We made it back to El Centro yesterday just in time to watch the Blue Angels practice above our campground. What a sight and sounds!
There was a pre-show food festival at the Naval Air Facility last night we attended, but it wasn't very good. We drank a beer, had a look around at the food offered and decided the long lines to get at it was not worth the time.
This afternoon we are going back to attend the air show. It starts at 10:00am but we will pass on the first three hours so the dogs are not left alone in the motor home too long. The best "stuff" is in the afternoon anyway, and the Blue Angels themselves start at 2:30pm for a 90 minute performance. I'll take a lot of pictures and post them tonight or tomorrow.
When we leave here we're heading East! Not too fast, but we will stay South for the warmer weather and work our way towards maybe the panhandle of Florida. Then as soon as Bro T and Sista D tell us all the snow is gone and it's safe to head North, we'll head home.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Day 71, Friday, 03/07/08
Our stay in Lake Havasu was uneventful.
It was a lot more windy that we expected and three of our six days were just too windy to be outside and enjoy the sun. The air temperature was in the upper 60's to lower 70's, but with the winds it was too cold to sit out side and enjoy the weather.
So tonight we are back in El Centro at the Sunbeam RV Park. We are not thrilled with this park but as mentioned earlier in the trip it is right next to the Naval Air Station where the Blue Angels Practice.
We had quite a show after arrival today here at the park as the Blue Angels were practicing for tomorrows event. It was an air show in itself!
It was a lot more windy that we expected and three of our six days were just too windy to be outside and enjoy the sun. The air temperature was in the upper 60's to lower 70's, but with the winds it was too cold to sit out side and enjoy the weather.
So tonight we are back in El Centro at the Sunbeam RV Park. We are not thrilled with this park but as mentioned earlier in the trip it is right next to the Naval Air Station where the Blue Angels Practice.
We had quite a show after arrival today here at the park as the Blue Angels were practicing for tomorrows event. It was an air show in itself!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
DAY 68, Tuesday, 03/04/08
A cool 40 this morning in Lake Havasu. However, it did warm up to around 73.
I noticed some errors in the video section and have made the corrections. So if you looked at them and wondered what was up, try again. I also added two new ones.
Never left the RV park today so nothing to report.
I noticed some errors in the video section and have made the corrections. So if you looked at them and wondered what was up, try again. I also added two new ones.
Never left the RV park today so nothing to report.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Day 67, Monday, 03/03/08
Pictures! Even though a day late.
Some good, some not so good - but they are what we are seeing.
None of them are as good as what we are actually experiencing. My camera just is not up to the task.
Hope you enjoy them, and remember the videos!
The big wind storm came through here yesterday as forcasted. It started late Saturday night and continued all day Sunday until about 9:00pm. Glad I did not have to drive in it and glad we were out of the desert dust.
This morning was a cool 45 with the cold front having blasted through yesterday, but the sky is blue and the sun is hot and upper 60's for today. The rest of the week looks like mid-70's and 80's by Saturday. However, we will be back in El Centro Friday for the air show on Saturday and the forcast is temps in the mid 80's. I'm sure we will be complaining about the heat by then.
All the following pictures are from the Valley of Fire State Park about 50 miles north east of Las Vegas.
Ellen is standing in one of the three "cabins" built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Club) back in the 30's for passing travelers
This is called "Elephant Rock"
Blue sky, distant black mountain tops, nearer brown mountain tops, close by red sandstone peaks, and nearby shades of gold, yellow, orange, and green. Not all so evident by the picture, but it is sure pretty spectacular looking out at it all in person. We have a whole new respect for Nevada.
We hike this canyon with the dogs. Pretty hot for them, but it was only about an hour. The point of this picture is that the sky really is this blue out here.
This is called a "beehive"
The girls found refuge in the shade of a little cave carved out of the rock.
Some good, some not so good - but they are what we are seeing.
None of them are as good as what we are actually experiencing. My camera just is not up to the task.
Hope you enjoy them, and remember the videos!
The big wind storm came through here yesterday as forcasted. It started late Saturday night and continued all day Sunday until about 9:00pm. Glad I did not have to drive in it and glad we were out of the desert dust.
This morning was a cool 45 with the cold front having blasted through yesterday, but the sky is blue and the sun is hot and upper 60's for today. The rest of the week looks like mid-70's and 80's by Saturday. However, we will be back in El Centro Friday for the air show on Saturday and the forcast is temps in the mid 80's. I'm sure we will be complaining about the heat by then.
All the following pictures are from the Valley of Fire State Park about 50 miles north east of Las Vegas.
Ellen is standing in one of the three "cabins" built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Club) back in the 30's for passing travelers
This is called "Elephant Rock"
Blue sky, distant black mountain tops, nearer brown mountain tops, close by red sandstone peaks, and nearby shades of gold, yellow, orange, and green. Not all so evident by the picture, but it is sure pretty spectacular looking out at it all in person. We have a whole new respect for Nevada.
We hike this canyon with the dogs. Pretty hot for them, but it was only about an hour. The point of this picture is that the sky really is this blue out here.
This is called a "beehive"
The girls found refuge in the shade of a little cave carved out of the rock.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Day 65, Saturday, 03/01/08
This morning we are leaving Valley of Fire State Park and driving to Lake Havasu for a 6 night stay at the same RV Resort we stayed at, and enjoyed so much, last winter. Our preference would be to just stay here for the weekend, but there is a high wind warning out for the area on Sunday and it could get real messy with all the sand around here. We've been through high winds several times on this trip and are tired of cleaning up after. Sooooo - we are going to the city for awhile.
Internet service is available here at the state park, it is not fast enough for uploading pictures. The connection in Lake Havasu will be high speed so sometime tomorrow I'll do a whole page of all the recent photos from Valley of Fire.
Got to pack up now!
More later.
We made the drive to Lake Havasu with no problems and got settled into our "spot". We are here for six days. Hoped to find better internet service here for the price, but it's not to be had. I can go up to the office and hook into their DSL line, but can't get high - speed service here at the camp site. My Verizon air card gives me an internet connection, but not high-speed needed for picture transmission. The office direct DSL connection will allow me to upload pictures, but it will now be tomorrow.
Drove over Hoover Dam today and Homeland Security stopped us to have a look inside the motor home and it's storage compartments. They stop all trucks and RV's so we were not singled out, but never had a clue we would be subject to a search. However, it's a good and necessary thing that its done. Lake Mead is way down at only about 47% of capacity. Click on this link to have a look Lake Mead Water Level
There was too much traffic for us to stop and take our own pictures.
This is the first night we have been able to sit outside and enjoy the evening after the sun goes down without running back into the motor home for additional clothes. Very nice to sit out after the sun goes down still in t-shirts and shorts.
Pictures tomorrow, I promise!
Internet service is available here at the state park, it is not fast enough for uploading pictures. The connection in Lake Havasu will be high speed so sometime tomorrow I'll do a whole page of all the recent photos from Valley of Fire.
Got to pack up now!
More later.
We made the drive to Lake Havasu with no problems and got settled into our "spot". We are here for six days. Hoped to find better internet service here for the price, but it's not to be had. I can go up to the office and hook into their DSL line, but can't get high - speed service here at the camp site. My Verizon air card gives me an internet connection, but not high-speed needed for picture transmission. The office direct DSL connection will allow me to upload pictures, but it will now be tomorrow.
Drove over Hoover Dam today and Homeland Security stopped us to have a look inside the motor home and it's storage compartments. They stop all trucks and RV's so we were not singled out, but never had a clue we would be subject to a search. However, it's a good and necessary thing that its done. Lake Mead is way down at only about 47% of capacity. Click on this link to have a look Lake Mead Water Level
There was too much traffic for us to stop and take our own pictures.
This is the first night we have been able to sit outside and enjoy the evening after the sun goes down without running back into the motor home for additional clothes. Very nice to sit out after the sun goes down still in t-shirts and shorts.
Pictures tomorrow, I promise!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Day 62, Wednesday, 02/27/08
Made it to Valley of Fire State Park without any problems. Traffic in and around Las Vegas was getting heavy as race fans were pouring in. We were glad to be getting out. There is a lot of space here so our concern about getting in was without merit.
Speaking of Vegas, there is unbelievable construction going on! The Strip area must have had at least 8 new projects underway. I mean big new casinos! And many others are "adding on". New housing sub-divisions everywhere. And many, many new (but smaller) casinos going up on the fringes of town.
This state park has 22 new RV sites with water & electric. They just opened them up in November. Extremely large, and clean spaces with beautiful views. And the dogs are allowed on the trails here so we plan on doing a lot of walking.
Yesterday, after setting up, we drove to Lake Mead and let the kids swim. What fun! Gracie could smell the water long before we stopped and was going "nuts" in the car with excitement.
I have internet service here but not high speed for picture uploading. Pictures soon.
Speaking of Vegas, there is unbelievable construction going on! The Strip area must have had at least 8 new projects underway. I mean big new casinos! And many others are "adding on". New housing sub-divisions everywhere. And many, many new (but smaller) casinos going up on the fringes of town.
This state park has 22 new RV sites with water & electric. They just opened them up in November. Extremely large, and clean spaces with beautiful views. And the dogs are allowed on the trails here so we plan on doing a lot of walking.
Yesterday, after setting up, we drove to Lake Mead and let the kids swim. What fun! Gracie could smell the water long before we stopped and was going "nuts" in the car with excitement.
I have internet service here but not high speed for picture uploading. Pictures soon.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
DAY 61, Tuesday, 02/26/08
New videos from DV are posted on the Home Page of the blog.
It's 8:45am here in Vegas and 62 outside. Blue sky and going to 75.
I hear you are having a little snow in Elkhart.
We are leaving soon for the State Park. Because of the race this weekend we are getting worried about getting a place to stay in this area so were trying to get there as soon as possible.
Internet and cell phone connections should be available the rest of the trip, so we'll post more soon.
It's 8:45am here in Vegas and 62 outside. Blue sky and going to 75.
I hear you are having a little snow in Elkhart.
We are leaving soon for the State Park. Because of the race this weekend we are getting worried about getting a place to stay in this area so were trying to get there as soon as possible.
Internet and cell phone connections should be available the rest of the trip, so we'll post more soon.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Day 59, Sunday, 2/24, 08
We change our plans so often I forget what we were planning yesterday to do today. This morning we decided to leave Furnace Creek and go to Stovepipe Wells - still here in the National Park. We got one of 15 RV sites here that have full hook-up’s. Got lucky!
So the stay here will be longer than expected. With the electricity we can run the air conditioner and leave the dogs in the motor home while we hike and/or explore.
We took the dogs anyway. The thought process was even with the air conditioning available, what if power was lost and they were alone in the motor home with the windows shut and no A/C?
Today’s mission was to find fresh produce. There are no grocery stores in
The plan was to continue on up Nevada Hwy 95 and re-enter the Park at the North end of the park and see some different attractions. A 120 mile trip. But, after our failure to find groceries we were a little deflated and there was what looked to be a big rain storm heading for our campground, so we headed back. The opportunity to see a flash flood was too strong a draw to stay with the plan. We were tired of so much driving anyway. Back at the campground not a sign of rain. It missed our area!
This morning we woke before sunup and drove to the Sand Dunes just 2 miles outside of camp to experience and photograph the sunrise. It was a good 30 minute hike from the road to the dunes and then a strenuous hike up to the top. It was fun and beautiful.
Back to the motor home to check on the kids then we walked across the street for breakfast at the little restaurant here. Our supplies are really low and if we were going to eat we had to go “out”. Didn’t expect much and did not get much!
So tonight finds us at an RV Resort in Vegas. We can only stay here two nights because they are full beginning Tuesday due to the NASCAR race here this week and Las Vegas International Speedway. Ellen did some serious grocery shopping while I tended to Blue Boy. Lots of cleaning and laundry tomorrow then we are moving to a State Park (Valley of Fire) just North East of here very close to Lake Mead on Tuesday. The dogs need a swim!
Don't forget to check out the videos posted on the Home page of the blog!
Ellen on Dunes walk
The two of us on top of highest dune
Kitchen at Scotty's Castle
Scotty's Castle
Natural Bridge hike
Rain coming into Stovepipe Wells but not much got there
Stovepipe Wells CG view
Out of place picture from Dunes hike looking back at Stovepipe Wells and our camp site way in the distance.
Rhyolite Ghost Town "Ghosts"
JPL at the lowest point in the US
JPL at the Furnace Creek Inn
The Natural Bridge
Road from Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells. This desert is alive with flowers!
Closeup of the salt floor at Badwater - the lowest point in the US
EJH having a pre-dinner cocktail on the porch of the Furnace Creek Inn - 200 feet below sea level in Death Valley
Furnace Creek Inn
The 20 Mule Team Borax rig. This area used to be populated by borax miners. The mules pulled the two wagons of borax and a trailing tank of water to surrive the 165 miles to the railhead for shipment out
Two panoramic views of Artist's Drive 4.5 mile loop off the paved road.
The salt bed floor of Death Valley
Coyote on the road to Scotty's Castle. He was a sick pup. We came up on him lying in the road. We stopped thinking he was hit by a car, but he got up and walked very, very, slowly towards us and our dogs who were going "nuts" with the windows down. At the Castle we learned a lot of coyotes are sick and/or dying due to too much human contact. He might have been one.
JPl blogging at Lone Pine before heading into Death Valley
Golden Canyon hike
Ellen's picture of view on her drive at Lone Pine
Road to Death Valley
Death Valley view of Cathedral Peak
Mass evacuation of RV's from Federal Land Use Area on Monday, Presidents Day, as seen on our drive into Death Valley. There is a huge sand dune recreational vehicle area just off the road that must have attracted thousands based on the volume of exiting traffic we encountered thankfully going the other way.
Views entering Death Valley
Furnace Creek Campground views
Dante's Peak - it's cold up here 5,000 feet above the Death Valley floor, but what a site!
Ellen looking good at Lone Pine
Furnace Creek Inn from our camp site
Our Boulder Creek RV site in Lone Pine
More Death Valley from Dante's Peak
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