A RUN INTO RENO

The Saturday of Memorial Weekend, was a day that I solved a small issue that I caused, by leaving home without my motorcycle helmet. Oh yea, I remembered just about everything else, all of my camping gear, riding boots & clothes, G.P.S., etc. But, the one thing I absolutely need is a helmet, and it's sitting at home in the garage. When we were in Jamestown, Everett loaned me a dirt bike helmet, that actually fits my fat head. But, I've become so fond of my modular helmet that I purchased in Montana, when I got the KLR, I decided to get another one. We drove into Reno, and I found another 2x, modular helmet at Road Rider, near the Reno H-D store. It's not as good as the one at home, but it will due for the summer.

On the way out of town, we stopped at a brand new Scheels, next to the freeway in Sparks. The gal in the office at the RV Park had mentioned this unbelievable store, so we decided to check it out. The best description that I can give, is that it's a Cabelas on steroids. This store is so big, it even has a Ferris wheel inside the store! From guns to sleeping bags, there isn't much that an outdoors man would want, that they don't have.

We walked around the two levels for an hour or so, and made one purchase, then headed back to Fernley, where the motor home is parked. This morning, we're headed to Carson City, (about 45 miles), to ride the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. More about that in tomorrow's blog.

SNOW IN THE SIERRAS

After checking, and rechecking the weather forecast for yesterday, particularly in the central sierras, we decided to hit the road for Nevada. I had made a reservation at a Passport America RV Park in Fernley, NV, so we said good bye to the Lake of the Springs T.T., leaving mid morning to a combination of sunshine and showers. By the time we reached Auburn, CA on I80, it was mostly sunshine, and despite the Friday start of Memorial Day Weekend, the traffic over Donner Pass wasn't that bad. As we climbed the west slope of the Sierras, it wasn't long before we started seeing a whole lot of that white stuff called snow. There was so much snow at the top, that I fully expected to see a bunch of skiers at Boreal Ski Area. Instead, it looked like a ghost town, not a soul to be seen, as we cruised by with all of the other traffic headed toward Nevada. Just past Truckee, we started to see construction ahead signs, and when I saw that wide loads had to exit, I knew we were coming up on some very narrow lanes. Sure enough, near the CA/NV border, the truck lane was reduced to 10' in width, with temporary concrete guard rails on the left, and a metal guardrail on the right. The outside width of our motor home is 8' 6", so if I split the lane perfectly, that left 9" of clearance on either side. When we first started RV'ing, with this type of scenario, I probably would have been panic stricken. This situation wasn't that big of a deal, however, I must admit that the intensity of my concentration went up a couple of notches. We buzzed through Reno, and arrived at the Desert Rose RV park in the mid afternoon. We're here for 2 more nights, and tomorrow, we'll drive the 40 miles or so, to Carson City, where I have tickets to ride on the new, extended, Virginia & Truckee Tourist Railroad Yahoo!

LEAVING CALIFORNIA

We've been parked here at the Thousand Trails, Lake of the Springs, for the past 6 nights, and for the most part, the weather has been pretty wet. This morning, the sun has peaked out of the clouds, and it's time to move on down the road. We have a reservation at an RV park east of Reno, but were not sure if we were going to make it over Donner Pass on I80, until these storms were out of the area. It looks like the worst has passed, so we'll be heading up to about a foot of fresh snow at the higher elevations. Our stay at this T.T. has been enjoyable, and it was convenient to where our friends Bob & Jeanette are work camping this summer. We visited with them twice, and will reunite this fall in Lake Havasu where we both have homes. But for know, hitch itch has set in pretty hard, and it's time to get on the road.

A VISIT WITH BOB & JEANETTE

This Thousand Trails Preserve is called Lake of the Springs, and is located in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, at an elevation of about 2,000 feet. We're in between Marysville and Grass Valley, and the park is next to a lake with a private launch ramp and all of the amenities you might expect with a lake in your backyard. It's one of the nicer T.T. parks that we have stayed in, with the exception that we again cannot use the computer in our motor home. Our Sprint air card will not pick up a strong enough signal, so we've been using the WiFi in the clubhouse. It's not that big a deal, but we've been spoiled, and it's a bit of an inconvenience to move out of the motor home in order to use the computer. We are about a 45 minute drive from where our friends Bob & Jeanette are Camp Hosting on the Yuba River. We visited with them day before yesterday, and are meeting them today for lunch. They work for a private company who has a contract with the U.S. Forest Service, and they take care of several campgrounds, all located next to the Yuba River. It's a beautiful area, very similar to the central Sierra Nevada Foothills, where Patty and I spent so many years. The closest town to where they are working is Downieville, on Hwy 49, and that's where we're headed for lunch. We first met Bob & Jeanette in 2004, during our first work summer in Skagway, Alaska. When we learned that they were also from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, we've been friends ever since. The rain came in last night, and it's still raining this morning. Hopefully, it will clear out by Friday, when we will be headed over Donner Pass, to spend some time in the Carson City, Reno area.

A WHIRLWIND 4 DAYS

Due to the lack of an Internet connection in Jamestown, the 4 days that we were parked at Everett and Lori's, were back in the dark ages, so to speak. It's amazing how reliant we have become on today's technology. On the first of those 4 days, we drove to Stockton, CA. to visit my Aunt Martha. We spent a couple of hours catching up with what has occurred in our lives during the last year, particularly, learning about Martha's trip last summer to Montana. She is doing well, still driving, living in her home of many decades, and maintaining her independence with visits from daughter Diane. Patty and I are looking forward to a visit with Martha's daughter, Karen, and her husband Dan, later this summer in Coos Bay, OR. On one of the days in Jamestown, Everett, his cousin Ray, and I rode Harley's down to Art & Linda's Tulloch Lake house, where we met Art. From there, we rode up to the top of Priest Grade, and had lunch at Priest Station. We ended the ride back in Jamestown, where I touched base with some of the familiar faces at Jamestown Harley-Davidson, and visited with a few of the old customers. In between all of the running around, we dropped our Beagle Sami, off at the Vet for a fatty tumor removal, and her annual teeth cleaning. She ended up spending 2 nights with the Vet, but everything turned out better than we expected, so she is doing well at almost age 13. On Saturday morning, we said so long to Everett and Lori, and thanked them for their super hospitality. As I've said before, we always look forward to our stops in the old hometown, where good friends like Everett, Lori, Art and Linda, make the time very special. The drive to where we are currently, the Thousand Trails near Grass Valley, was about 4 hours, and we arrived late afternoon on Saturday. Yesterday, we drove about 30 miles to where our friends Bob & Jeanette are camp hosting at a Forest Service Campground on the Yuba River. Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll catch up with the time, and the blog will once again be current.

A VISIT WITH DAVE

As predicted, we have been parked at Everett and Lori's in Jamestown without an internet connection. Sure, I could have taken the computer, and located a wireless location, but it just wasn't a high priority. We always enjoy our visits with Everett and Lori whenever we're back in CA. More on that stop later. After leaving our overnight spot behind McDonalds in Mojave, we drove over the Tehachipi's, and stopped in Bakersfield for fuel. Diesel in CA is about 25 cents more per gallon than in AZ. From there it was a short run up Hwy 99 to Merced, and a visit with Patty's son Dave. This was our first opportunity to see his new baby, an English Bulldog named Bachus. What a cutie, or as Dave says, "he's a chick magnet". He and Sami ran around the house together while we had a nice visit. Later, we went out to dinner, and we decided to park there for the night, since it was getting late. The next morning, we made the hour or so drive up to Jamestown, and got parked at the East RV Park before they got home. Even though we both have acclimated to the desert environment, it's always nice to return to the grassy fields and green trees of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, where we spent so many years.

RAIN IN THE VALLEY

We left Mojave yesterday morning, with nothing but blue skies covering the high desert. The weather forecast for central CA was quite the opposite however, with rain predicted as far south as Bakersfield. Sure enough, as we made our way over the Tehachapi's, we could see the clouds ahead, and near the bottom of the pass, it started to rain. I stopped at the Flying J, north of Bakersfield, for fuel ($3.12 for diesel), and a new windshield wiper blade. It rained off and on, as we traveled north on Hwy 99 through the central valley, and about the time we arrived at David's house in Merced, the rain was pretty much stopped. After a short visit, and introduction to his new bulldog puppy, we went out to an early dinner. According to Dave, the house he is trying to buy in Modesto, is finally moving toward closing, and it shouldn't be too much longer before he is able to move. When that happens, his commute to work will be about 5-10 minutes, instead of 30-45 minutes. After dinner, he and Patty drove to Modesto, to check on a friends dog, while the friend is on vacation. While they were gone, I watched the Phoenix Suns lose the first game of their playoff series with the dreaded L.A. Lakers. Today, we make the short drive to our old hometown, where we'll park at Everett & Lori's for a few days. Again, this will probably be the last blog post until we leave Jamestown, unless Internet connectivity has improved.

DRIVING IN THE DESERT

Marc and Chandra picked up Laila yesterday morning, and we pulled out of the Pima County Fairgrounds around 9:30 am. It's always bittersweet when returning our grand daughter to her parents. The time we have with her is so special, watching her almost grow before our very eyes. I must also admit, that a 4 1/2 year old turns your typical routine upside down, and despite Laila's behavior being almost perfect around Grandma and Grandpa, there is a little sigh of relief when she is returned to Mom and Dad. Yesterday being Sunday, we drove west on I10, straight through Phoenix, across the Mojave Desert, and into the outskirts of L.A. There seldom is a reason to drive through L.A., so I left I10 in San Bernardino, and climbed the Cajon Pass on I15, took Hwy 395 north to Hwy 58, then west to Mojave, CA. Since the bypass was put around Mojave, I hadn't been through that town in years, but it was getting late, (around 7:30pm), so I drove to the McDonald's, where there is a large parking lot behind the restaurant, and we stopped for the night. According to the GPS, we covered 546 miles, and it was a good day on the road. Today, we'll stop in Merced, and visit with Patty's son David, then up the hill to Everett and Lori's in Jamestown for 5-6 days. This probably will be the last post until we leave Jamestown, because that is about the only place in our travels, that we haven't been able to connect to the Internet.

3D AND DRAGONS

Laila had never been to a movie theater, so we decided to see if we could find an age suitable film, and take her. The one we picked was "How to train your dragon", an animated movie in 3D. I can't remember the last time I watched a 3D movie, but it's safe to say that it's been a whole lot of years. 3D technology and animation have come a long way since I was a kid. (Yes, there was 3D that long ago). We arrived at the movie just in time to catch some of the previews, and things didn't start well, as the sound was loud and the 3D glasses were too big for Laila. I thought, this might have been a mistake, but when the movie started, the initial complaints disappeared, and all 3 of us really enjoyed the movie. It was a little intense at the end, but Laila acted like she really enjoyed this new experience. After the movie, we stopped at the children's play area, and I think that was as much fun as watching her first movie in a theater. For sure, she burned up some of that stored up energy, and after a fruit drink, we headed back to the fairgrounds for a long bicycle ride, where we watched some of the horse men and women doing the horse thing. This morning, Marc and Chandra will be coming by to pick up Laila, and we'll sadly say so long for about 5 months, as we head north for the summer. I'm glad we decided to start our trip here in Tucson, where the grandchild fix will make the summer long absence a little easier.

THE DESERT MUSEUM

Yesterday, was a day of exploration at the Desert Museum, a place that Patty and I have visited twice before. This was Laila's first experience, and despite a relative short attention span, we were quite surprised at her interest in many of the exhibits that we didn't think she would much care for. The Desert Museum is a world renowned example of showcasing the desert environment, with emphasis on those animals that exist in this dry habitat. Even though it was only in the mid 80's, unfortunately, during the middle of the day, many of the animals were not very active. In addition to the desert animals, many of the other exhibits are kid friendly, like the desert cave, that Laila and Grandpa explored in the semi-darkness. It was a fun day, that served one purpose very well. The energy of a 4 1/2 year old is at times, unlimited. The several hours of walking through the desert museum took some of that energy, and despite no afternoon nap, bedtime last night was uneventful. Another activity that used up some of that energy was 3 long bicycle rides around the fairgrounds. In just one day, Laila has mastered the art of getting the bike going on her own, and the use of the pedal brake. Despite a couple of close calls, there haven't been any tip overs, and we're keeping our fingers crossed. As the speed increases, she hasn't quite learned where the danger zone is regarding speed and turns. The training wheels only work to a certain point, and it probably will take a small crash for her to learn how far she can push the envelope. We're keeping our fingers crossed, along with the band aid and neosporin close by.

LAILA'S FIRST BICYCLE

Our drive from Lake Havasu City to Tucson, usually takes about 6 hours, and yesterday was no exception. The only thing different about an otherwise normal trip, was the excessive number of insects that decided to commit suicide on my windshield. Yuk, what a mess! Shortly after we parked the motor home at the fairgrounds, we drove over to Marc & Chandra's, where Chandra fixed a nice dinner. Just before dinner, Grandma whispered to Laila, that Grandpa had a surprise waiting for her outside in the jeep. Once that had been disclosed, Laila was all over Grandpa, wanting to know what the surprise was. So, outside we went, and when we had Laila open her eyes, a brand new bicycle magically appeared. It didn't take her long to get the hang of peddling the new toy around the cul de sac, in front of the house. When it was starting to get dark, we had to call a halt to the bicycle riding, and went in for dinner. I loaded the bike in the jeep, and after dinner, the three of us headed back to the motor home. Laila spent some time playing with Sami and Gracie, and after some desert, it was about time to call it a day.

LEAVING THE LAKE

Today is our departure date for this summer season of 2010. We usually hit the road each year around the middle of May, and this year is no exception. Our drive today will take us to Tucson, a little over 300 miles, where we'll spend a few days with Marc, Chandra, and Laila. In fact, we plan on keeping Laila in the motor home for a couple of nights. Plus, we have a brand new bicycle to spoil her with. From Tucson, we'll be heading for a few stops in CA, then our intended path will take us to the Pacific Northwest for most of the summer. If our 2 animals knew what the plan was, they both would probably be shouting - "we don't want to go, let's stay here in the big house". Even though they are both good travelers, it takes a few days on the road for the adjustment to take place. This is always a time of great anticipation as to what new adventures we will find, and where the road will take us. This year, there is no master plan like there was last year, when we made a counter clockwise circle around the U.S. Fewer miles this year, with longer stays in different locations, mostly places that we have not yet explored. So, the alarm system has been checked, the alarm company notified, the motor home is packed, and hopefully, we haven't forgotten anything, as we depart for the summer.

THE LONDON BRIDGE & A MINDFREAK

A few days ago, we read in the local newspaper that on May 8th, Chris Angel, the illusionist/magician, was going to perform some sort of escape from the waters below the London Bridge. Well, we said that might be something worth investing a little time, so, around 11:30 am yesterday, we drove down to the bridge to discover a huge crowd on both sides of the channel. This wasn't a performance per se, but rather, the production company was filming this escape for a future episode of "Chris Angel - Mindfreak", to air this summer on the A&E channel. We stood on the city side of the channel for about an hour, watched the divers in the water, the basket on the end of the crane went up and down a couple of times, but we couldn't see much else happening. As the multitude of boats jockeyed for position, their drivers trying to get the best vantage point, and as the crowd got bigger and bigger, still nothing much happened. Fortunately we had a viewing position under a tree where the mid 90's temperature was at least tolerable. Finally, my impatience got the best of me, and we left a little before 1pm. It turns out, that was probably a good decision, because the online article in the paper this morning, stated that they lowered the chained up Chris Angel into the water at 3:02, and after about 4 minutes, "he escaped his would be watery grave" The crowd, part of which started gathering as early as 10am, was estimated to be over 5,000, according to the newspaper. Since we didn't really see anything happen, if nothing else, it was an interesting hour or so of people watching, which very often, is the best entertainment anyway.

THE FIRST BICYCLE

Our Granddaughter, Laila, is 4 1/2 years old, and what better way to spoil your grandchild, then to give her a bicycle. When we leave Lake Havasu for the summer in just a few days, Tucson will be our first stop, for a visit with Marc, Chandra, and Laila. Right now, we're trying to get all of the things done, necessary for us to get on the road for the summer. Even though we enjoy living here in Lake Havasu during the winter months, it will be good to get behind the wheel, and get the motor home's wheels moving for the first time in about 2 months.

TRACFONE NUMBER

As mentioned in a recent post, we have a second cell phone, that will only be used on a limited basis, mostly for outgoing calls, when Patty and I are in different locations. In the event anyone needs to call this second phone, the number is 928 302- 0726. We're leaving Lake Havasu City, a week from tomorrow, and our first stop will be in Tucson for a few days. We decided that we needed a Grandchild fix, before leaving Arizona for the summer months. So, we'll be in Tucson, where we'll take Laila in the motor home for a few days, and spoil her with her first bicycle. Then, our next stop will be in Jamestown, CA, where we will park at Everett & Lori's house for a few days. We have an appointment on May 19th, with our veterinarian extraordinaire, Charlie Bennett, to have a tumor removed from Sami's tummy, and have her teeth cleaned. From Jamestown, we'll be working our way north, toward the Pacific Northwest, where we'll spend most of the summer.

WIND STOPS DRAGBOATS

The wind got so strong, it blew over the E.T. & Speed scoreboard

Marc watching the crane lift out one of the Hydro Light boats

Forrest Lucas being interviewed by the track announcer.

The first Drag Boat Series race of the year, was at Firebird Raceway over the weekend, and I met Marc at the track yesterday morning. At about 9:30, the morning started out with the top fuelers blasting down the liquid racecourse, followed by the Pro Mods, and Top Alcohol Hydros. It was at that point, the action was halted due to the ever increasing wind. The Top Alcohol Flats were taken out of the water, and the drags were put on hold. They continued to run the Hydro Lights around the 1 mile plus course, and a few Cracker Box Boats kept the show going for an hour or so. Then, the wind increased to the point where whitecaps were visible, and the racers and vendors were frantically trying to secure their awnings and easy ups. As the wind increased, it became questionable as to whether the action would resume at all. At around 2 pm, the P.A. system announced that the race was cancelled for the day, due to weather conditions. I think the fact that the time & speed trailer had blown over, was the final straw. Marc and I watched the scoreboard as the wind increased, and made a comment to each other that with the force of the wind hitting the lights directly from the front, it seemed only a matter of time before the thing went over. Despite the late addition of some extra ropes, the wind was the winner, and over it went. The sad part about mother nature being responsible for the cancellation of the race, is that this was the first race of the season, and the first time in decades, that all of the drag boat associations were united under the guidance of one sanctioning entity - Lucas Oil. There was, and still is, a lot of optimism, that with Forrest and Charlotte Lucas directly involved, the opportunity to take this sport to the next level is a real possibility. Unfortunately, this wasn't the greatest of starts, particularly with a small crowd, and a low turnout of race boats. I had the chance to talk to Forrest Lucas, who I had previously met through our friends, Lucas Oil employees, Bob and Shirl Kase. I was a little surprised to see Forrest and his wife Charlotte, in Phoenix, since their son Morgan was competing in Top Fuel, at the NHRA Race in St. Louis. Forrest stated that they have a lot to learn, but are committed to advancing Drag Boat Racing above where it is today. In fact, they are building a new race facility in Missouri, that is supposed to be ready for next season. I enjoyed the short chat with Forrest, and am convinced that if anyone can take this sport to the next level, the Lucas Oil empire might just be what Drag Boat Racing has needed for a long time.

SEE SPOT WORK

When I first heard of this device, less than a year ago, I knew it could be an invaluable item to have in my inventory of gadgets. This little hand held piece of plastic, is the world's first satellite messenger, utilizing the GPS satellite system to determine a location, and transmitting that information via satellite, to either a 911 center, or, to whoever has been designated by the owner, and pre-programed into the system. My particular need for something like this, is almost exclusively for the times that I am off alone on either my Harley, or my KLR 650, dual sport bike. On the Harley, I'm usually within range of cell phone towers, but not always, as I like to ride in remote areas. On the KLR, especially when I'm off road, the cell phone often does not work. That's where the SPOT could become a lifeline, in case of emergency. In addition to the 911 feature, there are two other levels of notification, that the SPOT will send out. If the need for help does not meet a life threatening criteria, but assistance is necessary, a signal can be sent, that generates pre-programed emails to whoever has been designated. The third signal that can be sent, is an OK, pre-programed email to designated recipients. In all 3 cases, the emails link to Google maps, and the location of the signal is within just a few feet. Yesterday, I took the SPOT into the backyard, sent an OK message, which generated an email to our computers. When I checked that email a few minutes later, I clicked on the Google map link, and zoomed right into our backyard. With most new technologies, I'm usually one of the last to embrace whatever it is. The SPOT however, is something that might make the difference, and it wasn't hard for me to accept it's technical abilities.

A NEW CELL PHONE

OK, so big deal! This, in and of itself, is not really worthy of spending a lot of time discussing. But, as I mentioned in the last blog, we had an issue on the horizon that needed to be solved. That issue was the need for two cell phones under certain circumstances. When we leave Lake Havasu in about 4 weeks, we will be in the motor home for about 5 months, and normally, one cell phone is all we need. However, this year, I'm using the motorcycle rack on the back of the RV, and taking my dual sport bike, for what I hope is the opportunity to do some adventure touring in the back country of the Pacific Northwest. When I'm gone on the bike, I will need a phone in case of emergency, and to keep in touch with Patty. She, of course, will also need a phone for emergencies, and to stay in touch. There will be other situations this year, where we will both need a phone, so, the search began for an additional phone that will only be used occasionally. The first stop was at Sprint, where we could get a free phone for a two year contract, and an additional $30 a month. With activation fees, that was going to be over $400 a year. The second option I explored was the Jitterbug, which has a plan for 50 minutes at $14.99 a month. The catch with Jitterbug is the fee for the phone is $145, so with activation, this route was also going to be over $400 a year. The Third option was a Trac Fone, which we purchased at Wal-Mart for $19.95, along with 120 minutes for $20. Total investment - a little over $40, and no contract. The purchase of minutes over the next year, should be under $100, so we now have a 2nd phone for a minimal investment. The icing on the cake is that the phone is a Motorola, (made in the US), with camera, bluetooth, and a bunch of other bells and whistles that we probably will never use. I haven't activated it yet, and probably won't until we leave near the end of next month. When we have a phone #, I'll post it on the blog.

PARTY IN THE CHANNEL

A continual parade of boats

Watching the action in the south channel


One of the attractions of the Desert Storm weekend, is all of the boats cruising through, and parked in the Bridgewater Channel. While we sat and watched the parade of boats, the Desert Storm Shootout was taking place about a mile from our location. The shootout is an opportunity for the event participants to run a two mile, closed, straight course, where their top speed is measured at the end of one mile. I won't be surprised, if I read in tomorrows newspaper, that one, or more of the boats reached a speed of close to 200 mph. Because the course is so long, it's difficult to watch unless you are sitting on the lake in a boat, so we were content to sit in our chairs, as we watched the party in the channel. If you like to people watch, this venue is one of the better places. Of course, the music from the megabucks stereo systems is a bit over the top, as many of the boat owners were having their own shootout, as to who has the loudest system. I know we're getting older, and there's this huge generation gap regarding what qualifies as good music, but I will never get into this rap, hip-hop, or whatever you call it. Because the scenery and action was to say the least, quite interesting, we put up with the loud noise (I won't even call it music). After an hour or so, we decided that we had seen enough, and certainly had heard enough, so we packed up our chairs, and headed off to Wal-Mart, where we found an affordable solution to a problem that was looming on the horizon. More on that in the next blog.

DESERT STORM

The annual kick off to the boating season here in Lake Havasu City, AZ, is an event called Desert Storm. Yesterday, many of the participant boats, and lots of other big boy toys were on display at a street party on main street. We also had a cold front move through the area, so it was a virtual desert storm. When you walk around some of these monster boats, it's hard to believe that most of them are capable of traveling at between 100 and 200 mph. Part of the desert storm activities include what is called the shootout, which takes place tomorrow. A one mile course is set up and the top speed of each boat is measured at the end of the mile. Last year the top speed was 174 mph! Today is the poker run, and Sunday, there will be an offshore race. These activities bring a lot of boats and spectators to the city, and is a big shot in the arm for the local economy. The evolving of the power boat over the years, is pretty amazing. The boats have gotten much bigger, two engines are common, and some are even powered by jet engines. I must admit however, that a 20 year old, 18 foot flat bottom, with a big block chevy sitting out in the open behind the driver, is still in my opinion, the definition of a real power boat.

BOAT RACING

When it comes to motor sports, with big V-8 engines, count me in! In this case, I guess the classification would be "water sports", since the action took place on the Colorado River. Yesterday, Patty and I drove 35 miles down to the "Parker Strip", where the Bluewater Casino was the sponsor of some boat racing action. The approx. 1 mile circle course was on the river, in front of the Casino, and there was a variety of boats, ranging from blown engine, to outboard powered classes. The main event of the day was the 25 lap, grand national class, that featured boats such as the Rusher Air boat from Lake Havasu, pictured above. This boat was running away from the field, when on about lap 13, a steering cable broke, and that's all she wrote, as the driver sat on the river, and was a spectator for the rest of the race. Some of the best action was in the "Nostalgia Flat" class. These boats can be just about any combination of motor and hull, but they cannot exceed 80 mph. They have a GPS device which is checked after the checkered flag, and if the GPS shows that they went over 80, then they are disqualified. I talked to one of the drivers before the race, and even though most all types of racing can become expensive, this class looks like it might be somewhat affordable. Hey Marc, are you reading this? On the way home, we stopped at La Paz County Park, and had a picnic lunch on the river, as we watched the boats cruising up and down the Colorado. It was an enjoyable day on the river, with a cloudless sky, and temps in the low 90's.

A HARLEY RIDE

Davis Dam on the Colorado River

After passing many fields of orange poppies, it was briefly back to civilization, as I took Highway 14 through Lancaster, and south to Palmdale. This is the point where a choice has to be made as to traveling into the L.A. metro area, or passing to the east of the San Gabriel mountains, and avoiding the L.A. freeway system. Not a hard choice. I've taken this route around L.A. several times, continuing southeast on Highway 138, 18, and 247, to Victorville, and Yucca Valley, ending up for the 2nd night in the Palm Springs area. This is the same route we used to take, when we rode the bikes south to the annual Prison Run in Yuma, AZ. After spending the night in Indio, and having an awesome Mexican dinner at the restaurant next to the motel, I continued south toward the Salton Sea. I had not been around the east side of this huge lake for a lot of years, so decided to take Highway 111 toward Brawley. There isn't much development on this side of the Salton Sea, mostly the State Park system, and a few very small communities. At Brawley, I turned east, then northeast on Highway 78, passing the world famous Glamis Sand Dunes. During holiday weekends, these dunes are the destination of thousands of people with a multitude of sand toys. On this day, I didn't see a soul playing anywhere in the sand. From Glamis, it was back to the Colorado River, and north through Blythe, Parker, and back home to Lake Havasu. I stopped briefly at the Parker Dam, as I crossed from CA to AZ. The photo shows the downstream side of the dam, but doesn't show what is the deepest dam in the world. When the city of L.A. department of Water & Power built the dam to create Lake Havasu, they had to dig down over 300 feet to reach bedrock and a stable foundation for the dam. The picture shows what is the tip of the iceberg, and not the 300 plus feet of dam that rests under what's visible. From the dam, it was just a short ride home. In 2 1/2 days, I covered 1,017 miles, took in some great sights, but as always, it was good to get home and see my girls.

A HARLEY RIDE

The new bridge above Hoover Dam
Highway 138, northwest of Lancaster, CA

East entrance to Death Valley National Park





Each spring, I usually take off on the Harley for a few days, and for at least the last 4 years, the ride has circled through Death Valley. There's something about riding in the desert, away from civilization, that I have always enjoyed. The more remote the road, the better I like it. This year, I left on Tuesday, and rode north to check out the progress on the new bridge that will take traffic off of Hoover Dam. The prediction is that the bridge will be open to traffic near the end of this year. It has been an amazing project to watch from its inception several years ago, and as the picture shows, there's only one section missing on the actual bridge deck. From the dam, my journey took me quickly through Las Vegas, and over the hump to Pahrump, then west to Death Valley, where premium fuel was $4.29 a gallon. Even with 91 octane, this is the one place where my Harley motor isn't real happy, due to the below sea level elevation. Since building this engine almost 10 years ago, the 10.25 compression ratio works pretty well on premium fuel, even better on AVGAS. But, at below sea level, I have to be careful and not let the R.P.M.'s fall too low, or that distinct pinging sound rears it's ugly head. From the Death Valley floor, I climbed out the west side, where Highway 190 traverses Towne Pass, at a little over 5,000 feet. Continuing west, I dropped into the Panamint Valley, where I turned left on Trona Road, and headed for Ridgecrest, and a stop for the first night. The Panamint Valley has been where I by chance, usually see FA-18 fighter jets from China Lake, and I wasn't disappointed this year. This is obviously an area where they do a lot of low level training, because I've enjoyed seeing them in 3 of the last 4 years I've made this trip. Four years ago, I watched 2 FA-18's make several low level passes, and I waved each time they went by. On the last pass, as one of the jets approached me from the front, I waved again, and the pilot dipped his wings, acknowledging my presence. That was very cool, and something I will never forget. In fact, that experience is one of the reasons I have made this trip, through the same valley in the middle of the desert, for the last 4 years. After spending the night in Ridgecrest, I headed west on Highway 178, over Walker Pass in the southern Sierras, and made a stop at Lake Isabella, where I included myself in the photo at Lake Isabella. From there, I continued west over the mountains, then turned south, and climbed back up the mountains with all of the other traffic on the "Grapevine". Near the top, I took Highway 138 east toward Lancaster, and passed by huge Poppy fields that turned the landscape from green to a golden orange. There are a few places in California where the poppies are dominant, and this is one of those places. I'll finish the rest of the trip tomorrow.

ONE MANS TREASURE

I'm not sure how you measure the success of a garage sale, but my primary motivation was to just get rid of it. And get rid of it we did! When the dust settled, we had about 4 boxes of junk left, and it was promptly hauled to one of the local thrift stores. When the garage sale ads were deducted from the our sales, we netted just a few dollars under $400. Not bad for a lot of stuff that would have either ended up in the trash, or at Goodwill. The real good news is that I now have a few empty shelves in the garage, and my shed is uncluttered. Now, our calendar is clear, and except for some local activities, and my annual Harley ride into the Death Valley area, we're home for a little over a month, before heading north for the summer.

GARAGE SALE PREP.

For at least the last year, we've been stacking up stuff for an eventual garage sale. That stuff was about to take over what little space I had left in the shed, and my garage shelves were spilling over. So, we finally set a date of this weekend, and put the ad in the paper. I moved the motorcycles out of the garage, and all of that stuff is now in between the jeep and truck. The next step is to put prices on everything, and get it ready to move out into the driveway on Friday morning. Compared to a lot of garage sales that we check out from time to time, we actually have quite of bit of nice, usable stuff. There's a lot of junk too! I suspect when this is over on Saturday, we'll be loading a lot of that stuff into the truck for a trip to the local thrift store. At least it will be gone from here, and there will be a little bit of breathing room. We enjoyed our visit with Ron & Margaret, who will be on the ferry back to Skagway, Alaska in a few days. One of our long range plans is to travel back to Alaska next summer (2011). There's something about the "Great Land" that gets in your blood, and keeps calling you back. The plan for this summer, is to spend most of our time in the Northwest, traveling around Oregon, Washington, and possibly British Columbia. Our departure date this year will be about a week later than last year. We're shooting for hitting the road on May 17th.

THE OTHER HAVASU

Patty, Margaret, and Ron in front of the London Bridge

Our friends, Ron and Margaret Boughton, have been visiting the last couple of days, as they take a break on their long journey from Florida, back to Skagway, Alaska. We first met Ron and Margaret, during the summer of 2004, our first year working in Alaska. We decided yesterday, to take the Casino shuttle across the lake to Havasu Landing on the Calif. side of the lake. While waiting for the boat, which leaves on the hour, we walked along the bridge water channel, taking in some of the spring break action. It was a really nice day with practically no wind, and temps in the low 70's. Some of the kids were out, and a few boats were cruising the channel, but it was relatively quiet. The Indian Casino at Havasu Landing, on the Calif. side of the lake, operates a shuttle that leaves from the London Bridge, and takes about 15-20 minutes to travel across the lake. Once we arrived at the Casino, we bypassed the games of chance, and headed for the restaurant, where we had a nice lunch. The view from the lake view table, gave everyone a better perspective of how much area Lake Havasu City actually covers. The last time Patty and I had been at the Casino, was 2 years ago, when we rode the Harley's around the lake with our friends, Bob and Diana. When we got back to the house, none of us had much of an appetite, so my plan for BBQ'ing some steaks was put on hold. Ron and Margaret are staying thru today, and we're going over to Bob and Jeanette's for a late lunch/early dinner.

MOTOR HOMES & MOTORCYCLES

Motorcycle carrier with new modifications and two new receivers on motor home
The two pictures show a well traveled, and well modified motorcycle carrier, that has been used with several of our motor homes. On the last RV, I had two extra receivers welded to the hitch, and this carrier was supported by two arms that went into the two receivers. When we got the Camelot 3 years ago, I unbolted the two arms, and had the single arm strengthened. Besides being a little low, I've never been comfortable with this single arm arrangement. So, yesterday, the motor home went down to Mohave Hitch and Welding for a fix. They welded two new receivers to the motor home, and modified the center arm so that all three now slide into the back. It is now very solid, about 3 inches higher, and doesn't move. It's probably strong enough to carry the Harley, but loading and unloading the 700 plus pound bike would be problematic. The KLR is a little over 400 pounds, and I can handle it with no problem. I probably could have gotten by with the single receiver configuration, but, the old saying - "better safe than sorry" goes a long way. Not only does it carry the 400 pound bike, but it's also part of the tow bar for the 4,000 pound Jeep. When we leave for the summer, the plan is to take the KLR. It's support on the back of the motor home is now much stronger.

TEA PARTY REFLECTIONS

I've had a couple of days to reflect on what took place in the Nevada Desert a couple of days ago, and the more I think about it, the more I'm glad we took the time to get involved. I took this photo about 2 hours before the rally started, and by the time Sarah Palin was speaking, the crowd had filled in the bottom area, and about half of the hillside where I took the picture. The Las Vegas Police estimated the crowd size at 7,000, but it sure looked like a lot more people than that. The fact that so many folks came to this remote part of Southern Nevada, speaks loudly that there is a lot of discontent with the direction that Washington D.C. is taking the country. Yea, Sarah Palin has become a popular leader of this conservative movement, and that was one of the reasons we wanted to attend, but, I think it's a lot more than just one dynamic leader. It was re-invigorating and re-enforcing to see thousands of people who feel the same way we do. My biggest argument to progressive liberalism is really very simple. I don't believe that big government is the answer to all of society's problems. The path we are headed down is what some people call the "Nanny State". I call it socialism and the desire to re-distribute wealth. One of the popular liberal phrases is "social justice". What happened to personal responsibility, good old fashioned work ethic, and spirited entrepreneurship? I do believe that we all have an obligation to provide some safety nets for those, who for whatever reason, cannot provide for themselves. However, I'm concerned that the progressives want to create more of an entitlement society, which takes the breath away from individualism principles, and the free market upon which this country was founded. The biggest argument against this progressive movement is that we simply can not afford it! I often say to myself, "what are these people thinking" when I hear of some new legislative proposal that will cost billions. Look at the states who are trying to balance their budgets, but having a hard time. At least they are cutting where they can. Don't expect to see a rest area open along the interstate in Arizona. At least they are making the tough choices necessary for reducing the state deficit. Congress continues to spend, with no end in sight. Along with more and more financial and economic experts, I'm certain the day is coming when this house of cards will come crashing down, and unfortunately, it will impact everyone, especially future generations. The federal government cannot just keep printing money, and not expect serious consequences. This Tea Party allowed me to grasp the fact that there are a lot of people who feel the same way I do, and that was a good thing.

SHOWDOWN IN SEARCHLIGHT

Sarah Palin speaks to the "Tea Party" crowd.
Part of the 10,000 people who showed up in Searchlight.
The Tea Party Express buses.
I'm not much of a tea drinker, but when it comes to a "Tea Party", count me in! Yesterday, Patty and I drove the 100 miles to Searchlight, NV, the hometown of Democratic Senate leader, Harry Reid, and the kick off site for the Tea Party Express III tour. This third round of Tea Parties is due to make it's way across the U.S., arriving in Washington D.C. on tax day, April 15th, 2010. We arrived about 2 hours before the rally was scheduled to start, and I took a picture of the crowd and speakers stage, as the people poured into the rally, located about 2 miles north of Searchlight, NV, and about an hours drive south of Las Vegas. When we learned about this Tea Party, and that Sarah Palin was to be the keynote speaker, there wasn't much hesitation, we knew we wanted to attend, and lend our support. Along with millions of Americans who are frustrated, and angry with an out of control federal government, we felt it was time to get involved. What we saw, were thousands of normal, mainstream citizens, who gathered in the middle of the desert, on a windy day, exercising their constitutional right to assemble and voice their opinion. Much of the media, and a lot of political pundits would like people to believe, that the Tea Parties are a bunch of gun toting, right wing extremists, who should be marginalized, rather than allowing their voices to be heard. The central theme for this rally, was the call for a defeat of Harry Reid, who is up for re-election in November. When Sarah Palin addressed the crowd, and talked about common sense conservatism, and getting the budget deficits under control, the folks roared their approval. It was obvious that she has achieved a "rock star" status from the mostly conservative audience. From our days of living in Skagway, Alaska when Sarah was the Governor, I have always admired her conservative principles, her individualism, and her fearlessness to go against the established political machine. I'm convinced that she truly believes government should serve the people's will, not dictate what the government thinks is best for the people. I strongly believe that this next national election in November, will be one of the most important in our nations history. If the people don't rise up, and get the pendulum back near the center, it will demonstrate that either apathy, or a movement toward socialism is the dominant factor. I hope it's not the later.

STAYING HOME

Except for a possible motorcycle trip for a few days, it looks like we'll be in Lake Havasu for the next couple of months. No plans to take the house on wheels anywhere soon. Most of this week will be spent doing maintenance, cleaning, polishing, and fixing a few things on the motor home. We have been accumulating things for a garage sale, and finally picked the days of April 9-10 to hopefully get rid of most of it. What's left will go to one of the local thrift shops. One of the most immediate projects, is to do our taxes. The thought of spending several hours, doing something that is required by our federal government, is not the most satisfying thought at the moment. I have long since been of the opinion that the responsibility of taxpayers to support our huge federal government, should also require some responsibility in Washington D.C. It seems that lately, there is no responsibility, or common sense in Congress, and the spending on huge federal programs continues at an alarming rate. How long can this go on without consequences? I certainly hope that the voters aren't apathetic in November, and send a message that deficit spending is not OK. Other than my frustration with the politicians, it's good to be home.

THE LAST DAY

As the saying goes, "time flies when you're having fun". Yesterday was the last full day of the Chance Family gathering in Verde Valley, AZ. Chandra needed to do some shopping without the munchkin, so Marc, Laila, Patty and I headed off to Cliff Castle Casino, and lunch at Johnny Rockets 50's diner. Their hamburgers are right up there near the top of my list, and as everyone knows, I'm the original hamburger king. Laila had a P.B.&J., and to our surprise, ate the entire sandwich. Sometimes her appetite borders on being birdlike, but yesterday, she was on one of her eat almost everything spurts. After lunch, we stopped by the Fort Verde State Park, and learned a little about what was a frontier Army Outpost from 1871-1891. The rest of the afternoon was about relaxing at the motor home, when Grandma disappeared for a quick hiding of some Easter eggs. Even though it's not quite Easter yet, we won't see the kids for awhile, so Patty took Laila on a treasure hike, and she found the eggs that Grandma had hidden. When she returned, there was an Easter basket hidden near the motor home (in the photo), and Laila had fun going through the goodies in the basket. The other picture shows the doll that our friends Bob and Jeanette had given us to give to Laila. This talking, cheerleader doll has about 5 different "cheers", and after a couple of days, I think Laila and Grandma had most of one of the cheers memorized. It's been a fun 5 days, and we're talking about making this an annual spring getaway. But, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and this morning, we will say our goodbyes till next time, and head for home.