CARSON CITY 2011

Despite some confusion over the location of the Gold Dust West Casino RV Park, everyone who signed up for the rally, arrived safely by 4pm yesterday. In my directions on the original registration form, I noted that the RV Park was at the southwest corner of Hwy 50 & Hwy 395. Well, there just happens to be 3 intersections where Hwy 50 & Hwy 395 join together here in Carson City, and my apologies to those that did a few dosie does, before finding their way here.

President Tom in one of his many "tie dye" shirts

After some delicious appetizers prepared by the gals, and lots of conversation, our president Tom Westerfield presided over our Golden Spike Chapter meeting, and we called it an evening by about 9pm. We voted to donate $100 to the Mills Park Railroad that we'll be riding this morning, and the Chapter will also be making a monetary donation to the Nevada State Railroad Museum which we visit this afternoon. The decision as to the amount we donate to the Museum will be made before the group leaves Carson City.

We had enough door prizes to give away, so that every couple received something. We didn't really plan it that way, it just so happened that we had 12 items, and that's the number of RV's present for the rally.


By the time we finish dinner this evening at Red's Old 395 Grill, I'm sure we'll all be ready to call it a day. Tomorrow is the ride on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, with a steam engine as the motive power. Anytime I can ride on a train being pulled by a steam engine, it's a good day!

THE RALLY BEGINS

We arrived here in Carson City on Monday, and started doing the leg work for our little RV Rally that begins today. Our co-hosts, Bill & "D" Hall arrived on Tuesday, along with Ken & Sandy Carnes. Yesterday, 2 more rigs showed up, Kurt & Betty Simon, and our President - Tom Westerfield with his wife Barbara. Today, the other 7 RV's will arrive throughout the day, and we'll officially kick things off this evening.

On Friday & Saturday, there will be train rides (2), a railroad museum tour, a ride on a 1926 Edwards Streetcar, outhouse races & a parade, a BBQ lunch in Virginia City, and a couple of dinners in Carson City. In between, there will be lots of socializing around the RV's. Lets just say that I didn't build any time into the schedule for an afternoon nap for the next 3 days.

Yesterday, Patty & "D" picked up some stuff at Wal-Mart, and the Dollar Store, while Bill and I drove to Gardnerville, where I picked up the new motor home air filter. We also stopped at the local winery, picking up a bottle of wine to be given away as one of the door prizes. This morning, I'll install the air filter, and temporarily re-route the intake hose until we get home, where I can replace it.

Last night, the 10 of us had dinner at the Olive Garden, where most agreed that the food was good. However, the service was not even close to good. I won't go into the details, but the one thing that really aggravates me at a restaurant, is when you're all done, and you sit, and sit, and sit, waiting for the server to bring your bill. After what seemed like forever to me, I finally got up and told one of the staff that if they wanted to get paid, our server needed to present the bills. On the other hand, the company and conversation was outstanding!

IT'S A MYSTERY

Yesterday, when I opened the rear engine compartment door on the motor home, I discovered that the air filter was collapsed inward, very much like it had been damaged by a collision with something. Well, that just wasn't possible, as the filter is mounted right up against the engine door, and there was no damage to the fiberglass door. What the heck caused this metal filter to become warped, almost as if someone with very large hands, crushed it like an aluminum beer can?

When I started to remove the filter, I discovered that the rubber intake hose had become detached from the filter, and was hanging straight down. That rubber 5 inch flexible hose was cut about half way through, where it makes a 90 degree turn before connecting to the filter. Everything else including the upper intake area near the roof was OK with no visible damage, and there was nothing in the filter that might have obstructed the intake air flow.

While driving north on Hwy 395, I noticed on the long uphill grades, that our speed was below what it should have been, but everything else, including a smooth running engine was normal. After discovering that the engine was literally sucking air so hard, then it made sense why we had lost some power while ascending the hills. The question remains, what caused the air flow blockage on the upstream side of the filter, that was so severe, that it caused this damage?

I called Joe at Joe's RV & Truck where I just had the motor home serviced, and he agreed, that there had to have been some sort of severe air blockage to cause this to happen. After checking everything, the only possible cause must have been the hose was collapsing, and restricting the air flow to the engine. How it disconnected from the filter, I have no idea, as the clamp was still tight around the hose. Joe arranged for another filter to be sent to a sister store in Gardnerville, about 15 miles south of Carson City, and it's supposed to be there this afternoon. Because Joe just serviced the motor home, he really stepped up to the plate and is taking care of the cost of the new filter, under the possible idea that somehow, this damaged filter was defective. He asked me to hang onto the filter, and bring it back to Lake Havasu, which I will most certainly do. Doing business with folks like Joe, who put the needs of the customer above everything else, is becoming more and more of a rarity. Taking care of problems like this is what earns customer loyalty, and Joe is the gold standard when it comes to doing the right thing!

CARSON CITY FOR A WEEK

Mono Lake from Hwy 395, north of Lee Vining

After some mid morning grocery shopping at Von's, we pulled out of the K-Mart parking lot in Bishop, and headed north on Hwy 395. From this point north, the eastern Sierras blend high desert scenery with snow capped mountains, and multiple lakes, rivers, and sections of pine forest. This area from Bishop north to Carson City, has always been one of my favorite places to spend time. As we passed by Mono Lake, it was nice to see that the lake water level has risen a few feet since we were last here. According to the Save Mono Lake Committee, the lake still has another 8 vertical feet to rise, before the court mandated lake level is reached. If the committee hadn't sued the city of Los Angeles many years ago, Mono Lake would be only slightly larger than a mud puddle by now.

Looking south down Hwy 395 through the very small town of Bridgeport

We stopped briefly in Bridgeport, where we have spent a lot of time in the past. In 1990, myself and 4 other guys started a motorcycle rally in Bridgeport that became so popular, it completely outgrew the town. After the 5th year, I stepped aside as the rally continued to grow larger and larger. During my involvement, I spearheaded a Harley raffle each year, that raised over $100,000 for the local hospital. At about year number 8 or 9, the rally had grown so large, that the town infrastructure was not able to keep up, and the town fathers voted to end the event.
We made a lot of friends in Bridgeport, and created memories that will last forever.

Just north of Bridgeport, we came to a highway construction project, and noticed that there was a fire burning on the hillside. As we were stopped, we became aware of a large helicopter that was dumping water on the fire. In the next picture, I captured the water coming out of the aircraft in the center left of the photo. If you click on the picture and enlarge it, the helicopter is a little more visible.


We pulled into the Gold Dust West Casino RV Park around 2:30pm, and after getting parked, drove over to the convention & visitors bureau to pay for the group train ride this Saturday. We gathered a bunch of goodies from Janet at the Bureau, which we'll distribute to our members when they start arriving today. The next few days will be busy, as we prepare for the activities that have been in the planning stages for the past year.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The familiar scene at the Lake Havasu High School parking lot, where I hook up the Jeep

The Jeep was attached, and we were heading down the hill from the High School at 9:30am, with the Bishop, CA area as our first destination. It was going to be another one of those scorcher days, with temps over 100 in Havasu, and not much less as we made our way across the Mojave Desert. By the time we got to Barstow, the dash A/C wasn't keeping up, so I fired up the generator, and Patty got up and turned on the front roof A/C. That brought the inside temperature back down to a more comfortable level. I'm sure this is a scene played out by a lot of motor home folks, when it takes more than one A/C to keep the inside area cool as ambient temperatures reach into the triple digits. Another problem with hot days, is the rear diesel engine creates a lot of heat that seems to find its way into the bedroom. That additional heat just compounds the problem of trying to keep the inside of the motor home nice and cool.

Hwy 395 south of Lone Pine

We turned north on Hwy 395 at Kramer Junction (some people call it 4 corners), and set sail toward Carson City. This route up the eastern side of the Sierras is always high on my list of enjoyable drives, whether I'm in the motor home, car, or on the Harley.

Starting a little north of Ridgecrest, the old Southern Pacific & Carson & Colorado Railroad right of way becomes noticeable, and for me while I'm driving along, I enjoy trying to keep track of where these old railroads once ran. Sometimes it's easy to see where the old RR grades are, and other times, they disappear from sight. The Carson & Colorado narrow gauge RR ran from it's connection with the Southern Pacific near Owens Lake, all the way up the east side of the Sierras to where it connected with the Virginia & Truckee Railroad near Carson City.

By late afternoon, we pulled into the K-Mart parking lot in Bishop, CA, and with lots of room, and only a few other RV's present, we shut down for the day. Dinner was a couple of blocks away at a Chinese restaurant, and after a good meal, it was back to the motor home for a little TV before calling it a day.

This morning, it's only about 200 miles to Carson City, and after we get parked at the Gold Dust West Casino RV park, there will be much to do in preparation for our little RV rally which begins on Thursday.

READY, SET, GO

With only a few last minute things to take care of, the motor home is loaded and we're ready to hit the road once again. By the time we secure the house, and actually pull out of here, it'll probably be about mid morning.

My plan is to drive about 5-6 hours, which should put us around Lone Pine, where we'll find a place to park for the night. Once we get to Carson City tomorrow, there will be a lot to do, mostly making sure that everything that I arranged over the phone, and on the computer, is still set to go.

Last week, I rode the Harley in some of the high desert east of the Sierras, and am looking forward to the northbound drive up Hwy 395. I'm not complaining, (well, maybe a little), but it will be nice to be in a place where the days are cooler, and the nights actually turn a little cold. The day time temps here in Lake Havasu are still over 100, but by the time we get back in a couple of weeks, we should be seeing more moderate temperatures. Might just be time to uncover the boat, and get out on the lake!

GETTING READY

We've only been home for 2 weeks, and it's already time to go again. During that 2 week period, I was gone on the Harley 4 days, so I've only been here for a little over a week. As the saying goes, "we don't let a lot of grass grow under our feet".

Today, we'll move a lot of stuff back into the motor home, that was taken out when we returned from spending the summer working at the Grand Canyon. Tomorrow, we'll pull out, and head north toward Carson City, NV, where we're co-hosting an RV Rally for the FMCA Golden Spike Chapter. The focus of this rally is a ride on the new Virginia & Truckee Railroad, and a visit to the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.

Since I've allotted 2 days to get there, we'll probably take our time and stop for the night somewhere around Lone Pine, or Bishop. The eastern side of the Sierras is one of my most favorite places, and I always look forward to either traveling, or spending time in that area. See ya from the road, where by chance, we just might find a new adventure or two.

BACK TO REALITY

When I take off on the Harley, usually a couple times a year, staying in motels is pretty much the only option. I've tried doing the camping thing, and in fact pitched my tent at a Thousand Trails RV Park, while on a ride last winter. Sleeping on the ground, even with a decent air mattress, just isn't in my wheelhouse any more. In fact, getting a decent nights sleep on a motel bed can sometimes be a challenge. After 2 or 3 nights in motels, I'm usually more than ready to return home. While on this trip, I did get an email from a blog reader in Santa Barbara, who extended an invitation for me to spend the night in their guest room. Thanks Randy, I sincerely appreciated the offer, but by the time I opened the email, I was already back in Lake Havasu. I haven't progressed to the smart phone yet, where emails are available in real time.

Yesterday, I got most of the motor home washed, and finally gave up around 4pm. I'll finish the job today, after my 8am appointment to get the jeep serviced. Patty has an appointment this morning with the optometrist, a prerequisite to her next appointment with the eye Doc, for cataract surgery at a future date.

After being gone all summer, we're still catching up with household chores, but thankfully, no major problems developed while we were gone. Next year will be the 10 year mark, when we left California, and moved to Lake Havasu City. In yesterdays local paper, I couldn't help but agree with a person who wrote a letter to the editor. It went something like this......No worry about tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, sub-freezing temperatures, tsunamis, forest fires, mudslides, floods, or snowstorms. A few months of temperatures over 100 degrees every year seems like little to suffer in comparison to the above list. My sentiments exactly!

THE RIDE HOME

Anxious to get on the road early, and tackle the predictable heat awaiting me in the desert, I left Paso Robles at 5am. I took the first picture as I was cruisin eastbound on Hwy 46, about half way to Bakersfield. I actually took 3 pictures of the sunrise, but keeping the camera steady at 70 mph is not exactly the easiest thing to do, and this is the only one that is worth posting.

This self portrait was taken on Hwy 58 between Mojave and Barstow, and it was about mid-morning.

If you're following the chronology of the pictures, you'll notice that there are no photos of the ride through the southern San Joaquin Valley. This was my 2nd crossing of the valley in successive days, and my thoughts about riding in the valley were once again strongly reinforced. Not a whole lot to take pictures of, and Oh my gosh, the smells!

While riding my Harley, there are many things happening simultaneously, all of which make the experience much more heightened to the senses. Certainly at the top of the list is the different fragrances that one encounters while on the road. Being out in the open, the nose picks up even the most insignificant aromas, that you often don't even detect inside a car. In the last few days, I had cruised through the high desert, with the distinct smell of blooming sagebrush. While crossing the Sierras, the fragrance of the pine forest and bear clover were at times almost overpowering. Along the coast highway, the odoriferous ocean smell is unmistakable, and even in the dark, you would know exactly where you were.

Then, there is the Central Valley of California. Once again, if you could close your eyes, after only traveling a few miles, the conspicuous odors would be a dead giveaway as to your location. The only problem with most of those fragrances, is that they are not very pleasant. On this valley crossing, I first encountered the oil fields, then miles and miles of agricultural land in different stages of production. Without going into a lot of details, lets just say that I was glad to be out of the valley, and crossing the Tehachipi mountains on Hwy 58.

By the time I was on old Route 66 in the Mojave Desert, the temps had climbed to well above 100 degrees

With one last gas stop in Ludlow out of the way, I detoured off I40, and took old Route 66 eastbound toward Needles. This section of the old mother road is often my choice of travel when traveling across the Mojave Desert, and is a welcome relief from the monotony of the super slab.
As I approached Amboy, I was surprised to see that one of the past icons of the desert, Roy's, was once again open for business. In years past, this was truly an oasis in the desert, and for the adventurous new entrepreneurs , I hope the renewed interest in Route 66, brings them enough business to pay the bills.

This last picture is a reminder of the many businesses along Route 66 that didn't make it. The death of most of these old roadhouses was the construction of the Interstate Highway system. This old gas station/cafe is in the small community of Essex, whose claim to fame is now a Cal-Trans maintenance yard.

I was pulling into the garage by mid afternoon, glad to be out of the heat, and glad to be home after a 4 day ride of a little over 1,200 miles. Lots of stuff to do in the next few days, in preparation for our Golden Spike RV Rally in Carson City. We'll be leaving on Sunday, and back in the motor home for a couple of weeks.

MOUNTAINS, A VALLEY & A BIG OCEAN

Looking west over Tioga Pass on the eastern side of the Sierras

In one long day of riding, I crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains, passed through the San Joaquin Valley, rode over the Coastal Mountain Range, then traveled along the ocean for about 100 miles on the Pacific Coast Highway. The variety of scenery and terrain was incredibly diverse, ranging from spectacular mountains, to scenic ocean panoramas.

When I left Lee Vining, the temperature was 46 degrees, so I layered on the clothing, and by the time I crested the Sierras at just under 10,000 feet, it was quite a bit colder than 46. As I made my way through Yosemite National Park, and dropped in elevation, it started to warm up, and by the time I reached Crane Flat, the coat came off.

This is a picture of the lower Yosemite Valley, taken from Crane Flat Rd.

When I reached the turn off to Hwy 140 in Yosemite Valley, I headed west along the Merced River, with the San Joaquin Valley as the next destination.

This is one of two temporary bridges around a huge landslide, that have been in place for a couple of years now.

With a full tank of fuel in Mariposa, I was set to make my way across the very flat, central San Joaquin Valley. By way of Merced and Los Banos, in a little over an hour, I was climbing over the Pacheco Pass on Hwy 152, with Monterey as the next destination. Other than the pure joy of riding a motorcycle, the valley, where we used to live for many years, is not a great place to catch the wind. With all of the agriculture, there is an abundance of insects, not much in the way of scenery, and Oooo those wonderful smells relating to fertilizers, pesticides, and rotting tomatoes. By the time I got to Monterey, the temperatures had cooled, and the aromas were much more pleasant.

With a full tank of fuel, I headed south through Carmel, and then.....Oh No, a thick layer of fog awaited me. I've ridden, and driven this 100 mile stretch of coast highway a bazillion times, and you never know exactly what kind of weather you're going to get. With my coat back on, I was prepared to make this trip in the fog, but fortunately, south of Big Sur, the fog lifted, and the incredible vistas of mountains, ocean, and crashing surf was all in front of me. With nothing but bright sunshine, I stored the coat, and rode the rest of the day in just a t-shirt.

South of Cambria, I turned east on Hwy 46, and at about 5pm, I pulled into Paso Robles, where a room and a shower was the first order of business. Not sure of the miles today, but I was in one of my zones where riding was all that mattered. Except for a few pictures, and fuel, no stopping for anything else, not even food. Tomorrow, I think it will be a straight shot home. Lots of stuff to do before we take off in the motor home for Carson City.

RIDIN THE DESERT

After an early breakfast at the Saddle West Casino in Pahrump, NV, I fired up the Harley, and headed west toward the lowest point of land in the Western Hemisphere. At Death Valley Junction (Hwy 127 & 190), I followed Hwy 190 into the Valley of Death, stopping at the only gas station for many miles in any direction.

As you can see, with no competition, the prices at Furnace Creek Chevron are in the stratosphere! I never thought that filling the 5 gallon tank on the Harley would cost nearly $30.

I wonder if golf balls travel less distance when you're playing below sea level?

From Furnace Creek, the road took me north towards Scotty's Castle, and a quick stop for a picture. Even though it's called Scotty's Castle, the person who built it was from Chicago, and his name was Johnson. He and Death Valley Scotty were best of friends, and most of the money that Walter Scott spent, was allegedly from the pockets of Mr. Johnson.

From the Castle at the north end of Death Valley, I followed the road east to it's junction with Hwy 95. A few miles north on 95, and I turned west on Hwy 266, with Fish Lake Valley, and the town of Dyer, NV as my next destination. The highway through Dyer is one that had eluded my travels, but is now checked off the small list of remaining roads in CA & NV that I have not driven on.

After a gas stop in Dyer, I continued north to Hwy 6, then southwest to Benton, where I turned west on Hwy 120. About 5 miles west of Benton is a small valley with an abundance of water from natural hot springs. The picture of the pipe spilling very hot water into the pond, is one that brings back quite a few memories. When the kids were little, their grandfather had an old trailer parked next to this pond, and we used to camp at this natural jacuzzi several times a year. This is the place where I started to really like the desert, particularly the fragrant smell of the blooming sagebrush.

During the years we camped at Benton Hot Springs, the old store was open, and you could buy a beer, or a shot of whiskey, even though the owners, Buster & Mable Bramlett didn't have a liquor license. Since their passing, I understand that their son lives on the property, and operates a bed a breakfast across the street from the old store.

Mono Lake as viewed from Hwy 120, east of Hwy 395

Not wanting to tackle Tioga Pass over the Sierras until morning, I stopped at the Lake View Lodge in Lee Vining, CA for the night. Tomorrow, it's westbound through Yosemite, with the next destination probably somewhere around Monterey, in preparation for a ride down the holy grail of motorcycle roads, Hwy 1 on the Pacific Coast of California.

DEATH VALLEY OR BUST

I took this photo while cruising westbound on I40 at 9:30 am. Note the ambient temperature is exactly 100 degrees at 70 mph!

OK, this is a first, regarding posts on my blog while on a Harley ride. I've never taken the computer with me on previous rides. Instead, I've always posted pictures and stories after I've returned back home. I decided it was time to change things up a bit, so the laptop went into the tour pak, and I took off for Las Vegas at about 9am. The plan was to try and stop in Vegas, and get a new rear tire, so I made a couple of phone calls before leaving Lake Havasu. The first call went to Henderson H-D, and they weren't sure they could squeeze me into their schedule. So, I made a second call to Las Vegas H-D, and they said "stop by, we'll get you in and out by early afternoon". With not too much tread left on the rear skin, that was good news.

It was a little after noon, when I pulled into Las Vegas Harley-Davidson, and dropped the bike at their service department for a new rear tire, and an oil & filter change. By 2:30, I was on the road, heading for Pahrump, NV, with new rear rubber, and fresh oil circulating through my 95 inch Harley motor. With the new stereo blasting my favorite tunes from the Ipod, I couldn't help but think that life was really good, and the open road was calling for me to wander in whatever direction I felt like going.

I knew I was headed for Death Valley, one of my favorite places to ride, and coming up was Pahrump, NV, the last civilization for quite a few miles. After standing at the counter of the Best Western, and the Nugget Casino, only to learn that they had just rented their last rooms, I headed to the Saddle West Casino in hopes of finding a place to spend the night. Fortunately, they had a few rooms left, and I'm now sitting at a desk, posting for the first time on one of my Harley rides.

Tomorrow, despite the heat, the route will take me into Death Valley, where I seem to have a spiritual experience every time I ride the bike through that very unique landscape. From there, I'll probably head for Tioga Pass, a route over the Sierras, and through Yosemite National Park.
After that, who knows?

TIME TO RIDE

I picked up the motor home yesterday afternoon, and drove it back to the house with fresh oil, new filters, and a brand new electronic fan control module. The cost of the fan module was only $951.53, about $100 less than originally estimated. What a deal! Our out of pocket expense came to a total of $126.87, which included the $50 deductible, sales tax, and shop supplies.

With that out of the way, this morning is a much anticipated get away on the Harley, with the first destination being Death Valley. From there, I'll probably head north for one of the Sierra Nevada mountain passes, and a stop at our old business, Jamestown Harley-Davidson. By the time I get that far, I'll need to replace the rear tire, as one comment to yesterdays blog suggested.

If anyone happens to be in southwest Nevada, or eastern California during the next couple of days, don't be surprised if off in the distance, you hear the booming sounds of classic rock music coming from a Harley, cruising off toward the sunset.

AN EXPENSIVE PART

After posting on the blog yesterday, I went by Joes RV & Truck, and talked to the owner about the radiator fan problem. The electronic fan control module was the failed part, and when they called Monaco, the stars must have been aligned just right, because they had the exact part in stock, and it was already programed for the Cummins ISL 400 engine. Maybe I shouldn't have said that, because the module isn't here yet, and well, you know, Murphy's law could still be applicable.

When the problem was diagnosed yesterday, I told Joe I would pay the extra shipping charge for an overnight delivery, so, it should be here this morning. Changing the module will only take a few minutes, so again, with any luck, the motor home should be back under the shade cover by this afternoon. When I asked what the cost was for this fan control module, it's a good thing I was braced against the counter, because the cost before shipping and tax is going to be $1,055. That's the bad news. The good news is we still have about 2 years left on the warranty we purchased when we bought the new motor home. This very expensive part will end up costing us $50, plus the overnight shipping charge. I normally don't purchase extended warranties because I usually don't come out ahead, however, in this case, I'm way ahead of the original cost. During the remaining 2 years of coverage, I think it's probably safe to say that there will be a need to use this warranty again, perhaps more than once. In this case, the crystal ball 4 years ago was right on, and not having to write a check for $1,055 right now, is a pretty good feeling.

The next priority for me, is to throw my leg over the Harley, and as the song Born to be Wild goes - "get out on the highway". As soon as I get the motor home parked, I'll be heading toward one of my most favorite places, Death Valley. It's still a little warm, around 100 degrees, but with the new radio blasting my favorite tunes from the Ipod, I'll be in a zone where the temperature won't even matter!

NEW SOUNDS

Yesterday was all about getting the new radio, speakers, and amp installed in the Harley. By noon, and with one phone call to Biketronics, the company where I got the kit, I was ready to hear how the new equipment sounded. When I first checked the sound on a local FM radio station, I couldn't believe the difference from the old radio. When I plugged in my Ipod shuttle, the clarity and crispness was amplified even more! At maximum volume, the sound wasn't distorted, and almost blew me out of the garage!

OK, so now I'm a very happy camper, ready to hit the road with my favorite music blasting through the new 100 watt speakers. With the old radio/tape deck, I had to turn the volume up to maximum level, just to where the sound was starting to be distorted. When the local radio station started to fade away, the sound level would drop, and eventually, I had to search for a new station. Out in the middle of nowhere, I often had to turn it off until I regained a radio station signal. Now, I can plug in my Ipod, or pop in a CD, and never be without music.

Some Harley enthusiasts might say that the sound of the V-Twin motor is all the music they need. Since my first Harley with a radio, a 1993 Electra Glide, that's when I decided that music from the radio enhanced the Harley experience even more. With the exception of a 95 Road King, and a 96 Bad Boy, my other Harley's after the 93 bagger, have all been equipped with radios.

The diagnosis on the motor home radiator fan problem was that the electronic fan controller module is defective. This morning, Joes RV & Truck, will get the new part ordered, and with any luck, our house on wheels will be back to normal in a few days.

Down to 2 motorcycles and 1 scooter

READJUSTING

Whenever we return home after a long absence, there's always lots of changes that take a period of readjustment. To name a few..... sleeping in the bed requires a few days before it starts to feel normal. Not using your foot to flush the toilet is another mechanical dissimilarity between the house and the motor home. Opening the door to let Sami into the back yard without a leash feels a little strange at first. Taking a shower with lots of water pressure, and not having to turn it off is certainly one of the pleasant changes from the motor home to the house. Trying to remember where stuff is located in the house after an absence, seems to be more of an issue as the years roll by. After a few days, our bodies and minds will make the transition, and when we hit the road again in a couple of weeks, we'll go through the same process in reverse.

The motor home went in yesterday morning for an annual service, and to fix a problem with the side radiator fan. Whatever controls the hydraulic fan was not working properly as the fan was coming on when it shouldn't. As of 4pm yesterday, the shop hadn't been able to diagnose the problem, so the motor home stayed over night. I should know something today.

The summer heat always takes a toll on some of our plants and shrubs, so we've been working in the back yard, attempting to get that back into shape. Yesterday, I took the old radio out of the Harley, and with any luck, will get the new one installed today. Lots of things to do, and with a little more readjusting, things will seem normal once again.

RETURN TO LAKE HAVASU

"Oh No, a picture of me eating junk food"!

We pulled out of space 121 in Trailer Village, at exactly 10am, and hooked up the jeep in Market Plaza. One last look at the General Store where Patty worked, and we were on the road, heading for home in Lake Havasu City. After driving a 40' New Flyer transit bus for 3 1/2 months, sitting in the plush drivers seat of our motor home felt a little strange, but it didn't take long for me to make the adjustment.

We drove through one very intense thunderstorm near Seligman, with lots of rain and lightning bolts. It didn't last very long, and by the time we got to Kingman, the temps were creeping up past any of the high temps we experienced during the summer at the Grand Canyon. When we turned off I40 at the Lake Havasu turn off (SR95), the Pilot was the choice for fuel, and totally by coincidence, they just happen to have a Wendy's. Well, what the heck, I wasn't going to turn down one of my favorite hamburgers, so the little women went inside while I fueled up the motor home. Actually, this was no coincidence at all, as I had been salivating for the last hour or so, about the thought of devouring one of my favorite hamburgers. Whenever I drag Patty, kicking and screaming into a fast food joint, she often just watches me harden my arteries. However, at Wendy's, she has discovered the spicy Asiago Chicken sandwich, which she says is very tasty.
So, the evidence is in the picture. Patty does actually consume junk food, albeit very rarely. Now that we're home, my first In & Out double, double in almost 4 months is a huge blip on today's radar screen!

SHOSHONE POINT & A FLUTE

Shoshone Point in the background over my left shoulder

Yesterday, after we finished getting the motor home ready to go, and had run a few errands, we decided to take one last look at this magnificent Grand Canyon that has been our home for the past 3 1/2 months. We drove east on Hwy 64, about a mile past the Yaki Point turn off, and parked the car at the Shoshone Point road. The road past the locked gate is accessible to pedestrians, but only to vehicles with a permit from the Park Service. It was about a mile walk, and upon arrival, we both agreed that it was well worth the effort. What an incredible view! At the end of the road, at the edge of the Canyon, there are picnic tables, a covered pavilion, and a rest room. This area is often reserved for weddings, special occasions, and in fact, was being set up by a caterer from Sedona for a tour group from France.

After lunch in Tusayan, at you guessed it, Wendy's, I finished up a couple of projects back at the motor home. At 7pm, we met a friend at the Community Center building for the last performance at the Grand Canyon Music Festival. When the festival opened last week, Patty and Beatrice attended a performance, and I agreed to to go with them on this last night. Not knowing anything about the music, I soon found out that the combination of a grand piano, an accordion, and a flute weren't exactly the instruments that create the type of music that I have on my Ipod. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for this cultural event, I must say that the three musicians (2 from Argentina), were quite talented, and part of the performance included a couple who danced very well to the tango music. After my participation at this event, the way I've got it figured, Patty owes me big time, and will now have to ride a countless number of trains for the next 15 years!

This was our first full day off together, since the middle of May, before we both started our jobs, and it was a nice relaxed day. This morning, I'll unhook the utilities, and we'll pull out of Trailer Village, and head for Lake Havasu. We're both looking forward to the next chapter, but not exactly real enthusiastic about returning to 100+ degree weather. I guess you can't have everything.

I hope everybody remembers what happened 10 years ago today, and never forgets the fact that there is an enemy out there that seeks to destroy us.

GOODBYE GRAND CANYON

At least, until next summer. Patty and I both ended our summer of work yesterday, saying adios to many of our co-workers, and supervisors. Without rehashing much of what I've already written, lets just say that both of our jobs met the criteria that we established long ago. I've said many times, if something isn't either fun, exciting, or adventurous, we have the freedom to move on down the road. Speaking for myself, despite the repetition of driving a bus over the same roads day after day, the scenery was incredible, and ever changing. Dealing with the public is kind of like "a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get", to quote Forrest Gump. Everyday was different, and being part of the largest public transit system in all of the U.S. National Parks was not only challenging, but rewarding as well. We both leave, feeling that we were a positive contribution to the teams, and can't help but feel that the doors are open for a return next year.

Today we'll be packing up a lot of stuff, and getting the motor home ready to hit the road tomorrow morning. We both have to launder our uniforms, and return them, along with some equipment. There are a few other loose ends that have to be tied up today, and we should be ready to make the trip home tomorrow. We're ready for the next chapter.

LIVING THE DREAM

I think it's safe to say, that one of the ultimate American Dreams most people have, is to be able to retire into a lifestyle, where the pursuit of happiness is indeed meaningful. Some folks like to travel, others enjoy social activities, and many retired people who now have the time, are able to pursue their hobbies and passions with no interruption from the workplace.

For Patty and I, being retired means a lot of different things. Working seasonal jobs, (some folks call it workamping) is one thing that kind of evolved for us, particularly when we started working in Skagway, Alaska during the summers of 2004-2007. The original idea was to give Alaska a try for one summer, and because we enjoyed it so much, we kept returning for the next 3 years. For the last 2 years, we didn't feel like working, so during those summers, we put about 20,000 miles on the motor home, traveling all around this great country of ours.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that we have lots of choices, and I feel extremely fortunate to be in a position where we're not locked into any one thing. As we both finish our summer of working here at the Grand Canyon National Park, we both see many of our respective co-workers who at our age, or older, are stuck in the workplace, with no end in sight. It's none of my business why that's the case, but comparatively speaking, it's a wonderful feeling, knowing that we have the freedom to pursue whatever adventures appeal to us. When our kids reach their retirement ages, I sincerely hope that they will be in a position to have the same freedoms and opportunities that we do.

Only 2 more work days for both of us, and even though we have enjoyed this summer of work, it's time for a new chapter, and we're anxious to get back to our "big" house in Lake Havasu City.
There will be lots to do when we get home, and the preparation for our RV Rally in Carson City is an ongoing process. As of a few days ago, we have 13 rigs signed up, with 25 people set to attend. After the rally, I think we're headed to CA to visit with Patty's son David, and many of our old friends who reside in the central CA area.

We have a lot to look forward to in the coming months, part of which includes a Caribbean Cruise with our kids, our normal winter activities in, and around southwest Arizona, spending time with Marc, Chandra, and our Grand Daughter Laila, a Harley ride or two, and Patty's trip to Paris with her brother in the spring. Like the Blog title says - "We're living the dream".

A FAST FOOD OASIS

No, this is not an advertisement for Wendy's. Well, maybe it might be. Notwithstanding the lack of compensation from the little redhead, I'm still posting the above picture of the Tusayan Wendy's. Now if Wendy's corporate wants to beat down my door, and throw a whole bunch of money at me for putting a picture of one of their stores on the world wide web, I probably wouldn't turn down the cash. However, I have my doubts as to that actually happening.

Yesterday, on my last day off from work, I drove into Tusayan, and patronized the local Wendy's for lunch. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be something to get very excited about, certainly not worth the effort to blog about, right? I have to say, that in my case, this is big news! For me, just having access to a fast food burger is beyond headline news, it's downright essential to my survival!

Some people can live on just vegetables, others pass on junk food, and some folks, believe it or not, don't like ice cream. I've got news for all of the vegetarians out there, there's actually someone in our midst's who can live exclusively on hamburgers, and that person is me!

Since I have the self assumed title of being the original "fast food junkie", I think it's only fair to rate the respective fast food joints, at least in my humble opinion.

1. In & Out - Not even close, by far the best burger. Patty says the only reason we moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ. is so that I would have everyday access to an In & Out Double, Double.

2. Wendy's - The only other burger joint that doesn't freeze their meat. Not a close 2nd, but way above the others. On many of my motorcycle adventures, a daily stop or two at Wendy's, was the extent of my daily nutrition.

I won't go any further, because if I put any of the remaining fast food joints at #3, or lower, I can almost assure you there would be a gaggle of lawyers, sitting in some board room, salivating at the possibility of bringing forth a libel and slander lawsuit.

Living this past summer here in the Grand Canyon National Park has presented some challenges, like having to drive into Flagstaff (75 miles) for any serious shopping. Fortunately, just outside the park in Tusayan, I've had access to Wendy's and McDonalds. How in the world did I ever survive 4 summers in Skagway, Alaska, where the words Wendy's, McDonalds, Burger King, Jack in the Box, & Carls Jr. were as foreign as many of the visitors who came off the cruise ships?

PATTY'S RETAIL SUMMER

Yesterday, I talked about my job this summer as a shuttle bus driver, and today, I'll touch a little on Patty's thoughts regarding her job in the General Store. Since we're both down to only 4 more work days, I think it's time to also reflect a little on Patty's work experience. Her employer, Delaware North Corp. (DNC), is one of 3 concessionaires here at the Grand Canyon. Their role is limited to the store here at Grand Canyon Village, and the smaller store at Desert View. Xanterra, and the Grand Canyon Association are the other concessionaire's who have larger roles here at the South Rim.

Inside the General store is a pretty good sized grocery store, which includes fresh meats & vegetables. It kind of reminds me of the grocery store in Skagway, Alaska, which was much smaller, but included a little bit of everything. Adjacent to the grocery section, is a gift shop which includes a large selection of camping supplies, footwear, books, apparel, and all of the usual tourist trinkets. Most of Patty's work hours have been on the gift shop side of the store, but she has spent a good percentage of her time cashiering on the grocery side as well. Learning all of the In's and Out's of grocery retail is a whole lot more than just sliding items past the bar code scanner. She has often stated that she has a new appreciation for folks that work as grocery cashiers.

When Patty interviewed for the job, she was told that probably about mid summer, when other workers, mostly from foreign countries, started arriving, that her work week could be less than a full 40 hours. That was OK with her, potentially allowing for more time off to explore the area, and do other things. The extra time off never materialized, but it really didn't matter, because she still had time to participate in a lot of Ranger programs, and explore on her own. When Nancy was here for 10 days, those girls didn't let any grass grow under their feet!

A group of young adult workers from the southern states Baptist Church, adopted Patty as "Miss Patty", earning them a high place in her category of pleasant, respectful co-workers. From the "Baptist Kids", to the "Taiwan Kids", to the local workers, the relationship with her peers was quite positive.

Patty's overall experience with DNC has been almost entirely positive, with little on the other side of the spectrum. She has enjoyed the family atmosphere, the encouragement to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction, and the companies commitment to a greener path through recycling, and other environmental friendly policies. She was recognized several times by DNC for her ability to provide outstanding customer service, and was rewarded with a very nice hydration back pack. The relationship between supervision and workers was excellent, and she has enjoyed getting acquainted with her co-workers, who in large part, are/were from foreign countries. Patty has often made the statement "I need my people fix". Well, this summer has certainly provided her with an opportunity to be well fixed with an exposure to people from all around the world. Neither of us had any idea that so many people from foreign countries visited the Grand Canyon National Park.

During several discussions, we both have stated that we would like to return next summer, and that simply wouldn't be the case, if either of us had a bad work experience. It's nice to be in a position where working for a few months is more in the category of an adventure, as opposed to a necessary commitment, due to the requirement of a financial gain.

DRIVING A TRANSIT BUS

After 3 1/2 months behind the wheel of a 40' Transit Bus, I think I can safely say, the experience has been unique, at least in respect to my previous work camping jobs. I've driven tour buses in Alaska, and my one summer as a supervisor for the Glacier National Park transit system exposed me to some part time bus driving, but none of that compares to driving a shuttle bus here at the Grand Canyon National Park.

When I applied for this job, I knew I had the driving skills necessary to be a competent, and safe bus driver, but like any new workplace, there's always a certain amount of anxiety regarding new policies, procedures, schedules, and all that goes along with learning any new job. During the initial week long training session, there were a few times when I wondered what I had gotten myself into. The learning curve seemed like it was quite steep, and even though I've always been pretty adaptable to most situations, I remember thinking that there was an awful lot to learn, in a short amount of time.

Now that it's almost time to leave, with a bunch of bus driving miles under my belt, I feel like I have become a part of the team, and more of an asset, than a liability. While learning this job, I made many of the rookie mistakes, but fortunately, none were of a serious nature, and I guess that's all part of the learning process.

This picture was taken out the front bus door, at the Powell Point bus stop

Last week, I had a short conversation with the bus system manager, and even though she wanted me to stay for another 3 months, I made it clear that for a number of reasons, I only wanted to work the summer season. When the subject of me returning next summer came up, she was reluctant to commit, and commented that she preferred to hire drivers who were willing to stay for 6 and 9 month periods of time. We agreed to touch base after the first of the year, and she would be in a better position to let me know about working again next summer. So, nothing is definite, but I can't help but think we'll be back, and unless we hear otherwise, that's what we're planning.