Monday, January 18, 2010
San Francisco RV & CA 152 Scenic Drive
San Francisco "RV
Pacific Ocean on a calm day
The cliff drops straight down from the edge of campground
Our sight at San Fran RV
Propane time
Ca 152
Life is Good!!
The San Francisco area has very few RV parks probably as a result of the land values and the lack of available land. San Francisco RV is in Pacificia which is very close to the city and right on the ocean. Until last nights high winds and driving rain, that was a good thing. We closed our slides in the middle of the night as a result of the wind.
When we came in last Wednesday we came up I5 from the LA area and crossed the mountains south of San Jose. The highway is Ca. 152, a scenic drive, with a recreation area where there is a large resevoir. It is a very pretty drive with a great view of what the mountains probably looked like without a bunch of houses on them.
We spent Wednesday through Sunday helping Jen and Magnus do last minute preparation and today (1/18/2010) we are waiting for Jen to get a call from the hospital.
She was scheduled for the first surgical spot this morning but the hospital had two emergency c-sections this morning so we are waiting.
The pictures above are the scenic drive and the campground.
Life is Good!!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Desert Hot Springs Ca. - Joshua Tree NP and Palm Springs Windmills 1/8 - 1/12
Windmills near Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs.
After leaving Casa Grande we boogied to Desert Hot Springs Ca. and settled into Sands RV and Golf resort. This is an older RV park with narrow, short sights, but a very nice and challenging 9 hole golf course. I enjoyed.
The second day we were there we went into Joshua tree NP which is about 30 miles from the valley. This park is on a desert Plateau almost 5200 feet above where we were in Desert Hot Springs. Named after the very plentiful Joshua Tree, this park was formed by volcanic activity that has left very unique rock formations in many parts of the park. We entered from the north and probably saw about 35% of this beautiful place.
We started with a ride through a section called Hidden Valley to Keys View which is a lookout at 5185ft. The ranger at the lookout pointed out where the San Andreas Fault goes through the valley below, and told us that our view from right to left was between 150 and 175 miles. It was incredible. We could see the Sulton Sea which is a large body of salt water whose surface is 226ft below sea level. It was a very beautiful view of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Indio and many of the desert towns that are the playgrounds of the rich, and the wintering areas for many many snowbirds.
After the lookout we had lunch at a picnic area near Hidden Valley, within the park, before we joined a tour of Keys Queen Ranch. This tour is lead by a ranger and it took us a couple of miles up a dirt road to a ranch where Bill and Frances Keys raised five children during the 60 years they lived and worked in this valley. Bill Keys died in 1969 and was buried on the farm with his wife and two of his children.
The farm had no running water, no electricity, and of course no sewers. The very neat thing about this place was the fact that the park service left everything as it was when the Key's lived there and the ranger had an incredible amount of information about how the Keys lived because the elderly children are still alive and have contributed to the information. These people were very hardy and industrious people and it is amazing how they survived for 60 years in the desert.
After the tour we did one of the short hiking trails that went to a dam just behind the Keys Ranch. This dam is one of many that were constructed by the Keys family and others to give them the water needed to survive in the desert.
We thoroughly enjoyed our day in the park and would suggest a visit if you get to this area. This park is unique and like all of our nations parks they belong to us.
The valley below the park is full of windmills. Our guesstimate is that on the hills and in the valley itself there are probably 1500 to 2000 of them if not more. It is of course a great thing in terms of the environment but it is my opinion they are an eyesore in an area that has unique natural beauty. Pictures above.
From Desert Hot Springs we took two days to get to San Francisco RV in Pacifica CA. about 10 miles from San Fran. It is now Sunday night (1/17/2010) and tomorrow is the big event. We have spent the past four days with Jen and Magnus helping them out around the house and going out to eat. My next post will include the pictures we have all been waiting for.
Pics of Joshua Tree and the tour below.
Life doesn't get any better. I Love You family.
Keys Queen Ranch in Joshua Tree NP
Indian Petroglyphs on Barker Dam (1mile) trail in Joshua Tree NP
Barker Dam Trail
Yucca (Barker Dam Trail)
Keys Family Burial Plot
Keys Queen Ranch
Deisel chain drive truck (Still Runs)
Solid Rubber Tires
My mom used one of these in the 50's
Key Family Home (Now part of Joshua Tree NP)
This one doesn't run anymore but it was the do all truck on the farm
Hot Springs Ca. - Joshua Tree NP
San Andreas Fault from Keys View
Keys View Lookout at Joshua Tree NP
Keys View
Granite formations At Joshua Tree NP
Joshua Trees and Granite formations 
Sands RV and Golf Resort, Hot Springs Ca.
California Sunset from our campsite in Sands RV
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Las Cruces NM 1/3 - 1/5/2010
Enjoying the game and some refreshment
After a three day boogie across the giganic state of Texas we settled for two days at the KOA campground in Las Cruces NM. The campground was on a hill above the city and the people in the office were very nice. We visited a small historic square in the neighboring town of Mesilla, NM. There is a small Basicilla there and some nice shops. The second night we were going for mexican food but I came down with the stomach flu that was going around the family at Christmas. Eileen ended up eating alone while I visited the facilities. This is a college town and other than the dust it is a nice place for a stop.
We then moved on to Tucson Az where we stayed at a campground that we stayed in in 2008. I spent the first day washing a filthy bus and relaxing. In the afternoon we went to Mesa RV a nearby Tiffin dealer and the Camping World store across the street. I got a new light for my entry handle and proceeded that night to blow a bunch of fuses that required us to visit Mesa the next day to get it fixed. Once again I proved my vast electrical skills with DC wiring on the bus. All is well and we are on the Way to visit Corey in Casa Grande on 1/7/2010.
We had a great visit and a nice meal at Mimi's and then we returned to the bus to watch Alabama deal with the Longhorns. Corey is a busy dude with all he is involved in around school. He looked great and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The next day we are in the bus heading for Desert Hot Springs, CA and Joshua Tree NP.
We then moved on to Tucson Az where we stayed at a campground that we stayed in in 2008. I spent the first day washing a filthy bus and relaxing. In the afternoon we went to Mesa RV a nearby Tiffin dealer and the Camping World store across the street. I got a new light for my entry handle and proceeded that night to blow a bunch of fuses that required us to visit Mesa the next day to get it fixed. Once again I proved my vast electrical skills with DC wiring on the bus. All is well and we are on the Way to visit Corey in Casa Grande on 1/7/2010.
We had a great visit and a nice meal at Mimi's and then we returned to the bus to watch Alabama deal with the Longhorns. Corey is a busy dude with all he is involved in around school. He looked great and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The next day we are in the bus heading for Desert Hot Springs, CA and Joshua Tree NP.
Monday, January 4, 2010
New Orleans 12/30 - 1/1
We arrived in New Orleans on Eileen's Birthday. The campground is right downtown and although it is not in the best section it was super nice and we felt safe. It might have been the ten foot French with razor wire on top that helped us feel safe. New Years night was the Sugar Bowl between University of Cincinnati and the Florida Gators. Needless to say the campground was full of fans from both. We had a nice dinner at a place called TuJagues for Eileen's birthday. It was OK but I would look for something else if you visit.
On the 31st we walked around in the French Quarter and sampled the mufuletta which is a local sandwich special. We walked back to the campground in time for happy hour and to get ready for dinner at a place called Arnauds. We ate in the bistro and had a lovely dinner. French food with reasonable size helpings. Alligator sausage was my appetizer. We then spent some time on Bourbon Street watching to medicated crowds and the people in the balconies throwing beads to everyone waiting below.
This was a great couple of days. We really didn't get to see much of the town and will probably return to tour and see the surrounding areas. When we drove into the city we could see many signs of Katrina. There are many houses, even downtown, that have never been reoccupied.
We left 1/1 to boogie across La. and Texas and we are now in Las Cruces NM. We are going to the city right now so I will report on that later.
Lovin Life and Can't wait to see the baby!!!
Bill and Eileen
On the 31st we walked around in the French Quarter and sampled the mufuletta which is a local sandwich special. We walked back to the campground in time for happy hour and to get ready for dinner at a place called Arnauds. We ate in the bistro and had a lovely dinner. French food with reasonable size helpings. Alligator sausage was my appetizer. We then spent some time on Bourbon Street watching to medicated crowds and the people in the balconies throwing beads to everyone waiting below.
This was a great couple of days. We really didn't get to see much of the town and will probably return to tour and see the surrounding areas. When we drove into the city we could see many signs of Katrina. There are many houses, even downtown, that have never been reoccupied.
We left 1/1 to boogie across La. and Texas and we are now in Las Cruces NM. We are going to the city right now so I will report on that later.
Lovin Life and Can't wait to see the baby!!!
Bill and Eileen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
