The Journey Continues

 

Welcome to our travel blog.  We chose the site name as it sums up our adventure – a nice drive to get where we are going and a nice drive as we golf along the way.

Recent posts will be at the top of the page but please scroll down as I will be adding photos until I get caught up.

Check back often.  The page will develop with options such as a photo gallery, a place for comments, and whatever we decide we want to post!

 

Cheryl and Craig’s Adventure

I am starting a new page for the next part of our adventure.  It was getting a little long and too much to scroll through if you wanted to reread or find anything.  For those of you that want to see it again click on one of the “Nice Drive” links at the top of the page and it is all there.

 

Nov. 3, 2022 – Mar. 25, 2023

Well the adventure has come to an end and I will close the blog with some final facts, figures, highlights, etc.

Other than Cheryl getting sick at the end we both enjoyed ourselves immensely.  In so many of Cheryl’s texts to her mother she would say we found “a little slice of heaven” and that is exactly how we felt.  We visited so many interesting places, met some fantastic people, and saw some amazing sights.  We put on 23,000 kms and were in 22 different states, some more than once, and 3 countries (went to Mexico 4 times!).  From Pensacola, Florida to San Diego, California, from Minot, North Dakota to Corpus Christi, Texas and everywhere in between.  We feel like we lived the Johnny Cash song “I’ve Been Everywhere” – We’ve been to Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Yuma, Tucson, Amarillo, Roswell, Tombstone, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, Mobile…

Everyone always asks what was our favorite part and we just can’t answer it.  There were so many highlights it would be unfair to pick just one.  The whole adventure was one great experience after another and we are looking forward to doing it again.  I hope everyone enjoyed following along with the blog.  Apologies again for some of the delays in posting.

Craig and Cheryl

 

 

Mar. 25 – Saskatoon, SK – Leduc, AB

The final leg of the adventure.  Arrived home around 2:00 pm and settled in to take care of Cheryl and unpack from our 5 months away.  

Mar. 24 – Miles City, MT – Saskatoon, SK

An early start this morning to get through the border and into Saskatchewan at a decent time.  Went up through Plentywood and crossed the border straight south of Regina.  It was an uneventful crossing with a decent border guard who was very understanding of the situation with Cheryl flying home and me bringing everything of hers back with me in the truck and camper.  Without Cheryl to claim her duty free allotment of cheap Mexican and American booze I was over my limit by 3 or 4 bottles but wasn’t charged any duty.  It was a painless 5 minutes at the border and I was on my way.  

Once back in Canada I was  able to use my phone and got in touch with Cheryl.  She didn’t seem to be doing very well and I decided I better get home as quick as I could.  I couldn’t make it all the way home today but got to Saskatoon to shorten up the drive tomorrow and get me home at a decent time.  Unfortunately that meant cutting my visit in Regina short but I needed to get home.  After a quick visit with Cheryl’s mom in Regina I drove Saskatoon and arrived around suppertime to spend the night at my mother’s place. 

 

Mar. 23 – Centura Castle Rock Adventist Hospital, Room 436 – Denver Airport- Las Vegas Airport – Edmonton Airport – Leduc for one of us.

                  Centura Castle Rock Adventist Hospital, Room 436 – Denver Airport – Miles City, Montana for the other one of us.

Cheryl was feeling better again today and was officially discharged around 11:00 with decent oxygen levels and some prescriptions to take home with her.  We were organized for the flight from the day before so went straight to the airport from the hospital, about an hour away.  I had a long day of driving ahead and Cheryl just wanted to find a place to sit and relax before her flight so I dropped her off and hit the highway through Denver on my way north as far as I could get.  

Cheryl made her flight and connections in Las Vegas and made it home.  It was a very tiring day for her but she got some sleep on both flights and was very happy to sleep in her own bed.  I made it through Colorado, Wyoming, and some of Montana before stopping for the night in Miles City, about 850 km.

 

Mar. 22 – Centura Castle Rock Adventist Hospital, Room 436

Got back to the hospital this morning and found Cheryl feeling and looking much better.  Some strong intravenous antibiotics tend to knock out infections rather quickly.  Her oxygen level was still low, 92, but better than the 88 from yesterday.  The attending doctor met us around 11:00 and answered all our questions about recovery, discharge, flying, etc.  The doctor wanted to keep her in one more day for observation and some more meds but was confident she should be discharged tomorrow morning if her oxygen level was ok.  We booked another flight for tomorrow afternoon and spent the rest of the day staring out a hospital window at Colorado.

 

Mar. 21 – Colorado City, CO – Denver, CO

A short drive today to our campsite in Chatfield State Park just south of Denver so we took a scenic route back to I-25 from the rest area.  A nice loop on Highway 165 also known as Frontier Pathways National Scenic Parkway took us up into the mountains and lakes west of Colorado Springs and then back into Pueblo where we grabbed I-25 again for the quick drive to the campground.  Cheryl hadn’t been feeling too good for a day or so and just wanted to take it easy at the campsite for the rest of the day.  About mid-afternoon we both decided it would be best to get her on a flight back home and let her recover there and also miss the long driving days we had ahead of us.  Well we booked the flight but she seemed to be getting worse, a small rash she had developed yesterday was getting much worse and she was running a fever, so we decided we better get her to a hospital to get checked out.  After a quick triage in emergency they decided to admit her and run a few tests to isolate the problem.  After an x-ray, blood-word, and CT scan they discovered she had pneumonia!  Some antibiotic IV solutions were administered and some other medications were given to ease the rash.  After a few hours in the emergency ward she was transferred to a surgical ward and spent the night. 

We cancelled the flight for tomorrow and will wait and see how she is in the morning before we book anything more. 

Mar. 20 – I-40 Rest Area, AZ/NM – Colorado City, CO

The good weather is definitely over!  Woke this morning to snow on the truck and 2 degrees outside.  The rest area was a bit noisy but we got a decent sleep.  We started east towards Albuquerque, about 2 1/2 hours, and then grabbed I-25 towards Sante Fe and Colorado.  We were going to stop in Albuquerque but it was still cold, windy and raining so we continued on.  Same situation in Sante Fe so we decided to make this a driving day and get as far as we could.  When we hit a rest area near Colorado City around 5:30 we both decided that was enough and packed it in for the day.  

We have a campsite booked near Denver for tomorrow and Wednesday night.  The weather looks decent and we are looking forward to exploring the area.  

 

Mar. 19 – Picacho Peak State Park, AZ – Winslow, AZ 

Well, we looked at the weather, we looked at the calendar, we looked at the map, we looked at each other, I guess the adventure is coming to an end.  We decided we should put the compass on N and start the journey home.  There were a few routes we could take home but unfortunately we decided to go back through Saskatchewan.  

Did I say unfortunately, I meant it was the easiest decision we have made this entire trip to go back home through Saskatchewan.  I-15 straight north to Alberta is so boring and quick!  

Just kidding.  It was west up I-15 and through Salt Lake and the pass at Pocatello which is over 6,000 feet or up through Denver and the pass at Sante Fe which is almost 8,000 feet.  Either way we knew some bad weather was in our future but we decided on the Denver route which got us through the highest stuff early on and farther south than I-15.  Also, we had only been through Denver at the airport and the weather looked okay coming up so we thought we could spend a couple of days there before continuing north.

We said goodbye to the nice weather and started on our way towards Winslow, Arizona.  There is a large crater there I always wanted to see so we headed that direction.  We stopped in Winslow for a bit of a break and a walk through town.  It is located on Route 66 and became well known in the 1970’s thanks to an Eagles song – “Take it Easy” – which contains the lyrics – “Well, I’m standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see, it’s a girl my Lord, in a flat-bed Ford, slowin’ down to take a look at me” (how many of you that now that song just went back and sang it!).  They have placed some statues, monuments, art, along with a flat-bed ford, on a corner of main street as a display, or tourist trap.  It was tacky but fun.

We then took the 30 minute drive west to the crater.  It was very cold and windy so we didn’t spend much time outside but it was an incredible display of the force of nature.  It was formed about 50,000 years ago when a meteor about 160 feet in diameter struck the earth and created a crater almost a mile wide.  One display in the museum gives a good idea of the size of the crater by showing 20 football fields on the crater floor with the surrounding rim being able to hold 2,000,000 people – that is a big stadium!

We left the crater just before 5 o’clock and headed east on I-40 to a rest area on the Arizona – New Mexico border.

 

 

Mar. 18 – Tucson, AZ – Picacho Peak State Park, AZ

We decided against another day at the golf tournament and booked a round of golf this morning instead in Tucson.  A decent municipal course and we were paired with two fun gentleman for a great day on the course.  

We were fortunate to grab a campsite at Picacho Peak for tonight.  We had been trying to book something in the area that had showers and a dump station but couldn’t find anything.  A couple of days ago we looked again and one spot was available for tonight for one night only so we grabbed it.  Someone must have cancelled and we were lucky to nab it.  After golf we drove up to the park only to be met by a line-up of about 40-50 cars trying to get in to the park.  After about 45 minutes we finally got to the front and got our campsite.  We asked what was going on and I guess the park is very popular this time of year on weekends because of the desert flower blooms.  People will drive from miles away to park and enjoy the hikes throughout the park and look at all the flowers blooming in the desert.  It was pretty but Cheryl and I both commented it was just some ground cover with yellow and purple plants and not yet the beautiful colors you get when the actual cacti decide to bloom.

Mar. 17 – Tucson, AZ

After a restless night we had breakfast and walked over to the parking lot to get the shuttle to the course.  Parking was free but we decided to park the truck just outside the campground and avoid all the hassle of getting in and out with thousands of other people.  After the walk and shuttle ride we arrived about 45 minutes prior to tee-off.  One of the differences between LIV and the PGA is shotgun starts.  On the PGA, three players will tee-off on number one and then about 10 minutes later another group of three, etc throughout the day.  On LIV all players start at the same time – three players on each hole, 1 through 18, and then at 10:15 a horn, or shotgun, is sounded and play begins.  Cheryl and I picked a hole to start at with some players we knew and watched a few groups play through and then wandered around the course for the rest of the day to enjoy the golf.  It certainly had a different vibe from the PGA events we have been to in the past.  There is music being played, sometimes blared, throughout the course – the LIV slogan is “Golf, but louder” – and it is a younger crowd watching the event.  After the round was over we walked back to catch the shuttle to the parking area and walk back to the truck.  This is one drawback to the shotgun start system – every player finishes at the same time so every guest also wants to leave at the same time which created a tremendous bottleneck at the exit.  We made it back to the truck and were happy we didn’t park in the lot as it was a mess trying to get out of there.

We went back to the dispersed camping area we utilized last time through Tucson and had a much quieter night.

Mar. 16 – Mesa, AZ – Tucson, AZ

Well, back to Tucson for the third time.  While we were staying in Mesa we saw that there was a LIV golf tournament in Tucson this weekend.  For those that don’t know, LIV is the breakaway golf league that Greg Norman set up as competition, or alternative, to the PGA.  It is backed by an investment fund out of Saudi Arabia and gets its name from the roman numerals for 54, the number of players, and holes played, at each tournament.   Some big names have left the PGA to join the league – Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, to name just a few.  We missed out on the PGA stop in San Diego earlier this year so we grabbed tickets for the Friday event and went back to Tucson.

The host course is on the north end of Tucson so we decided to drive past it on our way through to get the lay of the land and see if we could find somewhere nearby to spend the night.  We had the dispersed camping area we had stayed at before as a backup but that was about a 40 minute drive from the course so we wanted to find something closer.  We couldn’t find any dispersed camping in the area but stumbled across a campground very close to the main parking area for the tournament and decided to spend the night there.  It wasn’t free but for $25 we figured we would use that much gas to get back and forth anyway.  It was close to I-10 and some train tracks so it was a bit loud through the night but the location was great.

Mar. 11 – 16 – Mesa, AZ

It was a fun week at the park and we got out to do a few things.

Friday night was karaoke in the hall so we went to listen.  As usual at karaoke – some good some bad.  We left after an hour or so when they decided to sing Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the USA”.  It always provokes patriotism whenever it is played and we didn’t want to stand up and cheer like buffoons as the rest of them did so we found the nearest door, went back to the camper for our suits and enjoyed a late hot tub before bed.

Saturday we golfed with Tim and Judy and then found a great Mexican place for supper.

Sunday was pickle ball, a hike, and more time by the pool.

Monday we joined Diane and Duncan for a round of golf.  Diane was Cheryl’s curling skip in Leduc and they have a place close to our old house in Surprise.  Another beautiful day and we enjoyed the golf and a nice visit on their deck before coming back to the resort for supper and of course another hot tub.

Tuesday we looked at baseball tickets but decided against going to the game and just hung around the park again for more of the same – pickle ball, walking, etc.  This afternoon there was a pool party/happy hour from 3:30 – 5:30 with live music so Cheryl and I grabbed a couple of chairs and enjoyed the show with about 200 other people.

Wednesday we did laundry in the resort and got groceries getting ready for our departure tomorrow.

A fun week in the park.  We hadn’t played pickle ball in a couple of years so it was nice to get back into it again.  The pool and hot tub are always enjoyable.  The weather held up with only Wednesday being cloudy with some rain.

Mar. 10 – Phoenix, AZ- Mesa, AZ

We had intentions of going to a spring training baseball game today but decided we better find a place to stay for the next week or so as the weather here looks great.  We couldn’t find any campgrounds close that had openings so we looked at RV resorts in the area.  We found three in Mesa, southeast of Phoenix, that looked nice so we headed there after breakfast to take a look.  The first one said they don’t allow truck-campers so we were out of luck.  I guess when it comes to Mesa RV parks we are riff-raff and they “don’t take our kind there”.   We disregarded our second choice as it was a sister resort of the first and didn’t want to feel like camper trash so we drove to number three.  Jackpot!  They were more than happy to take a truck camper and even gave us a discount because they liked us!  We grabbed a nice spot close to the pool and hot tub and settled in for 6 nights.  After setting up we walked around the park and then plopped ourselves by the pool and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon in the sunshine.  

Should be a fun week.

Mar. 9 – Maricopa, AZ – Phoenix, AZ

We stopped in for coffee and donuts this morning with our friends from Leduc – Tim and Judy.  They had their friends from Leduc visiting as well so the six of us had a nice visit.  After lunch Cheryl and I drove to Phoenix for some shopping and then went to another casino to spend the night.  We managed to win a few bucks and were able to watch an Edmonton hockey game in one of their sports bars before going to bed.

Mar. 8 – Tucson, AZ – Maricopa, AZ

A very nice day today and we enjoyed our round of golf.  After golf we stopped at Picacho Peak State Park again not to spend the night just to take advantage of their shower facilities and dump the trailer.  We decided on spending the night in Maricopa which is just south of Phoenix.  We have both been here before a few times as friends of ours from Leduc owned a house here for many years and we would come and visit, or stay, with them when we came down.  There is a nice casino in town and that is where we parked for the night.

Mar. 7 – Kartchner Caverns – Tucson, AZ

A short drive back to Tucson today.  We got some laundry done and picked up supplies before heading just west of town for another night of boondocking.  We have a golf game booked tomorrow and after that will drive towards Phoenix again and spend some time there.

Mar. 6 – Kartchner Caverns – Tombstone, AZ

We got to the visitor center early and got tickets for an early cave tour.  It is just over an hour long with most of that being underground in the caves.  Unfortunately you are not allowed to take pictures in the caves so I don’t have any to show you which is too bad because it was spectacular.  Most of the caverns are quite large and you get to see all the different formations that have formed over many, many years.  We saw huge columns of limestone, one over sixty feet high, stalagmites, stalactites, soda straws, etc.  A very informative and enjoyable tour.

After lunch we took a quick trip to Tombstone to spend a couple of hours wandering around.  Tombstone was one of the last frontier boomtowns in the 1880’s due to large silver deposits in the hills surrounding the area.  In seven years the population grew from 100 to 14,000 but died out just as quick when the mines were shut down.  Within two years of its founding Tombstone had three newspapers, 110 saloons, 14 gambling halls, and numerous dance halls and brothels.  It now depends on tourism for the bulk of its revenue.  The infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral is reenacted daily.

We walked up and down the old “main street” and checked out a few establishments in the short time we were there.  Nothing spectacular but it was fun to experience. 

Mar. 5 – Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ  – Tucson – Kartchner Caverns State Park, AZ

We got an early start this morning and had breakfast on the road.  Another peaceful night in the dispersed camping area.  We are starting to enjoy these spots more and more each time.  They lack any services but are very quiet and we feel very safe.  

We couldn’t find a spot to stay overnight again in Tucson but found a spot a little southeast that looked interesting and was close to Tombstone which we wanted to visit.  We had to pass through Tucson on the way and decided to take in the Pima Air and Space Museum before continuing to our next campground.  The museum opened in 1976 and has an enormous outdoor display of over 400 aircraft along with six indoor exhibit hangars.  There is a tram tour you can take around the grounds which takes about an hour but there are limited tickets available.  We got there just before 11 and were able to get tickets on the 12 o’clock tram.  We took advantage of the 45 minute wait and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the museum grounds.  Turned out to be a great idea as we were treated with a private airshow!   The museum is located across the road from the Davis Monthan-Tucson Air Force Base and they had all kinds of airplanes up practicing.  The first we saw was an A-10 Thunderbolt with two P-51 Mustangs with it in formation doing circuits.  After came an assortment of different aircraft including C-130 Hercules and F-16s.  Needless to say it was an enjoyable lunch for both of us.

After the airshow we thought the museum might be a let down but it was just as enjoyable.  The tram tour was very interesting and you were able to get very close to the aircraft on display.  They have an incredible assortment of aircraft, and helicopters, on display from a Wright Flyer all the way through to a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  Some of the more interesting, to me anyway, a Lockheed Super Constellation, Boeing 707 Airforce One (which actually carried JFK on board), and an SR-71 Blackbird.  

After a wonderful few hours in the museum we sat outside once more for a few minutes and saw some action from the air force base before continuing with a short drive down to Kartchner Caverns.

The caverns were discovered in 1974 by two local men exploring the limestone hills when they stumbled upon a small hole venting steam.  They managed to find their way in and discovered a huge labyrinth of caves covering many square miles.  They kept their discovery secret for two years as they kept exploring the passages.  Knowing the caves had to be protected they finally approached the government, told them of their discovery and the site was officially protected and later turned into a state park.

We arrived too late today for a tour and tickets are first-come first-served starting in the morning so we will check in the morning to see if we can get in.  

 

Mar. 4 – Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ

A beautiful morning today and after breakfast we enjoyed a pleasant hike to an old silver mine.  A moderate trail which traversed 8 washes and presented a variety of cactus and birds.  After the two hour – 7 km trek we grabbed a shower at the campground before checking out and enjoyed lunch at a picnic area by the visitor center. 

We found a nice area for boondocking near the north end of the park and close to our road towards Tucson tomorrow so we headed that way after lunch.  We found the area and picked up some supplies before picking out our spot for the night and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon in the sunshine and warmth. 

Mar. 3 – Yuma, AZ – Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ

We decided to break up the drive to Tucson and spend a couple of days exploring Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument which is also an International Biosphere Reserve.  It is home to many different types of cacti, plants, and animals.  Numerous hikes and scenic drives are available as well.  After some research we decided on boondocking somewhere in the park as many spots were listed on the internet.  Upon arrival we were informed that boondocking is not allowed in the park and all those sites that are available are outside park boundaries.  It was later in the day so we grabbed a site in the campground and spent the night in the middle of the park.

It wasn’t too busy in the campground this time of year and we found a nice spot.  The sites were not powered so we had to rely on our battery which is fine as long as we can charge it up a bit everyday from the generator.  That is usually not a problem but this campground had limited hours for running generators – 8 – 11 am and 3 – 6 pm – and it was now 5:45 so we only had 15 minutes to charge everything up.  The other drawback is we cannot run the microwave or toaster oven without the generator or external power so we had to change our supper plans.

 

Mar. 2 – Yuma, AZ

A nicer day today and Lauran, Kathy, Cheryl, and I enjoyed our nine holes of golf.  Lauran and I had a side bet going and I ended up having to buy the beer at the end of the round so instead of eggs and gas my winnings from last night went to a better cause.

We enjoyed one last night of visiting and cards before getting everything ready for our departure tomorrow.  Another good week in Yuma, other than the dental stuff although it was nice to get it done so quick, and we are on our way again.  Looks like the weather is starting to smarten up and we are excited to see some warmer, if not quite hot, days going forward.

Mar. 1 – Yuma, AZ

The four of us had golf booked today but the wind picked up and we decided to cancel and rebook for tomorrow.  With the bad weather Cheryl and a group of about 10 got together in the card room for a few games in the afternoon and I took the opportunity to catch up with the blog.

Every Wednesday there is a Texas Hold’em tournament and under pressure I agreed to join.  There were about 30 players and the buy-in was $6.  After a random draw for seating we started the tournament.  About three hours later, myself and two others were the only ones left standing at the final table.  I had a decent hand and went all in but was beat by a higher pair and ended up in third place and a huge payout of $25 –  not bad and now we can afford a dozen eggs and three gallons of gas!

 

Feb. 28 – Yuma, AZ – Algodones, MX

Once more to Mexico – four times now – good thing they don’t stamp our passports or they would be full!  It was a very quick visit with no freezing this time.  The crown fit almost perfect on the first attempt with just a minor adjustment needed.  Cheryl was in and out in under 30 minutes and we were back across the border quickly as we beat the line-up that forms later in the day.  

With all the dental work done we were now free to continue our adventure.  After looking at the weather we decided to hang out in Yuma for a couple more days as it was the nicest place around.  Tucson, Tombstone, and the state park we want to visit all had lows below zero until Friday when it started to warm up again.  Yuma was not great, with highs still only around 20 degrees and windy, but it was better than most.

We had to move sites but we were able to stay in the park and booked through until Friday and made plans for golf, groceries, laundry, etc.  

Tonight a live band was booked for the hall and Cheryl and I danced the night away with about 75 other people from the park.  It was a fun night with some good music and conversation.

Feb. 27 – Yuma, AZ – Algodones, MX

Back to Mexico again for an early dental appointment this morning.  Cheryl got a couple of cavities repaired and the tooth was prepared for the crown which will be ready tomorrow.  It was another couple of hours in the chair for Cheryl but the end is near.

This afternoon we relaxed around the pool and enjoyed some warmer weather finally.

Tonight we played card bingo again with the same results as last time!  Cheryl got close a couple of times but couldn’t finish.  Since we signed up late most groups of four were set so we found another couple and sat with them.  We had been introduced briefly at happy hour a few days back but didn’t have a chance to talk so we chatted while we were playing.  Turns out we have something in common with the lady – she asked us what we did and when we told her she got a strange look on her face and asked her if we knew somebody.   Her late husband was an air traffic controller at Edmonton Centre that Cheryl and I both knew.  After some more conversation we discovered that all four of us were at work Christmas parties together over the years!  Small world.

Feb. 25 & 26 – Yuma, AZ

We got a spot in the RV park and booked through until Wednesday when we will reevaluate and decide our next move.  

Cheryl was a bit sore from the dental work on Friday so took it easy all weekend.  Lauran and I got in a couple of golf games and all four of us visited and got in some card games.

Feb. 24 – Yuma, AZ – Algodones, Mexico

We arrived a bit early for the appointment and Cheryl got in right away.  There was definitely something wrong with her tooth as they found a large crack right down the middle.  After further examination the recommended course of action was a root canal, a temporary cap, and then a crown.  Cheryl wanted to get it fixed but also knew we had plans to continue the adventure and was curious on the timeline to get all this done.  The dentist told her the root canal and cap could be done right away but she would have to come back on Monday for some more finishing touches.  This is certainly not the system we are used to at home!  Come back in six months for the root canal, then come back in four months for some impressions and then come back –  well you get the picture.  The initial dentist didn’t do the root canal so they called somebody who was available.  They have a few in the area just go from office to office doing certain procedures.  It is like being in Home Depot – “I need a root canal in aisle 4” and the next available dentist shows up with their own assistant and away they go!  With the root canal done and the tooth prepped with a temporary cap we were out of the dentist in just under three hours.  They gave Cheryl a prescription for some painkillers so we filled that in Mexico and stood in line to cross the border back into the US.  

Cheryl had to book two more days, Monday and Tuesday, to finish off the work so we decided to grab a site in the same RV park again for a few days.  

 

Feb. 23 – Yuma, AZ

As we were driving into to Yuma yesterday, Cheryl got in touch with the dentist we visited earlier to see if she could get an appointment in the next day or two.  About 10 days ago she noticed something wrong with her back molar and couldn’t figure out what it was.  She initially thought something was stuck in the gum but it got worse and was starting to hurt more so she thought she should get it checked.  She received an email saying they had a spot available tomorrow morning at 10 so we took that and settled in to spend another day in Yuma.  I went back to volleyball and Lauran and I got in a golf game in the afternoon.  We stayed at the truck stop again and got ready for a visit to Mexico in the morning.

 

Feb. 22 – San Diego, CA – Yuma, AZ

The forecasted storm hit during the night bringing colder temperatures and high winds.  We both woke in the middle of the night to the sound of our barbecue tumbling off the picnic table and down the road.  I quickly got dressed and rescued the grill, two camping chairs, and my flip-flops – unfortunately my beach towel was nowhere to be seen.  In the morning we woke to rain mixed with hail and applauded our decision to go back to Arizona.  Miraculously my towel reappeared –  I guess it ended up in the neighbour’s site and they knew it was mine and returned it!  We didn’t have far to drive so we took our time getting ready and hit the road just before noon.  Being on the east side of San Diego we missed the traffic and were on I8 heading east quickly.  The weather turned poor for me and disastrous for Cheryl as we climbed the pass about 30 minutes out of San Diego.  The temperature dropped to zero and there was rain/snow falling as we climbed above 6,000 feet.  The snow plows were out and the road was clear but it was just at a bad temperature for freezing to the surface as the precipitation fell.  We got through the worst of it in about 30 minutes and started to descend into warmer temperatures.  It was soon 15 degrees and Cheryl was able to put her book down and look outside once more.

We stopped in El Centro for some supplies and to pick up some things for our friends in Yuma that they can’t get there.  We got to Yuma late afternoon and had another visit with our neighbours from home before going to the truck stop down the road to spend the night.

Feb. 21 – San Diego, CA

Well today the weather starts changing and it gets cooler.  Today looks like the last decent day as the rest of the week does not look nice so we decided that whatever we wanted to do outside in San Diego better be today.  Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve was another recommendation from the couple we met in Borrego Springs – a large in city park along the coast with some great hikes and amazing views.  It is also right next door to Torrey Pines Golf Course which made the decision to visit very easy.  We were fortunate to find a parking spot along the shore just outside the park and away from the expensive parking lot – there are about 100 spots along the road but they fill up quick.  We took the trail to the top of the cliffs and were rewarded with some great views.  This area reminded both of us of the Oregon coast – high cliffs, the odd sandy beach, cool mist off the ocean, and windy.

After a couple of hours there we went to Torrey Pines Golf Course for lunch and a look around the iconic course.  It is home to two 18-hole layouts and hosts the PGA Tour each year in late January for the Farmers Insurance Open.  We were fortunate to get a table outside overlooking the first tee-box and enjoyed the view while we had lunch.  We decided to “exit through the gift shop” and picked up a couple of items as mementos.  I won’t say what we bought but they will probably show up in pictures going forward!

We stayed in the area after lunch as we were hoping to connect with our good friends from Leduc, Bill and Marilyn, who were in San Diego this week with family.  They had rented a house in Oceanside which was nearby and we didn’t want to go all the way back to our campsite only to make the trip back again later.  What should we do for an hour – Cheryl suggested Macys – so off we went as it was close.  The timing worked great, Bill emailed just as we were leaving Macys that they were at the house if we wanted to stop by.  We visited with them and their family for a couple of hours and headed back to the campsite.

We checked the forecast for the San Diego area once more for the next few days and it had gotten worse.  Once again the weather forced us to Plan B, C, D and we decided to head back east again where it was somewhat better.  The only nice thing about the system coming in was the strong west wind it was bringing which would blow us back to Arizona and help with gas mileage.

Feb. 20 – San Diego, CA

It is President’s Day today in the US and SeaWorld had a flash sale last night while Cheryl was researching things to do so we decided to visit.  We took the 25 minute drive down to SeaWorld, found a place to park the beast and enjoyed a wonderful few hours in the park.  It was a great day to spend outside being sunny and temperatures reaching about 22 degrees.  The park is huge and we didn’t get to see everything but definitely hit the highlights – dolphin, otter, and orca shows, as well as the penguin and shark adventures.  Being a holiday and cheap tickets available I was expecting it to be much busier than it was but it was bearable.  There were still thousands of people in the park but we never stood in line for anything too long and got great seats at the outdoor shows.  The highlights for me were the dolphin and orca performances – these are the ones you see highlights of where the people sitting in the front rows get soaked by jumping dolphins and whales.  The shark adventure was very interesting as well – after you walk along the large pond with numerous sharks and fish you step on an underwater, glass-covered, moving walkway that inches along and you get the feeling you are swimming with the sharks.

We left mid afternoon after finding a decent campground nearby that was available for two nights and looked very nice.  Showers, laundry, trails, lakes, free wi-fi, but most importantly a hot tub!  The park is called Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve and is about 20-30 minutes inland from San Diego.  We got a campsite that backed onto one of the seven lakes that make up the area.  You can see a few houses atop one of the nearby hills but other than that you don’t feel like you are close to a major city.

We had a nice barbecue supper, enjoyed the hot tub, and figured out the plan for tomorrow.

 

Feb. 19 – Anza Borrego, CA – San Diego, CA

Other than the coyotes it was a very quiet night as we were parked away from the highway which wasn’t a busy road to begin with.  There was only one other boondocker we could see but a few people had made an early morning drive probably to watch the sunrise and then check out the wildflowers along the trails.  We grabbed our coffee and took an early morning stroll before breakfast.  

We had about a two hour drive into San Diego and we got there in time for lunch and some exploring.  A couple we met at the parking lot last night were from San Diego and pointed us towards some good spots to eat, see, hike, etc.  Their first recommendation we took was a pizza place in Carlsbad famous for their pizzas and beer selections.  We enjoyed our lunch and took advantage of the wi-fi to scope out a place to spend the night.  We couldn’t find anything that was available or if it was it was very expensive so we decided on a nearby rest area.  It was very busy when we arrived at the rest area late afternoon but we found a spot and settled in for the night.  As rest areas go it was very nice with a fantastic location right along the ocean.  It sat up on a hill and the view was what you would expect from a 5-star hotel not a rest area on Interstate 5!  We enjoyed the sunset and researched our day for tomorrow.

Feb. 18 – Anza Borrego, CA

Woke to another great morning of clear blue skies and great scenery.  Not too much planned for today just enjoying the park.  After a nice breakfast we took the short drive back to the town and found another market set up in the square.  It looked like different vendors so we checked it out but found nothing of interest – our hummus guy was not there unfortunately because it is almost gone!  

Our next stop was another recommended hike called Hellhole Canyon – sounds interesting.  Similar to our trek yesterday and still no borrego sightings.  After the hike we found a small laundromat and decided to take advantage of it.  Some grocery shopping and a nice lunch in the camper and our clothes were done.  We took advantage of the services in the park to grab a shower and dump the camper before continuing.

The next boondocking site suggested to us was another “desert wash” but this was known for wildflowers that should be in bloom this time of year.  It is located at the southern end of the park which worked well for us as that put us close to Interstate 8 again and our route into San Diego.  The truck GPS was very little use to us and the Xeroxed map from the visitor centre probably would have been put to better use in an outhouse but we found our home for the night.  We parked in a small area and walked in a few hundred meters to make sure it was passable in the truck as it looked a little rough and sandy but is was fine.  We returned to get the truck and ended up about 800 meters off the main highway in a nice little spot surrounded by hills and bright purple flowers.  We took a short hike to explore further and got back to the camper just before dark to enjoy another clear night sky in peace and quiet.

After supper we were in the camper and heard the coyotes howling and they sounded very close.  I had to venture outside to grab something from the truck but wasn’t sure just how close this pack of coyotes were.  I made some noise and opened up the door rather loudly and stepped outside like Neil Armstrong leaving the Eagle and walking on the moon.  After a brief scan of the area with my trust 99 cent WalMart flashlight I turned it off and felt comfortable making the long voyage to the driver’s door of the truck.  My confidence was soon shattered by an outline in the shadows of something I couldn’t distinguish – I froze – may have had a small accident, finally my brain caught up with my fear and informed me it was Cheryl’s camping chair which she had left there when we went in for supper after the sun went down and was too cold to sit outside.  I kicked the chair, laughed at myself for being a little girl, got what I needed from the truck and the walk back to the camper didn’t seem quite as far!  The coyotes kept howling all night, maybe not so much howling but more laughing at the funny guy in the camper.

Feb. 17 – Joshua Tree National Park, California – Anza Borrego Desert State Park, CA

Another quiet night in the middle of nowhere with only a few coyotes howling to break the silence.  It is so nice to be away from the cities and highways, the peacefulness and the night sky on a clear night is something you don’t get at a campground or truck stop.

We did some research on the Joshua Tree Park and decided it wasn’t worth a visit this time and headed toward the Salton Sea south of Palm Springs on our way to Anza Borrego Park.  The Salton Sea is a shallow, highly saline lake which lies on the San Andreas fault.  In the 50’s and 60’s it was a popular resort destination.  That didn’t last long.  In the 70’s and 80’s contamination from farm runoff caused the spread of disease which killed off much of the wildlife in the area.  Saline levels grew so high that massive fish kills occurred and left dead fish carcasses littering the beaches.  

At almost the southern end of the Salton Sea we turned west again and entered Anza Borrego State Park.  It is the largest state park in California featuring many washes, wildflowers, palm groves, hiking trails, etc.  We had a few days until we wanted to be in San Diego so we decided to spend a couple of nights here in one of their numerous boondocking areas.  

Our first stop was a market set up in the town square of Borrego Springs, a small town completely surrounded by the park.  It was your typical farmer’s market with numerous tents selling everything from popcorn to clothing.  We found one that looked interesting and purchased $20 worth of hummus, feta cheese, and crackers.  The one hummus was called “The Kitchen Sink” and it is by far the best either Cheryl or I have ever had.  We took a picture of the lid to get the ingredients and will try to get the right proportions once we get home and make it ourselves – we will let you know if we are successful or not!

We stopped in at the visitor centre to get our day pass and some maps/information about the park.  The lady there was very helpful and directed us to a nice trail and also to a remote site for boondocking that is seldom used.  We enjoyed the recommended hike although we did not see the borrego – spanish for bighorn sheep – that are often seen in the cliffs along the trail.

Our next adventure was to find Jasper Trail road at mile marker 7 on Montezuma Valley Road that we should take for about 1.5 miles to find our spot for the night.  Well, up and up we went on the highway and found our destination.  Unfortunately we went up and up so much we were at 6,000 feet again with wisps of snow on the ground.  We did find a great spot to park the truck but it was only 6 degrees so after some deliberation we decided to get back down closer to sea-level again to enjoy the bit of sunshine we had left in the afternoon and spend the night.  We found a bit busier boondocking area and backed in to our spot.  It was 14 degrees here and we sat outside for a bit before the sun went down and it cooled off.

Our neighbour at River Island who told us about this park had mentioned there were sculptures scattered around the park of dinosaurs, dragons, horses, etc.  There are over 130 throughout the park and we happened upon a few when we parked the truck.  Tomorrow we will try to find some more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feb. 14 – 16 – River Island State Park, Parker, AZ

We have enjoyed the last three days staying in one place.  It is nice not to have to rush and get organized in the morning to hit the road.  The campground had nice shower/restroom facilities and we were able to find some great hikes each day.

Today we golfed again at Emerald Canyon, teeing-off just before 10 am.  We were joined by a couple of gentleman from Wisconsin who were staying in the area for a few weeks with their wives.  It was a fun group and we enjoyed the round of golf.  

After golf, we fueled and washed the truck and headed west into California.  Our neighbours at River Island suggested a State Park that they have visited a few times so we went that way.  We stopped for the night just outside of Palm Springs on the southern edge of the Joshua Tree National Park.  We found another dispersed camping area just outside the park and settled in for the night.

 

 

Feb. 13 – Lake Havasu City, AZ – Parker, AZ.

We spent the night back in Craggy Wash again after our quick trip to the Grand Canyon.  This morning we got some laundry done and drove around more of Lake Havasu including some sub-divisions to get a feel for the city.  We both enjoy the city and will probably rent a place here in the upcoming years during the winter.  We did one more hike over the London Bridge and along the lake before returning to Parker and checking into our campground.

A small but decent campground called River Island State Park.  This will be home until Thursday when we have another tee-time booked at Emerald Canyon and then will be heading west after that.  

Some nice trails in the area and our site backs onto the Colorado River for a very nice view.  

 

Feb. 12 – Grand Canyon, South Rim, AZ – Skywalk, Hualapai Reservation Land, AZ. – Lake Havasu City, AZ

Woke to a chilly morning but beautiful blue skies over the Grand Canyon.  We packed up camp, took one more hike along the south rim and hit the road back the way we came toward Kingman and the Skywalk.  Upon arrival, we parked the truck, bought our tickets, and boarded the bus which takes you out to the Skywalk.  I have to admit it was underwhelming and a huge waste of money.  It was a unique view through the glass floor but that was about it.  It looks bigger in their description and pictures than it actually is.  To add to the disappointment, they won’t allow you to take any pictures while you are on the Skywalk.  They are more than happy to take some of you and sell them to you in the gift shop if you so desire.  After we walked off the platform and waited for the bus to take us to the next tourist trap we both felt like we had just been taken in by a scam.

The next stop lifted our spirits a bit.  It was another lookout over the canyon but it offered some better views.  There were no rails and you were allowed to climb up rocks and get right up to the edge of the canyon.  We enjoyed that stop and didn’t feel quite as much like gullible, stupid tourists as we got back in the truck and went back to Lake Havasu.

South Rim National Park – 5 out of 5 stars.  

Skywalk – 0 out of 5 stars.  

Feb. 11 – Lake Havasu City, AZ – Grand Canyon, South Rim, AZ

The weather in the area was looking very nice for the upcoming days so we tried to find a campsite in Lake Havasu or back by Parker to spend a few days relaxing, golfing, and enjoying the weather.  Unfortunately being the weekend there was not much available but we did find a nice spot just outside of Parker for three nights starting Monday, Feb. 13.  That left us a couple of days to fill in and we decided to visit the Grand Canyon since we were fairly close.  We initially set out to visit the Skywalk – a glass-bottomed, horseshoe-shaped viewing platform with a glass floor.  The platform extends 70 feet out over the rim of the Grand Canyon giving a clear view to the canyon floor which is 4,000 feet down.  After the Skywalk we were going to visit the South Rim of the canyon which is a national park and provides some stunning views of the canyon with places to camp overnight.  On the way we did some calculating and decided to hit the South Rim first and then backtrack tomorrow to the Skywalk and finish back in Lake Havasu.  We entered the park into the trusty GPS and in another three hours we were there.  

As we headed north into the park we found ourselves climbing quite high and we hit snow before the park entrance.  We had planned to boondock just outside the park but that plan was quickly laid to rest as all the spots were either covered in snow or the roads in unpassable. We entered the park and were told that two of their campgrounds were open year round but not sure if all the sites were available due to the snow!  We checked in at one campground and were told that one loop had been plowed and had a few spots available.  We drove through, picked a good site and paid for the night.  The forecast was for well below freezing tonight and Cheryl reminded me a few times that she had packed away her toque and mitts and this is not what she had in mind when we discussed “going south for the winter”!  

We dug out the sweaters, toques, mitts, and decent shoes for walking in the snow and ice and headed for the visitor center and South Rim walking trail.  The views made up for the chilly weather and we enjoyed the next couple of hours taking in the amazing views of the Grand Canyon.  There is a road tour, Hermit Road Trail, that is only accessible by shuttle-bus for most of the year.  Fortunately, December through February, they open it to private vehicles as the park is not too busy during those months.  That is probably “due to all the frickin’ snow” as Cheryl pointed out!  It is a 7-mile road along the southern rim of the canyon with 9 overlooks that provide some great vantage points to see the canyon and river.  At many of the stops we had the area to ourselves and enjoyed the peacefulness that anyone visiting in the summer months could not imagine.  It was a little chilly but the views, empty parking lots, and the lack of screaming kids warmed our hearts.

We enjoyed a nice meal in the camper, made sure the furnace worked, and settled in for another peaceful night in a pretty much empty campground.

Feb. 10 – Parker, AZ – Lake Havasu City, AZ

Cheryl and I woke up with full intentions of using the facilities in the casino hotel this morning. A quick dip, hot tub, and then a nice shower before we hit the road but unfortunately our plans were foiled by an 11 am opening time.  Since we had to leave Parker well before 11 am we once again changed our plans.  We met the group for breakfast and then loaded up, hit WalMart for a couple of supplies and headed up the road for a short drive to Lake Havasu City.  The lake was formed when the Parker dam was built on the Colorado River which started in 1934 and was completed in 1938.  It now provides water for most of the major cities in the southwest. In fact, more than 40 million people depend on Lake Havasu for their water.  Six out of the eight of us that drove up from Yuma made the trip to Lake Havasu.  Before we had left Yuma we arranged a short boat tour for the six of us at 1 pm.  It was only an hour but very informative about the lake, the city, and the area.  After the boat trip we parted ways as the other four wanted to get back to Yuma and Cheryl and I wanted to explore some more.  We enjoyed a nice hike along the lake and had lunch under the London Bridge.  For those of you that don’t know, the London Bridge was slowly sinking on the Thames River and was slated to be replaced so the city of London decided to put it up for auction to see if they could sell it.  Well, some rich guy from LA had plans to build a new city around Lake Havasu and thought it would be cool to have the bridge so he bought it.  It was dismantled, each stone numbered so it could be rebuilt exactly, shipped across the Atlantic, transported to Lake Havasu and reassembled.  It is in Trivial Pursuit and was a final question on the TV show Jeopardy – the most expensive antique ever purchased.

After looking for places to stay in the area we came to the realization we were not going to find a campground anywhere.  It is very busy here this time of year with all the snowbirds so we had to find alternate accommodations.  I think I mentioned it earlier in our travels but we always thought we would be able to find free places to stay – boondocking or “off the grid”.  Arizona is full of these and we found a great one just north of the city called Craggy Wash Dispersed Camping.  It is as glamourous as it sounds!  No services, no designated sites, and no fees (and no cell coverage).  We drove in down a rough gravel road about three miles and found quite a few campers, trailers, vans, cars, you name it, just plopped on whatever piece of desert they could find.  We found a small access road up a bit of a hill that anybody pulling a trailer or fifth wheel would not have been able to manage but we made it up and found a great spot to spend the night.  Quiet, secluded, and a night sky show that was absolutely amazing.

We have plans to head north for a bit before coming back this way and if we have the time we are stopping here again!

Feb. 9 – Parker, AZ

We had an early start to the day this morning. We had to get organized, grab breakfast, dump the septic and hit the road by 8ish. This course has been recommended to us and everyone we tell we are going says we are going to love it.  We manage to get going at a good time and arrived in Parker in plenty of time to grab a quick bite in the camper and hit the driving range before our tee-time.  I must say the course lived up to the hype.  A lovely layout amongst the rocks and canyons.  Some narrow holes with rock walls lining both sides of the fairway which made for some spectacular scenery and very difficult tee shots!

After golf we met at the casino where the other six had rooms for the night and Cheryl and I took advantage of the free RV parking in their lot.  We all met for supper and then hit the casino.  Well…it wasn’t quite free parking for us but Cheryl and I had a fun evening.

Feb. 8 – Yuma, AZ

Lauran and Kathy were fantastic hosts again. Cheryl joined Lauran and I for volleyball this morning because it was at 9 and aquasize is at 8 and she wanted to sleep in! Volleyball seems to be a popular activity in the park with 12-16 people playing on the days I was there so we could easily field six players a side with some spares. On a scale of 1-10 the talent level starts at 2 and goes down from there! Most rallies end rather quickly. If the ball gets back and forth over the net much more than three times a collective cheer is heard and a minor discussion is had about how good that rally was. I think the players just need to catch their breath and that is the reason for the short discussion. Truthfully I was impressed watching some of these people play. They have a few players in their 80’s who come and play often. After volleyball Lauran drove me over so I could fill up my propane tank without having to disconnect the truck and camper from power and water.

They then took us for another nice drive in the area to Mittry Lake for a hike and some exploring. Along the way we were lucky to come across a field of Romaine lettuce that was being picked. Every morning busloads of Mexican workers come across the border to work in any of the 100s of fields in the area either to plant, weed, pick, or any other job that needs doing. We pulled to the side of the road to watch the process of them picking the lettuce for a few minutes. It was amazing to witness – the speed, the efficiency, the lack of waste. It was a fine tuned machine running at peak speed. The lettuce was picked, washed, and bagged in a matter of seconds.
On the way home we stopped at a date farm for a break and to enjoy a date shake. That was a milkshake! I think I am still getting little pieces of date out of my teeth.

Tomorrow eight of us from the resort go to Parker, Arizona for a golf trip.  There is a great golf course there and a casino/hotel for Cheryl and I to park in and the other six have rooms booked there.  We got everything ready tonight for an early departure in the morning and enjoyed the hot tub one last time.

It has been a wonderful week here in Yuma.  We met so many nice people and having Lauran and Kathy here to show us around and organize us was fantastic.  

Now, on to the next adventure!

Feb. 7 – Yuma, AZ

Men’s Golf League was this morning. I walked over to Lauran’s and we left for golf at 7:15 am. Since I was the new guy I wasn’t allowed in on any of the prizes but still got to play in the league. It was a nice course with a great layout but the fairways were in poor condition. A lot of places we had to move our golf ball around to find a decent bit of grass to hit from. Cheryl enjoyed aquacize in the morning with Kathy while Lauran and I were golfing and then her and I enjoyed the pool later in the afternoon. After supper we were back at Lauran and Kathy’s with another couple for a visit and a few card games before we hit the hot tub again before bed.

Feb. 6 – Yuma, AZ

Cheryl took the morning off any activities and I joined Lauran for 9am volleyball. After some errands in town with Lauran and Kathy we stopped for lunch at a wonderful sandwich stop with homemade soups and breads before heading off for some exploring around the area. Our hosts took us out to Martinez Lake for a hike along the Painted Desert Trail.  Martinez Lake was formed when the Imperial Dam was completed on the Colorado River in 1935.  The resort here was started in 1955 and has expanded ever since to include fishing derbies, boating, and hiking.  It now has RV parks, rental accommodations, 100 slip boat dock, marina with gas dock.  It wasn’t very busy today but I imagine in the warmer months it would get hopping.

The area just north on the outskirts of Yuma is flat and used for growing vegetables, dates, cotton, etc.  The fields are irrigated and can turn over three or four crops a year of different produce – eg. cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, etc.  As you get farther north out of the city the area is mostly desert and barren owned by either the government or indian reservations.  The US Military operates the Yuma Proving Ground as a test area for ground combat arsenal and boasts the longest overland range in the country.  They also utilize the area to keep an eye on those pesky Mexicans trying to cross the border.  They have large helium filled balloons tethered by cables which float 10,000 feet above ground used as border surveillance. 

Tonight was card bingo in the rec center!  The place was packed, about 180 people, and golf carts lined the parking lot outside! All the carts were backed in to allow for a quick getaway at the end.  The game usually doesn’t end until close to 9 pm so everyone is anxious to get home to bed!  It is a knock-off of traditional bingo with each group of four players dealt all the cards from a deck.  The caller just flips cards from another deck and if that is your card you remove it.  First person in the room to remove all the cards has a bingo.  Most groups run “side-bets” for a bit more excitement.  Everyone in the group of four adds a quarter before each game and the winner collects the dollar.  Some people just play whoever has the first card turned over wins the pot, some groups each select one of their own cards and whichever of those is called first wins the pot.  Cheryl and I didn’t win any of the bingo games but we got a few side-bets – the quarters will come in handy for laundry!

Feb. 4 and 5 – Yuma, AZ

Saturday and Sunday were golf days.  Saturday nine holes with a group from the park and Sunday an 18-hole Par-3 course with a lunch outing after.  Finally some decent weather and we both enjoyed the weekend.

 

Feb. 3 – Yuma, AZ

Lauran and Kathy had a busy day planned for us today which started with us having to set an alarm!  This retirement stuff is hard.  Cheryl and Kathy had aquacize at 7:45 and Lauran signed me up for volleyball at 9 of all things .  I have never in my life set an alarm for volleyball!  Work of course, golf absolutely, but volleyball?  It was an enjoyable hour and I was surprised how quickly something I last did in grade school came back to me.  

After our morning exercise we headed off to explore the area.  We had told Lauran and Kathy we wanted to hit Mexico while we were there and today was the only day it worked so off we went.  On our way we stopped at an historical site just west of Yuma very close to the Mexican border called the plank highway.  This area is very sandy with shifting dunes which were easy for horses to traverse but with the popularity of the “horseless carriage” in the early 20th century a new way of crossing the dunes was necessary. A plank road was devised which consisted of 12 foot by 8 foot sections of wooden planks which were laid end to end atop the sand dunes and allowed the Model T’s of the time to cross the desert.  The planks could be assembled nearby and placed where needed quickly.  It was a one-way road which caused traffic jams so extra sections, or “pull-outs”, were placed every 1,000 feet to allow people going in different directions to pass.  It wasn’t perfect as the sand would drift over the planks sometimes causing the road to completely disappear and many cars got stuck.  Horse-drawn scrapers were used to clear the sand but that damaged the plank sections and made for a very rough ride.  The plank road opened in 1915 and carried vehicles for over a decade until it was replaced with an asphalt road in 1926 that became highway US80 and more recently Interstate 8.

After the drive through the desert we parked the car at the border and casually walked into Mexico.  I say that because there was absolutely no border security at all going into Mexico.  A quick walk through a one-way turnstile and you are in a different country.  No passport check, no metal detectors, nothing.  I’ve been through stricter security going to a junior-high Christmas concert!  The wall and security going the other way is a different story but I digress.  The big reason Cheryl and I wanted to come to Mexico was for some dental work.  We have both heard how cheap it is here and since we both loss dental coverage in retirement we thought we would check it out.  Lauran and Kathy have used this dentist before and they set up a cleaning and check-up for us.  For the back of a van it seemed very clean and I’m sure K-Tel is a highly respected manufacturer of dental instruments.  Just kidding!  The office was very nice and the cleaning and check-up ran $50 USD each.  If we ever need stuff done in the future neither of us would hesitate booking an appointment with her.  We had some lunch, I think we chose a Mexican place, supported the local economy by purchasing some street corner shrimp and a bottle or two of Tequila and Kahlua.

Now we had to endure the border security going the other way.  Lauran was smart and went and got in line while I was still in the dentist’s office and we met him 45 minutes later which still meant about a 30 or 40 minute wait to get through US Customs and Immigration.  We headed back to the RV park just in time for, you guessed it, happy hour!

 

Feb. 2 – Lake Pleasant – Yuma, AZ

This morning we left for Yuma.  Why are we going to Yuma you ask?  Our next door neighbours from Leduc – Lauran and Kathy – have a spot there and keep telling us every year that we have to come and see them so we finally took them up on their offer.  They are in a 55+ RV resort and have a “park model” there, kind of a big trailer, mobile home sort of thing that they can leave there year round.  We were able to book an empty lot that we could park the truck in with power, water, and sewer for the week that was about 4 doors down from them so we took the opportunity to go and visit and check out the area.

We arrived mid-afternoon which just happened to be happy hour so we got the truck set up in the lot and walked down to join our neighbours and meet some of their friends.  We caught up, stayed for supper, played some cards, and then Cheryl and I wanted to check out the pool and hot tub before it closed at 10 pm so we said goodnight, grabbed our trunks and hit the pool.  Being a 55+ resort there was not much action going on as we made our way to the hot tub and even less as we sauntered back to our truck around 10.  I think everyone is in bed early, maybe because of happy hour at 4!

Jan. 27 – Feb. 2 – Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Sorry for the bulk days posting but we didn’t do too much each day that deserved a separate post!  We had to move campsites once because of availability but it was nice to know where we were sleeping every night.  Cheryl and I golfed on Saturday at a course close to the old house and I played once more on Wednesday.  Cheryl came with me to the golf course but enjoyed the day in the area on her own doing yoga and walking the neighborhood.  Monday we got some things accomplished that we had been putting off – Cheryl finally got her glasses fixed that she bent a few weeks back and the truck got an oil change and of course we had to do some laundry.  There are some great trails in the park and we enjoyed a hike most days.  The park is known for its wild burros or as I like to call them – donkeys.  They are known to come right into the campsites although we did not witness that.  One of the trails is called Wild Burro and it is very common to see them along the path – just not on the days we walked it!  We did see them though throughout the stay.  One day as we were returning late afternoon there were two along the road so we stopped to get some pictures.  They came over to the truck and as Cheryl was trying to get a pic one stuck his head right into the truck!  Certainly not wild burros!  Cheryl got some good pictures and we had donkey smear on the truck for a few days until we found a car wash.

Jan. 27 – Phoenix, AZ

Tonight we have a campsite booked at Lake Pleasant Regional Park just outside Phoenix to the north.  I have driven by it many times but never visited.  After some research last night and this morning we found a mattress manufacturer based in Phoenix that claims to make any size bed you need.  We found the showroom but they didn’t have anything in stock that would fit but we had an idea – could they cut us a chunk of mattress foam that was the correct size?  We were going to wrap it in a protective cover anyway so what difference would it make if it was covered from the factory.  The lady showed us their different levels of foam – firmness and quality – and we made our choice.  She called the warehouse – which was relatively close – and asked if they could cut what we needed and we would stop by and pick it up this afternoon.  Much to our surprise they said they could and for us to stop by after 1 o’clock and they would have it ready for us and they would even discard our old mattress for us as well.  It ended up costing a little over $400 but fits perfect and feels good to lay on.  I will let you know in a week or so if we have sore backs or hips!

Jan. 26 – Phoenix, AZ

We got to Phoenix mid-morning as there was a few things we needed to get done.  First was laundry so we got that out of the way.  Second, we had a couple of issues with the camper we had to address and Phoenix had 3 different Travelyte dealers for us to visit.  Nothing major but since we purchased the camper in February last year our warranty was going to expire by the time we returned to Leduc so we wanted to at least get a file started on the defects so the dealership at home knew we addressed them before the warranty was over.  The first dealer was no assistance at all and kept telling us he was too busy to work on a unit that wasn’t purchased there so we went to a different dealer.  This one happened to be close to the house we owned in Phoenix a few years back so it was nice to visit the old neighborhood.  Everything looked so familiar!  The service manager here was excellent and was very helpful but unfortunately didn’t have any parts in stock that we needed so we still couldn’t get the problems fixed.  He took our phone number and is going to call us when the parts arrive and he can schedule a service appointment.  The one issue we had was with the mattress and needed it replaced.  At some point it must have got wet and there was some mold issues so we needed it replaced right away.  The dealer said it would be a few weeks until it arrived if they ordered one from the factory and our best bet was to just go and buy one that fit and probably get reimbursed from the manufacturer.  We discovered it is very difficult to find a specific size mattress for truck campers.  The bed in the camper is called a “Short Queen” 60X75 inches as opposed to a standard queen of 60X80.  Places like Mattress Firm or any other bed store had all kinds of queen mattresses in stock we could get for $200-$300 but as soon as you say it is for an RV the price jumps to closer to $1,000 and they have to order one in -“be here in 6 to 8 weeks”.  After all our running around it was getting close to 5 o’clock and the specialty stores were closing for the day and we needed to find a place to stay the night.  We checked a truck stop nearby on I-10 but it was crowded so we went a little south and spent the night in a casino parking lot.  Not a very successful day for getting the camper fixed but we have all day Friday and in a city the size of Phoenix we assumed we would be able to find a bed for the camper.

Jan. 25 – Picacho Peak State Park, AZ

As I mentioned in yesterday’s update we thought we might have to change plans and we did.  We were planning on spending some time in the Tucson area.  Neither of us had been here before and there was some stuff we wanted to do like golf, go to Tombstone, Saguaro National Park, etc.  We both decided that since we were so close to Phoenix we would find a place there and return to Tucson later once we could find a nice place to stay closer to the city.  We couldn’t find anything in Phoenix for a couple of days so we checked at the main office in this park and they had a different site available for tonight in the same loop so we took that one and moved over.  We booked A Phoenix campground starting the day after tomorrow so all we had to do was find a place to park tomorrow somewhere.  We took a short drive to a small town to get some groceries, had another nice hike, and just enjoyed the day in the campground.

 

Jan. 24 – Las Cruces, NM – Tucson, Arizona

We spent the first part of our day checking out the rest area since it was dark when we arrived last night.  It sits up very high overlooking the city and has won prizes for Best Rest Area a few times (didn’t know they had such a thing).  There is a large Roadrunner sculpture there made of recycled materials such as tires, computer parts, shoes, and I even saw some crutches!  We packed up a breakfast to go, got on I-10 and headed west towards sunshine and warmth.  We had researched some places to stay and settled on a small RV park on the east side of town.  Once we arrived, however, we both decided against spending the night there.  It was very crowded and just didn’t look appealing to us so we continued up the road and found some other options.  Since the RV places we saw looked liked glorified parking lots we went back to looking at campgrounds as we have always had luck with them.  We found a decent looking one that was pretty much right in town and after stopping for groceries, fuel, and washing the truck we arrived only to be told that they were absolutely full! We asked about other campgrounds in the area but they said they were all booked as well.  Oh-oh.  It was getting late in the afternoon and we were running out of options.  There were some truck stops and rest areas around Tucson but they were all at least an hours drive away.  One of the park rangers suggested one other option – a state park up I-10 towards Phoenix that might have some spots left.  We called Picacho Peak State Park and they said they had 3 spots for tonight but we had to get there within 45 minutes or the gate was closing.  The GPS said 38 minutes and we made it with about 5 minutes to spare and took one of their last sites.  It was a very nice spot with some great hiking trails but we were farther out of Tucson than we wanted to be, about 40 minutes.  We settled in for the night, happy we had a nice play to stay, but thinking we would probably have to amend our plans again!

Jan. 23 – Palo Duro Park, TX – Roswell, New Mexico – Las Cruces Rest Area

Another very quiet night in a peaceful campground.  We took advantage of the free shower facilities and got an early start as we wanted to put some miles on today and get closer to Tucson.  Initially we had planned to stay north out of Amarillo and cross through New Mexico into Albuquerque, then through Winslow, Arizona (to see the crater), Flagstaff and south into Phoenix.  Guess what – the weather didn’t cooperate again as Albuquerque was showing lows around -10 and highs around 0 so we changed plans and went south again as Tuscon was looking nice.  We angled southwest out of the park, crossed into New Mexico and ended up in Roswell early afternoon.  Roswell became famous in June 1947 when debris of unknown nature was discovered just outside of town.  Since nobody, including the military or government, could identify what it was it was deemed extraterrestrial in nature and the first “confirmed” proof of a UFO was on display.  The city has played up the “encounter” since then and has fun with it.  The worlds only flying saucer shaped McDonalds is on main street, the streetlights have alien looking eyes on them, and many businesses have alien sounding names, UFO Parking Only signs can be seen, and the local brewery has a line of alien beers.  We visited the “International UFO Museum and Research Center” which I think is the only research center I have been in that has a gift shop!  It was cute and we enjoyed the hour break before we continued our drive.  We found a rest area in Las Cruces, New Mexico, that looked nice and gave us a short drive into Tucson tomorrow that was just over three hours away so we set our sights there and continued through New Mexico.  Unfortunately we ran into some poor weather as we had to cross a pass that was over 7,000 feet in elevation.  The temperature dropped from about 12 degrees in Roswell to -5 as we climbed the pass.  We ran into some snow but it wasn’t sticking to the road.  We had to slow down for the weather but made it through and once we dropped out on the other side the temperature warmed up again and we arrived in Las Cruces about 45 minutes later than we had planned at around 7:30 pm and were fortunate to find a spot to park as the rest area was very busy.  

A complete day covering a beautiful canyon to start, an alien adventure in Roswell, and a bit of a white-knuckle drive over the pass to finish it off.  The drive through New Mexico was very boring as there was nothing to see on our route.  I think the state is very poor as many of the towns we drove through looked very run down if not completely abandoned.  The land is rolling and would probably be suitable for agriculture but I don’t think they get much rain.  The only commercial entities we saw were massive feedlots for cattle and I mean massive.  If someone told me they held 100,000 cattle I would not be surprised.  We did see a sign or slogan somewhere in our travels that called New Mexico the beef processing capital of the world.

Jan. 22 – Gray County Rest Area – Amarillo, TX – Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

The wind woke us up a few times throughout the night but it wasn’t too bad.  The inside of the rest area was set up like a little museum and was very informative.  We discovered a lot about the area and in the daylight one could see why it was so windy – just bald flat prairie for as far as you could see.  There is absolutely nothing in the way to stop the wind from the southern end of the Rockies!  We saw some ranchland and cattle but no crops to speak of, just a bleak part of the state.  It was dark the last couple of hours of our drive yesterday so we didn’t notice until we got on the road this morning the number of windmills dotting the countryside.  I guess with the constant wind at such a high speed it is prime location for generating power.

We needed a couple of stops in Amarillo before doing the tourist stuff.  The truck needed an oil change and we had to top up our propane tank.  The oil change was a bust.  Being Sunday there wasn’t much open other than the express oil-change places and the ones we stopped at weren’t big enough to fit the truck and camper through their doors.  After topping up the propane we toured around and stopped at all the sights.  Guess what – there are not very many sights to see in Amarillo!  I don’t know what we were expecting but Amarillo is a bit of a dud.  We did discover it is called “Bomb City” because it is the final point of assembly and disassembly of nuclear warheads.  The Pantex plant is the largest employer in the area and is called “The Bomb Factory”.  There are a few tourist attractions in the area as the city is part of Route 66 so we stopped and checked them out.  One is The Big Texan Steak Ranch which prides itself on offering a free 72oz steak dinner – the catch is you have to eat the 72oz steak, an appetizer, salad, and a side of potatoes in one hour.  If you don’t manage the feat the charge is $72.  Since it would take Cheryl and I a few meals together to eat 72 ounces of steak we decided to pass on the attempt and continued on to the next attraction – “Cadillac Ranch”.  This is your typical Route 66 attraction – 10 Cadillacs with their front ends implanted into the ground to about the base of the windshield with the rear ends sticking up in the air.  People are encouraged to spray paint each car so it can become quite colorful at times.  There is a food truck on location but they sell cans of spray paint and drinks instead of food!

A short drive south out of Amarillo is a very scenic state park called Palo Duro.  The park is nicknamed The Grand Canyon of Texas and is the second largest canyon in the US.  We had planned to enjoy a nice hike in the park before continuing the drive but after seeing the park we decided to get a campsite so we could enjoy the hike and the scenery without rushing. 

Jan. 21 – Dardanelle, AR – to as far west as we decide!

We both took advantage of the shower facilities and after breakfast got back onto I40, set the compass on W and the cruise around 100.  It was a nice driving day but not really much to see.  I40 is not a busy interstate but you miss something by not driving through the small towns.  We didn’t mind too much as today we were going to put on as many miles as we could.  We knew we would make Oklahoma City but set our sights a bit farther west.  The end goal was to get to Amarillo, Texas but we knew we wouldn’t make it today but if we got close it would be a shorter drive tomorrow.  We got through OKC and we were both happy to keep going so we continued.  We didn’t make it to Amarillo but we got closer than we had planned.  There was a rest area about an hour east of Amarillo so we stayed there the night after about 8 hours on the road.  It was a very nice rest area but incredibly windy.  We had a late supper in the camper and settled in for the night happy we made it this far and had a short drive into Amarillo in the morning.

 

Jan. 20 – Blanchard Springs Campground, AR

A very peaceful night in the campground and cool morning but blue skies.  After breakfast we hiked around the park for a bit checking out the waterfall, caverns, and other trails.  The caverns were closed for the season but it was a nice walk through the forest.  We decided to head west a bit and find another campground in the area as the weather forecast was good for a day or two yet.  We had to drive into Mountain View, a small town just outside the park, to get cell coverage and wi-fi to do some research.  We found some areas around Russelville that looked promising so we filled up with gas and hit the road.  Another nice drive through the countryside on Highway 9 before we hooked up to Interstate 40 east of Russelville.  As we neared Russelville we found a nice spot just outside called Lake Dardanelle Park.  It was early afternoon and after we set up camp, which involves backing the truck into the site, we enjoyed a nice hike by the lake and through the trees.  Tomorrow starts some long driving days so we settled in early and had a good sleep.

 

Jan. 19 – Rolla, MO

A short drive out of Rolla we were able to exit the interstate and get on the original highway of Route 66. It pretty much just follows I44 but at least you see some interesting sights and get to drive through a few small towns. A lot of both old Route 66 and the interstate is flooded with tourist crap – Route 66 Pawn Shop, Route 66 Ice Cream, Route 66 zipline, caves, go-carts, etc. Every possible thing imaginable to pry some money out of people travelling by – “come see the world’s second largest totem pole between St. Louis and Springfield that is on the south side of the highway”. Maybe not quite that bad but you get the idea. After an hour or so we left Route 66 and got back on I44 into Springfield. We loaded up with some supplies and then decided to alter our route a bit. We had planned to continue along I44 to Tulsa and Oklahoma City but after checking the forecast and that we had been through Oklahoma City on our way down to Texas we decided to head south towards Branson and then into Arkansas. We had discussed going to Branson while we were still at home last summer as an interesting place to see so it made the decision to turn of Old Route 66 a little easier.

Branson turned out to be a bust. We thought there might be a decent music scene and a chance for some live shows but no such luck. It is more of a tourist trap than Route 66! Not really a music scene like Nashville or Austin but a lot of dinner theater, Elvis and The Beatles impersonators, amusement parks and such. We waved as we passed through and set our goal on a nice campground we found in the Ozarks Forest Area of Arkansas a couple of hours down the road.

A very nice drive through the Ozarks. Arkansas has some beautiful scenery with forests and rolling hills. We had to get off the main highway for the last hour or so into the park and to the campground. It would have been a thrilling drive in the car but I have to admit the big beast of a truck handled it admirably. For the first time in my life I actually followed the suggested speeds for any upcoming corners!

The Ozark – St. Francis National Area is a huge park of 1.2 million acres with lots of areas to camp, fish, hike, etc. Cheryl found many different campsites but only three that were open year-round. We chose one that looked very nice along a river with a waterfall close by and a few good hiking trails. We arrived mid-afternoon and it was beautiful with only one small problem – the campground was not open year-round! Not sure if was closed for the season, for maintenance, or for some other reason but it was closed. We found an area that looked like it was set up for camping nearby and the entrance gate was open so we checked it out. No power or water but we were set for the night anyway. We were discussing if we should just grab a spot for the night and if they kick us out so be it when another couple in a camper van showed up. We stopped to talk to them and they informed us they had spoken with some park maintenance people and were told it was fine to set up in this area for the night. Problem solved – good thing because we were in the middle of nowhere and it would have been difficult to find another campsite that was open. We parked the camper and set out exploring the area before settling down for supper and a very quiet night in an almost private campground.

 

Jan. 18 – St. Louis, MO

Woke up to a dreary, rainy day in St. Louis this morning. Good thing we did the arch yesterday. Looking across the river from our parking spot we can see the arch and the top is almost obscured in cloud. We wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the views we did yesterday. We decided today would be an indoor day so we did our laundry and checked out what museums we would like to visit. Unfortunately the two had wanted to see were both closed today so we amended our plan again. Cheryl found a rec centre/YMCA and we enjoyed a couple of hours there. We did a 2 mile walk on their indoor track and then we hit the pool and hot tub. After being away from home for this long the only thing we are missing is our hot tub so it was nice to sit back and relax for a bit. With clean clothes and a shower at the Y we were ready to once more hit the road. We had wanted to come to St. Louis both to see the Gateway Arch and to pick up Route 66 for the drive west. The old route is now Interstate 44 and the first hour or so out of St. Louis is not very remarkable. We drove to Rolla and spent the night there in a truck stop.

 

 

Jan. 17 – Huntingburg, IN – St. Louis, Missouri

We drove a little south today to Evansville, IN to continue our movie theme.  The stadium there was the set for other scenes not filmed in Huntingburg.  The stadium is open to the public everyday so we were able to just walk right in and wander around.  I even walked out on the field and checked out the dugouts.  

We grabbed the back roads again and went west to St. Louis.  We arrived early afternoon and went straight to the Gateway Arch.  It was a cool day but nice and sunny so we decided to take the ride up to the top.  The monument was not busy at all and we were able to get tickets and board the tram car very quickly.  It is a small car that supposedly seats five adults but I think that would be pushing it.  Cheryl and I got a car to ourselves and I don’t think three others could have joined us!  The ride to the top takes 4 minutes and the car has to continually rotate (a total of 155 degrees) on the way up and down to follow the contours of the arch similar to a ferris wheel.  The top of the arch is 630 feet and we were greeted with a fantastic view.  Without the crowds it was a very enjoyable experience.  There were only six of us in the viewing area but I imagine in the summer when all the stupid tourists are there it would be very crowded and not nearly as pleasurable.  

We returned to earth and checked out the museum.  Some interesting facts on the selection of design, materials, labour, and construction of the arch.  They also had an informative section on St. Louis and how it grew very rapidly during the mid 1800s.  In 1840 the population was 35,000 and that grew to 190,000 in 1860 and 350,000 by 1870!

After the educational aspect of the day we wanted to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.  We went to Forest Park, thanks to Cameron for the recommendation, and enjoyed a lovely walk around some of the grounds.  The park is a large 1,300 acre park in the middle of St. Louis housing lakes, golf courses, equestrian center, baseball diamonds, and five of the major museums and cultural institutions in the city.

We drove back across the Mississippi river to Illinois to spend the night.  We had spotted a casino from atop the arch and it looked like a possible place to park the camper overnight and that is why we ended up back in Illinois.  The casino had no problem with us parking overnight so we found a spot off in the corner and had a very quiet night. 

Jan. 16 – Nashville, TN – Bowling Green, Kentucky, – Huntingburg, Indiana

After the repair day yesterday the camper was once again loaded up and we ready to hit the road.  It was a nice break in Nashville but Cheryl and I both commented we were very excited to get back on the road again and continue the adventure.  I guess we are weird but we are happy to be back in the camper again!  

Our plan after Nashville is to head north a bit and angle toward St. Louis.  From there we plan to pick up Old Route 66 and go west like so many people did back in the day.  With a few stops along the way we will end up in Arizona somewhere .and probably make a quick trip out to California at some point.

According to plan we went north.  A quick drive out of Nashville is Bowling Green, Kentucky, home of the Chevrolet Corvette.  The plant that produces the corvette is in Bowling Green and they have a museum there dedicated to the iconic American sports car.  The museum was victim to a large sinkhole in Feb. 2014 which opened up and swallowed eight of the classic cars including the 1,000,000th corvette to come off the assembly line (that car was never sold but delivered directly to the museum where it sat until being swallowed by the sinkhole).  All of the cars were recovered and the museum has made a separate exhibit dedicated to the incident.

We left the museum and headed north again this time towards Indiana.  We took some back roads up to Huntingburg, IN, a small town, population 6,300,  in the middle of Indiana.  Not much there to see but its baseball stadium was the site for many of the scenes from the movie “A League of Their Own” starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis.  We were able to walk around the stadium but due to construction we could not get inside.  At the entrance to the stadium is an one of the old buses from the movie as well.

It was getting late so we found a truck stop and settled down for the night.

Jan. 15 – Nashville, TN

Well we had all intentions of leaving Nashville today but I guess my winterization techniques for the camper leave something to be desired. I assumed I had drained what I had to and filled with antifreeze what couldn’t be drained but I was wrong. We hooked up the water line this morning to check everything and fill up the reservoir for our trip but discovered some water leaking from the side of the camper. After closer inspection we isolated the problem to the water heater. There must have been some water left in the system and when it froze it expanded enough to crack a copper pipe that was part of the heating coil. I thought maybe we could bypass the water heater and do without hot water but no such luck. The system is designed that all the water passes through the heater. If you do not need hot water the heater doesn’t run and the water just flows through but as soon as you call for hot water it fires up and heats the water. I guess it is the quickest and simplest way to get hot water. After that revelation we knew we had to get it fixed before we left. We did a bit of research and found a few places in and around Nashville that we could probably find a new heater on Monday. Of course, that is not the end of the story! Cameron discovered that the new heater ships as a complete unit and the old one slides out and the new one slides in. Well we decided we should at least try to take the old one out and see if maybe we could do this ourselves and save the few hundred bucks labor an RV place would charge us above the cost of the new water heater ($600 USD). Without too much hassle we got the water heater out and onto a workbench in the garage. Since it was out we thought why not take it apart and see where the pipe was broken. Now it gets interesting! The broken pipe was not that bad, just a minor explosion that certainly looked repairable for two guys with a little bit of knowledge and a handful of YouTube videos for support. All we needed was some solder, a big torch, and the willingness to say WTF let’s try this. We squeezed the pipe back together, melted a pound of solder around the crack, and voila, a water heater is born. After a pressure test to make sure it was fixed the unit was back in the camper as good as new.

Dec. 28 – Jan. 14  –  Nashville, TN and area.

After everyone left us on Dec. 27 Cheryl and I found ourselves on our own again.  I won’t go into detail for each day we stayed at Cam and Linda’s house but instead will cover the highlights of our stay.

We discussed doing something for New Years Eve in the Nashville area but decided against it and spent a nice evening at the house watching the World Junior’s Hockey Tournament and relaxing.  January 1st was a beautiful day in Nashville, 21 degrees and sunny, so we found a golf course and played 18 holes.  Once we got to the course we discovered the clubhouse and pro-shop was closed for the holiday but there were golfers out on the course so we walked to the first tee and decided to play.  There was a gentleman about to tee-off and he asked if we wanted to join him for the round.  We agreed and asked him if this was a normal occurrence of the course being “closed” but people still golfing.  He told us he had called the course the day prior and they informed him that although the pro-shop would be closed people were welcome to play but no carts, rental clubs, etc. would be available.  We continued with the round feeling we weren’t breaking any rules and had a great day on the golf course.  It wasn’t the nicest course we ever played but it was certainly the cheapest!

Cam and Linda’s neighbors – Tim and Tanya – were very welcoming and included us in a lot of things while we were there.  We joined them for a nice drive through Tennessee along some back roads to their cabin by Tim Ford’s State Park.  They were just going out to check on things and invited us along for the day.  Tim was a great tour guide with a wealth of information about the area.  On Tanya’s recommendation we stopped at a greasy spoon diner in Winchester called Skip’s Grill for lunch and had a great meal.  They texted us one afternoon saying there having pizza for supper and we should come over to join them!  We reciprocated on our last Friday in Nashville and had them over for happy hour and appetizers.  Tim was a pilot for his career and Tanya had her pilot’s license when she was younger so we had a lot in common to keep the conversation going. 

Cheryl and I enjoyed the music scene during our stay with trips downtown to take in the music but also two specific places we had to get tickets for.  The first was “3rd and Lindsley”, a smaller concert venue seating 340 close to downtown at the corner of, you guessed it, 3rd Ave and Lindsley.  There were a lot of different acts to choose from so we just picked a day that worked and went.  The headliner was Jim Messina from the 70s duo Loggins and Messina who had many hits including “Danny’s Song”, “House at Pooh Corner”, and “Your Mama don’t Dance”.  Our other stop was at The Bluebird Café.  A very small venue seating less than a 100 people but with a vibrant history in Nashville.  It was recently featured in a mini-series, appropriately titled “Nashville”, but was also the starting point for many artists trying to make it big who are now superstars in the country music world – Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban – need I go on!  On the night we visited no big names showed up but it was very special nonetheless.  All the performers were songwriters and had written many songs we all recognize from the radio but recorded by other artists than themselves.  They all wanted to be country music stars but just didn’t quite have the voice, flair, looks, or whatever it takes to make it big, so they all switched to songwriting instead.  The stories they told about why they wrote the song or how a certain artist decided to record it were all very, very interesting.  

We did a day trip out to Tullahoma, Tennessee.  What is special about Tullahoma you ask?  There is a large museum at the airport there dedicated to the Beechcraft line of airplanes.  They have a wonderful collection of some classic Beech aircraft dating back to the start of Beechcraft operations, through the iconic Bonanza, the futuristic Starship – which unfortunately never made it as a production aircraft – and many aircraft still in production such as the King Air.  Another great day.  A pretty drive through the countryside and a very enjoyable few hours at a wonderful museum.