November 29, 2012

Desert Sky RV Park, Apache Junction, AZ

We were pleasantly surprised when we shut off the TV and closed the lights to go to bed that we did not hear traffic noise.  We slept until 8am until Pumpkin (one of our cats) started purring in my ear and crossing back and forth over me trying to find a body part not covered to nip at.  That is his way of saying enough sleep-time to get up and feed me.  I finally gave up trying to go back to sleep and got up to fill his bowl. 

Our cupboards were bare so we set out to Sam’s Club and then Walmart. 

After rushing back home and putting the groceries away we hurried over to San Tan Valley to pick up our granddaughters at school.  They weren’t expecting us until Saturday so it was wonderful seeing their surprised expressions when they spotted us.

 

We spent a delightful few hours over dinner and playing games.  It is going to be great to spend so much quality time with them over the next two months.

November 28, 2012

Joshua Tree National Park

We were a little warmer last night because we topped the bedspread with a down comforter instead of the light blanket we had the previous night.   But between Monte sneezing from an allergy attack and the coyotes howling right outside our door I still didn’t sleep well.

Unlike yesterday when we slept until 8am and lost an hour of generator time, this morning we lay in bed waiting for the morning usage hours to begin. At soon as the clock hands hit 7am, Monte braved the cold outside (it was actually warmer outside than in the rig) and turned on the generator. (Monte noticed there were paw prints near out picnic table so the coyotes had been right outside)  Instead of using the fireplace to heat up the rig we turned on the furnace (that runs on propane) and we were toasty warm in no time. 

We booked a place in Apache Junction for the months of December and January so that is the direction we will be heading to today.  But there are three more days before we are due to arrive there so we have to decide where to stay until then.  We tossed around a couple of options.  The RV Park we will be staying at is approximately 280 miles from our current location.   I checked out places that accept Passport America and found one in Blythe, CA that is only a little over 80 miles from Joshua Tree NP but that would mean the next leg of the journey would be 200 miles.  I found a place in Tonopah, AZ that is almost 200 miles.  We are leaning towards traveling the further distance today and staying until December 1^st so that we will have only 80 miles to travel on Saturday.  

After stopping for lunch, I received a call from the manager of the RV Park we will be staying at in Apache Junction offering us an upgrade of a larger site at no additional cost.  She said we could decide when we arrived which site we wanted.  When I told her we were already in Arizona she offered for us to come today but we wouldn’t have to start paying rent until the 1^st.  Of course we accepted so it meant driving an additional 80 miles.  We hit some traffic on I10 passing Phoenix but still made it to the park at a little after 4. 

Monte pulled over to the side near the entrance and got into my car.  We followed the sign for the on-site manager and introduced ourselves to Betty.  She told us to hop in her golf cart and took us to the two sites.  The original site we were assigned was along a back wall and would be very private but was small and would be a real challenge to back into.  There was a small patio area but I would have to park my car there eliminating an area to put a table and some chairs.  The other site was near the entrance so we might be affected by traffic noise but it was large enough for the truck, my car and had a large patio area.  The sites are gravel and the roadway in the park is paved. 

 

After we decided on the larger site Betty drove us back to where my car was parked.  She said there was a slight problem in that the electric wasn’t working at the site but she already had a call in for an electrician. 

She also informed us there was a spaghetti dinner planned for the following night.   It was quite a challenge backing into the site because the road is very narrow but Monte did it like an old pro.  It didn’t take long for some of the residents to stop by and introduce themselves.  The guys said they were sorry they missed the show.  When Monte asked what show they said the show of him backing in. 

I don’t know what the issue had been about the electric but when Monte plugged in we had power.  So I called Betty to let her know so she could cancel the electrician.  We set up pretty quickly and by 6:30 were eating dinner and watching TV. 

I think we are going to be very happy here for the next couple of months.

November 27, 2012

Joshua Tree National Park

I didn’t sleep very well last night because I was COLD.  You don’t realize how much you take warmth for granted until you don’t have it.  I was surprised to see it was 8am when we woke up considering we went to bed at 10pm.  The morning generator hours are from 7-9 so we lost an hour of usage.   It was very cold in our rig so Monte ran outside and got the generator going while I set my coffee up.  As soon as the generator kicked in I brewed my coffee and plugged in my laptop so the battery could charge.  When my coffee was finished brewing, I shut off the machine so we could turn on the fireplace (we found out we couldn’t have both on at the same time) and in no time we were toasty.

When I was ready for my second cup of coffee we had to turn off the fireplace so I could use the microwave.  It sounds like a lot of bother but like anything else new, it just takes getting used to. 

We set out on our hike to Cottonwood Springs. 

 There is a trail leading to the springs from our campground.  After we arrived at the springs we started to take the path to Lost Palms Oasis but after a mile or so we came upon a fork in the trail and decided to take the shorter hike to Mastodon Peak instead because my feet were hurting and I didn’t think I was up to the longer hike. 

The trail we took was pretty challenging but well worth the view when we made it to the top where we stopped to have lunch.  We took a different trail to return to the campground. 

I read for a while and Monte puttered around with “things”.  I’m not sure what things because I didn’t ask as I was very content to sit with my book and enjoy the slight breeze.  We took a walk around the campground loops just as the sun was presenting us with another spectacular sunset. 

 

Back home Monte turned on the generator while I made dinner.  We had a big campfire because knowing it was our final night we used all the wood we had.  We saw a kangaroo rat dart by but no jack rabbits tonight.  We also heard the howling of a coyote in the distance.  We watched a DVD on my laptop and went to bed early.  Tomorrow is moving day as we head into Arizona.

November 26, 2012

Joshua Tree National Park

We had thought that it might take us longer to break down after being in one place for a couple of weeks but we were ready to pull out of Oasis Palms by 10:30.  We stopped in at the office to say goodbye to Ryan, the owner’s son and manager.

 

The GPS directed us to go the same route we had taken last week when we went to Joshua Tree NP but that had been in my car and we knew it wouldn’t be the best route to take with the rig.  So we went a little out of our way by going west to I-10 and then east to the exit for Joshua Tree NP.

We had already scoped out the sites that would accommodate our rig.  We hoped that at least one of them would be available.  When we arrived we found there were only two other rigs there and so we had our pick of sites.  Although the bigger sites are pull alongs it was quite an ordeal to get in place.  There were these huge boulders along the perimeter and the site are not very wide so you really have to pull along very close to the sandy area or you will stick out in the road and not be able to bring out the slides.  Monte had to go back and forward many, many times while we communicated via walkie talkies.  I had to let him know when he was about to hit a boulder.  It was very stressful but after an hour we were finally off the road enough to satisfy the camp hosts.

 

The camp hosts told us that we were welcome to take firewood from sites that were unoccupied.  We drove around and found enough wood for a couple of nights if we use it sparingly. 

There are no electric hook-ups so we are relying on our generator which we can only use during posted hours.  We had filled our fresh water tanks and dumped our black and gray tanks before leaving Oasis Palms.  There is a dump station located at the exit so we will be able to empty the tanks when we leave. 

Since there were no utilities to hook-up to set up was accomplished quickly.  I sat outside reading for a while.  Once the sun set behind the mountains it was too chilly and dark to sit outside comfortably.

We went for a walk while it was still light enough to see without a flashlight.  We saw quite a few jack rabbits and got close enough to take some pictures. 

 

We arrived back at the rig in time for the 5pm to 7pm generator hours.  I made us dinner.  While we ate we took advantage of the generator being on to watch a DVD.  After turning the generator off (and getting applause from tent campers at other sites) Monte built a nice fire. 

We sat outside roasting marshmallows and listening to the group of bicyclists in a nearby site playing guitar and singing.  When we had used up our allotment of wood we went inside and watched a DVD on my computer.  After adding another blanket we went to bed at 10pm.  I had trouble falling asleep probably because it was early and, after being a place for two weeks so close to a major road with constant traffic noise, I had to adjust to the absolute quiet of the night desert. 

November 25, 2012

Oasis Palms RV Park

Thermal, CA

It was another lazy day alternating between reading and watching TV.  A soak in the hot tub in the late afternoon and then some more TV before bed completed the day.  Usually when I have such a lazy day the time seems to drag on but today it just flew by. 

November 24, 2012

Oasis Palms RV Park

Thermal, CA

I had a very lazy day.  The most effort I exerted was when I did a couple of loads of wash.  I took a dip in the pool and read while the clothes were in the dryer.  Monte worked all afternoon on waxing the rig but finally finished up in the late afternoon just before the sun starting dipping behind the mountains. 

We had been disappointed when we first arrived at Oasis Palms to discover that the hot tub wasn’t working because the heat would have helped ease the pain Monte has had in his arm ever since his surgery last January.   So it was a nice surprise to discover that the hot tub was working especially after over-working his arm waxing all day.  We soaked in the tub for a half hour and that night Monte slept much better than he has for a few weeks. 

 

We are going to miss this place when we move on Monday.  We will be slowly making our way towards the RV Resort we will be staying at for a couple of months.  It is located in Apache Junction, less than a half hour drive from where my daughter Renee, her partner Deb and my twin granddaughter live.  I am really looking forward to spending some quality time with them.

I was relieved to get an e-mail from Ryan (my son is on deployment in Afghanistan).  I had sent him an e-mail on Thanksgiving and hadn’t heard from him.  It seems that the base he is stationed at was having some internet issues.  I guess in this modern age of technology it is easy to take for granted being able to e-mail, Skype and IM across thousands of miles.  But every once in a while, when something interferes with that access and I lose communication with him, I am uneasy until I hear from him and can breathe a sigh of relief.  I am breathing better today!

November 23, 2012

Oasis Palms RV Park

Thermal, CA

I had a lazy morning lounging around at the pool while Monte started waxing the rig.  Around noon, we made sandwiches and set out to find someplace to have a picnic.  I entered “parks” in the GPS and saw that there was one a little more than ten miles away.  But when we arrived I didn’t like the looks of it so we went to the next park listed in the GPS that was only 5 miles further.  It was a regional park that included a campground along a lake in addition to picnic benches but there was a day use fee of $3 per person.  We were only interested in staying long enough to eat lunch so we tried the next park listed on the GPS.  It was a community park and it turned out to be just what we were looking for.  It had plenty of trees offering shady places.  We selected one, spread out our blanket and ate our lunch.   

 

On the way home Monte dropped me off at Target and then went next door to Home Depot.  I had forgotten it was Black Friday and, even though it was late in the afternoon, the store was still very crowded.  I didn’t see anything I couldn’t live without so I called Monte to let him know I was ready to be picked up. 

When we got home, I sat outside reading for a little while until it got too dark and chilly.  After a simple dinner of chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches we watched a movie and went to bed early.  Monte couldn’t sleep because his shoulder was throbbing.  He had rotator cuff surgery last January that has left him with periodic pain.  We ended up watching another movie that didn’t end until 1:30am and by then were tired enough to fall asleep.

November 22, 2012

Oasis Palms RV Park

Thermal, CA

We had some bananas that were a little overripe to eat but just right for banana bread so I pulled out my recipe book and started gathering all the ingredients.  I had only used the convection part of my microwave one time so I had to re-familiarize myself with how to preheat the oven.   The recipe called for the bread to bake for one hour but not knowing how much time to adjust for convection cooking I set it for 40 minutes.  I should have set it for 30 minutes because it over baked.  Lesson learned.

Monte and I spent a couple of hours alternating between lounging around and taking dips in the pool.  It was a picture perfect day with not a cloud in sight.   We returned home just in time for me to put my green bean casserole in the oven and get ready for dinner.  The resort owners host pot luck dinners on all the major holidays.  When we arrived at the game room we found the tables decorated with tablecloths and candles and the delightful aroma of just out of the oven turkey.  We hadn’t had lunch so we were pretty hungry. 

 

There was an impressive array of food on the buffet table to which I added cranberry sauce and chocolate cream pie in addition to the green bean casserole.    We did not have to be told twice to help ourselves.  Monte went right for the turkey and I showed some restraint by starting with salad.  We had a very nice time getting to know some of the other guests.  We were the last ones to leave because we really enjoyed sitting with our hosts and the resort owners, Bill, his son Ryan, daughter Leann and her husband.  We have stayed at quite a few RV camps and resorts in the last four months since we embarked on our journey and have met some really nice owners and camp hosts but Bill and his son are the nicest by far.  We have moved Oasis Palms RV to the top of our list of places we would want to return to.

Every year I reaffirm my gratitude on this special day set aside for thanksgiving including being blessed to have the most awesome parents in the world, being blessed with children and grandchildren, my brother and his family and (knock on wood) good health.   But this year I have the added blessing of being in the position to be able to have extraordinary adventures and being able to share it with my best friend Monte is one of the greatest blessings of all. 

Happy Thanksgiving

November 21, 2012

Oasis Palms RV Park

Thermal, CA

 

We chose to come to this area because there were a couple of places we wanted to explore.  One of the places, Joshua Tree National Park, we visited the other day and today was the day we scheduled for the other, the Palm Springs Tram that would transport us to the San Jacinto State Park. 

When I researched the tram I discovered that they give a AAA discount, the first tram up was at 10AM and the temperature at the top of the tram station was 48 degrees.  We left at 8:30 and the 40 mile drive took us a little over one hour.  After turning in on One Tram Way, we traveled up what appeared to be an almost vertical road for three miles passing several signs warning to turn off air conditioners to avoid overheating.  When we arrived at the tram station we were relieved to see there were only a few cars in the parking lot.  We quickly changed into our hiking boots, grabbed our backpacks and winter coats and made our way into the visitor center where we purchased our tickets.  Our timing was perfect as we only had to wait 10 minutes for the first tram of the day. 

 

The tram, the largest in the world and the only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, has a passenger capacity of 80.  Its interior is 18 feet in diameter and 8 feet high.  Because of the unique slow cabin rotation, twice per trip, all positions in the tram offer a spectacular view.  There are a total of five cable towers that gave my stomach a little twist because, as we passed them, the tramcar swayed. 

When we arrived at the mountain station, we went directly to the movie room and watched two short films.  One detailed the vision and eventual building of the Palm Springs Tram.  The other film listed the wildlife that make the San Jacinto State Park their home as well many recreational activities available including camping, hiking and skiing in the winter. 

 

After the film we made our way to the Desert View Terrace that features panoramic views of the Coachella Valley and to the Long Valley Deck providing an expansive glimpse of the beautiful Mt. San Jacinto State Park.  It was such a clear day that we were able to see the Salton Sea, 40 miles away. 

It was a little chilly on the Long Valley Deck so we donned our winter coats but as we started down the walkway leading to the beginning of the Desert Valley Trail we noticed the change in temperature.  We ended up rolling up our coats and stuffing them in our backpacks as we were quite comfortable in just a light long sleeve shirt.  Monte had wanted to bring along our trekking poles but I said I didn’t think we would need them as the hike we planned on taking was a “novice” trail.  The trail, that was only 1 and ½ miles but took us over rocks, up slopes and down slopes, had me wishing several times that I had my poles with me.

 

 

There are two places to eat at the mountain station, the Pines Café and Peaks Restaurant.  We did not eat at either place because we had brought along sandwiches from home.  We have saved a lot of money by bringing our own food with us when we go out on adventures enabling us to afford to do more things. 

The descent on the tram was just as thrilling as the ascent had been.  By the time we arrived back at our car the parking lot was full making us happy that we had arrived as early as we had. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made it back home just at the sun was setting behind the mountains.   Monte went next door to, what I call “smooze” with the neighbors, while I got dinner started.  IT HAD BEEN ANOTHER AWESOME DAY!