Here we are, on the road: We’re in Palm Springs, California

January 4, 2014 Lorraine’s report

Happy New Year Everyone. We hope this year is filled with love, fun, and the best of health to everyone. Thank you for stopping by.

Once more we are at 1000 Trails in Palm Springs. It is nice to see some of our Lewis and Clark friends from back in Oregon. We haven’t seen a lot of this group for quite a while. In fact, we just welcomed Larry and Gail back from their trip back east. They just pulled into the spot next to ours. It should be interesting.

So Christmas was wonderful for us this year. To see our granddaughter, Kaitlyn and her joyous Christmas was truly wonderful for us. Thank you to Susy and Mark for letting us enjoy the time we spend with her.

One of the gifts Susy got Chuck was tickets to go to the Foster Farms playoffs in the new Levi Stadium in Santa Clara. That stadium is just a few blocks away from where we stay. What a grand time we had going there. We were on the 50 yard line, row 28 and we had just the greatest tickets. We didn’t know it until just before the game but these tickets came with VIP privileges. So this meant we went early to eat before the game.

They had all wonderful food for us to choose from. We could have hot dogs, hamburgers, Caesar salad, some Gourmet salad, fries, garlic fries (like at Seahawk Stadium), popcorn, cookies that were nummy, pizza, just all the stuff you like to snack on before a game. Kind of like a tail gate party, but not. And on top of it all, you could get all the alcoholic/soft drinks you needed/wanted, all for free. Susy and I had hot chocolate with Baileys, and was it ever good. So we enjoyed that then went on to cheer for Stanford. We went there for halftime and then after the game so traffic could clear before we went home. Stanford won, yessss.

So while we were at the stadium, Susy and I went to look for t-shirts for the game. While we were out and about, I lost my earring. I didn’t realize it until after we were back in our seats. So at halftime, we went down to where all the goodies were and I asked to talk with a supervisor. I told her I lost my earring. Well she asked me for proof, so I took her back to where Chuck was sitting, and he had the other earring, so I wouldn’t loose it too. So she called another person, and sure enough, some one had turned in my earring. I was so Totally Amazed by this. Some kind person found my earring and turned it in. Out of the 62,000 people at the game, someone found it, turned it in and I was lucky enough to get it back. It was broken, but the diamond is okay and needs to be remounted. God was watching out for me!!! That is who I attribute this too. Thank you Lord for all you do for us…

Forgot the slide out problem we had but Chuck will cover that. It is nice to be able to have all the slides out, and not have the open air coming into the rig through the not closed slide…

So now we are out and about, but and we hope to see more friends while we are here. We have to go back to the SF Bay area for Susy’s surgery before the end of February. She is going to have surgery on her left shoulder bone. She is having a bit of problems with is and surgery is in order for it to get better.

That is it for me, got to wish Ron and his family our condolences over the passing of Toshi. She was one amazing person. I’m so glad to have known her. Blessing on all of you, Ron!

Hugs,

Lorraine

1/4/14 Chuck’s report

It’s been a couple of weeks since our last blog and now we’re back in Palm Springs after spending two weeks with Susy and Katie. Katie and her dad flew to Seattle the day after Christmas to see her other grandma so we tried to spend lots of time with her before they left. We don’t plan on being back there until late February.

Two weeks ago we left here, headed back on a familiar route back to Susy’s. We stopped overnight at the Orange Grove RV park as per our normal routine. The oranges were ripe even though they haven’t had much cool weather, that helps this type of orange ripen they told us. We did pick a sack full so we had some fresh oranges.

Wednesday we pulled into our site at the Santa Clara Elks lodge, we even got our preferred site with 50 amp power. After we got set up, we headed over to pick Katie up from school, she wasn’t sure we would be there so it was a bit of a surprise for her. Later we had dinner at the Elks lodge, they had a good Mexican dinner.

Thursday we headed to Lorraine’s place for her hair, I got a hair cut there too. We made a stop at Wal-Mart and Costco before we headed back to pick up Katie from school once again. Lorraine had put a pork roast in the slow cooker so we had a good dinner later.

Friday I had doctor appointments at the VA, first was to check out my CPAP machine, next was my regular doctor for my annual physical. Everything was good at both stops and I got my prescriptions ordered for another year. Only issue is my doc wanted me to get a nuclear stress test but I was unable to get it scheduled, they said they would call next week. I tried to let them know our schedule had us leaving soon but it didn’t impress them, ha. Later we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner.

Saturday we headed over to Susy’s place, they wanted to wrap the last minute Christmas presents. Mark came by and picked up Katie so Susy and Lorraine went out shopping while I gladly stayed home and missed the crowds.

Sunday we drove over to Susy’s for the day once again. Lorraine and Susy headed out for another round of shopping while I stayed back. Lorraine did put on a beef roast for dinner which we had after their shopping trip.

Monday we picked up Katie and headed to Livermore to a RV repair place, they had some front end parts that our chassis manufacture had sent to them but we were unable to schedule a repair time to get them installed there. So we headed over to pick them up and we’ll carry them with with us and try to find a repair place to install them somewhere along our route this winter. Only problem is the box is fairly big and heavy.

We did stop a two malls on the way back (I can say for sure it wasn’t Katie’s or my idea) and we got to fight the crowds. And with rush hour traffic starting, we cut the second stop short.

Tuesday Mark brought Katie over and we painted a Christmas Plate, cup and napkin holder. Katie did manage to get paint spread about, luckily it was water color paint and easily cleaned up although she did get a lot on the towels after she washed her hands.

Later we headed over to Susy’s place again, we waited until she got off work. Mark picked up our dinner at KFC then we called it a day and headed home early.

Wednesday I got a call from the VA and they wanted to schedule my stress test. I gave them our schedule and they said they couldn’t fit us in before we left town and suggested I call and schedule it for our next stop in the area. But about 15 minutes later they called back and asked if I could get there ASAP. I told them I could be there in less than an hour and they said to come on in.

I wasn’t aware of what this test consisted of so when I got there I asked lots of questions. Short version is they check my heart at rest, give an injection of some nuclear type medicine that shows up on the films, then run on a treadmill then head back to the the machine to film my heart with the medicine showing up.

But the machine I had to get into was sort of a MRI type thing, I had to lay on the table then they would put me into the machine. I told them I am claustrophobic and didn’t think I could do the test. But I agreed to try, sure enough, I couldn’t do it. They called the doctor over and she gave me a chill pill and told me to come back in 20 minutes and try again. Boy, this pill could have been a sugar pill for all the good it did, still no go. The doctor came back and checked me and said she would let me have one more pill then see how it went but I told her I wanted two more this time.

After another half hour wait, they called me back and I was able to do the first part of the test, in the machine for 7 minutes. Then I got the injection and had to wait it to circulate before I got on the treadmill for about 12 minutes. Then back into the machine for another 9 minute test. I can’t say it was fun but I did manage to complete it with the help of drugs. First, initial report from the doctor showed no issues of concern but it would need to be read by the doctor and they would send the results to my regular doctor who would call me with the “official” results.

After I got back, Lorraine and I stopped by a grocery store on our way over to Susy’s. We bought some steaks for our Christmas Eve dinner, they fixed up salads and potatoes to go with it.

Thursday, Christmas morning, we got a phone call from Katie wanting to know when we could get to her house, Santa had come during the night. And he had eaten the cookies and drank milk from the plate and cup Katie and just painted too.

We got there before 9 the spent the rest of the morning opening presents then cleaning up the mess. Lorraine and Susy put on a ham dinner for later then we started opening the packages that Katie’s presents had come in, boy they sure seal them up good. We also watched The Christmas Story movie a couple times, got to like Ralphie and his quest for a Red Rider BB gun. After a good day and a good dinner, we played a couple of games then headed back to our place.

Friday morning we needed to dump our black water tank, each site only has water/power and there is a dump site available but we have to move the coach over in order to use it. We got everything put away and started bringing in the slides but the front driver’s slide only came in partway then the front end wouldn’t move, either in or out. Our tank was full so we had to go ahead and raise the jacks and move over to dump then back into our site with the slide partway out. No way could we drive with it like that except for the short distance over to the dump.

I checked things out and found the electric motor was working just fine, the shear pins we ok but the front gears were miss-aligned. The drive gear had slide on its shaft enough that it no longer made contact with the gear track on the slide itself. The rear of the slide still moved but the front couldn’t. I tried to slide the gear back in place but found the slide itself needed to be lifted, something that would require a jack to lift it as it weights over a ton.

I called a mobile RV repair tech and he said he doesn’t work on anything like that, only smaller stuff. He didn’t have any suggestions of anyone else. So I called our roadside service, Coach Net. They have techs on duty 24/7 to give advice and find a repair place or arrange a tow. Seeing as how we couldn’t drive the coach, that meant he had to find a mobile tech so he hung up with the promise to call back as soon as he found someone.

A couple of hours later he called back and said he had found someone who said he knew what to do and would come over Monday morning to repair. Ok, guess we’ll just have to wait then.

Later Lorraine and Susy headed out for a short, after Christmas shopping spree. The got a few ornaments from Hallmark and wrapping paper for next year too. We had a nice visit with Mark and Katie before we drove them to the airport for their trip to Seattle that afternoon.

Saturday morning Lorraine and Susy went out for another shopping trip, only went to Penny’s and Macy for towels and pillows. We were invited to the parents of a friend of Susy’s for dinner so we had to get ready for that. We had a very good dinner and visit with Paul and Tony and their family. After dinner we visited for quite awhile, had a good time. Mike, would you please thank them once again for us?

Sunday Lorraine and Susy headed out to the movie house, they wanted to see the new Hobbit movie. I don’t care for this type movie so once again elected to stay back. But best laid plans sometimes don’t work, they could see the movie they wanted so they went to a different one but still had a good time.

Monday the repair guy showed up, never did call first like he was supposed to. I showed him the problem and together we were able to manually push the front of the slide in while bringing in the back using the normal electric motor. Once we got it in except for the final 8” or so, we put a jack with lumber supports under the slide and raised it enough to get the gear back in place. But by then the slide wasn’t straight so we had to disconnect everything and start over but the second time we put it together everything was lined up and working. I still need to replace the plastic rollers on both ends but its working as is until I get the new parts.

Later, Susy and Lorraine once again headed out to see a movie, they both enjoy going to the movie house while it’s way down the list of my favorite things to do. After they got back we watched a movie we had gotten as a Christmas present, a nice, quiet evening.

Tuesday we headed over to Susy’s place, this time to take down her Christmas tree and decorations. My job was to stay out of the way and put the boxes away after they filled them, tough.

Susy had bought tickets to the Foster Farms Bowl Game, the first bowl game to be played in at the new stadium for the 49ers in Santa Clara. Stanford was playing Maryland, the game started at 7:00. We have never been to this stadium and had heard about the terrible parking situation so Susy signed us up online for pre-paid parking close to the stadium.

We got there a bit after 5 and found out the ticket Susy had bought included all-you-can eat/drink in the VIP lounge, what a deal. They had everything from made from scratch salads, pizza, hamburger, hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, cookies and the like. I didn’t know they had tickets like this, Susy said it was for the high rollers at the 49ers, they paid $80,000 for the right to purchase season tickets, wow. It was a good treat and by the way, the free drinks include alcoholic, adult drinks too. It’s been awhile since I’ve had two drinks and didn’t even finish the second one.

Then we headed out to our seats for the beginning of the game. We could have stayed inside the VIP lounge if we wanted, they had TVs everywhere but we were dressed for the cold weather so out we went. We had good seats, right on the 50 yard line, 28 rows up. High enough that we could see over the players and sideline folks but still close enough to see and hear very well. Stanford really played well the first half and were ahead 28 to 7, they were doing just about anything they wanted against Maryland.

We headed back inside to the lounge for halftime. I had another burger while everyone else had something too. We picked out two cookies and ordered another drink before heading back to our seats. Once again Stanford dominated the game, the final score was 45 to 21 and the game wasn’t even that close.

We stayed in our seats and watched the game to the bitter end, bitter because of the cold and wind. It was down to the low 40s with a good breeze and we all felt COLD. After the game we headed back to the VIP lounge once again, it was open for an hour after the game. We had cookies and set around visiting for awhile. Lorraine found that she had lost one of her earrings, probably when she put her cold weather gear on/off. She was really bummed out about it but did ask one of the waitress gals if anyone had turned in an earring. Low and behold, someone had found it, it was in the entryway to the stadium from the VIP lounge, and turned it in. The supervisor came over to check it against the other earring, to insure they were a match, and returned it to Lorraine. She was really happy about that, now we have to get it repaired as the stud was bent but should be able to do that while we are here. It was a long day but we all enjoyed it, thanks for the tickets, Susy!

Wednesday was our last day in the area so Lorraine and Susy went out to see the movie they tried to see a couple days earlier, the last Hobbit movie. After they got back we had pizza then played dice/card games until after midnight (on the East coast) before I called it a day and went to bed. Lorraine and Susy stayed up until midnight and brought in the New Year before Susy headed for home.

Thursday morning we got ready to leave, I watched carefully while Lorraine brought in the repaired slide, it worked fine however. We got on the road and headed for our planned stop at Bakersfield Orange Grove once again. We didn’t have any issues except for the road conditions and heavy traffic on I-5 heading South, must have been lots of folks heading for LA I guess. We got set up and once again the slide worked just fine.

Friday morning we got back on the road and once again got to our destination with no issues. We were lucky as Tehachapi pass had experience some snow and heavy winds just two days before but we had temperatures in the low 50s with little to no wind, yea.

We got set up then headed over to a café for dinner, both of us were tired and didn’t feel up to doing much. Just after we got backed into our site we saw our friend Keith/Mary drive by but they didn’t stop as we still had to set up, turns out they were just driving through checking out sites for their arrival the next day.

Saturday morning we drove over to the swap meet at College of the Desert, Lorraine had bought a new makeup mirror there last time we were in town and when she opened it she found the base was busted. So we wanted to return/replace it but the vendor wasn’t there this weekend. Maybe next weekend, we’ll see.

We had more of our friends come in on Saturday, in fact, 8 couple from our Lewis and Clark FMCA chapter got together for a 5:00 meet/greet. We hung around until the sun went down and the temperatures started dropping and folks started heading back to their rigs.

This morning Lorraine got ready and headed over to Church services here at the park, she said it was pretty crowded and a good service. Yesterday and today were NFL wildcard playoff days for me however, even though Seattle has a week off so they aren’t playing.

The weather has been pretty nice this past couple of weeks, even had rain a couple of days. The temperatures have been lower than average although compared to other parts of the nation, I can’t complain to loud. When the front driver’s slide was halfway in/out, it doesn’t seal seal so we did pull out our space heater and Lorraine has been using/enjoying that in the evenings when it does cool off, we are in the desert after all.

Our plans are to stay here for two weeks before heading to Quartzsite for the big RV week there. We will stay in Quartzsite for a week before heading on to our to be determined next stop. We will be staying at a RV park there this year vs boon docking on the BLM land as we’ve done the past years. This way we won’t have to conserve water or run our generator, should be more like normal life for us this year.

Ok, now to add some pictures and get this posted.

Wide open spaces on our route back to the Bay area.