west route along highways 70/89, starting at Lake Oroville and ending at Highway 395, with Quincy about midway between. Along this scenic drive you’ll experience bridges and tunnels, railways and trestles, and of course, the beautiful Feather River. Logging and railroads were a big part of this area’s history, and still remain. Log trucks continue to travel the highways and local streets, and one of the west’s largest timber mills is located right here in Quincy behind the park we now call home. In fact, the smell of milled wood is quite nice…so earthy and natural; very pleasant. I’m thinking back to our stay in Washington and the frequent smell of cow crap from all the feed lots…..what a contrast! The "Quincy Area" album contains images of the RV park, the historic downtown, sites along the Feather River route, us in our "railroad attire" at the railroad museum in Portola, cool rock formations near Frenchman Lake, pretty Lake Davis and beyond.
Just a couple of minutes west of downtown Quincy is the tiny resort town of Keddie. Railroad buffs appreciate the engineering marvel here called ‘The Keddie Wye’, a set of railroad tracks that emerge from a tunnel and split to form a ‘Y’. It’s the only trestle of its kind in the world. Photographers wait patiently above for a passing train to complete the picture. However, I wasn’t patient enough to get one in my shot. While I was doing research for this post, I ran across another interesting but disturbing tidbit about Keddie. This sleepy little spot in the woods was the site of a grisly quadruple murder back in 1981. Although most of the cabins and structures have fallen into disrepair, we saw a few folks still living here. However, the murder scene, Cabin 28, was demolished a few years ago due to reports of ghosts by the people who remain. The murders remain unsolved, but according to this YouTube clip from a couple of years ago, Quincy area residents have renewed hope with new DNA evidence. YouTube: Cabin 28; The Keddie Murders. Ok, enough of that scary stuff!
Our trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park was very cool! The road through the park winds through rolling hills covered by large conifer forests. We saw steam spewing from the earth, large volcanic boulders and rock formations. And a short hike from the main road took us to beautiful alpine lakes. Joe and I both contributed to the "Lassen Volcanic Park" album.
We also took a drive to Reno which is an hour and a half drive east. We made the obligatory Costco stop as well as stops at the RV parts stores. The highlight, however, was the buffet at the El Dorado. It was incredible. I haven’t been that uncomfortably full since a Thanksgiving I can remember many, many years ago. Neither of us could help ourselves.
The leaves are just starting to turn here in this beautiful mountain community and I hope to get back out there with the camera before we depart in a couple of weeks. If so, I’ll post a few more images. Thanks again for sharing our travels with us!
August 31, 2008 ~ GOLD COUNTRY; THE MOTHER-LODE!
Greetings from Gold Country! After a brief detour for some RV maintenance, our first stop after leaving the coast was at Jackson Rancheria Casino/Hotel & RV Park owned by the Jackson band of Miwok Indians. The RV Park is a new addition, open only for 6 months. It has all the amenities you would want, including 24 hour shuttle service from your site to the casino & restaurants. We made our donation at the slot machines, and then headed for the buffet. While in Jackson, we took a drive over to Indian Grinding Rocks State Historic Park where the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America can be found. From Jackson, we continued north up historic Highway 49 passing through the small towns developed back in 1849 by the original gold rush pioneers. After twisting and turning, driving up and down through foothills and canyons, Roxy was huffing and puffing and her brakes needed a rest. Fortunately, we arrived in Coloma where Marshall Gold Discovery SHP encompasses most of the town right along Highway 49 and the American River. It was a perfect place to stop and rest, have lunch and take in some more of the local history. Just north in Auburn, we opted to head east on I-80 in lieu of the 49er trail. We picked up 89 north in Truckee, and then back onto 49 and into our next destination, Sierra City. We got settled in at Sierra Skies RV Park in this tiny historic gold town on the Yuba River. The Yuba runs along Highway 49 for miles in this area. The park is very popular with modern-day fortune seekers who arrive equipped with dredging machines, gold panning gear and prospecting equipment, and can be seen up and down the rivers searching for riches. We tried our luck at gold panning… hey, if you’re here, you have to! Yes, there is still gold in dem dere hills and rivers!! The scenery here is beautiful with lots of trees, mountains, lakes and rivers. And because of the mountains, trees and remoteness, there is no cell or internet service, so calls and emails will have to wait until the next stop. Just a short drive from the park is the Lakes Basin, a collection of small alpine lakes, volcanic rock outcroppings and lush green forests, where recreational activities include fishing, camping, kayaking, hiking, and biking. Guests of the Salmon Lake Lodge get whisked away from the Salmon Lake dock by pontoon boat, the only access to the lodge and cabins. Twelve miles west of Sierra City nestled in a forested canyon is historic Downieville, one of the best preserved gold rush towns in California. Take a photo tour of these sites by visiting the "Gold County-Sierras" album. Our vacation ends today and we’re moving just an hour northwest to Quincy to start work again for 6 weeks. Another historic town and the Plumas County seat, Quincy and the surrounding area is also located in the Sierra Nevada mother lode, so perhaps we can continue our search for gold!
August 14, 2008 ~ LEAVING BODEGA BAY
It’s time to say so long to our home of the past 6+ months, and to our friends John & Margaret and Ray & Linda, at least for now. We have committed to return to our job here for the winter months, but for now, we will move east to the Sierra Nevada mountains for a couple of months, first for a short vacation in Sierra City and then to work at a park in Quincy, CA. Although we enjoy Bodega Bay a lot, we’re looking forward to exploring a new area, and feeling so fortunate as always that we have the opportunity to do so. Some final images of this area are in the "More Sonoma Coast" album. More updates from gold country coming soon!!
May 12, 2008 ~ LIFE ON THE SONOMA COAST
Life here in the little town of Bodega Bay is quiet and relaxing….and very enjoyable. Bodega Bay RV Park is small, in comparison; about 85 sites, and is visited by many RV clubs and groups, as well as campers and RVers from throughout the US and abroad. We meet nice folks from all over, and it’s great working in an environment where everyone is having fun! We really look forward to our days at work (how often do you hear someone say they look forward to going to work?). The managers, John and Margaret are the nicest people you will ever meet ~ the type of folks you immediately feel comfortable with. On our days off, we take long walks, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells along the way. On our usual route, we walk through an earthy smelling path covered by a cypress and pine canopy, stoop to see new wildflowers, listen to the wild turkeys gobbling in the distance, pass deer as they graze, and end up at the bay where we watch the fishing boats come and go, breathing in the smell of the harbor and listening to different voices of the many shorebirds that call the bay home. Does it sound like we’re enjoying life? The beaches in the area each offer a little something different. Some are long and expansive and good for walking, some are rocky with tiny polished stones, supposedly jade. We like Miwok, a great beach for tide-pooling, where Joe gets mussels and I search for sea stars. We took a day trip down to Tomales Bay and Point Reyes National Seashore where we enjoyed more beautiful scenery. We walked the fault line (yes! the San Andreas Fault runs right through this area) and watched the whales as they guided their young back up the coast. In the "Bodega & Sonoma Coast" album you’ll see local creatures of land, sea and air, St. Theresa’s church with Potter schoolhouse behind (from the movie "The Birds"), boats in the harbor, Tomales Bay and Pt. Reyes National Seashore, and the Fisherman’s Festival boat parade and blessing of the fleet - a big deal and a local holiday here in Bodega Bay. Unfortunately, the local fishermen have been devastated by the closure of the salmon season. It is the first time in 160 years that this has taken place, closing all waters from the Mexican border to Oregon. Both commercial and sport fishing are affected; the governor has declared a state of emergency.
On May 5th, we took a trip up the coast to the Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve and to Fort Ross State Historic Park. The rhododendron reserve was kind of a bust, as the blooms were just starting, so I had Joe lay inside an old stump to at least get a picture there…it looked like an old rotten coffin! Ft. Ross, a 200 year old Russian fur traders’ settlement, was quite interesting. On the drive south heading home along steep and winding Highway 1, we encountered a herd of cows, weaving in and out of traffic, who apparently have the right of way. I can’t figure this one out! It’s "open range" at the scariest section of the coast highway. The single lane road carved into the side of a cliff is barely wide enough for one small car in each direction. The road twists like a pretzel, there is no guard rail, and about 3 feet from your tire the drop is more than 800’…straight down! And these big heifers are stopping traffic and tippy-toeing along the ridge. Crazy! The final shots are of the harbor seals and pups at the mouth of the Russian river in Jenner, just a few miles north of where we live. Check out the "Fort Ross-Kruse" album to view the images of the day.
February 16, 2008 ~ HELLO FROM BODEGA BAY
An emergency trip to NY forced us to leave Carlsbad abruptly and settle in here at Bodega Bay RV Park earlier than we had planned. Our job here as assistant park managers consists of just 2 days a week, leaving us plenty of time to travel and explore the rugged beauty of the Sonoma Coast. Located about an hour and a half north of San Francisco, the quaint town of Bodega Bay is the largest community on the Sonoma County Coast, and was ‘put on the map’ when Hitchcock chose it for his location for "The Birds". With so much to see and do here, and in the surrounding counties, we’ve just scratched the surface. In the "Bodega Bay Area" album, you’ll see images of the turbulent rocky coastline, and the huge trees at Armstrong Redwoods State Park, where the tallest tree is 310 feet tall and the oldest is 1400 years old!...Hard to fathom, isn’t it? You’ll also see photos of the RV park and the Children’s Bell Tower; more info about this unique bell monument at NicholasGreen.org. We'll have more stories and photos as we continue to explore, so come on back and visit again!!
January 11, 2008 ~ SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
We’ll, we’ve come full-circle! Here we are back in Carlsbad after leaving 16 months ago. We arrived here after stopping in Palms Springs and at the Fountain of Youth Spa near the Salton Sea. Had always heard about it and decided to check it out on the way to San Diego County. I guess we didn’t spend enough time there, as neither of us looks more youthful after our stay! We moved on to the State Park at So. Carlsbad Beach where we secured a temporary position as Camp Host. It wasn’t our first choice, and after spending some time here, we’re fairly certain we won’t make this choice again. Retired people aren’t supposed to work 5 days a week, even if they are only partial days!! We’re supposed to have all kinds of leisure time! But, between work, the sale of our things, and trying to spend as much time as possible with family and friends in the short time we have here, we have a full schedule. On a positive note, it has allowed us to accomplish our mission; to visit family for the holidays (this is the BEST Christmas present), and to get rid of the rest of our stuff. Also, being right here on the bluff above the ocean has afforded me some nice photo ops which are included in the So. Carlsbad St Bch album. For those of you whom we missed this visit, we’re disappointed we had so little time. As Arnold says, ‘we’ll be back’. Our next gig is on the Northern Cal. coast, so we’ll post again when we settle in.
October 19, 2007 ~ THE COASTS; OREGON & NORTHERN CAL
As planned, we left Riverbend in Washington September 29th, and from what we understand, not a day too soon. The weather had been changing with colder, wet weather and some snow in the higher elevations. In fact, a couple of days after we left, the passes we traveled got snow. We left in the rain and unfortunately it continued for more than a week. We picked up Oregon’s Rt. 30 west along the Columbia River through Astoria and out to the coast. Our first stop was Barview Jetty County Park on Tillamook Bay. During our stay at Barview, we took some day trips as far north as Seaside and as far south as Pacific City, taking in as many parks, scenic loops and coastal views as ‘we’ could find. (I say "we" and although we were both along for the ride, one of us was more interested in seeing "everything on the list" than the other. Between the miserable weather, the winding narrow roads and the continual stop ‘n go and in-and-out of the truck for photo ops, settling in at the end of the day was a welcome respite!) During our trip down the central coast, we stopped at most of the scenic points, but pressed on until we reached Coos Bay. We decided to make this our next stop for a few days, settling in at Mills Casino & RV Resort. Once again, we made some day trips and took a little time to hang out and relax. South of Coos Bay, our last stop on the Oregon coast was in Brookings-Harbor for one night, and the weather was finally got nice. Even so, the Oregon coast is certainly beautiful, even with the gloomy weather. We’ve seen the Northern Cal. coast so we kept moving down to Fortuna, where we stopped for the night and visited the nearby town of Ferndale. The Victorian homes and buildings have been so well preserved that the entire town is listed on the National Historic Register. After heading over to Highway 1 through Ft. Bragg, and then back over to the 101 through the wine country and bay area, we spent a night in the town of Marina, north of Monterey where we enjoyed a short visit with our buddy Mike. Some minor coach problems took us a bit out of the way east of I-5 for repairs, but then it was back to the coast to finish up our trek down to Southern Cal. We were disappointed as we checked the Morro Bay, Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara areas that were on our list for future workamping jobs and volunteer positions, so, with a little time to spare before our next job, we pressed on to the desert to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area where we’re chilling out for a few days (actually, ‘chilling’ might be the wrong word…..it’s still pretty toasty out here).
We’ve seen ethereal foggy views, rocky coastlines, rough pounding seas, historic lighthouses, quaint fishing villages, seals and sunsets, Victorian towns, and big trees. And since there are so many photos, I’ve split them into 4 albums; "Oregon Coast-North", "Oregon Coast-Central", "Oregon Coast-South" and "Cal Coast-North". Please be patient if some of them take a little longer to load. We’ll be settling into our position with California State Parks soon, so we’ll keep you posted …… be sure to check back!!
September 10, 2007 ~ HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.....TO US!!
Not only is today the anniversary of our marriage, it is also our 1 year anniversary on the road. Can you believe it? One year ago today, we left on ‘Joe & Jill’s Big Adventure", and what an adventure it has been! We have seen beautiful places, met beautiful people, and renewed our souls…..life is good. We've continued to work part time throughout our first year on the road and have discovered that "workamping" and volunteering is not only fun and rewarding, but it’s a great way to keep the brain in shape while enjoying our travels across this great country. Oh, and I forgot to mention that we didn’t win the lottery, so it really helps with expenses. One might think that towing your home around from one park to the next and living simply is akin to cheap trailer trash, but RVing has become pretty glamorous. Some of these rigs cost as much (or more) as your house and are the ultimate in luxury. RV parks cater to RVers’ ever increasing demands for better accommodations, more activities, and wifi, offering a multitude of amenities often with a pretty hefty price tag. And of course it goes without saying that filling up at the pump can really take a big bite out of the monthly budget, so all in all, the full-time RV lifestyle is anything but cheap trailer trash! I've added some final hiking pictures to the "Methow Valley Area" album if you want to go back and take a look. I would imagine this will be our last post from Washington since we will be leaving Riverbend in a couple of weeks to begin our journey south. We’ll be taking the scenic route, so stay tuned for stories and pictures of our trip…..
August 23, 2007 ~ METHOW VALLEY AREA, WA
We're living and working in Twisp, Washington at Riverbend RV Park for the months of August and September. The owners, Ed & Cheryl Ethrington are great people and we're so glad they've given us the opportunity to spend some time here. Sitting in the heart of the Methow Valley, this small town is about 50 miles south of the Canadian border, and is 9 miles south of Winthrop, the touristy western town you saw in the "Cascades & Peninsulas" photo gallery. It's location in the Okanogan National Forest on North Cascades Scenic Highway 20 provides numerous opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, biking, horsebackriding and exploring. I understand the area has a lot of wildlife including deer, bear and cougar, but the only thing we've spotted is a couple of deer. We've also been keeping our eyes out for Sasquatch, but no luck there either!; Just a couple of cows (of all things!) in the middle of the forest, where the bears should be! The images in our galleries "Riverbend RV Park-WA" and "Methow Valley Area" will give you a good idea of this pretty area and of our stay here at Riverbend.
August 1, 2007 ~ LEAVING SAGE HILLS
Today is moving day! Our longest stay so far has been here at Sage Hills Resort where we arrived in mid-April. We've had a great time working and playing with our friends here, and as usual, it's sad to say good-bye. We had a couple of great get-togethers before leaving. Managers Jeannie & Louie put on a nice farewell dinner at their restaurant for all of us workampers, and
July 2, 2007 ~ MT. RAINIER AREA
We had another appointment in Seattle last week so we took the opportunity to do a little more sightseeing. We took I-90 across over Snoqualmie Pass and into Seattle. This main interstate was obviously a great road, but was also a very pretty drive through the Wenatchee and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests. We were a little early for the appointment so we attempted to drive around in Seattle to check it out. I've been anxious to go to Pike Place Market that I've heard so much about, as well as the other sites, but we were stuck in traffic in the middle of a Mariner's game....so much for our tour of Seattle! We finished up in Seattle and headed out of the Seattle metro area late in the afternoon and stayed at the little town of Enumclaw, the 'gateway' to Mt. Rainier National Park. The drive through the park was very pretty along the White River (the water really was whitish! - probably the minerals or fine rock from the glaciers), but we never did see Mt. Rainier except for a hazy glimpse from very far away. It was shrouded in clouds. The drive home from there was beautiful as well over Chinook Pass with the American River by our side most of the way. I didn't get too many photos this trip, but there are a few in the "Mt. Rainier Area" album.
June 18, 2007 ~ THE CASCADES AND THE PENINSULAS
Since we had to make the trip over to the west side for Joe’s Dr. appointment last Tuesday, we decided to make a 4 day trip of it. We went up through Wenatchee and took the scenic drive over Rt. 2 through the Cascades. Our first stop was the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, a cute little town in the Cascade foothills with quaint shops and beautiful hanging flower baskets. We continued past roadside waterfalls with the Skykomish River by our side. On the other side of the mountains, we made our way through the busy Seattle metro area to the VA Med. Center. By the time we were through and making our way out of the city, we were in rush hour traffic…ugh! We headed across the Tacoma Narrows bridge, a majestic suspension bridge (luckily it’s stronger and safer than the original), and onto the Kitsap Peninsula. Drove through Gig Harbor and made our way up to Port Orchard where we spent the first night. The next day took us across the rest of the Kitsap and over another bridge to the Olympic Peninsula where we spent some time in Sequim, the lavender capital of North America. We visited Cedarbrook Lavender and Herb Farm, and the colors and aromas were a delight to the senses. Back over the bridge on the Kitsap we picked up the Kingston-Edmonds Ferry that took us and Roxy over to the main land again. We were like a couple of kids on our first ferry trip, but as neat as it was one time, I have to think it’s got to be a pain in the butt for these folks who do it every day for work. We headed north to Mount Vernon, about 50 miles south of the Canadian border where we spent the night. Thursday morning, we took the North Cascades scenic highway loop Rt. 20 east through North Cascades National Park and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. With the beautiful and turbulent Skagit River alongside for most of the way, it was a spectacular trip. You’ll notice the soft jade color of the river and lakes which is caused by a fine mineral that the river picks up on its journey through the glacial mountains, which reflects the green of the mountains and the blue of the sky. Dropping down on the east side of the Cascades not only brings clearer, bluer skies, but it brought us into the beautiful Okanogan National Forest and into the historic little town of Winthrop alongside the Methow River. It looks like the set from a Western movie. False-fronted wooden buildings, hitching rails and board sidewalks all create the illusion of a frontier town. This town was so neat, that we couldn’t just drive on through without spending a little time, so we spent the night in the quaint Mt. Gardner Inn. We explored Pearrygin Lake and the State Park and had dinner at 3-Finger Jack’s Saloon (the oldest legal saloon in WA State). The "Cascades & Peninsulas" album has some neat photos. Arrived home Friday night after another great trip!
May 30, 2007 ~ COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE & MT. HOOD, OR
We just got back on Friday from a short little jaunt down to the Columbia River Gorge and around the
May 17, 2007 ~ OUT AND ABOUT IN WASHINGTON
Wow, third post of the day. Ain’t wifi wonderful! The album entitled simply “
May 17, 2007 ~ SPOKANE-SANDPOINT-COEUR D’ALENE
Last week we took a trip to
May 17, 2007 ~ GREETINGS FROM EASTERN WASHINGTON
We’re here in the high desert agricultural area of
April 21, 2007 ~ THE TRIP FROM ARIZONA TO WASHINGTON
We finally got on the road from Arizona on Friday the 6th, a day later than we had planned. We had each taken a trip to MA and NY to visit our families during our last week in Arizona, and had both returned sick. Don’t ya just love those germy flights! Even with a day delay to rest, I was miserable for most of the trip. We didn’t spend too much time sightseeing and stopped at Deschutes River State park (in the picture) for a couple days just to rest. We arrived at our Washington destination, Sage Hills Golf & RV Resort last week on Thursday the 12th. We’re settling in and getting to know our new neighbors and surroundings. Our first week has been great and we’re looking forward to our stay here. We’ll post again soon so check back for pictures and stories about Sage Hills and our stay in WA.
April 4, 2007 ~ LEAVING ARIZONA
Tomorrow we pull out early from Buckskin to head to our next destination up in Washington. I know I’ve said it before but I must say it again; we had such a great time with everyone here, it’s really hard to leave. The rangers and volunteers are the best! We’ll truly miss you……
March 2, 2007 ~ BUCKSKIN MOUNTAIN STATE PARK ON THE COLORADO RIVER
7 weeks have already passed since we arrived here at Buckskin. In the last post we wondered how we would survive without any cell, internet or laundry at our fingertips. It is inconvenient, but we’re making do. Aside from these minor disadvantages, being out here in a remote area also has its advantages. Buckskin Mtn. SP is without a doubt the nicest park here on the "Parker Strip". Be sure to look at the "Buckskin Mountain SP" photo album. It is incredibly picturesque bordered by the mighty Colorado on two sides and surrounded by huge rock walls and desert mountains. As the daylight changes, the river seems to change color from its early morning steel gray-blue to aqua to royal blue and back to a placid reflective palette of mixed color at sunset. And when daylight ends and you’re done watching the river, look to the sky for a blanket of brilliant stars that appear so bright and so close you could reach out and grab one.
The park has grassy areas and lots of mature shade trees, a welcome and uncommon sight in this desert oasis. It offers a total of 89 sites; 17 full hookup sewer sites, 51 electric/water sites, and 21 cabana sites which are right on the river and a prime spot for the summer weekenders with their water toys. An interpretive center (run by our volunteer friends Kelli & George, Tom & Chris, and Mel & Mora) provides a wealth of information, videos and magazines, talks and slide shows about the area, church services, special programs like the Mountain Man (check him out in the photo album), and the famous ice cream social that always draws a big crowd. A great, moderately challenging trail (built and maintained by volunteer Chuck) begins at the ranger station and weaves through the Buckskin Mountains with a loop out to an abandoned mine area and one out to Interruption Point, the highest spot with incredible views of the entire area. There is also a launch ramp and a privately run market, restaurant and boutique.
We are among 14 volunteers who work here at Buckskin during the winter months (none of us is brave enough to return in the summer!!) We work in the office 4 hours a day/ 5 days a week in exchange for our site (alternating shifts with our volunteer friends Irene and Bill D.). And, by the way, our site is gorgeous; the best spot in the park. We’ve got a prime piece of real estate here with an incredible view. Who wouldn’t want to call this home for 2 or 3 months!?! No taxes, no utility bills, no HOA fees, no mortgage, no shoveling the driveway, no traffic,……. You get the picture! We handle check-ins, take reservations, etc., and have the pleasure of meeting lots of great people from all over, mostly other snowbirds like ourselves ‘flying south’ for the winter in search of a warm spot. The park staff consists of Manager Jerry, Assistant Mgr. Rick, and Rangers Mike, Pete, Tim, Dustin and John; all great guys and a lot of fun to work with. A special thanks to Dustin for giving us the opportunity to join this wonderful group.
One of the local must-sees here in Parker is The Desert Bar, a funky mountain saloon at the end of a long dirt road that looks like it sprouted up in the middle of nowhere. We took a drive out to check it out a couple of weeks ago and you can visit it too by going to "The Desert Bar" photo album. It has an interesting history and story, much too involved to get into here, but you can visit their website at TheDesertBar.com.
On a recent weekend off, we had a great visit with our friends Eddie and Marie who came out from Scottsdale for a couple of days. We did a little sightseeing, threw the pole in the water (no luck there), and had some dinner. (There are a couple pictures in the album). A few days ago, we got together with the other volunteers for a potluck. Beginning March 1, they slowly start to move on, so we had one last chance to sit and visit all together. The "Volunteer Potluck" album is courtesy of volunteer Tom Jones. As his wife Chris says, he can’t sing… (but he takes good pictures!) Then, we unexpectedly had one more chance to all break bread together when the rangers surprised us by putting on a barbecue for us (see the "Buckskin Ranger BBQ" photo album). These guys are the best! Thank you to John for trailering his desert-sized barbecue over to the park and cooking up some excellent food and to all the rest of you for all the food you made and brought. We appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Once again, we’re grateful for the opportunity to spend some of our winter months in this desert paradise with some wonderful people who’ve become our friends. Stay tuned for the next update…
January 14, 2007 ~ HELLO FROM ARIZONA
Well, here we are in Parker, Arizona at Buckskin Mountain State Park on the Colorado River where we will be working until March 31st. Not only have we had Yahoo problems, but we have absolutely no cell or internet service at all in the park...... We have to drive to town with the phones and laptop to communicate, so the blog may not be updated as often in the next couple of months...we'll see. We've just finished our work shift for the day and have taken a quick trip into town, so that's about all I have time for today. Hope you'll keep checking in for the next update.....
January 11, 2007 ~ THE TRIP FROM FL TO AZ
After leaving St. Joe on Monday the 1st, we traveled along coastal Rt. 98 along the panhandle and picked up I-10 near Pensacola. We arrived at our next destination late afternoon on Tuesday, a park just south of Austin, TX. We had dinner with our friends Al & Barbara on Wednesday at their beautiful home, and then took Bella to a service dealer on Thursday to have some minor warranty work done. While she was in the shop, we went to Cabela’s sporting goods store. This has to be the biggest Cabela’s in the world! It’s more like a museum than a store. The animal displays were incredible, in fact a whole album is dedicated to them…go to the "Cabela's" photo album. We picked up Bella late afternoon and continued (…and continued…and continued) west along I-10 through Texas; didn’t know if it was ever going to end . It’s long and boring. We stopped for the evening at the first visitor center rest stop over the New Mexico border. We awoke to snow that just kept getting worse. We had intended to spend a couple of days in Las Cruces, but when we passed through, we were in a full-on blizzard. We kept moving and drove out of the storm. So much for our trip to Las Cruces!! (There are a couple of pictures in the "Las Cruces Snow" album.) We finally landed in Quartzsite, AZ to check out this massive swap meet we’ve been hearing so much about. Yes, RVs for as far as the eye can see and vendors galore. Joe found lots of goodies that he just couldn’t live without, and so, the re-arranging goes on. Next stop…Buckskin Mountain State Park.
January 01, 2007 ~ ST. JOE PENINSULA STATE PARK
Happy New Year from St. Joseph Peninsula State Park! This is a great park with beautiful white sand beaches and large dunes. Check out the ‘St. Joe SP’ photo album for a few pictures of this pretty area. You’ll think you’re looking at snow instead of sand! There are 2 separate campgrounds; one open and sunny with the dunes and beach on one side and St. Joseph Bay on the other, and the other shaded and secluded in the pines. We had a short window of opportunity for walking, biking, and exploring on Saturday morning until about noon before the clouds rolled. The thunderstorms kept us in on Sunday for a cozy and quiet New Year’s Eve. We’re on our way this morning west along the rest of the panhandle as we continue our drive to Arizona.
December 29, 2006 ~ CHRISTMASTIME AT RAINBOW SPRINGS
The holiday season at Rainbow Springs is a little different than being at home with our family, but we’re enjoying ourselves nonetheless. Since our last post 3 weeks ago, we have continued to work towards the campground opening and have had time to get to know more of our fellow volunteers and the other park staff. What a great group of people! Our supervisors, Cyndy (Park Ranger) and Robert (Assistant Park Manager) are wonderful. We’re so thankful to Cyndy for giving us the opportunity to be here and help out. We’ve had a lot of fun working and playing with her and our fellow volunteers Doug and Kathy, Betsy and Ed, Greg, Don and the rest of the group. We’ve spent a lot of time with our friends Doug and Kathy who have shown us the best flea markets and places to eat, have shared fellowship with us at church, and have spoiled us during our workday breaks with goodies. After the threat of a tornado passed on Christmas day, Doug and Kathy, Don, Joe and I went to a Chinese buffet for lunch. It was great. The volunteers also helped to create “Santa Over the Rainbow”, an annual event at the park Headsprings. The park was filled with beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. Santa arrived on a decorated pontoon boat and the kids were lined up waiting for his arrival. Please visit the "Christmastime 06" photo album. We’ve spent some time at the local pub, Coach’s with the entire RSSP gang, in fact we had a great time at our farewell gathering last night. Yes, it’s time to reluctantly say good-bye (for now) to our new friends and all the wonderful people we've met here. We’ll never forget them. We’ve been asked to help out at Buckskin Mountain State Park on the Arizona side of the Colorado River, and will call it “home” for the next 2 ½ months. We’re leaving Rainbow Springs today and heading for St. Joe Peninsula State Park in Florida’s panhandle just for the New Year’s weekend, as we make our way west. Betsy and Ed have been volunteering there for 8 years and have some connections! Thanks, Betsy, for pulling some strings and getting us a spot! Stay tuned for some images of St. Joe……
December 9, 2006 ~ WORKING & PLAYING AT RAINBOW SPRINGS
We’re still in Dunnellon, but have moved over to Rainbow Springs State Park Campground where we have secured a six-week position as ‘park hosts’. The campground portion and headsprings portion of the State Park is divided and in two different locations, one on either side of the Rainbow River (you saw the headsprings part of the park in the Rainbow Springs SP photo album in the last post.) We’ve been here since Nov. 20th and are scheduled to stay until Dec. 31st. The campground is currently closed for remodeling and we are helping with various projects in preparation for the reopening. We donate a couple of days a week in exchange for our site, utilities and park privileges. When we’re not working, we have plenty of time to take in the local wildlife and have some fun. Please go to the "Work & Fun at RSSP" photo album. We canoed on the Rainbow River on Thanksgiving and we visited with our friends Gary and Patricia from Boca Raton that weekend. We’ve met some great people here at the park ~ the other park hosts and volunteers, and the park rangers, managers and staff. So far, it’s been a great time and we're proud to be a part of the volunteer program and to be recognized for our contribution! Our internet and cell service have not improved since the last place. It’s hard to get a decent connection, or a connection at all…it’s been frustrating. Oh well, maybe we’ll have better luck at our next location..
November 12, 2006 ~ DUNNELLON & SURROUNDING AREA, FL
We’ve been at Village Pines in Inglis, FL for two weeks now. It’s a very comfortable spot and we’ve settled in nicely. (See the ‘Village Pines’ photo album.) We’ve had the time to research the possibility of living on our beautiful 10 acre parcel in the rural area of Dunnellon that Joe bought back in 1979 (Go to the ‘Our FL Land’ photo album). When Joe first came to take a look at it in June 2004, it was rainy and miserable, but everything was greener. Also, it hadn’t been touched in 26 years, so the briars and weeds were head high. We just had it bush-hogged last week, so at least we can walk on it now and commune with the turtles, deer, turkeys, wild pigs, etc… yup, we’ve got some neat wildlife here. Dunnellon is considered "the boomtown of the 1890’s". They discovered phosphate back then and I guess it was like the gold rush; everyone came! It’s a cute little town with everything you need. Besides the old boomtown days, the claim to fame here are the natural springs. The headwaters of the Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers are located here at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon. With the crystal clear turquoise water, the tall palm trees and the huge, old oaks, cypresses and cedars with their hanging Spanish moss, it truly is quite a beautiful setting. (Take a look at the ‘Rainbow Springs SP’ photo album.) We’ve also taken time to explore the surrounding area and do a little sightseeing. You can view a few pictures of Cedar Key, Crystal River and Yankeetown in the ‘FL Nature Coast’ album. As of now, we still haven’t decided if we’ll move onto the land for the winter or if we’ll pick up and head west. Maybe we’ll have figured it out by the next post….!
October 30, 2006 ~ MANATEE SPRINGS STATE PARK, FL
We spent a relaxing 3 days at Manatee Springs St. Park. Located on the Suwannee River near the west coast of Florida north of Cedar Key, it is a haven for wintering manatees. Click to view the "Manatee Springs" photo album. Unfortunately, the manatees won’t be arriving for the winter until the end of next month, so we haven’t spotted any. Maybe we’ll come back if we’re still around the area to catch a glimpse of these gentle giants. Nevertheless, the park is very pretty and provides opportunities for camping, swimming, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking or biking on its miles of trails. The beautiful natural springs remain a constant 72* year round, and produce an amazing 100 million gallons of crystal clear water a day! There is an underground cave system that connects the different pools. One is known as ‘catfish pond’ where scuba divers come out looking like creatures from the black lagoon when they emerge through the layer of green plants covering the surface (check out the ‘catfish pond’ photo in the album). Joe took some time on Saturday to do some research and make a few contacts to prepare our land in Dunnellon to make it livable for a couple of months while we’re here. After his meetings today, we’re excited about the possibilities. I took some much needed time to walk, enjoy my surroundings and take a few photos. We’re moving on down the road today to Village Pines, a quaint little RV community within a few minutes of our land on County Road 337. We’ll be close enough to get the land prepped for inhabitation! Stay tuned for further updates…..
October 26, 2006 ~ TRIP FROM CAPE COD TO FLORIDA
We left
October 22, 2006 ~ OUR FAMILY VISIT IN MA & NY
Today is Sunday and tomorrow will be 2 weeks since we arrived at Sweetwater Forest in Brewster MA. We’ve had a wonderful time on Cape Cod visiting with Dad and Judy in
October 9, 2006 ~ THE TRIP FROM IN TO MA
In the last post we were leaving our friends in Middlebury Indiana. We traveled through Indiana, Ohio, a small section of Pennsylvania, upstate New York and into western Massachusetts. It was a great trip. Upstate NY and western MA were in full Fall color and really pretty (trip note: the roads going through NY are lousy). We spent one night at Wells State Park on Walker Pond in Sturbridge MA on our way through the state to visit friends in Foxboro and family on Cape Cod and in NY. No hookups here, but it was a very nice stop for the night…a beautiful wooded setting with blankets of fall leaves on the ground and a picturesque pond. We continued on to Foxboro, my home town to visit my best high school buddies and spent one night there at Normandy Farms. It was a bigger place than we usually like and needless to say, was extremely crowded for the Columbus Day weekend. Nevertheless, we had a great evening visiting with our friends. See the photo album "IN to MA Trip". We left this afternoon for the short drive down to Cape Cod and have just landed at Sweetwater Forest campground in Brewster, MA. We’ll be visiting with my Dad & Judy in Chatham, and will then take a drive to NY to visit Joe’s family. We’ll update again in a few days, and hopefully have a few more pictures to add. Until then, hope you have a great day!
October 5, 2006 ~ LEAVING INDIANA
Today we’re leaving Cargo Plus with our new home in tow. She’s really a beauty…she’s “Bella”. We’ve done a lot in the past 3 1/2 weeks to establish our new lifestyle, but have a long way to go before we feel “settled”. But we’re loving every moment and looking forward to each day, and each day will be a new adventure.
October 01, 2006 ~ FRIENDS IN MIDDLEBURY, IN
When we decided to make this lifestyle change, a lot of people thought we were crazy. But there were those who thought it was really cool and hoped someday they could do the same. Many people told us we would meet a lot of nice people along the way. If today and the past few days are any indication of this, then this will be one incredible journey. We left
September 29, 2006 ~ OUR NEW HOME
It’s Friday the 29th and we’re in Middlebury
September 21, 2006 ~ HANGING OUT IN AMISH COUNTRY
Today we're sitting in
September 10, 2006 ~ LEAVING CALIFORNIA
Today it’s time to hit the road. We sold our home and packed up as much as we can fit in our SUV and U-Haul. We’ve said our good-byes, but it’s been quite hectic trying to organize for our full-time road trip so we didn’t have a chance to see and call everyone we wanted to. If you’re reading this, accept our apologies and know we were thinking of you! Jason has been a very gracious host while we invaded his space during the last 10 days. Thank you again, Jay. We love you and we'll miss ya. And now, as we drive away it hasn’t really hit us that our dream of so many years is coming true….today is the first day of the rest of our lives! We are truly blessed.
July 28, 2006 ~ LET'S SELL THIS HOUSE!
Today I'm just checkin' out this whole "blog" thing....kinda new at this. I've set up this little space of ours in anticipation of our new adventure, so that our family and friends can ride along with us in our "home on the road". We've finally made a decision, after months...actually years of contemplation. We've decided to give up the day to day grind and life as we know it; give up the business, sell the stuff, sell the house, sell the kid (just kidding about the kid), and hit the road. I guess we're going to retire! Very exciting - didn't see this happening for a long time. We'll have a new home--our 5th Wheel (yes, of course she'll have a name, but we don't have her yet), and we will travel to parts unknown working, playing and maybe looking for a little place to call home. We're very excited about this new adventure, but it will be bittersweet, as we will be leaving our family behind. We'll miss all of them so much; Mindy, Lauren, Jason and Jean, but we'll be back often to visit. BUT, before we get this show on the road, we have to sell this house! Well, that's about it for today. Wish us luck on the sale, and hopefully the next entry will be from the road!....Jill