Winter Trip, 2014 - - The Sad Saga!!

We headed out last Saturday, Feb. 1st, and had a series of unfortunate events....like


ONE of us (to remain unspecified) backed the old car into the new one, leaving a partially detached bumper with a small hole in it...on the new car of course, leaving the old one intact and unblemished,


ONE of us got lost on the way to Pelican's Roost, Jax,


ONE of us hooked up the water, and the other ONE of us discovered a spewing fountain of water in the bathroom,


We reattached the hanging bumper, found our way to the campground, found a Camping World which had the very expensive plumbing part we needed to stop the water, hooked up, and enjoyed the rest of the weekend.


On Monday, we headed to Sarasota, and settled into our new home for the next month.  The weather has been a little to cool and overcast to enjoy the beautiful beaches here, but we did go to Siesta Key beach for a day.  The sand is very fine, almost like talcum powder.  The water is clear blues and greens, and we loved it.  Another day, we explored Longboat, Lido, and Anna Marie Keys.  There are lots of high rise condos and hotels, as well as private beach houses, and public beaches.


The resort we are staying in has it all, several activities each day and evening, lots of fun people to meet, it's a snowbird park and it is mostly retired folks from the north and Canada.  Rich has been playing volleyball, and I've found three groups to paint with.  There's usually live music every night, but we haven't had the energy to take advantage yet.


Yesterday, we visited the Ringling Circus Museum and Art Museum.  We spent the whole day, and loved it....the history behind the Ringling Brothers Circus, John and Mable's home, their art collection, we didn't even see everything.  When John Ringling died, he left his estate to Florida since they didn't have children. He was one of the richest men in the country, but was financially ruined by the depression in the late twenties, and had only $311.00 dollars left in the bank, in addition to his property. 


For some unknown reason, we can't upload photos to the blog, or in emails.  There's a computer class, and we may have to go to find out what we are doing wrong all of a sudden! 

Home Safe and Sound

We are sure happy to be home...between extreme heat, out of control fires, and coach repairs, we had quite a trip.  OK, we also had a lot of fun in between all the drama!

Rich could hardly wait to jump on his mower, and reclaim the lawn, me.....housework....not so much.  I concentrated on clearing out the coach.  Some how or other, we accumulate a lot of stuff on the road, maps, brochures, tons of rocks (not quite literally), shells, funny sticks, extra fast food napkins, you know, STUFF! 

Anyway, we are about sorted out, laundrys' caught up, and we've almost figured out how to work the tv again.

Til next time,

Rich and Cyn.

Catching Up

We loved San Francisco so much that we ended up spending a week touring around.  This picture is of the section known as Chinatown.  There is a playground near here, and every afternoon ,the older  men and women get together and play cards on makeshift tables.  It is so neat to see lots of children and adults out like that. 

 My glamor shot, high above the pacific, north of San Francisco.

Rich climbing down to stick his toe in crystal clear Lake Tahoe, one of the deepest lakes in the country.

 Napa Valley, where there is water, there are vineyards, no water, no green....a beautiful place with golden hills.

 

We also loved Chicago...only not the traffic and road system.  We had to drive our car in, and the parking was expensive.  Along with that, when we tried to navigate, our gps got lost, and took us subterranean, very scary under the city amidst girders and strange noises.  Even so, we loved the Navy Pier, Lake Shore Drive, and of course, the Miracle Mile shopping district.  Couldn't find any of the famous museums, though we did try.  They have done a wonderful job with the lake shore, lots of public beachs and parks.

 

Lake Michigan, blue, cool, and huge.  Lots of people on the city beaches and parks all along Lake Shore Drive. 

 

We will be leaving this area  and heading to Elkhart, Indiana tomorrow.  Our windshield has popped loose again, and Thor Motor Coach has given us appointment at their factory to try to figure out the problem once and for all.  This is the fifth time it has happened, always in the same corner. Wish us luck!

Love and miss everyone, seems like once we point east, we get in a hurry to get home!

 



Oops, almost left out Cheyenne, Wyoming....gorgeous place.  I think Rich liked it best of all.... 

Monterrey Peninsula

Whew, it has been too hot in Tulare - 110 degrees.  We decided to visit the Monterrey Peninsula, one of our targets for this trip.  Drove over to Vandenberg Air Base and spent a couple of days.  We had to buy jackets as the temperature was in the 60's.  I played golf at Torrey Pines and it was by far the most beautiful piece of ground ever.  I thought I would play at Pebble Beach - wrong.  A round of golf was $495 plus either cart or caddie.  Two cups of coffee costs $10.00.  They have four courses and all are beautiful as they wind around the coastline.  We attached a couple of pictures including the Rolex at the first tee.  Homes in the area were all the way from everyday to McMansions.

Went to visit the Hearst Castle.  William Hearst built the castle over 26 years beginning in 1909.  This estate had 260,000 acres at one time.  We included a picture of the pool and the grand entrance.  The castle sits on a mountain top approximately 1.0 mile above the ocean.  Hearst gave the castle and 82,000 acres to California for $1.00 in his will.  The gift included 13 miles of coastline that cannot be developed.
We stayed at Fort Hunter-Ligget while there.  That fort was one of the most remote areas that I have ever visited.  Road in was 20 miles of 1.5 lane highway that went from 0 to perhaps 4,000 feet with sheer cliffs and no guard-rails.  Some old man nearly hit us when he missed a turn.  Visited a 300 year old Spanish Mission that was part of the Spanish Trail.  The Spanish Trail was a series of missions from Monterrey, Mexico up through all of California.  Missions were spaced approximately 1 days walk from one another.  Indians were pressed into service to do all of the heavy work while  monks and overseers supervised.

Iconic Pacific Coast Highway shot

Storybook cottages at Carmel-by-the-Sea

 Another cottage in Carmel

 Hearst  Castle Grand Entrance

 

Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle

Beautiful, dramatic coastline

Signature pine at Pebble Beach.  This tree is their logo.

Clock at the first tee - note it is a Rolex!

Mission Saint Antonio, 1732

 



 

We stopped in Carmel by the Sea with its quirky little bungalows.  We have never seen such a wide diversity of seaside cottages. 

Lompoc to Morro Rock

Yesterday we drove 70 miles up the central section of the Pacific Coast Highway, and it was is amazing.

  At Oceano Beach, campers are allowed to pull their rigs right onto the beach.  This area has large sand dunes, and lots of people bring their ATVs to tackle the hills.

Oceano beach camping

Avila Beach

Morro Rock - there are cars parked around the bottom of it.  It was formed as a volcanic plug.

 Seals at San Luis Obispo harbor

 Shell Beach

Starfish at SLO

 

Along this part of the coast, heavy fog drifts in during the evening, hangs around in the early mornings, and disappears during the day.  It stays very cool, with temps in the 70s, and cold wind.  We wore jackets most of the time.

 

We had the best ever fish tacos for lunch at the harbor.  Rich was amazed at the size of the crabs and oysters they had for sale - oysters as big as his hand, and crabs 7 to 8 inches tip to tip. 

 

Today, we head north again, this time for two days near Cape San Martin. 

 

 



Shelly and Sequoia National Park

We have loved being at Shelly's house.  She has a full hookup in her back yard, and we are all set up.
Monday, we drove 50 or so miles to Sequoia National Park, home of the giant forest, the General Sherman tree, and beautiful mountain vistas.

The General Sherman tree is the largest tree known in the world, and is 2200 years old. 

To give you an idea of how huge the tree is, below is the same photo, clipped and enlarged to show the people at it's base:

 

My lovely Aunt Shelly, and me

Rich at the base of three sisters (above and behind him). 

 

We are leaving the coach, and headed to the coast for a week.  Internet will be sketchy, but I will post when I can.  

 

 



San Diego

Our time in San Diego with family was way too short, but we did manage to do quite a bit, Rich played golf at Torrey Pines, went to a Padres game with Uncle Johnny and cousin Ted.  "The girls", Aunt Wanda, Angela, and I went to see "The Lone Ranger", (worth seeing, we loved it), and some shopping and dining out. 

Travis was "off work" for a few hours, and we got to take him out and about.  He enjoyed meeting Wanda and Johnny again, and got a brief glimpse of old town San Diego. 

It was a fast few days, and we have now moved to Oxnard, Ca.  - right above Malibu.  We are only here two days, then off to see another much loved aunt, Shelly.