Our first Sunshine

I didn't sleep good because of the noise and I was probable keyed up from the long day so I got up at 3:30 and watched TV until Vera got up.  I am glad we started a day early because the news I watched this morning was talking about up to a foot in the Siskiyou's today.  We decided to get an early start and were on the road at 7:00.  Right away we ran into fog and it was that way almost to Sacramento.  Maybe all the rice fields in that area caused the fog.

When the sun came out at about 11:00 it was almost instantly too hot. Vera had to go to the back end to cool off.  We went through Sacramento without getting under 55 mph.  We stopped for lunch and Vera made a great soup.

It was getting warm by then so I changed into shorts and a tee shirt because lined pants and 3 layers on top was getting pretty warm.  Then I texted pictures of me in shorts and the blue sky to all the family.

I spotted a Viaduct vista viewpoint this afternoon so I pulled off for some pictures.  As we went up the little hill I was starting to worry about turning around at the top, but there was just enough room!  We decided to stop around 4 so there would be time to set up before dark.  Our goal this morning was Bakersfield, but right after making the 4 oclock decision I spotted an RV Park sign and we ended up staying at the Almond Tree Oasis RV Park at Coalinga CA.  While I was registering one of the workers came in all bundled up and said he was freezing and I was wearing shorts.

After getting all hooked up and watching the sunset I settled in for the night watching TV and making blog entries on my laptop.

Starting our big adventure!

We were up at 5:45 and pulled onto Spirit Lake Hwy at 6:37.  We filled up at the Kelso Safeway, it takes a while to pump 46 gallons of gas.  We left Safeway at 7:06 AM and took I5 to I205 and went around Portland on 205. 

About 9:00 we made our first stop at a rest area South of Portland to relax after going on 205.  I took a picture of Vera, so she took one of me.  Traffic was light all the way through Oregon, we gassed up again at the 7 Feathers Casino at $2.69 a gallon  just before going into California, that is the lowest gas price I have seen since last year when it was 2.08 in Tuson AZ.

Going over the Siskiyou's was not pleasant with lots of rain and spray.  I didn't realize that at 4310 feet it was the highest point on I5.  We didn't have any snow all the way over the passes, just wet pavement and snow beside the road.  We didn't stop until we got to Red Bluff and stayed at a Rest Stop.

Time to catch up!

March 7th.  We got back from Arizona Thursday March 5th.  I didn't have a way to edit pictures so I waited until now to update my blog.  This will probably take several days or weeks.

I got the Smart Car hooked up today and we are pretty well loaded to leave tomorrow January 12th.  We had planned to leave on Monday 13th. but Vera noticed snow was predicted so we decided to leave a day early. 

This is only the second time we have towed the car.  I added the break away switch this time so we should be legal everywhere we go.

Tonight we had a family dinner at Mik, Michelle and James'.  Josh, Debbie and the kids were there also.  Jacob's Christmas present from us was late arriving and we brought it to him, so Jordon wouldn't feel left out I brought a couple of Hot Wheels for him.  Michelle cooked a ham, Debbie brought mashed potatoes and salad, we provided dessert.  It was a nice way to spend the evening before we left.

Lunch at Applebee's

We made a run to Longview for a couple of things today, and went to Applebee's for lunch afterwards.  I happened to notice that Macee's picture is still up on the wall of area teams.  I did a little messing around with the motor home and the B-36 this afternoon and then had the other half of my Applebee's Fish & Chips for dinner.  It was great both times and some Cocoa Mounds made the meal complete.

10 Years Later

I built the B-36 ten years ago and I finally finished the windows on the lower part of the nose today.  It was a fairly tedious job cutting the aluminum strips and getting them on close to what the real one has so it took several evenings.  We also finished up three projects on the motor home, my list is down one or two more changes.  I love modifying and updating things, I have been having a great time.

Seahawks

James got me this Seahawks tool box for Christmas.  I loaded it up today with tools that I have in the motor home.  It is much easier to find tools in it compared to the bag I was keeping them in.  Then the Seahawks won their Wildcard game so it was a great day.

New Years Day

When I woke up this morning I looked out the window and there was blue sky and no wind.  I got dressed, went right out and got in my first flight of the year with the Leader.  Then I went in, had breakfast before putting in another flight with the Skylane 62.

Mike had texted me during breakfast to ask how the weather was, I told him it was calm with no rain so he headed up and was there about nine.  He got in a flight just before it started raining hard again.

More flyers started showing up about ten when it cleared again.

There were two of the Flying W's there today, strange as they look they fly great off of grass, water or snow.

I spotted this rainbow right after I took the picture of the Flying W's, the sun came out for a little while right after this.

Guy brought his portable Traeger and cooked hot dogs for everyone.  They were the big Costco hot dogs and tasted great!  We counted fifteen other club members out there today, a pretty good turn considering the unpredictable weather.

I had planned on taking a picture with the Smart Car hooked to the motor home, but it never happened.  It towed great, I only used it once to run over and tell Mrs. Herren we were spending the night.  I had a nice visit with her, hearing about her Christmas and telling her about ours.  She is 100 and seems younger when talking to her.