Tuesday, April 7, 2009

New Year of Travels






Here it is April and we need to get in habit of posting a little each month.  In Jan we went to Yuma, Arizona to visit our friends from fantasy tours.  Pat & Elmon our traveling buddies went with us and we camped in spaces that were empty in the trailer park.  We had a great time with lots of food and sat around the chimney fire at night.  We went to Algondoza, Mexico and John had some dental work (crown and cleaning) done in one day for a fantastic price while the rest of us shopped, drank margaritas, got haircuts, and got medicines.
  We camped with out group for our first monthly outing.  Was great to be with everybody to start the new year.  We went to the Hart Museum-he was an old time Western movie guy.  We enjoyed his home and had a great tour.
       Feb, we traveled to Auburn, Calif (near Sacramento) for John's sisters 50th Anniversary Party.  Woke up the next morning to find a dusting of snow on the ground.  It was a cold, windy weekend but a great party with lots of family and food.  Since it was still cool and rainy we decided to go over to the coast to Paso Robles.  It was still windy and wet but not as cold.  We visited some new wineries.  Then we were off to Pismo Beach for our monthly campout.  I started having some stomach pains which lasted several days and wanted to wait till I got home to see what it was but ended up in the community hospital with appendicitis and had surgery 2 hours later.  Spent the next 2 days their and than got to come back to motor home to enjoy what was left of the camp out.  I had laproscopic surgery so was a quick recovery and was able to make it home just fine.  Quite an experience-the hospital was very good, I had good care and my Dr. was tops in laproscopic surgery.  Got to see our nephew and his wife and kids since they are living there now.  Quite a change from Lancaster desert to the beach but they are settling in and like the beach.  
Our camp out for March was in Death Valley.  It was very windy getting there and we had a little rain when we left home.  Why does it always decide to rain the morning we leave and get everything dirty as we travel.  That was the only day it rained in a month.  We had friends join us in the motor home for  a few days and they got to experience dry camping-for those of you who aren't campers that means no water, no electricity, no dump so we have to be careful with water usage and lights.  We managed OK although all holdings tanks were full the last day and no more water.  Max and Buddy(our dogs) ended up sleeping in the back of the car at night since they didn't like us in their sleeping space and Max was snoring to loud in our ears.  We got to have dinner in the Furnace Creek Inn and had a wonderful tour of the Inn.  The weather was just right as it can get very warm there.  We took some rides through canyons we didn't know where there, saw some pup fish that like guppies but are in very salty water and took my little Saturn where all the trucks went.  Boy was it dusty! The flowers were in bloom but not as good as they were a few years ago.  Went by Reno to see my brother on the way home since we hadn't seen him in quite a while.  So that pretty much catches you up on travels.  We have added 3 new puppies to the family this year.  Terry (our son) and Devin (grandson) got Shorkies.  They are small little dogs, full of energy and are a cross between a Yorkie and a Shiatsu.  Then Jay(our oldest son) got a boxer puppy and have been up a lot of nights.  They forgot how much sleep you can lose but she's getting better as she gets older and of course we are all enjoying these new additions.  Work has slowed down some but we all still are working.  The kids have all enjoyed their winter at the desert riding motorcycles and dune buggies and are now turning their thoughts to water sports at the Lake.  We are looking forward to some longer trips this summer but are content to take our monthly outings.  Look for our April post at the end of the month.