'19/#16 Made It!

With almost 2400 miles of road under our tires we have arrived in Petaluma California. We have seen some awesome things along the way and have tried to share them with everyone following. This is why we live this RV life. The KOA we will be at for the summer looks like it is a really nice campground and promises to be busy all through the season. So far everyone we have met is friendly and that should make for a good team here at the park.

The trip from Nevada was relatively uneventful. There were some pretty good grades to ascend and descend but the truck handled it like a champ. Crossing the Sierra-Nevada mountains we went from about 4000 feet above sea level to over 7000 feet and back down to below 1000 feet with several grades of over 5%. If you have ever towed a trailer in the mountains you know that 5% while not much in a car or truck becomes more difficult with several thousand pounds of trailer behind you. It can be taxing on your vehicle. The engine will be straining going up and your brakes can get hot and fade on the way down. We have close to 18,000 lbs of trailer and over 7000 lbs of truck to get up and down the mountains so it is important to have the proper vehicle for the task and that it is in good shape. Again, uneventful because of the right equipment kept in good condition.

Day one in Petaluma was just getting everything set up since this will be home for the next six months. Being a vacation type campground we can't make it too much like home. To keep with the aesthetics of the park we must keep our rig looking like it will be moving out any day. Nothing to indicate that we are long term residents. Mary will have to keep her plants to a minimum. It can't start looking like a plant nursery. No trailer skirting, no hard piping for the sewer, and nothing looking like we are setting up for a summer long party. No problem. We try to keep things at a minimalist level. The less stuff we have, the less stuff we have to pack to move.

We don't start our work camping jobs until Monday so we will start exploring the area around our home in Petaluma because....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'19/#15 Pretty As A Picture

Today the plan was to drive around Lake Tahoe and see what all the hubbub is about. Well let me tell you it is as spectacular as we have heard. As they say pictures do it no justice. It was like looking ata a post card in real life. But that didn't stop us from taking a bunch.  Once again we entered California since the lake is split between Nevada and California. With the lake surface at over 6000 feet elevation we had some climbing and winding roads to travel. Directions and information centers are spotty at best but it really wasn't hard to find.

With over seventy miles of shore line we were glad we set aside the whole day, but as with everything else enough is enough. Stopping and taking pictures of the lake and the surrounding mountains was fun and the views were amazing but it was the same lake and the same mountains after a while.  Half way around we decided to loop around to the interstate and check out Reno.

Now my view may be a bit skewed because I am not a gambler at all. The occasional lottery ticket is about as risky as I get. Mary may put a few dollars in a slot machine but we feel we can get more for our money elsewhere. I am not putting down gambling as entertainment. If someone enjoys it more power to them. I just doesn't do it for us. Everyone likes something different. If we all like the same things the world would be a very boring place.

Tomorrow we head out for Petaluma California. This will be our last day of travel before we set down temporary roots for the summer. I will report more on that later but for now this is good bye for the last time in our home in Nevada because....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'19/#14 Almost There

Minden Nevada should be our last stop before arriving at our summer destination in Petaluma California. On the map we are only an inch or two from Lake Tahoe so we will do some exploring there and around the Carson Valley area. The casino has a nice yet cozy RV park with all the amenities we need. The sites are level, the electric connections are good, and the water and sewer hook-ups are more than adequate. The WiFi is even outstanding which can be hit or miss when it is "free" with your paid stay.

Yesterday we went to Genoa Nevada, the first settled town in the state. The two blocks that make up the town were interesting but not worthy of a lot of time. It is good to see where and what the settlers did to travel across the country but it is just a blip in the grand scheme of things.

Then we decided to head up to Virginia City. It is an old mining town up in the hills where some 3 billion dollars worth of gold and silver were taken from the ground. It is now just a tourist destination but the town has been maintained in the style that is was in it's hey day. It is also where Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twin, started his literary career.

We walked the old wooden sidewalks and visited the shops that now occupied the old buildings. Pictures of the old buildings and period styled signs completed the walk through time experience. We even took a picture in front of the Post Office. The town itself isn't very big but it was fun to walk the same streets that the miners did back in the day. Parking on the street included mule parking.

Tomorrow will be more exploring around Lake Tahoe so goodbye from our home in Minden Nevada because....


Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'19/#14 I Know Why It's Called Death Valley

Beatty Nevada is not a major cultural center. In fact it is not the center of anything except nowhere. It is one of the entrances to Death Valley so we decided to take a ride and see what it was all about. An hour or so later we had driven through some mighty desolate country. There were some pretty colors in the rock formations and the vastness of the whole thing was impressive but not much to see or do for these travelers. The winters can get pretty cold and the summers are famous for it's extreme heat. Highest recorded temperature on the face of the earth is 134 degrees in Death Valley. I know it is a "dry" heat but so is an oven. Try trading places with your next Thanksgiving turkey.

One of Beatty's Prominent Citizens

On the way back we stopped at a ghost town called Rhyolite. It was a gold mining town that lasted for about 15 years with a population of almost 10,000. Then it just disappeared. There is one building mostly intact and the rest are little more than foundations and partial walls. Again not a lot here but it is part of the story of how and why the west was settled by adventurers look to get rich.

Having seen all we wanted to see we set out to continue our journey towards California. We headed north towards the Lake Tahoe area for our next stop. The roads seem to go on forever and there is very little in the way of civilization along the way. After an hour on the road we stopped in Goldfield NV for breakfast at a place called Dinky's Diner. If the speed limit hadn't dropped to 25mph in town we might have missed it. Breakfast was good and reasonable and we were on our way after a couple of pictures of the towns highlights.

Like I said there is not much civilization along the way, therefore there are not a lot of fueling opportunities. Today was a 300 mile day yet I stopped for fuel three times. When I saw diesel pumps I stopped, especially if the price was reasonable. We did well as far as price was concerned keeping the diesel prices under $3.10 per gallon. That will change once we get to California.

In between the forever straight roads we also had a number of small towns, and I use the term "town" loosely. Not much more than abandon mines, scrap yards, and cat houses. Yes cat houses also known as houses of prostitution. Mary was amazed that this was going on to the point that she looked them up on Google. Big mistake! Now she is on their mailing list and they want her to review it on Yelp!!! I hope this doesn't follow her around for long.

We finally made it to Minden NV and the Carson Valley Casino,Hotel, and RV Park. This will be our home base for a few days while we explore the Lake Tahoe area. So I am signing off from our Home in Minden Nevada because.....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

"19/#13 In And Out In California But Not The Burger Joint

Lake Havasu was fun but it was time to hit the road again. Since we have been keeping our days to 300 miles (give or take) we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn. Awake by 8am, shower, a cup of coffee, and check e-mails and we are on the road by 10am. Six hours of driving puts us about 300 miles down the road by 4pm and gives us time to check in, set up, have dinner, and relax. We can now relax during the driving part of our travels. This is our new normal and I like it.

Less than an hour after leaving Lake Havasu City we crossed into California. Yes that is our final destination but not quite yet. After the agricultural cavity check, which wasn't really that bad, we traveled west a little ways before heading north. We crossed some imaginary line somewhere in the desert and were suddenly in Nevada. Goodbye California. See Ya later! US 95 North is so much nicer in Nevada than California. On the California two lane winding road we were left to wonder if there was anyone else out here in the desert. In Nevada the almost straight four lane looked like most good highways just with a lot fewer places to stop. But Las Vegas was in front of us, so not to worry.

We arrived at Henderson and had to make an emergency bladder relief stop, so I figured it was also a good time to stop for fuel. We found diesel for $2.89 a gallon while everyone else was getting $3.05 or more. Thank you bladder! Then we drove through Las Vegas and the "Bedrock" interchange (see any Flintstone episode) and made it to open road with just 100 miles to our destination. We should arrive by 3:30pm. Perfect, right? I spoke too soon.

Just after the construction and shortly after entering the Piute Indian reservation that ominous and all too familiar thump, whap,whap,whap sound hit our ears as our tire pressure monitor simultaneously started screaming we lost pressure in one of the trailer tires. Got off the road before the tire could do any real damage and started our impersonation of a NASCAR pit crew. About the time I was getting ready to jack up the trailer Wild Life Officer Smith (no relation to Yogi's Ranger Smith) pulled up behind us with lights flashing. He offered to help but sensed we knew what we were doing and just stayed there with his lights on to protect us. He also told us where we could get a new tire since I DO NOT travel without a spare. Thank you Officer Smith..

A quick turn around, a short drive back into Las Vegas and just about two hours behind schedule we were back on the road with a brand new tire. Arrival time now 5:30pm. Just after the park office closes but still early enough to get settled in. A full day of driving with sudden bursts of stress and we were exhausted. Mary called it an early night and I was not far behind.

I am signing off as it is now morning and I am on my second cup of coffee before some local exploring near our home here in our home in Beatty Nevada because.......


Home is where we park it,
Frank an Mary

'19/#12 The Bridge On This Side Of The Pond

Winslow Arizona was fun and Meteor Crater was cool but we had one more day in Arizona. Our next stay over is in Lake Havasu City, the home of the London Bridge. Actually it would be the new home of the London Bridge.

The story goes that a land developer wanted to build a town in the middle of the desert. Once he got the idea off the ground and it was progressing he wanted to add a feature that would be the center piece of the city and bring more people to visit and stay. Since the rumors (wink,wink) of the Brooklyn Bridge being for sale were unfounded he heard about the London Bridge. It was an all granite structure that was disassembled in England and put up for sale. Robert McCulloch placed the winning bid and moved it to Lake Havasu City and the rest is history or relocated history. The bridge is now the second most visited attraction in Arizona after the Grand Canyon!

We walked down by the bridge through the English Village where all things touristy are for sale. Took our obligatory pictures and went on a boat ride on Lake Havasu. The lake is a boating mecca and the parade of boats in what is now considered the shoulder season was non-stop. Boat races are held on the lake and other events are scheduled around the year that keeps people coming to this man made oasis in the Arizona desert.

Our next stop will be in Death Valley. We will find a place in Nevada for a night or two and continue our adventure. So I will sign off now from our home near the London Bridge (NOT in London) because......

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'19/#11 Rock And Roll Culture And A Hole iIn The Ground

Albuquerque in the rear view mirror and on to Arizona. Our next overnight stay is Meteor Crater RV park but along the way we have to pass Winslow AZ. The song "Take Easy" by the Eagles has made this little town a tourist stop and we are tourists so.... A little turn off of the interstate and we are again on historic Rt 66. This time we are in downtown Winslow Arizona. We were able to park the rig on the street just a block from the "Standing On The Corner" landmark. Lots of touristy pictures and post cards and  a couple of tee shirts and we were again on our way.

Not too far down the road we arrived at Meteor Crater RV Park, our destination for the night. After checking in we called  the crater operations and found out that the hiking tours along the crater's rim were cancelled due to high winds. We opted to just check out the museum and observation platforms. The hike along the rim would have been cool but it just wasn't in the cards this time. The crater itself was impressive. Big enough to hold 20 football games simultaneously and have 2 million people watching in the stands! It is the first confirmed meteor crater and the best preserved in the world. Make you feel kind of small standing next to it.

Not much more to say here but tomorrow is another day. So until the next blog goodbye from our home at the edge of the crater because....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'19/#10 Changes in Altitudes, Changes In Latitudes

From big steaks and painting old cars by the road we continued our trek toward the west. Our next stop is Albuquerque, New Mexico. Finally out of Texas and another new destination to explore. Also some business to take care of so we spent two days at the Enchanted Trails RV Park. Like most RV parks along the route and not considered destination parks we had all the amenities expected. There was the highway noise form I-40 just a couple of hundred yards away, there were trains clacking along their way and blowing horns through the night, and to complete the trifecta a small airport not very far away. Land for RV parks is not readily available in nice quiet neighborhoods so these are the sounds we have come to expect and have gotten used to.

In Albuquerque we drove along a stretch of Historic Rt 66. We stopped at a landmark hot dog stand and had a late lunch and explored the area a bit. We were trying to kill a little time before we headed up to Sandia Peak. There is a cable car that takes you to the top and the sunsets are supposed to be magnificent. We rode to the top of the mountain at 10398 feet and were amazed at the views from the top as well as the cable car. Mary has a lot more pictures on Facebook. The sunset was as promised and the temperatures fell rapidly after that. Home to the RV and a good nights sleep.

The next day was all business. The shower seemed to have sprung a leak around the handle and needed repair. Fortunately there was a Camping World right next door. They had the part I needed but as with everything these days it was built like crap and needed a little modifying to work properly. That meant a trip to Home Depot and some creative out of the box thinking. Several hours later everything was put back together a sufficiently caulked. New caulking means we couldn't use our shower so we showered at the bath house and did some laundry while we were at it.

I've said it in the past, this is not a vacation but a lifestyle. Chores need to be done and things happen and need to be taken care of. That is the life of a full time RVer. Our next destination is Meteor Crater in Arizona. WOW! Once we are out of Texas it seems that the states just go flying by.

Well I will sign off now from our home in Albuquerque because....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'19/#8 Fun On The Road

This morning we woke to sunshine and 47 degrees. Cold but no tornadoes. Our next scheduled stop is just outside Amarillo TX. After a thousand miles you would think we would be out of Texas. They say everything is bigger in Texas and I guess that includes travel. As soon as we got here we dropped the trailer and went out to be tourists.

One of those things that are a must see when traveling is Cadillac Ranch. A series of old Caddys buried on end in the ground by a farmer has turned into a historic roadside landmark. Visitors are encouraged to "tag" the cars with their own art work.  This miscreant was spotted at the ranch equipped and ready to do her graffiti.

She must be a Tampa Bay Lightning fan as am I. Hope they can find their way back into the hunt for the Stanley Cup.


On the way back we decided to eat at another landmark. This is the Big Texan Steak Ranch, the home of the 72 ounce steak challenge. Yes, 4 1/2 pounds of steak in one sitting in one hour. Believe it or not there have been at least a dozen successful challenges just since the first of the year. Imagine how many didn't "meat" up (pun intended) to the challenge. As for my traveling companion and graffiti artist her 8 ounce challenge was too much for her. A doggie bag was needed and will be enjoyed at a later time.

We will call it an early night tonight with Albuquerque NM our destination tomorrow. So I am saying goodnight form our home in Amarillo because......

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'19/#7 A Night On The Road

We spent two nights in Livingston Texas getting our satellite receiver set up. Customer service with DirecTV has taken a real down turn since being taken over by AT&T. Stereotypical overseas outsourcing made the process excruciating. Then the process for returning the old receiver again was anything but efficient. What was supposed to be a simple drop off at FedEx wound up costing us around $20. Later customer service from AT&T told us to go back to FedEx and get the package back! Like that was going to happen. Maybe we were supposed to chase down the truck and hi-jack it to get the receiver back. Now we have to rely on the incompetents at DirecTV to credit the money to our account. I'm not holding my breath.

In Livingston we stayed at the Escapees RV park. We are Escapees members and take advantage of the hospitality shown members when ever we pass through the area. Other than the TV issues we enjoyed the down time and the breakfasts that they have to help support Escapees C.A.R.E. This is a rehabilitation  system tailored to RVers who for one reason or another can't travel and/or take care of themselves. It is another case of RVers taking care of RVers.

We left Livingston knowing that it was going to rain all day. It did rain, and thunder, and lightning, and got windy but we kept on going as safely as possible. Then the weather reports started talking about possible tornadoes. Shortly thereafter tornado reports started popping up around us and the wind really picked up. That is when we got off the road and found a safe place to wait it out. Luckily it only took about 15-20 minutes before it all passed. We just recently heard about two tornadoes that set down near the area we were in. Unfortunately there were 40 injuries, 4 missing and 3 dead. We feel very lucky and send our condolences to those affected.

Speaking of weather....three days ago Mary was complaining about the heat in Pharr TX. The temperatures were in the 90's every day. Well today we arrived in Sunset TX and the afternoon temperature is 50 degrees and the over night low is expected to be in the upper 30's and Mary is still not happy. What to do? What to do? I guess we will turn on the heat and soldier on here in our home in Sunset TX because....

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'19/#6 A Short Blog

On the road on Denton Texas.
Rain all day with thunder storms a pop up tornados. Dodged the worst of it and another hour 'til we stop for the night
I'll try to blog more later.

On the road between homes,

Frank and Mary

'19/#5 One Shake Of The Jello

We were supposed to be on the road today but like I say, our plans are written in jello. Nothing major. Just a problem with our TV receiver. It is being replaced but we have to be somewhere that it can be shipped to us. Tomorrow we will be on the road with a side trip to Livingston Texas. That is where we can pick up the receiver. We will also be there for a couple of days. That will change the itinerary that we had planned. The two most important tools in an RVer's kit are a sense of humor and the ability to adapt. Living on the road is always an adventure.

Back to our original plans. The truck is serviced and washed, the trailer is road ready again, and has been washed and waxed. Inside we have put most of our stuff away in travel mode and a weeks worth of meals have been pre-cooked to make things easier on the road. Not only won't we have to cook but we also won't be filling up our kitchen waste water holding tank or emptying our fresh water tank so fast. That will require less hooking up and disconnecting hoses while on the road and allow us to enjoy more of our travels.

There are a few places we want to stop at along the way. Being a tourist and exploring the country is what RVing is all about. Because of the recent jello shake we will be crossing Carlsbad Caverns off the list this time. This is two years in a row we haven't made it there. Maybe on the way back or next year? We will be taking 2-3 weeks to and go through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and finally California where we will be staying for the summer.

We will keep everyone up to date on our travels and adventures as the calender marches on. Well it looks like or laundry is just about done. This is the last load before we depart from our home in Pharr Texas because......

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary