Catching up on the last three days!

Because I have been unable to access the internet since we left Kingman (my security program won't let me go to unprotected, open websites that were available at the different RV parks). Today, for better or worse, I disabled the program temporarily so that I could check for bills due and other important email.

We are in Arcata, just north of Eureka. Our favorite campground, Shoreline, in Eureka, was only available one night. Now we have two nights at the Mad River Rapids RV Park--wished it were three--where we have stayed before. Internet is slow. My pictures will have to be added later.

It has been a good trip so far, only hot in Bakersfield. Very cool now.

Last night we spent at the fairgrounds RV park in Santa Rosa. I noticed several trailers were alike and sort of grouped together. When we walked around a lady at one of the sights offered us some pastries. She had brought them for the survivors/displaced persons who were camped there after the fire in Santa Rosa in October. We had a nice chat (and I had a purple fig Danish), discovered she graduated from Tucson High in 1966! We didn't know any of the same people.

Rather than try to put these pictures in the right places, I am just putting them at the end. Above you see the sunrise as we watched it through our lace curtain in Kingman.

The oranges, still green (of course) in the Orange Grove RV Park outside Bakersfield. Our only very hot day!

We saw lots of tomato trucks headed to canneries. Also garlic and onions. I was very glad to see vineyard after vineyard along the route also. Wine drinkers don't need to worry!

The RV with the pink awning is where the woman was handing out pastries. I have tried posting my picture of the trailers housing the displaced people but my computer is being picky!

Heading to California, First Day

The sky was beautiful and the air was, despite the humidity, pretty cool as we finished loading the trailer this morning.

We were on our way about 7:30.

 Lunch was at the Hassayampa River Preserve rest area. I was interested in the signs explaining it. But for this blog I went to the internet for the information:

For most of its 100-mile course through the desert, the Hassayampa River flows only underground. But within the preserve its crystal clear waters emerge, flowing above ground throughout the year. This lush streamside habitat is home to some of the desert’s most spectacular wildlife. Yet many of them have become dangerously imperiled as riparian areas have disappeared from the Arizona landscape.

One possible explantion of the name of the river: The upside down river. But there were other choices too. I am hoping that tomorrow when I have a faster internet speed that I can download a few more pictures. One sign talked about the invasive species in the area, including the tamarisk tree. Getting rid of it is called Tammy whacking!

We are staying at Ft. Beale RV Park where we have stayed before. After getting fuel we went for supper at Calico's, a place we have eaten before. The salmon was wonderful! Back to Safeway for a salad for tomorrow's lunch.

Tuesday

Sheila has been home a day (and a half), may take some time to catch up on sleep! She had a wonderful trip, lots of stories. Cary and I went to Perkins again last night while she napped. The cats are happy.

I got in a walk yesterday, but when we started out today the rain drops also began. Of course, as soon as we got back in the house, it stopped. maybe later. Cloudy, windy. I plan to soak up some of it before heading home. 


Rain after supper, about 6:30. Supper down the street at Hobo's. Now, will everything we have fit in our suitcases?

Sunday

Cary wanted to see the Birenbaums at the St. Nicholas Cemetery. He had a question about one of the tombstones, asked the couple who were sitting nearby if they knew anything about it. Naturally they did not, but they knew someone to call. The lady in the picture with Cary brought over some water in a spray bottle and some colored chalk so she could clean off and highlight the info on the stone. She was very knowledgeable about other things too.

If it's Saturday...there must be some yard sales

This is the church sale Cary saw advertised on the door of the fabric store in Plymouth. It was a beautiful day, blue skies and perfect temperatures. There were brats and German potato salad--he was in hog heaven!

I found a shirt that will probably fit in the suitcase and we were on our way to find some more sales.

At this estate sale Cary found a Packers cap and a Christmas-themed bow tie! I think the ladies working there joked about it enough that he went back and bought it. 

Because the potato salad was so good, Cary decided that if he could find a container he would go back to the church sale with it and buy enough for a couple of days. And that is just what he did! He took the container into the bathroom at the church and gave it a good washing, then bought four scoops of the warm German potato salad to bring home for lunch. I also bought some snack bars from their huge collection of homemade desserts!

Later this evening Cary's cousin, Jim, and his wife, Kathy, came back for another visit. Perfect day.

Port Washington

Rain and clouds greeted us again this morning. We already had plans to drive to Port Washington for lunch, left a few hours early to look for some yard sales. There was a church rummage sale, but even with the half price sales, we left empty handed. At another sale I did find a small frying pan to replace a pretty scratched-up one in Sheila's kitchen. 

Lunch was at New Port Shores, a place Cary read about in one of the local newspapers. Very good. And busy! Cary had stuffed shrimp while I had my usual salmon. Both came with marble rye bread, baked potato and either salad or seafood chowder. 

Choppy waters thanks to the wind. A nice change from the 108 my son told me should be the high in Tucson today!

Thursday, another cousin visit

Cary's cousin, Perry, called this morning (I am glad we were up; this is the first day we got up before 8:00 a.m.) to see about getting together. We were going to his mom's place this morning anyway, so he met us at Aunt Shirley's. She and her son, Paul, live in the farmhouse on the Birenbaum Farm that has been in the family for over 100 years. 

Cary enjoyed listening to Perry relate his experiences growing up on the farm. I took this photo of a picture hanging on the dining room wall. It shows the original farm house and barn, along with the current house and barn. Paul and his mom lease their land to another farmer. Paul works down the road on someone else's farm and owns property across from it.

After lunch we went to Cedar Grove to a new-to-us thrift store where Cary found another book and I bought two buttons and a pattern. 

Because we could, we drove over to McDonald's after supper for an ice cream cone (me) and a sundae (Cary). Yum!