Sunriver near Bend, OR - June 2019

                                     CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF THE AREA

We have needed to extend our stay here as we were waiting for some RV parts to arrive, which didn't arrive on time.  Just like living in a house, this house on wheels requires maintenance and repairs as it ages.  The toilet required a new electric flush control, then the inverter (this takes 12 volt current and converts it to 120 volts) died and then the microwave followed.  We were able to find the microwave at the Lowe's in Bend.  Since there is no oven in the motorhome we have a microwave/convection combination and a little hard to find.  Len got it installed but had to remove the glass panels that were around the stove top.  Can't say that broke my heart as it was a pain trying to keep that glass clean anyway.  Will now need to be shopping for a back splash.  Len is able to do these repairs on his own so saving a large sum in labor.

We did take a trip to Newberry National Volcanic Monument, this monument provides a unique opportunity to view the Lava Lands of central Oregon. Newberry National Volcanic National Monument includes 54,000+ acres of lakes, lava flows, and spectacular geologic features in central Oregon. The highest point within the Monument is the summit Paulina Peak (7,985 ft.), showcasing views of the Cascades, Newberry Caldera and across the High Desert. Enjoyed a talk presented by one of the park rangers and learned so much more about the area.

Another day we drove the Lava Cast Forest. At the Lava Cast Forest you walk through a 6,000 year old lava flow where you will find the casts of ancient trees. The Newberry Volcano to the south spewed hot pahoehoe lava to the Earth’s surface, spilling through standing forests. The trees became encased in stone when the lava cooled. What remained were “casts” of the trees, many of which go down several feet below surface level. The surrounding landscape includes molds of the trees, some new plant growth including flowers, Indian paintbrush, and Ponderosa pine trees.
There is a one mile paved self guided interpretive trail with barrier free access. The trail loops through the area where hot molten lava erupted from the northwest flank of Newberry Volcano and engulfed the forest.

The park serves breakfast on the weekends so we enjoyed that one day.  Also Len did a walk with other park members during the Memorial weekend.  Ice cream socials on Saturdays and one weekend we played bingo, Len once again was the lucky winner 3 times, I did bingo once myself.

Youngest son Jack, was traveling from his home in Waldport, OR., where they are having their place remodeled, back to his place in Colorado.  What I didn't know was Brooke was with him, what a great surprise and we had a fun time over lunch.

We should be on the move today or tomorrow, waiting on another package that is needed for the inverter, isn't it funny, NOT, ordered at the same time from the same place and both are shipped separate and took a completely different route.  They we both suppose to arrive yesterday but only one showed up, so we continue to wait.

See you down the road.....

Lake Minden, Nicolaus, CA -May 2019

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Think I fell down on the job here.  I usually post when we are leaving an area but didn't get it done and we are already leaving a different area, so better get caught up.

Enjoyed the time we spend at Lake Minden as we are close to Len's family and getting caught up with them.  We were able to enjoy lunch with Len's great nephew, Xzavier, at his last day of pre-school.  Since it was 2 years ago that we saw them and he is now 4 he seems so grown up, and his little sister, Violet is now 2, she was a newborn last time we were in the area, boy has she changed.  Such great kids, enjoy anytime we get to spend with them.  Craig, Len's brother also joined us at the pre-school lunch and the kids mom, Alex.

While we spent most of the time being down with colds and trying to get well we didn't do much while here.

Did have the family out to the RV park for lunch one day.  Brandon, Len's nephew was able to join us that day.  Xzavier and Violet kept us entertained enjoying blowing bubbles and playing ball, oh to be young again, so much energy, just made me tired watching them.  They also enjoying playing at the park playground on the new equipment that was put in this year.

Hard to leave family and move on but time to hit the road again.

Yosemite Lakes - Groveland, CA. May 2019

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Had a fabulous stay at Yosemite, nice RV park and so close to Yosemite National Park..  We visited the National Park several times.  Can't even explain how beautiful the falls were, the snow melt has created the most amazing falls we have seen in the park.  You hear the falls before you see the water, some places you will get wet also.  Len's brother came to visit, so lucky to have a parking spot right next to us for his 5th wheel, good to see Craig again.  Whenever we visited Yosemite we packed a lunch to enjoy while inside the park, some nice picnic areas also.  Len did some hiking in the park and we both enjoyed seeing the Redwoods once again.  Those trees are gigantic.

We took a drive to Hetch Hetchy, an area where Len spent time with his boy scout troop. Hidden in Yosemite National Park’s peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. Located at 3,900 feet, Hetch Hetchy boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park and is an ideal place for thundering spring waterfalls and wildflower displays. High temperatures prevail in summer months, but that is a small price to pay for the reward of vast wilderness filled with stunning peaks, hidden canyons, and remote lakes.

So happy to add new RV friends to our traveling family.  We met several new friends, Greg and Michelle stopped to introduce themselves to us, ended up meeting them at the clubhouse to play some games, also met up again with Bob and JoAnn that Len met at Turtle Beach (our last stop), and also met Andy and her hubby John.  We had campfires together and shared meals, such a fun time, hope to catch up with them again in our travels.  One night we ate dinner in Groveland at the Iron Door Saloon, oldest saloon in California with Greg and Michelle.  Another night while Bob's sister was visiting, we ate brats at Bob and JoAnn's place, rainy night but still a fun evening.  Andy and John had us all over for a taco bar and bonfire one night, Andy said she only invited us in hopes I would bring my homemade salsa, which I did.  Good food and great new friends.  What a great life we are enjoying, especially meeting such wonderful people. Even took in a local flea market in Groveland.

The park had a couple of meals, one was a taco night for Cinco De Mayo, then a pancake breakfast for Mother's Day.  Both were good and when you don't have to cook it is even better.

Until the next time...……...



 

Turtle Beach - Manteca, CA 4/2019

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Leaving tomorrow and headed for Yosemite, our last visit there was in 2013, at that time we had no cell service so internet was bad also. So need to get this posted today.  (just in case anyone is stilling following us on the blog).

Not a lot to see and do in this area, we always enjoy finding the local museums.  We visited the Manteca Historical Society, which houses a vast array of artifacts, documents and thousands of photographs of the area. I enjoyed talking with the volunteers while Len ventured out to the outer building to check out what was housed there. Nice museum.

We did find a casino which I donated a small amount to while Len walked out with full pockets.  Did take advantage of the senior buffet for $5.99, wasn't that bad but serving out of the bingo hall while the casino is renovating so you can't expect much, but it was good and a cheap meal.


Len took me out for my birthday, decided to check out Billie's Hillbilly's Bar-B-Q, ribs were good. Wish I would of had room after my meal because the fried pies really looks good.  Also had a birthday breakfast at IHOP as oldest son had sent a gift card for my birthday.

Made a stop a one of the local veggie/fruit stands that we have been to before.  The strawberries are so sweet and fresh here, picked right out of the field. Also bought some pears but still need to ripen some before I eat them.

Sat outside and enjoyed watching a goose that has her nest in a dead tree here in the park.  We kept hoping to see some babies but doesn't look like that is going to happen before we leave.

Will be in Yosemite for 2 weeks, so will post after that.

San Benito, Paicines, CA - April 2019

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Always enjoy our time at this Thousand Trails, not a lot of activities but we enjoy trying to find the bobcats that call this place home.  Only one sighting this visit, saw one bobcat the first evening.  The park is trying to capture the cats and have them checked out by a vet, the one we saw was sickly looking but seems it is too smart to get trapped.

While here we did some sightseeing.

It was a short drive to Pinnacles National Park from the campground.  Packed a picnic lunch which we enjoyed after Len did a hike on the Bear Gulch Trail.  This is such a pretty area, seems to be busy even during the week. Some 23 million years ago multiple volcanoes erupted, flowed and slid to form what has become this national park.  Which remains a unique landscape.  Len was able to spot a California condor, which had a young one in the nest, an amazing sighting.

Also visited Henry Cowell Redwoods, a state park. Henry Cowell Redwoods is located in the Santa Cruz mountains and is most famous for the 40-acre grow of towering old-growth redwood trees. The Redwood Grove Loop Trail will take you through some of the redwoods.  Nice trail and many signs explain what you are seeing.

Len did a trip to the San Benito Historical Park. Last time he visited he was able to have access to all the buildings, but not this time.  Seems the place is going downhill which is a real shame as they do have many nice items that should be preserved.

Drove into Santa Cruz, know better than to go on a weekend, but there we were, in bumper to bumper traffic driving past the boardwalk.  Think everyone that lives in Santa Cruz was there, enjoying the beach and the amusement park.

Onto the next stop, more later.