May 21, 2017

Pin-a-go-go

What: Pin-a-go-go Pinball Festival Where: Dixon, California When: May 19-21, 2017 Description: My favorite annual pinball fest! Last year in Dixon, and last year it’s called Pin-a-go-go, and sadly, last year I’ll get to visit the British Car Rally that happened the last day of the fest. Since we have an RV now, I snagged a campsite at the fairgrounds, which was so much better than being in a hotel room.

April 12, 2017

Olema Rally

What: Airstream Rally Where: Olema Campground, Olema California When: April 6-10th, 2017 Description: Annual Northern California Airstreamers spring rally, organized by Jeff Loughridge. Found out about it at the Pinnacles Rally, where I first met Jeff. Got on the standby list, and partially due to the huge storm that came in over the weekend, got a spot! Was a wet, but very fun event. We got over 7″ of rain over two days!

February 24, 2017

To Tucson, and Beyond! Day thirteen+, Pinnacles Airstream Rally

We arrived at our final stop Friday, the Airstream Rally at Pinnacles National Park. We’d planned to stay here 4 nights, but Sydnee got really sick. She spent Saturday in Serenity with a fever, all the covers, and the dogs. We left first thing Sunday morning. Good thing, she got sicker on return, saw the doctor to get some strong cough medicine and an inhaler, and nearly caught pneumonia!

February 23, 2017

To Tucson, and Beyond! Day twelve, Visalia

Campground was tight, muddy, had people coming/going late and early, and a development right next door was getting roofing installed. At 7am. With radios and compressors. And one of those inconsiderate neighbors that for some reason needs to start their loud diesel truck in the morning, and run it for 30 minutes, not hooked up to the trailer. What is up with that? Also, not cheap. Might have been the most expensive KOA on the trip.

February 22, 2017

To Tucson, and Beyond! Day eleven, Calico Ghost Town

We’d been a stone’s through from here before, on day two, when we stayed at the Barstow KOA (which is closer to Calico than Barstow). Got here early so we could spend the afternoon at the “Ghost Town”. Helpful hint, admission is free if you camp at their campground! The campground is huge, mostly dirt, clean bathrooms. Sites vary a lot, from not too shabby to packed in. If the campground were full, it’d be unpleasant, but there were only a handful of other campers while we were there.

February 21, 2017

To Tucson, and Beyond! Day ten, Salton Sea and Joshua Tree

I’d never been near the Salton Sea. Saw it on travel shows, where everything looked dead and falling apart, and locals looked like folks who’d moved there, then couldn’t leave. That was not what we found. Yes, the water-oriented businesses were closed and abandoned, but there were a lot of newer well maintained houses, a lot of residents, but obviously 1/10th or less the potential population, the roads and layout were designed for way more houses.

February 19, 2017

To Tucson, and Beyond! Day eight/nine, San Diego

Visited my sister, niece, step-nephew and great nephew. Good times, camped in front of my nieces’ house, which was convenient. Had a great visit hanging out, visiting town, sampling beers. I have remarkably few photos, will have to look into that. All I took was a picture of food! Also, got to eat Sushi!

February 18, 2017

To Tucson, and Beyond! Day seven, Winterhaven

Drove through rain all day long. Found a spot just outside Yuma, in Winterhaven. It was crowded, lots of long-term folks, was really soggy, sites were small, and one trailer had something beeping 3-5 times a second for our entire stay. Had to play the stereo at night to help drown out the beeping. Oh, and the mens restroom, just down the way, was out of service when we arrived. Was working again when we left, probably rain related.

February 17, 2017

To Tucson, and Beyond! Day six, Mesa

Stopped by to visit relatives in Mesa. Had a lovely visit, fun dinner, great breakfast, then we hit the road again!

February 16, 2017

To Tucson, and Beyond! Day four/five, more Tucson

Had a great time visiting with Frank and Steph. Good and cheap margaritas at the KOA Cantina Plus, they had a decent selection of Pinball! They took us to the Sonoran Desert Museum, a place we’ll have to return to. Raptor free-flight, two aviaries, tons of native plants. So much to see and learn, in a really well laid out park. The cafeteria was surprisingly good too. Really well made evolution sculpture: