Thursday, October 19, 2017

10/3/2017 - 10/19/2017

Today is 10/19/2017. It's obvious that the day to day post is not working on this trip. We are in Van Horn, Texas on our way East and I haven't even posted the San Francisco visit. The issues are bad internet and laziness. It has been difficult to post the pictures because I am trying to post to many and some of  the internet connections don't allow me to download the pictures.

I've decided to write the narrative up to today and put the pictures in later. We boogied from Sedona to San Francisco with stops in Needles, Ca, Yermo, Ca, and Coalinga, Ca. Much of this trip is dust and sand along with the thousands of acres of fruit trees, nut trees, and cattle holding pens. It appears that the drought in this part of California is still pretty severe. Water is a real issue to all of these people who grow our foods.

We arrived at San Francisco RV in Pacifica on Friday 10/6. Jen and family joined us for dinner at our favorite Chinese place in Pacifica. Next day we met all met in SF visiting The museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception a Exploratorium. This was really a unique place for all of us. We also met my niece Sadie and her son Emerson for a nice dinner in SF. Sunday was a barbeque at Jen's house. Fun for all. Monday we met again in the city for dinner and observed Jen's music practice at the Saint Francis Yacht Club. Tuesday night Seth and family joined us in Pacifica and we made a second visit to Tan's Chinese Restaurant. We certainly got our fill of Chinese this trip.

All good things must end. Wednesday morning 10/11 we headed back toward Bakersfield on our way East. We stayed at Orange Grove RV Park, a place we first visited in 2008. They have made improvements and it's a well laid out campground. The oranges are growing right beside our RV. Fun place.

Our next stop was Banning, Ca. There are Premium Outlets here, we enjoyed a full day of shopping the next day. We boogied through Brenda, Arizona and then on 10/15 we arrived in Casa Grande, AZ. Our nephew Cory teaches school here. In the afternoon Corey and I ripped up one of the local golf courses then we all had a nice dinner. We always enjoy stopping to see Corey. He has made a good life for himself here.

Our next stop was Tucson, Az. We had a 10:00 am appointment at La Mesa RV to have our main slide repaired. Fortunately it was not a major issue so we were out of there by 1:00 o'clock. The next day we visited the Pima Aviation and Space Museum. I guess I enjoyed this more than Eileen. It's really a cool place with over 80 acres of military and commercial aircraft. It is totally amazing the number of different tankers, fighters, helicopters etc. that there are. A fun place to visit.

Yesterday we boogied to Las Cruces, NM. We have stayed at this KOA a number of times. They have pull in sites where you have a view of the city. We turn out the lights in the bus and look at the beauty of the city. The mountains are also provide a beautiful view. We tried the La Posta Mexican restaurant in Mesilla, NM (nearby) for the third time and even thought it is a famous place we continue to be unimpressed. That was our last visit to that restaurant.

Today we boogied to Van Horn, Texas. We will drive north from here tomorrow to visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Van Horn is the closest we could get without going to the park to a first come first served campground. We didn't want to take the chance of not getting a spot.

This trip has been less eventful than others. Our highlight was having all  of the family together. It's hard to get everyone together and marvelous that we had the chance. We really miss our far away family.

I will try to get some pictures posted as soon as I have good internet. "Life is good". We love our new home on wheels.
The bike is probably to big! Handsome kid Huh!

We went for the Wild Turkey after the pictures! Actually it was Gelato!

The Cousins!

At the Exploratorium!

Aunt Akemi assists Sofia!

Break time!

The Blue Angels flying over the Embarcadero! It was Fleet Week in SF.

Future scientist!

Dad observes!

Don't know who won this competition!

Jen assists!

Snacks before our great dinner!

Master Chef at work!!

Chillin at Jen's House!

Future RV'er!

The Captain and the Navigator!
It was hard to say Good Bye!
Orange Grove RV Nice Park!

View behind the Campground in Banning Ca.


Premium Outlets Banning Ca.

Shop til you drop!!

Entering (beautiful??) Palm Springs Ca.

A good afternoon with Corey. We literally ripped up this course!

San Xavier Mission just south of Tucson!



Outside San Xavier Mission!



More planse than you can imagine. You need a full day and an understanding wife to see it all!

Cobra that flew in Vietnam!



Who knows this one?

Retired Blue Angels Aircraft.

Constellation!




Restored B-17

Turned over 10,000 miles on the way to Las Cruces!!

Eastern Arizona on I10!


Hanging with my trucker buddies in Eastern Arizona!

Our view from Las Cruces KOA!

Camera magic!

View as it looked in 1890!

Our site in Las Cruces!