Whoever said that So Cal was paradise was smoking crack! I drove in bumper to bumper traffic to and from my parents house while Peg babysat Calcite with the runs from eating too much cat food! We are still trying to separate feline and canine. We head out in the morning to San Luis Obispo! More fun adventures to come.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Beautiful Day at the Beach
Here is the space we backed into in Newport!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Trials and Tribulations
Well today was filled with trials and tribulations. We prepared to leave Sedona bright and early so not to arrive in Newport Beach, CA too late in the day. Traffic in Cali is the worst! The day started with April having a heck of time backing the BAT up to Suni. Not sure what the problem was... maybe she just needed more sleep! When we stopped to get gas in Salome Arizona we planned to switch drivers which got us both out of the truck at the same time. Zoe was so excited she jumped up on the door and locked us out with her and Calcite in. It was 111 degrees out and we had no way to get into the truck. We have a secret code, but neither of us know it and both sets of keys and cell phones are in the truck with the hot dogs. A tries to coax Zoe back onto the door hoping she will unlock and Peg runs around asking everyone in sight if they have a way to break in. A nice woman offers a hanger and another guy comes over so we borrow his phone to call AAA. While A is on hold with them, Peg gets Zoe to unlock the doors! We jump in and start the A/C with a deep exhale. We both know the secret code now.
We then start to pull out of the gas station and all of a sudden the trailer brakes lock up. We get out to try to figure out what the problem is and we discover that the safety brake cord has gotten caught on the bottom of the hitch and when the turn was made it pulled the cord out. We put it back in and were able to get back on the road. Whew already a very long day.
When we finally get to the Newport Dunes we have to back into a space that is barely big enough for Suni with a building on the other side of the road. There are several people sitting around watching as we try to manipulate it into the space with enough room on both sides to pull out the slides. We are getting too much help from the peanut gallery, but we were able to get it done. We are now settled in and destressed, but it took a while. A will be spending the next few days with her parents while Peg lies on the beach so there won't be any news until we head up the cost on Thursday.
I am trying to send everyone the blog via a google circle so that you can comment. I hope it works.
XO
We then start to pull out of the gas station and all of a sudden the trailer brakes lock up. We get out to try to figure out what the problem is and we discover that the safety brake cord has gotten caught on the bottom of the hitch and when the turn was made it pulled the cord out. We put it back in and were able to get back on the road. Whew already a very long day.
When we finally get to the Newport Dunes we have to back into a space that is barely big enough for Suni with a building on the other side of the road. There are several people sitting around watching as we try to manipulate it into the space with enough room on both sides to pull out the slides. We are getting too much help from the peanut gallery, but we were able to get it done. We are now settled in and destressed, but it took a while. A will be spending the next few days with her parents while Peg lies on the beach so there won't be any news until we head up the cost on Thursday.
I am trying to send everyone the blog via a google circle so that you can comment. I hope it works.
XO
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Accomplishments Abound
Saturday we drove from Gallup New Mexico to Sedona Arizona and it is absolutely gorgeous. It was an easy drive until we needed fuel in Flagstaff; it took three off-ramps and a u-turn to finally find a gas station for 18 wheelers which is who we run with. :) Peg was driving and it all went well, I think she redeemed herself after the wall scraping and Suni ditching incidents. From there we took a beautiful 30 mile drive down to Sedona on a road that stated no trucks over 50 feet. We were under the misguided impression that we were less than 50 feet. It was a very steep and windy road and we used every bell and whistle the BAT has to offer to make the drive. We arrived at Rancho Sedona RV park which is on Oak Creek and filled with trees and has a beautiful view. Our spot has its very own private yard and we could stay here a very long time. We finally got around to measuring our new home and we are 57 feet long, 12 feet high and 8 feet wide with the slide-outs pulled in. We won't be taking that same road out of here. April had to back into our slip for the first time after driving down that crazy road! With Peg's perfect guidance we backed Suni in like old pro's.
This is the view from our campsite.
Exhausted poochers! You should see their mamas!
Sunday we took the dogs and went on the West Fork hike which is a famous hike in these parts and it was spectacular. Tall red rock walls surrounding the creek which we crossed 13 times. It was 7 miles and took us 3 1/2 hours and we are exhausted. Calcite led the way and Zoe was quite the trooper. Miciou escaped from Suni for the first time today, but came back wanting in. We thought we were leaving our first butthole behind in Arizona. Karen Frey would be proud. Tomorrow we head to California!
On our hike, just beautiful
Sunday we took the dogs and went on the West Fork hike which is a famous hike in these parts and it was spectacular. Tall red rock walls surrounding the creek which we crossed 13 times. It was 7 miles and took us 3 1/2 hours and we are exhausted. Calcite led the way and Zoe was quite the trooper. Miciou escaped from Suni for the first time today, but came back wanting in. We thought we were leaving our first butthole behind in Arizona. Karen Frey would be proud. Tomorrow we head to California!
Friday, August 24, 2012
We were Chaco'd
Today we decided to take the dogs and drive "100 miles" to an place called Chaco National Historical Park. We headed off and followed the signs until we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere. After reviewing the maps at hand we turned onto a San Juan County "road" to try to cut across to the area where the entrance to the park was supposed to be. We followed this beautiful dirt path for about an hour when it started raining so we pulled out the manual to figure out how to use our four-wheel drive in anticipation of the mud to come which thankfully never materialized. We finally had the bright idea to use our GPS we call Nadine and she had us turning left and right on unnamed roads through the New Mexico flatlands. We finally happen upon a sign showing the way to Chaco Canyon and we think we are finally home free... the road then takes a turn and we are faced with a river to cross! Thankfully we now know how to use the four-wheel drive and we roll across nicely.
After almost four hours we enter Chaco National Historical Park and believe it or not it was worth it! A whole Indian civilization lived in this canyon and there are tons buildings and Kiva's. We then take a hike to a ruin site which was supposed to be 1.5 miles in with Pteroglyphs. This hike took us an hour with Calcite pulling us along so there is no way it was only 1.5 miles. The promised Pteroglyphs were never found. I guess a thousand years of mother nature can erase a lot. Peg had suggested making sandwiches for the road, but I didn't think we would be gone for six hours... next time we are definitely bringing sandwiches!
We then decide to use Nadine to get us home and she has us going on more dirt roads and saying the trip is going to take 3 hours. We decide to try our hand with the map and stay on paved roads..... it still took us three hours, but at least we were moving 70 to 90 miles per hour - we do love our BAT. We arrive back at Suni tired and ready to cook up a quick meal, only to find our propane has run out. Thankfully we have two tanks. It is now time for a cocktail and a good night's sleep as we head out to Sedona tomorrow.
Love to all.
After almost four hours we enter Chaco National Historical Park and believe it or not it was worth it! A whole Indian civilization lived in this canyon and there are tons buildings and Kiva's. We then take a hike to a ruin site which was supposed to be 1.5 miles in with Pteroglyphs. This hike took us an hour with Calcite pulling us along so there is no way it was only 1.5 miles. The promised Pteroglyphs were never found. I guess a thousand years of mother nature can erase a lot. Peg had suggested making sandwiches for the road, but I didn't think we would be gone for six hours... next time we are definitely bringing sandwiches!
We then decide to use Nadine to get us home and she has us going on more dirt roads and saying the trip is going to take 3 hours. We decide to try our hand with the map and stay on paved roads..... it still took us three hours, but at least we were moving 70 to 90 miles per hour - we do love our BAT. We arrive back at Suni tired and ready to cook up a quick meal, only to find our propane has run out. Thankfully we have two tanks. It is now time for a cocktail and a good night's sleep as we head out to Sedona tomorrow.
Love to all.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Off Like a Herd of Turtles
The Peg and April adventure is off to a rip roaring start. We successfully left the La Hacienda RV park in Austin on Tuesday morning exhausted after Monday's pack and move. Every item we owned had to be evaluated for necessity in Suni; storage for future shipment to Panama or the ever popular Goodwill. Thanks to Frank our new RV BFF we made it safely to Vernon, Tx where we successfully unhitched, and set up camp. All of the contents made it safely with the exception of our alcohol cupboard which was not strong enough to contain our bar. We now have it bungee corded in and will be getting a rod to secure the outside.
Our second day was a long drive to get the rest of the way through Texas and across New Mexico to Gallop. We each drove 5 hour shifts and had to get gas three times and eat twice. These are the challenges of driving a 50' long vehicle that is as tall as most semi trucks. The cats are loving their new home and have no problem sleeping on the moving bed - Peg is no longer wanting to dump them in California. The dogs are thrilled to be riding in the car with us and have adapted to their new sofa. It is beautiful here in New Mexico and we have enjoyed our first rainy day.
If you ever want to restore your faith in humanity, just take an RV trip.... In just three days we have had Frank help us set up, create an arrival and departure checklist and teach us pointers we didn't even know we needed; we had two guys here in Gallop help us unhitch when we thought we just weren't strong enough; and we had Ron the RV maintenance guy work on our broken exterior lights and BBQ for an hour and wouldn't take any money.
Love to everyone and thanks for all of the good wishes.
Peg and April
Our second day was a long drive to get the rest of the way through Texas and across New Mexico to Gallop. We each drove 5 hour shifts and had to get gas three times and eat twice. These are the challenges of driving a 50' long vehicle that is as tall as most semi trucks. The cats are loving their new home and have no problem sleeping on the moving bed - Peg is no longer wanting to dump them in California. The dogs are thrilled to be riding in the car with us and have adapted to their new sofa. It is beautiful here in New Mexico and we have enjoyed our first rainy day.
If you ever want to restore your faith in humanity, just take an RV trip.... In just three days we have had Frank help us set up, create an arrival and departure checklist and teach us pointers we didn't even know we needed; we had two guys here in Gallop help us unhitch when we thought we just weren't strong enough; and we had Ron the RV maintenance guy work on our broken exterior lights and BBQ for an hour and wouldn't take any money.
Love to everyone and thanks for all of the good wishes.
Peg and April
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