Wednesday August 26, 2015 Morgan Hill, CA

We were up having our coffee and computer time when the Ranger at the park gate called and said our package was here.  This was our replacement Visa Card we were expecting.  By the time I got ready to go to the gate house, the ranger called back and said she was starting out on her rounds of the park and would drop off the package at our site.

We waited and waited.  I went out into the space between the Kerslake's and us and cleaned up burned charcoal and ashes that inconsiderate previous campers had dumped near one of the trees and under one of the grills.  I waited some more, and then drove our trash and what I picked up to the garbage dumpsters.  I waited some more and we had lunch.  Gerri made herself a sandwich and I warmed up the last of the pasta left over from Sicilia In Bocca.

I decided not to wait any longer so I headed out for town to hunt some caches and get the Jeep washed.  The last time the Jeep was washed was when we got to Oceanside at the end of June.  It had all the dirt gathered from the sea air at Oceanside for a month and the heavier dirtier air settled in the moisture at Oceano.  I decided to get it washed in spite of the fact this RV park has dirt roads and is very dusty.  Few people really know what 5 mph really is and with diesel pushers there is no dust free speed.

I got the package.  The ranger apologised, saying she just hadn't been able to get away.  I found a car wash in Morgan Hill.  It was moderately busy so there was a wait.  What a difference a wash makes.

Like yesterday, I had a horrible time with caches.  Today I screened the ones out that had at least 2 did not find logs.  I also screened out and didn't hunt caches that had no logs since May or June.  All that cut into the time I had to hunt, Gerri likes me to be home by 5.  I did manage to find two caches. I Didn't find 4 others.

Gerri, red'n up the area before dinner

Back at the RV Park we visited while Alice and Gerri made dinner.  Tonight we had flat iron steak, brussel sprouts, a grilled romaine salad and Ravioli.  The ravioli was beet and goat cheese.  Sounds strange but it was very good with a pesto sauce.

After dinner and some more conversation we went in the coach.  Some TV and reading finished the night at about 10:30.

Monday September 7, 2015 Las Vegas, NV

We were up at 7 AM.  I made the coffee and started to get things outside put away.  Gerri was busy getting the inside of the coach ready to travel.

We didn't start drinking our coffee until we had the Jeep hooked up and on the road.  We left Gold Ranch RV at 8:15.  With about 340 miles to drive our estimated time of arrival in Beatty was 3:00.

Along the way we were passed by a lot of people in vehicles leaving the Burning man event in the Black Rock Desert.  We knew they were Burners because of the heavy coat of talc like dust on the vehicles.

Interesting sights greeted us as we entered Beatty.  We expect to see horses and burros in this area, but not the numbers we saw today.  Some of the horses were in fenced areas or near a structure like corrals or buildings.  One group of 6 or 8 seemed to be moving through, possibly feral animals.  I have no idea if anyone owns any of the burros.  We saw lots of small herds as we approached Beatty from the north.  We have never seen so many burros...seemed like 100's.

We arrived at the Death Valley Inn and RV Park just a little after three and got set up in site B8.  I went to the motel office and registered.  I got codes for the Wi-Fi.  The pass code didn't allow us to connect.  After three calls to the office seeking help we decided to leave and drive on home.  The clerk refused to give us a refund and would not contact anyone higher in management.  I will dispute the charge with my Visa Card provider.  I have had to do this before when a merchant doesn't deliver on the promised services.  I will also put bad reviews of the park on Tripadvisor, Yelp and RV Park Reviews.

We got to the house and parked at 7 PM.  This was the longest day of driving on this trip, 464 miles.

Even with a couple of glitches, by leg pain and the coach in the shop for four days, we had a good trip.  We stayed in 5 different RV parks, two of them new to us.  We got to visit with our sons and their families along with other relatives in southern California.  We stayed at a completely new place for us at Pismo Beach, CA.  It was beautiful and was time for us alone to do what we pleased.  We visited with friends from Arizona in central California.  In Reno we visited our daughter and met the newest addition to the family, great grand daughter, Kaedline.  We drove about 1300 miles in 72 days.  I found 128  geocaches and hunted for 40 other that I didn't find.

Gerri warmed up the leftovers from our meal at Louies' Corner Basque Restaurant.  John and Montyne are at the house until Thursday.  We visited with them until after 10.

Our next planned trip, God permitting, is a flight to New York City for a 3 day day stay followed by a ten day cruise to Quebec.

Sunday September 6, 2015 Verdi, NV

Today was our last full day in Reno.  We were up and started our coffee before tuning into Bible study from Oakey Boulevard at 9.  We are still studying the final days of Christ's ministry.  Today's topic was the trials by the Jews.  We stayed tuned to the net cast of the worship services at 10 AM.  Randy's lesson was based on the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus.

Me, Kathleen, Gerri and Glenn

In the afternoon we went to a Walgreen Drug Store for a birthday card and other small items.  From there we went to an early dinner with Kathleen and Glenn.  We went to a Miguel's Mexican Restaurant in downtown Reno.  www.miguelsmexicanrestaurantreno.com/.  Three of us had the #1 combination.  A beef taco, a cheese and onion enchilada , and a chili relleno served with rice and beans.  Kathleen had a burrito.  Gerri was glad they served ground beef tacos.  The food was good but with the exception of Kathleen we had no leftovers.

Since 1959

We said our goodbyes at the restaurant.




















On the way back to the coach we drove under the world famous Reno Arch.











Back at the coach we had to turn on the air conditioning to cool off the interior.  We hadn't left windows open.  Heater in the morning and a/c in the afternoon.

We tuned into the evening worship service from Oakey Boulevard.  The lesson this evening was about addiction and evil habits before God.

I made reservations at a RV park in Beatty.  The drive is about 340 miles and will be the longest day of this trip.  The last couple of times we have visited Reno we have stopped in Hawthorne.  Other times we have stopped in Tonopah, but the last few years the RV parks in Tonopah have been busy with workers on jobs at the test site.

We watched some TV before a early bedtime.

Saturday September 5, 2015 Verdi, NV

It was cold out during the night, 35.  We had left the space heater on a low setting in the center of the coach.  The inside temperature was warmer than yesterday.  We had our coffee and caught up on e-mail and Facebook.

The only plans for the day were to meet Kathleen and Glenn at Louis' Corner Basque Corner at 6 PM. Knowing that there were still unfound caches in Verdi, I went to see if I could find a few.I guess 2 is a few.  I looked for 3 others without success  I sure have left a lot of caches unfound on this trip.  Only a couple have been found by other cachers since I looked.  As far as I know only one cache owner has checked on a cache after I logged the DNF.  My cache count is now at 5013 found.  I Had hoped to have many more but you may recall that the pain in my leg slowed me down.  As the pain lessened and could walk short distances, I set a goal of reaching 5000.  We still plan to stop in Beatty on the way back to Las Vegas and I should be able to find a few more.  I haven't cached in the Beatty area for over 10 years so there are a lot of newer caches there.

Glenn and Kathleen

We went into Reno and arrived at Louis' Basque Corner just a few minutes before Kathleen and Glenn.  http://louisbasquecorner.com/ We were greeted immediately and seated at a table with 3 others.  The meals here are served family style.  The salad, fries and pinto beans are included in every meal and passed around the table with refills for the asking.  Entrees are served individually. Louis' serves a variety of entrees, other Basque restaurants we have been to serve one entree which changes day to day.  As entrees we had: shrimp in a white sauce for Gerri and Kathleen; grilled pork tenderloin topped with sauteed red peppers, mushrooms and onions for me; and grilled lamb chops for Glenn.  We also had an order of Sweetbreads that we shared.  The dessert offering at Louis' is vanilla ice cream with or without chocolate syrup.  We all had left overs.  The meals here have always been delicious and satisfying, they keep us coming back.

We got back to Gold Ranch at about 9:45 after the great meal and visiting.  Some computer time, TV and reading brought us to bedtime.

Friday September 4, 2014 Verdi, NV

The temperature outside dropped into the mid 40s during the night, with wind gusts.  I turned on the heat pump during the morning to knock off the chill.  We had our coffee and watched parts of the Today Show and news.

Today is an anniversary of sorts. I started blogging our adventures on this day in 2004.  Since then I have posted 1020 blogs.  They are not always exciting but chronical our everyday life on the road, the mundane to the exciting.  I'm sure mostly mundane.  I have been only blogging the time when we have been on the road, so to speak.  I have also blogged trips by air and cruises.  The only trips we have taken that I didn't blog was one long weekend by car and one trip to Texas by car.

Today is the day that Kathleen and Gerri had nail appointments, including pedicures.  I dropped Gerri off at Kathleens.  While they were at the nail shop I drove around the downtown Reno area and found 9 caches.  I missed 3 others.  A couple that I found were hidden in a way I hadn't seen before.

1. Gerri, 2. Kathleen, 3. Maddy, 4. Kaedline

Gerri called me and I joined them at the house. Glenn went and picked up Maddy and Kaedline while Kathleen cooked dinner.  We had spaghetti with sausage for dinner with garlic bread and salad.

I know, she is prettier than me

The baby was quiet most of the time but at one point showed us she had good strong lungs. After dinner we took pictures in the backyard of the four generations of ladies.










We visited more after Glenn took Maddy and the baby home.  We got back to the RV park at about 9.  The wind was still with us and it promised to be a cool night.  Our usual routine took us to bedtime at about 11.

Thursday September 3, 2015 Verdi, NV

Another windy night and a lot of strong gusts during the morning.  We had our coffee, caught up on computer stuff and watched some TV.

In the afternoon I went to Verdi and hunted some caches that for some reason hadn't shown up on my original query.  I drove up an old road that had been the original route of US-40.  Between in town and on the old road into the hills I found 5 and DNFed 2. The road led from Verdi into California.  One cache I didn't find was next to a marker that marked the still valid section of the Von Schmidt survey of the California/Nevada border.  Years ago I did a cache at a Von Schmidt marker near Laughlin.  That part of the border was re surveyed and that part of the Von Schmidt line was ruled as invalid by the courts.

Looking back toward Verdi from the old Lincoln Highway

Gerri had asked me to be back  by 4, so I would have time to clean up before meeting Kathleen and Glenn at the Sasquatch Grill in Verdi.  We met them at 6:30.  We were surprised to see Shannon with them  This will be the last time we will see her this trip.  She goes to her father's house after school tomorrow.  Gerri and I had their famous hamburgers, Glenn and Shannon had fish and chips, Kathleen had fish tacos.  All were very good.  Best of all we had left overs.

Gerri, Shannon and me

We said goodbye at the restaurant after making plans for Gerri and Kathleen to meet and go for pedicures.  We also made tentative plans to take Maddy to dinner on Saturday evening.  We gotta see the baby again.

Back at the coach we watched TV, had some time on the computers and read until bed time.

Wednesday September 2, 2015 Verdi, NV

A very windy night.  But only a breeze this morning.  We had our coffee while catching up with computer stuff and watching the world pass by outside.

Actually not much traffic goes by.  Our neighbors on both side seem to be here longer term than us, with plants outside and other equipment around their units.  They also seem to go away in their tow vehicles.  They must have J-O-B-S.  When we changed our plans and made reservations a week earlier than our original plans, the park agent made it sound like they were really busy.  We were assigned space #14.  Like I said before it is barely long enough for our coach and Jeep.  It is also on the perimeter of the park.  We normally have a larger space more out in the middle of the park.  Since we have been here a lot of the pull through sites have been empty, about 20 or so,  Being in a back in on the perimeter has actually been pretty nice.  We only have to back in once.  I am going to try to remember to ask for one of the pull in sites on the north west edge of the park.  They face a meadow and with foothills and then mountains beyond.

In the afternoon I went caching. Our plan was to have dinner at the coach and then meet Kathleen for a visit.  I found five caches and didn't find 2 others.  Gerri called and I started home.  On the way she called again.  Now Kathleen and Glenn were en route to the RV park for our visiting.  They arrived at about 6pm.   We had cheese and cracker snacks while visiting.  We visited until 7:30 to go pick up Shannon.

For dinner we had the pasta left overs from our last meal at Sicilia In Bocca.  The meal was excellent, supplemented by bread and an olive oil, lemon, garlic dip from the same restaurant.

Treasure Falls near South Fork, CO

Some time ago Facebook started sending reminders of what we have been doing in previous years on the same dates.  Three years ago we were in South Fork, Colorado.  This picture is from a cache I found 3 years ago.

Sunset with Altocumulus Lenticularis clouds

We had a beautiful sunset this evening.  Our evening was finished by our usual activities, computer, TV and reading.

Tuesday September 1, 2015 Verdi, NV

After a busy day driving and then a full evening with our Reno Family we were ready for a day of rest.  Of course we started our day with coffee during catching up with e-mail, Facebook and other computer activities.  I did get out to the office to settle our bill.  The office was closed when we arrived yesterday.

After paying for the RV site I went to the Lotto store parking lot and looked for a cache that I hadn't been able to find last year.  I didn't find it today either.  I sent the owner a request for more information.  The rest of the morning was spent with computer and TV.

In the early evening we drove to Kathleen and Glenn's for dinner.  Their home is a in an older area closer to downtown.  It is 3-4 miles further than where Kathleen used to live.  The house is old but very nice with a separate garage and large backyard.  Glenn grilled a chicken on the rotisserie and grilled corn, squash and baked potatoes at the same time.  Gerri made a green salad and brought it over to add to the dinner.  It made a very good meal.  Shannon ate with us but the other girls couldn't make it.  Milana was supposed to go home today, but she had trouble with her car and returned to Reno for repairs.  She will make the drive home on Wednesday.

We visited until 9:00 or so and then returned to the RV park.  Wind had been forecast and had arrived earlier in the evening. We finished off the evening with TV, computer and reading.  The wind was gusting and we could hear noise from the window and slide awnings.

We have no plans for tomorrow, maybe another day of rest.

Monday August 31, 2015 Verdi, NV

We were up at 7 and I started the coffee.  We started drinking the coffee while we got the coach ready to travel.  We said our goodbyes to the Kerslake's and were on the road by 8:40.  We will see them again in April in Lake Havasu City, AZ.

We went north on 101.  I had looked at the map and thought it was only 189 miles to Verdi.  The fuel computer read a little over 400 miles to empty.  As we went north I knew there were turns onto other highways.  When I checked those turns I noticed that we still had 240 miles to Verdi.  Even though the computer said I had enough fuel I don't trust it.  The trust was reduced by knowing that we had at least 3 steep grades to climb.  Along 101 and the Interstate connectors fuel stops were rare.  We finally spotted a truck stop in Tracy.  Better safe than sorry.  It only took 70 gallons to fill the tank, so I would have made it to Verdi easily.

Anyone hungry?  Wait, we aren't stranded.

In all the distance from Morgan Hill to Verdi there were only 2 rest areas.  I passed the first one.  At the rest area at Donner Pass, I looked for a cache.  From the description I was at the right spot.  I didn't find the cache.  Most cachers don't talk about their failure rate. My failure rate on this trip has been 24%.

We arrived at the Gold Ranch RV park at about 3 PM.  We fueled up before checking in, taking the chance that fuel prices may drop after Labor Day and cost less.  When I got to the office it was closed. There was a sign that told me that we were assigned to space 14.  We found the site, a back in site that barely accommodated the coach and the car.  We got set up.  I was surprised how warm it was outside.  Gerri told me that Grandaughters Milana and Maddy were on the way over with  Kaedline, our new great granddaughter.  We waited and Kathleen, Shannon and Glenn, Kathleen's boyfriend arrived. We visited inside the coach.  Milana and Maddy hadn't arrived and we decided to meet them at a pizza place downtown.  Kathleen gave them the directions.

Shannon, Milana and Baby K

 We got to the Pub N Subs before them.  While we were waiting for our food the girls arrived with the baby. I got to hold her first.  For less than three months old she is very strong, already able to hold her head up. We pretty much just made over the baby until the food arrived.  The pizza was very good. After we ate Gerri got to feed Kaedline. After eating we headed back to the Gold Ranch RV Park.  Glenn and Kathleen live near the pizza place.  This was the only time we will get to visit with Milana this trip, she heads back to Washington tomorrow.

Proud mom Maddy

Back at the coach we spent a little time catching up on e-mail and Facebook.  We were in bed by 10.