On Memorial Day weekend fifty years before Nancy and I arrived in Portland, the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park opened on Hayden Island in the Columbia River. Named for Carl Jantzen of swimsuit fame who was one of the investors, it covered 123 acres and was the largest amusement park in the nation. It had four outdoor pools and one indoor, a ballroom, a fun house, two roller coasters, and a merry-go-round built in 1905 for the St. Louis World's Fair. Folks dubbed it the Coney Island of the West.
By 1970 with attendance down and the land value up, it was closed and replaced by the Jantzen Beach Mall. For a couple of decades, it prospered, primarily because Oregon has no sales tax and Washington, just across the river, does. Eventually, the competition from newer, bigger, flashier malls took its toll. It changed hands and the new owners tore about half of it down to make room for a collection of big box stores. They renamed it the Jantzen Beach SuperCenter. When we left for Alaska in 1999, it was a huge success.
This morning we drove the rental car there to look for a printer at Staples. The march of time it seems has once again passed this place by. Several of the "new" stores are vacant, others have been torn down. Ironically, Best Buy, which is now an anchor store in what remains of the 1970s mall, seemed about the only one doing much business.
We did well with our shopping, however. We found an HP printer/scanner/copier on clearance for $51.50. I guess I'm just getting old, but it seems like just yesterday that these multi-function machines first hit the market--big, heavy and expensive, but incapable of doing anything very well. The one we got is compact, light weight, can even print photos, and they were practically giving it away. How's that possible?
At noon I drove Nicole over to Van Mall to meet Tracy, a girl she has known since they were three but hasn't seen in a very long time, not unlike my friend John and me. Their reunion was the main reason we got to Vancouver several days before Nicole's flight.
They had met in a Montessori school that now is located right by the mall, but when they attended was in the old Academy building in downtown Vancouver. After I went back to pick her up, we drove by there. Though many of the stately old trees have disappeared, the building itself has changed little. Just down the street, Officers' Row at Fort Vancouver, which includes the Grant house where a young Ulysses S. Grant lived while stationed here, seemed frozen in time, and a mile or so farther on, the neighborhood of small houses built during World War II to house Kaiser Shipyard workers remained intact, as well.
It was all as I remembered and it felt wonderful. I couldn't stop smiling.
Day 74
Vancouver, WA
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 12,169.5
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
So much for strolling down memory lane
I started the day by getting a haircut from Nicole. It was overdue. The last time she cut it we were in Vermont. I followed that up with a trip to the campground showers which were very nice--clean, warm, and just a few feet from the RV, a big plus with temperatures this morning in the 30s.
Around noon, we picked up a rental car from Enterprise and took a long drive around town. After twelve years the place is practically unrecognizable, so nostalgia was hard to come by.
One example, our favorite grocery store, Nature's Fresh Northwest, is long gone. A small Portland chain with one Vancouver location, it was bought out years ago by Wild Oats who then sold it to Whole Foods who ended up closing it almost three years ago.
The original owners started a new chain called New Seasons and now have 12 stores, including a new one that just opened here in Vancouver, so we went to check it out. They bill themselves as The Friendliest Store In Town. The store was very attractive and had good energy, the employees were indeed friendly, and the food looked delicious. It struck me as a small scale, hippy version of Wegmans.
We bought several items and had them for dinner. They were just okay. Clearly, Wegmans has nothing to fear.
Day 73
Vancouver, WA
Daily Mileage: 7.0
Total Mileage: 12,169.5
Around noon, we picked up a rental car from Enterprise and took a long drive around town. After twelve years the place is practically unrecognizable, so nostalgia was hard to come by.
One example, our favorite grocery store, Nature's Fresh Northwest, is long gone. A small Portland chain with one Vancouver location, it was bought out years ago by Wild Oats who then sold it to Whole Foods who ended up closing it almost three years ago.
The original owners started a new chain called New Seasons and now have 12 stores, including a new one that just opened here in Vancouver, so we went to check it out. They bill themselves as The Friendliest Store In Town. The store was very attractive and had good energy, the employees were indeed friendly, and the food looked delicious. It struck me as a small scale, hippy version of Wegmans.
We bought several items and had them for dinner. They were just okay. Clearly, Wegmans has nothing to fear.
Day 73
Vancouver, WA
Daily Mileage: 7.0
Total Mileage: 12,169.5
Monday, November 28, 2011
Our last day on the road, for awhile
By this morning the rain had stopped, but everything was wet and low clouds hung on the surrounding hills. This was the Oregon I remembered. We were nearly to Portland before the sun came out.
Nancy and I moved to Portland on Memorial Day in 1978 and lived there until the end of 1983 when we moved across the Columbia River to Vancouver, Washington. Back then I really loved Portland. After Nicole was born in the summer of 1984, we got to Portland less and less until finally we hardly went there at all. Each time we did, however, my love affair with the town died a little. Californians, tired of the pollution, traffic jams, and long commutes, had discovered Portland. The influx, of course, just turned Portland into a smaller version of LA with all the same problems.
In order to avoid as much of the Portland traffic as possible, I opted for the I-205 by-pass, even though it meant driving seven miles further. When we got off I-5, the traffic was already getting on my nerves, and initially the I-205 traffic was noticeably lighter. All too quickly, however, the volume swelled to unacceptable levels, and I was not glad to be back here.
We had picked an RV park near the Vancouver Mall. When we arrived, the office was locked. We read the info posted outside, called the number listed but only got an answering machine, then drove around the park just to check it out. When we got back to the office, we stopped to figure out what we wanted to do. There was a second RV park in Vancouver, though not as conveniently located, and we had started the engine to head there when the lady who manages the park suddenly walked up to the RV. We decided to stay and have paid for the next four nights.
I'm glad we did. The park is clean and quiet and the location is fantastic.
Day 72
Sutherlin, OR to Vancouver, WA
Daily Mileage: 189.1
Total Mileage: 12,162.5
Nancy and I moved to Portland on Memorial Day in 1978 and lived there until the end of 1983 when we moved across the Columbia River to Vancouver, Washington. Back then I really loved Portland. After Nicole was born in the summer of 1984, we got to Portland less and less until finally we hardly went there at all. Each time we did, however, my love affair with the town died a little. Californians, tired of the pollution, traffic jams, and long commutes, had discovered Portland. The influx, of course, just turned Portland into a smaller version of LA with all the same problems.
In order to avoid as much of the Portland traffic as possible, I opted for the I-205 by-pass, even though it meant driving seven miles further. When we got off I-5, the traffic was already getting on my nerves, and initially the I-205 traffic was noticeably lighter. All too quickly, however, the volume swelled to unacceptable levels, and I was not glad to be back here.
We had picked an RV park near the Vancouver Mall. When we arrived, the office was locked. We read the info posted outside, called the number listed but only got an answering machine, then drove around the park just to check it out. When we got back to the office, we stopped to figure out what we wanted to do. There was a second RV park in Vancouver, though not as conveniently located, and we had started the engine to head there when the lady who manages the park suddenly walked up to the RV. We decided to stay and have paid for the next four nights.
I'm glad we did. The park is clean and quiet and the location is fantastic.
Day 72
Sutherlin, OR to Vancouver, WA
Daily Mileage: 189.1
Total Mileage: 12,162.5
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A day in the mountains
Just a few miles north of Corning, the Sacramento Valley peters out and the farm land gives way to hills. By the time we had been on the road an hour, we had reached Redding where the hills start turning into some serious mountains. For the next 50 miles, I-5 follows the winding course of the Sacramento River northward towards Mt. Shasta, topping out at an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet.
Beyond Shasta, the road descends a couple of thousand feet then climbs once more, this time into the Siskiyou Mountains. I knew them only as the one place on I-5 that closed at least once every winter due to severe weather, and my imagination did not do them justice. In reality, they are so scenic that Nancy has vowed never to pass this way again, so I guess we now have a fairly firm commitment to a coastal route for our return trip south.
We stopped for gas at the Costco in Medford. I had forgotten you are not allowed to pump your own gas in Oregon. I felt really strange having someone doing it for me. I had the urge to tip the guy. But I didn't.
Tonight we still have a few more miles to go to put the Siskiyous behind us. We're staying at an RV park/drive-in movie theater. At this time of the year, they only show movies on Saturday night, but since this evening has been rainy, I doubt it would have been much fun anyway.
Day 71
Corning, CA to Sutherlin, OR
Daily Mileage: 308.4
Total Mileage: 11,973.4
Beyond Shasta, the road descends a couple of thousand feet then climbs once more, this time into the Siskiyou Mountains. I knew them only as the one place on I-5 that closed at least once every winter due to severe weather, and my imagination did not do them justice. In reality, they are so scenic that Nancy has vowed never to pass this way again, so I guess we now have a fairly firm commitment to a coastal route for our return trip south.
We stopped for gas at the Costco in Medford. I had forgotten you are not allowed to pump your own gas in Oregon. I felt really strange having someone doing it for me. I had the urge to tip the guy. But I didn't.
Tonight we still have a few more miles to go to put the Siskiyous behind us. We're staying at an RV park/drive-in movie theater. At this time of the year, they only show movies on Saturday night, but since this evening has been rainy, I doubt it would have been much fun anyway.
Day 71
Corning, CA to Sutherlin, OR
Daily Mileage: 308.4
Total Mileage: 11,973.4
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Are we there yet?
We woke to very heavy fog, but we didn't know it until I stepped outside to unhook. We drove in it for over an hour then it turned into low overcast that didn't burn off until early afternoon.
We stopped in Sacramento for lunch at a Wendy's. Right across the parking lot was a Home Depot, so Nancy finally got to do her shopping there.
Yesterday was a long day and I had hoped to be off the road early today. As we drove this afternoon, Nancy was checking for suitable parks in the RV campground directory. She would tell me about one just up the road that sounded good and I would get all excited. But before we could reach it, she would find one that sounded even better just a little bit further on. This went on for a couple of hours.
While it made for another long day of driving, I am happy with the placed we finally picked. It's quiet and inexpensive with lots of trees, and they're cool with dogs. Also, fast food is just a few steps away.
Day 70
Kingsburg, CA to Corning, CA
Daily Mileage: 310.8
Total Mileage: 11,665.0
We stopped in Sacramento for lunch at a Wendy's. Right across the parking lot was a Home Depot, so Nancy finally got to do her shopping there.
Yesterday was a long day and I had hoped to be off the road early today. As we drove this afternoon, Nancy was checking for suitable parks in the RV campground directory. She would tell me about one just up the road that sounded good and I would get all excited. But before we could reach it, she would find one that sounded even better just a little bit further on. This went on for a couple of hours.
While it made for another long day of driving, I am happy with the placed we finally picked. It's quiet and inexpensive with lots of trees, and they're cool with dogs. Also, fast food is just a few steps away.
Day 70
Kingsburg, CA to Corning, CA
Daily Mileage: 310.8
Total Mileage: 11,665.0
Friday, November 25, 2011
Leaving' Vegas as the sun comes up
Nancy and I were awake at 5:00. We got up, had coffee in the dark so as not to disturb Nicole, and were on the road at 6:00. As we left the park, Nancy noticed that the Walmart across the street didn't seem very busy, so we stopped and picked up a few things. Even with the delay, we still managed to get across town to I-15 by 7:00 and were south bound and down, loaded up and trucking, just as the sun rose over the eastern mountains.
One of the reasons we were keen on getting an early start was that we had been told to expect a long delay getting through the California agricultural inspection check point. We thought that the inspection station would be at the state line which is only 35 miles from The Strip and reasoned that they wouldn't be very busy first thing in the morning.
Although the check point actually was at Yermo, 100 miles inside California, and we didn't reach it until 10:00, there was still no lines, no waiting, hardly any delay at all.
Eighty miles further on, just beyond the town of Mojave where the highway climbs into the Tehachapi Mountains we came upon an extraordinary sight, the Tehachapi Wind Farm, the second largest collection of wind turbines in the world. Every ridge for miles is covered with them, approximately 5,000 in all. While I'm a fan of clean energy, all I could think of was how much noise they must be generating.
Because we got such an early start and had no holdup at the inspection station, we reached Bakersfield, our intended destination for tonight, by noon. We stopped at Costco for gas and some lunch and pushed on.
We got nearly to Fresno before calling it a day. The most interesting thing about tonight's campground is the size of the trees.
Day 69
Las Vegas, NV to Kingsburg, CA
Daily Mileage: 378.8
Total Mileage: 11,354.2
One of the reasons we were keen on getting an early start was that we had been told to expect a long delay getting through the California agricultural inspection check point. We thought that the inspection station would be at the state line which is only 35 miles from The Strip and reasoned that they wouldn't be very busy first thing in the morning.
Although the check point actually was at Yermo, 100 miles inside California, and we didn't reach it until 10:00, there was still no lines, no waiting, hardly any delay at all.
Eighty miles further on, just beyond the town of Mojave where the highway climbs into the Tehachapi Mountains we came upon an extraordinary sight, the Tehachapi Wind Farm, the second largest collection of wind turbines in the world. Every ridge for miles is covered with them, approximately 5,000 in all. While I'm a fan of clean energy, all I could think of was how much noise they must be generating.
Because we got such an early start and had no holdup at the inspection station, we reached Bakersfield, our intended destination for tonight, by noon. We stopped at Costco for gas and some lunch and pushed on.
We got nearly to Fresno before calling it a day. The most interesting thing about tonight's campground is the size of the trees.
Day 69
Las Vegas, NV to Kingsburg, CA
Daily Mileage: 378.8
Total Mileage: 11,354.2
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thanksgiving
We had a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixin's at the Firelight Buffet at Sam's Town. It was delicious and we all enjoyed it tremendously.
It was the first time Nicole has ever had turkey on Thanksgiving. We have always made a special meal for the day, but with just three light eaters to feed, the full meal deal has always seemed an unjustifiable waste of good food.
The number of RVs in the park has increased noticeably today. There have been trailers on both sides of us since this afternoon, and I don't like it. Feel like Dan'l Boone--need to move, the neighbors are too close.
Day 68
Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 10,975.4
It was the first time Nicole has ever had turkey on Thanksgiving. We have always made a special meal for the day, but with just three light eaters to feed, the full meal deal has always seemed an unjustifiable waste of good food.
The number of RVs in the park has increased noticeably today. There have been trailers on both sides of us since this afternoon, and I don't like it. Feel like Dan'l Boone--need to move, the neighbors are too close.
Day 68
Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 10,975.4
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
A new bed
The last time we filled up our LP gas was nearly a month ago back in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The night was pleasantly warm and we didn't need to use the heat. The next night, however, deep in the Shenandoah Valley, it was cold and wet and we turned it on. I didn't notice the difference, but the next morning Nancy complained that the RV did not stay as warm as it should have. The following night we stay at John's house. In north Georgia the night after that, the temperature dropped to freezing, and once again the heater was turned on. This time, even I noticed that it wasn't putting out much heat. Then in the middle of the night, it began making a weird sound, and we shut it off. The following day, we stopped at a Walmart in Alabama and bought several electric heaters; the furnace has not been on since.
This morning we paid Camping World to find out that we couldn't get any heat because the valve wasn't completely reopened after the last fill up and that the noise just meant the bushings in the motor were starting to wear out.
The diagnostic took about an hour; more than enough time to find several must-have items in their store, including a memory foam mattress to replace the one that came with the RV which has seen better days. They had no one to install it but let us do it ourselves out in the service bay. They also let us leave all the packaging there which helped us out a lot.
When we got back to the RV park, Nicole and I went to the Panda Express in the casino for lunch. On the way out, she put a dollar in one of the quarter slots, lost it all faster than you could say, "where'd my money go", and decided gambling wasn't for her. Smart girl.
The instructions with the new mattress said not to use it for 12 hours, and Nancy has been making sure I don't. It has been a long afternoon.
Day 67
Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 22.0
Total Mileage: 10,975.4
This morning we paid Camping World to find out that we couldn't get any heat because the valve wasn't completely reopened after the last fill up and that the noise just meant the bushings in the motor were starting to wear out.
The diagnostic took about an hour; more than enough time to find several must-have items in their store, including a memory foam mattress to replace the one that came with the RV which has seen better days. They had no one to install it but let us do it ourselves out in the service bay. They also let us leave all the packaging there which helped us out a lot.
When we got back to the RV park, Nicole and I went to the Panda Express in the casino for lunch. On the way out, she put a dollar in one of the quarter slots, lost it all faster than you could say, "where'd my money go", and decided gambling wasn't for her. Smart girl.
The instructions with the new mattress said not to use it for 12 hours, and Nancy has been making sure I don't. It has been a long afternoon.
Day 67
Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 22.0
Total Mileage: 10,975.4
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
We just needed to pick up a few things
 |
| I took this on the way to pick up some breakfast. |
Were they ever busy. Driving the RV through the parking lot was nerve wracking. Inside the store, everyone seemed to be going in a different direction and there was barely room to push a cart. I had to fight back the urge to bolt for the door.
Eventually, we made our escape and moved on to JoAnn Fabrics; Nancy was looking for some heavy material to prevent the cold air in the cab from getting into the rest of the RV when we are camped for the night.
At this store the problem was just the opposite of Costco, there was barely any discernible energy at all. At first this was a relief. After 20 minutes of standing in the same spot waiting for them to cut Nancy's material, I was fighting back the urge to bolt for the door.
Thankfully, Nancy found an errand for me. She sent me next door to Petco to look for a DNA testing kit for dogs. At first they didn't think they had any. Then they discovered a couple in the office. The cashier and I got very excited when they rang up as $69.99 marked down to $17.00. She was all set to buy the other one herself until she read the rest of the screen which said that they had been recalled and weren't to be sold.
By the time I got back to Nancy, she had just reached the head of the line at the cutting table. After that, it was just a matter of waiting in the checkout line for another 10 minutes or so.
Though she still had something she wanted to look for at the Home Depot across the street, we all agreed we'd had enough fun and called it a day.
Day 66
Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 13.4
Total Mileage: 10,953.4
Monday, November 21, 2011
Settling down for awhile
Sunday night was very quiet. All that changed at about 8:00 this morning. We were close to Nellis AFB, two mile due west of the south end of their runways, to be exact, and the boys (and girls) and their toys were back at work. They were taking off to the south then turning west before heading north for a few hours of fun and games on the Nellis Range. This brought them right over the top of us at low altitude, afterburners blazing. To Nancy and Nicole it was just a lot of noise, but I couldn't help rushing outside every time another group flew by.
We knew how close Nellis was when we decided to stay here, so the noise didn't come as a surprise, but coupled with our disappointment with the Steakhouse, it was enough to make us move on. This time we chose the east side of town. The first place we picked was the Road Runner RV Park on Boulder Highway. It looked very nice and the rates were only $16 a night, but they wouldn't take any pets over 30 pounds. Plan B was the Boulder RV Park at Sam's Town Gambling Hall and Hotel just down the street. The rate there was higher though not by much, and the hotel offers a variety of places to eat within easy walking distance, so we paid for the next four nights.
Between checking out of the Hitching Post and checking in at Sam's Town, we drove to the Camping World in Henderson to make an appointment to get our furnace looked at. They were able to get us in on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.
This evening, Nancy and I wandered around the casino. It was full of bored, joyless people, mostly elderly, watched over by bored, joyless employees and security guards. It was kind of sad.
I got this picture while out walking Sadie tonight.
Day 65
North Las Vegas to Las Vegas
Daily Mileage: 34.4
Total Mileage: 10,940.0
We knew how close Nellis was when we decided to stay here, so the noise didn't come as a surprise, but coupled with our disappointment with the Steakhouse, it was enough to make us move on. This time we chose the east side of town. The first place we picked was the Road Runner RV Park on Boulder Highway. It looked very nice and the rates were only $16 a night, but they wouldn't take any pets over 30 pounds. Plan B was the Boulder RV Park at Sam's Town Gambling Hall and Hotel just down the street. The rate there was higher though not by much, and the hotel offers a variety of places to eat within easy walking distance, so we paid for the next four nights.
Between checking out of the Hitching Post and checking in at Sam's Town, we drove to the Camping World in Henderson to make an appointment to get our furnace looked at. They were able to get us in on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.
This evening, Nancy and I wandered around the casino. It was full of bored, joyless people, mostly elderly, watched over by bored, joyless employees and security guards. It was kind of sad.
I got this picture while out walking Sadie tonight.
Day 65
North Las Vegas to Las Vegas
Daily Mileage: 34.4
Total Mileage: 10,940.0
Sunday, November 20, 2011
This is not the way to rest up
RVing has been hard on Nicole. She has always been a night owl. Nancy and I are morning people. We had hoped that after awhile, her sleep pattern would fall into sync with ours, but this has not happened. When we are on the road day after day, she is unable to get the sleep she needs and eventually is so sleep deprived that she feels exhausted all the time. Our stay in Florida was long enough to get her back on her feet, but the eight days on the road since then have taken their toll, and at the moment she isn't up for much.
Just about anyone who has been here knows that Las Vegas means sore feet. Just to get from your hotel room to the casino can be a major hike. Though we were at the Circus Circus KOA, even Nancy and I never bothered to go inside Circus Circus because the effort to get there exceeded our interest. Needless to say, Nicole never even left the RV.
Since being conveniently located right on The Strip doesn't seem to working for us and the daily rates are on the high side, we decided that all we really need is just some place decent where we can while away a few days in the Nevada sunshine. Tonight we will give a park in North Las Vegas called The Hitching Post a try.
We still wanted to show Nicole something of Las Vegas, however, so when we checked out, we drove down The Strip. I had come away from my previous visits with a decidedly negative attitude toward this town--it seemed like a monument to greed, glitz without substance, and a huge waste of electricity--so as we set out this morning, I blithely informed Nancy and Nicole that I would be happy to attend to the driving while they sat back and rubber-necked.
We started from the north end of The Strip where Circus Circus is located. In about 15 seconds, I was rubber-necking right along with them. Damn you, Las Vegas! I could not avert my eyes. The place is mesmerizing, even in the cold light of day. If all this is nothing but evil conjuring to steal your soul, I guess I just kissed mine good-bye.
I had hoped for very light traffic--after all, it was 10:00 on a Sunday morning--but "Vegas never sleeps" is not just a catchy slogan. There were three lanes of traffic; I got in the middle one and stayed there. The farther south we went, the busier it got. As we neared the southern end, I suddenly occurred to me that I had not seen another RV of any sort since leaving the KOA.
Over the last several years, Kroger has expanded nationwide by buying up other grocery chains. We needed some groceries, so we asked the Garmin to find us a Kroger, thinking it was safe to assume there was one nearby. What we failed to realize was that Kroger has chosen to retain the old chains' names on their acquisitions. Here they own Smith's and Food For Less. Despite this, the Garmin found us a Kroger. It sent us to some guy's house in a residential neighborhood that clearly wasn't now, nor had ever been, a grocery store.
We also needed gas, so we asked the Garmin to take us to the nearest Costco. It did, but the store was no longer open, so we parked by the gas pumps and ate some lunch.
We wanted to visit Red Rock Canyon. Still needing gas, we asked if there was a Costco on the way there. This time, the Garmin took us by way of yet another residential area. We did find the Costco and filled up, but when we left, we realized that we were right on the highway to the canyon.
I visited Red Rock Canyon on my trip here in 1997. It is 17 miles west of The Strip and, back then, about 15 miles outside of Vegas. Today, it is only 5 miles beyond the last subdivision. Somehow, that made it seem a lot less special. We only went in as far as the visitors center because the road beyond that point is a 13-mile, one-way loop, and Nancy, who has a problem with steep drop-offs, didn't think she was up to that.
We drove back to town and checked into the new RV park. The Hitching Post Saloon and Steakhouse is on the premises and was one of the reasons we chose this location. It turns out that Steakhouse is a bit of a stretch; Saloon with kitchen is more accurate. As soon as we stepped inside, everyone at the bar (all men) turned to look at us. The barmaid greeted us with a surprised expression. We announced that we were looking for some dinner. The barmaid looked at Nicole and said okay but she's can't stay. Nicole hadn't bothered to bring any ID, but we reassured her that she was 27. The barmaid compromised by seating us in the adjacent pool room, thankfully sans pool players, and we decided that carryout would be just fine. We sat there for almost an hour before the food arrived, but, steakhouse or not, the guy in the kitchen knew how to cook and the food was delicious.
Day 64
Las Vegas, NV to North Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 59.0
Total Mileage: 10,905.6
Just about anyone who has been here knows that Las Vegas means sore feet. Just to get from your hotel room to the casino can be a major hike. Though we were at the Circus Circus KOA, even Nancy and I never bothered to go inside Circus Circus because the effort to get there exceeded our interest. Needless to say, Nicole never even left the RV.
Since being conveniently located right on The Strip doesn't seem to working for us and the daily rates are on the high side, we decided that all we really need is just some place decent where we can while away a few days in the Nevada sunshine. Tonight we will give a park in North Las Vegas called The Hitching Post a try.
We still wanted to show Nicole something of Las Vegas, however, so when we checked out, we drove down The Strip. I had come away from my previous visits with a decidedly negative attitude toward this town--it seemed like a monument to greed, glitz without substance, and a huge waste of electricity--so as we set out this morning, I blithely informed Nancy and Nicole that I would be happy to attend to the driving while they sat back and rubber-necked.
We started from the north end of The Strip where Circus Circus is located. In about 15 seconds, I was rubber-necking right along with them. Damn you, Las Vegas! I could not avert my eyes. The place is mesmerizing, even in the cold light of day. If all this is nothing but evil conjuring to steal your soul, I guess I just kissed mine good-bye.
I had hoped for very light traffic--after all, it was 10:00 on a Sunday morning--but "Vegas never sleeps" is not just a catchy slogan. There were three lanes of traffic; I got in the middle one and stayed there. The farther south we went, the busier it got. As we neared the southern end, I suddenly occurred to me that I had not seen another RV of any sort since leaving the KOA.
Over the last several years, Kroger has expanded nationwide by buying up other grocery chains. We needed some groceries, so we asked the Garmin to find us a Kroger, thinking it was safe to assume there was one nearby. What we failed to realize was that Kroger has chosen to retain the old chains' names on their acquisitions. Here they own Smith's and Food For Less. Despite this, the Garmin found us a Kroger. It sent us to some guy's house in a residential neighborhood that clearly wasn't now, nor had ever been, a grocery store.
We also needed gas, so we asked the Garmin to take us to the nearest Costco. It did, but the store was no longer open, so we parked by the gas pumps and ate some lunch.
We wanted to visit Red Rock Canyon. Still needing gas, we asked if there was a Costco on the way there. This time, the Garmin took us by way of yet another residential area. We did find the Costco and filled up, but when we left, we realized that we were right on the highway to the canyon.
I visited Red Rock Canyon on my trip here in 1997. It is 17 miles west of The Strip and, back then, about 15 miles outside of Vegas. Today, it is only 5 miles beyond the last subdivision. Somehow, that made it seem a lot less special. We only went in as far as the visitors center because the road beyond that point is a 13-mile, one-way loop, and Nancy, who has a problem with steep drop-offs, didn't think she was up to that.
 |
| The view from inside the Visitors Center |
Day 64
Las Vegas, NV to North Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 59.0
Total Mileage: 10,905.6
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Camping on The Strip
About an hour out of Wickenburg, the road passed through a range of low mountains whose dry slopes were studded with Saquaro cacti, the only large concentration of them we have seen so far.
Approaching Kingman, Arizona, we came out of the mountains and were hit by crosswinds so strong that even the semis were being blown around.
The new road that bypasses Hoover Dam is undoubtedly a huge improvement over the old one that ran right across the top of it--wider, faster, straighter, and with some jaw-dropping scenery--but the new bridge across the Colorado River was a big disappointment. For security reasons, the side towards the dam is lined with a high concrete barrier that eliminates the view so completely that it's hard to tell you're even on a bridge.
Las Vegas has been touted for years as one of the fastest growing cities in the US, but I was still unprepared for the reality. Nancy and I first saw Vegas in 1986 when we won a weekend here in a raffle. I returned in 1997 for a convention. Even though a lot had changed in those 11 years, I still recognized the place.
Not so this time. It hasn't just grown, it has exploded. Where in the world did all these people come from?
For our stay tonight, we have chosen the KOA Kampground at Circus Circus. We haven't actually ventured outside the RV park yet, but we do have a great view of the Stratosphere.
Day 63
Wickenburg, AZ to Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 237.4
Total Mileage: 10,846.6
Approaching Kingman, Arizona, we came out of the mountains and were hit by crosswinds so strong that even the semis were being blown around.
The new road that bypasses Hoover Dam is undoubtedly a huge improvement over the old one that ran right across the top of it--wider, faster, straighter, and with some jaw-dropping scenery--but the new bridge across the Colorado River was a big disappointment. For security reasons, the side towards the dam is lined with a high concrete barrier that eliminates the view so completely that it's hard to tell you're even on a bridge.
Las Vegas has been touted for years as one of the fastest growing cities in the US, but I was still unprepared for the reality. Nancy and I first saw Vegas in 1986 when we won a weekend here in a raffle. I returned in 1997 for a convention. Even though a lot had changed in those 11 years, I still recognized the place.
Not so this time. It hasn't just grown, it has exploded. Where in the world did all these people come from?
For our stay tonight, we have chosen the KOA Kampground at Circus Circus. We haven't actually ventured outside the RV park yet, but we do have a great view of the Stratosphere.
Day 63
Wickenburg, AZ to Las Vegas, NV
Daily Mileage: 237.4
Total Mileage: 10,846.6
Friday, November 18, 2011
Headin' for Vegas, baby!
Since we have a few extra days to kill on our way to Portland, we thought we would stop in southern California to see one of Nancy's nieces that lives in Riverside. When we found out that she was back in Michigan for Thanksgiving, we decided the head for Las Vegas, instead.
It was cold again last night but warm today and for the first time since San Antonio there were clouds. There were also lots of contrails and by the end of the day the combination had produced nearly total overcast. In all our travels, the only other time I've seen contrails like this was over a month ago in Iowa.
We stopped for gas in Tucson at an ARCO AM/PM Minimart that would only take cash or debit cards. That's a new one for us.
Phoenix proved to be about as I expected--very large, very flat, very ordinary. That so many now choose to live here defies my comprehension.
Just before Wickenburg, our stop for tonight, the terrain suddenly turned hilly. It was the first bit of interesting scenery I've seen since El Paso. The RV park is also an unexpected delight, full of trees with lots of long-term residents. Quite charming.
Day 62
Willcox, AZ to Wickenburg, AZ
Daily Mileage: 253.1
Total Mileage: 10,609.2
It was cold again last night but warm today and for the first time since San Antonio there were clouds. There were also lots of contrails and by the end of the day the combination had produced nearly total overcast. In all our travels, the only other time I've seen contrails like this was over a month ago in Iowa.
We stopped for gas in Tucson at an ARCO AM/PM Minimart that would only take cash or debit cards. That's a new one for us.
Phoenix proved to be about as I expected--very large, very flat, very ordinary. That so many now choose to live here defies my comprehension.
Just before Wickenburg, our stop for tonight, the terrain suddenly turned hilly. It was the first bit of interesting scenery I've seen since El Paso. The RV park is also an unexpected delight, full of trees with lots of long-term residents. Quite charming.
Day 62
Willcox, AZ to Wickenburg, AZ
Daily Mileage: 253.1
Total Mileage: 10,609.2
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Some random observations
It was cold last night in Texas.
We left the campground at 8:24. Eight minutes later crossed into Mountain Time and suddenly it was only 7:32. We used the extra hour for travel. First thing this morning, this seemed like a splendid idea; tonight, I'm exhausted.
We left the campground at 8:24. Eight minutes later crossed into Mountain Time and suddenly it was only 7:32. We used the extra hour for travel. First thing this morning, this seemed like a splendid idea; tonight, I'm exhausted.
We stopped at a Walmart in El Paso for groceries. The store was very nice, the best we've been in so far. Nancy went to the restroom to wash her hands while I got in the checkout line. When she came out she told me she had no trouble finding me, I was the giant snowman. And here I thought I was getting a pretty good tan.
I found the El Paso area very strange with Mexico so close that you couldn't tell the two apart.
Texas, between San Antonio and El Paso, is very interesting; New Mexico and Arizona, at least so far, are boring.
We stopped at Las Cruces, New Mexico for lunch. We had trouble finding places to eat at first because the Garmin kept sending us to restaurants inside buildings at New Mexico State University.
The University has reserved parking spaces for electric hybrid cars.
We saw signs in both Texas and New Mexico that read: Prison area Do not pick up hitchhikers.
We got stopped about half an hour west of Las Cruces on I-10. The border patrol has blocked the highway and diverts all traffic through a check point. The agent looked at us in the RV, asked if we were both citizens, I said yes, and we were waved on. I'd call that profiling.
A second, even larger, inspection station is under construction right next to this one.
Day 61
Daily Mileage: 364.9
Van Horn, TX to Willcox, AZ
Daily Mileage: 364.9
Total Mileage: 10,356.1
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Nicole takes the wheel
After about and hour on the road this morning, Nicole asked if she could drive for awhile. We pulled into a rest area and switched drivers. I took the passenger seat. She checked her side mirror and there was no traffic so she eased back out onto the Interstate. Just as she made it into the right hand lane, there was a flash of yellow next to us. I think both of our hearts stopped. There was a vehicle in the left lane that had been in her blind spot and it shot past us. And it wasn't just any old vehicle. Oh, no! Here's a picture of it.
Nicole took it in stride, however, eventually passed him, and drove 74.5 miles before deciding she'd had enough fun for one day.
Texas has proved to be much more interesting than I had expected, but I still wouldn't want to live here. Since leaving the Hill Country, the elevation has increased to over 4,000 feet and the land is noticeably drier. The sky has remained cloudless all day.
Just before reaching tonight's destination of Van Horn, we passed the largest wind farm we've seen anywhere since Minnesota.
Day 60
Junction, TX to Van Horn, TX
Daily Mileage: 318.8
Total Mileage: 9,991.1
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Texas Hill Country
The weather since leaving Florida has been warm and muggy, not a combination that we see much in Alaska, but we coped. Last night, however, it was hot and muggy, and getting to sleep proved difficult. There was a fairly serious storm forecast for overnight, but it just produced a little rain that bumped up the humidity another notch.
We woke to mostly cloudy skies that cleared as soon as we started driving inland. This didn't last very long and before we reached San Antonio, we ran into a band of torrential rain that reduced the visibility to a few car lengths.
Once past San Antonio, which sits right on the edge of the Hill Country, the clouds vanished completely and the rest of the day was all blue sky and sunshine.
I found the Hill Country fascinating. Every road cut reveals the layers of limestone from ancient seabeds that underlie the entire area. It is difficult to imagine the forces necessary to transform land once covered by inland seas into this broken landscape 2,000 feet above sea level.
Tonight is clear and the stars are bright. On my way back from the showers, I saw my first shooting star.
Day 59
We woke to mostly cloudy skies that cleared as soon as we started driving inland. This didn't last very long and before we reached San Antonio, we ran into a band of torrential rain that reduced the visibility to a few car lengths.
Once past San Antonio, which sits right on the edge of the Hill Country, the clouds vanished completely and the rest of the day was all blue sky and sunshine.
I found the Hill Country fascinating. Every road cut reveals the layers of limestone from ancient seabeds that underlie the entire area. It is difficult to imagine the forces necessary to transform land once covered by inland seas into this broken landscape 2,000 feet above sea level.
Tonight is clear and the stars are bright. On my way back from the showers, I saw my first shooting star.
Day 59
Palacios, TX to Junction, TX
Daily Mileage: 291.5
Total Mileage: 9,672.3
Monday, November 14, 2011
Van Vleck, Texas
Leaving Louisiana on I-10 you come to a bridge across the Sabine River. At the other end of the bridge is Texas. Right at the foot of the bridge on the Louisiana end is Exit 1. The ramp goes down the right side of the bridge, circles underneath, then comes back up on the other side. It doesn't go anywhere. . . it's a turnaround!
In Houston, we encountered our first H-E-B, a Texas grocery chain. The name stands for Here Everything's Better, as much a reference to Texas as to the groceries, I'm sure. They are all over the state, and the ones in small towns are modest affairs, but the one in Houston was, appropriately Houston size, which led me in my ignorance to assume that the name stood for Huge-Enormous-Big.
From Houston we detoured south to pay a visit to Van Vleck, Texas. The whole town is only 3 blocks long and wouldn't amount to much if it wasn't home to Van Vleck Elementary School and Van Vleck High School.
Driving around in a 29 foot RV taking pictures got us noticed in a hurry. First the superintendent of schools, then two charming ladies from the elementary school checked us out, but as soon as we announced that we were Van Vlecks, we were treated with great kindness, almost like visiting royalty. If anyone from Van Vleck, Texas should ever read this, I want them to know how much we appreciate the warm reception they gave us.
The folks in Van Vleck gave us directions to the historical society office in neighboring Bay City which houses considerable documentation on the history of Van Vleck. We tried to stop in, but we couldn't find any place to park the RV nearby and finally gave up for lack of time.
Our stop for tonight is an RV Park/Marina on the coast in Palacios, Texas. I just had to get one more look at the big water before starting on our long dry run to El Paso.
Day 58
Sulphur, LA to Palacios, TX
Daily Mileage: 247.8
Total Mileage: 9,380.8
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The road twice taken
In 1969, Hurricane Camille slammed into the Mississippi Gulf coast with winds estimated at up to 200 mph; no one really knows because the wind destroyed all the recording devices. A year later, I drove down Hwy 90 from Biloxi to Pass Christian on a road trip with my parents. While all the rubble had been cleared away by then, the scars were still fresh, and the extent of the devastation painfully obvious.
This morning I drove my daughter down that same stretch of ocean highway. Six years have passed since Katrina once again laid waste to this shore. While the place has been cleaned up and the casinos reopened, there are also an abundance of For Sale signs and vast stretches of empty sand where something of value once stood.
Back in 1970, you could see that life was rebounding despite the knowledge that there would be other storms. Now, it feels like life here has been put on hold. It is a sad place.
The rest of the day was spent trying to get across Louisiana. We almost made it. Tonight we're camped next to a refinery in Sulphur, a town just west of Lake Charles. Fortunately, we are not downwind.
Day 57
Ocean Springs, MS to Sulphur, LA
Daily Mileage: 247.8
Total Mileage: 9,380.8
This morning I drove my daughter down that same stretch of ocean highway. Six years have passed since Katrina once again laid waste to this shore. While the place has been cleaned up and the casinos reopened, there are also an abundance of For Sale signs and vast stretches of empty sand where something of value once stood.
Back in 1970, you could see that life was rebounding despite the knowledge that there would be other storms. Now, it feels like life here has been put on hold. It is a sad place.
The rest of the day was spent trying to get across Louisiana. We almost made it. Tonight we're camped next to a refinery in Sulphur, a town just west of Lake Charles. Fortunately, we are not downwind.
Day 57
Ocean Springs, MS to Sulphur, LA
Daily Mileage: 247.8
Total Mileage: 9,380.8
Saturday, November 12, 2011
She's got a ticket to ride
Our first day back on the road has taken us out of Florida, across Alabama, and nearly to Biloxi, Mississippi. We're settled in for the night at Gulf Islands National Seashore/Davis Bayou Campground.
We went online and booked Nicole on a flight out of Portland on December 1. Because of Thanksgiving, this was the earliest non-stop, daytime flight with an empty seat. Sadie will continue to travel with Nancy and me. Flying her home, too, just seemed like too much of a hassle.
Day 56
Miramar Beach, FL to Ocean Springs, MS
Daily Mileage: 194.3
Total Mileage: 8818.4
We went online and booked Nicole on a flight out of Portland on December 1. Because of Thanksgiving, this was the earliest non-stop, daytime flight with an empty seat. Sadie will continue to travel with Nancy and me. Flying her home, too, just seemed like too much of a hassle.
Day 56
Miramar Beach, FL to Ocean Springs, MS
Daily Mileage: 194.3
Total Mileage: 8818.4
Friday, November 11, 2011
So long and thanks for all the fish
Our stay here is just about at an end. All of us have enjoyed our time here, and there is a very good chance that Nancy and I will find our way back for a longer stay.
Nancy and I took Sadie for a walk on the beach first thing this morning before Nicole was up. Some folks were setting up for a 11-11-11 wedding. The weather was delightful--a great final day.
This afternoon, we drove to Destin for one last look around and some more picture taking.
This evening we took the family out to dinner at the Cracker Barrel to thank them for all their hospitality. Afterwards, Jim drove us out to the RV park and took his car back home with him.
Tonight we're on our own again for the first time in nearly two weeks and eager to be back on the road again.
Day 55
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,624.1
Nancy and I took Sadie for a walk on the beach first thing this morning before Nicole was up. Some folks were setting up for a 11-11-11 wedding. The weather was delightful--a great final day.
This afternoon, we drove to Destin for one last look around and some more picture taking.
This evening we took the family out to dinner at the Cracker Barrel to thank them for all their hospitality. Afterwards, Jim drove us out to the RV park and took his car back home with him.
Tonight we're on our own again for the first time in nearly two weeks and eager to be back on the road again.
Day 55
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,624.1
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A day to ourselves
When we left Anchorage, construction had begun on our first Olive Garden. It is hard to overestimate the excitement this long awaited event has caused. While we have driven past quite a few so far on our trip, the other night was the first time we actually ate in one. Now that Nicole has decided to head for home, she wanted to go there at least once more as the Anchorage restaurant might not be ready to open till next Spring. I took her back for lunch today and while we feasted inside, Nancy, who rarely eats lunch, took Sadie across the parking lot for a sniffing outing at Petco.
Out next stop was the gift shop at the Hog's Breath Saloon to find something for Nicole. Though it is now located in Destin, 25 years ago, before a hurricane put it out of business, it was in Fort Walton Beach, and Jim's daughter, Marcie, worked there as a teenager selling t-shirts. On a visit back in 1986, she took Nicole and me there and gave us both shirts. Mine is long gone, but Nicole, just a toddler then, quickly outgrew hers, and still has it in near-new condition. Our mission today was to find a replacement she could actually wear. Over the years, their inventory has expanded considerably from just t-shirts in 5 colors. What she settled on was a black beach cover-up with the saloon's logo "Hog's breath is better than no breath at all" tastefully displayed on one sleeve.
We drove to Jim's. We weren't expected and no one was home, so we headed back to Geronimo, took a few pictures along the way, got takeout from the Waffle House for dinner, and called it a day.
Day 54
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,624.1
Out next stop was the gift shop at the Hog's Breath Saloon to find something for Nicole. Though it is now located in Destin, 25 years ago, before a hurricane put it out of business, it was in Fort Walton Beach, and Jim's daughter, Marcie, worked there as a teenager selling t-shirts. On a visit back in 1986, she took Nicole and me there and gave us both shirts. Mine is long gone, but Nicole, just a toddler then, quickly outgrew hers, and still has it in near-new condition. Our mission today was to find a replacement she could actually wear. Over the years, their inventory has expanded considerably from just t-shirts in 5 colors. What she settled on was a black beach cover-up with the saloon's logo "Hog's breath is better than no breath at all" tastefully displayed on one sleeve.
We drove to Jim's. We weren't expected and no one was home, so we headed back to Geronimo, took a few pictures along the way, got takeout from the Waffle House for dinner, and called it a day.
Day 54
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,624.1
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Making plans
Having the use of Jim's car has been great and we have been giving some serious thought to buying a vehicle we can tow behind the RV. The more that we have looked into this, however, the less sure we have become that this is actually a viable option, and we have turned our attention once again to getting back on the road.
We had a family pow-wow. Nicole is ready to go home, so we decided to leave here on Saturday and head for Portland, Oregon with the idea of getting her and Sadie on a plane for Anchorage as soon as possible. Getting a car to tow has been put off at least until then. Where Nancy and I will go after Portland and for how long has been left up in the air for now.
We took the car to Sonic for lunch. We have been seeing ads for them on TV for years but there are none in Alaska and we couldn't let Nicole go home without eating in one. Unfortunately, their ads are better than their food.
We then drove the RV to Jim's. He is off again today and I took advantage of this to get help washing the RV. Although the occasional rain storm has removed a lot of bugs and road grime, there was still enough left to give Jim and I a really good workout.
Rather than impose on them for dinner as well, we went back out to Geronimo and ate dinner in the RV. This evening we drove down to the beach after dark and Nicole got some interesting pictures using my tiny Gorillapod tripod.
Day 53
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 33.4
Total Mileage: 8,624.1
We had a family pow-wow. Nicole is ready to go home, so we decided to leave here on Saturday and head for Portland, Oregon with the idea of getting her and Sadie on a plane for Anchorage as soon as possible. Getting a car to tow has been put off at least until then. Where Nancy and I will go after Portland and for how long has been left up in the air for now.
We took the car to Sonic for lunch. We have been seeing ads for them on TV for years but there are none in Alaska and we couldn't let Nicole go home without eating in one. Unfortunately, their ads are better than their food.
We then drove the RV to Jim's. He is off again today and I took advantage of this to get help washing the RV. Although the occasional rain storm has removed a lot of bugs and road grime, there was still enough left to give Jim and I a really good workout.
Rather than impose on them for dinner as well, we went back out to Geronimo and ate dinner in the RV. This evening we drove down to the beach after dark and Nicole got some interesting pictures using my tiny Gorillapod tripod.
Day 53
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 33.4
Total Mileage: 8,624.1
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Boys' day out
Jim had the day off, so he and I drove to Pensacola to visit the Naval Air Museum. Crossing the Escambia Bay bridge, Jim spotted a ship tied up in the distance, something of a rarity for Pensacola, so we detoured to check it out. Up close, it turned out to be the oddest vessel I've ever seen. Even its name, Global 1200, was odd. A Google search after we got home revealed that it is designed to lay oil pipe.
The Air Museum was first rate. It should be a must-see for any aviation buff. We stayed about 2 hours but could easily have spent much longer.
Day 52
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
The Air Museum was first rate. It should be a must-see for any aviation buff. We stayed about 2 hours but could easily have spent much longer.
Day 52
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
Monday, November 7, 2011
Down time
The sun has returned and the wind died down, so first thing this morning I put the awning back up.
Nancy and Nicole went shopping; I stayed home with Sadie.
Day 51
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
Nancy and Nicole went shopping; I stayed home with Sadie.
Day 51
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Staying awhile
Yesterday when I put up the awning, I didn't get one end tightened enough and it flapped in the wind all night--drove me nuts. I thought I was going to have to roll it up, as the wind was still blowing fairly strong this morning but all it needed was a little adjusting.
We had only planned to stay at Geronimo until we could get back into Henderson State Park, but it has grown on us. The beach access is actually better here, there are restaurants and a Winn Dixie close by, not to mention Silver Sands Outlet Mall with 110 stores, and I've found I'm a huge fan of concrete RV pads, so we've decide to stay for two more nights.
Tonight Mom treated the whole family to dinner at the Olive Garden. The wind is still blowing, so just to be safe, I rolled up the awning before we went out to eat.
Day 50
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
We had only planned to stay at Geronimo until we could get back into Henderson State Park, but it has grown on us. The beach access is actually better here, there are restaurants and a Winn Dixie close by, not to mention Silver Sands Outlet Mall with 110 stores, and I've found I'm a huge fan of concrete RV pads, so we've decide to stay for two more nights.
Tonight Mom treated the whole family to dinner at the Olive Garden. The wind is still blowing, so just to be safe, I rolled up the awning before we went out to eat.
Day 50
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
Saturday, November 5, 2011
A visit to the beach
We stayed at the RV all day. I put the awning up again even though it was a bit breezy.
Nicole and I took a walk on the beach which is about a block away. We were both concerned about getting sunburned, so we didn't stay very long even though we both would have like to.
We finally had dinner at the Waffle House, something Nancy has been after us to do for some time (breakfast is her favorite dinner). We were just about the only ones there and the cook took a strip of bacon out the the car for Sadie.
Day 49
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
Nicole and I took a walk on the beach which is about a block away. We were both concerned about getting sunburned, so we didn't stay very long even though we both would have like to.
We finally had dinner at the Waffle House, something Nancy has been after us to do for some time (breakfast is her favorite dinner). We were just about the only ones there and the cook took a strip of bacon out the the car for Sadie.
Day 49
Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
Friday, November 4, 2011
A very busy day
We were unable to extend our stay at Henderson State Park, so Nancy and I drove farther east to check out Topsail Hill State Park. Before we even got there, we decided it was too far from Jim's and turned around. On the way back, we came across Geronimo RV Park in Miramar Beach. Even though it is about 5 miles farther east than Henderson, it seemed like our best bet and decided to move the RV there.
While Nancy and Nicole drove the car to Jim's, I took the RV across the street to Walmart to get the oil changed. Even before I got out of the RV, an employee came over to let me know that their service bays had lifts and my "truck" was way too heavy; I would have to go to the other Walmart, the one in Fort Walton Beach, where they had pits, instead. I asked for directions. What I got proved less than adequate and I got lost. I called Jim's and found out that by sheer luck I was almost there anyway. I received new instructions but they were still not sufficiently clear and I got lost again. After one more call for help, I finally found the Walmart.
I had just finished making the arrangements for the oil change when my phone rang. Jim was on his way to keep me company. When he arrived, however, he had Nancy, Nicole, and Sadie with him. They had decided to use the time to get Sadie a bath at U-Scrub-A-Pup which was just down the street.
After we got the RV back, Jim followed Nicole and I out to Geronimo and we got checked in for the night. He then drove us back to his house for dinner after which Nancy, Nicole, Sadie and I drove back out to Miramar Beach.
There was no way I was going to take the RV back on the road without fresh oil, so, though it proved to be a hassle, I'm delighted to have finally gotten the servicing done. Now all we have to do is figure out where we'll be going from here.
Day 48
Destin, FL to Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 44.1
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
While Nancy and Nicole drove the car to Jim's, I took the RV across the street to Walmart to get the oil changed. Even before I got out of the RV, an employee came over to let me know that their service bays had lifts and my "truck" was way too heavy; I would have to go to the other Walmart, the one in Fort Walton Beach, where they had pits, instead. I asked for directions. What I got proved less than adequate and I got lost. I called Jim's and found out that by sheer luck I was almost there anyway. I received new instructions but they were still not sufficiently clear and I got lost again. After one more call for help, I finally found the Walmart.
I had just finished making the arrangements for the oil change when my phone rang. Jim was on his way to keep me company. When he arrived, however, he had Nancy, Nicole, and Sadie with him. They had decided to use the time to get Sadie a bath at U-Scrub-A-Pup which was just down the street.
After we got the RV back, Jim followed Nicole and I out to Geronimo and we got checked in for the night. He then drove us back to his house for dinner after which Nancy, Nicole, Sadie and I drove back out to Miramar Beach.
There was no way I was going to take the RV back on the road without fresh oil, so, though it proved to be a hassle, I'm delighted to have finally gotten the servicing done. Now all we have to do is figure out where we'll be going from here.
Day 48
Destin, FL to Miramar Beach, FL
Daily Mileage: 44.1
Total Mileage: 8,590.7
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A quiet day
The RV is overdue for an oil change. I wasn't sure where to take it, so Nancy and I drove Jim's car to an RV service center in nearby Mary Esther to find out. A fellow with a mahogany tan and a deep southern accent informed us that an RV like ours ain't nothing but a truck and we should just take it to Walmart. That sounded good to me as there is a Walmart just across the highway from where we're camping.
I only had to drive the RV to the dump site and back, and the most exciting thing I did was put up the new awning for the first time.
This evening Jim fed us dinner and we visited for awhile.
All in all, a pretty laid back day.
Day 47
Destin, FL
Daily Mileage: 0.7
Total Mileage: 8,546.6
I only had to drive the RV to the dump site and back, and the most exciting thing I did was put up the new awning for the first time.
This evening Jim fed us dinner and we visited for awhile.
All in all, a pretty laid back day.
Day 47
Destin, FL
Daily Mileage: 0.7
Total Mileage: 8,546.6
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Seaside
The highlight of today was a trip to Seaside, the charming collection of expensive homes and expensive shops, about 25 miles east of Fort Walton Beach.
Thirteen years ago, when it was much smaller, The Truman Show was filmed here. Nowadays, it is not only larger but no longer unique and shares this stretch of the Gulf coast with several wannabe Seasides.
It seemed like a long drive to me, but Jim's family loves the place and frequently drives out here on a whim. I have to admit it is a pretty neat place to hang out.
Day 46
Destin, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,545.9
 |
| This glass shop has the most amazing stuff. |
It seemed like a long drive to me, but Jim's family loves the place and frequently drives out here on a whim. I have to admit it is a pretty neat place to hang out.
Day 46
Destin, FL
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 8,545.9
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Almost on the beach
We checked out of Rocky Bayou and drove to Henderson State Park only to find out they were full. I'll spare you the blow by blow and just say that once again the Fates were kind, and by 1:00 we were checked in there for a three night stay. While the park is right on the beach, it is a stretch to say that we are. None of the camp sites have a view of the beach and all are separated from it by a dense band of trees and bushes and about a hundred yards of sand dunes.
But the walk is worth it. Truly, these are some of the finest beaches in the world.
Jim has loaned us the use of a car while we're here, for which we are enormously grateful. The freedom it will give us is something we have sorely missed.
Day 45
Niceville, FL to Destin, FL
Daily Mileage: 33.8
Total Mileage: 8,545.9
But the walk is worth it. Truly, these are some of the finest beaches in the world.
Jim has loaned us the use of a car while we're here, for which we are enormously grateful. The freedom it will give us is something we have sorely missed.
Day 45
Niceville, FL to Destin, FL
Daily Mileage: 33.8
Total Mileage: 8,545.9
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