In Lodi, Ca - Off to Bakersfield and points east.

This is our site in Lodi, Ca.  We arrived early in the afternoon - following a 3.5 hr. drive = mainly through fog.  With so much moisture sitting on the farm fields, the recent heat has created a semi dense fog.  So....it was eyes straight ahead on the road.  We simply could not see much; including the city of Sacramento skyline.

The services are awfully close to the slides.  This park designer did not think too well or this park was built long before slides were in vogue.  The post between the two back slies (port side) fit just right.  Jeanette guided me exactly in the middle point before the slides were opened,.  Good thing for the Motorola radios.....and good communication.

Jeanette took this shot from the living room, inside the RV.  I thought it wise to start the motorcycle and heat it up.  It started quickly and ran well. That is always a great sound to hear.

We were invited to have dinner with the good folks I spoke of in my blog, yesterday.  Although we didn't convoy, they invited us to overnight in this park and we said yes.  These are veteran travellers and we learn from their experience.  Dinner was good.  The companions even better. 

Sure wish I would have remembered to bring our camera to dinner.  We could have featured our gracious friends.  We'll try for a group photo before we roll out today.

Today we head down to Bakersfield.  From there we plan to head east towards Needles. We will likely follow Hector and Lady Di (his wife) who - with thier years of RV'ing and international travel - are a wealth of experience.  They invited us to tag along....and with such great folks, how could we say no.  We are looking for heat.

With Needles as a possible base for several days, we plan to motorcycle to Yuma to visit with my brother and his wife who winter there.  Hector and I have talked about hitting the links for a few rounds of much needed golf.  We seem to be suffering from golf DT's.  Hence, another good reason to tag along.  I have found a temporary golfing partner.

Although not cast in stone - and due to the fact that we have to be back in early March to move houses - we have had to alter our travel schedule.  Our loose plan is to spend a bit of time in Needles, travel in and around Laughlin, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu and Yuma.  From there we'll head to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.  We have several friends and aquaintences there....and the golf is pretty good there too.  We could also get a visit from a good friend - or two - from White Rock who are also sufferning from golf DT's.  Our last stop would be in the Palm Springs area before heading north and back home.  

That's our plan - written on the bank of the tidal flows of the Pacific Ocean.  Yes, kind of wishy washy?  We're told that is life on the open road.  just go with the flow....whenever you can.  So......we will!

Cheers.

In Red Bluff, Ca - Washed the rig

Early morning photo @ 7 Feathers prior to departure

We met some very nice folks @ 7 Feathers RV Resort.  Once couple in a beautiful Monaco motorhome - who farm between Abbotsord and Chilliwack (back home in British Columbia), another couple in an awesome Fleetwood motorhome - from Vancouver Island, and another couple - also in a beautiful Monaco motorhome - from Cold Lake, Alberta.  These folks invited us to the next stop on our collective southern drive.  We were told that we could wash our rigs - on site - at the Durango RV Resort in Red Bluff, Ca.  We bit into that.  Our rig needed a good wash after the wet weather in Oregon and Washington states.

Driving by the Shasta Lakes in northern California

 If was a nice drive through the Siskiyou Pass but - unlike Rick and Paulette   Rick & Paulette's RV Travel - who took great shots of Mt. Shasta - our drive through found the mountain half covered in fog and clouds.   Still a nice drive through with negligeable rain.


Stopped for a much needed diesel drink in Redding, Ca.

It was a short 25 minute drive to the Durango RV Resort.   www.durangorvresorts.com

Durango RV Resort - Red Bluff, Ca

After a relatively quick set up - on a long and level concrete site - Jeanette and I got busy and washed the truck, rig and motorcycle.  

A lot of road grime

A much needed cleaning following a few days of rain and road grit while on the Washington and Oregon freeways.

Nice evening - temperatures in the low 60's

More than half way through washing the rig

 Amost done.  Just the motorcycle left to wash.

As the sun set, we completed our wash and put everything away.  We went for a walk, found a food store close by, purchased some vegetables and other necessities, then headed back home.  After dinner we walked around the resort and chatted with other snowbirders heading south.

Today we will head south of Sacramento and, when the time feels right, we'll pick an RV site for an overnight before heading for Orange Grove RV in the Bakersfield area.  We've been told that this is a great RV place.  We'll check that out.  So....off we go.  


Thanks for stopping by.

Extended stay @ 7 Feathers RV Resort - Southern Oregon

Parked to sign in to 7 Feathers RV Resort and Casino

We arrived yesterday at about 4:00 pm following a day of very heavy rains through Vancouver, Wa., Portland, Oregon, and on through Salem, Oregon.  Finally the rains abated somewhat and the last two hours of driving were fairly good.

Heavy rains......Yuk!

Much improved driving conditions.

If this isn't a 5 start resort, what is?

See the golf cart?  Each RV gets directed to their site.  Great service.

The guide leads you into your site.

Now to unhitch and get set up.

This has got to be one of the best RV resorts we have been too.  Owned and operated by the southern Oregon first nations, this is a great example of how these entrepreneurial bands can actually create a wonderful business.

  

This native band that built and operate the RV resort, truck stop, casino and hotel.

Beautiful creek that runs parallel to the resort.

Following our set up, Jeanette and I took the shuttle service to the Casino for dinner and some free gambling.  As a registered guest in the RV resort, each person get a free play card for $7.50.  We're not gamblers (in casinos that is - but in business, YES!) but after a nice dinner, Jeanette hit a jackpot - well, a small jackpot - and she wanted to cash out and buy us each a glass or wine while we enjoyed a fantastic 60's music performance by a very gifted singer and his band, Hal Bruce. 

When we returned to our RV the thought occurred that it might not be such a bad idea to hang in for an extra day/night, get ourselves better organized and have a breather from a really hectic couple weeks prior to our snow birding adventure.  When we woke up this morning, the decision was quickly made to stay

Following an early morning walk, I chose to remove the motorcycle from the swivel wheel and re tie it better.  Although the previous tie downs worked well, I found a better method.  I then chose to err on the side of caution and check all tire pressures.  Never can be too safe. 

Jeanette enjoys her morning coffee and I get to work on the swivel wheel and motorcycle. We ended our day with a swim, jacuzzi soak, shower, another long walk and now we're preparing for our drive over the southern Oregon and northern California passes.  

In southern Washington State - Kelso, Wa.

We're overnighting in an RV park in Kelso, Wa.  The TV weather girl is calling for snow overnight.  What's with that?  The better news is that tomorrow (Wednesday) is calling for 50 degree + temps.  So....a cool evening (with snow) followed by rain and higher temps tomorrow. We'll take whatever comes.

Hooked up the 5th wheel, parked in the cul de sac, and readied the swivel wheel for the motorcycle

 We left yesterday afternoon and drove the few kilometres to the Peace Arch Border Crossing.  Navigating the new road in - and the 'S' curves away from - the USA NEXUS line was quite something, certainly with our long load.  No problems though. That new Homeland Security System is, I guess, one engineer's belief that by building 'S' curves, the bad guy - or girl - won't easily storm at high speed through the border.  Nice border crossing renovation though.  

NOTE:  For those of you who follow the blog, and recall my USA border incident a month or so ago, our border crossing was seamless.  I was not detained for having stolen my own truck.  LOL

Yesterday began with completing the move into the fiver, hooking up, attaching the swivel wheel, driving into the cul de sac and completing all tasks prior to leaving @ 1:30 pm.  With the motorcycle loaded, we handed our house keys to select neighbours - the house sitter already has hers - and away we drove.  Finally heading south!!!

Jeanette directed the activities and managed traffic control

Having tested the swivelwheel and motorcycle prior to this trip proved worthwhile.  Our experience on the road has been positive.We took Stu's advice (http://2takinga5th.blogspot.com/) and checked the swivelwheel and tie downs often.

Quite a good system....and a good alternative to hauling the motorcycle with us.

When we left the Bellingham area, there was no snow in the north end of the city but this is a shot at the south end of the city.  How interesting....and beautiful.

South side of the City of Bellingham, Wa

Tomorrow we'll head for southern Oregon and likely onvernight at the Seven Feathers Casino and RV Resort.  We have driven by there before but not with the 5th wheel. It is a worthwhile destination. We'll make that stop a special celebration because today - January 11, 2011 - is 38 years to the day that Jeanette and I went out on our very first date.  


Trouble free motoring to date and, albeit early in our destination to the sunny desert climes, we hope for more of the same in the coming days.


Thanks for dropping in.
Cheers
 

Heading south

A short blog today. 

Looking forward to this.....shorts and warm temperatures in a few days from now.

We are packed and ready to head south.  Just a few more things to accomplish - like hooking up the swivel wheel and loading the motorcycle, hand the house keys over to our house sitter, cross into the US border (only a four minute drive from our home), find our first night's location, set up and then make a grocery run.

Should we have decent WiFi at our first RV location, we'll blog this evening.

Cheers.

Making progress and loading the RV

A short blog today.  We are moving forward with the sale of our home and purchase of another.  The building inspections have been completed and approved, subject removal deadline is tomorrow (Saturday) and we should be set to roll out of here on Monday.

Getting loaded - albeit slowly but surely.

The rain is to let up today with the promise of sunny skies till mid next week.  We'll take advantage to load our 5th wheel in dry conditions.  I also have to  set up the new TV satellite dish, tripod, and receiver to test that out.  This will be a first attempt with that system....or any satellite.  I can always call the 1-800 number to get 24/seven assistance, if need be.As a complete newbie on that front, I'm sure I'll be making the call.

Our house sitter will be taking over our home when we leave on Monday.

Jeanette has moved forward with laundering the sheets and towels. Because the RV has been in storage for several months, we removed all pots, pans and dishes, and put them through our home dishwasher.  Now my job is to complete a detailed vacuum run inside.

Harbour near White Rock, BC

Now we load up with clothing, transfer household refrigerator items, load up the golf clubs, etc. then pull forward to hook up the swivel wheel for the motorcycle.  Tire pressures are up to date. We will dump the RV antifreeze, run fresh water through the system, take on a bit of White Rock water for the first leg of the trip, test out the systems and hopefully leave here with all system go.

That's it for today.  Thanks for looking in.

BLOG SILENCE....! WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

It has been a whirlwind of activity here these past few weeks.  With Christmas preparations, our children coming for Christmas, Christmas celebrations and meals, taking the 5th wheel out of storage and doing some needed installations, and generally preparing to leave on our southward RV'ing journey, all heck broke loose when our home suddenly sold.  You read right!  We sold our home.  That happened on New Year's eve.  Unbelievable!

See the trees and high surround cedar hedge

More hedge - completely surrounding the yard.

Chronology:

Regular readers may remember an earlier blog referring to Jeanette's flight, from here on the Canadian west coast, to Edmonton, Alberta; the province's capital city.  She went to check in on her parents.  So in early December I drove her to the Abbotsford Regional airport - about 35 minutes from our home.  On the drive back I drove by a housing  development we both had been scouting for the past 18 months or so.  One specific area, within that development, really appealed to us but there have not been any listings available.  On that particular day there was one listing.  It seemed to be a property that suited our needs.  Once home I went online and found the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) listing.  That property clearly met about 95% of our criteria.

Seven days later, when Jeanette returned from her trip, we drove past the property  and Jeanette's eyes and general reaction said, "IT FACTOR."

That led to one long viewing in mid December- followed by another longer viewing the next day.  The result was an offer to purchase.  The usual subjects were written into the contract and included a condition on the sale of our current home.  Our Realtor convinced us to list our home immediately following the offer to purchase.  We thought that holding off till the new year would make more sense.  She convinced us otherwise. We did just that.  Because it is winter, we attracted serious buyers - by appointment only.  The third couple in to view the home wrote an offer to purchase within 12 hours.

More evidence of hedge & plants

RV'ing schedule revised:

As a result of these activities - subject removals, title searches, building inspections, etc. - we had to delay our departure from Thursday, January 6, to Monday, January 10, 2011.  (That means at least one more OPEN MIKE COFFEE session guys.) We need that extra time to get all of the necessary paperwork in place and schedule movers and moving dates.  The legal work will happen in our absence. The buyers of our home must also remove all conditions by this Saturday.  It is necessary for us to be here till then.

Plants and trees galore

Breezeway

Because possession for our property and the new home is for March 19, 2011, we'll have to cut our first snow birding adventure back by between five to six weeks.  Although we're saddened by that, we're also happy with the new house and the future possibilities for travel..

The good side:

We did not plan for this to happen so soon.  We were surprised by the quick sale but we are thrilled to have everything in place before the fiver leaves our driveway.

More time for this

...and for this...

...and for this  too.

Some have wondered if we are downsizing.  The answer is yes and no.  With our two children educated, both living in Edmonton, Alberta, and well on their way in this world  -with successful lives- this home is larger than we really need.  Our yard is another thing altogether.  It is a high maintenance yard that is surrounded by greenery galore.  It requires regular intervention for upkeep.  That was OK when 'all in the family' lived here.  Not so now.  Not so now that we desire more free time to motorcycle, golf, RV travel, visit with our kids, etc., etc. There is not enough room to park my 5th wheel here.  We have to keep it in storage when not in use. There is room at the new place; lots of it.

Downsizing or rightsizing:

Our primary objective - these past few years - was to downsize and find a place that would require less time to clean and to maintain - inside and outside.  Although the home we have purchased is as large as our current home, it is a rancher (also known as a bungalow) with a loft that also has a bedroom with 4 piece en suite and a large (I mean large) games room....soon to be office.

The yard is a professionally landscaped, ZERO maintenance, installation with in ground sprinkler system and fountain.  Can you hear the shouting?  YIPPEE!!!  No lawn cutting.  Only trees and plants to maintain.  That means we can just head off in the summer months and not worry about hiring a lawn maintenance service or rushing back to mow the lawn.  The house faces south and has a huge finished driveway with a 14 foot wide space to park our 5th wheel....and plenty of room for another one too.

Although this new home is only six years old, it requires some interior decorating.  We'll take care of that in short order after we move in on the 19th of March, 2011.

A big attraction was that the house is across the street from operating range farms in the Agricultural Land Reserve.  In essence (or till some politician's jeans are greased with greenbacks and the law is changed) this land will never be developed.  It is truly 'big sky country'. We face beautiful Mt. Baker (in Washington State) and all other surrounding mountains to the east south and west.  The entire development is wonderful and all properties are very well maintained.  The new house takes us away from our ocean side community and into the Fraser Valley, Langley Township, but it is a great trade off.....at least in our view it is.

View from the pier @ White Rock Beach, BC, Canada

Clearly rightsizing:
We have lived in the White Rock area of British Columbia for 30 years now.  Although we are moving about 22 - 25 minutes east, this seaside community will always be home and, when we can no longer travel, we'll move back here for the next stage in life.

So we will not really downsize (cause the new house is as large as our current one) but we will certainly rightsize.  Everything we wished for (or at least 95% of what we wished for in a new property) awaits us this mid-March.

Must run off to meet with the building inspector and have a listen at his report on the new property.

I took this photo from the MLS listing.  The photo does not do justice to the size of the yard and 14' wide enclosed RV parking on the left side of the house.  Directly across the street is wide open country surrounded by beautiful snow covered mountains - featuring the famous Mt. Baker.

I will place photos of the new place when the sun shines again and we have the time to do that. It has been raining since early this morning so it's not a very nice day for photographs.

Thanks for stopping by.