California Again

We returned to Salome, AZ late last eve after spending 5 days at Morgan Hill visiting our Daughter Chris and her husband David. It was somewhat on the cool side and rainy while we were there. They came out to Morgan Hill and stayed in a rental trailer for 4 nights. That sure did cut down on the driving as it is about 50 miles to their apt. in Redwood City from where we stay in Morgan Hill. We were able to tour Mission San Juan Bautista with them as they hadn't been there for years. We also stopped at Casa Del Fruita about 15 miles east of Gilroy on Rt 152. Casa Del Fruita is a huge fruit & vegetable market that has been expanded over the years to a small amusement part, RV park, Restaurant, and truck stop. Of course mother & daughter got to spend a couple of days shopping together. We left Morgan Hill Fri. morning and drove in steady rain for a couple of hours and then just intermittent showers on down 101 to Paso Robles. We then went east on Rt. 46 to Rt 99 and south to Bakersfield. At Bakersfield we went east on Rt 58 spending the night in Barstow. When we arrived in Barstow the wind was blowing sand and dirt. Sat. morning we drove just north of Barstow to the Calico Ghost Town at Yermo, CA. We spent a couple of hours there and then ate lunch at Peggy Sue's Diner on I-15. Peggy Sue's Diner is an interesting place it is a 50's diner full of 50's memorabilia. It also featured 50's music like you heard from the juke boxes. Our waitress was the typical 50's gum chewing waitress like you saw in the 50's movies. Will have another blog on the Ghost Town. We then proceeded east on I-40 To Thermal, CA. It was then south on US 95 to Parker, AZ then south and east another 6o miles to Desert Palms in Salome. I will have to say that it is a sharp contrast from the now green hills and valleys of western CA to the brown desert of eastern CA and western AZ. But the 10 degree's warmer temp here is sure welcome.
Chris called us yesterday after her first day back to work and said she found out she has another week off later in March and wondered if we wanted to come back then. We told her probably not but I guess time will tell as we have learned not to close any gates until they are behind us.

Morgan Hill, CA

Here we are in Morgan Hill again. Our daughter Chris had 5 days off so we decided to drive the 500 miles from Salome, AZ to see her again while we are in the west. Isn't retirement nice? We traveled the same route that we took when coming here in Nov. It was very interesting to see the change from fall to spring. As we were coming west across the desert in Calif. we could see snow covered peaks in the distance. AS we came down into the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs area they were a sharp contrast to the green in the valley and really quit a pretty sight. Going north on I-5 in the area before we stopped for the night in Lost Hills the alfalfa was green and several of the fields had green wheat?? growing in them. There was an occasional herd of sheep grazing in them. This morning going west on 46 the fields of grapes were all barren of leaves and the workers were busy pruning the vines. The rolling hills to the east of Paso Robles had turned green and were dotted with cattle. Nancy made the comment that it seemed so peaceful in that area and that she really liked it. The fields in the Salinas valley were either being prepared for planting of vegetables or some had some new vegetable already showing down the row. I wonder where our vegetables come from during the winter months when they aren't grown in this area.

We stopped at Mission San Miguel Archangel just north of Paso Robles. It is one of the old Spanish missions built in the 1700's. It is one of the 11 most endangered historical sights in the nation. Due to the 2003 earthquake the church part has been condemned. The only part that was open the the public was the original side built in 1797 that served as living quarters. Those rooms still have the old baking ovens and sparse furnishings from that time. Also a couple of windows have the sheep stomach linings that served as glass in the windows. The other 3 sides are in use by the Franciscan Padres for retreats, meetings and training of young Franciscans. It also serves as the local parish.We learned to day that what is now Rt 101 is what was originally the El Camino Real. This is the trail that connected all of the missions back when then were in their early times. The trail was marked by crosses that were attached to trees.

National Hoop Dancing Contest

Sat. our friends John & Mary invited us to accompany them to the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Arts in Phoenix to watch the National Hoop Dancing contest. Native Americans from all over the US & Canada were competing. the tradition of dancing with a hoop has an extensive history among Native people. The hoop or circle is symbolic to all Native people. It represents the Circle of Life and the continuous cycle of summer and winter, day & night, male & female. Some Native tribes us the hoop dance as part of a healing ceremony to restore balance and harmony in the world. This dance is not performed publicly. In the hoop dance the dancer manipulates their body through one to fifty hoops to the beat of drums and chants. They compete in age divisions ranging from tiny tot (5 and under) to seniors (40 plus). Pictures have been added to the web album.
The museum features an exeinsive collection of Kachina Dolls as well as Native arts such as basket weaving, silver smithing and much much more. It would be a place to spend a day sometime as we just saw a little bit of what was there.
The last couple of days has seen the weather warm up to what we had expected nearly 70 in the daytime and 40's at night. It sure seems nice to not be using the furnace all day long.

Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Sun. Jan 20th. found us in the motor home heading southeast on Dead Cow Rd. (Salome Road) to I-10 going east to US 85 south to Gila Bend AZ Where we roudevued with some 50 of our fellow Newmar Kountry Klub Rvs. It is a pretty impressive sight to see 50 plus Newmar motor homes lined up in rows of 8. We dry camped in the Elks Club parking lot and departed Mon. morning in groups of 8 every 20 minutes. Our destination Playa Bonita RV Park, Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) Mexico on the shore of the Sea of Cortez. We didn't have a lot of activities planned a few meals and mostly relaxing and shopping for Mexican junk. We had all arrived by noon. After getting set up we enjoyed a Mexican sampler meal at 4 PM along with meeting new friends. Tues morning we had a car caravan city tour. One of the high lights of that was stopping at a bakery. IT was located in an alley in a run down residential section. They made the rolls and pastry in the back and cooked them in a stone oven built into one wall with an open fire. It certainly wouldn't pass inspection in the US but the pastries were good and no one got sick from eating them. Wed. was a day of shopping and relaxing with a 6 PM dinner. Thur. late afternoon we enjoyed the Folklore Dancers and the Mariachi Band. Then had a great Mexican Fiesta Buffet. Fri was a day filled with more relaxing and strolling through the Mexican junk shops. Sat. was another great day of relaxing and shopping. At 6 Pm we enjoyed a very nice dinner and were entertained by 6 Hula Dancers. Sun. we enjoyed the Brunch Buffet as well as a final day to get that Mexican junk that we had not purchased earlier in the week. It also rained most of the day.
Mon. morning we all departed for the return trek back to our respective destinations. We were all able to get our freshly washed & waxed RVs & cars wet and muddy as the streets had dirt and water in them from the rain on Sun. Most of us had taken advantage of the $1.50 price per foot for washing & waxing. Returning through customs went fairly fast, they did take our eggs that were in the refrigerator. They took fruit & potatoes from our two friends rigs that we were traveling with. we had a great week and made many many new friends. I am sure we meet many of them again at future Kounry Klub events or in our travels. We are now back in Salome for the month of Feb.

Salome, AZ

Here we are in Salome,AZ 50 miles from the nearest stop light, over 1 hour to the nearest Wal-Mart and 100 miles to Phoenix. We will be here through Feb. except for a couple of short excursions we have planned. The weather here is a little warmer than Morgan Hill, however we aren't always feeling chilled to the bone like we did there. I guess the dry desert air is the difference.
We are at Desert Palms RV & Golf Resort probably the nicest RV Park in the area, also one of the newest. Salome is a town of less than 1000 population. It has one cafe, one small grocery store and a couple of gas stations.
We received our mail today so I think that was the last batch of Christmas cards. Thanks to all who sent them we enjoyed hearing from each and every one of you. As a child growing up we always were at the mail box by the hi-way anxiously waiting Mrs. Briggs delivery of the daily mail. Now with traveling full time we only get mail a couple of times a month but once I know Teri has forwarded it I still look forward to it just as I did when a child growing up.
I just did a spell check and guess what ain't is now one of the options if you misspell aren't.

Tournament of Roses Parade

We had our New Years supper & dance last eve. We celebrated The ringing in of the New Year at 9 PM with the people in New York. The reason for that was that we had to get up at 4 AM this morning to be on the buses ready to leave by 5 AM. It was a one hour bus ride to within 1/2 mile of the exit and a 1 1/2 hr ride the last 3/4 mile. We were worried that we weren't going to make it but we did with about 15 min. to spare. Our bleacher seats were about 1/2 mile from the start so we were back on the buses by 10:30 and back here to the RV park just shortly after 11:30. Our seats were 2nd row about 20 feet from the floats. It was amazing to see the finished version of the floats that we had observed being worked on Sun. morning. The floats are awesome and beautiful works of art. I saw on the news yesterday that the cost of the floats ranges from $100,000 to $450,000. The Chinese float was surrounded by police officers as there was a lot of controversy about them having an entry. The bands were all very good and to me seemed very large. Most of them had to have over 200 band members besides the flag drill teams etc. I am sure some of them were at least 2 or 3 blocks in length. The equestrian entries to this old farm boy were first class I especially enjoyed them. The banners and crowds that fallowed the parade were a surprise to us. All in All it was an amazing parade and I am so glad that we were fortunate enough to have been able to be a part of it.

Newport Beach Harbor

This morning at 9 AM we boarded the Hornblower Cruise Yacht "ENTERTAINER" For a morning brunch cruise in Newport Beach Harbor. The harbor has 6 or 8 islands in it, Balboa Island being the largest. The shores are lined with houses ranging from 38 million and down. There are many yachts and sail boats as well. The house lower picture left was Gene Autreys house. It is now owned by the founder of Yahoo. Mark McGuire had purchased this house before the Yahoo owner but couldn't get voted in so never lived in it. It sets on the smallest island in the harbor. There are maybe a dozen houses on the Island and you have to be voted in to live there. The house just behind this on the north side of the island was owned by Clark Gable. The only way on to this island is by golf cart or boat. We saw Shirley Temples house as well as John Wayne's' House and Yacht. We also saw were Gilligan's Island was filmed. All of these multi million dollar houses and most of them only have a few feet of space between them.