Gone From AZ / Here In CA

This is the last look of the street where I have spent the last 5 and a half months.

                    

Of course, the last good byes.  This is Pam one of my immediate supervisors.  Friday was my last day working.  I got in the last 3 hours and turned in my work shirt, badges and Post Office Box key.  Then it was off to Heidi’s where Ted was.  We all visited a while and went out for dinner. 

Here’s my granddaughter, Ailis taking a “self-ie” to include us all.   That’s Ted behind her, then Chris and Heidi, her dad and mom and then me.  It was near 10 pm before we got back to “My Spot II”.

We were up before daylight getting things done to get an early start on Sunday.  Most  everything was already done.  Then we headed back to Heidi’s to start prepping for the BBQ that afternoon. We stopped at Costco for steaks and ……… .

We had about 13  people there and then 2 more later.  It was a nice evening, great food, great conversations and great company.  Of course there were more good byes.  Again home around 10 pm and up before dawn.  We packed up the remaining necessities, leveling blocks, sewer hose, water hose and last of the outside decor.  We were out of the park by before 7 am.   We had yet to go to go to  U-Haul get the auto transport for the Subaru.  While we waited for them to opened at 9 am, went for breakfast at the Wildflower Bread Co. and then we emptied the fresh water tank by half to reduce the weight.   After getting the Subaru loaded and hitched, we were finally on the road by 9:50 am.  We took  I 202 to I 10 and crossed into CA just before 1 pm.

 

As many of you that have traveled  I 10 know that it is a very boring drive, but at least the  desert was a bit green, however by the time we got to the CA desert, not so much.  We got to Indio by 2:45 pm where we got gas and an early dinner.  Ted wasn’t tired so we continued on through Pasadena on I 210 and then north on  I 5 up and over the Grapevine.  The MH handled well, not too much traffic and no engine overheating.  The brakes were fine, although that wasn’t the case for an 18 wheeler that had to hit the emergency sand ramp.  Around 10 pm we stopped at a truck stop to top off the gas tank and call it a night.  We slept for about 7 hours and then continued north by 5:15 am.  However this trip was not without mishap.  A passing truck signaled to Ted that a tire on the trailer had blown.  Ted didn’t even feel it.  We pulled off at the next exit and stopped on the on ramp out of the way of traffic.  Fortunately we got the insurance and U-Haul sent someone out to replace the tire and rim.

Here’s where we waited. Miss Angel took it all in stride.

As did Ted.  While waiting, I took advantage of playing with the zoom on my digital Cannon Rebel T3 camera.  

 

I thought the undulating greenery was interesting. 

We were back on our way by 8:30 am. 

We took the Gilroy exit, (CA 152).  Some of the drive was nice, but some was pretty scary.  Then it was CA 101 to CA87 into San Jose.

   

We finally dropped of the trailer at U-Haul in San Jose and left the MH there while we went to Denny’s for a late breakfast.  Then it was off to find our way to Joseph D Grant County Park.  On Sunday I got a call from Theresa, one of the Park Rangers.  They needed a Park Host and I needed a spot.  So she said to come on up and we could start the process to be a volunteer. 

This is my new location looking at my street left to right,from the showers and bathrooms to me and to additional campsites.  Ted got me all hooked up and level and then I took him back down the hill into San Jose to catch the train into San Francisco and home.

Since this is so long I will continue in another post.  I don’t have internet so I will post this as soon as I can. 

Thanks for visiting 

  This is where I guard from, my own deck.  Cool !!!            

Susan and Angel

Less Than A Week To Go

Here it is less than a week before I pull out of  the Good Life RV Resort.  I have most of the things put away except for the last minute stuff.  I’ve got the laundry in process filling up the grey water.  I’ll be dumping the tanks in a couple of days.  I hope that i don’t forget to get ice to dump in the toilet to slosh around in the black water holding tank to aid in cleaning it.

One thing that I didn’t want to forget was to see fellow bloggers, Jim and Sandie before I left.  They live in a park during the winter not too far away from where I am now.  So last Sunday we met at Garcia’s in Mesa for lunch.  Thank you so much for my lunch.  I certainly didn’t expect it.  I hope that we will see one another down the road.

That’s Jim, Sandie and me.

This is my last week working, still picking up as many hours as I can.  Fortunately I won’t have to pay for any that I’m short.

My son, Ted will be arriving on Friday, my last day at work.  Saturday we will get the final stuff done.  Sunday we will pick up the auto transport, fill up with gas and propane and get started on our way west.  We will be in the bay area sometime Monday.

I’m still working on where I will be spending the summer.  I sure hope that I will know before I leave.

I hope that you all are having a great week.

Thanks for visiting

Susan and Angel

Less Than Two Weeks To Go

It won’t be long now.  My commitment lasts until April 1st, but I will be here until April 6th, at which time I will be heading to somewhere in the San Francisco Bay area.  I still don’t have a definite destination, but I’ve still got a couple of things in the works.

Since my last post, I had Katie visit for a whole week.  She was on Spring Break.  She helped me go through things to prepare the rig for my departure.  It was also a lot easier taking down a 10 x 10 canopy with two people.  She also went with me one day to physical therapy and took several pictures of Lee (my PT) working on my arm.

 

More activities took place while working.  This the set-up for the Saint Patrick’s Day dinner.  I’ve been quite busy at work making up hours.  I don’t think  that I will be able to make them all up, but if I don’t, it will be alright.  I can only work as much as they schedule me to work.

                             

Last weekend I met Mellissa and the grand-kids at the Scottish Highland Games in Phoenix on Saturday.  There was a lot to see and do, the Clan Tents, British Cars, the Bagpipe Competitions as well as the Athletic Competitions.  There was a lot more too.  That’s Elyzabeth and Katie in front of the Double Decker Bus.

The home pipe band opening the Games              Here they are tossing the Caber.

Then on Sunday, I met with Margaret and Donna one more time before I leave.  We went to the Superstition Mountain Mining Museum.  There was a pleasant surprise of a craft festival, always fun to a bit of “shopping”.

Above is the road with the Superstition Mountain in the distance,  a “selfy”, of me on the left, Margaret in the middle and Donna on the right.  We finally got together after 56 years. It’s been a long time since grammar school.  The church is the one that was in “Charro” with Elvis Presley.

From there we went to Goldfield for lunch in the Saloon.  We sat outside on the porch with a great view of the mountain.  After lunch there was a Gunfight.  There were a lot of “dead” men laying in the dusty street when it was all over.

You can even have someone “hanged’.

 

This is the view from the porch.  One of these days I may do a painting of it.

That brings us to this week.  On Monday I met with my two doctors for the last time.  I will have to get new ones when I get to where I’m going.  It’s the same with finding a PT, although I still have more visits here for therapy before I leave. 

Dr. Tani says that the bone has healed, but it may   take up to a year to get back to normal strength and movement.  I’m still dealing with the nerve sensations in my left hand.  Hopefully that too will eventually heal.

I have one more week at work.  Friday, the 4th of April will be my last day.  My son, Ted will be arriving that morning from San Francisco.  On Saturday while he is here we will get together with the rest of the family that are here in AZ for a BBQ at Heidi’s and Chris’s (daughter and SIL).  They have their first new house out in San Tan Valley. 

Then on Sunday morning we will pick up an auto transport to tow the Subaru.  I am so glad that Ted will be helping me drive to California.

In the meantime I hope that you all are having a great week.

Thanks for visiting

How do you like my hat?

Susan and Angel

More Activities and Countdown Begins

When coming home one day one of my neighbor had a “FREE” sign on the elephant and cherub.  I called my daughter to see if she would like them, so now they have a new home. Every now and again people put things out near the curb like that.  Next Saturday there will be another Patio Sale park wide.  I may get some things put out as I am getting ready to move again.  My commitment will be finished on April 1st.

                            

One my duties included working the Good Life Variety Show.  Between the two nights there were 26 acts.  The next 4 pictures are some of the acts.  There a lot of talented people in this park.

These are the fiddlers.  Here the “friends” showed up on their cycles (scooters) to visit the  “Doo Opps” and left when they, the “Doo Opps” started singing about marriage.

 

On the left is “Good Life Security Force” who did military type routine using lawn chairs in stead of rifles.  On the right is the “Golden Girls”.

After the performances our “work” was to serve coffee and cookies.  They all like the free food.

My granddaughters are taking turns staying with me.

                            

Last weekend it was Elyzabeth’s turn to spend time with “Nonnie” before I move on’'.  Katelin  was here the weekend before.

Last Tuesday was Mardi Gras and the park had a parade.  It was fun seeing the residents having fun.  They tossed beads too.

This was the beginning of the parade.  The “Pioneers” sign on the back of the car was one that I made.    The next picture is the winner in the individual category.  That’s a very patient pup.  It sat there and never tried to get out.

           This lady is in her 90’s.                           I have no idea who these ladies are.

A repeat performance of the “Good Life Security Force”. I got a video of them, but I don’t know how to download it to LW.   There were several more of the bicycling clowns.  These are just a few of the entrants. Just as a reminder, you can click on a picture to enlarge it.

The rest of the week was spent working in the office and doing physical therapy.  Friday night, Mellissa dropped off Katelin for the week.  Saturday morning we made some chocolate muffins with Nutella in them, “yummy” for my next-door neighbor who was leaving for their next “gig” in Las Vegas.  Then we went over to my niece’s to visit my brother and SIL.  They are leaving this morning for  Alaska. My nephew and his wife were there too.  We spent the rest of the day there and for dinner we enjoyed the best steaks that I have had in a long time.

This coming week Katie will be helping me get ready for my departure in April.  She’s on Spring Break.

I hope that you all are enjoying your weather, as I am.  Spring is right around the corner

Thanks for visiting

Here’s Angel sporting her Mardi Gras “Bling”.

Susan and Angel