#10-14 San Francisco to Oregon 5-11 thru 5-20

On our way to San Francisco, we stopped at two different Elks Lodges after leaving the desert.

Our first stop was at the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge. Their campground is small but secluded. There were quite a few campers there this year. We have stopped there before in 2007 and it was almost empty. We donated $18.00 for the night and had water and electric. The weather was sunny and nice.

Next we drove about 130 miles to Oceana Elks. We haven’t stayed there before, but had heard from other campers that is was a nice place to stay and very close to the beach. It is only 7 miles south of Pismo Beach. It is a cute little town, and we could walk to the beach. It is one of the only places that allows vehicles on the beach, and there were some there! The weather was colder and windy. We walked to beach in the morning before we headed north. We had a nice stroll along the water, very quiet and peaceful in the early morning.

On to San Jose, where we will spend the weekend. We arrived on Friday and called the kids to see what the plans were. They had tickets to the baseball game on Sat., Lauren had a volleyball tournament going on in the mornings, and on Sunday Bray had a performance for the Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bell Ringers. So we decided to take the train into San Francisco on Saturday afternoon, after the ball game (Giants), and have dinner and spend the night with the McDonnalls. We had a wonderful dinner—Renee’ is an excellent cook, and then spent the night in the new addition downstairs. The addition really turned out nice. Thanks, Bray for giving up your bed! (He slept on the couch with Gidget!)

The next morning was the performance. Katherine gave me a facial before we left for the performance. Wow! did that feel good. Thanks Katherine.

Below are pictures of the Boys Choir. They have a couple of performances in the area, and have performed in front of the Pope in Italy. Very, very nice.

View Full Album

The performance was on Alameda Island in the Catholic Church. After it was over, Peter took the kids for ice cream and lunch. (We ate before the performance) Renee’ drove us back to the RV in San Jose.

We have stayed at this Elks Lodge RV park before. It is $18.00 a night for water and electric, but there are showers and a swimming pool that we could use at the lodge. All the spots are on cement and we were walking distance from the train station. When we rode the train, Gidget traveled in her travel bag and was a happy dog! We left the coach and car parked at the lodge while we were in San Francisco. It was nice to get back to “home” after a great visit. Monday we head north. The weather is looking OK, but it is getting colder.

Our next stop was Red Bluff. We had stayed at the Elks lodge in Redding and wanted to check out the Red Bluff Elks. They have nice pull through spots on gravel with 30 amp electric and water. Only $12.00 a night. The lodge is in a beautiful spot, and has a small lake out in front. We were there a week before it was filled with water, so all we saw was a big green hole!

Only one night in Red Bluff, and then on to a campground in Weed, called Friendly RV. We had full hook-ups there, so were able to dump our tanks. It was cold! The day we drove up it was cloudy and we had to drive in some rain, but the next day the sun came out and as you can see below, there was snow all around us. I checked the internet and the pass through the Siskiyou’s is clear. We planned it so that we went through during the sunniest part of the day. We are only 99 miles from where we will park for 8 days at Valley of the Rogue State Park.

This is the view from the RV park. Weed is a big truck stop and we saw a lot of trucks parked there!

Mount Shasta from the window of the RV. We are almost there!!

#10-13 Leaving the desert

It has been a really busy week. The front of my “tooth” bridge chipped off and I had to make a quick trip to the dentist in Algodones for a quick repair. Dr. Erika Medina made my appointment via the internet and we drove down on Monday, she removed the broken bridge on Tues morning, took impressions and by Thursday morning she had it in and we were ready to head back to the desert for Frank’s last Dr. appointment and to celebrate Mother’s day.

Friday was a busy morning, We met Eric, our new handyman at the house and he installed the replacement kitchen faucet, that was leaking. (It pays to keep all the paperwork on those “lifetime guaranteed” fixtures. Price Pfister sent us a new faucet and all we paid for was the shipping.) While the faucet was being installed, (and new shut off valves), Frank went to his Dr. appointment. (Just a physical for the Vets) After lunch it was final physical therapy at 2 and Dixie went at 4 for new nails! Seems like when we are at home there is always something to be done.

Saturday we lazed around until about 11:30. Dixie dropped by Ray’s and visited with the kids (Frank took a long nap!). The weather is very warm (in the 90’s) and the kids were swimming in the pool. Aubrey is a little dare-devil and AJ is the cautious one.

Here is a video of Aubrey doing a “cannonball” in to the pool.

AJ (Alex) is in the jacuzzi watching.

Later we went into the house and just visited a little.

I had to say good-by to the kids. We will miss seeing them for a while. They grow so fast!

Back at the RV we got ready to head up to Yucca Valley for Lois’s 80th birthday party. It took us just about an hour to drive up. Rick and Pam had a nice lunch prepared, so at 3 pm we ate lunch, visited for a couple of hours. Watched Lois (Pam’s Mom) blow out the candles and then drove back to Indio!

This is also Mother’s day weekend and Diane, Mark, Mark’s Mom, Linda and husband Richard are staying at a vacation rental at Indian Palms in Indio. So after our birthday party we went to visit them and had more snacks!

Sunday is Mother’s day, We went to church and said our good-byes to everyone there and then met Diane and family at the Mother’s Day Brunch at Indian Palms. It was DELICIOUS!

We were planning on leaving the next day (Mon), but we had too many little things left to do, washing clothes, pick up mail, grocery shopping, and even make a visit to the RV parts store! So we put off departure day until Tuesday.

Tuesday the wind was blowing hard! There was a wind advisory for high profile vehicles, so we just hung around the RV until late in the afternoon. By that time the wind died down and we took off and went as far as Banning Elks Lodge (50 miles). We only stayed the one night. We had full hook-ups, but only used water and electric. Only $15.00 a night, and we were on grass, not gravel. It was cool and windy in the pass, but the next morning it was a gorgeous. On to the Santa Barbara Elks lodge!

It was a busy, but really fun weekend, and now we are on the road again—north to Oregon for the summer. With some stops along the way!

#10-12 Eldon’s 2nd visit to Palm Desert

Eldon is 12 weeks old, and a big healthy, happy boy!

OK, I’m ready to get out of this car seat. That was a long trip! We are at Great Grandma and Papa’s house so lets party!

Look at me! I’m on Sleeping Beauty’s lap (Aubrey)! Think I’ll just take a good stretch. Wow, I bet I get this big someday.

Uh, Aubrey what are you doing here. Hang on to me—I can’t sit up by myself yet. I’m only 12 weeks old!

That was a quick weekend!. I’m ready to go home to my Daddy. Mommy took his keys and he had to stay at home. Bet he doesn’t let her do that again.

Bye Great Grandma and Papa. We had a good time with my cousins, and my Uncle Ray and Aunt Nicole.

#10-11 Rick’s 63rd Birthday party—Burgers and Beer

Our great friend, Rick Post turned 63 and his wife Pam threw a birthday bash for him at "Burger and Beer" in Palm Desert. (5-19-2010)

This was a new place to us. It is amazing that in just a couple of years away so many things can change. Where there was nothing but sand, now there is a whole complex behind the theaters with new places to eat and shop!

Of course, we got lost getting there. Even the GPS didn’t know that a new restaurant had been built. We had to call Pam and she directed us.

Good friends, Charles and Mary Anne were there as well as Pam’s brother and sister-in-law and Rick’s son Rick Jr, wife Leann, and grandkids, Rick III and Reese. There were others there also, and made for quite a birthday party.

By the time we arrived snacks were on the table and tequila shooters were being served. (I’m the designated driver so I didn’t have any!) Frank was sitting next to Mary Ann and they got in a couple before getting smart and filling their shot glasses with plain water! (After a while they would just have the tequila shots taken down to Rick by the waitress.)

table and tequila shooters were being served. (I’m the designated driver so I didn’t have any!) Frank was sitting next to Mary Ann and they got in a couple before getting smart and filling their shot glasses with plain water! (After a while they would just have the tequila shots taken down to Rick by the waitress.)

Rick’s lining up the shot glasses!

He is starting to feel really, really good! He doesn’t even know he is drinking his, Franks and Mary Ann’s shots! Just keep them coming!

I’m sure Reese is checking to see if her Grandpa is having a good birthday!

Uh Oh, here comes the Mexican hat!

View Full Album

Happy Birthday Rick. What a wonderful party! Stay young!