Visiting the Past (in more ways than one)

We had a great time while we were in our old hometown of Merrill, visiting with our across the street neighbors and going to dinner with a couple from FL who were parked next to us.

Our Merrill neighbors Terry and Nereo 

Then another couple who were parked next to us we saw again at Bend-Sunriver TTN a week later. We stopped in Klamath Falls to check out the new Harbor Freight store and the Coastal Store that bought out Big R and moved into the old K-Mart building on our way to Collier Memorial State Park. We just relaxed the three days we were at Collier and arrived at Cascade Meadows on Thurs June 8. The two weeks we were there we made several trips into Bend for mail and supplies as well as going to La Pine to check out the new Grocery Outlet. Our friend, Margaret, stopped to see us on Sat. June 17 as she was returning from Klamath Falls to Vancouver, WA. It was great to see her and we had a good visit ending by going to the Potluck at the park.

For Father's Day I did a shop at a fancy restaurant in Bend, one I have done before.

Larry on father's Day

My Father's Day Salmon Cobb Salad

Dawn sent Larry two gift certificates and a nice e-card for Father's Day and then called him later and they talked for over an hour. That was the highlight of his day.

June 22 we headed to John Day, OR for our first BMW Rally. There were 447 folks attending (John Day has a population of 1900) and we enjoyed two great meals on Fri and Sat nights and took rides to Baker City on Friday to see the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.  It really is hard to believe the trials those folks faced daily.

One of the many interesting displays inside the Oregon trail Interpretive Center

We then went the other direction on Saturday to see the John Day Fossil Beds. They have a lab there where they test all the items they find and that was most interesting.

Outside the John Day Fossil Beds Center

The lab at John Day Fossil Beds

Sunday June 25 after church and eats at Subway we headed to Sandy, OR to have our Espar furnace/water heater looked at as we have been having issues with it. We thought it was a leaking valve but it turns out not only was it leaking (replaced with a brass valve) but the circuit board was bad so that was replaced and then they discovered there was a water leak so that was fixed also. It is working fine now-yeah! It was 97º in John Day and Sandy so we ran the generator the entire way and into the evening until 11 PM, eleven hours straight in all, something we have never done before but we were so grateful to have A/C when it was so hot (showed 104º on the MH outside gauge). Then Monday morning it sprinkled and was much cooler for our trip to Bend-Sunriver TTN. We had awesome views of Mt Hood both going to Sandy and returning from Sandy.

Mt Hood as we were heading to Sandy, OR

The weather has been great for riding and we've gone to both Bend (for mail) and LaPine since we have been at TTN. We have a nice big site only 30 amp but we do have satellite reception amidst the many trees so that is a big plus.

Our site in the pines at Bend-Sunriver TTN

We have had a few nights were the temperature went down into the 30's but that seems to be normal for around here. The daytime temperatures are 75-80º, just perfect.

Back 'home'

We left Phoenix May 2 at 6 PM to miss the traffic around the 101 and stayed at Quartzsite for the night. The PA campground was very deserted as it was hot.

Us at Quartzsite, AZ

We left at 8 AM the next morning and had very little traffic all the way into the LA area arriving at Soledad Canyon TTN at 2 PM and found a nice 50 amp site in K section very close to the adult clubhouse.

Our site at Soledad Canyon

Thursday morning we were off on the bike to LA to visit the bed factory on Wilshire Blvd. Once we got onto the 405 the traffic was terrible and even though I hate when motorcyclists do this, we went between the lanes (legal in CA) for many miles uphill so we arrived at 11 AM as planned. The trip back to the campground went much smoother. Around 6 PM we learned our new bed was going to be delivered that evening so we had to scurry around and get rid of our old Sleep Number bed. Some folks across from us where on their first trip in their new to them MH and agreed to take the bed. After we got the bed out Larry had to made some adjustments to the base and just finished as the bed arrived at 9:30 PM. By 11 PM we had a new adjustable bed installed. It took me a few days to get used to it but Larry loved it from the first and really likes how it supports his entire leg so relieves the pressure on his back. He is anxiously awaiting the pillow that was on backorder.

Base of our new adjustable bed

After all the push to get things ready to leave and then get the bed installed, we were glad to just lay back and do nothing for several days.

On May 11 we took a ride to Vasques Rocks Natural Area where many movies have been filmed

Vasques Rocks seen in many movies

and then on down to Santa Clarita to see the William S Hart Museum. What a neat place! He was a famous silent film cowboy and knew many famous people including Teddy Roosevelt and Wyatt Earp.

Front of Wm S Hart home/museum

Us waiting for the tour at the Wm S Hart Museum

Back of Wm S Hart Museum

Living room with AK bear rug given to Wm Hart

Our time at Soledad Canyon went by quickly and we enjoyed watching them film a chase scene (about 25 times) down the road in front of the campground (they had the road closed off to the traffic). There are many 'movie ranches' in the area (four that we saw) and we found that quite interesting. We did not realize any of this when we were here in 2004.

For Mother's Day Dawn sent me an e-gift card for Chili's but I wasn't able to use it until Memorial Day weekend because there were no Chili's close by until then. It was still much appreciated. Our daughter-in-law, LaTia, sent a picture of our granddaughter Céret's graduation from ASU along with Alex, Todd and great-granddaughter Millie.

We ate at Crazy Otto's in Acton for our last Sunday meal in the area. We had a really good big breakfast.

My omelet that I could not finish

May 24 we left Soledad Canyon heading north to Santa Nella, CA where we spent a week in a nice paved RV park. We took a ride 20 miles north to check out another RV park we had thought about staying in but are so glad we didn't as it was grass and still muddy from the flood they had in February. It also was out in the middle of nowhere. Where we stayed we had lots of choices of nearby restaurants including Andersen's Pea Soup which we did not visit but understand it is quite well known.

Santa Nella, CA

Back view of our Santa Nella site

Andersen's Pea Soup

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May 31 we drove 412 miles to our old town of Merrill and are staying at the Wild Goose. We did not know they had RV sites. There are only five sites but they are well maintained, have 50 amp service and I can look out the front door and see nearby hills, really quite nice! We plan to visit former neighbors while we are here for a few days before heading to La Pine in a week. We are enjoying the cool (75º) weather, great for walking!

Almost ready

We started out the month of April by going to a Seder in Surprise, AZ. Friends from church, Casey and Diane joined us along with Vince and Dawn. We always enjoy our Seder evenings and the food was good too!

Diane, Rabbi Zimmerman, Casey

Casey, Larry and Vince at the Seder

Vince, Rabbi Zimmerman, & Dawn

One morning I was awaken to see two hot air balloons overhead. One of these days I would like to take a ride in one so that is one my bucket list.

One of the two balloons that woke me up

Larry put up the posts for our gate and later in the month got them painted ready to finish when we return in the fall.

Larry leveling the gate post

Gate post leveled and painted

We needed another pipe for the wash and our neighbor, Randy, helped Larry drop it in and then after many loads of dirt and gravel we have another entrance to the place where we don't have to go through the wash with the motorhome and drag the backend. We had an appointment with Cummins in Avondale to give our generator its 1000 hour check up so we tried out the new drive and it works well. On the way back from Cummins we stopped at a tire place and had our Crossfires installed on our duallys, again getting everything ready for our upcoming trip.

Additional pipe in the wash

Neighbor, Randy in the Bobcat and Larry working on the new driveway

New driveway finished

April 18 Larry had knee surgery and on the 19^th I had my second dental appointment at Midwestern. On the 20^th I had a chiro appointment and first I drove to Avondale Camping World to purchase a carbon monoxide alarm as our died. We also kept having false smoke alarms so have ordered new ones after returning our 9 month old smoke alarms to Costco. Costco is so good about returns!

We have played Mexican Train every Friday night with Dawn and Vince (and sometimes Bethany) since January and will miss playing weekly but will have something to look forward to on our return this fall.

On the 28^th we went to Red Robin to celebrate Vince's birthday (a little early since we are leaving). Colby and Krista as well as Bethany joined us and we went to Dawn and Vince's afterwards for cake and ice cream. We didn't break up until nearly midnight.

Dawn & Krista at Red Robin

Ellen & Larry at Red Robin

Vince, Colby & Krista ready for cake and ice cream

Vince opening his birthday presents

Tomorrow Larry will have his stitches removed and we will be ready to go.

Counting Down

This is the month for doctors and dentists as our count down to leaving starts. I went to my doctor's office for the first time since they were bought out by a big corporation. My, how things have changed! Larry had a VA appt. with an outside orthopedic doctor who is wonderful and we both like him very much. Since time is short he was very helpful in getting the necessary appointments so Larry can get his knee surgery done before we leave the first of May, even getting him an appt. on Sunday afternoon for his MRI. What a great time to visit the VA as nobody is there so we parked right in front of the door and were in and out in no time at all (after we once found where we were to go since the paper gave the wrong information!). I had an appointment with the nearby dental college for my teeth and I have never had such a thorough examination. I go back next month for my cleaning and repair on one tooth. So far I am very pleased with what has been done and at a very reasonable price.

On the 18^th we met at Red Robin to celebrate Colby's birthday and afterward returned to Dawn and Vince's to view Colby and Krista's pictures of their cruise in February and have cake and ice cream. It was a fun night and their cruise ship looked a lot like the one in the movie Titanic.

Colby and Dawn at Red Robin

Us at Red Robin

Colby's birthday cake

Krista and Colby at Dawn and Vince's

Larry is just about finished with the HydroLift as he now has the lights hooked up and working. We need to 'test' it before we leave in May so will probably go to Cummins in Avondale for the 1000 hour generator service, going the night before since they have RV hook-ups of 50 amp service and we are not early risers. That way we also avoid the morning rush hour traffic.

Our wonderful neighbor, Randy, came down Friday morning the 24^th at 7 AM and did a lot of work with his Bobcat. Then at 1:30 PM the Bobcat and Kubota tractor Larry rented were delivered and with Larry driving the Bobcat excavator and Vince driving the Kubota tractor they put in a french drain plus lots of other work around the place. Dawn and I shoveled and moved rock and by Sunday night all four of us were 'dog tired'. Both of the 'boys' were doing very well handling their respective machines by the end of the weekend. Monday afternoon both were picked up although we had them ready to go late Sunday night in case they came early Monday morning and we weren't up.

Larry on the Bobcat 

Vince on the Kubota tractor, with the french drain
to the right

beginning of the new access driveway

Larry had another VA appointment on Monday morning the 27^th and because he was so tired and hurting from the weekend we ended up going in the car. The 30^th Larry had his pre-opt appt. at the main VA and we rode the bike since it was such a nice day and Larry was wanting to ride since we didn't get to on Monday. Turns out we should have taken the car because they had crutches for him. One of the fellows suggested I put them down my back and use them for a flagpole but instead they are being wonderful and holding them for Larry until surgery day when I will pick them up while he is in surgery.

Each Friday night we have been playing Mexican Train with Dawn and Vince. It has been a lot of fun and we will miss our weekly games once we leave.

Pretty blooming cactus in the front yard

Rainy Days

Most of the month has been spent with Larry working on the HydroLift for the back of the MH. The first time he put it on he found it was not solid enough for his liking so took it off and redid the welding. He had to buy another welding helmet because his old one was not working properly and his eyes are too important to damage. He put the pump to work the Lift in a box on the outside and had to have someone else weld it as he does not do aluminum welding. We were hoping to give it a trial run to the Good Sam Super Show at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale Feb 23-26 but it did not get finished in time with all the set-backs he experienced.

Larry working on the pump box

The box is done and now Larry has to weld more braces to it.

February 10 we went to Deer Valley airport to tour a B17 and it was really interesting. It was loaded with (fake) bombs and ammo so we could see how it looked during the war. We also walked thru it, very narrow passageways.

Us under the B 17 bomber at Deer Valley Airport

B 17 bomber at Deer Valley Airport

Dawn and Vince are having a fence put around the backyard and it was started Feb. 16. We had several rain storms so finishing it was delayed until Feb 27 when we had more rain. The gate man came out yesterday to give a quote on gates and the half fence so I can see out.

The fence beside our MH also showing the rain left on our pad

On Friday nights we have been playing Mexican Train with Dawn and Vince and sometimes Bethany too. Both Dawn and Vince seem to be the 'big' winners. It is a fun time for all of us.

We met our friends, Art and Sherry, who we met in July at Seaside, OR at the Good Sam Super Show and enjoyed seeing them again. While at the show we purchased a new TV antenna and attended a seminar about lithium batteries for RV's. We also enjoyed a BarBQ cook-off at the show and had our picture taken with Pres. Trump. The show ended with some nice 50's and 60's entertainment and a really nice fireworks display.

With our friends Art and Sherry and Pres Trump at the Bar B Q

Our new TV antenna, not as good looking as the old one but it works!

Now we need to concentrate on getting everything ready for our May departure. We have our reservations until June 8 already confirmed.