Oregon, continued

Mom won't let me take hikes with her but she does show me the photos that she takes and since I'm happy in my cozy room, I let her do all the exercise!

These are the big Douglas Fir trees in this State Park (Honeyman)

Walking on the dunes is interesting.

                                                                         This little one was three feet away.

lake and dunes..fishing 'pier'

my site

trail to the lake

So, mom will do some more hiking today since the sun is out and it is going to be a gorgeous day. I will keep the RT safe and sound. Our new friends gave mom wine and dinner last night and I was really happy when she came back in to give me some love.

Oregon

We do love this beautiful state of Oregon when even in the rain the coast line is phenomenal! I stopped at the Sea Lion Caves and watched the waves crashing onto the shore. I realized that the difference in Maine vs Oregon coast are the big blocks of rock which sit just off the beaches as if a chisel was used to chip it off.
          And, then, there are the flowers which are magnificent! The Rhodendron grow all over in all sizes and colors and there are wild calla lilies too!

sea lions in the cave

waves crashing..sea lions

wild calla

Rhododendron

Rain

I must admit that sitting in the rain for the first time since the beginning of April is not so bad with cable TV and internet. Getting here (Coos Bay, Oregon) by driving up the Pacific Coast was full of magnificent views and so a few days in the rain will be OK.

What can I say about these photos:

Just phenomenal-

From Petey

passenger seat

Mom says it is my turn to write a note about our travels and I'm going to try but I'm not as sure about what to tell you. I know that when we are 'riding' I stay mostly by her side on the floor but the past few days I have learned it is nice to sit/lie on the passenger seat since I am the passenger while mom drives.

 I, mostly, am happy while we are traveling as long as mom is here. Sometimes she leaves me during the day (but I nap then anyway) to walk but she always comes home and gives me treats so it's OK with me.



Caspar Beach



on the trail

Mom says she had a great 'hike' today on the trail here. And she encountered some trees 'fallen' in the forest. But when she got back she saw the beautiful beach and Pacific Ocean and the walk was well worth it.

We'll be here for another full day so life is pretty good - and the sun joined us instead of the rain so I am happy here and with TV and internet, Mom is happy too.

California

So far I have been enjoying this state by visiting family and walking alot. I had some great 'mini' clams in Pismo Beach and enjoyed the beach scenery and local ducks (in the campground) too. The birds make Petey a little nuts but mostly he is a fantastic RV traveler.

ducks at the camp

                                                        

littlest clams

Sara, Petey

Solvang

time flies.....

These are photos of the Parker Dam which is on the Colorado river and formed Lake Havasu which is where the London Bridge was moved several years back to link an island with Lake Havasu City.

On the way back south, the views were really terrific.
After leaving Arizona, I headed into the desert of California to Desert Hot Springs and spent a night there. I did have a good view of a mountain with snow still on the top.
From there I headed to the L.A. area and the last hour I did on Historic Route 66 so I went through all the towns including Pasadena and Burbank. The campground is in Van Nuys and is about 12 miles from my nephew’s house.
I’m looking forward to Mother’s Day at his house (will park overnight there since the temperatures are dropping enough to not need my a/c during the day).

South west



sunset in Stockton, TX

 After I left Ft. Worth, I stayed a couple of nights in Tyler and then in Stonewall, Texas. I did not do much sight seeing because nothing interested me enough so when I left Texas (with a night in Ft. Stockton first--great sunset), we headed to Roswell, New Mexico.


 

alien ?



art piece

   From Roswell, we headed north to Santa Fe where I got to Diana's house but had trouble getting level so I went to a campground about 5 miles from her house. I did get to see her art which has so improved from two years (when I thought it was great) ago that I am hoping she starts selling it and getting out of the management business! She and her friend, Victor, spent Friday and Saturday evenings with me.

      Petey and I headed south on Easter Sunday (no traffic on I-25) and went further than I had thought and we are in Mesilla, NM (Las Cruces). This park is close enough to the old Mesilla square that I was able to walk there, browse, have lunch and return before it got hot enough inside the RT for necessary a/c. I thought the wind would help keep it cool enough but it was not so Pete has his 'coolness' to sleep.

       



Center of Mesilla

Florida to Texas

big gun

Have been enjoying time in the last week with friends in between driving. In the panhandle of Florida, with G., we visited the Pensacola Light House and then Ft. Pickens.

from top of lighthouse

 










From there I headed to Louisiana where I only stayed a night in each of two campgrounds. In one, I was offered (and accepted) some freshly made Jambalaya and it was really good.


water lilies

      The next campground was in Tyler, Texas where I 'rested' and took care of laundry. I did a lovely walk there.


    It is across the street from a rodeo arena but being during the week was nice and quiet.



rooster art



jugglers in the wind





I headed to Ft. Worth to spend time with J.D and we had a great time. I stayed in a campground where most everyone there are full time residents which was interesting. We later discovered that JD has enough amperage that I could have easily parked in her driveway. I was concerned that Petey would not have his a/c in the afternoons so that was the reason we did a campground. It worked out OK. It was very windy the day we went to the outdoor art Festival and those jugglers did not do much juggling.

       We ate well while there, walked while seeing things and I enjoyed a great lecture that JD did with two other ladies concerning the use of social media . I am resting in a campground near the LBJ ranch and will do some needed house cleaning today.

Kissimmee

  I arrived in Kissimmee on Monday with the rally due to start on Tuesday but there were some Roadtreks already here so I was not alone at all. It was a beautiful day for weather and that made it even better.
   Tuesday morning the rain came but we did not get the bad winds that were doing damage in other areas of Florida. It rained on and off most of the day but that did not deter the folks coming for the rally and we have more than 62 people here for this rally which is a new record for our T & C (tech and computer) topic. This rally is held twice a year and it is always so interesting, educational and fun with the people.
   Pot luck on Tuesday was delicious and our catered meals Wednesday and tonight are good too.
   So, I am on my starting leg of the journey west and feeling great! Oh, and, Petey seems to be handling this all in his stride. He thinks the rig is his private cave and he is quite comfortable.

Almost....

Getting ready (waiting) to leave makes me crazy! I just want to go already and it doesn't happen that way. I have packed, re-packed, re-organized and except for food (have to cool down the refrig) and Petey, the RT is ready to leave the driveway. I know I have more clothing than I will need because the longer I am here, the more I decide I 'need' to take with me. I try to take things out when I put something in but that doesn't always work.
   I am not supposed to go until Tuesday but might just head out before that even though I am not going very far for the first stop (RT rally about an hour away).
   My next note should be 'away from home'!

Home after Georgia

I got home from Georgia and the rally in Perry (big FMCA, over 2700 rigs there) and am trying to clean up so that I can leave for my 'long' trip in April.

center of Fairgrounds

the Roadtrek group

my corner site

   Driving a Handicapped and Activity Golf Cart at the rally was really fun and I was able to talk to lots of people. My parking site was fantastic! I decided to spend the money for electric so I was in the volunteer 'electric' lot. I asked for a site not between two 'big' rigs and they gave me a corner which was not only geographically good but it turned out to have water and a sewer line right there (RV folks will understand how great this is). I attended many of the seminars and the evening entertainment was wonderful.
    I met great people and learned alot and always feel that rallys are fun!
   

GA, South Carolina

My first two nights out, I stayed in Georgia and it rained most of the full day that I was there however it is a park I would return to for overnights since the price was right, the place is small and run by a young couple who originally are from Australia and have three small children.
   The third night was in Hollywood, South Carolina it was only about 25 miles from the rally site here in Ladson. I was able to get unhooked on Sunday with no rain but by the time I got into the rally site, the sky had opened. The guy who helped me plug in and I got soaked!  It did pass by evening and all the participants met for dessert and coffee. There are 93 rigs here so it is interesting to talk to folks about where they are from and what they have done to their Roadtreks (some of RTs are really oldies).

in Hollywood, SC

white one is 1994, mine to its right

  Many of the folks are off on a bus tour today to Charleston and a Plantation. There are a handful of us who did not go with them.
   At least the sun is shining, although last night I needed the electric heater all night to stay warm. I will be here until Thursday and then head back into Georgia.
    Petey, by the way, is doing very well and is so well behaved that he constantly amazes me.

Finally..on the road again

Well, the 'itchy' got me and I left early today although the rally I am heading to does not start until Sunday. So, today, Petey and I are in Georgia and will stay here for a couple of nights. It is a small campground and I think mostly 'short' term folks are here but the owners are Australian and want to do lots of things with the place. There is nothing close by so unless I unplug to go into St. Mary's (closest town), I will just 'hang out'. I do not get much television (some old stuff on ION stations) so playing on computer (free internet) is OK.
   And, I will walk and sit/read and just plain relax. It amazes me that I can sit and do very little when I am traveling but when I am home it makes me crazy to do 'little' of anything. On Saturday, I will head to the Charleston area.
  

at the Rally

 This was the beginning of a 'can can' that Ramona and I did while the performer was doing Liza (singing New York, New York). It was not a planned thing but it sure was fun! Got all sorts of comments the next morning.

Mid Winter is done

  The week flew by at Mid Winter Rally in Orlando because it was so wonderful. Meeting all the solos who were there always makes it special. It is fun to put a face on the names from the Solo Trekker site. We solos do mix and mingle with the couples too.I always learn new things even though the programs are similar each year. I am glad we had the good weather and especially that it was warm for all the northern folks we had with us. The rain that was predicted initially never happened so except for fog the last two mornings, we had terrific weather.
   Petey did well as he does in the Roadtrek and we are planning our next journey which is to South Carolina (unless we do something before March) and Georgia.

home again

   Well, Petey and I are home again for about 10 days and then we will head to Mid Winter Rally. We enjoyed our little 'visit/rest' trip which included seeing my uncle/aunt and an old 'beaux' too while we were in Ft. Lauderdale. I could not believe the change in weather from one day to the next. I went from winter jacket to tank top and cut offs!
   We had a day indoors (raining) and that was OK too. And, we got home yesterday before the rain started again. I still have 'stuff' to get out of the RT, but the important things are in the house so I will get to it when the rain is lighter or tomorrow.

Actually away....

  Petey and I actually left home last Wednesday and headed southwest where I thought it might be warmer (Florida, this is) but although the sun was shining, the temperatures were not so great. I stayed at Ramona's in Punta Gorda for a couple of nights and then up to Englewood for a night with Chicki. In both places, I was provided electric so I could use my heater at night when it really got a bit too cold for me. Petey doesn't seem to mind cold but I certainly need my heat!
     From Englewood, I headed south and after a stop at the Camping World in Ft. Myers, I headed to an RV park in Homestead. Saturday afternoon I was able to put on a tank top and cut-offs! Sunday, Pepper and her mom arrived and we got to spend some nice time in the sunshine.

    This morning we woke to rain and it has been doing that all day sometimes very, very heavy and we had some thunder too. Petey did not seem to mind the thunder as many of my previous cats have so I keep learning about him. He also has discovered how to get under the covers and I finally got a picture of him with his head sticking out while I was stopped at a red light. I did post it on Facebook for those who have that access.
   Tomorrow I am heading to Ft. Lauderdale and in that area, I will get to see my Uncle Dave/Aunt Bobbi. I'm not sure if I will one or two nights.
   I have taken no other photos on this short trip. It is more of a 'resting' , visiting, and doing not much of anything trip. I needed to 'get away' and this is great!

still home

         I am not thrilled that I have not gone anywhere yet but very soon I will get back 'on the road' even if it is for short trips until the weather straightens out around the country.

         Today I visited with some friends who spend the winter camping in the park across the street from me (good county campground) and that made me more interested in going than ever.
   My Petey keeps me smiling (notice the crossed legs) as he now 'rules' this house. There is no more hiding in the closet and when he wants something (like every time I go in the kitchen) he talks to me.
    Just wanted to let you all know things are kinda 'status quo' for now.