I have a lot of catching up to do, so I'm going to put several days worth in this post.
9/20/2008 Las Vegas To Apple Valley
Argh, me maties, today we be head'n to Apple Valley where Carmen's brother lives (sorry missed yesterday's "Talk like a Pirate day" and couldn't help myself).
Our trip takes us through the Mojave desert. This place is not so flat as much as a very shallow bowl with the sides going up towards the mountains. We have passed several sand dune areas and you can see several dust devils in the distance. Although it is dry and sparsely vegetated, it is really very nice. The lines of the mountains in the background and foreground are very sharp with water channels running down the mountains. The contrasts are vivid. Several of the mountains look to be sand stone from ancient hardened sand dunes with light tan and red and creams.
The winds are strong today and of course there are many mountain passes with valleys in between. So we go uphill for several miles, then come downhill. The uphills are so long that by the time we get to the top, the motor home is only doing about 45 mph and cranking about 4000rpms. Compared to this Maine is flat land!
We did not make any stops today except for the State agriculture inspection station. They asked where we came from, I said Las Vegas. That wasn't the answer he wanted so asked where we originally started and I said Maine. Well he says "Ah, gypsy moth! You know gypsy moth?" Yes I do, I said.
He then has me pull up to inspect the motor home. He has rolled all around under the motor home looking for gypsy moth infestation. Then finally states the we are clear. Then in the classic Colombo style, starts to leave then turns back and asks "Do you have firewood?" Yes I do, I said.
Where did you get it? He asked. From the basement of my house. I said.
In Maine? He asks again. Yes, I said. I need to inspect it, he says.
So I get out and open the cabinet that the wood is in and he inspects the firewood. Everything is good and clean. He finally gives me a carbon copy of a form he filled out to indicate that he inspected for gypsy moth and that the motor home is clean and clear of gypsy moth and that presenting the inspection copy to the next inspection station should eliminate the same gypsy moth inspection. Good Grief, Charlie Brown!
During this inspection, several of the other inspectors ask what he was looking for, and what he was doing. Either they thought it was frivolous or had no clue. In either case, we have a clean bill of health.
We continued our way still in passing through the Mojave desert. We pass a couple of piles of rock, one on each side of the highway that look like huge piles of petrified dinosaur droppings. Perverted thinking I know but that is what they looked like to me.
We arrived save and sound at Carmen's brother's house.
9/21/2008 Apple Valley, CA
Today we did some shopping and went to the glass place that will install the windshield in the motor home. The gentleman was very nice and provided us with information on the installation. They should receive the new windshield between Wednesday and Friday and will install it as soon as they get it in.
The rest of the day we do not do very much. Played some dominoes and not much else. Just resting. We have a set that goes to 15 and by the time we finished, the high score was over 1000. Shirley, This game took over 4 hours. One of the rounds no one could finish and all we did was to collect dominoes. Just about everyone had over 100 for a count on that round. Carmen won, of course and I will not say who had over 1000. One of the rounds I could not start until I had a full tray and more of tiles. Everyone was down to about 3 tiles before I could start to play. That round was not fun at all. Oh well, that is how the tile lays I guess.
9/22/2008 Laughlin, NV
Today we head to Laughlin. We have never been there and got room comps for $18.00. So we are heading there with Carmen's brother and sister-in-law. (Names are not given to protect the inisent.)
The trip to Laughlin is very much like the trip here from Vegas since we travel much of the same road. I get a chance to see the countryside without driving this time and it really is nice to look at. The mountains change with each new angle and the contrasts are very dramatic.
The portion of the road that is new has one section where the ground is black from what looks like volcanic rock. I do not ever remember an active volcano in this area so this must have been thousands of years old. Also, we pass a mirror power station where the mirrors are pointed to a central tower to generate electricity. Beside the mirror station, there is a hugh solar panel farm. Each side must have been at least a half mile wide. The output from this farm must be enormous.
We arrive in Laughlin, which is on the Colorado river. There is a tour (6 hours round trip) on a jet boat that goes all the way to Lake Havasu and the London Bridge. The trip takes about two hours, you stay around the bridge for a couple of hours and then come back. Unfortunately we do not have the time to take the trip, this time. But next time we are here I think it will definitly be a thing to do.
We of course gamble a little, loose a little - of course, and head to the room around midnight.
9/23/2008 Leaving Laughlin
We are heading back today, actually early afternoon. It is a three hour trip back. We of course back track to the house and both Carmen and I again appreciate the country side and gratefull neither is driving. It is difficult to enjoy the scenery when you are concentrating on driving. (The winds across the desert are very strong.)
Not much else has happened today, gambled some, get caught up with the family and talk quite a bit. We are glad that we have made the decision to visit Carmen's brother for a time before the wedding.
9/24/2008 Apple Valley
Carmen's brother and sister-in-law had plans to go to a senior citizens expo in San Bernadino and they called to get our names on the list. We were going to stay at the house to get ready to leave for Stockton, CA, but after arrangements were made for us to also attend we are going to go. Argh, Just 26 days after retirement and I'm attending senior citizens expos. What next shuffle board?
It wasn't so bad, they had a number of vendors at the expo that provided information. Some had giveaways that we can actually use. You know, paper, pens, flashlights, pill boxes (there I go again), and other stuff like that. We would have to wait a half hour for the lunch that is provided so instead of attending the lunch we head for Morongo, an Indian casino in California not to far away.
We have lunch at the buffet in Morongo and it was very good. Carmen and I were both surprised. While we are there, there is a film crew that is filming a segment of the new Night Rider show that will air in about 8 weeks. Can't wait to see how that comes out. After talking with one of the crew, we find out that the "Night Rider" show premiers tonight.
Anyway we head back to Apple Valley after a couple of hours. Carmen and I play some slots, but of course someone has to pay for the staff and buildings so we leave our donations. Ha, Ha.
Back at the house and get our stuff ready to leave tomorrow for Stockton and the wedding.
Argh, me maties, today we be head'n to Apple Valley where Carmen's brother lives (sorry missed yesterday's "Talk like a Pirate day" and couldn't help myself).
Our trip takes us through the Mojave desert. This place is not so flat as much as a very shallow bowl with the sides going up towards the mountains. We have passed several sand dune areas and you can see several dust devils in the distance. Although it is dry and sparsely vegetated, it is really very nice. The lines of the mountains in the background and foreground are very sharp with water channels running down the mountains. The contrasts are vivid. Several of the mountains look to be sand stone from ancient hardened sand dunes with light tan and red and creams.
The winds are strong today and of course there are many mountain passes with valleys in between. So we go uphill for several miles, then come downhill. The uphills are so long that by the time we get to the top, the motor home is only doing about 45 mph and cranking about 4000rpms. Compared to this Maine is flat land!
We did not make any stops today except for the State agriculture inspection station. They asked where we came from, I said Las Vegas. That wasn't the answer he wanted so asked where we originally started and I said Maine. Well he says "Ah, gypsy moth! You know gypsy moth?" Yes I do, I said.He then has me pull up to inspect the motor home. He has rolled all around under the motor home looking for gypsy moth infestation. Then finally states the we are clear. Then in the classic Colombo style, starts to leave then turns back and asks "Do you have firewood?" Yes I do, I said.
Where did you get it? He asked. From the basement of my house. I said.
In Maine? He asks again. Yes, I said. I need to inspect it, he says.
So I get out and open the cabinet that the wood is in and he inspects the firewood. Everything is good and clean. He finally gives me a carbon copy of a form he filled out to indicate that he inspected for gypsy moth and that the motor home is clean and clear of gypsy moth and that presenting the inspection copy to the next inspection station should eliminate the same gypsy moth inspection. Good Grief, Charlie Brown!
During this inspection, several of the other inspectors ask what he was looking for, and what he was doing. Either they thought it was frivolous or had no clue. In either case, we have a clean bill of health.
We continued our way still in passing through the Mojave desert. We pass a couple of piles of rock, one on each side of the highway that look like huge piles of petrified dinosaur droppings. Perverted thinking I know but that is what they looked like to me.We arrived save and sound at Carmen's brother's house.
9/21/2008 Apple Valley, CA
Today we did some shopping and went to the glass place that will install the windshield in the motor home. The gentleman was very nice and provided us with information on the installation. They should receive the new windshield between Wednesday and Friday and will install it as soon as they get it in.
The rest of the day we do not do very much. Played some dominoes and not much else. Just resting. We have a set that goes to 15 and by the time we finished, the high score was over 1000. Shirley, This game took over 4 hours. One of the rounds no one could finish and all we did was to collect dominoes. Just about everyone had over 100 for a count on that round. Carmen won, of course and I will not say who had over 1000. One of the rounds I could not start until I had a full tray and more of tiles. Everyone was down to about 3 tiles before I could start to play. That round was not fun at all. Oh well, that is how the tile lays I guess.
9/22/2008 Laughlin, NVToday we head to Laughlin. We have never been there and got room comps for $18.00. So we are heading there with Carmen's brother and sister-in-law. (Names are not given to protect the inisent.)
The trip to Laughlin is very much like the trip here from Vegas since we travel much of the same road. I get a chance to see the countryside without driving this time and it really is nice to look at. The mountains change with each new angle and the contrasts are very dramatic.
The portion of the road that is new has one section where the ground is black from what looks like volcanic rock. I do not ever remember an active volcano in this area so this must have been thousands of years old. Also, we pass a mirror power station where the mirrors are pointed to a central tower to generate electricity. Beside the mirror station, there is a hugh solar panel farm. Each side must have been at least a half mile wide. The output from this farm must be enormous.We arrive in Laughlin, which is on the Colorado river. There is a tour (6 hours round trip) on a jet boat that goes all the way to Lake Havasu and the London Bridge. The trip takes about two hours, you stay around the bridge for a couple of hours and then come back. Unfortunately we do not have the time to take the trip, this time. But next time we are here I think it will definitly be a thing to do.
We of course gamble a little, loose a little - of course, and head to the room around midnight.
9/23/2008 Leaving Laughlin
We are heading back today, actually early afternoon. It is a three hour trip back. We of course back track to the house and both Carmen and I again appreciate the country side and gratefull neither is driving. It is difficult to enjoy the scenery when you are concentrating on driving. (The winds across the desert are very strong.)
Not much else has happened today, gambled some, get caught up with the family and talk quite a bit. We are glad that we have made the decision to visit Carmen's brother for a time before the wedding.9/24/2008 Apple Valley
Carmen's brother and sister-in-law had plans to go to a senior citizens expo in San Bernadino and they called to get our names on the list. We were going to stay at the house to get ready to leave for Stockton, CA, but after arrangements were made for us to also attend we are going to go. Argh, Just 26 days after retirement and I'm attending senior citizens expos. What next shuffle board?
It wasn't so bad, they had a number of vendors at the expo that provided information. Some had giveaways that we can actually use. You know, paper, pens, flashlights, pill boxes (there I go again), and other stuff like that. We would have to wait a half hour for the lunch that is provided so instead of attending the lunch we head for Morongo, an Indian casino in California not to far away.
We have lunch at the buffet in Morongo and it was very good. Carmen and I were both surprised. While we are there, there is a film crew that is filming a segment of the new Night Rider show that will air in about 8 weeks. Can't wait to see how that comes out. After talking with one of the crew, we find out that the "Night Rider" show premiers tonight.
Anyway we head back to Apple Valley after a couple of hours. Carmen and I play some slots, but of course someone has to pay for the staff and buildings so we leave our donations. Ha, Ha.
Back at the house and get our stuff ready to leave tomorrow for Stockton and the wedding.
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