Mason's 8th Birthday party!

Aaron Bike riding

Mason and friends on the trampoline

Aaron riding bike

Kids on trampoline

Enjoying the sunshine in front of Eric's garage

Mason opening one of many gifts!

Eric and his little buddy on the quad!

Mason and friends opening gifts

Eric and his little buddy on the quad...he is so cute..no fear and always in cowboy boots!!

We left Reno's Grand Sierra Resort this am and headed towards Eric's house for Mason's 8th birthday party.  We had a good morning, even though I was feeling like garbage...got this cough, cold thing going on and spent some of the night coughing like crazy and not sleeping...sucks!!  We left Reno around 1000 and headed towards Eric's place...the party started at 1300 and we were just a few minutes late..

Party was in full swing, Russell wasn't there as he was working overtime at the dam..but Lori had brought the boys and all the kids were playing outside as it was a beautiful day.  Eric cooked up a mess of hotdogs and everyone enjoyed! 

Mason had a great day and we enjoyed seeing the kids and grandkids..I really didn't feel good so spent alot of the day in the camper just resting and trying not to spread germs.  

We actually decided to go to Don and Dana's house for the night as Dana is in TN visiting with Don and we planned on spending tomorrow night as it's Super Bowl and we'll be at Grandma's.  We hit Auburn and tried to call Grandma to let her know we'd be by to get the key, but didn't get ahold of her.  So in Rocklin we stopped at the Days Inn where we've been before and checked in.  We like this hotel and not overly priced so we decided to stay...Grandma did call but we just missed her all the way around. But we are happy...Ken walked to the shopping center not to far away and got us subway sandwiches for dinner..and now just a quiet night..

Tomorrow we'll go to grandma's and hopefully I'll feel good enough to enjoy Super Bowl with Diane and family there.. if not Heidi, Sweetpea and I will watch from Don and Dana's house..

Bishop, CA to Reno, NV...

We left Bishop this morning at about 0900..got up showered, breakfast, computer etc and we finally got out of there...Love that place and had a nice stay!  The fairgrounds is pretty cool with full hook ups and really nice shower facilities..no one else there but us..even though they rent out the spaces for storage. Once word gets out...it'll be packed.  Today was the first day you can buy Mule Days Tickets..sounds like alot of people are waiting..and we did too for 10 years...love that week.  

So on we went, and ended up in Carson City where we thought we'd have lunch at a Mexican Restaurant that we really like...but parking sucked so we went into Reno and had lunch at Chili's ...we went there three years ago when we bought our laptop..great lunch..

Tonight we are at the Grand Sierra Resort Rv resort...been here a few times in the last couple of months. Did our laundry, changed sheets..(i love clean sheets) and tomorrow we will head for Cool and Mason's 8th birthday party.. 

I am a little under the weather...so hope I can stay outside tomorrow and not spread germs...

Talked to Cheryl and Adam went to Gpa Keith's house and spend the night, along with shooting, fishing and who knows what else ...sure he'll have a great time! 

We'll stay at Eric's tomorrow probably, then head for Gma's on Sunday for Super Bowl (ravens vs 49ers) ...stay the night at Don and Dana's ..(Dana is in TN)...then head for Bryan's for a night...then on to Winnemucca for a few and then we'll see where life takes us!!! 

Mono Lake highway 395

Mono Lake from a distance ...hwy 395

Tufas on Mono Lake highway 395

Along the highway 395

Mono Lake on 395 

Looking into Bridgeport, CA on 395 

Topaz Lake ...NV and Ca Border highway 395

Near Virginia Lakes on 395

Death Valley and then Bishop, CA

We left the Space Station Campground in Beatty, NV and decided to go through Death Valley NP and head back to CA on highway 395..we have always loved that highway!  So we drove a whole 40 miles and landed at the Furnace Creek Campground in the park!  The sites are huge and very improved.  They had sites with water and sewer for $18.00 a night, they will have electricity with them once that's approved by the government, but then the prices will rise too.  So we enjoyed being there, we rode our bikes over to another campground and had a nice chat with a fulltimer who's been on the road for 13 years.  She was from Texas and just a lovely lady.  We rode up to the next campground and then turned around and back to camp.  This time of year is wonderful to be in Death Valley...temps high 60's and nothing but sun!  Read my book awhile and just enjoyed the afternoon..had some leftover tacos for dinner and had a nice evening.  

Got up and knew we probably had about 160 miles today to get to Bishop.  We took our time and had a really nice drive out of the park.  Got to Bishop about 1300, signed into our site and enjoyed our lunch in the camper.  After lunch went across the street to Von's market and spent a little $$ for groceries and diesel...Diesel is definitely cheaper in the other states as Ken paid $4.05...and $3.69 in Beatty, NV...Welcome back to CA!  

Tomorrow is about 200 miles to Reno, and we should be at the Grand Sierra Resort for the night...probably got 3 loads of laundry to do so I know what my afternoon will be..oh well.  After that we'll head to Ca for a few days, but back in Winnemucca for a few for dr appts on Thursday..

Think we might be heading for Oregon after that for a bit..

Happy Birthday to our Grandson Mason, who turned 8 today!!!!! 

Happy Birthday to our nephew Dusty tomorrow!!! Love u guys

Going into Death Valley from Beatty, NV

The old Borax Works

Our site at Furnace Creek..$18.00 for water and sewer hookup

Sunset over  Death Valley

The long road ahead

Another view of the campsite

Heading out of Death Valley via 190 west 

Mt Whitney

Amargosa Valley Campground and Beatty, NV

January 28th...We left the KOA campground in Needles CA after we eventually got going...Followed 95 up into Bullhead City, AZ...So because it was nearing 1300 we decided time for lunch...found a Mexican Restaurant (surprise, surprise)...and had a delicious lunch!  Moved on and headed for Amargosa Valley in Nevada, had to go through Las Vegas, which of course is alot of traffic!  We took the belt loop which was close to 40 miles around but traffic wise I'm sure it made the difference!  Got into Amargosa Valley campground around 1800.  We really like that place and have been there several times!  $20.00 a night and full hookups (wifi, but no cable)...Ken broke the tv the night before so we stopped at Target out of Vegas and bought another but no channels available at all! 

Dennis the manager is just such a nice guy..and the campground is very well kept!  Even though this am we saw a gal taking pics and we figure she's a real estate person...so that sucks...

Jan 29th...got going and drove all of 26 miles to Beatty, NV and we've been here, just enjoying being here...as i'm writing this the camper is rocking and rolling from the winds!! so cool!! 

We are at the Space Station Campground, $24.00 for full hookups and cable..so it's been a nice relaxing afternoon..except some bad news on the house in Silver Springs..we've waited 6 and 1/2 months and now they say another 4 weeks..can't believe anything the realtors and supposedly US Bank says..we are very disappointed as we could have been looking all this time..oh well..it's in God's hands and whatever is meant to be will be...but still disappointing...:(....

Amargosa Valley RV Park!

Our campground at Amargosa Valley RV

Highway 95 towards Beatty....

Sunset from our campsite in Beatty, NV

Old mining town of Oatman AZ and Route 66!!

Today we decided to leave the KOA in Needles, CA and go for a drive...Crossed the Colorado River and headed to Oatman, AZ an old mining town on route 66..It was a beautiful drive through some interesting needle pointed mountains along with some of the teddy bear cactus...beautiful..we got there and were greeted by the wild burros that hang out in town, ready to be fed by the public.  Spent a couple of hours there and then had our "white trash lunch" on the tailgate.   The town itself, not so impressive as it was a definite "tourist trap"...but we still enjoyed.  In the end they only got $7.00 from us..Ken bought a really nice hat...Oatman, AZ and route 66...great hat, great price...We thought about eating there, but there just wasn't any place that impressed us...so out to the tailgate and our homemade lunch..declicious~  We are happy with that.! 

We left Oatman and thought we'd follow Route 66 to Kingman, but then again after driving so many miles decided to turn around and go Route 66 back...(it always looks different going the other way)...What a beautiful drive!!  

Got back to the campground, took our rv walk and now back at camp...in no hurry to head back to Winnemucca as it's snowing and cold...this was sooooooooo nice!! But tomorrow....on the road again!! How much better can it get!

Mountains on Route 66!

Mountains heading into Oatman, AZ

People decorated several of these plants going into Oatman for Christmas! 

Burros walking the streets of Oatman, AZ

Mural going into Oatman

Route 66 ...Oatman...

The road we were on...Route 66 

Wild Burros off Route 66...

More Cactus and palm...

The mountain you can see for miles on your way to Oatman...

Teddy Bear Cactus...

Rain, Rain, Rain...so we left Quartzsite and are in Needles, CA

Boondocking near Quartzsite, AZ

Jan 26th...We fell asleep last night listening to the rain, and woke up this morning listening to the rain.  Pretty much that locked us inside the camper for the morning hours. I kept hoping it would quit so we could stay, but after some more of Ken's movies we made the decision to leave our boondocking.  We had planned to ride bikes and enjoy the outside weather, but just wasn't happening. 

So we took our time leaving and headed for the KOA in Needles, CA where we were last week.  Little over 100 miles so a great drive.  Going down the highway is just incredibly beautiful, with the mountains, Colorado River and the lake.  Just so nice to watch the beauty and relax.  Had ourselves a nice lunch in a scenic pullout and now we're here...and it's raining again!  

I really hope that it'll quit tomorrow. We'll probably head towards Armagosa Valley NV, there's an rv park we've stayed before.  We can take our time as we have to be in Cool on Saturday for Mason's birthday. 

One more thing off the bucket list!

Boondocking at Palmosa Rd Quartzsite, AZ!

Lake Havasu, AZ

I-40 outside Needles, CA

Our set up at La Paz County Park

A cute scamp 5th wheel boondocking

Cabover on a trailer with enclosed front end

Boondockers on Palmosa Rd

More

Cool mud flaps 

Colorado River at La Paz 

Roadrunner Cafe....the old timers at the bar...

January 24th...We took a drive from La Paz County Park where we are staying for 2 nights..drove to Quartzsite, AZ...it was so busy in that town so we drove through and then visited a couple of the boondocking sites! Incredible the RV's that are parked there!  We were going to try and go to the RV show but there was no parking available..we finally found lunch before we headed back to Parker and enjoyed that very much!  

Got back and sat outside awhile watching people come into the park. Then we headed over to the Roadrunner cafe and bar where we've been before.  Had two drinks and the place was filling up with all older people!  We were the  youngest ones there!! Got back to camp and enjoyed several (me) more drinks and then called it a night! Great time!  

Got up this am and took our time, as we knew we were only driving 40 miles or so...got here to the boondocking area and parked our camper..can't believe all the people here..people watched awhile from outside and then the rain began...so came inside, fired up the generator and watched a couple of Ken's b rated horror flicks...ended the night with Open Season, which was cute!  Having a great time, and know we have to start heading back to CA on Sunday...

Pics tomorrow I hope!