It's always something

We were scheduled to visit Valley of the Rogue State Park near Medford, OR but the heat was really high there and 115º was predicted for the days we were scheduled there, too much like Phoenix, so I cancelled and extended at Bend-Sunriver TTN for two days and then we went to Cascade Meadows for the other three days. Then we returned to La Pine State Park for five days without TV or internet but God is so good as He provided a newbie couple from Manitoba Canada for us to hang out with. We shared a meal and played Mexican Train into the dark of night, having to finish the game the next morning! They knew about Mexican Train because they have spent several winters in Mexico.

Jamie and Betty from Canada

Our shared meal

We headed back to Cascade Meadows for two weeks and found another leak in the drain pipe under the sink. Larry decided to replace it with steel this time so I had to use a bucket under the sink until he could get the correct parts. It took several days to get everything he needed together and we tested the slide multiple times to be sure everything worked as it was supposed to. Larry had to make a few adjustments but it is working fine now. We enjoyed the salmon bake Potluck which was really well attended.

Broken plastic drain pipe under the sink

New metal pipe under the sink in the slide

We learned we are again great-grandparents as of Aug 15, Calvin Todd, born to our granddaughter Cerét in Tempe, AZ.

My dryer started acting 'funny' with all the lights flashing so upon further investigation, we discovered it was full of lint and the flashing lights indicted it was overheating and shutting down. The vent is an L shaped corrugated flexible aluminum 4” pipe so Larry decided if the pipe were smooth on the inside, the lint wouldn't catch as easily on the sides and clog up so quickly so he did some research and found some silicon 4” pipe including an elbow so that will be his next 'project'. Have to keep him busy you know!

The 'big' happening around here was the Solar Eclipse. We were able to see 97% totality with a thin spaghetti slice visible. It was surprising how much light there still was with so little of the sun showing. We went nowhere on Monday or Tuesday as the traffic was heavy heading south starting about ½ hour after the eclipse was over until late Tuesday afternoon.

Traffic heading south on Tues Aug 22 after the eclipse

On Aug 25 we moved back to Bend-Sunriver TTN and found a 50 amp site with TV reception too. We set up and then went into Bend for a Bible conference. We went primarily to hear the Canadian singer Trevor Baker who sings only songs the Lord has given him. We went back on Saturday afternoon to hear Trevor again and then we went to a nearby park for a yummy Bar-B-Q. We met a really nice couple from CA on Friday night, saw them again on Saturday and sat with a family from WA and OR at the Bar-B-Q and had some great conversations. Us being on the motorcycle was a big topic of conversation!

Trevor Baker singing at the conference

Sunday evening we left to return to Sandy, OR for more work on our water heater/furnace. They worked on it most of Monday running over 100 gallons of hot water on both diesel and electric so I think it is fixed. The float valve was overtightened so it was not working properly all the time.

When we returned to Bend-Sunriver TTN Monday evening around 7 PM there was lots of smoke.  Tuesday was even worse and we learned there were five fires started in the surrounding area.

Showing smoke looking south

More smoke

For Larry's birthday we went to Bend to Olive Garden for lunch (and had the leftovers that evening) and then went to Costco. We are getting good at packing the bike with lots of Costco 'things' which are usually 'big'.  Dawn called Larry after we returned home and they had a wonderful conversation which was a great way to end his birthday.

Water Troubles

We started July off by going to the La Pine 4^th of July celebration after church and eating at Gordy's with our church family.   On the 6^th of July we moved to La Pine State Park for five days using Larry's veteran's pass. While it is a nice park with paved roads and campsites we had lousy internet and TV due to the trees and distance from main roads and towers. On the 8^th we rode to Bend to Costco and then I did a shop like I did last summer in Astoria.

Our church family eating together

Art & Sherry

We visited with Art & Sherry, a couple we met last year at Seaside, since we were both at Bend-Sunriver campground.

Larry working on the water bay

Much of the month Larry worked on our water bay as we had a water leak. He ended up taking out our fresh water hose reel since it was leaking and costs $300+ to replace. He had to re-plumb the bay but now both our water softener and filters are housed in the bay all the time so we don't have to worry about freezing temps except for the hose and we have foam insulation for that. Nice, as we've had a few nights at freezing or below and will have more before we leave the end of Sept.

He also had to work on a leak from the kitchen sink in our slide out. The drain pulled out and we discovered it when he was working on the water bay and the bay next door had water in it. It took two days to figure out where the water was coming from so hopefully that too is now fixed as Larry 'beefed up' the connection so it would not pull loose again.

The drain from the sink that is in the slide out (along with lots of other pipes!)

We went into Bend several times for 'parts' and on the 13^th stopped at Applebee's to use the gift card Dawn gave Larry for Father's Day. We had a delicious meal that was a new item on the menu, 'loaded' chicken with several choices. We both chose the same items with bacon and decided we will need to go back again as it was a great meal.

My meal at Applebee's

Larry getting ready to eat his delicious meal

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After two weeks at Cascade Meadows we moved back to Bend-Sunriver TTN and although we didn't find a 50 amp site we were able to get TV reception through the trees and the MH is in the shade most of the day. On Saturday July 29 we rode to Chiloquin to ride the Klamath & Western 15 gauge train. It was a fun afternoon and we learned that Train Mountain next door is open M-F 10 AM- 3 PM and they have 37 miles of track with a free tour where they tell about how everything works. We plan to return later on before we leave as it will be interesting to learn about how it all works. The free Saturday train rides are more for kids as they have miniature villages and animal families along the way. The K&W track is 1.9 miles long and goes through a tunnel, under a bridge and over a bridge.

Goin under the bridge

One of the miniature villages

 Sorry for the four videos as they are all the same and I cannot delete any of them for some reason.

As you enter the Klamath & Western Railroad, Chiloquin, OR

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.