ON THE ROAD WITH ROD and LINDA

Not from me!!

2011-05-24T11:37:00.001-07:00

Someone has invaded my blog and posted some crap. it looks like this:

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

http://f4p5t8.plhvj.ru/?cid=thirteen

2011-05-24T01:22:00.001-07:00

http://f4p5t8.plhvj.ru/?cid=thirteen

Sorry folks --- I'll get around to updates sooner or later

2010-08-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

I'm busy right now, (applying for work in Arizona!)

An old time gunslinger!

2010-05-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

Robert and Olivia both enjoy appearing in various cities and areas to participate in "Old West" re-enactments. This is his usual appearance garb.

The picture was taken in their yard where I usually park our Motor home when we are hosted by these terrific friends. We also enjoyed the opportunity to be with Dale and Vera, Bob and Jerri, and of course Robert and Olivia.

I especially want to thank Vera and Dale for the photography 'cause They did all the picture taking!!

Robert's Hobby is Archery

2010-05-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Robert Lawson is making some arrows for a customer of his. He has his own shop in the back of their home (in another complete shop). In this pictuer he is installing the feathers for the ordered arrows.

We eat once more!

2010-05-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

How about some corned beef and cabbage with all of the traditional trimmings?

Olivia said she would do it and we could all enjoy her food in their front yard, once more. I bought the food, Vera Avila fixed the Garlic Bread. Jerri Large did the desert, while Olivia prepared the delicious meal. Robert Lawson is caught here n this snapshot as he was filling his plate from Jerri's fruit plate of strawberrys, blackberries, and succulent watermelon.

UMMM UMMMM GOOD!!

Olivia Lawson

2010-05-29T12:55:00.001-07:00

Olivia, (the ever busy bee), is back with her hobbies. This lady has a full time job, working 4 10's at a place in Tracy, CA. Then comes home to tackle the needs of her "campground guests". A great cook and very congenial hostess. We enjoyed her hospitality while we awaited our turn at the UC Davis Med center in Sacramento for Linda's Baclofen pump refill.

Thanks Olivia, it was great of you and Robert to indulge us once more!

Happy Hour at the Lawsons'

2010-05-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's who is in the picture, from the left; Dale Southern, Olivia Lawson, Myself (Rod Payne), Linda Payne, and with their backs to you... Bob Brewer, and Jeri Large. We enjoyed happy hour in the Lawson's front yard each day. In this photo I'm assisting Olivia's needle work by holding her next material needs for the gift she is sewing for a friend.

Look close.. It's not raining!!!!

2010-05-29T12:25:00.001-07:00

We have returned to our previous spot from a prior year, (#4), at Lud Drexler CG and are hoping for some great fishing. It's cold now and we have rain off and on, then some strong winds, then some hail, then some more rain. ... We can't win for loosing!

And then there was Bouse, AZ.

2010-03-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Any body up for a nice ride on the tail of Dale???
It'll be an EASY one today... We're going to ride over to Quartzsite to get Craig's Harley.

A few of us lived to tell about it! This was the next morning at our usual coffee,

We all were looking forward to a nice ride... Dale knows the way. Richard Doel helped me through one of the hellish rock strewn washes/hill climb, and Richrd Marek helped me through the final wash by riding the bike for me. Too bad that Bill Olson wasn't there, 'cause Dale said that he had made it by himself!!
Wow, now I was impressed to find out that bit of news!!
Just wished that he hadn't announced for the benefit of everyone within shouting distance though!!!!

And here's the famous Bouse, AZ post office. A very nice one for the small town of Bouse.

Ken and Nicholas come to visit Granny Linda

2010-03-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

I think that Linda must be getting her Judge JUDY fix at the moment!

This picture was taken at the Alameda County Park in Northern CA when we were there for Christmas.
But I thought it would be a nice addition to the hospital picture ....

We got Plenty of water this year!

2010-03-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

You guessed it! A second flooding of the Ten Mile Wash.

This occurred about two weeks after we got there.

This flooding was a bit more than the first one it seems to me.

Craig Kite is trying to get 'New York George Warren' to go across, since it seems to be a bit lower now.
(Craig needs to get some Coors Lights') .... George thinks that it probably isn't safe just yet.

The county comes to the rescue.

2010-03-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

After the flood waters had passed,
Dale got a hold of the county and asked that they restore a roadway across the wash.

This why they needed to 'fix it'! for the incoming RV'ers.

It took several of these to fix 'er 'up!

The rains came, filling the Ten Mile Wash

2010-03-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

This is the road that we cross to get into our camping area. It is called the Ten Mile Wash.

As you can see, the water level reached well above the wash's boundry on either side. See the car on the opposite side?

Dale Southern goes out to the edge to see jsut how fst the river was passing .

Dale & Vera were the first to arrive to the site this year. Dale took these pictures of the first flooding.

Yep! We got some riding in while we were there!

2010-03-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

The beers after the ride are really why we do it, don't you know? I'm the only one that is still 'suited-up' since we are all at Dales and I was parked a ways down from him this year.

Some of the rigs at our Ajo Rendezvous, 2010

2010-03-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

We had the largest turnout this year that we have ever had,

there were over 76 rigs signed int the 'Vous this year.

Garry Porterfield took this shot.

.... and I liked it and made it a part of my Blog.

(Probably best to 'click' on it to get the full perspective.)

A ThankYou Ba-B-Que at the Purple House.

2010-03-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

The crowd is beginning to thin out quite a bit and this was the only picture that I took of the party.

I had decided that it was time to say "Thanks" to all of our friends that had been so much help to Linda and to me over the years.

Linda wasn't there, but I asked anyone that had helped me to join me for a large T-Bone steak barbecue. The steaks were superb, I was told. The head butcher, Lonnie, at Olesons' Market eventually got on a first name basis. (I bought every T-Bone that the man had there at the store!)

Ajo, AZ 2010

2010-03-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ron Poutney and myself decided to split the wood logs that had been brought for our daily fires.
I let him cut the wood... I just stacked it for him... He enjoyed the exercise.

We even had Jerry gather the kindling as the axe was splintering some of the logs.

HealthSouth at Tenaya, North Las Vegas, NV

2010-03-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

This is the main entrance to their facility.

More pictures of the HealthSouth Facility

2010-03-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

The park even had a rock"creek" garden..

This a side view of the building. Linda's room was the window right next to the left-most post of the portico.

Looking from the park back to the rigs.

The entrance signage and we are looking across the street to the large post office building.

HealthSouth at Tenaya in North Las Vegas, NV

2010-03-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Parking for Darryl 'n Judy, plus for our rig, in the complex's park adjacent to the hospital where Linda was admitted after the surgery in Lake Havasu City, AZ

Another view of the park. this is what we saw as we looked out of our Motor Home windows.

And the rest of the view to our left from the motor home.

Getting the Butt Fixed (Again!)

2010-03-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

Gale Banks Engineering in Azusa, CA

2010-03-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

2010-03-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

It's Christmas time at Gale Banks in Azuza, CA. Santa left a present for our motor home there. Linda is watching TV in their waiting room.

Their display room shows each of the modifications that they do there.

Parking is alongside and in front of the business office.

This is where the work gets done. They start at 6:30 am and get finished around 3:30 to 4:00 pm.

Some Pictures of the Friends

2009-12-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

Pat, Vivian, MaryLou, and LeeAnn.
The ladies were taking in the sunshine at happy hour, near Earp, CA.

Dale almost got his picture taken, but Kent decided that the whole face-shot would be too much for the camera!

Ron Daag gets a laugh out of something? Richard Marek just patiently listens to the story.

Memories are made by the Happy hours!

2009-12-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

Memories at "Rod's Round-Up"

2009-12-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

Stan Vincent used the expression,
"ROD'S ROUNDUP"...
So, it sounds better than " at the top of the hill outside of Death Valley"!

So, ROD'S ROUNDUP it is!

This would be the view looking towards Pahrump, NV and away from the Valley floor.

I think that we had about 17 rigs in camp with us at various times.

Heading to Leadfield for Lunch

2009-11-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

We stayed here for our lunch, then it was off to Titus Canyon... then back to our camp site at Sunset CG,
across from Furnace Creek Ranch. Round trip was about 108 miles in total.
A really great time for the troupe.

Just a collage of some photos in Rhyolyte

2009-11-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

Click on the individual shot and all of them will enlarge.
Your browsers 'Back Button' will get you back to the Blog.

Our first day in the 49er Encampment

2009-11-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

We all decided to take a day trip into BadWater, The Natural Bridge (where this shot was taken), and then Artists Drive with lunch at the Artist 's Pallette. We all had a great day.

Here's Connie, Judy, Don, Linda and Virginia at the beginning/end of the trail to Natural Bridge.

A surprise beyond the natural Bridge

2009-11-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

This interesting formation in the rock wall awaited our trek to the Natural Bridge.

Pictures and photographers!

2009-11-06T07:17:00.000-08:00

Connie, Judy, and Virginia at the Natural Bridge .. of course they got there first!!

Linda, Richard and Al at the Natural Bridge.

BC Linda's back, Al in front, and we finally arrived at the natural bridge.

The Assembly Area at Natuaral Bridge

2009-11-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

The "Boat Mobile" arrives, (Joyce Fhurman was the chauffer for Linda so I could ride the Kawasaki.)

The Natural Bridge Tour

2009-11-06T07:03:00.000-08:00

Richards' car was the 1st to arrive.

Darryl and Judy arriving.

'Course we have to have an individual shot of the lady on the red bike!

Stan, Mikki, and the Wilsons' at the kiosk area of the Natural Bridge area.

Seniors make the best of the down turned economy!

2009-11-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

"Sam" Kelly does the group a favor by making Kent Johnson more presentable for the Thanksgiving festivities. Got to have something to do since the shuffle board courts are busy all of the time!

Halloween only comes once each year!

2009-11-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

"Sam" Kelly trimmed the big guy so he wouldn't scare too many kids looking for Tricks or Treats.
Now, if we can get him to take a bath, we might be able to tolerate him again, this season!

Ever been to a Kids Rodeo?

2009-10-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

Click on the picture, any one of them, and then the photos and their comments will be easy to view.
I forgot to show these photos when we were in Springville.
Sorry 'bout that!!

Now and then we get an opportunity to become electricians

2009-10-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

We were becoming a bit tired and felt that a coffee break would be appropriate.

A call out to Darryl & Judy on the "Walkie Talkies" indicated that they would agree to a stop just beyond Kramers' Junction. When I followed their exit at the huge dirt lot beyond the Arco Station, I found a depressed area that would have made a great bomb crater! Every wire in two cables were cut in half, except for two individual wires. Thankfully, Darryl had some blues and I had some red Stakon butt splices. So we proceeded to make the repairs while Judy made a fresh pot of coffee. ....a n d then we went on our merry way to Baker, CA for a night of slumber.

Through Wind & Rain & Water ...

2009-10-21T08:28:00.001-07:00

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin, Keep Them 'Doggies' Rollin ... R A W H I D E !!

Darryl's on Sam, Judy's on Investor 'n they're "a drivin them doggies to higher pasture up by Balch Park, in the Seqouia NP"

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin, Keep Them 'Doggies' Rollin ... R A W H I D E !!

Memories!

2009-10-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

(Probably smart to click to enlarge the photos.)

Mostly at Fort Sumner Lake, NM. Top, Left to Right: Darryl & Judy returning to the campsite, Bottomless Lakes SP, NM, Rod Rides again at can't remember where, Ducks lifting off the water by Judy Wilson, Judy goes Geo-Chaching, Rod gets the boat wet (and that was all - 'cause the motor wouln't start!), Dinner with Gary Porterfield at the patio, Our campsite at the waters edge, happy hour at Brantley Lake, SP,NM. .. Photos are courtesy of Mrs. Judy Wilson and credit is readily granted!

How's the food at your place?

2009-10-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Our choice for warm food is diminishing!

The turkey buzzards have beaten us to the choicest morsels,

and as you can see, there is already a waiting list for the next to be served!

JUDY AND DARRYL HAVE BEEN MARVELOUS HOSTS,

(ALLOWING US TO "FREE-LOAD" AT THEIR TABLE MOST EVERY EVENING)

... BEEN TRYING TO GET INTO THE BREAKFAST THING with them ALSO

--- BUT .... MAN-OH-MAN, THEY GET UP WITH THE CHICKENS!!

Getting the water down from the mountain top.

2009-10-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

(Remember to click the picture to enlarge the photos)

The center picture is what it is supposed to look like... and what it did look like ....before the vandals set a fire and caused the damage to the Water Flume. Darryl & Judy took a rde on their Hondas' and discovered the condition that the photos show.

We went to the Sequioa NF from the Wilsons' home.

2009-10-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

Just a collage of some pictures of our trip up to Balch Park, In Sequoia NF.
(Top andf left to right)

Linda and I in front, (or is that the back end?), of the hollow log, Judy, me and Linda in frontof the "Lady Alice Tree", several photos of Me on the 'for sale black Honda Helix", Judy helping Linda to make it over to the Lady Alice tree, Welcome to Balch Park sign, Judy and I are looking through the hollow log... later we walked through the tree..., Linda and me are in the tree, last Linda and me posing for the camera.

Let me show you the Wilson's Place...

2009-09-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

We left Fortuna and spent the first night at a great boondock spot in Williams, CA.
The next morning we headed out for Darryls & Judy's place in Springville, CA.
This is what we saw the next morning, ('cause we arrived in the dark!).
This is the entrance to their place, you come in off of the road under that big oak tree.

Here is the view to the right of the entrance way.

...and, this is waht you'd see if you drove in today.
Our rig is alongside the Wilson's with power, water, and a boondockers grey water disposal system!!!
Their home is under the shade of the trees.

Their home is shaded very well (which is desirable in the heat of the day).

There's something special about the last happy hour!

2009-09-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

OK -- From the left: Stan, Darryl, Linda, Judy, Mikki (the beading teacher), Cathy and then Randy.
(You probably should click the picture to expand it.)

One more time, the assembled group is told that they will finally be getting 'shed of the 'Squatlies'.
Tomorrow morning we will be on the road again

UH OH!
I had to summons Shelby to the picture so that we could finally get her in the scene.
We had a grand time with the Vincents and are looking forward to our next opportunity to enjoy their hospitality.

As you can probably tell, the weather was won---der---ful at Fortuna,
where the Vincents make the RV Ranch a great place to visit.

Apologies for the photography!

2009-09-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, Here's Randy, ('da Chef'), and Cathy Vincent. The food was superb, and bountiful!

The setting in the Redwoods, alongside the meandering Eell River. A gorgeous day and wonderful folks.

The fellow in the blue plaid shirt and the grey haired lady with her back to us are the Howlin's.
They have hosted this event for many years.

...and here are some of the 'rods' that came out to the event in the Redwoods.

It was VERY tough to make a 'Favorite'

2009-09-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

Caught this gentleman as he was leaving with his spotless 'rest-o-rod'.

BEE YOU TEE FUL paint job!!

Is this a beautiful DeSoto that Jack had restored? Or What??

See what I mean? This Ford was a beauty for sure!

Howlin Rods in the Redwoods

2009-09-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Okay! So I picked my favorite.... Alright??

This was an imaculate restoration of the Ford 'Woody'.

The Carson Mansion in the harbor area of Eureka.

2009-09-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

A property of the lumber baron of yesteryear. A gorgeous property and a treasure for the Pacific coastal area.

The neighbor across the street from the gorgeous Carson Mansion.

Another angle of the beautiful property.

The Bridge to the other side where we will show you some of the boats.

2009-09-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

This view was also to the side of the Carson Mansion, (now a gentlemens club). We took this bridge to get to the other side of the habor and to the sailors memorial which was dedicated by the widows of lost sailors to the Pacific Ocean.

The view from the side and the rear of the Carson Mansion.

2009-09-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

The harbor can be seen from the mansion. A public viewing and shaded area for picnicing is provided also for the visitors.

A tribute and memorial to lost mariners

2009-09-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

This memorial at the marina and was cast in bronze. It is at the harbor, memorializing lost seamen

This obelisk was placed here by the wives of lost mariners. Additions are made as they occur. The most recent addition was for this year as I recall.

As you can see, the 'rollcall' is still being tabulated on the plaques third side. (There was one blank side that had not been posted to yet.)

Eureka Harbor

2009-09-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

Mikki took us on a ride through old town and the harbor.

A very pretty harbor and well cared for also.

Can you see the Carson mansion in the background?

We even get photos from our "followers"!

2009-09-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

Bernadette & Sam, (from Toronto, CN), also visited the unique town of Ferndale and sent us this picture of the 'resident' pheasant that has adopted Ferndale! Thanks, Bernadette for the photo (and for your compliments on our Blog). We're glad that you enjoy 'following us' in our travels! It's especially nice to have friends like you and Sam!

Randy, Kathy, & Shelby Vincent Live here!

2009-08-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

Now remember to click on any of the pictures to get the full effect of the view!

(Aren't you glad that you enlarged the photo to see the home across the road?)

Is this a great view ... or what? This is what the Vincents get to look at, each day, as they have their morning breakfast in their own home.

Hey Loyal, see how I have made the foggy sky turn blue using Picasa 3???

UH! Well you now know that we also had an accommodation at the Vincents' hacienda!

In the background is Stan & Mikki's White Motor Home, you can also see the roofing project that Randy, (and his construction crew), are completing. It's turning our to be a great project and will be enjoyed for years to come....

Today is a bit overcast and the fog came up from the river down below. The sun is out now and there is nothing to show that it was ever foggy earlier. We are continuing to enjoy this marvelous summer weather. Randy says that they don't get suntans up here, instead they just rust!

A rest stop at friends home!

2009-08-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

J&J's 'Roadside-Rest. They are parked in front of Randy's ancient barn.

This view is looking towards Hydseville and shows how close they are to the roadside 55 mph traffic. Not much at night, so they can rest nicely.

This pic shows the right side, (creekside), of the barn.

Randy says that he, Kathy, & their daughter, Shelby, took over 5 years to raise, and set an new foundation under, this 150 year old barn.

Just a few of the Victorian exteriors in Ferndale, CA

2009-08-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

As you can see, this home is across the street from the Gingerbread Castle.

... and some more of the same.
We enjoyed our walk around this quaint old, and historically significant, California town.

.... and one more church. (There were a lot of churches.) They also had a beautiful park with four Boce Ball Courts, a baseball diamond, and tennis courts, plus an extensive childs play area.

Victorian Ferndale Buildings

2009-08-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Just imagine being up on that ladder and trying to paint this place! This is a mercantile business.

Obviously, this IOOF (Independent Order of Foresters) would have also been a task to paint.

This is the famous Gingerbread Castle... Wonderful landscaping also at this location. The weather was wonderfully cool. While the rest of California was baking at 100 + degrees, the Ferndale temperature was in the cool high 60's! We wore a sweater and jacket! We also had some very nice Mexican food on the main street, ($28.00, plus a tip!).

Down the street from the Gingerbread Castle was this church with a high steeple.

Sooner or Later ... Dust to Dust!

2009-08-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

Ferndale Cemetary is all uphill and it seems to go on forever!

I should have taken a picture of the numerous stairs that you had to use to get up to where the graves sites were located.

Lunch, again, in Samoa,,,, (CA.)

2009-08-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

Remember to click on the 'pic'.

Ted Sudtell said that the food was supposed to be good at this authentic Lumbermans's cook house. It was!! Family style presentation and a very nice museum with lumber mans' memorbilia. we had fried chicken, split pea soup, home made bread, iced tea, tossed salad with a great dressing , mashed potatoes, cream style gravy, beans, coffee, and apple pie with whippe cream for desert. All you can eat, too.

We are ready to go in NOW!

The young lady that served our table was always there asking if we wanted any thing else to eat. So, I asked her to take our picture for our memory. She didn't have a steady hand... sorry 'bout that! HA!

We have a wonderful after noon with old friends.

2009-08-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

Now, remember to click on the picture to see the detail.

Carl & Kathy Sikora were kind enough to ask us all to their home for a bar-b-que on their patio. We enjoyed some Downtown Brown, some 'hors-de-orvies', great grilled marinated chicken, very tasty rice-r-roni, and then we picked the blackberries and Carl crushed them and put them over some great vanilla ice cream. We, Julius, Joyce, Linda and I really had a great time at their wonderfully restored old home out in the real 'boonies'.

Thanks for a wonderful afternoon!

Lunch time at Fresh Water Lagoon

2009-08-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

We decide that the time was right for lunch and the spot sure looked appealing to each of us.
So, we stopped and had our lunch.

Joyce Fuhrman and I took the pathway to the sea shore and waited for a picturesque wave to come in over her shorlder.

So, there you are!

Our Spot at Elk Valley Casino

2009-08-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

This site, although dirt and with small gravel, was very nice and level. We had it to ourselves. Very quiet until some old SOB's came in and elected to get up with the chickens and run their damned generators at 5:45 am! There were three of them and they decided that it was just too quiet and they needed to show everyone that they could afford the generators. (I suppose!) At any rate, I decided to let them view me in my shorts, sans 'T' shirt, to inform them of my disgust with them. They then turned the damned things off. Damned newbies!!!

Our traveling companions site.

2009-08-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Julius and joyce have selected a close spot to the Elks Valley Casino near Crescent City, CA.

We come again to the welding shop.

2009-08-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe, but we had the hitch for our 40 foot 5th wheel installed in our Dodge truck here .... years ago. Same place, they do good work and are reasonable in their pricing. They fabricated the metal box from new materials, on the spot, interrupting a job they were already on for us, and only charged $160.00, including the cost of the materials. Very competent fabricator. It fits like a glove!

The Battery Area in the Last 'Bay'.

2009-08-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

I have 10 batteries on the coach. The last two are in this bay along with: the large tool box, some chocks, 3 wooden blocks for the bottom of the hydraulic leveling jacks, a milk carton with four more wooden blocks, and, finally, a portable propane bottle. if you look at the rear-most battery, you'll notice that it is tilted. That's because over the ten years that we have had this coach, the battery acid has destroyed the expanded metal behind that battery and the box is now weak.

The box has to be replaced!

The box is now removed and the welder/fabricator is making a new box for me.

More pics at Winchester Bay

2009-08-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

Looking towards the ocean, the light house is to the left and just beyond the trees. Isn't the incoming fog nice against the trees?

This is looking towards the end of the 'spit' where we parked.

The cruiser boys came in for the day enjoying some food and fun.

Winchester Bay, Oregon

2009-08-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

We especially like the accommodations at this place. The cost is reasonable (in the range of just over $10 pr day by the week), and because the weather is usually cool and great, the views are super, and the seafood is delicious, good motorcycle riding in the ares, and touring of the nearby light house is fun. Other wise, it's just a place to stay!

We Stayed at the Mill Casino in North Bend, Oregon

2009-07-31T23:28:00.001-07:00

This was over on the coast and before we came to the Grants Pass area. We stayed there for about a week and got a bit of business finished with the DMV for my motorcycle and then with the Oregon Marine Board for my boat.

This Casino, owned and operated by the Coquille Tribe holds a lot of memories for the SKP ‘troupe’ that have made it their home over the years. Food was always good and still is on the Friday & Saturday Buffet. (Kind of “Spendy” as they say in Oregon. $50 + tip for the two of us.) But DELICIOUS!

The Plank House restaurant is still a very good deal if you get there early enough for the “Early Bird Menu offerings”.

We had a lovely fish and chips, great cole slaw, hot and crisp fries with drinks for $25. Good views of the Bay and a great and attentive male waiter. The coffee was superb! A nice evening for sure. Then back to our own bed for the evening.

Where is the cool weather … any how?

2009-07-31T22:59:00.001-07:00

The weather here in the Rogue River Valley AKA Grants Pass, Oregon is a record setting HOT! We’ve picked the worst time of the year to come to see and to help Lillian. The temperature reached 105 and just seems to hang in that range for the most of the week.

Getting onto one of these has a definite ‘cooling effect’. You board them at rivers edge, just below where we ate a really nice place called the Tap Rock Bar & Grill with Lillian the other day.

Let's Fess Up Now....

2009-07-15T19:49:00.001-07:00

Fessing Up Now!

These are the states that we have visited over the years.

Now, would you 'fess-up" and let us know if you follow our blog.

You can do this by sending us an e-mail with your comments.

You might like to also become a 'listed' "follower".

Let us know what you think ...... and thanks.

Rod & Linda

Finding good Boondocking Sites

2009-07-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Really a chore having to stay at places like these ... but we do what we have to when the 'end of the day' gets to us. travelling up the coast was desiganted as a "probably the last time we'll ever do this" trip. We enjoyed the heck out of it, though. Great weather and good spots. 'Cept that the California rates were a bit steep and dark ... in the forested camp sites. $25.00. so, we set up camp in the 'last one that they had for our length", managed to get level, we could reach the ground if we had a parachute, but couldn't get the dish to work, (so no TV for 'The Queenie', nor internet for me), have to get those precious E-Mails you know! SO, I walked all the way down to the gaurd shack and asked the nice lady that was manning it if we could park in the parking lot across rhe highway for the night. "YEP" she said, "BUT IT"LL BE THE SAME MONEY THOUGH!" I told her that "that'll be fine by us, since we aren't completely broke, just yet." We had a great view, good TV, got our e-mails and enjoyed a nice meal while also enjoying our $25 stay in a California state parking lot. No one else in the area with us for the entire evening! The next morning we had two neighbors. (See the top right hand picture.)

It was worth the money, although the lady at the gaurd house must have thought we were crazy. HA!

Up the California & Oregon Coast Line

2009-07-15T15:41:00.001-07:00

Realizing that many of you followers of our Blog get really tired of beautiful photography, .... I've created a collage for you to peruse at your leisure.

You do remember about 'clicking the picture, once, to enlarge it, don't you? ... and using the browser's 'back button' to return to the Blog.... Right??

Have any idea where you're going???

2009-07-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

When the sign on the very tiny two lane roadway, (that you are already on), announces that the
BRIDGE IS OUT AHEAD, and your rig is over 60 feet long, just what are you supposed to do anyway???

As we crept along, at about a tired snails pace, we noticed a tree lined driveway to our right and just ahead of us. The sign proudly announced that this was the home of the Kendall Winery. They make good suff and put it in bottles, you know! Well, they have big trucks too, don't they??? Anyway, we didn't have much choice! So, to the right we turned to discover that the road was wide enough for a sixties series VW. (We're much wider than that!)

The branches of the trees were rubbing either side of our motor home ... and here comes a pick-em-up truck, with Jesus & Jose in it and they were heading for us.... like they couldn't see that we were already half way down the tree lined lane when they started coming toward us! I managed to get over and into the branches of the canopy of branches of the right-hand side. They passed us with an exemplary Ipana-type smile and told us that the winery wasn't open for samples ... never is either!

What a chore trying to get our 'train' around that winery. But all's well that ends well though. Better believe that we'll remember Kendall when we see it again on our store shelves.

What, me make a mistake when I'm driving?? NEVER 'OPPEN' CAP"N ...

Robert and Olivia's home - Rio Linda, CA

2009-07-15T14:16:00.001-07:00

We were stayed with Bob Brewer at his friends, Robert & Olivia's, large piece of rural property. We were awaiting the refilling of Linda's baclofen pump at UC Davis Med Cntr in Sacramento, CA.

Bob's truck, with the green Kawasaki, is pointing to his camp site in their front yard. We parked away from them as far as possible. I had to do a lot of laundry and that meant that I would be running our 'Gennie' a whole bunch.

(You know how Bob HATES TO HEAR THE GENERATOR NOISE!)

Here's a much better picture, showing Bob's parking site. His site is at the edge of their home. So, you know that they have a large piece of California to take care of. We really appreciated their friendship and alos thier hospitality of allowing us to make new friends ... and be close to the Med Center for Linda's needs.

Ute Lake SP, NM

2009-06-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

Bill Wynn's Class C

June's MH

Al's Discovery MH

Ute Lake SP, NM

2009-06-11T19:07:00.001-07:00

Gracie poses for the photograper!

Bob & Donna's Discovery MH & trailer

New Guy John's 5th wheel next to bill Wynns's Class C.

Ute Lake SP

2009-06-11T14:44:00.001-07:00

Jim Branham & Dot's rig

Al and then to the left is June's rig.

Lou's rig is next to Bob out in the grassy knoll.

Ute Lake SP, NM

2009-06-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

Our site with a good view.

We are on a small inlet-cove, here is the main part of the lake (and the back end of "Trish's" train).

"Trish's" rig and the trailer for Jim Branham on the left.

Ute Lake SP, Eastern New Mexico

2009-06-11T14:22:00.002-07:00

Our view is excelent at this very pretty lake site at Roberts Park
in the Ute Lake State Park, NM.

Here's our neighbor, Gracie's rig.

And our other neighbor, Ann Martin's 5th wheel RV.

Were you one of the many that saw the tribute to George Striat?

2009-05-28T09:05:00.003-07:00

We sure enjoyed the marvelous tribute to George Strait on last nights TV! If you also saw it, then you know what we're talking about! He was selected as Entertainer of the Decade and was awarded the 'trophy' by Garth Brooks, the previous winner!

Linda and I really thought it was super!

Just a bit of it all!

2009-05-28T08:47:00.002-07:00

Well, let's see, we've had wind, (and a lot more wind), heat, cold, pitter patter rain, cloudburst rain, thunder & lightening, .............. so, what are we missing in this weather potpouri?? How about some of that white stuff .... snow!

The local politicos had a major decision to make; should we get the snow plows out, or let the residents slip and slide into each other? The major streets were cleared with their snow plows and every corner was flooded with many inches of water. The snow didn't make it to the Storrie Lake SP where we were. We just got the torrential downpour!

Much rain on soft dirt isn't going to be easy to get out of here. However, we'll manage!

Just another weekend in paradise

2009-05-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

Nope! Not everywhere we go is as nice as this.

However, memories like this one, are truly cherished! We found this boon dock site on our way to Alaska with some great friends, Mike and Vivian Stansberry. Later on at Whitehorse, Yukon, AK, we met up with Gordon and Laura Bornkamp.

It wasn't long afterwards and we caught up with Gene and Martha Merryman. Later on, and further down the road, we met up with Roy and Kathy Gilbert, Bruce and Sandy Langley, then John and Dorothy Beasley. Some time later, we had some conversations with Rob & Eddie Nagels who were hosting a "pay for it tour", and numerous others as we wandered throughout Alaska. Guess I've made our point! ...... It isn't a lonely road that we follow!

The handicap Lift

2009-05-23T11:11:00.002-07:00

Remember, if you want to see "the big picture", just click once on the photo. To get back, just click on your 'Browser's' Back button. (You'll be returned to the place where you came in.)

Ramblings from the roadside.
At the moment we are along side a pretty little lake, (Storrie Lake State park, near Las Vegas, New Mexico), and since we have received a lot of questions from others who are in our medical predicament ... we just thought that we should re-post some information about our lifestyle and the coach that enables us!
Hope that you enjoy it.

Rod and Linda Payne,
..... and now here's Linda!!

Hello, and welcome to a tour of our Fleetwood 37V motorhome We want to show you our handicap lifting system that we use to get into and out of our fulltime home on the road. We have lived in this one for 10 years on a full-time, boon-docking basis. It's a 1999 model that we bought new in 1998. The remodeling took a bit under 6 months and a whole lot of money, ($80,000)!!

My name is Linda and since I was born in 1939, you can see that I'm soon to be 70 years old. Rod and I enjoy our lives on the road. We see a lot of really neat things as we travel around this beautiful USA of ours. Thanks to the ESCAPEES RV club, we are also blessed with more wonderful friends than we can count! Our two sons, 'Fletch' and 'Ken' live in the San Francisco Bay area with their wives, Nancy and Lisa, and with our only two grandsons, Collin and Nicholas. we usually get back to the 'Bay Area' at least once each year. My mother, 'Virge', now 96, (I've got good genes!), and two sisters, Bonnie and Casey also live in the cities by the Bay with their families.

Okay, what's my problem? I've had Multiple Sclerosis for the past twenty nine years, (Rod says FOREVER!), and as you can see, I'm confined to this wheel chair!

Neither I, nor my husband, were looking forward to being also confined to a house for the rest of our lives!! We had always dreamed of traveling in our "Golden Years"!

Enough already, come on now, let my husband show you our system and how we get our freedom, and live almost like "regular" people!

The Handicap Lift, (Cont)

2009-05-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, the 'Queenie' is safely strapped into her position and ready to go down the road. She has a view out her own window. However, she isn't able to turn her head any more to the right than she is now doing, so she really can't help me to see any oncoming traffic to our right. We just have to remember to be patient and cautious when entering traffic.

The Handicap Lift, (Cont)

2009-05-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is the EZ Lock device which captures her wheelchair, locking her into a safe mode for traveling. Its' mechanism is electrically controlled so that she can't be released as long as the igniton on the motorhome is active. The red button just below the cup holder, when activated and while the motorhome igniton is off, will allow the EZ Lock to disengage her chair.

The Handicap Lift, (Cont)

2009-05-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is the normal, (ie; reading, watching TV or the travelling mode), position for my recliner.

The Handicap Lift, (Cont)

2009-05-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

My chair assumes its' new location so that the doorway can become a "launching area" for the 'Queenie'.

The Handicap Lift, (Cont)

2009-05-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

My wallhugger recliner has been relocated. The doorway is now cleared for the 'Queenie' to position herself for the 'liftoff' and to prepare for the world outdoors.

The Handicap Lift System, (Cont)

2009-05-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Linda, aka 'the Queen', now drives her chair into the loading/unloading position at her handicap doorway.

The Handicap Lift, (Cont.)

2009-05-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Linda is now at the closed door and the steps to follow are:
(1) Place the 2 harness rings to the EZ Lift Steel Davit Bar hooks.
(2) Press the RAISE button on the controller, lifting her from the floor and allowing her chair to clear the door's threshold, (and for her head to clear the doorway).
(3) Press the OPEN DOOR button on the controller,
(4) Press the OUT button on the controller until it reaches it's lowest limit,
(5) Press the LOWER button on the controller,
(6) Unhook her harness rings.
Once she is on the ground and unhooked, reverse the steps to resume the traveling mode.

The Handicap Lift System, (cont.)

2009-05-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Obviously, the door is open and she has cleared the door's threshold and is on the way out of the Motorhome. The lift system controller is on the counter, just to the right of the plastic organizer.

The Handicap Lift System (cont.)

2009-05-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

This would be coming out, (or going in, if reversing).

The Handicap Lift System

2009-05-23T09:18:00.001-07:00

She is nearly finished and will soon be on the ground and ready to roam 'round the campsite.

Our Sheltered Area at Storrie Lake

2009-05-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our share of the world!

Although you can't tell, ('cause it's dark inside), the shelter is quite nice. It has our grill and table a propane bottle, a chair (their table) and our electric lamp, supplied with 110v AC from our motorhome inverter. We still have the view of the lake, but are sheltered from the winds or rain, if we were to get any!

Just In Case It Should Get Busy This Weekend!

2009-05-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Our current location is in the sheltered area, (non-electric and non reservible), because we were concerned that it might rain on us at the 'boonie spot'. If so, we would have been in a lot of mud! Besides, the aea that we were in at the boonie location was too soft for Linda's wheel chair. That woudn't have been much fun for her. (Nor for me!)

This our current view out of our windows at the moment. Not very busy at the park.
It's like we have it to our selves!

HO HUM! More of the same, hunh!!??

This shot will give you an idea of how much privacy we have even though we are in a protected site with provisions for picnicing, grilling, and relaxation, while out of any wind in a sheltered area.
Water and trash cans, (not dumpsters!), are available at our site also.

Our Boonie Spot at Storrie Lake SP, NM

2009-05-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Just a perspectve of where we are parked in relation to the shore at Storrie Lake, SP

...... and to the rear of us we have ...... a lot of nothing also!

Get a load of that blue sky!

So, now you have the 'lay of the land! As you can see, we don't have to be overly concerned with neighbors disturbing our peace and quiet! At least not 'til the weekend when the tent campers may arrive.

There were wildlife to view at Sumner Lake SP!

2009-05-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

We found a lot of deer, and one small fawn, grazing right at the campsite near where I would go for re-supply of water for my motor home. this picture was taken at Sumner Lake SP, near Fort Sumner, NM.

WallMart in Roswell, NM

2009-05-19T11:11:00.001-07:00

WallMart recognizes the significance of Roswell, NM as the landing site of the famed Aliens of yesteryear. They have the appropriate 'tagging' on the building and inside of the store as well.

Waiting on some company ....

2009-05-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

We all decided to go see what 'Trish" was having for dinner, (after we had all eaten our dinner at Chilli's).
We're awaiting her arrival since we are all outside her rig.

Ann martin, (with her back to the camera), and Judy Wilson are discussing the chances that she, "Trish", will actually come out to be with us!!!

WE DID NOT HAVE THE BARBEQUE SET UP!!!

OMG! She actually came out to be with us and brought her food for us to smell!
... we weren't allowed to taste, ..... just smell.

All of us were observing the Good SKP rules while enjoying our 'Stay' in the Wally World parking lot at Roswell, NM.