Great Trip

This will be the final post to the blog for these Summer Travels.

I have a few days to catch up on, so here goes.

September 10, 2012, Day 94

This is our last day in Albuquerque.  Met with Droop in the morning to go over some clean up items on the store deal.  Things are working out fine and Droop is really enjoying his free time cleaning up his garage after too many years to count of accumulation.

Sharon and I headed for the Range Cafe to have a burger, a too big burger.  Mine was, guess what, a green chili, Cheese burger and I finished every last bite.

Back at the RV park we made preparations to get under way first thing in the morning.  Not a lot to do as we were just staying a few days mainly wanted water and electric.

Met Droop and Lisa for our fair well dinner at Los Cautes, means friends in English, according to Google Translate.  More green chili.  Can't wait until we get back to Austin to participate in the Green Chili Festival.

September 11, 2012, Day 95

The most important part of this day is remembering it's Willard's Birth Day, the old fart is 70 years old.  Oh, yes, we also remember that other thing , what a tragedy.

Got a nice start out of Albuquerque, 8:45, up the four lane I 40 to Santa Rosa, Fort Summner, Clovis, into Texas, Mule Shoe, Shallow Water, and more and arrived in Lubbock around 4 PM.  We, I, got a little lost as I thought I knew how to get where we were going.  After a trip through the Lubbock Air Port, I mean right up to the departure gate, I finally got to the correct road to the RV park.  After a quick set, electric only, we headed for dinner.

Ate dinner in the Buddy Holly district at JJJ's Bar and Chop House.  Good food, live music at the end, one guy on guitar played Classical Gas, and the very appropriate On The Road Again as we left.

Sharon on her Iphone?

Started our search for fuel and found, on a round about way, Diesel at Valero for $3.839.

Back at the RV Park, I said we only hooked up electric, that's because their Internet was down and they did not have cable.  We were in bed by 9:30.











September 12, 2012, Day 96

We were on the road at 7:45, happiness is Lubbock in your rear view mirror.

On the road we stopped at a road side picnic area just before we got to Coleman and had lunch on a rock.

We arrived home in Sun City around 3:30, so we had plenty of time to unpack most of the stuff.  And when we were through we were dead tired and headed for the bed we both remembered so well, it was great.

We had a great trip, met a lot of nice people and enjoyed some fine weather and we look forward to doing it again next year, after we rest up for nine months.

Hot Tamalles

September 9, 2012, Day 93

In Albuquerque and kind of lazed around this morning resting up after the big celebration.

It being Sunday and there was no The Pan Cake House around Sharon was back in Sunday morning mode of bacon and eggs.  Prior to the cooking, when Sharon was getting out the egg cooking skillet, she discovered that the drawer holding the pots and pans had broken during our drive across Arizona on the very rough roads.

Breakfast was fantastic as usual.  After we cleaned up the breakfast dishes, it was my turn to tackle the drawer repair.  This is not the first time I have had to do this.  When we were in Portland, many moons ago I stocked up on drawer parts from Home Depot, bought out their whole stock.  It is pretty tight quarters getting to the back part of the drawer compartment where the broken piece is located.  The last time we were through Albuquerque I bought a new cordless drill along with some additional screw driver bits, including an extension.  The extension was just what the doctor ordered and I was able to replace the broken part in no time flat.

We did some small shopping at WalMart which included the ever elusive Blue Belle ice cream cups, bananas and berries along with a Sunday paper.

We had lunch in and settled back to watch the end of the golf tournament and the wrap up of the Women's US Open tennis.

We snuck in a short happy hour before dinner as where we are dining is sans alcohol.

We met Droop and Lisa at Hot Tamale's for dinner.  They have very good New Mexico Mexican food and I found another stuffed sopapia, smothered in green chili and stuffed with green chili stew.  Quite a good meal.

Back at the RV we just had to try some of the Blue Belle cups and were they good.

100 Years of Marriage

September 8, 2012, Day 92

Today is Gallup to Albuquerque, it's only a short drive of around 100 miles, so no reason to get up and leave early early.  Before we left Gallup, last night we found some diesel at $4.099, at least it is going in the right direction.

Checked into the America's RV park on top of nine mile hill around 1 PM.  Got a nice site, hooked up and settled in for a few days.

Contacted John and Norma to confirm our dinner reservations for this evening.  They were playing golf at Twin Warriors, in Bernalillo, at the Tamaya Hyatt this afternoon.

We met up with John and Norma at Paul's Monterrey Inn at Lomas and Juan Tabo.  It is a restaurant that Sharon and I would go to on special occasions when we lived in Albuquerque in the late 60's.  Still there, still the same.  The purpose of our dinner was to celebrate 100 years of marriage, both of us had recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversaries, so we thought it was a good excuse to have dinner.  We had Happy Hour before dinner, then we shared a nice bottle of Jordan, along with specialities of the house, good steaks.

Gallup Here We Come

September 7, 2012, Day 91

We left Las Vegas as early as we could, 8 AM Las Vegas/California time also Arizona time.

Today we drove and drove and drove.  We found one rest stop somewhere on I40 about 200 plus miles down the road and we were ready for it.

We drove 442 miles today which is about 100 miles more than our optimum length.  We were kind of beat when we pulled into the USA RV park.

But managed to find some room for some great New Mexico Mexican food, I had the stuffed sopia and Sharon had the soft tacos.  The salsa was exceptionally hot and the green chile was very good.

On the way back to the park, to gas for $4.099, getting better.

Sleeping in tonight.

Vegas Baby II

September 6, 2012, Day 90

Today started with trying to find an Eddie Bauer store as I wanted to get some additional special tee shirts that I found in Santa Fe and really liked.  There is a very extensive outlet mall is South Las Vegas, inside, to protect you from the heat.  They have every store immanageable, except for an Eddie Bauer.  Shopping was so intense we had to take a blizzard break.

After the ourlet mall we went to "Town Center" where my Iphone indicated there was an Eddie Bauer.  Once there we forund an Orgins, where Sharon purchased fome body lotion and there was also a California Pizza Kitchen, for lunch, but no Eddie Bauer, seems that they had closed that store.

In the afternoon we rested up so we could get ready for a night on the town.  We have tickets for Jersey Boys, at Paris.

Got to Paris a little early so we could participate in their Happy Hour.  The special was martini's two for one, Sharon's special.

After Happy Hour, we attended the show and what a show.  It is the history of the rise and fall and rise of Frankie Valli, and the Four Seasons.  What a great show, the music was as great as the presentation.  It had Sharon dancing in the Isles and that doesn't happen very ofter, if at all.  I would highly recommend this show to anyone going to Las Vegas.



Two for one Maitinis

After the show we went to a side walk cafe for a snack before we returned to the RV park and also wait for the crowd to leave from the valet parking area.

Vegas Baby

September 5, 2012, Day 89

Headed for Las Vegas this morning, only 100 miles down the road so we didn't leave too early.  Rolled into the Oasis RV park a little after 11, changed time again went to California time.

Got in touch with Woody and he invited us to his house for dinner this evening.

Woody and Robin recently moved to Las Vegas from Austin.  Woody and I used to work together in Austin at Tracor, it seems like a hundred years ago, but we have kept in touch and it was really good to have dinner with them at their house.  They have a very nice house, with an Oasis in the back yard, you need an Oasis in Las Vegas.




  

 We started with Happy Hour and Robin fixed and excellent dinner of spegitti and meat balls.

Last Day in St. George

September 4, 2012, Day 88

This is our last day in St. George so we have some fixin' to get ready things to do today.  Ronnie played tennis early this morning so Sharon and I had breakfast in. 

I called Marcia, the lunch queen of St. George for recommendations and she suggested Camille's, a nice small sandwich place on St. George Blvd.  It was good and we got there late enough so we missed the crowd.  Thanks, Marcia.

After lunch, we went to the local Camping World to see if there was anything we had failed to stuff into our RV, there wasn't.

After lunch I prepared the truck for traveling.  Filled up at Maverick for $4.199 and then went to Fabulous Freddy's for a truck wash inside and out.

Back at the park we began putting things away so we could make a quick get away in the morning.

That evening we met Ronnie and Judy for dinner at the Black Bear Dinner pretty close to the Park and right around the corner from Denny's.  Lucky for us we got in just ahead of a party of 20 that arrived in a bus, so we got our order into and out of the kitchen without delay.  Sharon had fried shrimp as she had not been to the Blobster in a long time.  Judy had a taco salad, Ronnie had pot roast, and Fred had a thin rib eye.

He'll eat your head

 

After dinner we went back to Ronnie and Judy's for dessert of brownies and ice cream along with a little tennis.

We had a very nice visit with Ronnie and Judy as we had missed seeing them in Buena Vista this summer. Hopefully they will find time to stop by and see us in Sun City some time soon.
On the way back to the park we drove by the Maverick station and the price had gone up to $4.259.

Ronnie's Racket Repair

September 3, 2012, Day 87

Labor Day, not much labor today.

The day started with early morning breakfast with Ronnie and Judy at Denny's, 8:30 is early for us, while on vacation.  Denny's is just around the corner from Temple View RV Park.

After breakfast we split up, Ronnie and I went to the college to hit a few tennis balls and Sharon and Judy headed to WalMart to do some necessary shopping.

The hitting session was good, good exercise, good weather (until it turned a little warm) and good shots, mainly by Ronnie.  I still have room for improvement.

When I got back to the RV at 11:30 it was already 96 degrees.

Sharon was back by then so we relaxed a bit, had a quick lunch and then decided to go to the Outlet stores and the mall.  Went to Eddie Bauer at the outlet stores looking for a specific kind of tee shirt.  I only found one on the outside rack, but managed to fine a few more ORANGE things that were missing from my wardrobe.  We struck out at the Mall as they did not carry Origin products, they said to look in Las Vegas.

Back to the RV after we stopped at McDonald's to get a $1, any size drink, I got the big one.

Watched the end of the golf.  Tiger could have been right there if he had made that birdie putt on 17.

We had reservations at the J&R Cafe again this evening, a very nice place with a varying menu of home cooked specialities.  Tonight we had to Salmon, cooked George Forman style, and served family style.  The meal was topped off with imported Carrot Cake from McCall, Idaho.

Ronnie's Racket Repair delivered, I had dropped off my racket yesterday and it was ready when we returned this evening.  I said I hope the strings last for another 19 years, like the  last ones.  Ronnie said he hopped I would be playing a little more tennis.

Watched the wrap up of the tennis where Nadia and partner beat up on the Williams Sisters and Andy Murray has a straight sets win over the Canada.

When leaving there was a pretty sunset and I got a picture of its reflection in the rear window of our truck.

 

Saturday evening my friend Dick sent me a picture from The University of Texas football game with Wyoming. My favorite part of the game that you do not get to see on The Long Horn Network, The University of Texas Marching Band, performing at half-time.

On The Road Again

September 1, 2012, Day 85

Departure day

On the road again, can't you just hear Willie in the background.

We got up early and were all hooked up ready to go, but had to wait for the office to open so we could pay our electric bill.  Franz dropped by and said his good byes and by 8:15 we were gone. 

We had planned this day perfectly, we want to be one of the few cars that were headed out of the mountains on the beginning of labor day, and we were.  There was a constant stream of cars, bumper to bumper, coming from the Boise area to the recreation areas around McCall.  We were sure glad we were going south instead of north and that we had started out before the weekend rather than after as it will be just the reverse on Monday afternoon.

We made good time and the four lane freeways were a blessing.  Around noon we stopped at a rest stop just beyond a local dairy farmer and had lunch with the odor of the cows just down the road.  Also check out the Road Side History at this stop.

When we got across the Utah border we ran into some rain, so the Rain-ex helped and it stayed with us in the mountains most of the way to Salt Lake City.

We got in around 4:30 and stayed at the Pony Express RV park in North Salt Lake, just off I 215, packed in like sardines.  We had dinner at Chile's in the evening with some more rain.  Back at the Park, it continued to rain late into the night.


September 2, 2012, Day 86

In route to St. George

In the morning we tried to find a nice breakfast place. Started looking for the Sun Shine Cafe, after stopping for three trains, being detoured around a construction and two false passes at the location, we gave up. So we headed out for Big Ed's. Into the down town area, around the state capitol area, driving right past the Mormon Temple, and then into the University of Utah complex to where Big Ed's was supposed to be, but not to be. Sharon encouraged me to just head back to the RV park and we would have something to eat there before we hit the road. So on the way back we drove by a Denny's and stopped in for a nice Sunday breakfast, no The Pan Cake House, but it was good.

Highway History

We got back to the park and left about 9:30 headed for St. George. Around 11:30 we were driving along and spotted a rest stop that was associated with a Flying J and had a DQ attached, so we had to stop at Scipio, UT, for a treat and what a treat it was.

What a treat

The rest of the trip was uneventful and we arrived in St. George at 3:30. The temp was quite nice until we started down the hill into St. George as the altitude dropped from 5,000 feet the temperature began to rise until it reached 94 when we stopped.

After we got set up I gave Ronnie a call and he and Judy invited us over for dinner. Great hamburgers and all the fixings along with a great visit with old friends.
It was a full day and we retired to the RV for a good night's sleep.

Fixin' to ger Ready Day

August 31, 2012, Day 84

One day till departure

John Hockett's 70th birthday, ole fart.

Saw today on the Internet that The Long Horn Network has a deal with ATT for coverage.  Maybe that was the fist shoe and the others will begin to fall.  Out in Sun City we need Sudden Link to fall in line.  Sure would be nice.

Today was fixin' to get ready day.  Started off with filling up the truck with fuel, was waiting until the last moment, hoping the price would go down, it didn't, $4.259 per gallon, fill up was less than $200.  Next was the car wash, which was more reasonable $5, got most of the grime off the outside.  Back at the RV park I cleaned up the floor mats and washed the windows and rain-exed the windshield.

The rest of the afternoon was spent backing up all the stuff we had gotten out over the last two months.  Eventually we found places for everything and we were hooked up ready to go.

In the evening we had our going away dinner at Romano's with Franz and Marcia.  It was a very nice evening to sit out on their deck on the shore of Payette Lake, with the sounds of the Boise State fans bellowing down from the McCall Yacht Club above.

Two Days to Go

August 30, 2012, Day 83
Two days until departure

In the morning just sitting around thinking of things we need to do tomorrow to get ready to depart.  Lots of little things to back up that we have gotten out over these last 2 months.

Lunch was with Franz and Marcia at Chef Geoff's, good as always, and making plans to come back again next year.  We also made plans for our departure dinner tomorrow evening at Romano's on the shore of Payette Lake.

In the early evening I played in the Jug Mountain scramble with Al, Steve, sans Iugi.  We did OK, but needed to make a couple of putts to be in the money, one was about a 5 footer that we missed, four chances and we blew it.  Had dinner on the mountain, the steak sandwich is always a good choice, washed down with a nice cold beer.  Sun down is coming a little earlier each day.  Tonight, after sun set, in addition to the full moon, we howled at the full moon hope Ceil heard us, there was a layer of smoke just above the mountain tops that sort of glowed Burnt Orange.

Back at the RV, Sharon and I watched the last set of the Venus, Gerber match, great match, who were you pulling for, Venus, like the NY crowd?

Fore! at Tamarack

August 29, 2012, Day 82
3 days until departure

The day started with our usual weekly trip to the McCall Farmers Market.  There was a sign out front that said, Farmers Market will be open through October, weather permitting.  The locals say it doesn't start snowing here until around mid November, elevation is 5,000 feet.  We bought the necessary staples of raisin bread and carrot cake.  Then more grocery shopping at Paul's and Riddley's.

Back at the RV did some minor chores, checked the level in the house batteries and they were just fine.  Cleaned Air Conditioner filter on the inside.  It gets plenty of work in the afternoons and was quite dirty.

We had lunch in, a great hot dog with green chili and cheese.

In the late afternoon went to Tamarack with a group of guys. Al, Iuji, and Steve, to play in their Wednesday night scramble. Not as well attended as the Thursday night scramble at Jug Mountain.

The Tamarack resort is located about 20 from McCall just outside of Donnelly. It is in a great setting, in the foothill of the ski slope, with views of Lake Cascade and big pine trees. But it is sad. The resort ran on to some hard times in 2009 when the economy went south and has not recovered. They have all the infrastructure in place including a very nice hotel at the golf course. There are million plus, original market value, scattered around the golf course. There are quite a few abandoned structures with some very big structures partially completed. It is eerie and feels somewhat like a ghost town.

The golf course was a great lay-out, but lacking in maintenance and suffering from the past winter kill. It is a monster with many elevation changes, undulating greens, great views and challenging. The 18th green, at the end of a long par 5, with two carries, was 65 yards long. During warm up, with the pin located in the back, I two putted from the front of the green. Hit the first put as hard as I could. The smoke was very heave from the regional fires so the pictures of the views are not as good as they could be.

We ended up 3 under as a team, but left before the others finished. Maybe we cashed. The beer was cold.

Practice Green

Iuji on the tee

Steve trying for KP

On the way back to McCall we stopped for a bite and at local dive, where the waitress did not recommend the Burrito and suggested I order something else, I did.