December 29-30, 2013

I gathered all the lists I kept for the year detailing campgrounds we stayed at, places we explored and people we met so I could post a year in review.  Even thought I kept good records it was quite an undertaking but well worth the effort as I was able to reminisce as I reviewed my notes.

Just as few facts:

Miles traveled with the rig: 6,498

Miles traveled with my car: 18,000

Camp fees: $3,838:

21 Private RV Parks

5 State Parks (Nevada, Utah, Florida)

7 National (Parks, Recreations Area, BLM or Forest Service)

We saved a considerable amount of money on waived entry fees to National Parks and half cost camping sites with Monte's Senior National Parks Pass. 

No Cost Stays:

3 months work camping in Oregon

2 Boon docking Sites (Sedona & outside Grand Canyon)

9 Wal-mart Parking Lots

1 Sam’s Club Parking Lot

1 Church Parking Lot
Expenses: Two new tires for my car, Solar equipping the rig, satellite(s) and receiver, unexpected truck and rig repairs.
(We budged what we thought we would need for travel, lodging, food, insurance, repairs, etc. BUT were off on our estimates due to some unexpected truck and rig repairs.)

The first three months of 2013 we stayed at Desert Sky RV Park in Apache Junction, AZ

 

 

 

 

 

where we visited with my daughter Renee and twin granddaughters, Daphne and Kennedy.

 

 

 

 

 

My parents flew in from Florida for a two week visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hoe Down

We hiked several area trails

Lost Dutchman State Park 

 Hyrogliphics

 Silly Mountain 

Monte and my daughter, Renee at Massacre Grounds

South Mountain

We also hiked at McDowell Mountain Regional Park, with Steve and Dianne, whom we met and began a friendship at the RV Dreams Rally in September 2012 in Harrisburg, Oregon.

 

 

 

 

 We drove the Apache Trail

Were surprised by a snow storm

Spent a day in Tucson

 and Saguaro National Park

Took a ride on the Dolly Steamboat

Toured Casa Grande National Park

Monte installed our solar

And Satellite Receiver

Easter at Renee’s and time to say goodbye.

April 1-May 5 (739 miles)

April had us on the road again headed to a boon docking site in Sedona to test out our new solar panels. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During our ten days stay, in addition to the places in and around Sedona,

we toured Tuzigoot National Monument

Montezuma’s Castle

Palatki Heritage Site

and took a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad 

 Our stay at Sedona also marked the worst experience we had since beginning our life on the road. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our beloved cat, Pumpkin who had been part of our family for 8 years, wandered off in the desert. 

 

 

  

 

 

Despite hours of unsuccessful searching we had to admit defeat and say a final tearful farewell to him.  It has been nine months and his absence is still very much felt.  Hope you are enjoying your adventure!

 

 

 

We though our other cat, Annie, would miss her buddy

but I think she actually likes having all the attention now.

During the month of April we also visited the Grand Canyon

 tried our luck at the slots in Laughlin, NV 

 and Las Vegas 

 swam at Lake Mead

and toured the Hoover Dam

Out stay at Lake Mead spilled into May where we enjoyed meeting Herb & Anke  who have been full-timing for a while and offered us many good suggestions.

 

 

 

 

 

 We took a second ride into Las Vegas

 and biked the Historic Railroad Trail before leaving the area

 

May 6-September 1 (1,351 miles)

 Yosemite National Park

 Along the way to Yosemite we“bumped” into Harry & Vicki  whom we met at the RV Dreams Rally in Harrisburg, OR in September 2012.  

 

 

 

 

One of our favorite places we stayed in 2013 was a Corp of Engineer campground we stumbled upon at New Hogan Lake in Valley Springs, CA 

 

 

 

  

Monte with the winner

While in the area we attended the Calaveras County Fair where we watched a Frog Jumping Contest

and Demolition Derby

We finished out the month by taking a ride around Lake Tahoe.

We had planned another boon docking stay but just after we got set up we noticed our refrigerator was not working so we hightailed it to Carson City, the closest town to have it repaired. 

 

 

  

 

Two days before the end of the month one of the blogs we follow (Wheelingit) announced that interpretive hosts were desperately needed at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse in Port Orford, Oregon.  So we made a mad dash, traveling over 550 miles in two days to arrive for the June 1^st host orientation  with Ranger Greg Ryder.

 

 

  

 We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Cape Blanco and the friendships we made with the other hosts.

That is me presenting a history of the Cape Blanco Lighthouse to a group of students

Monte preparing to climb the lighthouse stairs

We spent a great deal of time, on our days off, at the Port Orford Public Library

 to take advantage of the free WiFi. 

 

Nearby Bandon

and Coos Bay for my birthday dinner.

Within a week of our arrival, Greg offered us the position of Jr. Ranger hosts at nearby Humbug Mountain State Park for the months of July and August.  He also gave us the opportunity to attend an Interpretive Workshop in Canby, just outside of Salem.  6-17 to 6-21.

 

Having been a Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader I easily took up the responsibly of Jr. Ranger Host.  I thought I would do most of the work but Monte surprised me and ended up doing most of the presentations leaving me to do the craft sessions.

We had to set mouse traps every night-ugh

We did a little exploring along the coast during the months of July and August

and took another 60 miles trip into Coos Bay to the closest Walmart. 

Co-hosts from left to right: Mahlon, Deralyn, Norm, Cheryl, Rupert & Joan

We really hit it off with Deralyn and Mahlon

 and I look forward to many years of friendship with them 

As much as we enjoyed our stay at Humbug Mountain we were ready to move on come September 2.

September 2-September 30 (1,793 miles)

Once leaving Humbug Mountain State Park we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to tour Crater Lake.

 

 

 

 Leaving Crater Lake we had a problem with the truck  and had to be towed just under 100 miles to the nearest Dodge Dealer in Klammath Falls.  It turned out to be a sensor!

Another unplanned stay was at Antelope Island State Park in Utah. 

where we swam in the Great Salt Lake

Before leaving the area, we had the tires rotated and balanced.

Our goal for the remainder of September was to visit Utah National Parks.

We began with Arches 

 and nearby Canyonlands

Next we moved on to Bryce Canyon

 and Zion

  While in the area we visited St. George 

 and Cedar Breaks

On the way to Page, Arizona we stopped off at Pipe Springs National Monument  We planned on staying at Lake Powell but our timing was off as the Government shutdown the following day.

October 1-October 31 (1,874 miles)

We headed down to Apache Junction to visit with my daughter and granddaughters.

 

 

 

 

 

 Having made the decision to winter in Florida we planned on taking our time driving south.  But we discovered there just isn’t any place along I-10 that we wanted to spend more than one night at we did a series of one-night stays at horrible places

 

 

 

  until we arrived in San Antonio 

Riverwalk 

After San Antonio it was back to one night stays

November 1-December 31 (743 miles)

 until Davis Bayou, part of the Gulf Shores National Seashore in Ocean Springs, MS

Big Lagoon State Park

We slowed down the pace a little once we crossed the border into Florida.

We toured the nearby National Air Station Museum

And Fort Pickens

Beautiful Henderson Beach State Park

Just a short walk from out campsite we enjoyed a spectacular sunset

 Another place we stumbled upon was East Bank Campground, a Corp. of Engineer run park on the George/Florida border. 

 Florida Caverns State Park

We had a long overdue visit with Monte's daughter, Melissa and grandson, Timmy 

Stephen Foster State Park 

We spent a week in Spring Hill doing maintenance work at the bricks and sticks house we still own and rent out.

Luckily we were able to stay in the parking lot at the church where Monte had worked part time as the sound tech

At month’s end we arrived at our winter site in Englewood where we had a heck of a time getting into the site due to sugar sand.

After staying in the site for a month and realized we were sinking we moved to another site.  We like this site better as it is closer to the pool and showers and has a concrete patio.   

 

Most of December we just relaxed and spent time with family.

It has been a year filled with adventure for us.  We laughed, cried and smiled until our jaws ached. We made new friends, reunited with family, learned new skills, discovered hidden talents and, although I didn't think it possible, grew even closer together as a couple.
I thought long and hard about what resolutions I should make for the New Year and decided this year instead of making a list of things I should do that I probably won't achieve, I would just look forward to and appreciate all the possibilities for adventures (planned and spontaneous) that the New Year brings.
HAPPY NEW YEAR