Dec 2008

This is Bidwell Mansion in Chico Ca. It was really a mansion before it's time. It had hot running water even upstairs, which was the first house in Ca to have indoor plumbing. The grounds has a number of trees that are not from the area and some not even from the US. The man liked to experiment with plants, and raised their own animals and fruits vegetables. It is very intersting to visit these places and see the rich people's lifestyles.

In January we are going to go to Indio for a Western Motorhome Assn. Rally, they have 1500 motorhomes going so far. It amazes me how well organized it is, and how easy to get everyone parked. After that, we are going to a State Park near Palm Springs, for a 4 day weekend and then we are planning to go into Arizona and see an old friend of Susan's. Then we'll take it easy for a while (and hopefully save some money) so we can go on another multi state trip in the late spring. Now, gas prices are down (because were not taking any big trips), but they'll go up in May again. I hoping to be wrong.

Sept 2008

Went on a weekend camping trip with an RV group that we belong to. We hosted the weekend, and did the cooking for all in attendance. The club asks that you host once every 2 years, so we did.
We had a Small problem on our trip to Paso Robles. Two guys in a pickup were trying to get us to pull over, (things being how they are, we were reluctant) but, after hand signals from them we figured out the car ( we tow) was the problem. The bolts holding the tow bar on the car, broke and the car was trying real hard to roll. Thank God for Good Samaritan's.
We also planned a tour of Hearst Castle, it was a great trip, but while we were gone our motorhome had a problem, the toilet failed to shut off, so upon our return we had a flooded motorhome, and on a weekend you couldn't get parts to repair it. There was good, we were about 50 feet from the clubhouse, so having no water was not really a problem. There seems to be a bright side on most things, (sometimes it almost impossible to find it)

Groom Texas

This most of the pictures that we took of the Cross, so you can see it.

Home at last

We left Sun Valley AZ on the morning of the 28th, nice weather. We drove to Bullhead City Az, arrived at 2:30PM it was 116*, couldn't get the motorhome cool until 11:30 PM, so we decided to see our old neighbor Ed in the evening and leave there the first thing in the morning on Aug 29th. Got up and went outside and 5:20AM and it was 102 already, so we needless to say got out of there as quickly as possible. We drove and rested and then drove again and got home that evening and it was the hottest day of summer (so we were told) but we thought it was soooooo much cooler here, and yes although the trip was wonderful and we are planning for next year, we are very happy to be home. We've been very lazy since we've gotten home. Hope you enjoyed our trip as much as we did. Love all of you, Until next year BYE

Petrified Forest & Painted Desert

As you can see we went to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forset. I just can't pick the thing that was the most beautiful site we seen, but there have been alot of wonderful spectacular ones and this was one of those. As you can see, if we find a bird, one of us will take a picture of it. Neil was lucky today, he was in the right place at the right time. A Ranger was taking volunteer rangers on a tour, off the trails and walkways, so he went too, and that is where he got the photos of the petrographs,(etchings on stones) and if you click on them and enlarge them you can see the close-up version.

Tomorrow we go on to Bullhead City and from there we will go home. We are in agreement that we are ready to go home. I'll send more pics before we leave to go home, but I think we will miss adding to our Blog everyday after seeing the sites during the day. I hope you enjoy this as we do sending it. Love all of you & MISS you.

New Mexico & Arizona

We traveled most of the day. We are in Az. but don't ask what time it is, because we don't know. First pic is for you Betty to see if I could upload more than 4, and it's just pretty rocks....The second picture was just pretty rocks we saw, third one....This was a storm that looked Pretty Nasty, but if you note the light center. We lucked out and got to it, just as the center met the road, so we had to turn on the wipers, but only for a couple of mintues. The fourth picture is the campground, we are in for tonight, and the last picture was the one we left this morning. I still say Tx was the Best!! We found a casino called, Sky City Casino, (Exit 102) in New Mexico. They have full hookups for $15.00 a night or, no hookup, free parking.

If you like macaroni and cheese, Prepare Kraft macaroni dinner. Cut up pepperoni, and add a little more cheese, sprinkle with Parmesan and bake 20 min 350, we liked it and it was enough for two nights, with salad.

Tucumcari, New Mexico

We are in Tucumcari New Mexico tonight. We are planning to reach Sun Valley Az but this time tomorrow. Planning to see the Painted desert, and the petrified Forest while we are there. We are getting anxious to get home, but we think it will be next Monday or Tuesday. We are going to stop in Bullhead City, (NO, not to gamble) to see our old neighbor from Hughson and Fremont, Ed Gray. He is 83 or so, and very excited that we said we'd stop there. He's was in a wheelchair last winter, but tells me he is walking now. At 200 ish miles a day we will have 5 more stops.

Largest Cross

This is located in Groom, Texas. It is very life-like and a very sobering display. It isn't quite complete, but the statues are there and they have a gift shop, This is the the location of the largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere. It is on Hwy 40-East of Amarillo.