Lots of Catching Up To Do

The months of January-March of this year were busy.  A major renovation to our solar configuration was completed the second week in January at D & R Family RV in Phoenix, where we’ve had other work completed by Ron and his crew.  It consisted of moving the 12V chassis batteries to a new location and then replacing all of them with 6V closed cell batteries.  The old batteries just didn’t give us enough inverter power so it was time for a change and what a difference that made  We are really smokin’ now!

From Phoenix our next destination was Senator Wash - BLM land located near the Foothills of Yuma - our second winter here so we pretty much knew the lay of the land as it relates to what’s available (i.e. water, dump and trash).  The location was perfect as Kay was scheduled to begin physical therapy mid-January about 20 miles from where we were camped.

It was also a time where we needed to change our tow vehicle.  The Jeep Grand Cherokee was getting into high miles and we had the opportunity to purchase a ’08 Jeep Sahara.  We do love the extra room - and the color - but it does present some challenges at getting in and out but nothing that her “purple step stool” can’t handle for now.  Don't forget to notice the piece of string that Jeff rigged up for her to take it up and lower it down.  We have had many amazed people smile at our new step and wish they would have thought of it for theirs!  Could we make a few bucks by getting a patent on this great invention????

You know what they say about Las Vegas – other than the place to gamble – is that it is the place for weddings.  Our daughter, Jill and her fiancé, Doug said their “I Do’s” outside of Caesar’s Place at dusk on April 14.    Coming from Quartzsite, Arizona, we started the trek toward Vegas by first stopping at Laughlin for a few days.  Next stop though was Sam’s Town/KOA on the southeast side of Vegas.



Avi Casino in Laughlin



The Pool was delightful at Avi.



Doug & Jill



How romantic under the pavilion at Caesar's Palace

Had to have some "getting dressed up"
clothes other than shorts for the festivities.



This cake was to die for.

 


This was one of the original cars that Carroll Shelby raced.

Another race car.

Jeff looking and deciding which one
would look good behind the coach!

A prototype that was raced which eventually turned into the Lotus.



The pods at the High Roller in Las Vegas




One of many views from the top.

After the celebration in Las Vegas, we decided to travel to Pahrump so that we could visit Death Valley National Park.  Pahrump (population 40,000) is tucked into a long narrow desert valley between Las Vegas and the California border.    We are glad that we did make this detour to the area that is considered the “hottest, driest and lowest” within the National Parks.  Death Valley can be the hottest in the summer at 134 degrees F. and yet they say that you can find snow on the mountain peaks during the winter.  At -282 ft. in elevation, the highest point in the park is 11,049 ft. with 5,219 square miles - definitely a valley of extremes.  Because of flooding from two years ago, a couple of the highlights of the Park (Scotty’s Castle and Dante’s Peak) were still closed to visitors.  We were still able to spend a few hours in the park with the Jeep but were a little bummed out about some of the sites being closed. 


Tecopah Hot Spring ~ considered to be
a mud bath  treatment



The million dollar question in Nevada is: 
"What exactly is a Chicken Ranch?"

The Natural Bridge which was quite the hike from the parking lot - a medium
sized conglomerate rockformation that has been hollowed at its base to
form a span across the canyon walls.



Time for lunch in the middle of somewhere . . .



                                                                         

Written as an April Fools joke right
after the Park was established.

The month of May was fast approaching and we needed to get the coach pointed toward to Minnesota for a Memorial Service and Internment for Jeff’s Mom, Dorothy, who had passed away December 22, at the age of 98.  We do miss her.

Generally, our dilemma when we get to Minnesota is where are we able to park for an extended period not having to move the coach because someone else has reserved the spot on-line.  Yikes!!!  This has always been frustrating for us.  Well, we time we took our time and found a small, private resort near Cambridge, Minnesota that can accommodate our size rig.  Jeff's sweat equity (and magic wand) transformed a site that was a sore spot at the resort to what we now call home.  It will be the perfect base for us whenever we return to Minnesota for an extended period during the summer. 



Site #1 - BEFORE

Site #1 - AFTER



Currently our back yard that will have
more improvements next summer.

Family & Friends Pictorial ~




Da Boyz - Jeff's younger brother, Brian
as they clean fish up at Lake Beauty



Kay, Jeff, Brian and Jan (Kay's Sister)

 

Wisconsin Grandsons, Daniel (14) & Jacob (11)

Minnesota Grandson, Joseph (15)

Minnesota's Princess Julia with Grandpa

Good Friends from Wisconsin, Karen & Ron



Can't miss a lunch with our long time friend, Judy. 



Jeff with Richard from Big Falls, Minnesota & Texas

Retirees from Bremer Service Center
 - Kay and Verena

Our dear friend, Linda, who is itching
to retire in 5 years. 

Bob, who keeps us supplied with many awesome
emails and his lovely wife, Ann.
  (Yes, that's a cookie in his right hand!)

Glenn and Marietta from Zimmerman, Minnesota who we
always pick their brains on if they've been to a location
before we drive the miles. 

We hope you enjoyed all of this rolled into one blog post and will most definitely showcase special sites in future blogs.  Be thankful for what you have and always try and live the "good neighbor" policy.  It always comes back at you!

Hugs and Love ~