Location, Home, CA
While in Quartzsite, AZ this winter I ordered new compartment locks for the RV from Industrial Lock and Hardware of Lancaster, CA, www.ch751.com. The new locks are the circular type with special keying to make them harder to pick. The old locks were the simple key kind which almost anyone could open. I installed them yesterday and now just need to make a few adjustments to the cams to make the doors tighter when closed.
I helped our good friend Bev set up a blog using Google’s Blogger yesterday. It really is very simple to get the basics but I did have trouble trying to put a reader counter in the blog. I had set mine up more than a year ago and forgot some of the basics while helping Bev.
We are off to Tehachapi, CA later today to help our friend Budd with a problem in his RV. The sink drain which is a flex tube because it is in a slide out has developed a crack and needs replacement. The problem is getting to it. We are taking the refer out of its cabinet and cutting a hole in the cabinet to gain access to the drain. More on this later.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Surprise Birthday Party
Location, Home, CA
I have a very long to-do list for the RV and around the house so I have been chipping away at it.
On Saturday we attended an outdoors surprise birthday party for our friend Bev. It was supposed to rain but the sun actually came out late in the day. It did turn cold when the sun went down but everyone was dressed for the cold. We had a great tri-tip BBQ with cupcakes for dessert.
Clyda and I at the BBQ waiting for Bev.
Today we had an appointment to get our taxes done. The preliminary report is that we will get something back from both state and federal. Better than paying.
We have been getting lots of asparagus as is usual for this time of year. About 2 hand fulls every other day. Some of it is small diameter but it all tastes good. Last night for dinner Clyda cooked it with butter. We served it with fresh crappie Craig had caught up at the lake. Very good!
It is time to think about Ranchero Visitadores again. I haven’t heard from anyone but suspect I will go to work on Wednesday April 29th. I have a phone call in to one of the guys to see if he has heard from anyone but even he didn’t call me back. Oh well, still lots of time yet.
I have a very long to-do list for the RV and around the house so I have been chipping away at it.
On Saturday we attended an outdoors surprise birthday party for our friend Bev. It was supposed to rain but the sun actually came out late in the day. It did turn cold when the sun went down but everyone was dressed for the cold. We had a great tri-tip BBQ with cupcakes for dessert.
Clyda and I at the BBQ waiting for Bev.
Today we had an appointment to get our taxes done. The preliminary report is that we will get something back from both state and federal. Better than paying.
We have been getting lots of asparagus as is usual for this time of year. About 2 hand fulls every other day. Some of it is small diameter but it all tastes good. Last night for dinner Clyda cooked it with butter. We served it with fresh crappie Craig had caught up at the lake. Very good!
It is time to think about Ranchero Visitadores again. I haven’t heard from anyone but suspect I will go to work on Wednesday April 29th. I have a phone call in to one of the guys to see if he has heard from anyone but even he didn’t call me back. Oh well, still lots of time yet.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Home once again
Location, Home, CA
I added a photo of our rig in the water at Del Rio Texas Elks Club on Wed March 11th.
We are home. We drove from Indio yesterday and arrived about 2 PM or so. The drive through Los Angeles on I-210 is not bad but there are no rest stops along that stretch of highway. We had stopped at the Beaumont rest stop on I-10 and had planned on stopping at the Calimesa rest stop but it was closed. That is a long stretch to drive with out stopping. We had to keep our legs crossed until we got to Hwy 126 at Castaic.
On Thursday we drove to Indio via I-8 west of Yuma to Hwy 111 north to Brawley then on Hwy 86 north to Indio. We stayed at the Elks Club again and enjoyed a nice warm 90 degree day sitting in the shade of our RV’s.
We asked the campground host where the best date shake was to be found and he recommended Shields on Hwy-111 which sells all kinds of date related items. The date shake was good but we all agreed that the date shakes at China Ranch outside of Tecopa, CA are the best.
California highways are the pits! Especially I-210 from Pasadena to I-5 and I-5 from the 210 to Hwy 126. Also, Hwy 101 from Ventura to Santa Barbara has so many dips that the trailer is in danger of becoming unhooked or air born. The center lane west of Santa Barbara is bad from all the truck traffic.
We really get spoiled easily by the good roads in Texas and New Mexico.
We have part of the RV unloaded but it is misting heavily this morning and I need to open the slides to remove the rest of our stuff. I don’t want to then pull the slides in while they are wet so guess I will just wait and do other things around here. Goodness knows, there is plenty to do after being gone for 2 months.
I added a photo of our rig in the water at Del Rio Texas Elks Club on Wed March 11th.
We are home. We drove from Indio yesterday and arrived about 2 PM or so. The drive through Los Angeles on I-210 is not bad but there are no rest stops along that stretch of highway. We had stopped at the Beaumont rest stop on I-10 and had planned on stopping at the Calimesa rest stop but it was closed. That is a long stretch to drive with out stopping. We had to keep our legs crossed until we got to Hwy 126 at Castaic.
On Thursday we drove to Indio via I-8 west of Yuma to Hwy 111 north to Brawley then on Hwy 86 north to Indio. We stayed at the Elks Club again and enjoyed a nice warm 90 degree day sitting in the shade of our RV’s.
We asked the campground host where the best date shake was to be found and he recommended Shields on Hwy-111 which sells all kinds of date related items. The date shake was good but we all agreed that the date shakes at China Ranch outside of Tecopa, CA are the best.
California highways are the pits! Especially I-210 from Pasadena to I-5 and I-5 from the 210 to Hwy 126. Also, Hwy 101 from Ventura to Santa Barbara has so many dips that the trailer is in danger of becoming unhooked or air born. The center lane west of Santa Barbara is bad from all the truck traffic.
We really get spoiled easily by the good roads in Texas and New Mexico.
We have part of the RV unloaded but it is misting heavily this morning and I need to open the slides to remove the rest of our stuff. I don’t want to then pull the slides in while they are wet so guess I will just wait and do other things around here. Goodness knows, there is plenty to do after being gone for 2 months.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Busy day in Yuma
Location, Yuma, AZ
Updates have been added from March 11 to date.
Just a quick update as it is late and we have had a full day today. We drove to Los Algodones, Mexico early this morning to get new glasses. The shop opened at 8:30 AM and we were first in line. After selecting and ordering our glasses we went to breakfast.
We shopped for several items and checked out all t he new shops since we were here 2 years ago.
Our glasses were ready by 11 AM so we got in line for the American border crossing which was very long. It also was 90 degrees out. It took an hour to get through the line.
Updates have been added from March 11 to date.
Just a quick update as it is late and we have had a full day today. We drove to Los Algodones, Mexico early this morning to get new glasses. The shop opened at 8:30 AM and we were first in line. After selecting and ordering our glasses we went to breakfast.
We shopped for several items and checked out all t he new shops since we were here 2 years ago.
Our glasses were ready by 11 AM so we got in line for the American border crossing which was very long. It also was 90 degrees out. It took an hour to get through the line.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Frost in Willcox
Location, Yuma, AZ
The drive from Las Cruces to Willcox, AZ on Saturday was fairly easy as we had no wind and the road stays at the same elevation for most of the way. We got very good mileage.
We stayed at the Elks club which has a great campground. There are 28 big, wide sites with water and electricity. We had a thunder and lightning storm right after we arrived. It rained enough for water to puddle in the streets.
We awoke to frost covering the vehicles and a temperature of 31 degrees. Fortunately the water lines didn’t freeze.
On Sunday it warmed up nicely during the day as we traveled. The new third lane from Tucson to Picacho Peak really helps with traffic flow.
We arrived back at the Elks lodge in Casa Grande, AZ where we had stayed earlier in our trip. Clyda called her cousin Rodney and invited them for dinner. Actually, we went out for Mexican food next door to the Elks Club. We talked until about 10:30 before calling it a day.
Today we drove I-8 to Yuma arriving at Rivers Edge RV Park about 1:30 PM. There are still lots of people in town but there were also lots of RV’s headed east as we drove west.
After being on the road for so many days, we crashed this afternoon and cooked steaks for dinner tonight.
I called a local guy to wash our rigs which are filthy from the rain in Texas while but he was sort of non-committal about doing it tomorrow as everyone is asking to have their rigs washed before they leave. We will see what happens tomorrow.
The drive from Las Cruces to Willcox, AZ on Saturday was fairly easy as we had no wind and the road stays at the same elevation for most of the way. We got very good mileage.
We stayed at the Elks club which has a great campground. There are 28 big, wide sites with water and electricity. We had a thunder and lightning storm right after we arrived. It rained enough for water to puddle in the streets.
We awoke to frost covering the vehicles and a temperature of 31 degrees. Fortunately the water lines didn’t freeze.
On Sunday it warmed up nicely during the day as we traveled. The new third lane from Tucson to Picacho Peak really helps with traffic flow.
We arrived back at the Elks lodge in Casa Grande, AZ where we had stayed earlier in our trip. Clyda called her cousin Rodney and invited them for dinner. Actually, we went out for Mexican food next door to the Elks Club. We talked until about 10:30 before calling it a day.
Today we drove I-8 to Yuma arriving at Rivers Edge RV Park about 1:30 PM. There are still lots of people in town but there were also lots of RV’s headed east as we drove west.
After being on the road for so many days, we crashed this afternoon and cooked steaks for dinner tonight.
I called a local guy to wash our rigs which are filthy from the rain in Texas while but he was sort of non-committal about doing it tomorrow as everyone is asking to have their rigs washed before they leave. We will see what happens tomorrow.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Cold overnight
Location, Las Cruces, NM
We are out of Texas and into better weather. We woke up to 38 degree temperatures and fog in Alpine this morning. Everything was drippy wet. All of our windows inside were dripping water from the humidity and cold weather.
We left about 9 AM in the fog with windshield wipers and lights on. About the time we got past Marfa (home of the Marfa lights, woo-woo) we got out of the fog. The temperature however remained at 41 degrees. The fog completely lifted after we drove west of Sierra Blanca on I-10.
We drove through El Paso with moderate traffic but I managed to stay in the middle lane all the way. I only touched my brakes once for slower traffic.
We arrived in Las Cruces about 2:15 local time and parked at the Elks club on Elks Drive. They only have 4 spots next to the building but it is adequate for our needs.
We did a drive around Las Cruces which ended at an Albertson’s for a few groceries.
We are out of Texas and into better weather. We woke up to 38 degree temperatures and fog in Alpine this morning. Everything was drippy wet. All of our windows inside were dripping water from the humidity and cold weather.
We left about 9 AM in the fog with windshield wipers and lights on. About the time we got past Marfa (home of the Marfa lights, woo-woo) we got out of the fog. The temperature however remained at 41 degrees. The fog completely lifted after we drove west of Sierra Blanca on I-10.
We drove through El Paso with moderate traffic but I managed to stay in the middle lane all the way. I only touched my brakes once for slower traffic.
We arrived in Las Cruces about 2:15 local time and parked at the Elks club on Elks Drive. They only have 4 spots next to the building but it is adequate for our needs.
We did a drive around Las Cruces which ended at an Albertson’s for a few groceries.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A cool days drive
Location, Alpine, TX
Alpine, Texas, home of Sul Ross State University. Never heard of it? Google it.
Alpine is also one of the jumping off places for Big Bend National Park if you want to go to the west side of the park. Most people go in from Marathon which is 31 miles east of here. It is still more than 100 miles to the Rio Grande from there. The sign says 69 miles to Big Bend from Marathon; however that only gets you to the entrance station. It is still another 30 plus miles to the visitor center then 20 some to the campground on the Rio Grande. I know, because we have done that.
We left again about 9:30 in very cool weather. Temps about 40 degrees. It never got above 43 degrees all day. Of course, we are climbing in altitude also. The altitude at Alpine is about 4400 feet so I expect we need to drain the water hose tonight before we go to bed.
Just west of Del Rio is the Amistad National Wildlife Area. Amistad is a very large lake which has the Rio Grande and Pecos rivers flowing into it. Part of the lake is in Mexico. It is something like 85 miles long.
We pulled into a rest stop at the Pecos river which had a very nice overlook in to the river canyon and the highway bridge over the river. It was too cold to stay long. The scenery was much like yesterday but at times we had a great view from the top of ridges.
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We arrived about 3:30 and finally found the RV Park after driving into town and then backtracking. We were looking for KC’s RV park which is listed in the Trailer Life book but has since been named DB’s RV Park. For $14 per night we get water, electric, and sewer but no cable.
A quick drive around town and we saw 3 other RV parks which may be nicer but also cost a lot more. I suspect that providing cable TV is one of the big cost factors. We fueled up and will be ready to go tomorrow.
Alpine, Texas, home of Sul Ross State University. Never heard of it? Google it.
Alpine is also one of the jumping off places for Big Bend National Park if you want to go to the west side of the park. Most people go in from Marathon which is 31 miles east of here. It is still more than 100 miles to the Rio Grande from there. The sign says 69 miles to Big Bend from Marathon; however that only gets you to the entrance station. It is still another 30 plus miles to the visitor center then 20 some to the campground on the Rio Grande. I know, because we have done that.
We left again about 9:30 in very cool weather. Temps about 40 degrees. It never got above 43 degrees all day. Of course, we are climbing in altitude also. The altitude at Alpine is about 4400 feet so I expect we need to drain the water hose tonight before we go to bed.
Just west of Del Rio is the Amistad National Wildlife Area. Amistad is a very large lake which has the Rio Grande and Pecos rivers flowing into it. Part of the lake is in Mexico. It is something like 85 miles long.
We pulled into a rest stop at the Pecos river which had a very nice overlook in to the river canyon and the highway bridge over the river. It was too cold to stay long. The scenery was much like yesterday but at times we had a great view from the top of ridges.
.jpg)
We arrived about 3:30 and finally found the RV Park after driving into town and then backtracking. We were looking for KC’s RV park which is listed in the Trailer Life book but has since been named DB’s RV Park. For $14 per night we get water, electric, and sewer but no cable.
A quick drive around town and we saw 3 other RV parks which may be nicer but also cost a lot more. I suspect that providing cable TV is one of the big cost factors. We fueled up and will be ready to go tomorrow.
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