Back in Phoenix

We started off Oct by going to FrontSight once again and spent 'their' money in the Pro Shop. We stopped at the Race Track outside of Pahrump and watched from the viewing balcony. The track is over six miles long and they had motorcycles as well as cars racing on two different circuits.

View from the balcony at the race track in Pahrump, NV

We moved to Verde Valley on Oct 5 and because of their electrical problems most of sections A,B and C were closed and we were able to get the last pull thru in H section right across from the restrooms. It has been a long time since we were in H section.

Our site at Verde Valley section H

I was able to walk each day and I enjoy using Runkeeper to keep track of how far (and how fast) I walk each day. It also gives me elevation. We went to the VV chapel and found our friends, Art and Faye there. We have not seen them in 3 or 4 years and the last time was at Verde Valley when they had an issue with their MH. They have a new, shorter MH now. In the years we have known them they have had four different MH's and the same car. We have had four cars and the same MH!

We left VV early so Larry could remove our old awning before heading to CA. On the way to Phoenix just past Rock Springs someone was frantically waving at us and said our trailer was on fire. We quickly pulled over and Larry was able to put it out with the fire extinguisher we purchased from Mac McCoy at a Gypsy Journal Rally in Yuma several years ago. The brakes overheated with the stop and go traffic we encountered at the bottom of the hill and all the way through Black Canyon City, burning through the brake line so every time Larry stepped on the brakes, more fuel was going to the fire. He hasn't really taken a good look at the damage yet as we had time constraints going to CA. We dropped the trailer at our daughter's place, loaded the bike on the back of the MH and took off for southern CA and my class reunion in Murrieta, CA.

Our site at Wilderness Lakes while we went to my reunion

The five classmates (out of 15) at my class reunion 

Hummingbird feeder outside my classmate's home in Murrieta

We had a nice two days at the reunion and then went to Girard in San Clemente, CA to get a new awning. It is black and we are quite pleased with it. Larry did some 'dealing' and we have a light kit that he will install in the awning later.

Us at Girard in San Clemente, CA

We spent two days at the TTN park in Palm Springs before returning to Phoenix. We should have waited longer as we returned on the latest EVER 100º day in Phoenix! (Oct 27)

Our new awning at our new place in Phoenix

Larry has been busy installing a meter so we can pay our fair share of the electricity while we are staying at our daughter's place. He had to make three trips to the local Lowe's and Home Depot to get all the supplies he needed and now that it's done he has several items to return which is good.

Larry putting in our meter

The finished product

Awesome AZ sunset from our pad

Heading South

We started Sept off by going to a new campground for us since we were unable to get reservations at Chehalis.  It is a fairly new campground that is lovely and has many amenities BUT it is located between I-5 on the east and a two track railroad on the west and the trains run about every hour at night and every half hour during the day.  Of course they blow their whistle just as they are passing the campground! 

This shows how close the train tracks are to the campground

Our site in Castle Rock, WA

The saving grace was the new public shooting range located just a mile away from the campground and we spent three afternoons there while Larry sighted in his new rifles.  The shooting range took three years to build and it was all volunteer.  It is very nice and each afternoon was very enjoyable.  While I did not shoot, I was the 'go-fer' to the target as it was at the 100 yd range.

Shooting range showing targets at 100 yd with 200 and 300 yd in the background

Larry at the shooting range

We were able to help friends in a nearby campground when he unexpectedly ended up in the hospital when they needed to leave.  It worked out well as we did not have anything planned, it was a drizzly day and it was a preview of where we needed to go two days later when we left for OR.

We arrived back at Cascade Meadows on Sept. 8.  We stopped for fuel in Bend to fill up before sitting for two plus weeks and the price was $2.35 which made me happy.

We took three wonderful bike rides while at Cascade Meadows.  The first was to Salt Creek Falls, the second highest waterfall in OR at 256 ft.  We have driven by it many times over the years and just didn’t realize it was only 200 yds from SR 58.  Next we went to Crater Lake National Park from the north and rode the 33 miles around the rim.  What a beautiful day!  We had a picnic lunch sitting on a ledge overlooking the lake with Wizard Island in front of us.  Then Saturday before we left we took a ride to Paulina and East Lake and put the bike away when we returned.

Salt Creek Falls, OR

Larry on the bike at Crater Lake National Park

Our view of Wizard Island in Crater Lake where we ate our picnic lunch

View at the overlook on Paulina Hwy

We left Cascade Meadows Monday Sept 26 and did the unthinkable and left with the big awning extended and hit a pole and ruined it. Fellow RVers were quick to help us get it rolled up and tied down so we could get on our way.   We overnighted near Gerlach, NV and it was a beautiful clear night so I was able to see millions of stars.  I tried to take a picture but nothing showed up as it was just too dark.  Tues., Sept 27 we arrived at Preferred RV in Pahrump, NV around 7 PM (after dark) because we had a tire issue with one of the trailer tires and Larry had to change it out with a spare.  Fortunately there was a nice wide shoulder and he put the trailer awning out so he could work in the shade.  Since his 'thermostat' doesn’t work properly he can get overheated quickly without realizing it so it was good he had the awning.

Thursday, Sept 29 we went to Las Vegas to the Amsoil warehouse and picked up some motorcycle oil and then visited our friends, Forrest and Rosie, at their new place.  We all went out to eat at Santa Fe Casino buffet and boy! do they have a feast!!  We were there about three hours and had a great time, arriving back in Pahrump around 7 PM.

Friday Larry put a new control board in our front A/C unit but it did not fix the problem so we are back to square one.   One nice thing about having three A/C units is in hot weather (like here in Pahrump where it is 90º ) we still have cooling in both the living area and bedroom area but we will need to figure out what is wrong with the front A/C unit as it keeps 'short cycling' and doesn’t cool.

Tourists in the NW and Olympic Peninsula

We have been busy touring during the month of August.  After a one last time run to Costco and Fred Meyer in Warrenton on the bike for supplies on Aug 2 we left Seaside on Aug 4 heading to Forks, WA.  It was a nice trip and when we arrived at Forks we decided to take out just the bike since there was not enough room behind us to get the car out of the trailer.  Friday Aug 5 we rode the bike to Hoh Rain Forest and it was a wonderful ride! 

Larry at Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center

Big tree that fell in the Hoh Rain forest a long time ago

Us at the Visitor Center at Hoh Rain Forest

Restaurant called River's Edge in La Push, WA

Our view from the restaurant where we watched the river otters playing

We then went to La Push right on the ocean and ended up eating at River’s Edge with a window seat so we could watch the river otter’s playing.  What fun!

God was good to us on Sunday as it rained while we were in church and stopped so we could go to the South North Chinese restaurant.  It rained again while we were eating but stopped so we could ride the mile 'home' and then rained again in the afternoon after we returned home so we really didn’t get wet at all.  (We had taken rags to wipe the seats 'just in case'.)

We rode the bike to Cape Flattery and Neah Bay, again a lovely ride that started out looking threatening but the sun came out about five minutes after we left.  We hiked out to the point to see the lighthouse and that about killed us!  It is only a 1/2 mile hike but it’s down all the way there which means it’s UP all the way back!  After a day of rest we went to see Sol Duc Falls and the hike was more level and well worth the hike.  The ride was great too!

Rialto Beach near Cape Flattery, WA

Cape Flattery, WA the farthest NW point  of the continental US

Lighthouse on an island at Cape Flattery

Sol Duc Falls, Olympic National Park

On Aug 12 we moved on to Port Angeles only to find our reserved pull thru site had been given away and  we had to unhook the trailer.  They did give us a discount.  That was the night of the Perseid meteor shower and I had two come right at me so I ducked!  Pretty awesome since they came one right after the other.  We went to Port Angeles and watched folks crabbing on the public dock by the ferry.  We also went to Hurricane Ridge and it was a beautiful day where Mt Baker could be seen in the distance. 

Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

Deer on Hurricane Ridge

Mt Baker in the distance as we came down Hurricane Ridge

Sequim Bay, WA

We went to Diamond Point and Sequim Bay and learned we could have stayed at the ROD park there under our CM membership.  It in a much quieter park with better views so live and learn!  Next time we will know!  On one of my nightly walks I found a decorated tree along the path which made me smile and reminded me of the tree north of Sunset Point along I-17 in AZ that has mysteriously been decorated for the last 30 years or so with yellow ribbons, flags and Christmas ornaments depending on the time of year. 

Tree I found on my walk one evening in Port Angeles, WA

Decorated tree on I-17 near Sunset Point, AZ

One bad thing happened one night while I was walking and I got bit by a dog.  The owner was not very nice and told me I should have stayed at the RV park.  I did find out the dog had had its shots so I will live.

Dog bite on the back of my left leg

When we arrived at Elma, WA we were surprised to see our friends Margaret and David.  We were able to see them three times before they left on Monday.  We have enjoyed the Saturday night meals at Elma as well as the ice cream socials.  We have met some nice folks and are enjoying all the upgrades to this park since we were here last 10 years ago.  We took a ride to Gray’s Harbor, Ocean Shores, Ocean City and Pacific Beach checking out the old sonar naval base, seeing the kites flying on the beach and Larry doing 'donuts' in the sand on the beach.  We also checked out some lumber mills in Aberdeen (no tours though as we asked) and drove to Satsop to see the abandoned nuclear power station that never went 'on line'.

Larry 'touching' the Pacific Ocean

Kites on the beach

Satsop cooling tower, Elma, WA

Unfinished reactor at Satsop, Elma, WA

In Aberdeen, WA at a lumber mill

For our 56th anniversary on the 30th we had lunch at Top Wok Chinese restaurant in Elma since on Sunday we went to the potluck at the church and then took a ride to McCleary.

For Larry's birthday we had a late breakfast at the Rusty Tractor.  What a fun place that reminded me of my grandmother's farm in IL and gathering eggs from under the hens!

Rusty Tractor restaurant in Elma, WA 'hen house'

68º high 52º low

We started the month of July by going to the Frontier Days in La Pine.  It is a big deal for the small town and lasted four days this year.  We checked out the vendors and Larry ended up purchasing a new hat and some plastic weld he had seen on TV.  On Tues July 5 we made a last run to Bend to Costco and Walmart since there are no Walmarts on the OR coast where we will be.  Wednesday July 6 we left Cascade Meadows for Sandy, OR to have our AquaHot replaced. 

At Sandy where our heater was replaced

We got set up outside the facility and I went for a walk and found blackberries, yum!  It took all day Thursday to remove the old heater and get the new Espar installed and then Friday morning we ran several tests to be sure everything was working correctly. 

New Espar installed in our bay.  Notice you can see all the way thru the bay now.

We left Sandy around 1 PM on Friday and ran into lots of traffic around the Portland area but once we were almost to Salem it eased up and we stopped to fill the diesel at the Pilot.  We arrived at Neskowin Creek around 4:30 PM and found a nice pull through site that we 'just' fit into.  We didn’t take out the car until the next day.

We went to Lincoln City for church on Sunday morning and saw our friends, Jack and Bev Scovil who had driven from Bay City to surprise their son.  It is a 50 mile drive on the US 101.  It was great to see them as we had just talked about when we could see them while we were on the coast.  It has been several years since we last saw them.  They invited us to a church in Manzanita on Saturday to hear a family of singers they first met in Quartzite, AZ six years ago and we went and had a good time and really enjoyed the Haining Family. 

What a talented family!!

While we were in Lincoln City we each bought new Z-coils.

In the meantime we had moved to Seaside, OR and encountered a small boo-boo when the exhaust tip hit some big rocks as the MH lowered down when we disconnected the trailer and pulled forward. 

The big rock that the exhaust tip hit (and moved) when the coach lowered as we disconnected from the trailer

It smashed the exhaust tip and tore up the fiberglass rear panel so Larry has been busy fixing that. 

The exhaust tip that was smashed and forced up into the bumper area.  Larry cutting to free things up

The weld on the muffler that Larry did when the boo-boo cracked the muffler. We are so fortunate Larry has a welder with us and can make these repairs!

The back panel before repair

The back panel repaired and good as new

Not exactly what he had planned for here!  God was certainly at work in us seeing the Scovils and the small amount of damage to the back of the MH that Larry has been able to repair.  God is good all the time!

We rode the motorcycle to Astoria for some returns and I had a shop.  We discovered Crater Lake Root Beer which is really good, at that shop and are looking for places to buy more.  Unfortunately it is only available in the northwest so we will need to stock up before leaving the area.

The temperatures in Seaside have been wonderfully cool with a high of 68º and the nighttime lows around 52º.  We have met two different 'newbie' couples and are sharing some of the insights we have gained in the last 13 years of fulltiming. 

We have enjoyed the Great Wall Chinese restaurant in Gearhart each Sunday we have been in Seaside.  We used to go for Chinese every Sunday after church for years but in the last year have gotten away from that as we could not find a Chinese restaurant we liked close to us in Phoenix.  That has changed and we are again 'on a Chinese roll'.  It feels good and we are looking forward to more good Chinese food as we tour the WA Olympic Peninsula in the next four weeks.

Enjoying life in OR

June 1 we left Preferred RV and had an uneventful trip stopping for fuel in Fallon, NV and then stopping for the night about 25 miles west of Gerlach,NV. 

Snow capped mountains in the distance as we crossed NV

Unfortunately it was very cloudy so I was unable to see any stars but there is still hope on our return trip to AZ. 

Our spot outside Gerlach, NV where there is very little traffic, maybe one vehicle every hour

We arrived at Cascade Meadows on the 2nd around 3:30 PM after fueling up at Gordy’s Truck stop.  On Friday the 3rd we made a trip to Bend for our mail and to DMV for Larry’s driver's license.  A big Praise the Lord that day as I found my missing drivers license that I misplaced on May 15 so I did not have to buy a replacement!  It was really weird as both Larry and I had looked in the car several times and yet, there it was lying in plain sight between the seats!  God is good all the time as it showed up as we were going to DMV to replace it (along with getting Larry’s new one)!

We went from hot NV to cold OR as on the 8th the night time temperature dropped down to 19º. 

Brief hailstorm at Cascade Meadows that left the ground looking like it snowed!

Otherwise the weather has been beautiful.

On the 9th I did an evening  shop at a fancy resort on the Deschutes River. 

Looking out at the Deschutes River

Larry at the fancy restaurant on the Deschutes River in Bend

That day Larry had a denturist appt. to get his dentures re-lined and they are working much better now.  He learned he should be keeping his dentures in at night to help cut down on gum 'shrinkage'.  He has been doing that so hopefully it will help in the future.

On the 16th we moved to Bend-Sunriver TTN and were able to find a site that Larry was able to back both the trailer and the MH into. 

Our site at Bend-Sunriver TTN

Since it is only seven miles from Cascade Meadows I drove the car so we didn’t have to concern ourselves with getting the car in and out of the trailer.  We were there just a week since none of the sites at TTN have sewer.  I didn’t do any laundry the week we were there and when we moved back to Cascade Meadows on the 23rd, I washed up a storm!

On the 25th our friends, David and Margaret, were returning from Junction City for MH repairs and they took a detour and came to see us, parking in the site next to us.  We had a good time and it was great to see them again after two years!  We last saw then in K Falls when we were getting tires for the MH and this time they bought new tires.

David and Margaret at the restaurant at Cascade Meadows

Our living room blind with four strings broke and since we already had a restringing kit, Larry spent much of Tuesday re-stringing the blind.  The instructions made no sense so Larry just did what seemed 'right' and got it done.  Definitely NOT his favorite thing!

Larry re-stringing our living room blind with four strings.  It took several hours

June 30 we made a trip to Eugene on the bike because my helmet communication system quit on Monday.  The fellow at the BMW dealer was able to fix it by re-booting it and showed Larry what to do if it should happen again.  It was a 240 mile round trip, the longest we have taken but it was a beautiful day for a ride, no clouds and 84º.