Southern California

I have been spending a lazy couple of months in the warm weather of Southern California. After over a month in the Palm Springs area, including some time at Desert Hot Springs and the mineral spas, I went to Oak Glen which is near Yucaipa. That is about 4800 ft in elevation and close to Big Bear. I did take a day-trip to Big Bear to be reminded what snow looks like up close. I like it better at a distance! The I came to Menifee, which is near Temecula. Cousin Jim is happy that he hasn't had to shovel snow once this winter.
Next week I am going to meet some friends at a rally in Hemet and then it will be up to Pahrump, NV, for another rally and good friends. From Pahrump, it will be on to Pomona for the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) rally.
Life is good on the road.
Warmest regards, Gus

2014-15 Travels

I am having trouble inserting a picture, but I do want to tell you what I have been doing.
I spent Christmas and New Year's in Lake Havasu City, AZ (we had snow on New Year's Eve) and then Cousins Jim & Pat drove us to Indio, CA, to attend the Western Motorhome Association Rally. At the rally, Betty and I helped Jim & Pat work security. We drove around in a golf cart to help people and watch for problems. We also stood at the entry to the evening entertainment to make sure only those who registered for the rally (and had badges) could enter for the free performances.
On Sunday (11th) we moved to the Thousand Trails Preserve in Thousand Palms. It is located near Washington Street and I-10. We have been resting from the rally, but did meet some friends (Ruth an Jerry from Las Vegas) at the Classic Club for Happy Hour.
Hope all is well with you and that 2015 is going to be a great year for you.


Warmest regards, Gus

Oatman, AZ #2

In the first post, I mentioned that many burrows roamed the town of Oatman. Here, one of them came to check me out, but seemed a little nervous to get too close unless I had some food. I tried to sit on his back, but he was not going to have any part of that nonsense.
Warmest regards, Gus

Trip to Oatman, AZ

Today, I took a road trip from Lake Havasu City, AZ, to Oatman, AZ. Oatman is an old, almost-abandoned, gold mining town near Kingman. Oatman is on the old Route 66 connecting Chicago and and Los Angeles. Tourism is the main economic contributor to Oatman today. There are a number of shops, restaurants and the locals even stage gunfights to lure the tourists to town. I thinks there are more wild burrows than people living here.
Warmest regards, Gus

#28 Stewart/Hyder to Anacortes, WA

Yes, I finally did leave Canada and get back to the U.S. When we left Stewart/Hyder (B.C./Alaska) we drove to Ft. Telkwa, Prince George, Cache Creek, Rosedale and then to Anacortes, Washington.
In the picture at left, I am looking down on the bridge crossing the gorge at Hell's Gate. I actually took the gondola across to the village and walked across the bridge.
When we got to Anacortes, we had a great farewell dinner followed by a "good-bye brreakfast" with lots of hugs as everyone went off in all directions. Many of us met up again in Redmond, Oregon, for the Family Motor Coach Association Rally.
I made many new friends on this trip and am looking forward to seeing them again in the coming years.
Since leaving Redmond, I have been to Coloado Springs, Blue Mesa (Gunnison), Moab, Utah and today I am at Monument Valley (Navajo Tribal Park) in AZ/Utah.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska # 27 Stewart/Hyder

 After leaving Skagway, Cousins Jim and Pat took me to Stewart, BC/Hyder, Alaska. On the way, there were beautful views, including more glaciers. The best part of the trip was watching the bears in Hyder. The black bear standing by the water was determined to catch a salmon for dinner. However he was a little too slow and when he jumped into the water, the salmon swam away safely--probably to be caught by a quicker bear.
Warmest regards, Gus

Alaska #26 Skagway

In Haines, AK, cousin Jim put the motorhome on the ferry and we went to Skagway. In Skagway, I took a ride  on the White Pass & Yukon Route train and saw some beautiful country, crossed some old bridges and went through some tunnels. I visited some of the shops in downtown Skagway, but you can see in the second picture that the town gets pretty quiet after the tour ships leave. From our campground we could watch the ships start arrivng after 4:00 AM and start leaving around 5:00 PM. From Skagway we started the long trek home. We drove to Teslin, YT, and then to Watson Lake. From Watson Lake we traveled to Stewart, BC/Hyder, Alaska. Check the next edition for details of that trip. Warmest regards, Gus