Girls' Trip: Tuna Does Vegas

Gwen, Linda, Janice, and Rosa

After a few days of unloading, unpacking, and doing TEN LOADS of laundry, I took a break with some of my teacher girlfriends Sunday. We had tickets to see the 4th play in the Tuna series at the Bass Hall in Ft. Worth. For those who don't know, these two are the funniest!!! they are both men but they dress up like several characters from Tuna (a small town in Texas) and share all the gossip that happens in a small town where everybody knows everybody's business. The four plays are Tuna, Tuna Christmas, Red, White, and Tuna, and now Tuna Does Vegas. This one is the funniest to me---I didn't stop laughing all the way through.

Afterwards, we went to Trail Dust to eat steak. We used to go to the one in Mesquite after school for happy hour on Tuesdays several times during the year. We had a great time reminscing about all our fun together and it was great for me to be back with everybody after being on the road so long. I got to catch up on all the news---oh, the Trail Dust in Mesquite closed and the only one is now in Arlington.

End of the Trip

We should be home tomorrow. We drove over 500 miles today to get to Amarillo. We are both homesick--Fred got a stomach virus Fri. night and we had to spend another day in Cheyenne so we cancelled the idea of OK City and headed straight home. We are sitting here eating a Whataburger (our favorite burger that we have not had for 8 weeks!!!) and watching Desperate Housewives at the right time. HOW WONDERFUL WE FEEL!!!.

Traveling is so much fun--we have been to 10 states on this trip and have seen some fantastic sights---the rugged Oregon coast, Olympic NP and the Yakima wine valley of Washington, Redwoods NP of California, Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada for mountain drives and gambling, Couer d' Alene to visit friends, Salt Lake City to see Temple Square and all the little things you find along the way and all the great people that you meet. We really live in the greatest country in the world!!! We are so thankful that we have been able to travel these past 9 years in a motorhome and hopefully we will travel many more.

For those of you who think that traveling in a motorhome around the country is troublefree, just take a look at these pictures.

The steps went out the 2nd day on the road even though we had had a new motor put in the week before. We went to a shop but no parts. We ordered parts from factory in AL to be delivered to our friends' home in ID. Then we carried the part to Camping World to be installed but they would not install a part that they did not order. The next place we contacted in WA said they were backed up for a week so we decided to use the ladder and enjoy our trip

While camping in our friends' drive in Idaho, we had a flat tire on the new tire we had put on before we left. The roadside service came to fix it and told us that we needed a new one on the other side. But of course, they didn't have any in stock. (RV tires are specialty tires and not easy to find.) So we drove on to WA and called a Les Swabb tire store. They had them in stock so they put them on and gave us trade-in credit on our practically new tire. We were very impressed with this company as we read the history of the co. inside the waiting room. He sounded a lot like Sam Walton and the Wal-Mart story except as a tire co. and they are only located in the West. Wish we had them. They were so customer oriented and really went out of their way to answer your questions.

Later in the trip, our carbon monoxide alarm went off and made Tex a nervous wreck for several days. We disconnected it and worked on it and finally got it monitoring again.

Then the Washer-Dryer went out with a load of wet clothes inside. The next time I tried, it wouldn't even turn on. Got out the manual but whatever the problem, it is more than I can handle.

Our air bags won't air up properly the first thing in the morning so we start out with a Very Bumpy ride which improves as it all warms up.

A couple of compartment doors on the side (storage compartments) will not open so we have had to make do without the things in those.

Our front windshield now had three cracks from rocks, one of which is spreading and is now about a foot long.

A couple of days, we have had jacks that would not come up--the RV sounds an alarm and the MH will not move when this happens, so Fred has to get underneath and oil them. Some of this may be because of the dust and fine gravel that we have traveled through. But we will have to have them checked along with all the other things. We have an appointment at the factory in AL in February to get things repaired where they will have knowledgeable people and the parts on hand. So we will take it to the shop at home for the steps and get everything else done in Red Bay. We have definitely had more problems on this trip with the MH, but there are always problems just like with a house and we always end our trips with a trip to the shop.

We can't wait to be home again!!!

Temple Square---Salt Lake City

We arrived in Salt Lake City today after driving through the most desolate part of the US that we have seen ---the Great Salt Desert filled with dry salt flats. It started at the Nevada border and we drove for 66 miles with no exits and no nothing. Then we passed the Morton salt plant where they were gathering salt. Then the Great Salt Lake--nothing there either--no vegetation--just flat. It supposedly is 5 times saltier than the ocean. Then Salt Lake City--it is hard to understand why anyone would settle here. But downtown at Temple Square is a different story. It is awe-inspiring to see the beautiful buildings and hear their story. I toured the Tabernacle (where the organist was working on a piece---WHAT A SOUND!!!) and the conference center with some of their missionaries.

This statue of Jesus is in their new visitor center.

Thursday nights, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearses and it is open to the public. What an extra treat to hear them. Stacey, you would have broken out in song when they sang "The Sound of Music". The orchestra has approximately 100 and the choir over 300 members. It is so moving to hear them.

When we left Reno on our way home, we had 1900 miles to home. Now we have 1400. Can't wait to get back to Texas.

Elko and Lamoille Canyon

We stopped in Elko because Fred's mother used to fly here to gamble with her sister and Fred wanted to see it. It was a small town with 5 tiny casinos. We need large casinos so we can have lots of choices on slot machines. (so we maybe can find a winner)

We did go out into the high desert to rock hunt and to see the canyon. It is 12 miles long and is one of Nevada's state scenic byways. It was gorgeous and we spent several hours as we are such rock lovers. (as you can tell by looking at our landscaping) We have collected a Jeep full of new rocks from the states of the Northwest. Today was the best--we should have thrown the others out and just filled the Jeep from this canyon.

Homeward Bound

Today we started our journey home. It has been fun but we are both getting homesick. We drove across Nevada from Reno to Elko. Approximately 300 miles of what you see in the pictures---a valley between mountains in the desert----some very interesting rock formations, very few people or towns but it did have its own beauty. It is what Stacey's son, Collin who lives in Vegas would call a brown world. We saw hot springs steaming up out of the ground and hundreds of sheep being herded---noticeable by all the dust in the air. Elko is where the first gambling was in Nevada. It is in cowboy country and the town looks very old with saloons and bars down main street. They have large silver and gold mines here. There is a great deal of snow on the mountains so we will head out there tomorrow




We saw this sign on the interstate. Wonder what this is all about ???

Reno and Lake Tahoe

Today we did some sightseeing around Reno. First we went to Scheel's Sporting Goods Store. It has only been open 2 weeks and is the world's largest sporting goods store. (about twice the size of our Bass Pro.) It looks like a whole mall inside with this ferris wheel in the middle. They have shooting galleries, hockey reality games, race car simulators, etc for entertainment. Each dept. is like a store in itself. They also have an exhibit of wax replicas of Presidents of the US. Abe Lincoln is the most elaborate since he moves and talks. Fred was amazed at how his eyes moved and blinked while he was talking and how realistic his hands were with veins running through them. We made a few purchases (we always buy more fishing stuff for Fred) and then headed over the mountain to Lake Tahoe.





We stopped at the summit of Mt. Rose and took pictures in the snow. Tex went crazy--slipping and sliding all over the snow. He has not seen much of it and never this much. He soon tired of it and would only sit on the road where the snow had melted. We attempted to get the tripod and timer all set up to get some great shots and the camera battery went dead but we did get a couple. But none of beautiful Lake Tahoe. If you have seen pictures of it--it is just that emerald and clear---they say that you can see 70 feet below the water. We could see huge boulders clearly under the water. Then back to Reno to do our last gambling before leaving in the morning.

Expresso--Expresso--Expresso

We found these expresso shops all over these states up here. Everyone walks around with a cup in their hands all the time.--crossing the street, driving down the road, shopping, walking, with their meals,----they are fanatics about their coffee. They drive up and get it at these small places that are in shopping centers, in the grocery store parking lots, and beside gas stations. Even tiny towns have their expresso place. A town the size of Quinlan would have at least 3!!!

Some of them had a theme and were really decorated.----a lighthouse, a log cabin, a red school house, a dog house, a hat box, a Victorian house,etc. Some of the ones in the wine valley used wine barrels for decoration.
This was my favorite with Elvis and an old car. When we ordered, we did not know what shots were so we had to google expresso so we could learn all about it. We watched a demo on how it is made--seems like a lot of trouble and lots of equipment to make a beverage. No wonder they all order it out.






I think if we put one in Quinlan, we would go broke. However, I can see how it would be great here with all the dreary, foggy days and the cold of winter.









Now that we are out of Oregon, we realize how nice it was not to pay sales tax. Things seemed so much cheaper. Now they seem expensive when you add all that tax in.

We could not pump our own gas in Oregon. It is against the law and there are signs that you will be fined if you turn the pump on and attempt to pump. It is so people will have jobs or so we were told. The state voted not to have self-pump. New Jersey also has that law. All the others allow you to pump. I wonder if there is any place at home where you can get someone to pump your gas???

WE FINALLY FOUND SANDWICH BREAD IN NEVADA. We always buy thin slice bread. We have not had it for 6 weeks. Fred just hates that thick sliced bread and complains everytime that I would buy it. I had no choice---they don't have it in ID, WA, or OR. I even checked Wal-Mart and they didn't carry it. I guess these people here like all those extra carbs.

Gambling in Nevada

We arrived in Carson City, NV Thursday after that harrowing drive through the mountains. Friday we woke up to snow--it snowed all day and all night---dark clouds would move over the mountain bringing strong wind and snow. We thought it looked like a blizzard. It would last 15-20 min and then be over until the next cloud came. Fred said that he wanted to get back to Texas as soon as possible. But the mountains do look beautiful with that snow on top. We gambled and had a great time. Saturday we drove to Reno NV. More gambling at bigger casinos. We had been here 16 yrs ago when Fred was working for Wal-Mart and had business out here. The. town has really grown---lots of new casinos, but we still like the old ones downtown best---like Vegas used to be. It has been really cold with temps in the 20's here. High today was 45 but tomorrow will be in 60s so we hope to make it to Lake Taho

Sightseeing on Our Way to Nevada

After leaving the Redwoods, we headed inland to Redding, CA where we visited Lassen Volcanic NP---a mini version of Yellowstone. Mt Lassen is a dormant volcano which erupted in the 1920's. It had snowed a couple of days before so we got to see it topped with white--Mt Shasta off in the distance was white, too. The park had examples of all 4 types of volcanoes and also had steam vents and mud pots which were still active. Very interesting visit. Here in the valley it was 85 and sunny--what a welcome relief after the rain and fog in Oregon.

Today we started our drive to Nevada. We went through Corning CA which is the heart of olive country. Miles and miles of olive trees on each side of the road. We stopped at the Olive Pit to shop for some olives and bought several kinds. We got to sample more kinds than I have ever seen. Then back on the road and we traveled through rice country where there were rice fields on each side of the road. They were harvesting some fields and others were still flooded and looked as if they had just been planted.

We decided to go to Carson City NV instead of Lake Tahoe because the RV parks seemed better. We did want to travel to Lake Tahoe so we drove south of the lake to enter Nevada. We got on state road 49 to connect to the road that we needed. It was an unbelievable road--20 miles that took 1 hr to drive----8 percent grade and a snake road---we were going up (or down) at the same time as we were making tight turns. Since we were on the edge of a straight-down cliff at the same time, you can imagine how tense we were at the end. That was definitely not a road for RVs. What an experience!!! The road went down the mountain and then climbed back out. At the bottom was Sutter's Mill where gold was discovered in CA---there was a large historical park there.

The wind was blowing about 30 MPH today. At Lake Tahoe, we noticed everybody in coats. When we got out, it was SOOO Cold!! We watched the weather---we are under a snow advisory starting in the morning and it will be freezing the next 3 nights. We had planned to drive the scenic road around Lake Tahoe tomorrow but our plans may change. I don't want to get caught out in snowy weather. There are plenty of casinos here to keep us entertained. Hopefully we will still be home by the 21st.

Animals Everywhere

We have had so much fun looking for animals on our trip and we have been so lucky to see all that we have----all in the WILD!!!! We saw huge gray whales but no pictures. We went to tidepools to see the sea stars and sea anemones. Sea lions have been everywhere. Elk are numerous also.

SOMETHING TO PONDER----If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?

Redwood National Park

Today we had sun after 4 days of rain and fog. What a beautiful day it was!! The sky was bluer, the forest greener, and the ocean was turquoise. We drove the scenic roads to see the redwoods---the most magnificent trees. They grow up to 370 ft tall and can be as old as 700 yrs. During the day, the fog would roll in off the ocean and the woods were shrouded with mist--it is supposed to be like the climate during dinosaur days. It looked just like the set of Jurassic Park. Lady Bird Johnson dedicated this park in 1968--we walked the LBJ trail to the site and a plaque in honor of her work. Fred was most excited about all the elk in the park. We spotted some eating apples under a tree in someone's yard. Others were bedded down in meadows. What a great day!!!

Wild Pacific Coast

On our last day in Oregon we drove the last 30 miles of the southern Coast. It just gets more and more beautiful. Even though it was cloudy and misting, the views were fantastic!!! The waves were up that day and we just stood in awe watching them crash over the huge rocks. Many of the rock formations had names like whalehead, rainbow rock, natural bridge, arch, etc. We even went to Harris State Park where the rocks were the most magnificent and we could access the beach for rock and agate hunting. ( I always search out the Harris name since that is my maiden name--this one was actually from Scotland so we must be related)

The Wild and Scenic Rogue River

We took the mail boat to Agness, OR which is up the Rogue River from Gold Beach. The boat is a jet boat not the one I am in. (in the picture) The mail boat has been delivering mail there 6 days a week for the last 113 years. There is only two deliveries by boat in the US Postal Service. Agness is located up in the mountains 32 miles inland and takes two hours to reach by boat---longer by car. I t was a beautiful trip through canyons with forests, wildflowers, and rugged rock cliffs. We saw boats along the way fishing as the salmon are running now. We stopped to watch the Fish and Wildlife Dept. net the salmon to check their health and quantity. They do this 3 times a week. They took 3 kinds of salmon this time and we watching them weigh and tag them. At Agness, we had a lunch at a fishing resort while the mail was being delivered and picked up and then the trip back.

Saving the Cats

We ran across this in our exploring the other day in Gold Beach OR. We saw all these houses in the distance by the water so we drove over and found the sign that said volunteers cared for the hundreds of cats that had been abandoned here. The cat village has all kinds of houses with signs on them. Inside are bowls. We watched some of the cats play. Seagulls landed all around them, but they seemed to just coexist. It is so amazing to me that we can find such unusual things everywhere in our travels.

What a Difference a Day Can Make!!!

I think we have finally gotten some fall weather here--more like it really is in Oregon. Rain--rain--rain! It started in the night and has rained almost all day with more predicted for the next 3 days---their predictions are 90-100 percent chance. We drove 80 more miles down the coast to Gold Beach where we will be through the weekend. The wind near the beach is really strong as you can tell in the pictures. (Notice my hair) It is somewhat frightening to be standing on the edge of a cliff in such wind. We went down to a black sand beach this afternoon to look for agates and unusual rocks until the rain got harder and drove us indoors. Hopefully we will get a break and can go back.

Back to the Oregon Coast

On Monday, we left Crater Lake NP and headed back to the southern Oregon Coast. We drove a scenic route following by the Umpqua River and climbing down from the mountains to the coast. It was slow and curvy but gorgeous!!! We camped in Coos Bay and have toured the scenic coast here. Lots of huge rocks in the water and crashing waves--just the thing that I like to see. We even found a viewing area called Shell Island where hundreds of sea lions stay. The beaches were not crowded so Tex could run without a lease. He loved this day, too!!