Monday, March 31, 2014

Back home in Reno

After a nice, but most days windy, stay at Topaz Lake we arrived back in Reno today a little after 1:00pm.

Nice to be home for a bit to take care of some personal things normally done in April...we all know about the 15th. Will be nice to visit with friends that we haven't seen since December.

Stay tuned as we prepare for our next trip leaving in early May for Wisconsin.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Topaz Lake, NV

Small Update.

After a nice, albeit windy, overnight stay in Hesperia, CA at Desert Willow RV Park we left about 9:30am, a little early for us but trying to get ahead of the 60mph forecasted winds, Wednesday headed North for Lone Pine, CA. We didn't miss the winds...about an hour into the trip we encountered SW to West winds that slowed us down to 35mph for over an hour. It was so windy that it blew our entry steps open on the rig. Glad we have the rear dual wheels on the truck for stability...I would not have continued with single rear wheels. Found out later that they closed US395 to high profile vehicles after we went thru.

Reaching Lone Pine about 1:30pm we decided to push thru to Topaz Lake, NV since we were out of the strong winds but they were forecasted to arrive in Lone Pine mid afternoon. This added another 3:30 min. but we felt worth the extra.

Ran into some snow showers in the Mammoth Lakes, CA area,(8,000' elevation) but nothing was sticking to the road and not an issue. Arrived at the Topaz Lake Lodge RV Resort around 5pm and it's COLD!!! After being in 80 degree temps for so long 40's and 50's is cold. We just finished setting up when a snow shower came thru. We carry some clothes for the cold weather occasions and the flip flops and shorts were put away yesterday. 38 degrees last night so we didn't freeze the water hose.

The Schroeder's (sorry the Dotta's cannot make it) will be driving down with their rig from Reno, maybe a little over an hour away, later today and we all will stay until Monday before heading home. I'm sure the girls will be visiting the casino here while Greg and I get some long overdue cribbage games in.

Our stay in S. AZ. really flew bye...great weather and met some really nice people from all over the Country.

In early May we leave for Wisconsin so stay tuned for future updates...thanks for following along.


Friday, March 21, 2014

Indio, CA

We decided while enroute yesterday to by-pass a stop in Blyth, CA and continue on to Indio, Ca which added another 104 miles. 

After leaving Casa Grande around 10am we arrived at Indian Waters RV Resort in Indio at 4pm after travelling a little over 300 miles.

Great decision to keep going as this place is gorgeous and now we have GRASS instead of gravel around our site.

"Indian Waters RV Resort is a seasonal 274-Full Hook Up site RV resort in Indio, in the heart of the Palm Springs area that includes Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, and Cathedral City. They are only five minutes from I-10 east of Palm Springs. 

In 2011, new ownership totally renovated the beautiful Property, adding a second pool, lighted pickleball courts, a natural putting green, 50 amp service to all sites, city sewer service to all sites, resurfacing of roads and sites, enhanced Wi-Fi, and a complete “make over “ for the large clubhouse that now includes a new fitness room, billiard room, office area, dining area and lounge/computer center. Today, Indian Waters RV Resort with its desirable location and numerous amenities, is one of the best, affordable, five star, state-of-the-art RV resorts in the wonderful Palm Springs / Coachella Valley area.


Sister Parks in the SouthWest are Casa Grande RV Resort in AZ (where we just came from and spent the winter), and Wine Ridge RV Resort and Cottages in Pahrump, NV. The owners also have a RV Park in PA.

We will stay here for 5 nights leaving Tuesday for the next stop on the way home in Hesperia, CA.







Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Casa Grande IV

Short Update!

Time has been flying bye since we left Reno in December. Hard for us to believe that we will be leaving one week from today and heading back home. This time of the year seems to be when 'snowbirds' start heading North although this year the ones going to the northern states and Canada will probably delay a couple of weeks.

We could not have asked for a nicer place to be at since January. So much to do not only in the Casa Grande area but right here at the Resort.

Click here to see March Activities Calendar.

Our last dinner here in the Clubhouse will be Monday where the Chef is making a St. Patty's Day feast...corned beef with all the trimmings.

Last week Wednesday we attended a Fire Safety Class here at the Resort put on by Mac the Fire Guy. Very informative and picked up a few things.

"For over 13 years Mac McCoy has taught fire safety education at RV shows and rallies all over the country.

Mac McCoy served 33 years in the fire service.

He holds a BS degree in Fire Science and a Masters degree in Fire Administration.

Mac has served as a firefighter, paramedic, Captain, Assistant Chief of Training, Deputy Sheriff, and for 12 years as the Fire Training Coordinator of Oregon's Fire Marshall's Office and Public Safety Academy. During his tenure with Oregon Fire Marshall's Office, Mac helped pioneer the states HAZMAT program.

Mac has taught civilians, military, firefighters and law enforcement firefighting skills and techniques in the United States and abroad."


We'll be taking our time getting home with various stops that are now in our Itinerary. Plan is to arrive at Topaz Lake, about an hour South of Reno on the 27th meeting up with some friends for a few days before going home on Sunday.

Next update might be from home and then it's planning our next venture starting in May heading to Green Bay.













Sunday, March 2, 2014

Casa Grande III

Short Update from our winter home in Casa Grande.

We have been enjoying the weather and the activities here in the RV Park and taking trips in the area to view the history.

Betty continues doing her daily water aerobics and obviously loves it..."so much fun" she says.

We've met some really nice people during our stay mostly thru the activities and dinners that the Resort does. 

Examples?? Couple from Sturgeon Bay, WI., just up the road from Green Bay, and who we will visit in Door County when we go to WI in May.

Closer to home in Reno...nice couple from Garnerville, NV just South of Reno.

Last night at the Beef Tips/Pork Loin dinner (with all the trimmings and apple crisp for dessert for $8.00) in the Clubhouse one of the couples at our table was from Canada. Turns out he is a retired Air Canada Boeing 747-400 pilot who retired in 1999 after 30 years. Fun talking to him and he volunteered his favorite airplane (for our aviaton buffs here) while at Air Canada was the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.

Did you look at the photos? Well last night the rain you may have seen hitting California arrived last night here. The dog run had been completly dry but now there is 4 feet in the middle and 2 feet at the edges...any rain water drains there via the slope of the roads in the RV Park.

So much more but now it's wine time...