Winter & Spring 2019

Spent New Year's Eve in Palm Desert at the Palm Springs Thousand Trails Park.  Not our favorite park but love the area.  They had a performer who was supposed to provide a party atmosphere with Neil Diamond music, however, he wanted more like a concert soooooo. Was not really a fun night..   LOL

After about two weeks in Palm Desert we headed to Emerald Cove in Earp, CA for an RPI reservation right along the Colorado River.  Along the way we see these.... Lots hanging around and even come in the campground and eat plants that some of the RV'ers have out..  LOL

Most of the parks along the river have bar/restaurants, have never seen that before.  LOL  Emerald Cove has their's between their two pools.  Fun times because of their great prices and good food.  They make it so that a lot of people hang out there.

Jim & Donna O'Conner, from one of our Alaska tours, asked us to join them on a visit to Lake Havasu City to go to the swap meet, see the balloons and visit some friends of theirs. 

Not much like Albuquerque !  LOL

We met up with Mike and Marilyn Zaragosa from one of our Alaska Tours.  They are great people who full time RV and make their winter home mostly out of Wilderness Lakes. 

They also have welcomed us into their group of friends who live the similar lifestyle. The night before we left Emerald Cove they had a old fashioned southern shrimp boil.  Oh boy, it was sooooo good. !  

Beautiful sunsets over the Colorado River too ! ! !

Next was our week in Quartszite, Arizona.  We stayed at 88 Shades RV Park, a rustic park within walking distance of the huge tent set up for about a ten day period in Quartszite where thousands of RV'ers descend on this desert town.  Was nice to visit with Keith and Peggy from one of our Alaska Tours as well as Fantasy Ambassadors Bill and Kathy Blackman, Mike and Suzanne Greenfield and Jim and Darlene Weir.  

Then, on January 26th we went to Pio Pico in Jamul, California..  Beautiful park with a Border Patrol gate in the back of the park.  Great to see them work as they do.  We like walking right out that gate. 

What keeps us going back to this park is that we can visit with my brother, Joe and my nieces Darcy and Becky as well as their families. That is absolutely the best part as there is virtually no internet or phone service..  Amazing in this day and age that this issue still exists.  Joe was in the hospital with an infection around his pacemaker, which they removed and he has five weeks of IV antibiotic infusions and then replacement of his pacer, on the other side.  Glad he was out before we left and was feeling much better.  

These views are from Darcy and Troy's backyard !   Beautiful!!

Johnny, Becky, Chloe and Lyla...  Hardly recognize Johnny without long hair and a beard...  LOL  LOL

In all our years of RV'ing.... we have seen people RV'ing with all kinds of animals, however, we had not seen ducks before.  They had a pool and actually were closed in nightly into one of the basement bays...  Amazing ! ! 

We cannot believe all the rain we have endured this winter and this place is even rainier. than any other place we have stayed so far.. On the day that we were supposed to move on, the roads out of the park were closed in both directions.  We had only had four inches of rain the day before...LOL...  This creek is usually dry.  See the piles of gravel?? There were piles on both sides of the street. That gravel was dozed out of the street but the water was still to high for cars to go through. Some tried but got stuck. 

Can't believe how big Graham is getting..  Kristina posted these on Facebook... Isn't he cute.??  

Peas are the first solid food !!   YUM ! ! 

Finally got to Hodad's in Ocean Beach...  ! !   Have heard about their burgers for years but have never been.  YUMMY ! !   It is a really small place with a line down the block. Was fun to get Joe and the Smith's to join us !

Was so great to meet up in Pio Pico with Ted and Susan Kerscher from our Rocky Mountain National Parks of the North Tour last summer. Interesting that they lived in Lakeside for about 15 years and Ted grew up nearby..  Small world some times. We went out to dinner a few times. The first was a restaurant on the water. I can't remember the name of it tho...  LOL   Great setting ! ! 

We went driving around that part of San Diego. Was so great to see the old Del Coronado Hotel. Been in San Diego, like forever ! ! 

Valentine's Day I made a chicken stir fry for the four of us and we got these pictures of a cutie ! ! 

We were supposed to move to Wilderness Lakes in Mennifee on February 15th, however, there was so much rain in Jamul, four inches in one day, that the road out was closed in both directions. We talked with Thousand Trails and got permission to wait a day.  Then, the drive was easy..  WHEW !!  We got a great spot on the canal where we can watch all the ducks and geese that this park has..  Ken also got our hummingbird feeder up before the rains today....  Can't really see what a red head he has but so fun to have them so close.

 We are here with the Zaragosa group !!  Some had to leave today for their week out but they will all be back in on Sunday..  FUN coming up!!  They are only in Hemet, about ten miles away, so we will be getting together... The moon is gorgeous ! ! ! 

This is the view behind us... ! !  All the birds can be so noisy but so fun watching them...  almost nesting time, think we will miss the babies, darn!!

Went to visit my ole high school friend Linda Bretton.  She lives in Lake Elsinore and these pictures are from her backyard.  Says she "never" sees snow like this. This is the San Gregornio Mountains and Canyon Lake.  The lake is only for people who live in the development.  WOW ! ! 

This is the the San Juacinto Mountains.  Amazing views that she has from her backyard!!

Gary sent us some pictures of home...  My, oh my...  never have had snow like this in the 29 years we have lived at the river..  ! ! ! 

Graham is getting soooo big....  Kristina says that he has two teeth already and is trying to crawl...  Looks like he is talking too ! !  LOL

Ya see everything ! !  LOL LOL I think that at least three people were staying here and one gal used a wheel chair when out and about.

Chris & Kristina didn't take too much time deciding that they needed a puppy.  Welcome Sir Winston ! !  He and Graham will become fast friends.












Gary sent us this update of the snow!!

Graham loves his puppy!

Driving around the Lake Elsinore area.  The poppies are beautiful

These are world famous to the point that people trample all over them~~!

March 15th we moved back to Palm Desert.  The weather finally switched and it is absolutely beautiful and in the 80 degree range and warm even at night.. we can keep our windows open most nights.  We didn't see poppies on this side of the mountains but these were beautiful too!!

Our Graham is sure getting big... and almost five months now. Looks like he is sitting on his own now. Kristina says his favorite foods are avocados and zucchini..  so different from the foods our babies got.  Love it!!  and look, he is reading now too ! !   LOL  He's adorable.

We spent today, Saturday, March 23, 2019 touring Joshua Tree National Park.  What a day... We did our first real "hike" since Ken's total knee replacement almost five months ago.  Started with a backup of vehicles a mile from the Park Entrance.  Good thing was that they posted someone near the booth and they directed anyone with a Senior or Park Pass right on through.  This was the second sign.... only took about half hour to go that mile ! ! 

Cholla      

                                 

This looks like regular barrel cactus in bloom with new spouts!! 

Love these rocks!!

Love, love these rocks!

Love these big rocks

These blooms look a week or so from opening

 This is Barker Dam and Reservoir.. We hiked about a mile back to it.  Ken's first "big" hike..  Great day!

We visited Vonnie in Desert Hot Springs.  She is about a month out from her hip replacement and working on when she will have her surgery for her breast cancer.  What a handful she has to deal with.  Had a great visit, took pizza and strawberry short cake.  She and Claude really enjoyed dinner.  Got the strawberries from a farm in Indio.  So sweet.  After visiting them we decided to check out the park that Fantasy will hold the Reunion Rally in April 2020.  It is Catalina Spa in Desert Edge.  You can see it from Vonnie's front porch..  LOL.  The wildflowers were beautiful.  This is on the road into the park...  We learned later that it will be held at a different park.

WOW, Darlene just told us that she was told that the Rally would be at Emerald Desert RV Park in Palm Desert.  Not sure which location is correct right now... However, the location of Emerald Desert is much better, right in the heart of Palm Springs area....  We are gonna go check it out tomorrow..

Kristina just posted these great pics of Graham.  Can hardly believe that he is six months old now ! ! 

Meanwhile, at home now......

 Our last look at snow leaving Palm Desert...

Our first night, April 5th, on the road home was at Orange Grove RV Park in Bakersfield.  Might have to find a new place as they have upped their rate to $50 per night and that is with a discount.  They don't allow anything but full hookup unless they are full. AND, the oranges were all gone. The trees were in full blossom.  Smelled so good. These flowers along the road show that the super bloom was not just in certain areas.  Took these whizzen by at 65 mph... LOL

Solar Farm... love the new green energy! ! !

Second night was at the Lodi Elks. We had not stopped there before.  It was ok but what was fun was that it is really in the town of Woodbridge. Every stop sign has arrows to all the local wineries and there must be at least a million of them. We didn't go tasting but had dinner at the Mexican Restaurant next door, Cactus.  Sure was nice traveling up Hwy. 99 instead of I-5.  It is really a freeway now with speeds up to 70mph.  Then we went back to Redding Elks.  Really like that Elks.  They do a big breakfast the first Sunday of the month and lunch every day.  Not many dinners tho.  Decided not to go home today as it is pouring rain and Ken wanted to rest so we have stopped at Valley of the Rogue and can visit with Dee.  Ray Skiles died about a year ago and she is still able to host.  Is a great deal for her. I am making spaghetti dinner to share with Dee and her daughter Teri. Was fun to catch up with Dee..  On our drive today we passed Lake Shasta.  Sure nice to see it so full.  

Amazing ! ! 

Gary has been sending us pictures all day of the river behind the house.  The greenway was dry yesterday with fresh mowed grass and this was it about noon today...  haven't had this much water in a few years.  

Now Gary is warning that we might not want to come home for a few days.  I called Emerald Valley RV Park, right along I-5, to see if I can make a tentative reservation, just in case.  I did cancel the reservation when we were about an hour out and Gary said that our road was still passable.

These are the fields right along I-5 from about Sweet Home, Lebanon area through Albany.  Most usually have cattle and sheep but we have never seen so much water in these fields. 






Graham's first trip to the coast!  Looks cold ! ! 

My birthday landed during the OSMA Conference again and was on the day of the luncheon to honor past State Presidents. Was great to see old friends again.

Our first visit with Graham since we got home..  This is April and he is six months old and cutting two top teeth as well as just about crawling.  He's so cute !!

 Love this pic !!

Love this !!  So cute...

What a difference a day or two makes !!

Karen & Casey took us to dinner at Marco Polo for my birthday.  Graham enjoyed it too !!

Easter at Karen and Casey's....   Fun along with great brunch...  

Baby is definitely on the move now !! 

Funny how we just get pictures of Graham anymore...  LOL  LOL    

Alyssa was home but didn't catch her for a pic !

Thanks to Angee, I got these pictures of Joe and Celeste's Easter with her..  Cute...

April 23, 2019....  Snuggle bug ! ! 

 Isn't he cute out on the farm with mom and dad and his best friend Winston!!  Whitney and her new husband bought 80 acres in the Eugene area.  NICE.... Means that they plan to come home from Australia..  LOL

Kristina sent us this picture today, April 27, 2019.  Graham is already to go camping with us this weekend when we go to Silver Falls State Park to celebrate Corey's 50th birthday...  How did so many years get by so fast...

Not sure how our baby boy got to 50 already but we celebrated in style at Silver Falls State Park.  We rented all four of the pet friendly cabins and they all have RV pads too.  Perfect....  Was a great showing of family and friends. The only disappointment was that my brother, Joe, fell a couple days before they were to leave to come. It prevented him from attending as he wrenched his back and twisted his knee pretty bad.  We all missed him and Celeste.  Another time... we will get them back up here.  Love this family ! ! 

BJ popped the perfect popcorn for his granddaughter Monroe or Mo Mo....

Gary was in charge of brining and smoking the fresh pork that he bought from a friend... Everyone loved it.  Had a great dinner, gluten free and all ! ! 

Love this picture with Kaye 

Found a bakery in McMinnville that makes only gluten free.  Corey wanted carrot cake and that's what he got !!

 Kenny and Alyssa are really growing up too!!  They are cute too ! !   LOL  LOL

 Seth and his cat, Elvis..

Corey got to get out hiking the falls a couple times.  This is just a couple of them...  Always beautiful..  Can't believe the terrific weather that we had and it really was May...  LOL

One last picture that we took at home...

OK, I think that this may be it until we leave in July for the Fantasy RV Tours Rocky Mountain National Parks of the North...  We have already started working on it.  It's gonna be another great tour...

Ooops, just found a few more pics of Corey's birthday from Ken's camera - never enough pics...  LOL

 

Corey's high school friend Julie Papke and her guy Mark along with Uncle Lonnie!

Gary has put a lot of work into this pond.

Graham is really growing, so is Winston. Graham thinks the Roomba is his toy!

 He loves his tunnel ! ! 

Can't believe that Graham is already eight months old !!  Wish we could know what he is thinking...   LOL

This is like the sweetest picture...  Chris has been playing music to him since before he was born...  Will be fun to see how musical Graham is as he grows older!!  Sure seems interested now...

He is having fun !!   Look at those teeth !  This is what Kristina posted on Facebook:  Graham says ‘dada’, pulls himself up and takes some steps while holding on to something, has started to feed himself finger foods and loves to be out and about seeing and feeling new things. He is really into screaming right now, especially if he wants something! He is becoming more independent and a bit stubborn. 

We got to see Alyssa at the Choir Camp at George Fox in Forest Grove.

 Fun catching her in action!

Can't believe that he is 9 months already

Finally got to give Alyssa her 17th birthday gift.  Four tickets to Dustin Lynch at the Oregon State Fair 

Happy boy on June 30, I got luck and spent some time with him

Graham's first trip to the aquarium

Can't believe that we have been married 55 years now ! !   WOWEEEEeeeee

4th of July celebration was great.  Gary did an amazing turkey, deep fried too

Love getting pictures of the Hooper family, Graham is getting so big !  !

 North Cape Lookout Trail ends on the beach at Terra Del Mar

Our yard is looking really good

We are leaving home for the Rocky Mountain National Parks of the North RV Tour on July 9th.  Sooooooooo, this post ends here!!

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta's 2018

Wednesday, September 19th, 2018.  Left the house at 8:30am this morning.  A little hesitant cuz our little Graham Christopher Hooper was due yesterday and he has decided to wait a little while before coming into this world.  We got all settled in at the Hawk's Nest RV Park in Tionesto, CA.  Interesting place.  Got here and only a Spanish speaking worker was here.  He called someone and handed me the phone. After several conversations he leaves and comes back with the mother of the woman who runs this place. Turns out that the owner doesn't talk much to the workers and so they didn't even know we were coming even tho he made sure I knew our confirmation number or we wouldn't be able to get in.  Turns out that there is no computer on site, all is on paper so if he doesn't tell them about a reservation, they don't know.  It is a beautiful setting about two miles off the main road and there are two tents and maybe two other RV's sooooo, seems like not a problem, however, it took about half an hour to get our camp site figured out...  As I said, very interesting.   LOL

Our second stop was at the Sparks Marina RV Park in Sparks, Nevada.  Our GPS took us right into a manufactured home park right outside the RV park but no entrance. Sooooo, around about three blocks and then into a very nice park. Great pull through and didn't have to unhook the jeep.  

Third night is at Tonopah RV Park in the big town of Tonopah, Nevada.  Don't blink.  GPS didn't recognize the address which is right along Highway 95 which we have been on for over a hundred miles. No sign telling us it is the park nor address that we can see.  Pulled in and it was exactly where we needed to be.  Another nice pull through spot and a very small park.

Along the way, leaving Tonopah and until about ten miles from Las Vegas, we saw about 30 wild burros, in quite a few different groups.  Amazing, they were all coal black except one which was normal burro colors. Such fun to see.

OMG, Las Vegas.  Arrived on 9/22/18 and staying for two nights.  It is sooooo HOT here, about 102. However, our thermometer went up to 117 so not sure. Just know that our air conditioner couldn't really keep up with the heat.  Very hard to sleep even with opening the windows at about 11:00pm.  Don't remember that since I was a kid and we all know how long ago that was ! !  LOL

Met Stacey at the Fantasy RV Tours office and picked up a lot of the stuff we need for the Rally's.  This is real... gonna happen soon !!  LOL  After, we decided to have late lunch/early dinner at Lindo Michoacan, just 1.5 miles down Dessert Inn Dr. from Boulder Hwy. Real close to the Thousand Trails Park. The best food ! !  Enough left over for another night ~~  Love that !!

Next was Gallup, New Mexico at the USA RV Park.  That means our very long day driving, 8.5 hours and a time change. The drive took us through Nevada, across Arizona and into New Mexico.  WHEW ! !   Nice park with BBQ dinner for order, can either eat outside at picnic tables or take back to your rig..  During the night our first thunder storm. Woke up in the morning to clear, blue skies. 

9/25/18, Tuesday..  All settled in Albuquerque at the American RV Park about 15 miles from the Balloon grounds. Came early because we had set up a meeting with the Balloon RV Park Manager, the Landfill Manager, and a rep from the tent company...  Well, no one came to the meeting but us..  LOL.  Didn't expect that, however, we were able to locate them individually, all working somewhere on that huge field. Got done what we needed and made arrangements for the tent to go up tomorrow instead of Monday...  five days early.  So happy.  

Wednesday...  tent day ! !   Was done in about six hours, amazing...  They will be bringing all the tables, chairs, generator, etc on Monday and make final adjustments to the tent.  So happy all that is done. Now, when the rest of the Ambassadors arrive on Monday, we can meet and then get to work.  Got a lot to get done.  We also went shopping.. That means price checking at Costco!!  LOL

WOW, the 15 days at the Balloon Field RV Park went fast.  Steep learning curve as a lot of the details we needed were not in the Wagon Master Guide but we got it done...  We had thunderstorms at least four times, all at night, waking up to warm and blue skies, UNTIL the last couple days. Windy, cold and sometimes rainy is not the weather you want for balloons to fly.  The special shapes day was spectacular but after that, not so good.  

This balloon and another one set off from the middle of the Fantasy RV Parking area. Was really fun to watch the process up close and personal.

On the 15th, everything was packed up and we were able to leave the field about 10:30, even after going over most of the financials with Stacey.  We only went about 3 hours to Gallup, NM.  But, the next day was cold, then rain, then snow til past Flagstaff.  

No ice or snow on the road which made driving much easier.  The snow ended just past 7,000 feet elevation in Flagstaff.  Then just cloudy and cold...  Stopped in Needles, CA at the Desert Inn RV Park.  Very nice park with oleander growing between each space.  Lot's of privacy.  Then on to an old favorite, Orange Grove in Bakersfield...  Oranges are all green this time of year.  Haven't been here this time before.  Boring drive through the Mojave Desert today since everything is brown from the long summer.  It is 91 degrees and clear blue skies here.  Sure beats the 30's from Albuquerque...  LOL

Well, this is the saddest story...dogs started barking in the afternoon and barked most of the night and then started up early again in the morning.  Ken took Mandy out to investigate and it was so sad.  We were only one row away from a main street at the edge of the park. Appears an Airedale dog had been hit and died right next to the fence, maybe a day or so ago. A German Shepherd was laying near the body of the Airedale, finally sleeping. Wasn't about to leave it's buddy.  Stopped to tell the park people about it and all they did was say that everyone was reporting it.  Really...?  Wonder if they were neighbors??  A lot of farm land so they may have traveled a bit. 

On the way to Corey's now ! He will be home late tonight so will stay tomorrow night too.  Plan is to be home on Sunday !  YEAH, totally out of clothes. Haven't done laundry in two plus weeks.. LOL  Was so great spending a full day with Corey.  He and Ken worked on a couple projects and just hung out. Great times.

Stayed in Redding at the Elks, was disappointed to learn that they upped their rates from $20 to $30 a night.  Without sewer at the sites, it is not the deal it was, however, they still do buy a drink and they give campers their second one free...  No dinner on a Saturday night either...  Darn it...  We ordered pizza (again) and it wasn't as good as they said it would be..  LOL..  Gotta remember that ! 

Leaving Redding we witnessed the devastation from this summers fires. Went about 10 to 15 miles where you could see, right up to the road, the downed trees. Horrible, horrible...  Does look like they are trying to clear the dead trees and maybe do something good with the timber.  Shortly after the fire area we enter the Shasta Lake area.  Boy, the lake is low again, however, it is the end of summer and rains haven't started yet.  Hopefully, it will fill up again this winter.  

Nice to get home for a while...  Ken has a total knee replacement scheduled for October 29.  Took pics of the unexpected bruising, about two weeks out..  So pretty ! !   LOL

Best Part of our Year ! ! !

The very best part of our year happened while we were in Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta.  Graham Christopher Hooper was due before we left, September 18th but he needed a little inducing to arrive on September 28th.  All healthy and well.  Chris & Kristina are so lucky that they live in these times. Kristina was able to stay home for two months and Chris was there the first two weeks as well as another two months when Kristina went back to work.  He is the cutest Great Grandson that grandparents could wish for..

Two months passed by so quickly...   here he is...

These are from our Thanksgiving Celebration at Karen's. Graham is just two months old... Look how strong he is already...

Made reservations for a condo in Kona, Kona Isle for the month of November to celebrate our 55th anniversary !!  Hope to use air miles to get First Class tickets both ways...  Will do that in a couple weeks. 

Alyssa and her Cascade High School Choir participated in a special program at a church in Salem.  Alyssa got one of two solo parts, was really great.. She has a beautiful voice and is loving Cascade.  She also made the Cheer Team and they voted her the Captain.  How great for the new girl ! ! 

We celebrated Christmas with Collette's and Hooper's at Karen & Casey's and then with Phaedra and the boys the day before leaving for Corey's.  Fun times. 

Sunday, December 23rd heading out to Corey & Angela's for Christmas and then on to the desert for winter.  First stop is the Redding Elks.  Didn't think that they would be open but they are only closed on Christmas Day so, buy one, get one free drink happens before leftover taco soup for dinner ! ! !LOL.   Wake up to pouring rain, hook up the jeep and outta there... Stop at the Rolling Hills Casino in Corning for fuel and ask if they have an RV park.  They have at least a million billboards along the freeway and only one said anything about RV's.  Appears that yes, they do have a park but it is filled with FEMA trailers now for all the need from the Paradise fires.  Nice to see that.  Rain slowed a little, back on the road, just a couple more hours and we will be at Corey's.  Got to Corey's in the afternoon.  Already nice to be able to stay put for a few days..  Angela made an appetizer dinner which was mostly seafood and totally delicious.  Christmas Day was a deep fried turkey, again delicious with yummy side dishes. 

Official Christmas Picture...  Kristina posted to Facebook...  Love it as it shows Kristina's love of gnomes too ! ! 

I love this pic that Celeste sent me of Joe on Christmas Day at Becky's house. 

We are in Palm Desert for only 12 days, starting December 29th, and then on to Emerald Cove in Earp for the first time.  Then to Quartzsite for a week.  Never have stayed there before either.  We are NOT dry camping out in the desert, we have a full hook up space at the 88 Shades RV Park where we can walk out the back of the park and into the river wash right to the big tent..
  
Was able to get flight tickets for the first leg of our Kona trip with mileage for First Class...  WOW, some days are 40,000 miles each and some are 80,000.  Leaving on October 31st to get the better deal. Condo owner said we can book the extra day there too.  YEAH ! !  Now gotta earn another 1,700 miles before we can book the return trip!!  LOL.  That will happen by February.  Love our mileage credit card ! ! !

Year ended with New Year's Eve at this park...  Party ended at 9, east coast midnight !  LOL..  Perfect end to 2018.