May 3 - 5, 2024 Spending Time with Family

On May 3rd, 2024, we left our spot in Richland and headed west.

Wineries and Vineyards that went for miles:

The hill folds were caused by the Ice Age Floods.  Just heard about them yesterday so I need to check it out when we come back.  But imagine this - 1200' of water here and they figure it happened over 40 times.  Wow!  That is also why the soil is so rich.

Lots of farming:

Check out that mountain in the background:

Many rivers and lakes:

Nice roads - wonder where they go:

Going up:

And heading down:

WOW! Pictures do not do this justice:

An animal bridge!!!

Heading up to Snoqualmie Pass: 

Coming down the other side:

Spring!

Coming into the city - Yikees!

We made it to our daughter's place and spent the next few days getting caught up.  It was so great to see everyone.  Thank you Sandy and Mike.  We will see you on the way back.

We did take some time to get some pictures.

Love this picture of Mike's Mom, Sandy, and me.  We were laughing at something.

For years we got together with her and Raul in Yuma and had lots of laughs!  We figured it was 8 years since we saw each other.  I was off the road for a while and now she is off the road.  It was good to see her.

All of us:

The Grands:

The Great-Grands:

What a wonderful time!

Stats for May 3rd:

Miles Traveled: 242 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Washington: Columbia Park Trail; I-182, I-82; I-90; I-405; WA-522;  WA-9

Tomorrow we head south before we head north so stay tuned!

March 5 - 15, 2024 Our Time in Casa Grande - Part 1

After hooking up and saying our "see you laters" to Sue,  we made our way south and east.

Spring in the desert:

Past the farm fields:

Past the solar farms:

Past the desert flowers:

To our lot in Casa Grande SKP Park:

Where we will be for the next few weeks.  After settling in, we joined a few of our neighbors at Barro's Pizza for a great time.

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled: 80 Miles

Arizona:  Painted Rock Dam Road; I-8; Montgomery Road

On Friday, March 8th, Andy dropped me off in Chandler and I spent a wonderful weekend with my cousin.  A little background:  Kris and I had no contact growing up and we got together about 10 years ago.  Whenever I traveled this way, we tried to get together for lunch.  So last fall we talked about me staying with her for a few days and I am so glad we made plans.   Have to say, it was a great girl's weekend talking and laughing and getting to know one another.  (Thank you Kris.) Hope to do it again in the fall.

Saturday, March 9th was the Tempe Festival for the Arts.  It is a 3 day affair in Tempe every fall and spring and it is huge.  So Kris and I spent a few hours amazed at the creativity of the artists.  WOW!  Last spring, I bought a pair of earrings from Paula Chang and loved them.  So I contacted her and she was a vendor again this year.  What a wonderful woman!  Very creative.   

Sunday, March 10th, our weekend ended.  Kris brought me back to Casa Grande.  Andy cooked us supper and we said our "see you laters" until the fall.

Kris and I in our backyard:

On Tuesday, March 12th, we took the RV to Southwest RV in Glendale for service: oil, oil filter, and fuel filter change.  They were able to do an oil and oil filter change but not the fuel filter.  Our RV has two fuel filters: One is readily available, the other is not (we did not know that).  So we have ordered the fuel filters and will be having them changed next week near Arizona City.

Those are the highlights of Part 1.  In between the highlights was laundry, shopping, cleaning, cooking, cleaning out our sheds, repairing stuff, visiting, hanging out, etc.  The normal stuff - LOL!

Thanks for coming along and enjoy today.

October 6-8, 2023 Visiting Family and Friends

Friday, October 6th

On Friday Morning, we woke to rain and drizzle. After doing our final preparations (shutting down the house and organizing the RV), we were off.

The traffic on I-81 in Pennsylvania was terrible – lots of construction and back ups, plus the rain did not help.

And then we were in…

Once we crossed the state border, the road was great and the rain held up – YEA!

We made our way to Camillus, New York and parked in my aunt’s driveway.  We spent the rest of the evening getting caught up with my Aunt and Cousins.  What a great time!

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled: 217 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Pennsylvania: Chestnut Street; US-209; US-61; I-81

New York: I-81; I-690; NY-695; NY-5; NY-98; NY-155; Carol Drive

Saturday, October 7th

After a great breakfast of Swedish Waffles made by my aunt, my cousins, Lauren and Fred, took us sightseeing. 

They built a camp/vacation home north of Syracuse on a lake so that was our first stop.  What a beautiful place. I am so happy for them!  (Sadly I did not take any pictures – )

From there we went to the Fish Hatchery.  The salmon are running right now and it was amazing to see all the streams filled with fishermen.

The Hatchery had a nice little museum that talked about the salmon and their journey as well as other fish found the streams and Great Lakes.

The fish are making their way up the ladder to the hatchery:

Blocking the fish from going upstream – to ensure that they go to the hatchery:

It was amazing to see all those salmon jumping.

Here is the link if you would like to know more:   https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/21663.html

My cousins, Lauren and Fred:

We all got together for dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse – YUM!  And had a great visit afterwards.

My cousins, Eric and Pennie and my Aunt Loretta:  

Sadly I did not get a picture of Rachel (Eric/Pennie’s daughter) or Julia (Lauren/Fred’s daughter).  What beautiful girls.

Guess who?!:

WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME!  Thanks to my Aunt Loretta and Cousins Lauren, Fred, Eric, and Pennie for making us feel special!

Sunday, October 8, 2023

After saying our goodbyes and doing some errands, we headed south to Cortland, New York.

It was a beautiful day!

We are here to visit our friend, Anne.  We met Anne at the Florida SKP Park where we both had lots.  When we first arrived there, Anne was one of the first folks we met.  At that same time, a stray cat adopted us.  As it turned out, Anne adopted the cat and she has been her buddy every since.   The young stray has turned into one beautiful friendly cat. 

We spent the day getting caught up with each other.  Anne gave us a tour of her beautiful home with a great view. She treated us to a great dinner and we were able to meet her daughter,Sandy, son and son’s friend, Greg and Jenn.

Andy, Anne, and me:

Thank you all for the great time and hopefully we will see you again.

Stats for Sunday:

    

Miles Traveled: 40 Miles

Routes Traveled:

New York: Carol Drive; NY-155; NY-98; NY-5; NY-695; I-690; I-81; NY-281; NY-90; Foster Road 

Tomorrow we continue our journey south so stay tuned and enjoy today!

March 14-19, 2023 Casa Grande Week 2

On March 14, 2023, we headed to breakfast at Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner.  When we walked in, Becky, our waitress from yesterday greeted us.  Since it wasn’t that busy, we spent time chatting with her.  I commented on her positivity and she told us her story.  She was burned very badly and spent over a year getting skin grafts and healing.  She is now grateful for every day she is alive and just loves to serve.  What an inspiration.

That is one of the things I love about traveling – meeting folks like Becky and hearing her story. 

(BTW.  Breakfast was wonderful too!)

We made our way south – to Casa Grande:

 

How about that green desert!

Yellow Flowers!

Purple Flowers!

Lots of yellow flowers!

And orange ones too!

Beautiful – I have never seen the desert like this!

We arrived home late afternoon and relaxed..  A long two days.

Wednesday, 15th, my cousin, Kris, who lives in Tempe, came down and spent the day with us.  It was so so good to see her and get caught up.  There is never a loss for words between us.  (Love you Kris!)  Hope to see her again before we head east.

Thursday, 16th, we spent cleaning up, cleaning out, and sorting the things in our sheds.  Some stuff is staying here, some going to Yuma, and some going home. (No, I still haven’t figure out what we are going to do – LOL.)

That evening we had a great time at the St. Patty’s Day Dinner here at the park and the next day at Meet and Greet.  Always good to reconnect and get caught up with folks I have not seen in a while.  And to meet others along the way.

The other days were the normal laundry, shopping..  etc..

For now our plans are to stay here until 3/24, go to Yuma until 4/1, come back to Casa Grande for ??? and then head east.  First to Benson to see friends, then east to ???  Will figure it out then.

So stay tuned and enjoy today.