Back in San Jose

 

Sunday, November 22, 2009                                                                                                Lorraine’s report

Here we are, back at Trailer Tel RV Park in San Jose, CA. We got here on Thursday, Chuck took the coach by Lea lees RV Repair Shop to see if they can put in a bid on fixing the booboo, the stress cracks and a few things. They will get the bid to us this week.

Last Sunday, Joe and Alice, our friends from Birch Bay came into our park there in Laughlin. We spent the afternoon visiting and catching up. We went out to the swap meet there at AVI casino to check on several things, but didn’t get anything. They wanted to play for an hour or so inside, so we did. We ate dinner there with them, Alice and I had the $.99 special ham and eggs. Again, it was very good.

Monday, Joe and Alice wanted to go to breakfast, so off we went, to the Riverside Casino for their breakfast buffet, again, a great meal for all of us. We then went for a drive into the desert, looking for Christmas Tree Pass and the hieroglyphs. We found where they were, and Joe/Alice/Chuck went off down the trail to find them. I just sat on the rocks, watching the sun cast its shadows on the surrounding mountains, listening to the wind.

A few minutes later Alice came back, she was in sandals and the sandy, gravely road was hard to walk in with her sandals, so we visited. Chuck took the camera and got some great pictures.

We came home, visited some more, and decided to rest and then meet up for the Monday Night Football game at the Edgewater. Alice won a big cup full of goodies for finding a postage stamp first. We had a lot of fun that evening.

Tuesday, we said our goodbyes to Joe and Alice and will meet up with them in Palm Springs. I did laundry, errands and getting the coach ready to leave the next morning to head back to the bay area. Chuck had his chores to do also.

Wednesday we headed back to the bay area. Coming through the mountains before Bakersfield, we hit some strong head winds from a storm coming in. We pulled over for the night at Orange Grove RV Park, since it was so windy and getting dark.

Thursday was a nicer day for traveling, and we got into the bay area by 1:30 or so. Chuck had the coach in for estimates, and he unhooked the car so I could go and get Kaitlyn. As usual, she was so excited to see me, we headed back to the RV Park so I could help Chuck set up. We got back just in time to do that. Kaitlyn sure wants to help you do whatever you are doing.

After setting up, we went on up to Susy and Mark’s house to get her after Susy got off work. All of us then went to dinner, then back home to Susy’s.

Friday, Chuck went and picked up Kaitlyn and brought her back for a day of playing, arts and crafts and just having a fun time.

At 3:00 we went back up to Susy’s to meet up with her and drive over to the Oakland Airport to pick up our son, Rich, who was coming in from Florida to be with us over the Thanksgiving holiday. His plane was coming in around 5:45, we met him and all went to eat, since the traffic was so heavy yet. Then, we went back over to Susy’s house and more visiting.

Saturday morning we were up bright and early. Mark had heard they were having a swine flu clinic there in San Jose at the fairgrounds by us. Chuck took me over and we got in this huge line. Mark and Susy and Kaitlyn came a short time later and waited for the flu shot. We were in line for less than two hours, we had numbers 1628, 1629, 1630, 1631. We had heard they had 6000 shots to give out that day. Mark and Susy came the last two weekends, but didn’t stay, because the lines were several miles long. The four of us got our flu shots, Chuck didn’t. I have to say the crew there passing the many people through was really very well organized, and the volunteers kept the line moving smoothly.

We went home and I made up some snacks for the “Big Game”; this is the rivalry between the football teams of Stanford and California State Bears. Cal won. All of us were there rooting on Stanford, so they could go to the Rose Bowl. At least our little family was together, we had good food and a lot of fun.

So that was our week. I want to wish all our family and friends a Happy Thanksgiving. May the time you spend together with each other be blessed. Also, on a sad note, Mark, our son in law lost his grandmother on Friday evening. Our sympathies go out to Mark, his mother and her family.

Until next time…….Happy Thanksgiving to all……Lorraine

 

Nov. 22, 2009                                                                                                                       Chuck’s report

First off, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope you are able to spend time with your family.  We are lucky this year, we are at our daughter’s, son-in-law and grand daughter’s house with our son coming in for the week.  I think the plan is to go out for Thanksgiving dinner but the main thing is we will all be together. 

I also have to report a sad thing.  Our son-in-law Mark got word his grandmother passed away on Friday.  She lived in Seattle area and they will be heading back there for the funeral next weekend.  We wish him and all his family the very best at this trying time. 

Last week we were able to spent two days with our friends, Joe/Alice, from Washington.  We got caught up on their happenings since we’ve last seen them.  We did a couple of buffets, watched Monday night football  at a casino and drove out to Christmas Tree Pass to see the hieroglyphs the ancient ones carved/painted on the rocks.  All in all, a good time with our friends of many years. 

We were staying in Laughlin and it was just a few short miles up the road to the turnoff to Christmas Tree Pass.  We drove about 4 miles down a dirt road to the parking lot and had a short hike to where the hieroglyphs are located.  I was please to see they were in good shape with no graffiti on them.  There was a guy there who  seemed to know what the symbols meant, at least he talked a good story.  I was just impressed with how they’ve held up over the years and wondered how they got to some of the locations.  

We left Laughlin and headed West once again.  We ran into some pretty heavy winds the first day so we pulled in the Bakersfield Orange Grove RV park again.  The oranges are still not at their peak for ripeness but we were able to find and pick a few more.  We left the next morning with nice weather to accompany us on our travels back to the Bay area. 

Once we got in the area, I took the coach into a repair shop we have dealt with before for an estimates on the work we need.  Once again, if they give us a good price and we decide to have the work done here, we may not head back to Alabama to the factory.  We’ll see what they say later this week.

While the shop was looking over the needed repairs, I unhooked the car and Lorraine left to pick up Kaitlyn from day care.  They got to the RV park just after I got the coach backed into our site.  We got set up, with lots of help from our grand daughter, and then Lorraine got to get some more baby time.

So the next couple of days were spent like a couple of weeks ago, time with Kaitlyn during the day and with Susy and Mark during the evenings.  Plus, our son came in Friday evening and will be here this upcoming week too. 

Saturday morning was spend standing around so Lorraine, Susy, Mark and Kaitlyn could get their swine flu shot.  As most of you may be aware, the vaccine is still in short supply so they have clinics around the area with limited supply.  We got to the location early and still there was about 2000 people ahead of us.  But about two hours later, we left with everyone getting their shot.  Even though I don’t partake of these opportunities (I’ve only got one flu shot years ago), I still stood around with them for the two hours.   

Today I hear that Susy and Lorraine want to get Susy’s Christmas tree up, as she will not be here next weekend.  So we will be heading over there pretty soon.  I will bring the tree and all the trimmings up from the garage and then stay out of their way.  They both like decorating a tree for Christmas, we can’t have one in the coach so Lorraine gets her “fix” helping Susy put hers up. 

And now for some pictures of our week.

Joe and Alice

Christmas Tree Pass hieroglyphs.

 

From Laughlin to the Bay area.

An Airforce base out in the desert. 

The incoming storm.

Fields of rose, late in the season but still have some colors.

The real reason we come here.  I really like the upside down crown Kaitlyn has in the last picture. 

So another week has gone by for us.   We will be leaving here and head for Palm Springs, just not sure of when yet.  Our current plans have us getting there on 12/1 but we may want to head for warmer weather if Susy and family leave for the funeral.  Lucky our plans are carved in Jell-O! 

Thanks   Chuck