Good-bye, Florida Keys

After spending 12 days in Marathon area of the Keys, it is time to move on. We signed up for a Newmar Rally being held at Sunshine Key RV Resort. We quickly found out that we were the youngest members of the group. It was fun to reconnect with Tom and Cheryl, another younger couple whom we had met a year earlier in Michigan. They have since become a married couple, and it was fun to catch up and find out where their lives have taken them. Apparently at the last minute, the rally had been handed over to a new couple to plan and they did the best that they could to plan in preparation. Being new to the role, activities were few. So, Tom, Cheryl, Rick, and Kathi ventured out. We went to a Christmas boat parade, followed by supper at Lazy Days Restaurant. We went on a 20 mile bike ride to check out the Turtle Hospital and the Dolphin Research Center. After a lunch, the decision was made to go back to the Dolphin Center where we laughed and enjoyed all of the "trained" dolphin acts. The weather was unseasonably warm, and even the locals commented that it felt like summer!

Movin on South Ya All

After spending an experience full weekend in Washington, DC with Jess and Rob, we have headed south. Our DC weekend started out with an Italian dinner with Jess and Rob. Our plan was to get into DC and then out before Hurricane Sandy hit! However that did not happen!  Saturday morning took us to the local vet.

Our cat, Winnie had been losing weight, urinating where she was not suppose to and starting to act sick. So, after spending a healthy sum for blood work, we got the news we expected. She had kidney disease and was failing. After all she is 16 years old, or 86 people years! Living in our coach, traveling, Jess unable to have more than one cat in their apartment, and flying trips home made this a unique decision. As we talked and cried, we came to the conclusion that our dear, sweet kitten had to be put to sleep. We signed the paper work and doubled our money spent at the vet! We still expect to see Winnie greeting us at the door! She was a wonderful companion and we miss her.

 The kids had now talked us into driving them to Rob's soccer game Saturday afternoon and then giving them a ride back home with their nephew, Jack.  We left them at that point and traveled back to our coach at Cherry Hill RV Park.

The storm was getting closer! But, we could not say no to the invite to Julie and Jay's home on the Chesapeake Bay to celebrate Julie and Rick's birthdays. It was fun as all of the parents were there, even Jay's who were not too thrilled that their flight had been cancelled due to the weather. So, after a grand tour, good food and birthday cake, Rick and I headed back to camp.

We woke our earliest morning yet! At 6:00 am we were running from Hurricane Sandy and headed south. We drove 8 hours and ended up in Beaufort, North Carolina. We had read that it was a quaint town to visit. We wandered and visited the Aquarium, had good seafood, and decided that the tourist season was over, and it was time to move on.

Our next stop was Wilmington, North Carolina. We both liked the feel of this town! After wandering the streets and shops, we drove to the U.S.S. Battleship North Carolina.  It is an authentically restored World War II battleship, a National Historic Landmark and a memorial to WWII servicemen. The ships is almost 2 1/2 football fields in size and Rick wondered how he would not get lost. It was fun to walk through and imagine what life must have been like living out at sea.

Now we are in Myrtle Beach. The temperatures have reached 70, and the sun is shining. After walking the boardwalk yesterday, we had a yummy bucket of seafood for supper. Corn on the cob accompanied the crab, shrimp, and oysters. Yum! Who knows what today will bring.

Sitting and Waiting

Sitting and waiting in Nappanee, Indiana........................

As Newmar finishes up some little items to fix in our coach, we continue to explore the northeast area of Indiana. Today, we were steered toward South Bend to visit the Studebaker National Museum. We were pleasantly surprised with the clean, attractive museum! Not just another old, dusty, car museum. 

As a former teacher, I loved the setup! It was so interesting to read of the Studebaker family from Germany that started making wagons, wheel barrows for the Gold Rush, World War supplies, and then onto cars. We would recommend a stop here if ever in the area! The many car displays were amazing!

We then cruised the town and Notre Dame Campus just as the band was playing in full force at half time. I heard later that the football team did win. 

Our final drive for the day was to Leesburg for supper. Stacy's Restaurant had been recommended. We have found it difficult to find lounge style restaurants in this part of Indiana. So, after a bit of a drive southeast, we ended up eating at Stacy's. The food was good, but the place could use a facelift. So, all of our tips from fellow travelers and workers have been fun and keeping us out of trouble.

Saying, "Good-byes"

Off to La Crescent, MN with the retired school girls to try Corky's Pizza. Karen had heard that it was the best pizza and compared to the very OLD Pizza Villa taste and crust. So, into her dog hauling Acadia we all piled. The day was fun remembering old stories and comparing our aging issues. 

Instead of driving all of the way to Rochester, we decided to head to Pearl Street to each have an ice cream cone. The weather was perfect and we all sat outside at the sidewalk cafe area slurping our cones. Yum!

I had the girls drop me off at Mom and Dad's house. Rick showed up, we helped hang a curtain rod, played a game of "Five Crown," and headed to Betty's house.  From there, we all drove to Ciattis for a delicious Italian meal. It was nice spending the day in La Crosse with special people and beautiful weather. Now, we are off to Nappanee to have a few coach repairs.

Cranberry Fest Camping

Rick and I started our annual, well almost annual camping trip to Lake Arbutus to meet up with David and Teresa.  We arrived Wednesday and waited for their arrival on Friday after work. :) 

It was fun to go to the Warrens Cran fest and walk around on Thursday while it was all being set up. It was a whole different look than the jam packed full look of the weekend. We did taste some delicious cranberry ice cream in a cone. Yum! 

When brother and sister inlaw arrived, we had supper waiting. I had tried a new pork loin recipe and it was tasty even though Dave thought it could have done without the yogurt and pecans on top. 

Saturday was a full day of festing, card playing, camp fire, and hunting the woods for geos. Dave and Teresa were happy to add three more to their list. The beautiful fall colors are out in full and it is quite a site to see in Wisconsin!

Bunco in the coach

Yep, my month for Bunco. Rick and I headed to Viroqua and camped at the Fair Ground for the night. Ten bunco babes showed up for drinks and snacks. Since the area is a bit small for three tables of dice playing, we demonstrated the "Pack Up" mode and all piled in for a drive to have supper in Reedstown. The friendly staff was willing to stay a bit longer and we all had a tasty supper.

As we celebrated new grandmas, old grandmas and upcoming grandmas, I think that we should now be called Grandmas and Bunco Babes. Wow, from teaching to retirees, to grandparent hood, our group has changed. But, no matter the changes it is always fun getting together to celebrate and share the latest news. See you next month for Bunco at Deb's house.

Everyone tied to warn us, everyone tried to tell us, but now we understand! Being brand new grandparents is the most loving and wonderful thing in the world!!!!!

 Autumn Marit Raatz entered our lives on September 13 at 7:05 pm at 5.5 lbs! She is so tiny and precious. It is amazing how one can just sit, cuddle and stare at a newborn baby and feel such love toward the newest member of the family. We are so blessed and wish Luke and Kendall all of the best as they raise their daughter. 

Auntie Jess was able to be here to snuggle Autumn, as she had planned to fly from Vietnam to Des Moines, Iowa for work. From there, she was to head to Viroqua for the baby shower planned by her. But, Autumn had other plans and with her early arrival Jessica changed her flight and spent time in Mankato with Autumn and us in our new coach.

Great grandparents are thrilled and can't wait to see the little bundle. When doctors give the ok, the Raatz family will all head to La Crosse WI area for a weekend. 

Rick and I are now camping at Bray Park near Madison Lake, MN. We plan to leave on Sunday and head to Coon Valley, WI. After a catch up with parents, we will head to the Viroqua Fairgrounds for Kathi's turn to host Bunco. That will be a first! Bunco in a coach and at the fairground, ha.

From there, we go to Lake Arbutus which is near Hatfield, WI. Brother Dave and Teresa will join us there to explore the Cranberry Fest. Hoping for nice weather to roam the zillion booths. Today has turned colder and the weatherman reminded us that it is the last day of summer! Yuck!

Back to the blog! We are now full time RVers! We are giving it the one year try. Today, we stood in long lines, filled out lots of paper work, and are now residents of the state of South Dakota. My husband has tried for years to get me to his favorite Black Hills!

With winds of 30 mph and tired from our long day, I suggested a pizza supper. After three attempts using the GPS, and all places were closed or not there, we pulled up to a bar and grill. As we started to get out of the vehicle, a man and wife walked out. Rick asked them if they had pizza, to which they replied a thumbs down, but yes. We asked for suggestions. They recommended Darios, the best pizza in the town. The conversation continues as the man complimented Rick on our Jeep. So, after some Jeep talk and me finding the pizza place in the GPS,  Rick says, "Do you own this place that you are sending us?" The stranger replies, "Yes, I own a few." As we drove away, we were unsure if he was teasing or serious. 

When we arrived at the pizza place, placed our order, and had a cold beer, the waitress came over to tell us that our meal was paid for by the owner who had just called. Wow, what a nice treat to end our first day as South Dakota residents! He really did own the place!

Imagine This

Southern Sinagua farmers built five-story, 20  room dwellings in the early 1100's. It was amazing to see the structures built into the cliff overlooking the valley! The National Park site was named, Montezuma Castle because it was assumed that it was Aztec in origin. New facts have proven this questionable. 45 rooms were built into the rock cliff and sometimes shared by three families. 

A creek was the source of water for growing their crops of corn, beans, squash, and cotton. Gathering of berries, and hunting of deer, antelope, rabbits, and duck provided them with a great source of food in their lovely valley. This Verde Valley location was home to settlers for thousands of years and is located 50 miles south of Flagstaff, AZ. I would highly recommend the stop to visit if in the area.

Time Flies

Wow, it has already been a week since Luke and Kendall joined us in Las Vegas! Time sure does fly! We fit a lot into this Vegas visit, also.

Luke's wish was to see Hoover Dam, which we did. Rick and were disappointed to learn that there was no more, "Hard Hat Tour" since 9/11! But, still an interesting guided tour into parts of the dam. The weather could not have been more perfect for this day's outing!

We decided to take the RV to the Grand Canyon instead of the WHOLE day drive like we did with Jess and Rob. This turned out to be a good choice, and we spent the night in the Large Rig campground. Luke and Kendall took the jeep day #1 and found the trolley to jump on and off of. So, they had some alone time viewing the majestic canyon as Rick and I cleaned the coach. The following day, we all did some more drive and look trip. Heading back to Vegas proved to be interesting.

As we neared the Hoover Dam, traffic was backed up! We were happy to have a bathroom, food, and drink for the wait! Because of the high winds, some reaching as high as 80 mph, power lines had blown down at the dam crossing bridge. Luckily out wait was only about one hour.

During the stay we went to, "Le Reve" that had been recommended. It was an awesome performance performed at the Wynn. The theme was a love story taking place along the river. I still can't get over the fact that the stage was set in a pool of water that had fountains, props, up and down leveling, and dancers and divers going in, out, and up and down! The domed ceiling must have been 70 feet high with acrobats ascending and descending! How they could hold onto each other and not slip from moisture is beyond me! 

Luke was so impressed with Penn and Tillers picture on the Rio, that Rick bought tickets to the show. Kendall and Luke enjoy, "The Apprentice" and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Magic, humor, and wonder were all incorporated. Kendall stated that she was sitting next to the biggest sceptic, and that would be me. :)

A visit with Aunt Cindy, and too much food also added to the trip. Now, the kids are home and we are trying to lose a few pounds as we sit in Sedona, AZ. The weather is beautiful, as it is back in Wisconsin. Just wait, my prediction is that when we head home a HUGE snowstorm will hit!

China Ranch Date Farm

I talked Rick into another Harvest Host stopover. We decided to spend a free night at the China Ranch Date Farm, and turned off the highway to find it. It was easy to follow their signs through the desert! However, the road became quite interesting, and I could feel Rick tense up. Through steep hills and sometimes one lane roads, we made it to the bottom of the canyon!

The date farm was started by a man from China, but is now under new ownership. It was fun to walk through the date groves, all labeled with informative signs. The crops were able to be raised because of one small river running through causing the oasis. Clever irrigation paths were seen running to the trees. A flea market shop was in the main building with a bakery and malt shop. Everyone that we ran into could not believe that we had not ordered their famous date malt. Oh, well..................

Winnie decided to escape and run away into the twisted brush area behind our coach, so we talked and had a wine with a couple from California while we waited for her return. We were all a bit nervous as coyotes roam the land. I guess she was tired of Rick's cat calls, as she eventually returned. 

We decided to go to Shoshone to the famous and only saloon in town called, The Crowbar." We shared an order of fajitas and then headed back to the date farm. It was a much easier drive in a jeep. After our night of sleep all alone, Rick decided that he was tired of the desert, and wanted a nice camp. He had researched and off we went to Terrible's RV Resort in Pahrump, Nevada. 

Kelso, California

Leaving Twenty Nine Palms, we headed for the China Date Farm. It was almost lunch time and we both needed to stretch our legs! As we rounded the bend, we saw a sign for Kelso and thought we would stop the RV and get out for a bit. 

It was a lovely spot that is now more or less a ghost town. However, the Park Service has financed a huge restoration project to maintain the old depot and its grounds that were once very popular during the depression. The railroad stored "helper engines" here to help push the trains up the steep grade of the mountains. The land was owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, and it was a major stop. Housing was put up quickly for the help. Living in the desert must have been a bit lonely, and apparently many chose to drink heavily. A double sided, steel jail was used often to house the drunks of the day!

After a turkey sandwich, we wandered throughout the depot rooms set up as a museum. The railroad history was explained, along with a library. I found the local cacti fund raiser interesting. Local children painted their cactus to be auctioned off in May. Rick would not let me bid on one! So, back to the coach we went, and headed for the China Date Farm.

Visiting Joshua Tree National Park

We decided to stay at Twenty Nine Palms RV Park in California for three nights. That way we could do day trips into the park with the jeep. The temperatures were still cool, and I kept wishing that it would raise about 10 degrees. However, Rick was quick to remind me that it was the perfect temp for hiking, which we found ourselves doing quite a bit.

Day one we entered the North Entrance of the park, where I got my National Park Passport stamp. We drove the long southeast path toward Cottonwood Spring. Driving along we began to appreciate the Joshua trees in their funny, Dr. Seuss look as they twist and turn with greenery on the ends of their branches. They can grow to 40 feet tall, but only gain an inch/year!

Our next stop was the Cholia Cactus Garden. The garden is dominated by cholla (choy ya) nicknamed "Jumping Cholla" as they tend to stick to anything that they touch. We witnessed one woman using a pliers to pull the cactus barbs from her tennis shoes after getting too close! This reminded me to look, read, but stay on the path through the garden.

Upon arriving at Cottonwood Spring, we started another hike through desert and sand to the rock boulders, as we climbed higher. Rick stated that we never took up rock climbing because Jess would not keep her shoes on. I on the other hand was not sure that we were ever brave enough! The Cahuilla Indians inhabited this area before the gold mines opened.

We decided to drive back to our RV following the Old Dale Road. We had been told that it was a jeep trail, and that our vehicle would have no problem. That was true until we reached the border of the park! Around the corner opened up rough trails of rock and huge gaps. We did chicken out and turned around for a longer ride back.

Day 2 was spent in the northern section of the park. We had a nice 1.5 mile hike to see the Jumbo Rock area. Millions of years of change were evident as we walked around, past, under, and between the huge eroded monsters!

Rick decided to brave another jeep trail, and this one was much better as it was all in the National Park. It brought us to Barker Dam, an old cattle rustling area. The dam was built around 1900 to hold water for the cattle and miners. It was fun to hike through more gigantic rock, and then to come upon a wet area containing the old dam.

By this time, Rick was complaining of hunger. We drove to Hidden Valley picnic area where we made friends with a cute little chipmunk creature. It was a nice warm spot in the sun and all of the wind blocked out! Packing lunches and water was important as there were NO eating spots in the park.

No, we did not see every spot in the park, but did cover a lot of ground! We both agreed that it was worth seeing. The different terrains were fun to see and explore. The amazing desert plants that are able to survive, and the "few" animals that we spotted helped us gain a better understanding of southern California and the Joshua Tree National Park.

Boon Docking

I finally talked Rick into "boon docking" in the desert! We pulled off the road between Lake Havasu City and Parker, AZ to stay on the desert. We wanted to stay close to Havasu as the huge Fireworks Convention is going on in town. We drove close to SARA Park last night to watch the warm up and practice fireworks put on by two different companies. They were pretty amazing as they try to sell their show to the big time buyers!

Heading back to the desert camp, we joined some neighbors at their campfire. It is the first fire we have taken part in since we left home! Fun to talk to other jeepers and teachers from Wisconsin! Now that Rick feels more comfortable, he has committed to two nights in the free desert camp! It is dry camping, we have to use water and generators sparingly.  The fun continues!

You have to Go To the Desert Bar

When talking to people in Lake Havasu City, they all said the same thing, "You have to drive out and see the Desert Bar!" With only three days left in Havasu, we thought it was time to take the drive. Off we drove toward Parker, Arizona about 30 miles away. Taking a left turn onto a gravel road, Rick commented that we would not be the only ones checking out the spot. After a five mile drive over rock and dust, we found out that statement was true! The parking lot was full of cars with license plates of all states!

The Nellie E. Saloon (Desert Bar) is in the Buckskin Mts. and use to be an old mining camp. Ken, bought the land in 1975 which included a liquor license. He opened the bar, and hauled water in with an old fire truck. In 1997, he drilled a well. The saloon started out as a little lemonade stand look. After five years, he started adding buildings, or shelters.

A bridge was built to take you over a crevice and get to the bar and sitting area. Then, a church front was added for special weddings, pictures, and events. There are no pews and it is too small to put a chair in, but is an interesting look sticking up in the desert. Ken built a home to live in and does not venture out often. We met him amongst the 400 people or more that were there. 

The Desert Bar is only open on Saturdays and Sundays and closes in the HOT summer months. We found the sign in the parking lot amusing, stating that there is no beer drinking in the parking lot, as there were people sitting every where in the outdoor setting considered to be buildings. There is always some form of music entertainment. We could understand the draw to spend your lazy day in the sun having a beer and listening to the 60's and 70's tunes.

Kathi spent 20 minutes in the hamburger line, while Rick spent his time in another line for french fries. The sign states in no uncertain terms, "No Cheese!" We had been warned that the hamburgers were well done, but I found them quite tasty! The french fries on the other hand............ After spending an hour eating, looking, buying a t-shirt, and listening to the music, we headed back out to find another spot for Rick to try his metal detector.

Retirement Fund

Rick and I decided it was time to supplement our retirement fund, so Rick purchased a metal detector. Off we went to the desert to find our rich rewards! Learning to use a metal detector is a lesson in itself, and Rick is now reading the owners manual after our first day of searching.  However, we are very proud of our first day finds, and may have to keep them in our, "This and That" can.

What Shall We Do Today?

After spending two weeks in Lake Havasu City and exploring all that the town of 50,000 has to offer, we thought it time to take the advice of others and go exploring in the desert region. Fitted in our hiking boots and tennis shoes, off we drove to find the hiking trails in the park, SARA. (Sports and Recreation Area)

Our 5 mile hike took us through the wash area, or creek bed. We had been told it was a good path to follow as there had been no rain for some time! The wash area continued to flow down hill, and soon we were into rock. It was fun to look up at the various rock formations. From the rock units taught, you would think that I would be better suited to identify the rocks around us.

We continued on a downward walk to enter what is known in this area, as SARA's Crack. Rick said that he would not like to rock climb, but here he found himself doing a bit of that! Sliding into "skinny" crevices, climbing over boulders, and sliding up and down some rock formations turned out to be quite fun!

The quiet desert with it's cacti and brush seems quite populated as you come across groups of hikers. We even made one friend who kept appearing! He prided himself on being our guide as he popped in and out of our walk. He would hide out on a rock cliff, take a nap, eat some cheetos, and then run to catch up with us again. I must admit, that he frightened me a bit, and I was glad to know that there were groups of people who might come upon us if anything strange happened. However, he turned out to be a harmless man, perhaps out of work, who enjoyed spending time in the desert each day. 

Sunday Fun

Oh, what to do on a beautiful, sunny Sunday...............

We rode our bikes two miles to a flea market. Apparently, this is the big Sunday event. So much stuff spread out all over a parking lot, and all we bought was a scrapper to help clean the litter box, a clamp for the ice maker on our refridge, and two ice cream cones! 

We both enjoyed this flea market much more than the miles and miles of flea markets in Quartzite, Arizona. It is quite the place to see, but................dust, flea market, RVs, dust, flea market, dust, flea market. Get the idea? Rick was sick to see coaches covered in dust both inside and out! How do they ever get all of that dust out of the furniture and working parts?

Decided to explore on the way home from the Havasu flea market, and got into the state park. Followed the sandy beach, walking our bikes until we got back to a path, and off we rode.

Back at camp, we visited with neighbors, played cards, and had a BBQ Rib supper. Decided we needed to move again, so headed out to explore the area at night. We returned after a two mile hike to watch TV. After all some days are meant to be stay around camp day.

Oatman

Fellow RVers told us to take a drive to Oatman, Arizona. So off we drove on highway and desert roads to reach Oatman, Arizona. It is an OLD mining town with a small population of townies who sell their variety of tourist items. The burros have free reign of the town, and tourists are encouraged to feed them! Rick's comment was, "Why would I pay to buy burro food when I have horses costing me money at home?" But, they were fun to see and cuddle. Hand sanitizer comes in handy! 


The weather was still in it's cold and windy form. Reminded me a bit of a cold trip to San Fransisco with Nancy and Ak! But, we watched the shoot out, and decided it was then time for lunch. Our choice was two saloons. We chose one, and had a Navajo Fried Taco and a bowl of hot chili! The hot tea was used to warm my hands! As we ate, it brought back memories of teaching the southwest region of the U.S.A. and making Navajo fry bread. Remember that, Deb? Oh, the memories.................... and the new ones keep coming. :)
 

Black Meadow Landing

We decided to take a drive and headed to Parker Dam. After eating a lunch at a yummy Mexican Restaurant in Parker, we took off exploring. We drove across the Parker Dam and turned off on a gravel road. We followed the dessert terrain and pot holes about ten miles. We had heard that there was a community in the back country. As we drove further into the dessert, we suddenly came across an RV Resort called Black Meadow Landing.  Rick was sure that it was an old hippie community. There were a more than a hundred RV's of all sorts parked around a lake. After driving around and visiting with a few of the retired citizens of the park, we headed back out to the main road. The sun was going down and it was time to head home. Our drive back gave us the chance to make new friends. Burros were everywhere! The gold rush left burros behind, and some say that the population equals our deer herds in Wisconsin.

Wake up!

The Hot Air Balloon Festival is the weekend of January 20 - 23 in Lake Havasu, and we were planning on attending the second year of this festival. However, I was surprised that it all started early with the sound of whooshing hot air hoovering over our coach. I grabbed a jacket, camera, and phone, and headed for the door. Three balloons were on the ground being inflated, while 12 more were in the sky overhead. We could not have asked for a better viewing area! They were literally in the lot right in front of our coach launching the beautiful balloons into the morning, blue sky! Great day in Lake Havasu City!

Arrived in Las Vegas to pick up our daughter, Jessica and her new husband Rob. Their flight was right on time, and off we went to explore the streets of Vegas. We met up with Rick's sister Cindy to have a buffet at The New Orleans. 

The next day, we drove to the 300 miles to the Grand Canyon as neither of the kids had ever seen the area. They were amazed with the beauty of the grand hole in the ground. Our plan had been to drive back part way and stay in a hotel. But, Jess and Rob wanted to take their turn driving to get us back to the glitz of Las Vegas! A whirlwind day ended with a delicious meal at the Red Raven Restaurant in Williams, Arizona. 

The next three days were spent touring Vegas. It was fun to see City Center, as one of our friends helped in the design of the plaza. Many hours of walking were spent and my blisters on my feet prove how good walking shoes are important! Thanks Jess and Rob for helping to share in our trip and make special memories for all of us!

New Mexico Meteor Crater

Traveling through New Mexico, and decided to stop for the chilly night. Woke next morning and traveled only five miles down the road to view the "Best preserved" meteor site. A huge hole in which the Washington Monument could stand from top to bottom. Hard to imagine the impact of the meteor at 11 miles per second hitting and creating such a blow! After all, the meteor was only 150 feet wide. You never know where the next interesting site will turn up!