Monday, March 18, 2024

Saturday it is or would that be Was?

 Decided to leave on Sat., around 10ish. Parked the Rv's on the street and proceeded to spray the lots for weed control. Completed closing up, the kitchen along with putting everything in there place.

Once done, with that, off we went. Dave decided not to fill his propane tank, so need to hang around. Our first stop was the Elk's lodge on the east side of Gila Bend. There we took a small walking break and discuss our final destination for this leg. Options, Rover's Roost, SKP campground west of Casa Grande (CG), Pinal county fail grounds east of CG, or try the Elks lodge in CG. 

With our decision made, off we went, back on I-8 heading to, you guess it, the Elks lodge. Easy traveling, no wind and normal amount of traffic. Most of which would pass us by. You see, this is our home, and we plan on keeping it and us safe as we travel. Normal speed 60 to 65, we have too many friends, who think it is find, traveling 70, 75 or even faster. The worst part? Is some of them are in the high 70's or even 80's. They think nothing of it. Never realizing that their reaction time, visibility, and even their peripheral vision, just plain sucks. Sorry folks, we all get old, and this happens to all. 

Ok, as we continued eastward, we reached our exit Trekell Rd., in plenty of time. Within 15 minutes we were pulling in to the Elks lodge and what did we see ? Sorry for the lopsided image. Anyone recognize the red stripe?

Wait they are in Florida, Susan exclaimed.

Yes, Kathleen and Keith Freebern, were at the elks. And if you guess, Keith was working on there Rv, you would guess correctly. Although I did not get the best photo, it was still a keeper.

Keith at his finest

Anyway, so what do Roadrunners do when they get together?

Mini Rally 
Susan, Keith, Kathleen, Dave and of course me. Also Dakota and Tilly.

Sunday came and so did Lorraine and Mike, you see, Susan asked if they would meet us and take home some items to Florence, and keep them until we get back. Mike and Lorraine, what great friends they are. Mike also asked if I wanted to buy his Black-Stone Grill. They figured, it was just to big for there camping trailer. 

So, here's to you Mike and Lorraine:


Blackstone on a roller stand with our Portable Air/Oven.
Thank you Mike and Lorraine

But, I am getting ahead of what is going on.

Quick and Easy arriving and getting in early.
What time is it ? Wine time.

Dakota Resting and surveying

Monday, 1 day, what a difference it makes







Dan Sheppard Small world.

So, this is just a little of what is happening, before the first day of the FMCA Get-Together.

Oh picture this:




Anyway Safe travels to all of you:

To those of you who are Roadrunners, remember to send our editor some of your travel notes for the Newsletter.

Safe Travels and Journeys 
DaGirls Rv, Gus the Bus
Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me






















 

 




Friday, March 15, 2024

Hello, it's been awhile

It's been: 206 days, or 29 weeks & 3 days, or 6 months & 22 days, since our last post.

We left off with smoke, fires, alpaca farms and photos of our crossing back into USA. 

Sorry for the delay, but sometimes we just get writers block.

So, maybe I can make up for it. We spent some time at our cabin in Show Low, making minor repairs, seeing friends and ensuring everything was good. Then spent the better part of November until to day in Yuma. Remodeling the Cavco's bathroom, designing and building a new Outdoor Cowboy kitchen, making upgrades to water faucets. Traveling to Lake Havasu for Alfa Roadrunners Fall Rally. Then onto Quartzsite in January for Winter Rally.  

Right now we are prepping to leave Yuma on Sat or Sun., and head to Tucson, for the FMCA FIESTA DEL SOL rally. It's a four-day, five-night event filled with activities, seminar and fun things to do. Our last FMCA rally was in 2016. 

We expect to see some old friends, meet new ones and have a fun filled 4 days.

By the way, all of this would not have been possible without the help of Rudy, Beata, Dave and Willie.


Hummingbird Show Low

Bears Canada

Bears Canada

JR Lake Cruise

Day trip to Mexico for Lunch and drinks

Christmas Electric Light Parade

Safety Officer Dan Stringfellow

Happy Dan Sheppard

Quartzsite 2024 Photos




 

                                           Quartzsite Moon Shot



Sara Parks Rally 2023

Dakota 

Canadian Citizenship Papers

Susan Newest Canadian

Do not buy this tow bar
Cavco Demo Bathroom

Cowboy Kitchen

Safe travels and journeys 
DaGirls Rv, Gus da Bus
Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Playing Catch-Up

 Where are we? Hwy I-84 heading east to Utah. 

First, I wish to state, we are sorry, we did not stop and see anyone in Washington or Oregon, I know you understand the reason. Due to the Smoke and Fires off of the Interstate. 

Today, marks the 26 time we have refueled Gus. AkA DaGirls Rv. Yes, since leaving Yuma, Arizona, we have made 26 stops for refueling. I will get into more about our expenses, at a later date. 

I promise you an update a few days ago, as to where we have traveled as we were going to our Port of Entry leading us back into the US.

On the 17th of Aug., we pulled into a small city campground in 100 Mile House, B.C. There are 8 sites, but only 2-3 would be good for Gus. However, there is a spot in back, that would fit. It is just not a sight, but as long as you paid the $15 Ca. You would be welcome.



You can see, as beautiful as the pictures looks, this all due to the fires causing all the smoke.

It was here we met a Bicyclist that has traveled extensile in Canada. Rhona, travels only by bicycle during the summer months. During winter, she locates herself in some area that she feels comfortable in. We spend a wonderful evening discussing  travels and people we have met. 

Another couple we met Brian and Cathy, residents of Vancouver Island. We discuss many things as to tech., but something i really like. Ghost towns. In discussing, I learned backup along our travels were quite a few Towns that had been abandon. What exciting news for a future adventure in B.C.  

Since we were only here for 1 night, we left on the morning of the 18th and continued our journey south by southeast. 

Our next stop was Greenwood, B.C. This was another small campground. Due to the smoke and fires we only stayed oone night. We arrived in time, though that on Sat. there was a car show, music and vendors across the street. 




But alas our goal, leave Canada and cross back over. We were glad we made this decision as B.C. was requesting that non-Canadian citizens leave, freeing up spaces for Canada citizens. 

One place we stopped and had lunch was Williams Lake, B.C.




As, there was a casino and restaurant next door, we enjoy a brief time of rest and an excellent lunch.

Safe Travels and Journeys 
Susan, Dakota, Tilly and me
DaGirls Rv, and Gus 

Monday, August 21, 2023

First We Are Safe

 After Fort St. James, our plan, head south and east to a US port of entry. Exactly where? We had at least  2 to  3 port of entries selected. Little did we realize the severity of conditions we were heading into.

We headed east on Canada Hwy 16, to Prince George. then south on Canada Hwy 97 to Quesnel. We continued south on Hwy 97 to Cache Creek, were we headed east on Trans Canada Hwy 1 to  Kamloops. As we continued our journey east we switch drivers. With Susan driving, we planned on refueling at Falkland. Price for diesel was $1.699 per liter. Lowest we have seen in a month. Once back on the road, the next town we came into was Vernon. As we enter into Vernon, we notice the long lines of traffic heading north. We knew something was up, we also new for the last 2 days the smoke was getting thicker. which was a concerned but not a big worry.





This is when we were glad for having internet service, IAs  started looking at Google Maps, Drive BC and BC wildfires. What I found, was a mayor fire south of us in Kelowna and West Kelowna, with an evacuation order for the residents. 

With an additional 15,000 people ordered to leave, the traffic heading north was over 4 miles long. This long line was worst due to the traffic lights in town. Why is it, instead of law enforcement or volunteers directing traffic to get it moving, they just leave it to the signal lights. 

However, once we were out of Vernon, traffic opened up, however, as I continued to monitor the sites. I learned, we were heading into more traffic, but the route heading east out or Kelowna was cleared. We just had to get there. 

Since you are reading this, you know we made it into United States. We crossed into the US at the Canada town of Christina Lake, were we headed south on US route 395 to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Laurier Port of Entry. 

We continued south on 395. Then we learned that US I-90 was closed heading West. What ? Of course there was the Gray Fire causing the closing due to heavy smoke. Smoke, YES. The more we drove the heavier the smoke was. In time sometimes it reminded us of heavy fog. 

I am not going into great detail, as to where we stayed overnight, I will do that later. I will also get you caught upto date as to our journeys. 






However, we arrived in the Area of Hermiston, Or. 
Location Alpaca Farm in Hermiston, Or.








Oh, you want to know how our crossing went at the Port of Entry? It took all of 2 minutes.

Where we stayed is before and after is another story.

Safe Travels and Journeys
DaGirls Rv and Gus
Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me




Saturday it is or would that be Was?

  Decided to leave on Sat., around 10ish. Parked the Rv's on the street and proceeded to spray the lots for weed control. Completed clos...