This town is a little strange

Walking Valley around this morning you could see how a little scary this area is, Elks Lodges are 95% of the time not in the nicest parts of town. Some guy was walking down the street talking to himself and saw me and Valley are came over to us. He asked it that was my dog, who's would it be?, then tried to pet her, Valley started sneezing like crazy, snot flying so the guy took off. Good girl Valley. I spotted a park and came back and got Dave to walk with us, as we headed that way you could see the homeless sitting around a table in the middle of the park. Dave said if you see a group of folks sitting in a park before 8am you really don't want to walk around there. Sitting back in the rig writing this I am seeing the strangest people walk around, luckily for us there is a Wells Fargo Bank near us and they have 24 hour security, so our rigs are being watched. The weather is hot here too, plus, the bugs are loving me. Lots going on around town so will check it out today.

Grand Junction Colorado

We have arrived in Grand Junction Colorado and are parked in the closed Elks parking lot. They had a car show, Greek Festival, Air show and something else going on so we couldn't get any camp ground parks to stay in. It works out fine at the Elks, we don't have to pay anything we have electric but that's it, thank goodness they are closed. We are going to hang out here for 2 nights and check out some of the area before heading for Marisa's.

Springville, Utah now

We left Baker City Oregon at 7am this morning and decided to drive to Springville, Utah which is right outside of Provo to meet up with our friends a day early. I did most of the driving today, about 7 to 8 hours, thru Oregon, Idaho then almost to Ogdon Utah. The only reason I started driving was because as we were leaving the RV Park this morning, we hadn't reached the highway yet, Dave jumped up because he had forgotten to take his pills before we left. Once he jumped up and ran to the back, the coach was still moving, I jumped into the drivers seat and started driving. He said "are you going to drive" and I said "yes" he left the drivers seat so I might as well take over. (when I say this we weren't in any danger of crashing, we really weren't moving that fast and it was kind of an open area) It was a long boring drive thru Idaho, flat lands and really nothing to see, my kind of driving, Dave got to read and and relax until Ogden, then the construction started and the traffic picked up. I was a nervous wreck thank god he was driving.
Anyway, we are 1 day ahead of schedule now so we are going to plan on heading to Colorado tomorrow and stop and do some touring around before we go to visit my niece in Littleton Colorado on Monday, I believe, so Marisa don't expect us any earlier.

Baker City, Oregon

Before I start our update let me wish Kelli and Rob a belated Happy 7th Anniversary. So sorry I forgot to mention it on my blog from the 22nd.

OK, now we are at Oregon Trails West RV Park in Baker City Oregon, we left the Rally 1 day early because we need to be in Provo Utah on Saturday to meet up with some friends that are going to the Balloon Festival with us. (We didn’t want to kill ourselves driving)

We had a lot of fun at the rally, hard not to, when they feed you with appetizers, ice cream, wine, beer, hard stuff, breakfast and dinner every night. They had tons of RV’s to walk thru, and boy they sure were hoping you were buying. There were only about 50, if that, vendors to sell you things. It was just enough because Dave and I donated on stuff I’m sure we could have done without. Really thank goodness there weren’t more vendors because the way the market is going we sure didn’t need to spend more money. Dogs everywhere so Valley made lots of friends never saw one mean dog except those little yapper ones. The very 1st day the vendors opened up we kind of strolled thru and just so happen to by past one of the vendors. As we were leaving, the guy runs after us as we are going out the door and ask if we were too good for him for not stopping at his booth. Ends up being a couple we played Pickle Ball with in Soledad Canyon Thousand Trails, too funny, Larry and Dottie. I had mentioned before that I saw a coach that we had met the people in Florida, anyway, we walked up to their coach and introduced ourselves again, John and Barb, who are fulltime too. At our table for dinner it ended up being Dave, Jeri, Stan, Ginger, Joe, Lynda, John, Barb, then this weird couple joined us, Clark and Mary Ann were suppose to join us but I never saw them again after the 1st day. (so maybe they really weren’t friends from Camp Monaco L) Stan and Ginger had to leave Wednesday morning so Larry and Dottie joined us for dinner on Wednesday night, plus, that weird couple again.
Tuesday night after dinner as we all sat there talking, the singer they had hired to entertain us started singing. He wasn’t very good, so Ginger and I were in deep conversation as were John and Dave. Next thing I know a man from the other table leans over and was saying something to John and Dave, and I had a feeling it wasn’t good. Next thing John is asking this guy to step outside and they will settle it. It ended up this man was telling Dave and John to hold it down and tempers were flying, we then decided the singer was no good so we all left, except the weird couple, and went back to Ginger and Lynda’s rigs sat outside and talked until late. We did that about every night and sure did have a lot of fun; it was a great group to be with. Last night they had a comedian, singer, songwriter and he was good, at the beginning, after awhile he was telling longer stories and I was getting bored, plus, since Dave and I had to leave early we decided to turn in early, no late night get together for us.

We should be at my niece’s house, Marisa, on Monday and will be staying 2 nights, I believe, before heading to New Mexico.

One last thing, on our drive here, again in Oregon, a rock was thrown at us by a big rig and we have another chip in our windshield. We have 3 chips and all have come from Oregon, we might just have to write this state off for visiting.

Salem Oregon Fair Grounds

We arrived yesterday morning at the Fairgrounds here where the Rally will get started at noon today. I believe they have about 500 rigs coming and about 400 showed up yesterday so it took awhile for everyone to get parked.
Short recap of the last couple days.

Friday Dave, Stan and Joe went and checked out the Spruce Goose and Air Museum in McMinnville while us ladies went to some wineries. Friday night we BBQ'd Salmon and Halibut and the guys started drinking scotch and kept on drinking. While the ladies went back to our rigs to do dishes the guys decided to go to the Elks lodge and have a night cap. Well, luckily the 3 of them had each other to lean on to make it home. The bartender wasn't even going to let them leave unless they were camping in the parking lot, boy they tied on good ones.

Saturday night we were all having dinner in our coach when I went to check on the dogs, Valley and Ginger's dog Katie, and Katie was throwing up. Stan and Ginger took her home where then she started foaming out her mouth and nose. They rushed her to the vet where she stayed over night, they took xrays but didn't know what was wrong with her. She had a big knot in her stomach so they thought she might had eaten a plastic bag. When we got settled yesterday at the fairgrounds they went and picked her up. The vet said it was a reaction from what they don't know, spider bite, food she may have picked up but she looks fine and acts like nothing was ever wrong so that's good.
Forgot to mention, Stan and Joe are retired Airline pilots and the stories they tell, it just scares the hell out of you about what pilots do.

Went walking around the rigs yesterday and ran into a couple we met 2 years ago when we 1st went to Camp Monaco repair facility in Harrisburg Oregon, Clark and Mary Ann, so they are going to join with the rest of us.
This morning walking around saw a rig of some people we met in Wildwood Florida at the Monaco facility there.

Still in Keizer

On Tuesday mid-morning we did get a spot so we have full hookup now, around 5pm another RV pulled in and Dave went out to tell them what spots were open (I guess he turned into camp host) and it ended up being friends of ours, Stan and Ginger, from Camarillo. We knew we were going to see them at the Rally but had no idea they were going to be parking at the Elks too. Stan hadn't realized that Dave had rejoined the Elks again, Dave fixed a pasta and shrimp dinner for all of us. Wednesday, Stan and Ginger had friends coming in so we blocked off one of the open sites so when they come in they would have somewhere to park. In the afternoon we went visiting Vineyards for wine sampling around 3 we stopped at Costco for hot dog lunches. (that's all we could afford after buying so much wine :) )
Linda and Joe arrived around 6pm and we ate pizza and sat around and visited and drank wine.

Keizer, Oregon

We have arrived at the Elks Lodge in Keizer, Oregon. They had no open spots for camping so we just kind of squeezed into a non spot and hopefully tomorrow someone will pull out. The camp host isn't here and hasn't been for a couple days so he can't kick us out, cross your fingers for a site tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Kelli and Inara

Wanted to wish Kelli Miller and Inara Tomlinson

HAPPY BIRTHDAY


Dinner was great last night with Monaco Mama and we will head out this morning for Salem

Eugene Oregon

Thursday night Marty came over to the coach after work and visited for awhile. Friday morning we went to the restaurant for breakfast and then around 3pm our friends, Linda and Larry, arrived at the RV Park. We sat around and visited then walked the Umqua River a little bit, at 6pm we had reservations for dinner at Marty's, Chicken Cordon Bleu, very tasty meal, of course. Saturday morning we went walking around and spotted deer, which Valley was really happy seeing, and wild turkeys too. We went to Marty's for breakfast, Dana came down so we got to visit with her then went back hooked up the rigs and hit the road for Eugene. Once we got to the RV Park and got set-up we hit the road for the Eugene Celebration. They had streets roped off and there was a farmer's market and street vendors, to go into the Eugene Celebration they charged 12 per person and we didn't feel like paying for that since there were so many strange looking people walking around it was just as entertaining just people watching. They had a car show going on that was free so we walked around that too. Saturday night Linda fixed dinner then after that we played card and domino games.
Today we went to the mall so Linda and I could have our nails and toes done then we all went to the movies and saw "The House Bunny" then did lunch at Chili's. Linda and Larry then headed out to Junction City because they are having their rig worked on. Dave and I went back to the coach and relaxed and will be headed out tomorrow for Salem Oregon.
Tonight's dinner is at Monaco Mama's, which is a lady 3 rigs from us that writes on the Monaco Blogs that Dave reads, it's us and another couple for dinner and they are all going to the Monaco Rally in Salem like we are. Will let you know how it turns out.

Gold Beach/Florence/ now in Elkton Oregon

Yesterday we left Brookings, Oregon and headed for Florence, Oregon but we did make a stop in Gold Beach, Oregon to do a Boat Trip on the White Water Thrills. They have 2 company's that do this, one is Jerry's Rogue Jets or Rogue River Mail Boat. We went with the Rogue River Mail Boat and they do still carry the mail up the river as you go. We didn't want to pay the higher price so we picked the 64 mile ride, they also have an 80 and 104 mile ride. Needless to say we paid for the 64 mile one but got the 80 mile ride. The driver of the boat didn't pay too much attention to the tickets he took from everyone so needless to say to do the xtra 16 miles, which we shouldn't have gotten, he just took everyone, yea lucky us. The ride was great, weather very hot in the afternoon thank goodness we dressed in layers, we saw bald eagles and other kinds of birds, different nests but no bear. We heard on the 104 mile trip they did see a bear, oh well. We had left on the boat at 8:30am and didn't get back until 2:30pm which was a long enough time to leave Valley in a closed up RV, but she did do fine. The coach was left on the ocean side so it stayed cool and the boat ride up the Rogue River went into the Canyon's so it was hot. Plus, on that day it was Sheriff training day, we must had seen every sheriff boat from every county in Oregon. We were told it was training for the new hires on the force so they know how to assist on any of the water ways in Oregon. This training day was for the Rogue River, next month they will do another river, could be Umpqua River ect. Anyway, when we got back we drove to Florence and stopped off at the Florence Elks Lodge. We got there about 5:30pm and started setting up, Dave found out dinner stopped at 6:30pm so we then rushed to dinner. When we got back I had mentioned to Dave that I was hearing some different noises in the coach, he thought it was the hot water heater because it had started dripping water, something about a valve or something. Anyway, he goes into the bathroom and the next thing I see is him running out of the coach, what the hell is going on now? When he got back, of course I asked him, he had said when we first pulled in he always runs the water hookup thru the black tank 1st, just in case there is dirt in the line we hook up to, anyway , he had done that BUT had never switched it back to the coach line, so needless to say our black tank was full. Thank goodness we got back in time and it didn't over flow into the coach again, but now our black tank was full and the Elks, or at least this Elks didn't have a dump. Luckily when it says it is full it really isn't, so we didn't have to do anything last night.
This morning Dave drove out to the Elks RV Park and they had no openings so we decided to go ahead and drive up to Elkton and visit with Marty sooner then we had planned. So a long story short that's why we are here in Elkton now, plus by the time we got here and we were hungry so we went and had a free lunch on Marty's :) The RV Park here in Elkton is pretty full and walking around this afternoon I found out why, the Roseburg Elks are here, the only reason I knew was because it was before 4pm and I saw them all drinking, that's the Elks for you.
P.S. we did get to dump our black tank when we got to the Elkton RV Park, yea we can shit again.
oops sorry Danny, we can go poopies again.

Brookings and Miss Madison 2 months old now

We made it here to Brookings Oregon yesterday early afternoon, no problems with the drive. When we got here it was sunny but soon the fog rolled in, we are just right down the street from the ocean. The Elks Lodge here has the Brookings Police dept. on one side and the Mormon Church on the other side. Elks Lodge right next to a Police dept. is scary enough with the way they drink.
Will head out tomorrow for Florence Oregon, but might stop on the way and do some white water rafting, will let you know tomorrow night.
Happy 2nd month to you Miss Madison.

Heading out to Brookings Oregon tomorrow

Yesterday we went to Old Town Eureka to see the car show, which was put on for The Make a Wish Foundation. They had so many cars there that they went every which way, we walked around and checked them all out. After that we came back to the coach to relax a little before the car races that night. The car racing was on a 3/8's of a mile track, black asphalt, they had modified stocks, street stocks, mini stocks and roadsters. It was a nice night, but it seems it doesn't matter where we go and see car racing the people in the stands are more interesting to watch. Some are real trailer trash and some inbreds, maybe that's why we like going to the races. :)
Today, after breakfast at the Elks, we drove to Ladybird Johnson Grove which is in the Redwoods. We took the mile loop and walked among the towering old redwoods, goose pens, nurse logs and fern-covered glades. Beautiful walking trail and perfect weather.
We got back in the afternoon and starting getting ready to head out tomorrow for Brookings Oregon at another Elks Lodge.

Eureka - We have arrived

We have arrived in Eureka, Calif. in another Elks parking lot, at least this one has full hook-up for the rigs which is really nice. The ride over here was beautiful but very winding roads plus road construction, Dave was tired from driving because you can never relax on roads like that. Valley couldn't even fall asleep but that was probably because I never relaxed. Forgot to mention yesterday before our trip with Bob and Jackie, Dave and I had gone to Costco and got another GPS for the car and we tried it out on our drive today. It didn't agree with the computer one that Dave managed to get working again. These damn computers, where would we be without them?:)

Long Walk for Valley / Site Seeing Day

Today Valley and I left at 6:30am and started on the walking trail that is right here where we are staying. Jackie had told me that on some of the trails they have water fountains for people and dogs, but it was my luck this trail didn't have one and I hadn't brought water. Needless to say Valley and I ended up walking almost 5 miles without water and boy she wasn't a happy camper. There was finally a water stop about 1 1/2 miles before we got back to the Elks Lodge and I didn't think Valley would ever stop drinking. Dave had met us 1/2 way thru the walk so it was one hell of a walk for him too with that bad knee.
Then this afternoon, with Jackie and Bob, we drove to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, about 50 miles away, and there we walked to the bottom and top of the Falls, which were beautiful, but it was another 2 miles of walking. Good thing we get back on the road again tomorrow because Dave probably won't be able to walk at all, but he can drive.
Bob and Jackie tonight had come over and we had dinner at the Elks Lodge then hit the road to their local Indian Casino. I lost $13, Dave lost $32, Bob lost $8 and Jackie lost $50, can't say we really lost it because we know exactly where it went to. Contributions to the Indians, they need it.(ha ha)
That's it for now, back on the road in the morning and will stop at Eureka, another Elks Lodge tomorrow.

CORRECTION ON MISS MADISON

OK I had a blond moment, actually I have a lot of those or it's just I'm a moron.
Miss Madison was 8 weeks old yesterday which does not make it 2 months, I was going by weeks but as Dave said that doesn't work out right, if so we would only have 48 weeks in a year and we have 52. OK so I'm a moron, which I'm sure everyone agrees, Miss Madison will be 2 months old next Tuesday, Sept. 9th.

Miss Madison

Today Miss Madison is 2 months old, Happy 2 month old b/day today. Tell mom and dad it's time to post pictures of you on your dog today.
Love you and miss you

Redding Calif. visiting friends

We landed yesterday in Redding Calif. staying at the Elks Lodge parking lot, they have electric and water, we will have to use the dump station they have here when we leave. When we left Susanville yesterday all 3 of our GPS's decided to take a dump on us, the 2 on Dave's computer wouldn't work and the one from my car wouldn't work either. The computer ones kept saying they couldn't find a satellite, so Dave figures the blue tooth thing must be bad, then the one from the car kept saying the battery was low, even though we had it plugged in, but if you held the cord just right it would work. That darn thing worked the whole way until we got to Redding and it said battery low and went out, great just when we needed it. I got it working again and held the cord in place until we got to the Elk's Lodge.
Anyway, after we got set-up we went over to Bob and Jackie's house, with Valley, and sat in their backyard and visited. Bob BBQ'd steaks for dinner then about 8:30 we took off for Turtle Bay to walk on the Sundial Bridge. Pretty neat bridge, goes right over the Sacramento River, even Valley liked it.
Today we are all going to Lassen Volcanic National Park to check it out, it's after the Holiday so hopefully there should be much traffic.

Susanville

After breakfast at Caryn's yesterday we got back on the road around 11:30am. Had planned on stopping in Tahoe but when we came to our turn off we hadn't seen a gas station, we could fit into, so we kept going. Finally found one and then saw a sign that said Reno 48 miles so we decide to stay at the casino we stayed at last time. Going thru Reno we couldn't remember where the casino was so we decided to go ahead and drive to Susanville, where we also stayed at before with Lee and Vicki, friends of ours. In Susanville we knew where that RV Park was, we arrived around 5pm and relaxed the rest of the night. Had to put the heater on because it was pretty cool here and this morning, when I was taking Valley out it was 40 degrees. Man, that cool weather felt good but I know it won't last, we head out this morning for Redding and it's suppose to be 91 there.

demolition derby / back on the road

Yesterday we went to Caryn and Joe's shop around noon and they worked on the website. Everyone, but me, is working hard on getting it up and running, I just stand around because there is nothing I can do. Next time I'll just stay at the coach and keep the dog company maybe that way she won't have accidents when we are gone so long. Yep, you heard me right, accidents. Before we left Bakersfield she was put back on prednisone and with that drug she drinks a lot and pees a lot. Needless to say, which I forgot to mention the other day, when we left her on Friday night for the truck pull she had an accident, I had forgotten to put her diaper on when we left. Well, last night we left at 5pm and didn't get home until 1am which was way too long for her even with a diaper on. It wasn't as bad as Friday, because of the diaper, but the diaper can only hold so much. Luckily she drinks so much water that her pee doesn't have the strong smell, but when we get to a place where we will be staying at again for a few days we will be cleaning the carpet. The towel and her bed cover are in the wash right now getting cleaned up, if she should keep this up her days are numbered though. She is off the prednisone now so hopefully things will get better, but we do have to remember she is going to be 12 yrs old soon, that's pretty old for a big dog.
The demolition derby was a lot of fun, did a lot of yelling and cheering. The ugly truck competition was fun, they ended up have 8 entries and Joe and Caryn came in second, Caryn rode on top of the truck which was pretty funny to see.
This morning Caryn is fixing breakfast for us around 10am then we will get back on the road again for Tahoe. Tomorrow we will be headed for Redding, following the hot heat, Bishop has been really hot but watching the weather Redding is even hotter, I think we are doing something wrong here.

Kim and Danny love the new pictures you posted on your website. Miss Madison is growing so fast. Mike or Spanky please show them to Trini. Mike, haven't heard back from Shawn yet but since they are on vacation probably won't hear from him until they get back.
Love you all