Travelling South

Oct 21, 2012

Met up with Mary at Legends Casino near Yakima about 10:30 am, went into the casino for lunch.  Food has definitely gone downhill there over the last few years.    The staff were friendly though and we even got a ride back to our rigs with the shuttle.

Back to Hwy 82 and then on to 395 heading south towards Nevada.  Winding roads in the Battle Mountain area and lots of wind again.  By 4 pm we were ready to stop at Ukiah.  At “The Thicket”, a little bar and diner, we had a great burger and 14 bean soup (the air was a little fragrant in the rig last night).  Good food and great people.  The owner said he would talk to a councillor (in the bar next door) about us pulling into the city park for the night.  The councillor (another nice guy) said he owned the lots next door, and we were welcome to park there.

Woke up this morning at 4 am to a sky full of stars, Schatz wanted to go outside, (could it have been the beans?)  Back to sleep until 6 to wake up to heavy ice fog.  Think we may want to wait till the sun burns through before leaving today.

 

The picture was taken at Canadian Tire in Kelowna. Tried to include it in previous posting but didnt work.

 

Parking at Ukiah

 

Oct 22, 2012

On to Nevada, very scenic drive from Ukiah to McDermitt.  Stopped early after a very hilly drive.  Woke up next morning to snow and the threat of a major snowfall.   Time to leave Dodge.....

We ran into every type of weather imaginable .  Snow, sleet, rain, wind..... By the time we got to Hawthorne it was time to call it a day.  Driving in that wind is very tiring.  Luckily there was free parking at the Casino and good food as well.

Oct 24, 2012

 

Left Hawthorne about 8:15, cloudy but no wind.  As we made our way south the clouds dissipated and the drive was very pleasant.   The first sign of Joshua trees let us know we were headed in the right direction.  Made a stop at Mels Diner in Beatty and then arrived at Pahrump about 2 pm.  Lyn and Pete had arranged guest passes to Preferred RV  and met us as we pulled in.  Thanks guys.

First Happy Hour of the Season was complete with Bob, Betty and Donna joining us.  Good to be able to take off the jackets and lift a glass of wine. 

A quick trip to Wal Mart, to find my phone was not going to be compatible with Virgin USA .  Ran into Carol T and then Sally and Jerry, from Alberta .  So good to see friends again.  Never fails, always run into someone you know at Wal Mart Pahrump.  (Sort of like Paris)

 

Oct 19, 2012 - Back to the USA

Left Kelowna around 9 30 yesterday morning, after dumping at Canadian Tire.  At that time I discovered this  minor imperfection to my back bumper.  Oh well  a little Duct Tape, some string and I will worry about having it fixed when I get south.

Customs was easy again, and Agriculture only took one “old avocado that I forgot to throw out” ;  kind of proves the rule of leaving something for them to find.

Got into Prince’s parking lot in Oroville and immediately dismantled the new Canadian phone and took out the SIM card.  Did the same with the old US phone.  Found the old phone did not have a sim card that I could find.  So put everything back.  (Good thing the batteries were not the same size)

Anyway, the US phone still works, so I am on the US number.  Now to find a Virgin SIM card.  Apparently not available in Eastern Washington. 

Also found some Wal marts are not available for overnight parking here.  And Dear Garmin, the Walmart at Omak is not located in that pasture on the side road you took me to.

As dark threatened, and the wind increased to an uncomfortable level,  I pulled into Quincy, WA and found a Hotel that had RV parking.  So for $20 I could stay hooked up and boondock in their lot.  I guess it is more secure than parking along the highway.

Called some of the gals I hadn’t talked to since spring and will be meeting up with Mary R at Yakima this morning so will have company all the way to Pahrump, where many of the SOLOS are gathered before heading into Death Valley.

Time to Head South Again

Going to start posting to this blog again.

For those who followed Jerry and I across Canada in 2010 a lot of stuff has changed.

I lost Jerry to pancreatic cancer in June 2011. Although I did travel south again in 2011-2012, I just could not get going on the blog. I do want to keep my family and friends up to date with what I am doing again, so here goes....

Have spent the last month in Kelowna BC helping my sister with the illness and eventual loss of her dear friend David. David and Patty met at a home for disabled adults. She is mentally challenged from a disease of her childhood and David was a quadraplegic with cerebral palsy. They loved each other and hoped to some day be husband and wife. David was diagnosed with Cancer of the throat in August of this year, and after a series of radiation treatments passed away on Sept 29th. I am amazed by the strength she has shown through this. She is 67 years old and waited all her life to find this love. She knows absolutely that she helped make his life better, just as he added so much to hers. I am so proud of her.

I will stay here for another two weeks to make sure she is going to be okay, and at the same time take care of my hosts critters while she takes a 10 day trip. Then it will be time to hook up the Tracker and head south. Looking forward to meeting all the solos in Death Valley for a couple of weeks then on to Yuma.

Saturday I had to say good bye to another old pal. Aki, my Shiba Inu was with me for 12 years and at the age of 18, his little body started to wear out. He has left a big hole in my heart, and my Schatzie (borderline collie) misses him too. She has been a big comfort to me and we will travel together.