tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56175067011397732522024-03-13T12:13:31.298-06:00The Travels of Jim and RosieJim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-92181149104346963592014-08-01T19:42:00.001-06:002014-08-01T19:42:18.978-06:00Sooner Than We Thought!<p>Another episode in an Emergency Room, this time in Lakewood, CO, accelerated our plans to come off the road. Rosie was not feeling well so we went to a clinic, who sent her to the ER with concerns about her heart. The ER tests ruled out heart problems. It turned out to be a reaction to a too drastic reduction in the dosage on her thyroid medication. So we decided to pull the plug on the RV lifestyle while in the ER waiting for test results.</p> <p>We left Colorado 2 weeks early for Idaho Falls. This week we found a condo we liked and were able to get it financed. Expected closing date is August 22nd. So we will go from 320 sq. ft. to 1,052 sq. ft. It will seem like a palace to us. The pooches won’t know how to act with all that room, and there is a fair sized deck also.</p> <p>So our camper and truck will go on the market in about a month. </p> <p>Thanks for following along all these years.</p> <p>The end.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-88518222004063421182014-07-13T20:09:00.001-06:002014-07-13T20:09:26.750-06:00Hanging Up The Keys<p>It has been over two months since I last wrote in this blog. The truth is that I don’t feel I have anything exciting, interesting or meaningful to write about. Our great RV Adventure has become a routine of staying in the same places for one month to 5 months at a time. We haven’t been anywhere “new” in the last 12 months.</p> <p>So we sat down in early June and talked over our situation. Frankly, I have lost my enthusiasm for full time RV living. The original plan was to go to different places exploring the western US, particularly the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources to do that. It costs about $100 a day to pull the camper about 300 miles. If we travel 10 days a month, that is $1,000. Even at a low average of $25 a night in campgrounds, 30 nights is $750 a month. That is $1,750 a month before insurance (our big expense), food, etc. So we have ended up staying long term in campgrounds to get a monthly rate, plus camp hosting for a free site for several months. We can continue to do this, but what is the point if you don’t get to go to new places.</p> <p>So we have decided to give it one more year on the road, then return to Idaho Falls in July of 2015 and look for a low cost rental to live in. Once we find a home, we will sell the truck and camper to pick up some cash.</p> <p>I want to thank all of you who have followed this blog and let you know I have appreciated all your comments. We have met some wonderful, interesting folks during this journey and we don’t regret making the choice to go full time. Reality just never caught up with the vision.</p> <p>This will probably be my last blog. We are returning to Tollbridge Park in August for three months, then 5 months in So. Calif. for the winter. We will try to return to Tollbridge in the Spring of 2015 for 3 months.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by and for all your support in the past.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-87113372033588089402014-05-04T21:22:00.001-06:002014-05-04T21:22:54.076-06:00Rosie’s Photo Essay!<p>Rosie went around the campground taking photos today.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X5gI1Ygw4aM/U2cDv3fK0PI/AAAAAAAAECw/22ry236g-h4/s1600-h/IMG_7442%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7442" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7442" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FjrzWcpGtPI/U2cDwzq31II/AAAAAAAAEC4/-besc2nvJas/IMG_7442_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="528" height="299"></a></p> <p align="center">The beginning of the firewood pile before splitting.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6PGlBhIwjpk/U2cDyYNcTtI/AAAAAAAAEDA/fGjJMXUUuuA/s1600-h/IMG_7455%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7455" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7455" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2EzJU_UIwlU/U2cDzl9nzWI/AAAAAAAAEDI/zLkBIk4LSNY/IMG_7455_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="294"></a></p> <p align="center">After using the splitter, we have nice neat rows of split firewood, courtesy of our co-host Jim Schrankel.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EAgy6le10MI/U2cD1CWZFhI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/5_szsJy67-k/s1600-h/IMG_7452%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7452" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7452" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-x_siYmzKwX4/U2cD2MUCUPI/AAAAAAAAEDY/qyOw7sSeVuo/IMG_7452_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="518" height="293"></a></p> <p align="center">Then we load of the firewood wagon and tow it around to the campsites.</p> <p align="left">Here is a series of pictures of some of the blooming going on in the campground, including wild strawberries and a dogwood tree:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7lEgfmhRRfM/U2cD3OO_8ZI/AAAAAAAAEDg/I0WkMlpBKcI/s1600-h/IMG_7437%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7437" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7437" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JKXXKAQHMaw/U2cD4DA8uYI/AAAAAAAAEDo/pj6yIagI-cQ/IMG_7437_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="198"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T2ZXelu1jAU/U2cD5SpLk2I/AAAAAAAAEDw/q5nVL-7Han8/s1600-h/IMG_7444%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7444" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7444" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JU7b01pew1A/U2cD6a68gaI/AAAAAAAAED4/JROUb2vLq0Y/IMG_7444_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="198"></a></p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WABqXHkRHkA/U2cD7qs1uaI/AAAAAAAAEEA/FFBndNiml9w/s1600-h/IMG_7445%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7445" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7445" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z2jFM3WrKyQ/U2cD8vjJg2I/AAAAAAAAEEI/cRbaYEEQxEs/IMG_7445_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="196"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EIKOWh9vi-M/U2cD9nWbWsI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/SWfXpKNW_2k/s1600-h/IMG_7449%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7449" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7449" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-keUTbSACDv0/U2cD-ZAKNYI/AAAAAAAAEEY/j5qStaMpLQQ/IMG_7449_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="196"></a></p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4c2oBlxkQeU/U2cD_kyXEHI/AAAAAAAAEEg/m5zIU6Lg0Kc/s1600-h/IMG_7450%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7450" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7450" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n33-hjPH5lM/U2cEAdHLBkI/AAAAAAAAEEo/ZxEHML3gBQk/IMG_7450_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="388" height="220"></a> <p align="left">There is a story behind this last picture. Most of the pile of pine needles and other wood slash behind the golf cart and wagon were gathered in the campground and brought here and piled up by Rosie. Can you imagine how many trips that little red cart had to make to get that pile of stuff; and the picture doesn’t do justice to the size of the pile.</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mf7waLssUkk/U2cEBiF49zI/AAAAAAAAEEw/NMygV-24MCg/s1600-h/IMG_7468%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7468" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7468" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tN-0iFDjHuQ/U2cECpl1P3I/AAAAAAAAEE4/GSGB3M_vem4/IMG_7468_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="667" height="376"></a></p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-26257982190500081772014-04-29T21:37:00.001-06:002014-04-29T21:37:58.642-06:00Spring Is In The Air!<p>Finally! Two days in a row with solid sunshine and no rain. And the forecast for Thursday is 82 degrees. I didn’t think I would ever thaw out.</p> <p>Campers have been pretty scarce these last few weeks at Tollbridge County Park. Rosie has kept busy with site cleanup. I have helped (a little bit) our co-host, Jim Schrankel, with the wood pile. Jim LOVES splitting firewood. He is a man possessed with turning out the perfect piece of wood to put into a fire. I will have to get a picture of him with the wood splitting machine for a future blog. Yesterday our county manager, Cory, cleared a path in the woods so Jim could get to a downed tree. The tree has been down for about 2 years so the wood should be nice and dry. Jim will start getting it out next week.</p> <p>We took some pictures today on our way into Hood River for shopping. Here is a fresh picture of Mt. Hood:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bnxRer1FeEw/U2Bv_YVkc1I/AAAAAAAAEB4/a8Ffd000i3M/s1600-h/IMG_7426%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7426" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7426" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0b7NolcCL1w/U2BwAdAfijI/AAAAAAAAECA/u6WJ3fP1hMI/IMG_7426_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="688" height="389"></a></p> <p>The pear orchards are blooming:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K7RsDaFSLdQ/U2BwCLWxR8I/AAAAAAAAECI/3equniCdBv4/s1600-h/IMG_7428%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7428" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7428" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OVHU9vr4RHM/U2BwDaGvahI/AAAAAAAAECQ/P7J7z_gJ6z4/IMG_7428_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="706" height="398"></a></p> <p>Here is a picture of a local barn with a special feature. This person has way too much time on their hands:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dCfAC5Ntk5M/U2BwERs15nI/AAAAAAAAECY/NoUZ33CFTaM/s1600-h/IMG_7430%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7430" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7430" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ebs6glFoGoU/U2BwFAYgqII/AAAAAAAAECg/1cpqp83PHj0/IMG_7430_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="701" height="396"></a></p> <p>Other than that, things have been pretty uneventful here. The weather improving should bring in more campers, which will add some excitement to our lives.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-58310522806301304712014-04-12T21:26:00.001-06:002014-04-12T21:26:09.352-06:00Time Flies!<p>Wow! A whole week has gone by since I last wrote. I swear the roller coaster of life is speeding faster and faster.</p> <p>We had four campsites filled over the past weekend. During the week we had one or two more wander in. The daytime weather is so nice that folks are out looking to get in that first camping trip of the season. Tuesday we ventured down to Hood River to do laundry at the EconoWash and shop at Wal-Mart (not a supercenter) and Safeway. Had lunch at Ixtapia Mexican Food near the laundromat. I noticed a new BBQ joint in the the shopping center and we agreed we needed to give that one a try on a future laundry run.</p> <p>Rosie is continuing her quest to clean out all the tent sites. What a trooper she is. I have helped her a little bit, but she is taking on the challenge mostly on her own. I completed painting the new rail in front of the host site. The county agreed to put it in last year to “discourage” folks from coming and knocking on our door at all hours. Our fellow host, Jim Schrankel, is working on some wood signs that say “Off Duty” that we can hang under the Camp Host signs when we are away or don’t want to be disturbed. The day use area is getting a lot of use. There are families playing games and using the playground almost every day. We went to the local library on Monday and checked out some books. I am also reading books on my Samsung Tablet that I can “borrow” from the Santa Paula, CA digital library. Ain’t technology wonderful.</p> <p>I have been having a small campfire almost every night. In the past, I was not so much into the campfire thing, but now I am more inclined to light one up. Maybe I am getting a little “confined” in the camper and need an excuse to spend more time outside. It also lets me be readily available to help campers check in or simply answer questions.</p> <p>We took the camera along on Friday when we went into Parkdale to get a broasted chicken for dinner. Took a couple of pictures including our first of Mt. Hood this season, another of some trees that are blossoming and Rosie took a picture of a piece of art work on the lawn of a local museum depicting a little girl petting a horse.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YA_ISaKDZfg/U0oDu-mBrKI/AAAAAAAAEBA/WtTn-rbWZSo/s1600-h/IMG_7419%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7419" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7419" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t2091WgOOLo/U0oDv1Ydi2I/AAAAAAAAEBI/np-jOisw8iY/IMG_7419_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="613" height="347"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3Rg6gPPnWeU/U0oDw_7-qbI/AAAAAAAAEBQ/Iw2JxmWR_84/s1600-h/IMG_7420%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7420" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7420" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6q5nzN90LOQ/U0oDx346zUI/AAAAAAAAEBY/MbRHhwPFZhE/IMG_7420_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="626" height="354"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jgiXHGcWgNM/U0oDy9jkDII/AAAAAAAAEBg/sNQ2UemvEvs/s1600-h/IMG_7421%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7421" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7421" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_D1dHEs8p-c/U0oDz5g0G7I/AAAAAAAAEBo/uvrbwW3goSQ/IMG_7421_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="615" height="348"></a></p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-91923343562168485362014-04-04T21:23:00.001-06:002014-04-04T21:23:58.209-06:00Happy Days!<p>It is so good to be back at Toll Bridge County Park. We get the same good feeling we had when we were here last summer and fall. On Thursday we cleaned up some fallen limbs in the public area. Met with our Manager, Cory, to go over what was new in the park. We have all new soap, towel and toilet paper dispensers in all the bathrooms. These are a big improvement over the old stuff. </p> <p>Yesterday afternoon our first camper in was pulling a 1998 Alpenlite. Of course, I had to go get their story. They recently purchased the unit and this was their “maiden voyage”. I was able to show the owner a few things about the rig and we had our first sale of firewood to them.</p> <p>We both had a good sleep last night and awoke refreshed and ready for a new day. I set up a screened canopy over the picnic table on our site.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Yz-HUzQjBt4/Uz93PrTPKPI/AAAAAAAAEAY/1BISHHNadc8/s1600-h/IMG_7414%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7414" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7414" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_YJu8M_7hjU/Uz93QsC5zhI/AAAAAAAAEAg/sBmGWZdw1dQ/IMG_7414_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="575" height="325"></a></p> <p>With that in place we can get more use out of the picnic table. I can grill in the rain; we can have camp host meetings in the rain; we can eat outside without being invaded by bees.</p> <p>Rosie got busy with site cleaning. That girl loves working out doors. Give her a rake, a shovel and a campsite that needs cleanup and she is one happy camper. See the smile on her face:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aifS0aQp8gk/Uz93SBqvV-I/AAAAAAAAEAo/qq9fqjZXbcU/s1600-h/IMG_7418%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7418" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7418" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8QYy-RqZkLw/Uz93SydxL4I/AAAAAAAAEAw/uXG9avbKzcY/IMG_7418_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="596" height="337"></a></p> <p>Our 3 campers with reservations came in today. Also had 2 drive in customers today. Another reservation is due in tomorrow. I grilled pork chops for dinner and it is a good thing I had set up the screened canopy. It started to sprinkle just as I was putting the meat on the grill.</p> <p>The pooches are have a great time here. I think they remember it from last year. Since there is hardly anyone here and no other dogs on site, I can let them off leash on occasion. Boy, do they love that. Annie gets to chase squirrels, up to the point that they climb a tree. She gets that “how do they do that” look on her face. Kinda cute. Sammy is to wise for that exercise in futility; he knows which critters can climb trees.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-48518224163958027772014-04-02T19:59:00.001-06:002014-04-02T19:59:15.521-06:00Rain Snow & Sunshine<p>Oregon weather at it’s finest in April. Left Corning, CA yesterday morning with a light rain coming down that progressed to steady rain for many miles. At Weed, CA (what a name) we transitioned from I-5 to Highway 97. As soon as we got on 97 the rain stopped and clouds disappeared and it was sunny and the roads were dry. Stayed that way until we started climbing in elevation towards our destination of Crescent, OR. Arrived at the Big Pines RV Park in a light snow fall. BTW, this is a nice campground and the owner, Bruce, is a great guy. Led us to our level pull through and helped guide me in place. All I had to do was plug into the 50 amp outlet and attach the cable TV. The campground is in the woods and is very scenic. This picture was taken about 7:00 am Wednesday morning and that is a snow/frost combination on the ground. It was about 28 degrees when I took this.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-de0DcH-BTpA/UzzAXBktDMI/AAAAAAAAD_w/XbP50kmiSlw/s1600-h/IMG_7406%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7406" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7406" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1AWeyMkCO4A/UzzAYR5QHQI/AAAAAAAAD_4/r_M80Q0Rxws/IMG_7406_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="578" height="327"></a></p> <p>Pulled out of there about 8:00 am and headed north. The roads were slightly icy in some spots. I had a heart stopping moment when the truck slid slightly sideways for a split second. Not a fun experience when pulling 14,000 pounds of camper. I was only doing 40 to 45 mph, along with most of the other vehicles, when it happened. We continued onward dropping in elevation and soon got out into the open sun where the trees weren’t shading the road. Stopped at Wal-Mart in Bend for a few necessities and headed north again. On the north end of Madras OR, we changed to highway 26 and headed northwest towards Portland. Eventually we turned right on highway 35 and arrived at Tollbridge Campground about 1:00 pm. We were greeted by our friend Jim Schrankel, who will be holding down the other camp hosting site for the whole season. Jim was the one that referred us to this gig last year; and we loved it so much we came back for more. This year we get the Number One Camp Host site up front near the office. Here is a picture of the site:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o3rKkX9Q6UE/UzzAa3juVDI/AAAAAAAAEAA/YVquk8jrSts/s1600-h/IMG_7412%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7412" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7412" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-chpYGDwhuQE/UzzAcTw_NVI/AAAAAAAAEAI/tEgWvlJiuOQ/IMG_7412_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="594" height="336"></a></p> <p>We are all set up nice and cozy.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-8517441827484053492014-03-31T20:28:00.001-06:002014-03-31T20:28:14.605-06:00It Rains in California<p>What a day. We left Madera about 10 am and headed north on Hwy.99. In Sacramento, we transitioned to I-5 northbound. About an hour north of Sacramento, it started to rain. Just a little at first, but as we went further north it became a steady rain requiring full time windshield wipers. The last 100 miles or so of our trip was in the rain. </p> <p>The original plan was to get to Redding today, but that was a 306 mile drive. So after studying the weather on my Weather App, I decided we would stop in Corning, CA because it cut a little over 50 miles off the trip. So glad I did; it would have been hell to drive another hour in that rain. Then Barbie, our GPS, led us astray. She took us to a farm field about 8 miles south of Corning and announced "You have arrived." Well, I had scoped out the RV Park on Google Earth before we left and I knew right away this was not right. She had us on the right road, just off by a few miles. On the way to Heritage RV Park, I found diesel fuel for $3.989 at a station I could pull the rig through. Anything under $4.00 is a good deal in California these days.</p> <p>This RV Park is good for an overnight stay. The sites are long and level, but pretty narrow. Lots of long termers here though. Set up in a light rain. Was able to stay hitched to the truck so we can depart quickly in the morning. It finally stopped raining after dinner, so I was able to take the pooches for a potty walk. They were way past due what with 6 hours in the truck and very few places to stop along the way.</p> <p>Rosie whipped up a great turkey meatloaf with baked potatoes and peas. With a good meal and an adult beverage in the digestive tract, life is better. Tomorrow we cross into Oregon.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-47230246340189551842014-03-30T21:04:00.001-06:002014-03-30T21:04:05.057-06:00I’m Baaaaack!<p>I last posted on New Years Eve reflecting on the passage of 2013 and many of the things we experienced during that year. It is now the end of March 2014 and we are on the move again after 5 months at the Ventura Oaks KOA near Santa Paula, CA. It was a different experience staying in one spot for 5 months. The Cedar Campground where we were at the KOA is the “long term” loop. There are about 10 full time RV dwellers there with a variety of stories to learn. One couple has been there for over 5 years; a single gentleman has been there about 3 years. Our next door neighbors on each side have been there around a year each. Most are working in the area having lost long term work in other parts of the country. The couple in the site next to us just had their second child, a boy. They have a 3 year old little girl and a really cute puppy. She is a traveling nurse; he is a stay-at-home dad. They just purchased a new fifth wheel with a 2nd bedroom and half bath to accommodate their growing family. Living there was like living in a regular suburban neighborhood.</p> <p>It was good to be close to our kids and grandkids for 5 months. That is the longest time we have been geographically close since we left So. Cal. in 1993 and moved to the Denver area. Our grandsons are growing up so quickly and getting taller every day. They are now 12 and 15. With a lot of tall people in my family and their parents being tall, they should top out well over 6 feet. They are getting good grades. The oldest is interested in Science and Art and is in a magnet school. The younger one is very active in sports. It is interesting to watch them mature into young men.</p> <p>Over the last few days I checked out all the systems on the camper and the truck, including adding air to the tires, adding coolant to the truck, checked the water level in all the batteries, etc.. This morning when I pushed the buttons to activate the slides I wasn’t quite sure how they would work since they have been extended for 5 months. But all went well. We had stocked up on liquor and wine since they are cheap in So. Cal. and expensive in Oregon. We also stocked up on some Trader Joe’s items since it will be 7 months before we see the inside of one of their stores again.</p> <p>This morning we hooked up and headed up the road about 8:30 am. We arrived at the Country Living RV Park in Madera, CA about 2:00 pm. We had stopped for lunch in a Wal-Mart parking lot on the way. We were amazed to discover about 45 channels of over-the-air television until we started going through channels and finding about 10 Spanish Language channels and 6 or so Home Shopping channels. Anyway we have some entertainment on site.</p> <p>Tomorrow morning I have a work assignment one mile from our campground (how is that for planning), then we hit the road for Redding, CA. The Weather Channel forecast for our destination is rain showers and temps in the 30’s to 50’s this week. I hope it warms up and dries out a little bit after that.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-67866723084911855262013-12-31T15:40:00.001-07:002013-12-31T15:40:23.476-07:00A Year Gone By!<p>I know it is a cliché, but where does the time go anyway? A year in review.</p> <p>January found us transitioning from California to Yuma, AZ. We spent about a week near Borrego Springs, CA boondocking in the desert. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ajuzEcvWS98/UsNHvDanhKI/AAAAAAAAD-M/h-d7z3XaenI/s1600-h/IMG_6179%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6179" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6179" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z2JYCiOQV1M/UsNHwHloDLI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/VJDkGEwca_8/IMG_6179_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="228"></a></p> <p>What an experience that was. Our batteries were not in the best of shape and we didn’t have enough solar panel power to fully recharge them during the short periods of daylight. Temperatures dropped into the low 30’s and we could not use the heater in the camper. We ended up driving 60 miles one way to get a Mr. Buddy propane heater.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tdjOF3G3WsU/UsNHwhN7-vI/AAAAAAAAD-c/x5K0-dgiOaE/s1600-h/IMG_6360%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6360" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6360" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IePaKZp55zw/UsNHxT5BBCI/AAAAAAAAD-k/51kgXsa2X28/IMG_6360_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="380" height="216"></a></p> <p>We arrived at Caravan Oasis RV Resort in Yuma on January 17th. We were welcomed by our friends Brian and Teresa Morris who helped us settle in to our site and introduced us to our Canadian neighbors. We settled in to the Yuma snowbird lifestyle with lots of activities and social gatherings in the resort. In early February, I was feeling really “crappy” and went to a walk in clinic. That turned into a diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) and landed me in the hospital for 6 nights. That shook Rosie up so much she started having all kinds of wild symptoms like shaking, heat flashes and rapid weight loss. She was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease). So, in a matter of weeks, we went from very healthy and almost no medications to not so healthy and multiple medications. We extended our stay in Yuma till the end of March so we could have some time for the meds to take hold and get medical approval to resume our journey. </p> <p>We spent April in Winslow and Holbrook, AZ. During that time I took an ambulance ride to an emergency room as the result of an A-Fib flare up. Came back home the same day. The plus side of that experience was how many of our fellow campers came to Rosie’s aid with offers of any assistance she might need. We spent May near Albuquerque, NM where I had a lot of work assignments. While still not feeling so great, I was able to work. During that time we took a nice day trip to Taos, a really neat little resort town.</p> <p>June found us in the Denver area visiting old friends and neighbors from the time we lived there in the 90’s and early 2000’s. Rosie was able to hike with her old buddies and I managed to get in a little more work.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Jnm9am94quE/UsNHyAF9uMI/AAAAAAAAD-s/F1vJbyvkUjY/s1600-h/IMG_6929%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6929" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_6929" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-04lTAwJ24vA/UsNHy53UOfI/AAAAAAAAD-w/ybbnE5mA9fE/IMG_6929_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="302"></a></p> <p>The fourth of July weekend found us at my family reunion in Colome, SD. From there we hit the road for Idaho Falls, our last city of residence prior to full timing. During that time I had a CardioVersion, a shock treatment for the heart to correct the A-Fib. That treatment is still holding, a fact for which I am very grateful. We had more medical work done, the pooches went to the vet and we went to the dentist.</p> <p>In August, we traveled to Tollbridge Campground in Hood River County, Oregon for our first try at work camping. This turned to be a wonderful experience. The geography was great. Our boss from the County, Cory VanSickle, was great. We had several visitors while we were there, including old friends who traveled all the way from Germany.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HuubnqAd2aI/UsNHzdxmahI/AAAAAAAAD-8/2PvH5haVjLQ/s1600-h/IMG_7063%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7063" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7063" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w36bN6HLvmc/UsNH0IWQAZI/AAAAAAAAD_A/e42zK8JdXbg/IMG_7063_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="260"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lXPR8Q2EOyw/UsNH0xnoSoI/AAAAAAAAD_M/UwLeaTTJisc/s1600-h/IMG_7065%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7065" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7065" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C5RCHmwx8w8/UsNH1awZLpI/AAAAAAAAD_Q/hXX8SIf7OnE/IMG_7065_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="258"></a></p> <p>At the end of October, we made a quick run back to Idaho Falls so Rosie could have a colonoscopy done. With that procedure producing good results, we headed for Santa Paula, CA where we arrived on November 1st. Our original plan was to return to Yuma on December 15th, but after a week or so in So. Cal. we decided we liked it here better than we liked Yuma. Don’t get me wrong, the social activities of Yuma were great and we met some wonderful people there; but that did not overcome our basic dislike of sand and cactus every where we looked. The desert environment is just not our thing. So we decided to stay here in Santa Paula for the winter. We will head back to Tollbridge Park on April first to return to our camp hosting life that we really enjoy.</p> <p>Which brings me to this blog; and the fact I have not been writing very much for the past 2 months. The simple fact is that there is not much to write about that I think would be of interest to any of our followers that are not close friends or family, and we communicate with them almost daily of Facebook. When we started our full time lifestyle we had dreams of going to different places in the western USA and having great experiences with new places and lots of things to write about. The reality is that we do not have the financial resources to live that dream. Until the economy improves enough to restore the self employment income levels we enjoyed a couple of years ago, we will be on a “holding pattern” of 5 months here in Santa Paula (where I can get some work) and 5 months camp hosting in Hood River Oregon (where our living expenses are drastically reduced). The remaining two months will be spent in Idaho Falls and Denver, with a side trip to South Dakota for my reunion. Bottom line; my blogging will be very limited in the future. I thank those who have been following this adventure and have been leaving very nice comments here. I hope all of you have a great New Year in 2014.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-30544240969862481622013-12-16T22:13:00.001-07:002013-12-16T22:13:15.964-07:00Hello Again Hello<p>It has been almost a month since my last post. The reason being not much to write about.</p> <p>We did make one significant adjustment in our lifestyle. We purchased a 1999 Toyota RAV4 so Rosie could regain the sense of independence she lost when we sold her RAV4 to go full timing. This allows her to go to yoga, the library and do local shopping without having to be chauffeured by me. Rosie can drive the big old truck, but parking it is a challenge for her (and sometimes for me too). So we talked it over and agreed this would be a good thing for us to do. We will leave the car here in Simi Valley with our oldest daughter while we travel up north in the summer. Here is a picture of Rosie with her new (to her) wheels:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4Pk1mVgn1eQ/Uq_dVr03qsI/AAAAAAAAD9E/-dABOcv2xws/s1600-h/IMG_7390%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7390" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7390" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CrHf0k8Rk84/Uq_dWqs_DXI/AAAAAAAAD9I/wq_vOTnzT7k/IMG_7390_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="643" height="363"></a> </p> <p>This last Friday I had a couple of work assignments in Santa Barbara, about 40 miles from where we are camped. Had a chance between appointments to park along the beach front walk and enjoy the surroundings.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xvdz_3lVWnM/Uq_dXD4bgWI/AAAAAAAAD9U/659Oof_yejk/s1600-h/DSCF2567%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCF2567" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="DSCF2567" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-52bl__nSvbI/Uq_dX2OEbDI/AAAAAAAAD9Y/IYYZ4CNTcok/DSCF2567_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="435" height="327"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L4qKvtczYwE/Uq_dYoE89kI/AAAAAAAAD9g/PnsptS5QZAQ/s1600-h/DSCF2570%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCF2570" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="DSCF2570" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XtIRigwmx58/Uq_dZUNbfFI/AAAAAAAAD9o/hoWP2mmxDBw/DSCF2570_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="319"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O1Wztpib7OY/Uq_dZ0EpMpI/AAAAAAAAD90/fBKDhTlpWwE/s1600-h/DSCF2569%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCF2569" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="DSCF2569" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ukU2MHwlaLk/Uq_datJUXAI/AAAAAAAAD94/JbTv962OpN0/DSCF2569_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="427" height="322"></a></p> <p>We enjoyed our Thanksgiving with our kids and grandkids and are looking forward to Christmas doing the same.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by!</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-37204194363768450842013-11-22T20:49:00.001-07:002013-11-22T20:49:43.301-07:00I Have Some Explaining To Do!<p>It has been 21 days since I last updated my blog. I am not proud of that. The problem is pretty easy to understand; I have nothing new to write about. </p> <p>We are in Santa Paula, CA at the Ventura West KOA. We were here last year at the same time and I gave a full review of the campground last year. I also wrote about what a great little town Santa Paula is and posted a lot of pictures of the many murals located around town. I also noted that we were happy to have found a Universalist Unitarian Church in town. So all of that is repeat news.</p> <p>Some things have changed in our plans, but let me get to that in a little bit. Here’s the deal; our “plans” for our RV lifestyle were one thing and “reality” is a whole different ballgame. Our plans were pretty basic, we would travel and explore wonderful new places in the western USA and I would blog about all our adventures, do campground reviews, etc., etc., etc. The reality is that, going forward, we will be repeating our travel patterns every year. We will be spending 5 months wintering here in Santa Paula and 5 months Camp Hosting in Mt. Hood-Parkdale, OR. We will spend 1 month in Idaho Falls and 1 month in Colorado with a brief trip to South Dakota for my family reunion. The cause of this change from dream to reality is simple economics. </p> <p>We are one of those millions of Americans who were not successful in acquiring enough wealth to finance a leisurely retirement. So we are living on Social Security and earnings from my self employment; trying desperately to not dip into our rather limited IRA accounts (which generate less than 2% a year in interest). And my earnings from self employment have diminished drastically over the last 3 years. This year my self employment income will be about $10,000 less than in 2010. We have reduced expenses by choosing an RV lifestyle over living in a stick house with a mortgage, but the income has dropped more than the expenses. So we are dependent on work camping as a means to further reduce expenses. Fortunately for us, we love Camp Hosting at Tollbridge County Park. My self employment income is derived in part from a web site that is dependent on a thriving small business community of building and trades contractors. That industry is still struggling. The other part of my income is lessened when we are in remote areas and enhanced when we are in more metropolitan areas. So this year we decided to spend the winter in Santa Paula instead of Yuma. I can get more work here. It is also nice to be within 80 miles of all three of our kids and our two grandkids.</p> <p>To all of our friends in Yuma; we love you guys. We enjoyed the activities and the facilities at Caravan Oasis RV Resort. We enjoyed our impromptu parties and pot luck get togethers. What we also realize is that we do not like the desert environment; sand and cactus forever is not enjoyable to us. So here we are in the pine trees and hills on the northwestern edge of greater Los Angeles, about 10 miles from the Pacific Coast. We have gained access to the wonderful local library; Rosie has found a 3 day a week Yoga class; we get to see family every weekend (or more); and the weather is warm. Life is pretty good and I am getting enough work to make up for the cost difference between here and Yuma. We might even decide to settle down here whenever we decide to hang up the keys and come off the road.</p> <p>Which gets me back to blogging. I don’t have the creative mind of some of the RV bloggers I read that write every day. Some days are just repeats or extensions of other days. Things I will write about going forward may be interesting to family and close friends, but not so much to some of our followers. So the frequency and depth of my blogging future is uncertain. Some of you may choose not to “follow” this blog in the future. I understand completely and wish you well. </p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-31096898190190235952013-11-01T21:18:00.001-06:002013-11-02T17:49:24.111-06:00Another Month Gone Bye!<span style="font-size: small;">On Monday we traveled from Spanish Fork, UT to the Virgin River BLM campground in a beautiful canyon in a little slice of Arizona between Utah and Nevada. There are no hookups here, but the sites are paved and level. The pull through sites will accommodate almost any size rig. The back in sites are for smaller trailers and for tent campers. Our site had a concrete picnic table and bench under a metal shelter with a BBQ grill and a fire pit. The price is right at $8 a night with 50% off for Golden Age Passports. It is very quiet and very dark at night with no ambient city lights. Great for star gazing. It was cold, dropped into the low thirties at night. Good snuggling weather. Here are some pictures:</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qZsP2gmPfOs/UnRu5HobeAI/AAAAAAAAD7s/5xzvOCd2uqQ/s1600-h/IMG_7339%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7339" border="0" height="196" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eNM-Aw3JC0A/UnRu5_hO6bI/AAAAAAAAD7w/EIVi63MaNBg/IMG_7339_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7339" width="347" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--mIKnxN4Wxw/UnRu6RHatVI/AAAAAAAAD78/gyLTmwXo4vM/s1600-h/IMG_7359%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7359" border="0" height="197" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zs7ymx0n8qw/UnRu64aqSXI/AAAAAAAAD8E/ILIDxQyAe2U/IMG_7359_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7359" width="347" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rblccIY2Cg8/UnRu7v-xBFI/AAAAAAAAD8M/BzdBDaXkS7k/s1600-h/IMG_7349%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7349" border="0" height="196" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fI60e_MNyGo/UnRu8OZOcNI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/MQVfZbO3im4/IMG_7349_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7349" width="344" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0Zc0KuahcHk/UnRu8pi3woI/AAAAAAAAD8c/_bucgU7x0sI/s1600-h/IMG_7361%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7361" border="0" height="196" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QBroHT1lZ7k/UnRu9dxhJ4I/AAAAAAAAD8k/FPxbVOlWHSo/IMG_7361_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7361" width="346" /></a><br />
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Wednesday we took a deep breath and headed out for a 350 mile pull to Lancaster, CA. I always dread going through Las Vegas, but there were no construction delays this time and I just stayed in the #2 lane and we breezed through without out one stop for traffic. We managed to fill up with diesel for $3.88 at a Love’s Truck Stop north of Vegas. We set up at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds RV Park in Lancaster. It is a large concrete parking lot with full hookups. 30 amp sites are $20 and 50 amp sites are $25. Our son’s girl friend prepared a tasty pork roast dinner with all the trimmings and there was enough left over to take some home. On Thursday, Karl came over to have lunch with us and to go through our collection of family photo albums. We are trying to clean out our storage space by the end of 2014 and the first thing was to divvy up 3 boxes of photo albums among our three kids. Karl got the first crack at the albums and was a happy guy with his selections and a good helping of mom’s Lasagna. See how happy he is:<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qWTePxG0iXY/UnRu930kg5I/AAAAAAAAD8s/0Hzoq4Crw2w/s1600-h/IMG_7369%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7369" border="0" height="291" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Hl0Wg_hnEOI/UnRu-nkju_I/AAAAAAAAD80/dmOhRJe3dfU/IMG_7369_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7369" width="514" /></a><br />
<br />
Today was a short driving day. It was 97 miles to Barber RV in Ventura, CA where we had their body shop look at the damage from our tire blowout in August. We presented them with the paperwork prepared by the Insurance Company Adjuster and they seemed to think it was a fair estimate. They were concerned at first that they may not be able to get all the parts before we leave on December 1st for Yuma, but after a lot of phone calls with suppliers, they seem to work it out.<br />
<br />
It took two hours at the RV dealer to get all that done and we were getting grumpy hungry and the pooches had not been out to do their thing since about 8:30 this morning. Fortunately it is only about 15 miles from the dealer to the Ventura Oaks KOA Resort in Santa Paula. So here we are, all settled in for November. We have family time this weekend and I have some work assignments in the area to get done before we leave the area.<br />
<h5>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the numbers for October:</span></h5>
<h3>
Camping – $169.66 (camp hosting 20 days for free camping)</h3>
<h3>
Diesel Fuel when pulling – $557.00 </h3>
<h3>
Truck Service/Repairs – $0.00</h3>
<h3>
RV Repairs/Service – $0.00</h3>
<h3>
Generator Gas/Propane - $21.22</h3>
<h3>
Metered Electricity – $0.00</h3>
<h3>
Satellite TV/Radio – $16.30</h3>
<h3>
Campground Pet Fees – $0.00 </h3>
<h3>
Laundry – $30.00</h3>
<h3>
Total = $794.18 </h3>
<br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by.Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-81519860883357180062013-10-26T20:22:00.001-06:002013-10-26T20:22:22.405-06:00Catching Up!<p>Yes, I have some catchin’ up to do. My last post was last Sunday, almost a week has flown by. </p> <p>On Monday we traveled from Farewell Bend State Park in Oregon to Three Island Crossing State Park in Idaho. We have loved Three Island Crossing since the first time we stayed there in 2010. The campground is very well maintained, the sites are large and well spaced and the fee for Idaho old folks is $11.66 a night plus a one time (not per night) registration fee of $5.00. That fee is good Monday through Thursday nights. Weekends are a bit higher.</p> <p>On Tuesday we pulled over to Juniper Campground in the Ririe Reservoir Recreation area about 15 miles east of Idaho Falls. This is a County Campground. It is also well maintained with large, well spaced sites. The fee there is $16.00 a night. </p> <p>Our purpose in detouring through Idaho Falls on our way to Southern California was for Rosie to have a Colonoscopy procedure. For a procedure that you sleep through and is over in 20 minutes or so, the day and half prep is hell. No solid food the day before. No food or liquids the morning of the procedure. The good news is that nothing harmful was found and she doesn’t have to do it again for 5 years. After the procedure, it was off to Chuck A Rama for a “stuff yourself to the max” buffet lunch. On the other medical front, we both went to doctors, me to complain about chronic hip and knee pain; her to check on her last thyroid test results. After some discussions and medication adjustments we went on our merry way. Getting old is no fun anymore <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DKyZrTmt2Mk/Umx4yZ5Zi0I/AAAAAAAAD68/WGKNpDv9F8M/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">.</p> <p>Friday we had lunch with our old friends, Joe and Anne Hayes, at Perkins; followed by a Wal-Mart stock up of the pantry. We also went to our storage unit to retrieve 3 boxes of family photo albums to take to the kids in Southern California. We are starting on a plan to eliminate our need for the storage unit. After 18 months on the road, we have figured out that some of the stuff we have in storage can be eliminated. We will give some of it to charity, other stuff to relatives and the absolutely must keep stuff will go into storage at the home of one of my brothers in South Dakota.</p> <p>Today we arrived at Canyon View RV Park in Spanish Fork Utah. It is a City Park with 30 amp electric and water hookups for $12.00 a night. It is basically a parking lot with hookups at the rear of parking spaces. But there is some heavy brush to the rear with picnic tables so there is somewhat a feeling of nature.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a2AuHFSsrCc/Umx4zQFx3nI/AAAAAAAAD7E/d53DLkCcB2A/s1600-h/IMG_7311%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7311" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7311" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0Mq8taIge14/Umx40oM03RI/AAAAAAAAD7M/I-eFuENfy3E/IMG_7311_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="196"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MN5jrjB-CqU/Umx42emcCiI/AAAAAAAAD7U/g_1iIMHfUnI/s1600-h/IMG_7314%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7314" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7314" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aI0xH3cgKVE/Umx43AlY0sI/AAAAAAAAD7c/qO5MKEX3YNw/IMG_7314_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="193"></a></p> <p>So I grilled a couple of pork chops, along with some asparagus and a baked potato, for dinner. My tummy is full.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-69444933300952254392013-10-20T20:13:00.001-06:002013-10-20T20:20:24.106-06:00On The Road Again!Yes, we were humming one of Willie Nelson’s tunes as we pulled out of Tollbridge Park this morning at 8:45 am. A short downhill run to Hood River and then on to I-84 eastbound towards Idaho. The weather was exceptionally nice this morning, crisp and clear. We could see Mt. Adams over on the Washington side like it was just up the road a bit. Unfortunately, we forgot to put the camera in the truck so we missed an opportunity for a picture.<br />
<br />
I had not realized how many energy windmills have been put up on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. At a million bucks a pop, there is a lot of money invested over there. The ride today was how I like it, mostly flat and straight. We had one long uphill grade and one shorter downhill grade. I had set Barbie, our GPS, for our destination, but she missed it by a lot. She wanted us to get off the Interstate about 20 miles early. I have no idea where she wanted to go, but I have sense enough to realize you don’t get off the Interstate for a State Park until you see a sign for the State Park. That is the reason I don’t blindly go where Barbie tells me to go all the time, especially with 7 tons of trailer hooked up behind me.<br />
<br />
After 308 miles on the road we arrived at Farewell Bend State Park. This is our first time here and we found it to be very pleasant. The sites are big, if not exactly level, and have electric (50 amp) and water hookups for $17 a night. After getting set up we took a walk down to the Snake River that runs on the edge of the campground. Sammy apparently got to close to the edge of a bank and fell in the river. It was over his head in depth, but minimal current along the shore and he managed to swim out pretty quickly. So now we have that wet dog smell in the camper. As we were standing there I kept seeing something rising out of the water in the middle of the river. It stayed in the same general area for about 20 minutes, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. My guess is a very large catfish, but ???. I got a zoom picture of it. Do any of you have any ideas?<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6Hf3otW0hRU/UmSNo7D6IzI/AAAAAAAAD6c/6790-7dvju0/s1600-h/IMG_7310%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7310" border="0" height="391" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Sz2YHr3sJac/UmSNsrqjACI/AAAAAAAAD6k/gUOV8oJr-6Y/IMG_7310_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_7310" width="692" /></a><br />
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Rosie and I were thinking that it will be strange not having people knocking on our door asking for firewood <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q7OfXj92lyQ/UmSNuWMVTAI/AAAAAAAAD6s/9yCfRrWQ8TM/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" />.<br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by.Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-25655959763624555332013-10-18T16:30:00.001-06:002013-10-18T16:30:55.405-06:00A New Blogger!<p>Hi everybody, this is Rosie taking a stab at this blog writing thing.</p> <p>After having been camp hosting here at Tollbridge County Park in Parkdale/ Hood River Oregon for over 2 months we will be leaving here Sunday morning. When we started out we didn’t know what we would be getting into, or what to expect. Jim and I never thought that this place would feel so much like home and that we would end up being sad for leaving here. First of all, this whole area is just incredibly beautiful with wineries and apple, pear orchards as well as lavender fields. It gives one the feeling of a calmer and simpler time and also feeling at peace with the world.</p> <p>The Park has 100 acres with 87 sites. There is something for everybody. The front area has total hook-ups. Tent areas are nice and secluded; and the group area sites are huge, usually occupied by many families, tents, children and dogs. East loop and west loop have electric and water hook-ups and the sites there are more secluded and quiet. There are some campsites along the Hood River, which are very popular and are usually fully booked in advance in the summer months. Many of the people return every year ( some have been coming here for 30 years).</p> <p>What makes it so interesting is the variety of people one gets to meet. There are the families that come to show their children how to have some harmless fun and just be children and enjoy nature. At night they sit around the campfire and relax with their neighbors , have a drink, talk or play.</p> <p>One group that follows the Grateful Dead has been coming here for 30 years. Their faces are lined and their hair has gotten gray. They wear their tie dyed t-shirts and try to be the party animals they used to be, but are happy just to be together and have a good time.</p> <p>We started out having another couple for camp hosts here. However they left just before Labor Day. At first we were a little worried if Jim and I could manage this all by ourselves, but we just looked at each other and said “we can do it.” We have always been good at being a team through our whole married life. We were busy making everybody happy, cleaning campsites, delivering wood etc. etc. We did it and if I might say so, we did a good job, and people liked us and had good comments.</p> <p>We got to meet people from Canada, Germany, Holland, Austria, Australia and England. Everybody had a story to tell and somehow we got attached to some of them. I enjoyed the young people that told me how much they enjoyed nature, going hiking and other outdoor activities. It gave me hope for the future since I love nature and it’s animals so much. I guess they are not all texting and watching TV all day! While we were here we also had some visitors. Jim’s brother and wife from South Dakota stayed here for a couple of days, so did our friends Spencer and Karen from Idaho Falls. Our friends from Germany came by on their way to Canada and my sister Gigi came from LA to surprise me for my birthday.</p> <p>Two and a half miles from here is the small town of Parkdale. It looks like time has stood still. There are 3 small restaurants, a gas station, a fire station, a small church, a post office and an incredible grocery store where you can find everything under the sun. There is also a library where we were able to get some books while stayed here.</p> <p>This place somehow has very good Karma, or whatever you want to call it. It gives one just pure joy and contentment. So we decided we will return next year. We can hardly wait!</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-25215906297366594442013-10-06T20:48:00.001-06:002013-10-06T20:48:04.578-06:00Park Happenings!<p>Things are achanging at Tollbridge County Park. The weather is cooler and wetter; the leaves on the trees are turning yellow, orange and red:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8B5jVJkHNpI/UlIgqIgNhVI/AAAAAAAAD4U/aYOpEcOaauc/s1600-h/IMG_7249%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7249" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7249" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q_qzFyiYFe0/UlIgq2plJ3I/AAAAAAAAD4c/HzylBwOFalE/IMG_7249_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" height="198"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FtppSuGzEFc/UlIgsC9O-MI/AAAAAAAAD4k/3cGizCvvdFg/s1600-h/IMG_7250%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7250" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7250" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_fwvmqTje9A/UlIgs1m_GyI/AAAAAAAAD4s/DapKpsTs-YA/IMG_7250_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="194"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-p0a02rERGuk/UlIguN4ITWI/AAAAAAAAD40/gYjS3NNX6tM/s1600-h/IMG_7236%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7236" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7236" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_CrWuVObeA0/UlIgu3j85XI/AAAAAAAAD48/MAeQBJO_JPs/IMG_7236_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="198"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0NMEja-Sf10/UlIgwdywnCI/AAAAAAAAD5E/1I668KBD5CA/s1600-h/IMG_7231%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7231" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7231" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R6I4cHFibvY/UlIgxDnLH9I/AAAAAAAAD5M/ePw3oiM6kNM/IMG_7231_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="341" height="194"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BjNO34INmPQ/UlIgyH7rXII/AAAAAAAAD5U/IZR2h9FagsU/s1600-h/IMG_7239%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7239" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7239" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mqAByy9VDf0/UlIgyyBgpJI/AAAAAAAAD5c/DZp4kr9sZjU/IMG_7239_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="602" height="340"></a></p> <p align="center">And Mount Hood has accumulated some snow.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HDaMTLO2D4o/UlIgz_3HiHI/AAAAAAAAD5k/7b_iwpO62IE/s1600-h/IMG_7243%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7243" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7243" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9qM4eAoM3p4/UlIg0qES77I/AAAAAAAAD5s/Jt2WYL5mkv0/IMG_7243_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="602" height="340"></a></p> <p>Now I have a touching story to tell you. Rosie was out on a firewood delivery when she came across a young girl and her father placing an object on the ground next to the road. The girl, who was about eight years of age, explained; she was walking with her father when they saw a bird nest on the ground. Further observation revealed some dead baby birds in the nest. The girl insisted that they give the little birds a proper burial. So the father gets a shovel, digs a shallow hole in the dirt and they gently place the nest and the birds in the hole and cover it up. The young girl thought more ought to be done to honor the little birds. So she went shopping for a couple of days in Hood River and found what she thought would be a proper marker for the little babies. She and her father returned to place the marker over the grave of the little birds. Here is the grave site:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-p6yYG1pDgXI/UlIg10ZEWkI/AAAAAAAAD50/nVnsAqlSVmM/s1600-h/IMG_7226%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7226" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7226" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0QEglFe6OYc/UlIg2viKbZI/AAAAAAAAD58/-DHmm_DJlvw/IMG_7226_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" height="250"></a></p> <p>And here is a close up of the grave marker:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gna4l0gF_D0/UlIg39HEgNI/AAAAAAAAD6E/3qaFGFYSLtA/s1600-h/IMG_7227%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7227" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7227" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LvDUg0_YPV0/UlIg4oCTALI/AAAAAAAAD6M/a3yUQgtEfeU/IMG_7227_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="240"></a></p> <p>As you can see, the marker consists of angels holding up a birds nest with baby birds in the nest. I congratulate this father for raising a little girl to be this kind, considerate and caring; and for supporting her wishes in giving these little birds a final resting place. This world needs more people like this.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-12125871096845097852013-10-03T16:51:00.001-06:002013-10-03T16:54:16.944-06:00There Is A Sun!<span style="font-size: small;">After 4 days of constant precipitation, the sun finally came out today. Hurrah! However, the night time lows are in the mid 30’s. I filled up another propane tank today, the second in a little over a week. Looks like fall is here, some of the trees are starting to change colors from bright green to yellow, orange and brown. I am taking a weekly series of pictures of the trees viewed from my office in the camper and will post them before we leave here on the 20th.</span><br />
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Things have been quiet here. We have had as few as 3 campers in the last week or so. We have 5 sites occupied as of mid-afternoon today. There are reservations for 7 sites for this weekend. We had too much to do in Hood River to get it all done in one day, so we went to town both Tuesday and Wednesday. We found a great Mexican food restaurant in town. Our two experiences at the BBQ place in Parkdale were OK, not memorable. We are planning to treat ourselves to dinner at a nearby ski resort restaurant before we leave.<br />
<br />
Our friends, Jim and Linda Schrankel, will be camp hosting with us here next year. They referred us for this job and we are grateful that they did. We are exploring possibilities of camp hosting jobs in So. Calif. during the winter months. Nothing firm yet. It may take until the winter of 2014/15 to secure something.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Here are the numbers for September:</span></h3>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Camping – $0.00 (free site for camp hosting)</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Diesel Fuel when pulling – $0.00 </span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Truck Service/Repairs – $0.00</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">RV Repairs/Service – $0.00</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Generator Gas/Propane - $21.22</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Metered Electricity – $0.00</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Satellite TV/Radio – $81.65</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Campground Pet Fees – $0.00 </span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Laundry – $25.00</span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Total = $127.87 (Work Camping sure cuts down on expenses)</span></h1>
Thanks for stopping by!Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-14679820842391354772013-09-27T13:18:00.001-06:002013-09-27T13:18:06.441-06:00Visiting Germans and Cooling Weather<p>Our friends from Germany arrived on Monday. They had flown into Vancouver, Canada for a tour of Canada; but they made a special detour down to visit us before heading back up north to tour Vancouver Island. We have stayed in their home in Germany twice and they have stayed with us in California and Colorado. It was good to see them again. We last saw them in Germany in 2003. It was a bit cozy having 4 adults and 2 dogs in our camper, but it worked out very well for three nights. We took them shopping with us on Tuesday and then to Multnomah Falls near Portland on Wednesday. Wednesday evening they took us out to dinner at Valley BBQ in Parkdale. The rest of the time was for conversation, watching slide shows of our mutual travels, eating and sitting by a fire.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TmEvWlDZleY/UkXZzOgBNTI/AAAAAAAAD3M/IiuriNwpL8E/s1600-h/IMG_71944.jpg"><img title="IMG_7194" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7194" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tOjj-Vk8WVA/UkXZ0n9ueOI/AAAAAAAAD3U/miRhAbHFcHg/IMG_7194_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="571" height="323"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Fkisp6TIFt4/UkXZ2dFUuEI/AAAAAAAAD3c/ylAAXneYnKs/s1600-h/IMG_71994.jpg"><img title="IMG_7199" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7199" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nZvcwIiPzxc/UkXZ3UQ1KtI/AAAAAAAAD3k/tVnc_W9940c/IMG_7199_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="563" height="318"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E05YVnEbuZE/UkXZ4IZ01eI/AAAAAAAAD3s/f5P-fNOrDdY/s1600-h/IMG_72214.jpg"><img title="IMG_7221" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7221" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yoD767_R0Ds/UkXZ5ezGdvI/AAAAAAAAD30/i2PusrK3gtA/IMG_7221_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="566" height="320"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qjsyGmqG52M/UkXZ6cBasRI/AAAAAAAAD38/lQ2tflvNyB8/s1600-h/IMG_72085.jpg"><img title="IMG_7208" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7208" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EG4WmgJyyIU/UkXZ7bcy0PI/AAAAAAAAD4E/GPBdSCpmQZY/IMG_7208_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="606"></a></p> <p>The weather is getting cooler. We have had 2 mornings in the ‘30’s this week. We pulled out the extra comforter to put on the bed. Now we are nice and cozy as we snuggle in at night. We don’t leave the heat on overnight so it is a bit chilly for a few minutes in the morning until the heater takes the chill out of the camper. The cool weather is affecting the campers. We have had some cancellations of reserved sites and the drop in traffic has diminished. This makes life for us easier, but on the other hand the County staff that is usually here daily has been laid off for the winter. We now have a County person here for 1/2 day during the week and no one on weekends. That means we are more diligent on bathroom and shower maintenance, but the downturn on the number of campers reduces the need for camp site cleaning. With the cool weather has come some rain, so firewood sales are also down.</p> <p>We head back to Idaho Falls three weeks from Sunday. Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-44298266495318714752013-09-20T22:13:00.001-06:002013-09-20T22:13:33.015-06:00Visitors Galore!<p>Wow! What a week this has been. Shortly after my brother and his wife left for Montana, Rosie’s sister, Gigi, flew up from Los Angeles to surprise Rosie for her birthday on the 17th and stayed with us for 3 nights. The sisters had a great time catching up on each other’s lives. We watched old videos of family events. Gigi treated us for a dinner and a lunch out, something we do not get to enjoy very often. They went on a short hike on a trail to a waterfall. Here are some pictures from the visit.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-isKsX6yoWjw/Uj0cmeRu-MI/AAAAAAAAD1E/sCtD4ZfPg00/s1600-h/DSCN08964.jpg"><img title="DSCN0896" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSCN0896" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-e0e_kv_RyWM/Uj0cnoGJdcI/AAAAAAAAD1M/l_7liR7hV34/DSCN0896_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="258"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ch0P0VQAJI0/Uj0coyrHfqI/AAAAAAAAD1U/CpUCLWlf6T4/s1600-h/DSCN09154.jpg"><img title="DSCN0915" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSCN0915" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3SSsFI1VsC8/Uj0cp2Ehw0I/AAAAAAAAD1c/iDzFr7NDdEk/DSCN0915_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="252"></a></p> <p> At Applewood BBQ in Parkdale, OR At Crooked Tree Tavern near Mt. Hood</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--f73x2BiBSY/Uj0crYh9VNI/AAAAAAAAD1k/8mUVeXd2gUo/s1600-h/IMG_71874.jpg"><img title="IMG_7187" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7187" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RCgSqcWls4o/Uj0csL12Z7I/AAAAAAAAD1s/vE9JOm1aDRU/IMG_7187_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="198"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BFAtuHfiwRc/Uj0ctUXFn7I/AAAAAAAAD10/v-97rsurQQM/s1600-h/IMG_71884.jpg"><img title="IMG_7188" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7188" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ELJ-mmXgFNY/Uj0cur9TqkI/AAAAAAAAD18/Xplo73_VpFw/IMG_7188_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="194"></a></p> <blockquote> <p> At the trailhead to the falls A bridge along the trail</p></blockquote> <p>Gigi left Thursday morning to return to LA. About 5 o’clock Thursday evening our friends, Karen and Spencer from Idaho Falls showed up in their Roadtrek Class B RV. They are staying until Saturday and then continuing their journey towards Washington State. We have had a great time visiting and solving the problems of the world. Karen took a river boat down the Amazon River in the past year and we watched a slide show of her photos from the trip. What an amazing experience that was and we enjoyed reliving the trip with her.</p> <p>Things are starting to slow down at the campground. The nights are getting cooler; it was 35f Thursday morning when we got up. We have about 30 campsites occupied tonight. It is starting to rain. The sound of rain on the roof of a camper is loud and it sounds like it is raining a lot harder than it really is.</p> <p>We continue to love this place and are enjoying our work here. We have agreed with our County manager that we will be back in 2014 for the months of April, May, August, September and October. That will give us time for 30 days in Idaho Falls, 3 days at my family reunion and 28 days in Colorado. We are starting to see deer in the campground and one of the County employees reported seeing a buck elk on the grounds.</p> <p>The fall colors are starting to show at this elevation. Here are some pictures of the fall colors and some interesting mushrooms that Gigi and Rosie spotted on their hike:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-48OCfMK-9-M/Uj0cwBxSbpI/AAAAAAAAD2E/7M6Tz4xwKrI/s1600-h/DSCN0909%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCN0909" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSCN0909" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YkU90M2xq-I/Uj0cxFLDyhI/AAAAAAAAD2I/a9bO0RO0kZM/DSCN0909_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="266"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w1QgZ6Bq18U/Uj0czIqeQNI/AAAAAAAAD2U/l4XbsOl7yOc/s1600-h/DSCN0911%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCN0911" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSCN0911" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nHOdR3lPuVY/Uj0c0Lom3WI/AAAAAAAAD2c/WPu6c1BGkPY/DSCN0911_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="264"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y5qPM_MmvGw/Uj0c2fIIC-I/AAAAAAAAD2k/3RppMytbZkw/s1600-h/IMG_7189%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7189" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7189" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pnInrEFVch8/Uj0c3TbbzsI/AAAAAAAAD2s/SjBukAQZ868/IMG_7189_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="202"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SRUVwJ-uIz8/Uj0c58bqj8I/AAAAAAAAD20/wk5yp8K5iRc/s1600-h/IMG_7191%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7191" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7191" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PtBykonQmeE/Uj0c66W6A_I/AAAAAAAAD28/1oSeW53jzgk/IMG_7191_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="200"></a></p> <p>On Monday we are expecting visitors all the way from Germany.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-60237110726683673372013-09-16T13:54:00.001-06:002013-09-16T13:54:42.477-06:00Another Week Gone By!<p>Time sure flies when you are having fun (and working too). We had a lot of campers this weekend after our almost capacity crowd over Labor Day. Rosie sold lots of firewood and I was busy helping campers find spots for the weekend.</p> <p>On Tuesday my brother Ron Amick, and his wife Dotty, arrived in their Kountry Star Class A motorhome. They were coming from central California where they had gone to Dot’s school reunion. While they were here we took them on a tour of Hood River, then we ventured up to Lost Lake. Lost Lake is a resort with cabins and a campground with a Marina and a nice General Store. It is in a beautiful setting, but I would not want to pull our camper up that hill and try to get into a site from the narrow roads. Here are some pictures from our trip:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-v0hEWiLOfT4/Ujdh161H0LI/AAAAAAAADzs/mGQx1LN8dbA/s1600-h/IMG_7161%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7161" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7161" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MXt5LQN_5Wk/Ujdh3P7p5CI/AAAAAAAADz0/0-NlQIgkLcU/IMG_7161_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="525" height="297"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-81t9UJSz9ag/Ujdh4Ku_AGI/AAAAAAAADz8/kyMDNgSfhjM/s1600-h/IMG_7172%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7172" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7172" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uUwtzAfe5go/Ujdh43mInXI/AAAAAAAAD0E/cFPnWLP-seA/IMG_7172_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="525" height="297"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--hkiF_ABDgk/Ujdh6KJbVaI/AAAAAAAAD0M/h5ZXk8BASgg/s1600-h/IMG_7169%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7169" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7169" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5coirp2Hod8/Ujdh7LsVc4I/AAAAAAAAD0U/fqrYCMX2lvg/IMG_7169_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="535" height="303"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w76lAV0Bt-0/Ujdh8KVo-XI/AAAAAAAAD0c/Sf-rwszyIl4/s1600-h/IMG_7175%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7175" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7175" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--R9FloeOOII/Ujdh9FdOsQI/AAAAAAAAD0k/hIxXXoz8QE8/IMG_7175_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="535" height="303"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aU78sZwUVhA/Ujdh-uhPcqI/AAAAAAAAD0s/BBO1DdOO2A0/s1600-h/IMG_7177%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7177" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7177" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZARuMMEPqiU/Ujdh_oqcXHI/AAAAAAAAD00/GnLhe1sV1tM/IMG_7177_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="539" height="305"></a></p> <p>Ron and Dot pulled out Saturday morning to head for Columbus, MT to meet up with other family members. We are so happy when family comes to visit us.</p> <p>We are still liking Work Camping. I just sent off an application for Camp Hosting to Santa Barbara County in So. California. It would really be neat if we could get Camp Hosting gigs during the winter in So. Cal.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-86063263964526475772013-09-09T22:38:00.001-06:002013-09-09T22:38:12.846-06:0028 Days On The Job<p>Yesterday was 4 weeks into our new Camp Hosting adventure. The time is flying by because we are having so much fun. I don’t remember any “job” I have ever had that is this enjoyable. Our work environment is to die for and the tasks are not difficult. The pace is slow (most of the time) and we are not stressed in any sense of the word. The Labor Day weekend was a bit hectic for short periods of time spread out over the first two days. Sometimes a lot of campers would arrive at the nearly the same time, have a lot of questions and needed help finding their spots if they had a reservation; or finding an open spot if they did not have a reservation.</p> <p>By Monday afternoon, the park looked and felt pretty empty. On Tuesday we did the laundry and shopping for food supplies and had lunch at a local Chinese Restaurant, China Gorge. We were not impressed with the buffet and it seemed a bit pricey to us. Also took a trip to Laurance Lake. There is a small tent campground there. The lake is quite small. Here are some pictures:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OXozT5_i3N8/Ui6h1a15TXI/AAAAAAAADwc/UwEEidWjYWU/s1600-h/IMG_7128%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7128" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7128" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-l93Lxx4u3jg/Ui6h2utjH5I/AAAAAAAADwk/yggvvwM1fWY/IMG_7128_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="195"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-W76qPyfER0A/Ui6h3m6qGdI/AAAAAAAADws/BG7WANRaQ6M/s1600-h/IMG_7137%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7137" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7137" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Em2SbdgY-Co/Ui6h4tUrOQI/AAAAAAAADw0/smG2Ws4hXX4/IMG_7137_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="192"></a></p> <p> The stream feeding the lake Rosie on the stump <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JJlE1hq2qOo/Ui6h5H5LylI/AAAAAAAADw8/C8TDVvIohcc/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sXDjnnlCUlQ/Ui6h6Ftq_iI/AAAAAAAADxE/oResVz1B6fk/s1600-h/IMG_7140%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7140" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7140" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ygqLhnSy5zM/Ui6h63akvwI/AAAAAAAADxM/TdPbuamkCLM/IMG_7140_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="194"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4hUIOh1M3ic/Ui6h8G-UMAI/AAAAAAAADxU/mCybm_FItAk/s1600-h/IMG_7139%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7139" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7139" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--C8eQXcKYJI/Ui6h80dWekI/AAAAAAAADxc/mshEdD-LHyw/IMG_7139_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="193"></a></p> <p> Entrance to the campground Typical campsite</p> <p>After the trip to the lake, we stopped at McIsaac’s Market in Parkdale. This is a great grocery market for a town that is two blocks long. They have many products usually found in major supermarkets and they have locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N4SBLvpCuV4/Ui6h9kyQ_5I/AAAAAAAADxk/v-igRqtGYdo/s1600-h/IMG_7141%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7141" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7141" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UdXvePuOKbk/Ui6h-rvkagI/AAAAAAAADxs/r_Ka-d8Qayg/IMG_7141_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="193"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DYZHKrF3S1s/Ui6h_X4wH1I/AAAAAAAADx0/M3SPdIkY5bQ/s1600-h/IMG_7144%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7144" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7144" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S8qX9yAWLrc/Ui6iAROOveI/AAAAAAAADx8/hsdVotouCuI/IMG_7144_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="192"></a></p> <p> Part of the deli case Rosie picking out some local pears</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MuINLG446zU/Ui6iBfo5kKI/AAAAAAAADyE/VPx_KsZqj2w/s1600-h/IMG_7145%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7145" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7145" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZTlege4hlOA/Ui6iCTs0TNI/AAAAAAAADyM/lz1PgC6q5RY/IMG_7145_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="194"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Avb6o9ZGtwU/Ui6iDrI6-KI/AAAAAAAADyU/Aw_99QBEwKQ/s1600-h/IMG_7146%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7146" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7146" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QHmstWl1EmU/Ui6iEcsC0eI/AAAAAAAADyc/t1txXiEUQ7g/IMG_7146_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="192"></a></p> <p> Local fruit (not the pineapple) Local wines</p> <p>One day Rosie took the camera out to get pictures of the local berry plants:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eCes7s5yC20/Ui6iFljdJoI/AAAAAAAADyk/H_Fb0BZ73cI/s1600-h/IMG_7094%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7094" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7094" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oZELiXPL6Vk/Ui6iGqCrnlI/AAAAAAAADys/bvlE2l_vwMM/IMG_7094_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="185"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oNU3BmBYMm8/Ui6iH04UMjI/AAAAAAAADy0/ixTXUgvWxII/s1600-h/IMG_7096%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7096" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7096" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iMN9R8AR5Lk/Ui6iIjHjPGI/AAAAAAAADy8/9Prcv_7j-6E/IMG_7096_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fOo91qrNkBo/Ui6iJxa7GQI/AAAAAAAADzE/ITbDKtvpY1c/s1600-h/IMG_7097%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7097" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7097" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jiqamfsLJHE/Ui6iK7C3-HI/AAAAAAAADzM/1huPUK5nbzU/IMG_7097_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="188"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TVrVSbi4e3w/Ui6iMJ9AzbI/AAAAAAAADzU/y-bw_jtBm10/s1600-h/IMG_7101%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7101" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7101" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xyP9H5sGnyk/Ui6iM6WQRbI/AAAAAAAADzc/nqjEVekxFSU/IMG_7101_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="183"></a></p> <p>The locals tell us the berries are not edible, but they sure look pretty.</p> <p>On Saturday, we met a couple from Chico California who are about to become full time RV’rs. Mike and Sharon Porro haven’t gone through the “sell the house and everything in it” process, but it is under serious discussion and planning. We shared a campfire on Sunday night and had a wonderful conversation. I am sure we will cross paths again in the future.</p> <p>Today we confirmed our return to this campground in 2014 for the months of April, May, most of August, September and most of October. That will give us time for a month in Idaho Falls, my family reunion in early July, and 4 weeks in Colorado most of July and a few days in August. This workcamping is very helpful to our budget since we have no camping expense and minimal fuel consumption during our time here. With the slow economy having a negative affect on my self employment, the reduction in living expense is welcome.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-5090455387983891142013-09-02T18:38:00.001-06:002013-09-02T18:38:54.722-06:00Workcamping Gets Busy!<p>Today is the three week anniversary of our Workcamping debut. In my last blog I explained our situation here at Tollbridge County Park. This is a one hundred acre park with 87 campsites in 4 “loop” areas. When we arrived on August 11 we joined Craig and Linda, who had been the only hosts on duty for several months. After a two and a half weeks of transition training, Craig and Linda departed last Friday. So Rosie and I handled the three day Labor Day weekend as the only hosts in the Park. It is now Monday and the Park is almost deserted. I think we managed very well considering our limited experience in this line of work.</p> <p>We have been familiarizing ourselves with the local area businesses. We found a medical clinic where we can have our blood work done. We found a hair salon that serves both our our hair dressing needs. The local library in Parkdale gave us free library cards so we have ample reading material available for our “slower” times here in the park. Hood River County allowed us to have our bulk mail sent here every two weeks. When you add that to the AT&T MiFi we purchased for internet access, we are in good shape. We are getting accustomed to life without television. We get our news online on my tablet and stay connected with family and friends on Facebook.</p> <p>We have met many nice, fun and interesting people. A young man from Belgium rode in on a bicycle looking for a tent site. He is riding a bike from Seattle to San Francisco. We have had several other European campers and several from Canada, but the majority of our campers are from Oregon. Many families with young kids and puppies. Rosie really enjoys the interaction with the campers, who know her as the “Wood Lady”. She is a natural salesperson. I am handling the front of the operation helping campers find sites, collecting fees and generally being helpful.</p> <p>Here are some pictures taken since my last blog:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ysy7-lVihPc/UiUvdxBVwwI/AAAAAAAADvE/o_un1quj72M/s1600-h/IMG_7109%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7109" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7109" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IOZZbxweEcc/UiUvfNT1PkI/AAAAAAAADvM/Fr2p3mjDjkU/IMG_7109_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="539" height="305"></a></p> <p align="center">Mount Hood often has a cloud cover.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gexoLuXabdM/UiUvgVlm1xI/AAAAAAAADvU/FiNLoC7APpw/s1600-h/IMG_7110%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7110" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7110" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zCtB2hItqFE/UiUvhQO9L8I/AAAAAAAADvc/qXaqfNuw7R0/IMG_7110_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="549" height="311"></a></p> <p align="center">Parkdale downtown is 2 blocks long. Here is the view looking east.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ueealx6g5Y8/UiUviXLKK1I/AAAAAAAADvk/YtFxMYcXZz0/s1600-h/IMG_7113%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7113" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7113" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HMuhSi1FwE4/UiUvjd5VnsI/AAAAAAAADvs/uPFXM8T5Ybo/IMG_7113_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="548" height="310"></a></p> <p align="center">Here is the view of downtown looking west.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OvFDvBB-48E/UiUvkXRapzI/AAAAAAAADv0/KehKr_V3TBY/s1600-h/IMG_7114%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7114" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7114" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zeHc0p5as3I/UiUvlK2nCmI/AAAAAAAADv8/ehgT84rk7lM/IMG_7114_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="536" height="303"></a></p> <p align="center">This is the public day use area of the park.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-h0TOAV2g5B0/UiUvmP5xkgI/AAAAAAAADwE/zAlVmMYZOtQ/s1600-h/IMG_7121%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7121" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7121" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gTN7ZMOzvNU/UiUvnatteEI/AAAAAAAADwM/IrRSK0TLzdU/IMG_7121_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="540" height="306"></a></p> <p align="center">The east fork of the Hood River as it goes through the park.</p> <p>It is September and fall is in the air. Some of the leaves are starting to change color. The fall colors will be fantastic here in a few weeks. We may get some family and friends visiting us. One of my brothers and his wife plan to swing by here on their way home from California to South Dakota. One of our friends from Germany (a couple) are going to be touring the Pacific Northwest and they plan to come by. </p> <h1><font size="3">Here are the numbers for July:</font></h1> <h1><font size="3"></font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Camping – $198.50 ($6.61per night – we get a free site for camp hosting)</font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Diesel Fuel when pulling – $282.00 </font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Truck Service/Repairs – $0.00</font></h1> <h1><font size="3">RV Repairs/Service – $356.38 (two new tires after tire blowout).</font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Generator Gas/Propane - $20.93</font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Metered Electricity – $0.00</font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Satellite TV/Radio – $81.65</font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Campground Pet Fees – $0.00 </font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Laundry – $20.00</font></h1> <h1><font size="3">Total = $959.46</font></h1> <p><font size="3">Thanks for stopping by.</font></p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-36001811831548460902013-08-21T22:10:00.001-06:002013-08-21T22:10:07.545-06:00Camp Hosting Is Cool!<p>We arrived here on Sunday, August 11th about 3:30 in the afternoon. We are the 2nd Camp Hosts. The first Camp Hosts, Craig and Linda, have been holding down the fort all summer with no backup. They were certainly glad to see us pull in. We settled into our Camp Host 2 site which is very long and has trees on the back and 2 sides. It is very private. I found a nice level spot and we set her down. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t9XBqLroryU/UhWOh6Vtj2I/AAAAAAAADtU/5U3OGKsZHXc/s1600-h/IMG_7060%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7060" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7060" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dCaEkX1y7Fw/UhWOjA7lQbI/AAAAAAAADtc/db5SvZE_Ej0/IMG_7060_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="538" height="404"></a></p> <p>Sunday evening we just settled in to our spot. Put out the chairs and tried over the air TV with absolutely no reception. The site has two permanent Dish Network dishes set up; however we have DirecTV so they were of no use to us. I made a mighty effort to find the DirecTV satellite to no avail. Too many trees and the angle for the satellite is too low to find a spot between some trees. We also quickly learned that Verizon uses AT&T for their backup in this area. Phones work OK, but very spotty internet access. See my previous blog for our final solution to that problem.</p> <p>Monday morning we met with Cory, the County Manager that we report to here at the park. He reiterated our duties; clean up campsites on two of the four camping loops after they are vacated, keep tabs on the reservation stickers that go on the site poles; sell and deliver firewood to campers in all four camping loops. We fill a cart with 8 compartments for firewood. Each compartment is considered a bundle and the wood sells for $5 per bundle. Rosie has found her new niche in life; Purveyor of Firewood. She is a natural sales person and sold almost $300 worth of firewood our first week on the job.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uXMh87X76WI/UhWOkjJsFXI/AAAAAAAADtk/7Eq6ICfyI5o/s1600-h/IMG_70654.jpg"><img title="IMG_7065" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7065" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vkqy8Yd-OH8/UhWOl_RWjAI/AAAAAAAADts/ewFUUGd0tPU/IMG_7065_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="536" height="403"></a></p> <p>Last Tuesday we went down the hill into the town of Hood River. We found a Wal-Mart (not a supercenter) and a Safeway supermarket that is quite nice. From Wednesday to Sunday it was a matter of getting used to the campground layout and becoming familiar with our duties. The work is not all day long, but we need to be available all day long to help campers with any issues or questions they may have. We have met one family from Switzerland; and two from Germany. They were really surprised to find out they had a German speaking Camp Host.</p> <p>Hood River is about 15 miles away. There is a little village of Mt. Hood - Parkdale 2.5 miles away. The whole village is about 2 blocks long, but they have a very nice private market, a hardware store, and several bars/eating establishments. The market has a wide selection of groceries, meats, bakery and a deli. They are open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm seven days a week. Sure beats driving into Hood River for a loaf of bread!</p> <p>By this Monday we had settled into a routine and felt pretty comfortable with our duties. We officially have Tuesdays and Wednesdays “off”. I told the story of Tuesday in my last blog. Today is Wednesday. We took off this morning for a hike to a waterfall. The trailhead is about 9 miles south of here.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-h9eFT_mPsVI/UhWOnXaydRI/AAAAAAAADt0/Q_ippvsj9SQ/s1600-h/IMG_7083%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7083" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7083" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MohNoXIlSP0/UhWOoOupanI/AAAAAAAADt8/J6TS7R30jmk/IMG_7083_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="196"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E4Q-ZlAct9I/UhWOpWQ7ZFI/AAAAAAAADuE/Bkxk6QYdjn4/s1600-h/IMG_7084%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7084" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7084" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZWJcEhjEYSs/UhWOqZmAg_I/AAAAAAAADuM/nUlVmHCkkVQ/IMG_7084_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="192"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JrNcAnX2y6Q/UhWPEaHGK5I/AAAAAAAADuc/-Pu6zFkquPo/s1600-h/IMG_7086%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7086" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7086" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qhrtfD12gmU/UhWPFS6F_WI/AAAAAAAADuk/xu-ywFy5HWA/IMG_7086_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="198"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PWblVPiUY2Q/UhWPGhilFMI/AAAAAAAADus/4xZF_DstUIA/s1600-h/IMG_7088%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7088" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7088" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YFteF-RyICQ/UhWPHZOL58I/AAAAAAAADu0/oYfIxrk9pm0/IMG_7088_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="192"></a></p> <p>The waterfall is reported to be about 2 miles from the trailhead. We did not make it all the way to the falls because the trail got pretty steep and narrow with a serious drop off on one side. We would have been OK by ourselves, but we had the furr kids along and we didn’t want to take a chance on meeting other dogs on this trail. So we turned back after about a mile. I was pretty happy to be able to do this hike. Two months ago I would have never made it that far.</p> <p>This afternoon the sky became dark with smoke from a forest fire about 20 miles east of here. The smell of smoke was overpowering and ash was settling everywhere in our campsite. Our manager, Cory, came by and explained that there was an unusual wind out of the east that was blowing smoke our way. The wind was supposed to change to coming out of the west this evening. About 7:00 pm we could notice a reduction in the smoke and there was a slight breeze from the west. We made a firewood run mostly to check on our campers and did make one sale to a couple from Montreal, Canada. They were French Canadians, so no German speaking there, but we did have a nice conversation with them. </p> <p>This blog writing was interrupted by several ladies in distress. They needed a set of jumper cables to start one of their cars. Fortunately, Craig had a pair of cables so I borrowed them and went over to help them get started. They didn’t have a flashlight, so I brought out my super duper spotlight to help find the batteries in the cars. Turns out that the kids had been charging their cell phones on the power outlet of a Cadillac for two days and nobody thought to start the car occasionally to keep the battery charged up. Anyway, we got them going and they were very grateful.</p> <p>I’m tired now. Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5617506701139773252.post-26004646146571285912013-08-20T22:39:00.001-06:002013-08-20T22:39:48.204-06:00Problem Solved!<p>We arrived at Tollbridge County Park on Sunday, August 11th, for our first Camp Hosting gig. This is the best site, in the best environment, with the best weather we have had since we began full timing in April 2012. We have a huge site with full hookups, including 50 amp service. The area is heavily wooded and the temperatures are in the high 50’s to the low 80’s. No wind and only intermittent light rain.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4m3BJz87XIg/UhREcGcF8ZI/AAAAAAAADr8/h6WrQkAAGdI/s1600-h/IMG_7063%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7063" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7063" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4nLfz7Zbol4/UhREdAvKU5I/AAAAAAAADsA/cWV9UBcMLCI/IMG_7063_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="508" height="382"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wLlRExVYrNU/UhREeWMtXcI/AAAAAAAADsM/NqgncmnwAMg/s1600-h/IMG_7059%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7059" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7059" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FIcONNUegfg/UhREfCUCS-I/AAAAAAAADsU/a10ufFzOArs/IMG_7059_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="380"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WCh4DIwu_6E/UhREgu5EW0I/AAAAAAAADsc/IbHHusd8tuU/s1600-h/IMG_7060%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7060" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_7060" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ur2otU3E_jM/UhREhiTwbYI/AAAAAAAADsk/0GMHTi3YEo0/IMG_7060_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="509" height="383"></a></p> <p>So what problems could there possibly be? Absolutely zero access to television, over the air or satellite. We can live with that. We have satellite radio that works just fine. We had been talking about cutting ourselves off of cable news networks anyway, so here is our chance to go cold turkey. After a couple of days, we turned on CNN on the satellite radio and after 10 minutes of nothing but bad news, we turned it off and switched to ‘60’s rock and roll. The other problem is a little more significant; very weak Verizon signal for internet access. It took forever to send and receive a short e-mail and forget about anything with a picture. We found a local café with internet access and used it for a couple of time, but that was not the solution. Talking with our manager from Hood River County, we learned this is a strong AT&T area. Then one of the campers mentioned she had great internet access with her AT&T MiFi. So today was our first full day off and we had a lot to do; but the first thing we did was find the nearest AT&T store looking for solutions. I ended up with an AT&T MiFi for .99 cents and a two year contract for 5 GB a month for $50 a month. Since my primary need is for my two small businesses, that is a good solution. When we finally got back to the campsite this afternoon, I hooked everything up and IT WORKED. We have fast internet service for our 2 laptops and my Samsung Galaxy 2 tablet. I just downloaded two books from Kindle and it took less than a minute. Now I have 2 sources for internet access. When one is weak, or I am approaching my GB limit on one, I can switch to the other. How sweet it is!</p> <p>After doing the laundry at a poorly maintained Laundromat, we drove up Interstate 84 to Multnomah Falls. I had seen photos of the falls in many guidebooks, so I was anxious to show it to Rosie. This is pretty spectacular:</p> <p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cqg9bCcLhfI/UhREiXNz7pI/AAAAAAAADss/m8M_Jy7Ll2U/s1600-h/IMG_7067%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7067" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7067" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T_3l7Ba-qI8/UhREjJeEjJI/AAAAAAAADs0/3EiLaFb5JTc/IMG_7067_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="460"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NnwItZTiY3Q/UhREj2ocgII/AAAAAAAADs8/UBJtxKb0fZE/s1600-h/IMG_7071%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7071" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_7071" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eeDVQjP0LEQ/UhREkreiC1I/AAAAAAAADtE/Mn2Pth7KI_k/IMG_7071_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" height="458"></a></p> <p>I was not able to get the entire falls from top to bottom in one shot. Another bit of good news is that I was able to walk up to the upper bridge you see in the picture on the left. I did stop and rest at each switchback in the paved path, but no heavy breathing. It seems my CardioVersion procedure is still holding.</p> <p>Well I am going to see how long it takes to upload this post to my web site. I will be back soon with a description of the Campground, how we are faring with our new duties and a general catch-up.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.</p> Jim Sathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10625815911858730199noreply@blogger.com3