We left San Diego on today and picked up I-8 a few miles from our RV Park and headed east. Four mountain passes (Laguna Summit elev. 4055’, Crestwood Summit elev. 4109’, Tecate Summit elev. 4140’, Mountain Springs Pass elev. 3241’) with high wind warnings kept us on our toes for the first 90 miles. We continue to be amazed by the variation in appearance/geological composition of the mountains we see – it boggles the mind (or, at least, MY mind). We must have met at least a hundred toy haulers apparently coming from the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation area in the southeast corner of California. There were lines of them at rest areas waiting to use the RV dump stations courtesy of the Interstate system, I guess.
Things flattened out by the time we reached El Centro (about 10 miles from border with Mexico). Agriculture along the way included whatever you plant to get hay (bright green crops) and something in the cabbage family – thick, almost blue leaves.
Arrived in Yuma about 3:30 and got situated in an RV park on the outskirts of town. We don’t usually unhook for overnites but wanted to check Yuma out for future wintering – weren’t terribly impressed but we’ll drive down again while we’re here - it’s 85 miles from Quartzsite. Ate a very disappointing dinner at a Mexican restaurant – just proves being near Mexico doesn’t guarantee good Mexican food.
Planes Trains and Automobiles – Throughout Canada and our trip down the West coast, we have stayed in RV Parks adjacent to railroad tracks. Well-used RR tracks, I might add. Tonight we had a 1-night stand (so to speak) in Yuma, AZ and once again picked a railroad neighborhood. Added to that was Yuma International Airport and 2 highways that intersected out our front window.
We had hoped to be able to check out Yuma but only had a couple of hours to explore the area we were camped in. Yuma has an Olive Garden but not Costco and no Ford dealership. Overall we aren’t impressed yet. So we’ll, have to give it a little more time on down the road.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Day 165 (Santee, CA)
It’s time to start thinking about our 2 months in Quartzsite AZ. (By the way, if you’re interested in learning more about Q, click here: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/rv/Quartzsite.htm)
There is only one small grocery store there so some stocking up will be necessary. With a very small frig and freezer, most of the stocking up will be pantry-type items. The nearest full-sized grocery story is in Blythe CA about 25 miles away and a couple more in Parker AZ about 30 miles away.
Nights will be cooler than we’ve had so far so we’ll be tweaking this and that. For example: a warm bathmat, that Karma won’t be interested in eating, for those barefoot trips in the middle of the night.
We’ll need to dig out some warmer clothes than we’ve been wearing for the past 5 months (hard to believe it’s been that long) - nights can get into the mid-30’s in Quartzsite and, on occasion, drop below freezing!
And we need to stock up on books again. There’s been no substitute anywhere for our favorite used book store in Anchorage (Titlewave Books). We’ve gathered a few here and there at thrift stores but “pickins’ are slim”. I am so resistant to paying full price for new books.
(I do have a few book recommendations for anyone interested: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen . Just thought I’d throw that in - Boots)
There is only one small grocery store there so some stocking up will be necessary. With a very small frig and freezer, most of the stocking up will be pantry-type items. The nearest full-sized grocery story is in Blythe CA about 25 miles away and a couple more in Parker AZ about 30 miles away.
Nights will be cooler than we’ve had so far so we’ll be tweaking this and that. For example: a warm bathmat, that Karma won’t be interested in eating, for those barefoot trips in the middle of the night.
We’ll need to dig out some warmer clothes than we’ve been wearing for the past 5 months (hard to believe it’s been that long) - nights can get into the mid-30’s in Quartzsite and, on occasion, drop below freezing!
And we need to stock up on books again. There’s been no substitute anywhere for our favorite used book store in Anchorage (Titlewave Books). We’ve gathered a few here and there at thrift stores but “pickins’ are slim”. I am so resistant to paying full price for new books.
(I do have a few book recommendations for anyone interested: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen . Just thought I’d throw that in - Boots)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Day 159 (Santee, CA)
Well, after a lot of internet research we spent all day yesterday interviewing dog daycare facilities. None were of the quality of Anchorage’s own Dog Tired Day Care. We had found 4 in downtown San Diego to check out. Only 1 of these was up to our standards – but central San Diego is hard to navigate with traffic and narrow streets.
While doing the evaluations of them and them of Karma, we found a magazine – SDPets. And guess what? There’s a nationwide daycare organization (Camp Bow Wow) and a PetSmart PetsHotel in El Cajon, which is only a few miles away from the Santee Lakes RV Parks. So, Karma is back in school, at least for a few hours / a few days each week. The national aspects of these options means we’ll know ahead of time if there’s a facility on our travel path. For example, we want to spend some time in Austin, Texas. Knowing there are 2 Pet Smart Pets Hotels and 1 Camp Bow Wow will make it easier to exercise Karma and have time to do dog-free things without spending all that time researching the area for options.
After touring the day care sites, we took Karma back to Dog Beach for a run. She loves the waves and runs at top speed and leaps over them to retrieve the ball. She was so anxious to stay in the waves that at one point she squatted and pooped right there in the ocean - there wasn't a danged thing we could do but watch in horror; so much for a clean eco-system. There are a lot of other dogs and owners at the beach enjoying the sun and surf. After we drag her back to the truck, we rinse her with clear water, dry her and give her very own water bottle.
While doing the evaluations of them and them of Karma, we found a magazine – SDPets. And guess what? There’s a nationwide daycare organization (Camp Bow Wow) and a PetSmart PetsHotel in El Cajon, which is only a few miles away from the Santee Lakes RV Parks. So, Karma is back in school, at least for a few hours / a few days each week. The national aspects of these options means we’ll know ahead of time if there’s a facility on our travel path. For example, we want to spend some time in Austin, Texas. Knowing there are 2 Pet Smart Pets Hotels and 1 Camp Bow Wow will make it easier to exercise Karma and have time to do dog-free things without spending all that time researching the area for options.
After touring the day care sites, we took Karma back to Dog Beach for a run. She loves the waves and runs at top speed and leaps over them to retrieve the ball. She was so anxious to stay in the waves that at one point she squatted and pooped right there in the ocean - there wasn't a danged thing we could do but watch in horror; so much for a clean eco-system. There are a lot of other dogs and owners at the beach enjoying the sun and surf. After we drag her back to the truck, we rinse her with clear water, dry her and give her very own water bottle.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Day 154 (Santee, CA)
We are still ant-free! Hooray! Now we're thinking maybe we brought them with us from one of our one-night stopovers on the way from Coarsegold. We don't usually do the Borax thing for overnights unless we see ants. Big mistake apparently! (Ruthi said one of the orange trees in Bakersfield was touching the RV and that may have been their access point. If so, the Borax wouldn't have helped anyway.)
Well, now we can put San Diego back on our list of winter locations we like. It suits us on several levels. Santee is not a big, bustling town, which we like but, if we want excitement, it's 5 miles or less to various freeways into the city, the beaches and all sorts of great places to visit AND there's a trolley(station 3 miles away) that will get us to most of those locations, too.
The weather (when it's not being really unusual like it's been off and on since we got here!) is good. Actually, even though it's been much warmer than normal lately - over 90! - it's cool enough before 9:30 and after 4:30 to ride our bikes.
We'd be foolish not to be concerned about fires given what's going on in the L.A. area right now. But, at least, we're mobile, as long as there was advanced warning, which is not always the case. It's certainly something to ponder.
Well, now we can put San Diego back on our list of winter locations we like. It suits us on several levels. Santee is not a big, bustling town, which we like but, if we want excitement, it's 5 miles or less to various freeways into the city, the beaches and all sorts of great places to visit AND there's a trolley(station 3 miles away) that will get us to most of those locations, too.
The weather (when it's not being really unusual like it's been off and on since we got here!) is good. Actually, even though it's been much warmer than normal lately - over 90! - it's cool enough before 9:30 and after 4:30 to ride our bikes.
We'd be foolish not to be concerned about fires given what's going on in the L.A. area right now. But, at least, we're mobile, as long as there was advanced warning, which is not always the case. It's certainly something to ponder.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Day 149 (Santee, CA)
Finally, we have found a solution to the hordes of ANTS! The ant "stakes" did indeed attract ants and so far we are ant-free!!!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Day 148 (Santee, CA)
THE INVASION OF ANTS. We were sooooo spoiled in Alaska with few to no bugs. We have had a few encounters with ants, spiders, and tarantulas but the ants in San Diego have taxed all of our ECO solutions and we have had to resort to serious attacks.
First,we started with the amazing effective BORAX (or at least it was elsewhere) all around our RV and anything that touched rig, i.e., water hoses, electricity, cable, etc. Ants usually take the Borax back to their nest and everyone in the colony that eats it dies. That did not have the same successful results as before, so we moved to applying Vaseline to all surfaces that feed the rig, i.e., jacks and stabilizers. Vaseline is supposed to stop them from getting up the entry points. We then applied an ECO safe spray to all exterior storage areas, propane tanks, batteries, and other openings.
Still no relief and we can’t seem to figure out what they want. Since we once lived in the lower 48, we had already canned or plastic boxed all food stuffs. Ants are just running around the interior searching for who knows what. People here have suggested they seek water or something sweet. So, we keep looking at the sinks, toilets, shower, Pepsi re-cycle bag, etc., and find few ants there.
Sometimes we come back from outside activities and the ants have taken over the interior scrambling here and there to no discernable purpose or destination. The RV Park sprayed the campsite with a “safe” compound. But still ants are taking over our home and life. We stand at a wall or cabinet and kill, kill, kill ants – 50 in 10-15 minutes. Finally someone who has lived in the area forever, told us to get ant “stakes” and lay them around the rig. Off we went to the grocery stores in the area looking for “stakes.” They are really like ant hotels and can be stuck in the ground or laid flat on counters or in cubby holes. We have placed 10 “stakes” around the rig. Here’s hoping they work!!!!
First,we started with the amazing effective BORAX (or at least it was elsewhere) all around our RV and anything that touched rig, i.e., water hoses, electricity, cable, etc. Ants usually take the Borax back to their nest and everyone in the colony that eats it dies. That did not have the same successful results as before, so we moved to applying Vaseline to all surfaces that feed the rig, i.e., jacks and stabilizers. Vaseline is supposed to stop them from getting up the entry points. We then applied an ECO safe spray to all exterior storage areas, propane tanks, batteries, and other openings.
Still no relief and we can’t seem to figure out what they want. Since we once lived in the lower 48, we had already canned or plastic boxed all food stuffs. Ants are just running around the interior searching for who knows what. People here have suggested they seek water or something sweet. So, we keep looking at the sinks, toilets, shower, Pepsi re-cycle bag, etc., and find few ants there.
Sometimes we come back from outside activities and the ants have taken over the interior scrambling here and there to no discernable purpose or destination. The RV Park sprayed the campsite with a “safe” compound. But still ants are taking over our home and life. We stand at a wall or cabinet and kill, kill, kill ants – 50 in 10-15 minutes. Finally someone who has lived in the area forever, told us to get ant “stakes” and lay them around the rig. Off we went to the grocery stores in the area looking for “stakes.” They are really like ant hotels and can be stuck in the ground or laid flat on counters or in cubby holes. We have placed 10 “stakes” around the rig. Here’s hoping they work!!!!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Day 145 (Santee, CA)
Karma has met the ocean. We took her to an off-leash beach in San Diego. Like always she is very ball focused and really doesn't care who does the throwing. Since I forgot the "chucker" in the truck, the throws were not going far enough for her. So, she kept asking other humans on the beach with "chuckers" to throw her ball.
If the ball went out on a wave, off she went to retrieve it leaping over wave after wave in pursuit of her "prey." Luckily the water is shallow for a long ways out – but it kinda scared me when she showed no fear. She had been very timid at her pervious prior water exposures (a creek); so this bravery was a surprise.
Even though she has "swum" at her physical therapy sessions following her surgery this spring, she wasn't excited about swiming at the creek. Maybe she's only interested in salt water exercises.
If the ball went out on a wave, off she went to retrieve it leaping over wave after wave in pursuit of her "prey." Luckily the water is shallow for a long ways out – but it kinda scared me when she showed no fear. She had been very timid at her pervious prior water exposures (a creek); so this bravery was a surprise.
Even though she has "swum" at her physical therapy sessions following her surgery this spring, she wasn't excited about swiming at the creek. Maybe she's only interested in salt water exercises.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Day 144 (Santee, CA)
Well, the RV repair man only charged us $60 to locate and fix the problem - the internal power switch has inadvertently been pushed in and neither of us thought to check it. Did we feel dumb!!!
The election is over, which brought a huge sigh of relief along with quite a bit of rejoicing. We now have more time on our hands since we’re not so focused on following every bit of news that comes down the pipe. We’ve begun our daily bike rides around the park. We like what we’ve seen of Santee - lots of choices for shopping and for eating within 3 or 4 miles.
We’ve discovered that there’s a couple of off-leash dog parks, each about 7 miles away – one in El Cajon and one in La Mesa. Have we mentioned Karma LOVES off-leash dog parks and so, naturally, we do, too. We’ve been to both of them already.
Our only complaint is the ever present ant or hordes of ant. None of our usual methods have eliminated them; we’ve just slowed them down. Fortunately, they’re fairly harmless though extremely annoying.
The San Diego beaches are 20 – 25 miles away. It’s hotter than usual (again!) and is forecast to be 88 tomorrow. Seems like a day to head for the ocean.
The election is over, which brought a huge sigh of relief along with quite a bit of rejoicing. We now have more time on our hands since we’re not so focused on following every bit of news that comes down the pipe. We’ve begun our daily bike rides around the park. We like what we’ve seen of Santee - lots of choices for shopping and for eating within 3 or 4 miles.
We’ve discovered that there’s a couple of off-leash dog parks, each about 7 miles away – one in El Cajon and one in La Mesa. Have we mentioned Karma LOVES off-leash dog parks and so, naturally, we do, too. We’ve been to both of them already.
Our only complaint is the ever present ant or hordes of ant. None of our usual methods have eliminated them; we’ve just slowed them down. Fortunately, they’re fairly harmless though extremely annoying.
The San Diego beaches are 20 – 25 miles away. It’s hotter than usual (again!) and is forecast to be 88 tomorrow. Seems like a day to head for the ocean.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Day 139 (Santee, CA)
Only 76 miles to go today (this is a great way to travel!). We cut through the countryside for first 20 miles and then its I-15 to San Diego. It’s much hotter than is usual (this has happened to us repeatedly since entering CA in late June) but a few degrees cooler as we pull into Santee Lakes Regional Park. And it is a lovely park – it will be great for bike riding.
Karma thinks we are headed to an off-leash dog park and begins to ‘talk’ like crazy. In spite of being harnessed, she manages to get her front end down into the foot well and somehow takes 3 tennis balls out of the ‘let’s-play-ball’ bag. Poor dog, there is no ‘off-leash’ area here and, so far, we’ve been unable to locate one in a 15 mile radius. Guess we’ll have to venture farther afield.
We do only the absolute essentials of setting camp until it gets a bit cooler. The ceiling vent fans are running rather than the AC. We return from completing the set-up later on and find the fans are off. Closer inspection reveals that we have no 12 volt power at all! By the time we researched the problem a bit, it was too dark out to check whether it’s a battery problem. We did back the truck in close and re-connect to see if that changed anything - it didn’t. But we picked up a fuse puller and tester in town as well. It being a week-end, we don’t want to get ‘professional help’ if we can solve it ourselves.
Karma thinks we are headed to an off-leash dog park and begins to ‘talk’ like crazy. In spite of being harnessed, she manages to get her front end down into the foot well and somehow takes 3 tennis balls out of the ‘let’s-play-ball’ bag. Poor dog, there is no ‘off-leash’ area here and, so far, we’ve been unable to locate one in a 15 mile radius. Guess we’ll have to venture farther afield.
We do only the absolute essentials of setting camp until it gets a bit cooler. The ceiling vent fans are running rather than the AC. We return from completing the set-up later on and find the fans are off. Closer inspection reveals that we have no 12 volt power at all! By the time we researched the problem a bit, it was too dark out to check whether it’s a battery problem. We did back the truck in close and re-connect to see if that changed anything - it didn’t. But we picked up a fuse puller and tester in town as well. It being a week-end, we don’t want to get ‘professional help’ if we can solve it ourselves.
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