Back from Yuma

We made it back from Yuma about 7:00 Saturday evening. It's about a 210 mile trip (one way). It took just over 3 hours, as most of the way the speed limit is 75. We had a good time with Ron and Jan, and they drove us around quite a bit. The clouds chased us all the way from Yuma to Apache Junction, and the rain started falling again around midnight. It's almost noon, and the sky is just begining to brighten up a little. The weather forecast looks good for the rest of the week with temperatures in the low to mid 70's. Our first baseball game is on Wednesday, and it's supposed to be sunny & in the low 70's. Just about perfect for sitting out in the sun.
Today our plan is to do some grocery shopping, and make a Target stop for basics. I had thoughts about firing up the Weber Smokey Mountain today and cooking some ribs, but the weather isn't cooperating. Maybe tomorrow.
Ernie

Fun in the Sun

Ichiro, Junior, and Milton Bradley at the batting cage

Ichiro, Junior, and Milton Bradley at 1st base working on "pickoff plays".

Jack Wilson, Jose Lopez, & Franklin Gutierrez with David Aardsma on the mound

Rolls Convertible In the player's parking lot at Peoria.

Sign at Desert Valley YMCA outside of Scottsdale

Saguaro Cactus loaded on pickup at a local nursery. Approximately $1500 worth ($100 per foot)

The weather is now in full cooperation with us. Yesterday we drove over to Cave Creek which is near Scottsdale. We found a YMCA, and made a stop there for Joyce to give it a cursory inspection. She said it was nicer than the West Seattle Y. We took backroads back to Apache Junction, and went through Paradise Valley. Pretty pricey houses out there with really nice scenery.
Today we went back up to Peoria to catch some Mariner's Spring Training. They have approximately 63 players in camp. All of the big names are there, and got quite a few pictures of Ichiro, Junior, Jose Lopez, Franklin Gutierrez, David Aardsma, etc. I even managed to snag a ball during batting practice. I'm not sure who hit it out over the right field fence, but Ichiro and Junior were both hitting when I went out to try for a ball. After practice I got Mike Saunders and Milton Bradley's autographs on the ball. We will catch more practice sessions, and should be able to add a few more signatures.
This evening we went over to the hall at the RV Park and played Hand and Foot. Joyce ended up in the money ($7.00) finishing 3rd out of about 25. I'll try to get her to one of the local Indian Casino's while she's "on a roll".
Tomorrow we will be heading over to Yuma to meet up with Seattle friends Ron and Jan. It's about a 3 hour drive, so I hope to get rolling by 10:00 a.m. We will be staying overnight and coming back to Apache Junction Saturday evening.
Until Sunday,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ernie

Here Comes The Sun

Today got us back to what we always considered to be "normal" for Arizona. Clear blue skies all day with no clouds in sight. We went to a Big 5 store where we both got new walking shoes. So tomorrow we should be able to get back to our normal walking routine, and leave the treadmill behind. I've got a bit of a backache in my lower back that I think was because of the treadmill walking the past few days.
After Big 5 we went to Peoria for lunch and to check out whats happening at the Mariner's training facility. The players go through drills and workouts from 9:00 to noon daily. We may go back up tomorrow or Thursday. The gift shop was open, but $25.00 for a T-Shirt seems rather pricey to us. Maybe Joyce can check them out at one of her Target forays.
Tomorrow I am going to wash the car and let the rain drops fall where they may! It's supposed to rain on Saturday, but we will be in Yuma then. So with sunny and warmer weather for the next couple of days, we should be getting out exploring and taking pictures to add to the post.
Ernie

Would You Believe Hail?

OK, so this is absurd. We woke up to gray low clouds and rain (did we ever leave Seattle?)

About noonish we saw possibly the worst rain/hailstorm we've ever seen before. It was almost scary. The hail was so thick it obscured everything around us and even tho I know better I thought it might pound a hole right thru the roof - imagine how loud it sounded being inside this metal tube. Oh, and did I mention there was thunder and lightning to go along with it?

Finally we decided to venture out after the storm passed. We went to an outlet mall in Tempe. Not Ernie's favorite thing to do, but not much else to do on a day like today. He did manage to buy another pair of shorts to add to his khaki collection tho.

The huge black clouds were still hanging around when we went in and came out and once again when we neared Apache Junction it was pouring. We're thinking the clouds stack up against the Superstition Mountains and that's why we got so much.

We hope to see the sun soon. - Joyce


Tuesday morning 7:00 a.m..
Things are back to normal this morning and the sun is rising in a cloudless sky!! Whoop De Doo
I don't know if the temperatures will get out of the 60's today, but it's supposed to be back into the 70's tomorrow. I'd like to take a drive up to the Mariner's training facility in Peoria today just to take a look around. The parking area and practice fields are open (and free) and maybe the team store too. It will be nice just to get back out into the sunshine. I think that we were taking it for granted here. Dare I wash the car?
Ernie

Rain, Rain Go Away....

This was Day 2 of grim black clouds and torrential downpours. Good for the home team (the desert), bad for the visitors (us!).

Yesterday we ran a few errands (Camping World, Target) then found a Mexican restaurant in Mesa for dinner. The food was supposed to be the kind made in Mexico City and it was certainly different than the usual fare, but very good.

Today we did our accumulation of laundry from 10 days (I did do a load of towels and sheets once already). Lucky for us the laundry room is only a few steps away and makes it very convenient. Since it was a rainy day, lots of people were doing their laundry.

This afternoon we went to a movie and saw "Shutter Island" with Leonardo DiCaprio. It was a good movie but a little long (almost 2 1/2 hours). We're home now and Ernie is cooking pork chops on the grill.

That's been about the extent of our last few days in case you thought we were outside soaking up the sun..... - Joyce

As you can see, there were no pictures again! That's because with the state of the weather, we haven't been motivated to go anywhere to take them. It's overcast again this morning, but I think we need to get out of here anyway. Since I didn't wash the car last week and it been raining since Saturday, maybe some reverse psychology would work. If we get another soaker like we've been getting for the last 2 days, I wouldn't even need the hose. I'm sure that the neighbors would all think that I'm nuts. Most of them have been walking around dressed like they're in the Yukon Territory, and I refuse to give up my shorts and Hawaiian shirts!!
Life's still good,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ernie

Settling In

The Assistant Editor at work

All set up at Apache Junction

White Sulpher Springs own Tary & Wayne with their "outfit"

A succesful orange hunt

Going after the big one

Yesterday Ernie spent hours cleaning the top and outside of the RV. I organized and cleaned inside. Late afternoon we were invited to our next door neighbors' for an informal get together with some other people. Today we were invited to a potluck with about 15 other 'neighbors' where tables were set up and we had a meal revolving around 'trash can turkey' (turkey cooked in a regular tin garbage can on charcoals).

We started walking again in our 'neighborhood' - we've found a loop comparable to what we walk at home, but no hills. No sidewalks, but very few cars. The area we are in is semi-rural and the Superstition Mountains loom over the valley floor - they're very dramatic and desert-like.

People who are here are from all different places: California, Wisconsin, South and North Dakota, Delaware, Florida, Washington(!), lots of Canadians and more. Most people arrived here in Oct and leave in April. Everyone seems very friendly. Lots of people have dogs (both big and small). There's a man who has 2 cats - he takes them out on a leash.

Tomorrow there is a 90% chance of rain which pretty much guarantees it. I think our weather will be similar to Seattle for a day or two.

Will see you in less than a month Ron and Diane - it will be warmer then too!

Taking it easy in AJ- Joyce

Finally got around to downloading and getting a few pictures posted. We haven't taken very many yet, so this is the best we can do! We may take in a movie tomorrow if the weatherman is right, and it rains. It seems like an odd concept. I have held off on washing the car, as I do not want to take the blame for rain. Next week at this time we will be in Yuma overnight visiting with Seattle friends Ron and Jan.

We will try to get out a little more and get some pictures to make this a little bit more entertaining. Until then, Ernie

Arrived at Destination

Arrived in Apache Junction around 1:30 pm. There are about 130 spaces in this RV park and it looks completely full. Ernie spent a few hours getting the RV set up for our 2 month stay which is more involved than staying somewhere for a day.

Uh-oh, they were just talking about a 'winter storm' arriving - I wonder what that means in Arizona?? It was 78 degrees today....

Will spend tomorrow getting settled in, doing some cleaning inside and out. -Joyce

Salome, Arizona

Here we are on the outskirts of Salome. Arrived 6pm (AZ is one hour ahead of Seattle - until, of course when Daylight Savings kicks in and Seattle is the same - but that's another story).

Traveled about 400 miles today mostly in desert terrain that looks like the moon and over a very rough 2 lane winding hilly road for miles and miles. No rest stops because they're all closed for 'maintenance' (or we think the state ran out of money and closed them down for a while).

We are staying in the same RV park as Tary and Wayne, our friends from Montana. We walked over to their site and even tho we were late for dinner, they were kind enough to feed us. We had a nice visit and 15 years of catching up to do. As we walked back to where our RV is parked we were amazed at the galaxy of stars that are out. Living in the city we forget how amazing the night sky really is.

Tomorrow we stay put for another day and will probably explore the area with Tary and Wayne, then for dinner have some of Ernie's BBQ'd chicken he brought from home. -Joyce

Lodi, Calif. and on to Bakersfield

Friday and Saturday found us in Lodi (again) - we stayed at the same RV park as last year. After we got settled we drove 1 1/2 hours to Cotati (near Petaluma - which is a half hour from San Francisco!) Had dinner Friday night with 5 of Ernie's cousins at a restaurant that is still in the country and was an old stage coach stop. Next afternoon drove back to Cotati and out to dinner again with 2 of his cousins. Then back to their house to look at old family photos.
Left Lodi this morning and we are staying outside of Bakersfield, Calif. in an RV park that is surrounded by orange trees. Of course Ernie got an orange picker instrument from the office and he picked about 2 dozen oranges fresh off the tree - yum. It was up to 70 degrees today at one point.
Our drive today was very pretty thru central California's agricultural valley. The hills were a beautiful green with lots of livestock grazing. Some fruit trees were beginning to flower out in preparation for the work ahead.
We left I-5 today and are on our way east towards AZ. Ernie may add a little more to this and hope to put in a few pictures too. (Kodak moments for Diane)
My 2 cents worth: Weather is getting near perfect for me. It should be in the mid to upper 70's tomorrow. The shoes and long pants are going into retirement at least until we get back. Time to break out the Hawaiian shirts and sandals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ernie

California here we are!

We are in Redding California listening to the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof of the motor home. We rolled out of Coburg right on schedule at 9:00 a.m. I decided to fuel up before we got on I-5, so it was almost 9:30 before we got going. Since you can't pump your own fuel in Oregon, and there was only 1 attendant at a busy station, it took almost a half hour!
It was windy but dry for the first 2-3 hours, then in the Siskyou's by Mt. Shasta it started to rain. Seems as if we were right in the clouds going up and over several mountain passes. On the bright side there was only a little snow on the side of the road. The coldest temperature was 38 degrees at the ski area. We got here a little after 4:00 p,m, Tomorrow evening we will be somewhere in the Bay Area.
The long range weather forecast for Apache Junction calls for temperatures in the mid to upper 70's!! That's warm enough for Joyce, and not too hot for me. And since one of us forgot to bring a rain jacket, Joyce can't get out for a walk.
Stand by for more from near "the city by the bay.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Ernie

It's always something

It seems like it never fails that something goes wrong at the beginning of another chapter of "The Big Adventure." This time it wasn't the Motorhome, but the house. It seems that the programmable timer for the front porch lights that I installed about a month ago decided to die last night around midnight. I spent about 2 hours resetting and reprogramming only to have it fail each time. So this morning at about 6:30, I was at the Home Depot making an exchange! Got the new timer installed and programed, we got the motorhome loaded up and hit the road at 10:00 a.m. We made it to a campground in Coburg Oregon at 4:30 p.m. Tomorrow the plan is to make it to Redding California. We are trying to travel 250 to 300 miles per day. That way we don't have to try to get on the road at the crack of dawn, and we can still make our destination before dark. We should make our destination in Apache Junction either on Tuesday or Wednesday. It just depends on how much time we spend visiting on the way.
We're really glad that we got the furnace in the motorhome fixed yesterday as the temperature didn't make it to 50 today, and tomorrow doesn't look any better. Now I just need to keep an eye on the propane tank so we don't run out.
We haven't had anything to take pictures of yet, but when we do we will post some.
I think it's time to hit the shower and get some sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ernie

Ready to Hit the Road!

We have spent the last week or so getting ready to head south to the desert country of Arizona. We decided to head out on Wednesday rather than Tuesday. The front furnace in the motorhome will not stay lit, so I am going to take it in to get fixed on Tuesday. The weather conditions down south are such that the furnace wil be needed in the late night and early mornings. But, right now it's about 15 degrees warmer than at home.
Kristin left this morning for a 4 month job at a kids camp in Austin Texas. From there she plans to go to another camp in Colorado for the summer. Hairold T. Cat is spending the next 10 weeks or so at Keith and Sheilas in Stanwood. He hasn't bitten anybody yet, and is starting to settle in. He was pretty ticked off when I brought him up on Saturday!
We should have a straight shot down I-5 to southern California as the warm weather appears to have eliminated the threat of snow in the Siskyous. We plan to spend an extra day in the bay area visiting relatives on my fathers side. Then we may spend an extra day at the California/ Nevada line with some friends who are spending some time there from Montana. We haven't seen them since we spent a year (94/95) in Billings. We may not get in to Apache Junction until Wednesday the 17th, but wer'e not in any rush. That still will give us about 2 weeks before our first baseball game. So for anybody who reads this, it's time to start paying attention as we will be updating at least on a weekly basis.
Ernie