THE MAIDEN VOYAGE

While much of the country is in a deep freeze, (20 degrees in Jacksonville, Florida), the weather here is almost perfect! Yesterday morning, I took the boat to one of the many marine service facilities here in Lake Havasu City, and had a complete annual service done to the motor and out drive. The previous owner said he had put about 50 hours on the boat over the last 2 years, and had never changed the fluids, so I felt better knowing that we were starting fresh with the maintenance. We picked up the boat at about 2pm, and put her in the water for the first time at the Windsor State Beach launch ramp.

A slight wind was blowing from the south, but there were parts of the lake that were glass smooth. When I was much younger, and an avid water skier, these were the conditions that you dreamed about. With most of the lake to ourselves, we headed toward the dam, turning around at Black Meadow Marina. Everything worked flawlessly, and I was pleased with our new toy. Even though Patty put on her sweatshirt when we started cruising the lake at about 30 mph, I was perfectly comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt, with the temperature in the mid 70's.

After a couple of hours on the water, we cruised through the bridgewater channel, and under the London Bridge. Again, on a Tuesday afternoon in mid December, except for a couple of other boats, the channel was almost exclusively ours. It was only a few months ago when we visited the channel, and all of the craziness that goes on during spring break. That's when I started to get the bug for another boat, and had I found the right one before we left for the summer, it probably would have been in the garage when we returned from our travels in the Pacific Northwest. Taking the boat out of the water was a little disjointed, as we re-learned the art of replacing the craft on the trailer. All in all, it was an enjoyable afternoon, as we played with our new to us boat, taking it across the waters of Lake Havasu, on it's maiden voyage.

THE LAST NFR RODEO

The decision to end our 9 year run with the National Finals Rodeo here in Las Vegas is a done deal. Patty and I are in full agreement that most of the fun has disappeared, and in its place, we've been given daily doses of disappointment with this new company - A3 Merchandise. It's not that we're not adaptable to new policies and procedures, it's more that's there is a lack thereof.

Perhaps some folks are perfectly OK, working within a system that clearly is not designed to maximize sales, and in some cases, does exactly the opposite. We just don't fall into that category, and given the fact that A3 has had at least one year to plan and prepare for this multi-million dollar event, it's clear to us that some of the basics have been overlooked. We fully understand that this is their first year, and a certain amount of patience would be necessary. However, the frustration, and in some cases anger, have boiled to the top. I don't have a lot of tolerance for incompetence, and unfortunately, there seems to be quite a bit of exactly that. A few days after the event started, I told one of the leaders that there were a couple of things that we simply would not put up with. We were not going to put ourselves in a position of embarrassment, and we were not going to deal with incompetent people or procedures. So, based on our perception of a company that is less proactive, and more "management by crisis", we have decided that this "ain't our first rodeo", but it sure as heck is our last!

We shared our feelings with our partners and friends, Jim & Megan, who have been great to work with during the past 4 years. They will be free to search for another person, or persons, to help them work the booth next year. All of the negatives notwithstanding, our booth has increased sales over last year by about 15%, which seems to not be the norm at many of the other locations, based on the feedback we're hearing. I guess the bottom line for us, is simply the fact that this has been more drudgery than fun. When we retired a little on the early side, from co-ownership of our Harley-Davidson Dealership, we vowed to work when we wanted to, and only when the opportunity provided a certain amount of fun. The fun and rewarding challenge of the NFR has disappeared, so, as the cowboys would say, "it's time to ride off into the sunset"

RODEO FRUSTRATION

At the close of business yesterday, we reached the half way point, in our 10 days of working one of the National Finals Rodeo Merchandise Booths, inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. Up to this point, sales are up approximately 15%, and in spite of this positive, Patty and I are both frustrated at the overall operation of this new company we are contracting with.

Without going into detail, and understanding that this is their first year at the N.F.R., we will both be glad when this event is in the books, and we can point the motor home back to Lake Havasu. In the previous 8 years of working this event, there has always been a certain amount of fun and excitement, which kept us coming back year after year. This year, it's been a lot more work, which we're not afraid of however, combined with the lack of support, and an archaic method of restocking our inventory, the fun has almost disappeared. Based on my vocal criticism of the many flaws in the system, we may not be invited back next year, and if that's the case, it may be a blessing. At the close of business this Saturday, we will most likely be ending our 9 year run with the National Finals Rodeo here in Las Vegas.

OPENING DAY AT THE N.F.R.

One of the things you hear in the Cowboy World, is "this ain't my first rodeo". Well, even though Patty and I don't work or compete in the actual rodeo, this will be our 7th year selling merchandise inside the Las Vegas Convention Center, with 2 prior years selling merchandise inside the Sands Convention Center. The National Finals Rodeo (N.F.R.), has been in Las Vegas for 26 years, and in addition to the Vegas Convention Center, there are hundreds of vendors at the Sands & Mandalay Bay Convention Centers as well. In a nutshell, this is one of the biggest events that takes place in Las Vegas every year.

The pictures above were taken yesterday, our final day of setup, before the convention center opens this morning. Our typical workday will be from about 8am to 5:30pm, so the hours aren't bad, but it's pretty much non-stop for the entire day. I know by the time it's over, we're both happy campers. I put in a picture of our booth last year, which is posted below, and you can see the difference from the old company (MainGate), and the new company (A3) in the photos above. As with any start up operation, the new company is undergoing a huge learning curve, and we have a few concerns, but until we're up and running, it's a bit premature to make any judgements.
The picture below was taken Tuesday night in the activity room at the Thousand Trails, where some of us have our RV's parked. This XMAS party has become a tradition, and with the gift exchange and abundance of food that everyone brings, it's always a good time. With the help of Jim/Megan, Kurt/Phyllis, Patty and I have hosted the party for the last couple of years. In the past, MainGate has donated $200 for party expenses, and this year, A3 has continued that commitment, with an offer to do the same. I think it falls under the category of building loyalty, and we sincerely appreciate both companies helping with this activity. As this event begins, my hope is that the rough edges won't be too sharp, and we'll be given enough product and the resources to make some money for us, and for the new company. Time will tell, and as the cowboys say, "this ain't our first rodeo".

OFF TO THE RODEO

The "Super Bowl" for Rodeos is held every year in Las Vegas during the first part of December. This is the culmination of the rodeo season, and the top 15 contestants from around the country travel to the National Finals Rodeo, to compete for the chance to win a world championship, and lots of prize money. This is a huge, 10 day event, with rodeo performances each night at the arena on the U.N.L.V. Campus. During most years, the 17,000 seat Thomas & Mack venue is sold out a year in advance.

We'll fire up the motor home this morning, and drive the 150 miles north to Sin City. This will be our 9th year working this event, selling the official merchandise, in one of 3 locations inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. There will be hundreds of vendors inside the convention center, all selling merchandise related to the rural, ranch, cowboy lifestyle. We thought our rodeo careers were over at the end of last years event, when we learned that the company we contracted with (MainGate) lost the contract, and we doubted that the new company would continue to utilize our services. As it turned out, the new company (A3 Merchandise), asked us to work with them in the same location where we have been the last 4 years. All of the merchandise we will be selling can be seen at www.prorodeogear.com.

So, we will be gone for about 2 weeks, and will be quite busy for most of that time. I hope to get a few pictures and posts on the blog from Vegas, but we won't have a lot of free time. With a new company, new point of sale hardware, and a new company philosophy, we have a much larger learning curve than in the past, so we're anxious to get there, and get busy!

THANKSGIVING IN KINGMAN

Our Thanksgiving Day was spent in Kingman, AZ. at Ron & Judy Ellstrom's home. We picked up Bob & Jeanette around noon, and drove the 60 or so miles to Kingman. Jim & Megan drove down from Las Vegas, Judy's son Sean was visiting from Vacaville, CA. and Pam & Hal drove to Kingman from Page, AZ. Judy & Ron prepared a delicious turkey, with all of the traditional side dishes, and everyone else brought something, so there was enough food to feed a small army. After a second helping and dessert, I was more than stuffed. I was totally ready for a meal like that, after a little over 2 weeks of walking/jogging/bicycling on the 3.6 mile island path. The combination of exercise, and no Ben & Jerry's ice cream (that's 0), has resulted in some lost weight, but as they say, "everything comes with a price". Even if I gained it all back yesterday, it was soooooooo worth it. What a great meal! Thanks Ron & Judy for having all of us at your home.
Today, we get the motor home packed up and ready for our 2 weeks in Las Vegas, while we work the National Finals Rodeo. It's been parked under the shade cover for the last 2 months, and this morning, I'll move it down next to the house, so it will be easier to load everything, from clothes to food. The weather has cooled considerably during the last week, with our night time temperatures dipping into the upper 30's the last couple of nights. I'm holding out on the switch from shorts to long pants, particularly with full sunny days, and reasonable daytime temperatures.

Yesterday morning, we got a telephone call from Laila, wishing us a happy Thanksgiving. Patty and I agreed, our day couldn't get any better after we finished a 10-15 minute conversation with our 5 year old Grand Daughter. It will be really nice having her, Marc & Chandra at our house for a few days during the Holidays.

THE BOAT

The house is full of Christmas decorations, the tree is up, and I already have my XMAS gift! Talk about doing everything early this year. We started early because Marc, Chandra, and Laila will be here about a week before XMAS, right after we return from our 2 week work gig at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Thinking that we wouldn't have much time after Vegas, we decided to get everything out early. In addition to all of the other things on our plate, at least "decking the halls" is out of the way.

The boat acquisition was not intended to be a Christmas thing, it just kind of worked out that way. As I mentioned before, I got the bug to get another boat last spring, and it carried over to our return to Arizona this fall. I knew that I wanted a "Deck" type boat, and I looked mostly on the Internet for a couple of weeks. There were a couple for sale here in Lake Havasu, but not unlike vehicles, there is a wide range of quality in boats, depending on the manufacturer. Even though our last boat didn't turn out to be the right one, it was a Sea Ray, and the quality was excellent. So, I kind of had my eye on another Sea Ray, and fortunately, this one popped up for sale only an hour drive away in Kingman. It's a 21' Sun Deck, powered by a Mercruiser 5.7 liter, 250 horsepower, inboard-outboard. There's seating for 10, not that we'll ever have that many folks on board, but compared to the last boat, there's tons of room!



Along with most of the rest of the country, our weather has cooled off a bit, with daytime temps down into the 60's. We probably won't be using the boat a lot this winter, but one of the things we plan on doing, is renting a slip at the marina for the month of March, and perhaps longer. It makes it so much more convenient to just drive down to the lake, jump in the boat and take off. We did that with the last boat, and it was well worth the slip rental cost. Today is the last day of tinkering with the new toy, as we have to start getting ready to head for Vegas in the motor home this Sunday. We're looking forward to driving to Kingman tomorrow, where we'll have Thanksgiving at Ron & Judy's house, and be joined by Bob & Jeanette and Jim & Megan.

A NEW TOY

There's a popular phrase that goes something like - "The best 2 days in a boat owners life is the day it's bought, and the day it's sold". Well, day before yesterday, I experienced the first part of that saying. Somewhere down the road, I'm sure the second part will also be appropriate. We purchased a used, Sea Ray 21' Sun Deck boat from a private party in Kingman, and except for a few things, the boat is in excellent shape. The last boat we had was also a Sea Ray, and they are very well built boats, that hold their value better than most brands. Last spring, before we left for the summer, I got the bug to get another boat, but never found one that sparked enough interest to pull the trigger. I put the full cover on yesterday, as there was a slight chance of showers last night.



One of the things I started working to fix, is the restoration of the oxidized paint on the trailer. As the picture below shows, the before and after are in stark contrast to each other. It will take some time to do the entire trailer, and I may have to wait to finish some areas, at the point where the boat is off the trailer and in the lake. As with any new (to us) toy, I've been busy tweaking this and that, and before I knew it, yesterday had passed by in a blur. I'll post some more pictures in the next day or two, after I take the cover off.

Even with the excitement of the boat, I still managed to get down to the island yesterday morning, and despite the wind, did a lap combining a walk and a few jogs. In the last 10 days, I've walked/jogged 21.6 miles, and bicycled 36 miles. The wind is blowing again this morning, so the bike will probably stay in the garage.

Patty is still busy with Christmas decorations, and it seems kind of strange listening to Christmas songs while still running around in shorts and a t-shirt.

DECKING THE HALLS

During the past week, since Patty returned home from her trip to Greece, we have both been busy with multiple projects that have to get done before we leave for Las Vegas next week. Our annual 2 week stint working the National Finals Rodeo begins a week from tomorrow, and it's been busy around the Chance house. Within a few days of our return home in the middle of December, Marc, Chandra, and Laila will be here for an early Christmas, as they make their way to Chandra's Mom's house in Monterey, CA. So, the decorations are going up for the first time in several years. The holiday seasons in recent years, have been spent with Marc, Chandra, and Laila in Tucson, so we haven't decorated (mostly Patty's job) the house for quite awhile. In addition to decking the halls, we're keeping a strict regimen of walking or biking every morning on the island, and even though it's pretty windy today, we'll be heading out shortly.

The above picture is looking out our front door to the house across the street, and fresh seal coat on one half of the street. This is the messiest stuff to deal with if you drive or walk on it before it dries. Fortunately, the contractor gave us notice the day before, so we were able to park the jeep across the street and get out without driving across this goo. I guess it prolongs the life of the asphalt, but it's kind of a pain to deal with. The house where the jeep is parked was built a couple of years after we moved to Lake Havasu, and like many other properties, is now in foreclosure. I only met the folks who bought the house a couple of times, and they were from the Southern California area. They drove an Escalade, had a $100,000 boat, and this was their vacation home. I remember thinking that this guy either made a ton of money, or, like a lot of people who have lost their homes, was up to his eyeballs in debt. It appears that it was the later. It's a nice house, and it will be interesting to see what the asking price is when it goes on the market.

PATTY'S BACK

Her trip to Athens Greece, and a Mediterranean Cruise completed, Patty arrived back home on Nov 15th. The trip originated in Sonora, CA, so she drove to her son's house in Modesto, and they departed from there. She enjoyed the trip, and saw some amazing sights, particularly being able to walk on some ground where the civilized world began. The Greek islands were a major highlight during the cruise.

This picture was taken yesterday in the parking lot at the Island trail. I've been walking and bicycling the trail for about a week, and this was her first go on the path with the bike. Unfortunately, the gear selector broke, and she had to pedal around the 3.6 miles in only one gear, making one circuit. I dropped her bike at the local bike shop, and it should be fixed today. I made it around the island 3 times for a total of 10.8 miles. It takes a little less than 20 minutes per lap, without working to hard. It definitely is a much more intense cardio workout, than just walking. Getting back into an exercise regimen, now that the soreness has pretty much gone, is starting to feel good. What doesn't feel good, is the absence of Ben & Jerry in the evenings. For more years than I care to count, those guys were my TV watching buddies, and it's just a little bit on the difficult side, to severe that relationship. And I thought quitting smoking over 25 years ago was tough.

Our weather has been ideal the past few weeks, cooling at night into the 50's, and the daytime temps have been in the 70's, low 80's. This is perfect boating weather. If it would only stay like this year round, we probably wouldn't be gone as long during the summer.

WALKING THE ISLAND

During the 8 years that we have spent the winter here in Lake Havasu City, there have been quite a few hours where we may have been seen on this walking/biking/rollerblading paved trail that circles the island. However, last winter, I can't remember once where we took advantage of this very nice walking path. Patty has been walking, mostly with her pal Jeanette, almost every day, but I have not. This year, I have decided that a few things need to change, and specifically, I need to get more exercise. As the weight has kept creeping up, it finally is the time to cut a few bad habits, and get the blood flowing a little faster. I just had my annual medical checkup, and even though everything is good, I realized that my trend toward a more sedentary lifestyle, along with probably the worst eating habits of anyone alive, is not a good recipe for longevity. So, while Patty & Dave have been on their trip to Greece, I have been driving down to the island, and hitting the trail.
The sign above, is posted in several places along the path, and instructs walkers/joggers to go in a counterclockwise direction, while bikers are supposed to go in a clockwise circle. This keeps faster bikes from sneaking up behind and potentially causing a conflict. Most folks adhere to this simple rule, but there are always a few who do not, like yesterday, when a couple on two bikes with a leashed dog came up behind me.
The total distance around the island on the path is 3.6 miles. If I walk fast, and jog a couple of times, it takes me between 50-60 minutes. If I walk normally, it takes a little over an hour. This morning, I'm taking my bicycle for the first time, and I'll see how many times I can pedal around the circle. Today is the day for Patty and Dave to sit on an airplane for most of the day, returning from Athens to San Francisco around midnight tonight. By the time the bus gets them to Sonora, and they drive back to Dave's house in Modesto, it will probably be very early in the morning. I expect to hear from them tomorrow, and Patty will most likely drive back to Arizona in a day or two.

SEAPLANES ON LAKE HAVASU

Granted, these are not full size seaplanes, but nonetheless, they are aircraft that take off and land on the water. This is the weekend of the annual gathering of Radio Controlled Seaplanes at Lake Havasu, and judging by the number of enthusiasts that I saw at Windsor Beach, it looks like a good turnout. Last year, we had our Granddaughter Laila with us when we checked out this event.
These are a few of the pictures I took, that reflect the variety of Seaplanes that folks build and fly. While watching the action in the sky, I couldn't help but wonder if they ever have any mid-air collisions. Even though there is some control, with limited numbers of planes in the air at any given time, and a directional control pattern out over the water, it looked like there were a few near misses during the hour or so that I watched. The only mishap that I saw, was one of the planes came down for a landing too hard, and it ripped the floats right off the plane. The operator gave it more throttle, and the plane continued to fly without the ability to land again on the water. When it was time to terminate the flight, the plane came down with a sort of controlled crash on the water, near the beach.
Some of the detail on these planes is incredible. It wasn't hard to see that lots of hours go into the building of these very detailed, miniature airplanes. The weather continues to be almost perfect here along the Colorado River. It was in the upper 80's yesterday, but it's cooling down at night, and with the house opened up during the evening, it's the time of year when we don't need the air conditioner, or the heater.

HOME ALONE

This is the second day of the Greece trip that Patty and her son Dave are hopefully enjoying, and they should have landed in Athens by now. This trip was organized by the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce, the area where we formally called home in California. They boarded their plane yesterday, at about noon in San Francisco, and the return flight will get them back to CA. late on the 13th. So, I expect Patty will be making the drive back to Arizona on the 15th or 16th. A few of our friends, Lori East, her son Trevor, and his Fiance Kelsie, are also on the trip.

I've been working on yard projects for the last few days, and have added a couple of small circular planters in the front yard, with desert grass inside. When I first landscaped the front of the house, I added irrigation, but have not been able to grow anything very well in this full sun area. These plants are my latest attempt.


After several years of not being able to decide if I wanted to add a wall cap to the front yard retaining wall, I finally decided to do it when I saw that Home Depot had it in stock.

The most recent good news is that the house across the street is now empty and it's sooooooooo
quiet in the neighborhood, that it's almost deafening! Don't know the details, but our street problem child is now gone. Over the years, I had quite a few conversations with the folks, mostly to ask them to turn down the volume on their blasting stereos. It sometimes was so bad, that our windows would rattle, and even with the volume on the TV turned up, the outside noise would overcome everything inside. I never called the police, thinking that I could handle it myself, but I was getting to the point where that just wasn't working. Then a couple of days ago, right after Patty left for CA, I noticed that furniture was being moved out of the house. It didn't take them long to clear everything out, and then there was peace and quiet in the neighborhood.
In addition to these folks not having any respect for the other people living nearby, the house was built long before most of the other dwellings, and is kind of a sore thumb on the street. I'm not one to wish bad luck on anybody, but whatever the reason for the house now being empty, I'm glad that it happened, and now we'll see how the next chapter plays out.

FIRE IN THE SKY

Last night, we had the perfect combination of a few clouds, and a setting sun, which created what you see in the pictures. The view is from our front door, looking toward the lake. We have quite a few of these spectacular sunsets during the fall season. This is my favorite time of year here in Arizona. The temperatures have dropped from the normal 100+ during the day, and have been in the low 80's. It's cool enough at night where we can open the doors and let mother nature cool off the house. We're into the season where we don't need to run the air conditioning, nor do we need any heating. In fact, there isn't much need for a heater in this desert climate. We do turn it on for a brief period of time, usually in January.
Patty is getting the last of her things together for a trip to Greece with her son David. She leaves day after tomorrow, and will first drive to David's in Modesto, CA. It's a little over 500 miles from here to there, and can be done in a day, if one gets an early start. She'll have a couple of days to visit with friends in CA before they leave for the airport in San Francisco on the 4th of November. The trip includes a 4 day Mediterranean cruise, and her return flight to S.F. is on the 13th. I'll be hanging here at home with the 4 legged kids, and continuing with projects around the house and on the motor home.

A FALL RIDE

We've been home about a month, and even though I recently did a few rides in Central California, I was itching to get on the Harley, and ride some of my favorite roads here in Arizona. So, a few days ago, I took off on a two day circuitous route that took me through Parker, Prescott, Jerome, and a stop in Cottonwood. That first day, the weather was cloudy and cool, but no rain. On the second day, I took a few pictures, the first of which was at this steel arch bridge on Hwy 89, just outside of Sedona. Except for cool temperatures (in the 40's) when I left, it was an absolutely beautiful day, and the ride from where I took the picture of the bridge, up Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff, was about as good as it gets.
The Red Rock Country around Sedona is unique, and was particularly scenic, on a sunny, cloudless, cool, crisp morning. By the time I had traveled through, and climbed out of Oak Creek Canyon, the elevation at Flagstaff was about 7,000 feet, and the ambient temperature was hoovering around 40 degrees by late morning. With all of my cold weather gear on, I was as comfortable as if it had been 85 degrees, and I was pushing through the wind in a T-shirt. By the time I dropped down to Seligman on I40, it was time to shed some of the clothing, and leave the interstate for about 75 miles on old route 66. This stretch of the "mother rode", between Seligman and Kingman, is the longest remaining stretch, and even though I've traveled it many times, it's history, charm, and isolation never seem to get old.
One of the iconic remainders of the past on historic route 66, is the Hackberry General Store, about 25 miles east of Kingman. The old gas pumps, the corvette, and the store itself, are reminders of an era that's long since disappeared. Coincidently, back in 1966, I traveled on this stretch of highway when I had 30 days leave from my U.S. Army assignment at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and I was heading back home before my next duty station in Germany. Every time I travel on this stretch of 66, I can't help but be transported back about 45 years when all I could think about was getting home.

Yesterday, we drove the jeep up to Vegas, and out to the dragstrip, where we spent a couple of hours visiting with our friends, Bob/Shirl, Frank/Suzie, Len/Ellie, Kurt/Phyliss, Steve/Carol, and a few other folks. As the years go by, our circle of race friends grows smaller and smaller. We learned from Frank & Suzie that after 6 years, mostly working with the Bernstein Race Team, they have given notice, and will be leaving the N.H.R.A. circuit after the last race in Pomona. Bob and Shirl will be in Quartzsite for a few days after the Vegas race, so I'll probably drive down and visit on one of the days they are there. Patty is busy packing her bags, and she'll be driving to David's house in Modesto this coming Monday. They leave for Greece a week from today.

RUN TO THE SUN

The 33rd annual Run to the Sun, sponsored by the Rods and Relics car club is happening this weekend here in Lake Havasu City. This is a fairly large event as Rod Runs go, and most of the cars were displayed yesterday afternoon & evening on Main Street. Just under 1,000 cars are registered, and it's always fun to check them out. Patty and I, along with a huge crowd were walking up and down the closed street yesterday afternoon, where all the cars were displayed.

This event kicked off on the 20th to some pretty heavy thunder storms, but it cleared out, and the weather is now mostly sunny, with temperatures in the 80's. We've been busy around the house, and Patty is getting everything together for her trip to Greece in a couple of weeks. She will be driving to Calif. where she and her son David will catch the bus from Sonora to San Francisco on Nov 4th. Then, it will be a long flight to Athens, Greece. When she returns, we'll have a couple of weeks at home, then we're off to work the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas for the 9th year. When our old company lost the contract, we thought we were finished with the NFR. The new company, to their credit, picked up most of us old timers, and along with our friends Jim & Megan, we'll be in the same booth inside the Las Vegas Convention Center, from Dec 2nd through Dec 11th.

Lots of cubic inches and lots of cubic dollars

My dream car - A Shelby Cobra with a big block Ford, Side Oiler Engine

A V-8 Bar Stool

HOME STUFF

When we had completed the transfer of the required items from the motor home, to back inside the house, I got it parked under the shade cover, where it will sit for a month or so. We've been busy catching up with some maintenance chores, and in fact, Patty did a lot of house cleaning while I was in CA. Our yard needs a few plants replaced, but most all of our trees and shrubs withstood the brutal summer heat just fine.

As I have said before, when we're here in Lake Havasu, I'm not going to post on the blog everyday, like I do when we are traveling. It's not very interesting to write, or read about day to day activities while we're home. I will continue to post on an irregular basis, depending on what's happening in our lives, or, on what's happening here in town. The blog has taken on a life of it's own, and has become part of my daily or weekly routine. We recently had it converted into a book for the calendar year 2009. In a book format, it can be really interesting to follow our travels and adventures in a chronological, calendar order. We have often referred to the book to see where we were, or what we were doing on a particular date. I guess you might say that it is the ultimate travel journal. So, for now, I'll sign off, waiting for the next topic to come along, that begs for me to say something about.

MID TERM ELECTION

Because we travel so much, we are signed up for permanent mail in ballots. That way, no matter where we are, our mail is forwarded to us, and we are able to vote in each election. For the upcoming "mid term election", I mailed our ballots back yesterday.

I believe that this non presidential election is one of the most important in our nation's history, and I urge any, and all of the blog readers to participate, and vote. No matter what side of the fence you are on, and despite the naysayers, voting is the fundamental mechanism for the people to retain control of the direction of their country.

My personal view is that our government has grown too big, and the tax and spend philosophy is in serious need of a correction. If it were just more taxes and proportional spending based on those taxes, I could almost live with that. In other words - more income, more spending. That's how most of us balance our checkbooks, and that's how any business, any public entity, and all state and local governments operate. If you have to borrow money, there's an analysis that takes place, and a plan to repay the loan. Basic economics right? Well, that's not how our federal government operates. The huge deficits and the national debt have grown to the point that not only is it doubtful that we can ever pay it back, but this spending spree (starting with the Bush administration, and continuing with the Obama administration) is now threatening our national security. I'm not so much worried for myself and Patty, but I am seriously concerned for our kids and particularly our grandchild. I'm not at all ashamed to say that I am conservative in my views about political ideology. A big part of that conservatism is my belief that the growth of our entitlement society has reached the breaking point, and unless some tough decisions are made in Washington D.C., our country is headed for disaster. If you believe that the government should provide everything for everybody, then I suggest you head for Cuba or perhaps North Korea. Besides a strong national defense (not nation building), I also believe that we have a responsibility to have safety nets (not welfare) for those who cannot help themselves. The American People are the most charitable in all of the world, and instead of saving the entire planet, perhaps we should redirect some of that charity toward our own starving children, and wounded warriors who have in many cases, given the supreme sacrifice for our country. I could go on and on, but I firmly believe that more people than not, think as I do, and my sincere hope is that this election either sends a message, or we continue with business as usual. Please vote!

BACK HOME

When I left Modesto Harley-Davidson, I drove south on the dreaded Hwy 99, and as the sun was setting, I was parking in the Tehachipi Home Depot parking lot. When permission to overnight was secured, I watched a little TV and called it a day. Yesterday, I pulled up in front of the house at about 2:30pm, and dropped the trailer. It took a little while to get the motor home, and trailer inside the yard, and unload the Harley. I spent the next few hours getting stuff out of the little house, and getting it ready to be parked for the next month or so. Not sure exactly what will be taking place in Tucson, but we're ready to help with whatever Marc, Chandra, Eloise, and Laila may need. Our next planned exit from the big house, will be our 2 week stint in Las Vegas, working the National Finals Rodeo during the first part of December. Other than that, it's good to be home with my girls.

A NON STARTER

After the memorial service for Joe, and some time in Marina at the house, it was time for me to get on the Harley, and ride back to the motor home near Hollister. As Marc watched and listened, the starter just spun, and didn't engage the motor. Several attempts later with the same result, it was back to the old tried and true method of pushing and bump starting the bike. In the old days, this was much more common than it is now. Thankfully, there was a small hill in front of the house, and on the second attempt, it fired up, and I was on my way. With only one stop for gas without turning off the motor, I was back at the motor home about 45 minutes later. Thanks Marc for the push.
I called Art, and arranged to bring the bike over to Modesto H-D yesterday, arriving at the shop at about 10:30am. As soon as I unloaded the bike, it was rolled into the shop, and by the time I finished visiting with some of my old friends, the new starter was installed, the bike was detailed, and I was on my way south by 1pm. Even though I'm sure everyone gets good service at Modesto and Jamestown Harley-Davidson, I have a hunch that my quick turn around had something to do with my relationship with Art & Linda. Whenever I'm involved in a conversation that has to do with failed partnerships, I'm always quick to point out, that's not always the case, that Patty and I are living proof of a great partnership with Art & Linda, and Everett and Lori, who are still among our best friends. Thanks again Art, for arranging the quick fix to my bike. I owe you another one!

A FAMILY LOSS

Chandra, our daughter-in-law, recently lost her father Joe, and his memorial service was yesterday in Monterey. I extended my stay here in Central California, so that I could be with the family and attend the service. I only had the pleasure of being with Joe on a handful of occasions, but he was the kind of guy who instantly made you feel welcome, and was a genuine nice guy. I'm sure that if we had lived in closer proximity, Joe and I would have been buddies, and probably would have gotten into all kinds of mischief. I'll never forget when Chandra and Marc got married at Bass Lake, part of the ritual was Tuxedos and flip flops for all of the wedding party, including Joe. This was Chandra and Marc's thing, but Joe was right there with his Tux and flip flops, walking Chandra down the aisle, and enjoying every second of the experience. He and Eloise were there with Patty and I in Tucson, when Chandra went through the terrible experience of losing her first pregnancy. I really liked Joe, and our hearts are with Chandra, Eloise and the entire family, as they work through this difficult time of grief and change.

AN OLD FRIEND

I first met George (Scooter) Sousa almost 30 years ago, when Patty and I lived in Los Banos, CA. Scooter was born and raised in Gustine, CA, and still lives in that small west side community. Yesterday, I rode the Harley E/B over Pacheco Pass, then north on highway 33 into Gustine, hoping Scooter would be at his small business. Except for a few more gray hairs, he hasn't changed much from the day I first met him. Back in the early 80's, Scooter rode an older Sportster, and not only did he look the part of a biker, he lived the biker lifestyle. We became friends, and I like to think that my influence brought him a little more toward the center, and his influence took me a little more toward the edge. Fortunately, through all of the countless rides, and activities, we both came through it all, with a lot of great memories, and no permanent scars.

We spent a couple of hours, talking about the good ole days, and what has happened to all of the old crew. There's only a few of them left, and neither of us have much contact with those that remain. Scooter has a lot of pictures on one wall of his shop, and as we were talking about many of the old faces, the stark reality was that most of them are not with us any longer. In fact, it wasn't too long ago that Scooter asked me for some old pictures that he was going to use at a memorial gathering for 3 old friends - Manuel, Frank & Ronnie, who are all gone. We vowed to someday revisit the Yuma Prison Run, which used to be one of the rides we all used to look forward to, back in the 80's. It was good to see this old buddy, and now that he is once again unattached, I won't be surprised if I hear the sound of his Harley in our Lake Havasu driveway.

A GRANDAUGHTER REUNION

Yesterday afternoon, I rode over to Marina (near Monterey), to see Marc, Chandra & Laila at Chandra's mom's house. It has been quite awhile since I last saw Eloise, and the past year has been difficult for her. Not only did she just lose her husband Joe, but she has also had health issues to deal with. I got a chance to spend some time with her, and she is doing remarkably well considering all that has happened recently. Joe's funeral is tomorrow, and I'll be going back to Marina before heading home to Arizona.
The bright spot of the day for me, was seeing my kids and granddaughter for the first time since the middle of May. Five months doesn't seem like a very long time, but in terms of the growth and maturing of a young child, it's an eternity. Laila will be 5 years old in a few days, and it's amazing to me how fast she has advanced in just a few months. Before we departed for the summer, we drove to Tucson, in order to spend some time with Marc, Chandra and Laila. Even though Laila hasn't physically grown a whole lot, it didn't take a long conversation with her to quickly notice the change and growth of her vocabulary. I was also pleased to see that she lacked the initial shyness that was usually present when we hadn't seen her for a long period of time. She ran up to me for a big hug, which warmed ole Grandpa's heart a whole bunch! I told her that Grandma Patty loved and missed her, and we would both be seeing her a lot during the coming winter months.
As I got ready to head back to the motor home, Marc asked Laila if she wanted to sit on the Harley for a picture, and she quickly agreed. I actually started it up, and moved from the shade into the sunlight, so she got her first ride on a Harley-Davidson. By the time I got back to Hollister, it was almost dark, and time for dinner. I'm almost finished with the two yummy casseroles that Patty fixed for me before I left, and when they're gone, it'll be time to head back to Arizona.

A RETURN TO THE SURF

While growing up in Watsonville, and particularly during my high school years in the early 60's, a summer day at the beach was as normal as it got. Before the drivers license, we used to ride our bicycles the 3 or 4 miles out to what is now Pajaro Dunes, but back then before the million dollar homes, it was just the beach. Later, when my friends and I started driving, we ventured farther north toward the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk, and spent many a day at the multitude of beaches between Watsonville and Santa Cruz. One of those beaches was Manressa State Beach, pictured above. One of my earliest attempts on a surfboard was at this very beach, and the results were not very pretty. The waves at this beach were more suited for body surfing or body boards. The best waves were farther north toward Santa Cruz, and as my buddies and I got more proficient, we gravitated to the areas that had larger and longer waves. This was the era of the Beach Boys music, and the beach was the happening place for our younger generation.
When cars and girls began to be the focus of our attentions, cruising the Boardwalk was the place to see and be seen. I'll never forget the night that my best friend got one of the very first 64 G.T.O.'s, and he and I had more fun showing off his car, and at the time, it's incredible power.
As they say, those were the good ole days that were so perfectly captured in the movie "American Graffiti" with Ron Howard and his 1958 Chevy Impala. My first car was also a 58 Impala, and while I cruised around the Santa Cruz area yesterday on my Harley, I couldn't help but reflect on lots of great high school memories that were generated at, or close to the beach.

MOTORCYCLE HEAVEN

Despite my slow Internet connection, I simply had to download this picture on the blog, even though it seemingly took forever. This photo is illustrative of the weather, and the scenery on my ride yesterday. There are some motorcycle guru's who insist that Hwy 1 on the Pacific Coast, between Cambria and Monterey, is without a doubt, the best road in the world, if you are on two wheels. Arguably, I tend to agree, that this 100 mile stretch of scenic highway is without equal, and in my humble opinion, it is the holy grail of motorcycle roads.
I began my ride on Hwy 25, and headed south toward Paso Robles. With the wind in my face on an almost cloudless day, with temperatures in the upper 70's, I found myself thinking, it doesn't get much better than this. But, when I got over on the coast highway, it did get better. When you catch a beautiful day like yesterday, the ride on Hwy 1 is the epitome of what riding a motorcycle is all about. Even though I don't ride nearly as much as I used to, when I catch a day like yesterday, it makes me think that I will never give up the Harley, no matter how old I get.
Today, I'm headed over to the Santa Cruz area, where I'll revisit many of the places that I used to frequent as a teenager, and in later years, when I worked there in the early 70's.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

I'm stuck with this slow Internet connection, so no pictures for a few more days. Hey, at least I can get online, even if it's super slow.
Yesterday, I rode the bike north to Morgan Hill, and a Camping World Store, where I returned a faulty adjustable water regulator that I had purchased while we were in Washington. From there, I rode west over Hwy 152 (Hecker Pass) to my High School town of Watsonville. When I was 10, we moved from Bass Lake to Watsonville, and that's where I lived until my two years in the Army in 1966 and 1967. When I was discharged, I had a family, (Michael was born in 67), and we lived in Watsonville for almost a year before I began my career with the CHP. After the academy, we moved to Southern California, where Marc was born in 1969.
I drove past my old home on McKenzie Ave, and then past our other home on E. Lake Ave. While riding around this part of town, I couldn't travel more than a few feet without another memory flashing through my head. Many business' that were there when I was a kid, are now gone. Some of the homes I remember as friends houses were only similar in size and shape, as most had been painted a different color, or something else had changed to alter their appearance.
Several times I saw something that caused me to remember an occasion, or an old friend that I hadn't thought about in years. It was a nostalgic trip down memory lane, and reminded me how many years have past since those carefree days of my youth.
From Watsonville, I rode south on Hwy 1 to Castroville, then back to Hollister and the Thousand Trails at San Benito. This morning, I'm riding south on Hwy 25/101 to Paso Robles, then back up the coast highway, through Big Sur and Monterey.

NO INTERNET

For some reason, our Sprint Data Card just doesn't work in our former hometown - Jamestown, CA. I had the motor home parked behind Jamestown Harley-Davidson, Monday and Tuesday nights, while some maintenance work was being done on the Harley. When we park at our friends, Everett and Lori's house, about a mile from the business, the data card doesn't work there either. Don't know the answer, other than it simply doesn't work.
I left Jamestown a little after noon, and drove west to the Thousand Trail Preserve, about 15 miles south of Hollister, CA. My plan while here, is to do some day rides around the Monterey Bay area, and attend Chandra's dads funeral, the first part of next week. Marc will fly back into Monterey this Sat. or Sun. and I'll connect with the family when he gets back up here. After the funeral, it's back to Arizona, where Patty will be just a couple of weeks away from her trip to Greece, with her son David. She's the pet sitter right now, and when she leaves, I'll take on that responsibility.
Even though I'm able to get on line here, the connection is really, really slow, so I doubt that I'll be able to post any pictures.

AN ALARM WARNING

My apologies for the lack of news from the Dan, Patty, Sami & Gracie house, there just hasn't been a lot to write about. We've been busy getting our big house in order, and attending to lots of routine things. However, the Travel by Chance is again on the road, even though it's only one of the four Chance's. I hooked up the enclosed trailer to the motor home, loaded the Harley in the trailer, and left yesterday morning, headed toward our former home town in California. The plan is to have some much needed maintenance work done to the bike at Jamestown Harley-Davidson, see some friends, then find a place to park the motor home, and do some day rides on the Harley. Not everything goes according to plan, and yesterday was no exception. I had only been driving for a couple of hours, and decided it was time to pull over and check the security of the bike. I pulled off of I40 in Ludlow, CA, about 90 miles west of Needles, and 50 miles east of Barstow. When I was satisfied that everything was OK, I drove toward the westbound on ramp, and just as I turned the corner, my Pressure Pro tire monitoring system alarm went off. I pulled over adjacent to the on ramp, where fortunately, there was a lot of space away from the traffic. The monitor showed the right rear inside dual tire was rapidly losing air, and by the time I stopped, it was down to 14 pounds. I double checked the tire with an air gauge, and by then, the tire was completely flat. Darn, here I am in the middle of the Mojave Desert on a Sunday, with no spare (no diesel pusher motor homes come with a spare), and the immediate future doesn't looking to promising. I called Good Sam, our emergency road service provider, and things started to perk up from that point. It was about 1 pm, and after several call backs, Good Sam had found not only a tire service company, but also had found an exact replacement tire. By 3:15, I was back on the road with a brand new $602 Goodyear tire, and feeling a lot poorer, but like I had dodged a major bullet. I was way behind schedule, but still managed to make it to Bakersfield before dark, and good ole camp Wal-Mart, where we have spent many a night. Today, I'll finish the drive to Jamestown, and hopefully, there won'[t be any more alarms going off.