Dec 5, 2012 - Stockton CA

What a delightful trip on highway 99 today,it will now become our our main highway for going south from Red Bluff to Stockton. Highway 99 route parallels Interstate 5 in California's Central Valley, and consists of a mixture of two-lane country roads and divided freeways. This route takes you through farming communities,with fruit and nut orchards as far as one could see. The primary crops include rice, wheat, nuts (almonds and walnuts), olives, tomatoes, prunes, and apricots. We seen so many flooded fields that we thought at first were...

Jun 18, 2012 - Sore Eyes

My eyes hurt. Is it because I'm at an altitude of 8500 feet and the sun is stronger? Could it be from driving thru the Colorado Rockies, taking in one picture perfect view after another, while watching for mule deer and big horn sheep in the road? Do I have a vitamin deficiency? Am I looking up too many facts on the internet? Maybe I think too much. Jim would say "yes". But they hurt; so I am just going to catch up on where we are and where we have been, filling in the details later. After dropping our load in Stockton California, we...

Jan 31, 2012 - where have we been

The last time you heard from me we were headed to CA and Texas. e a lot has happened since November of 2008. We got to Anaheim and settlled in for the night and Chrystal came down ill. She had a stroke. We spent 4 days with her in the hospital before the dr let me bring her home. A few months later I was diagnosed with cancer and went through chemo and a stem cell transplant. It's bell a hell of a couple years, but here we are. Both healthy and semi retired( as i like to say, I am in occupational transition)preparing for a road trip. We are...

Dec 9, 2011 - Stockton CA

Another 200 miles down the road today and that is all we care to drive. Our bodies do not handle the marathon drives well ,and this allows us time to wander a bit ,get fuel and check out today's destination a bit before we move on . Isn't that what us travellers really want to do is see the country ? Happy to have our warmer days now but the nights are still producing frosty windshields in the am . Forgot about these cold nights last night when we awoke to a freezing trailer ,seems we forgot to turn on the furnace. The I-5 Highway coming...

Sep 15, 2011 - Stockton, CA Temp 85

The RV was thirsty with a low fuel light, so we had to stop at a local gas station. About half an hour later, we rejoined civilization and drove a couple hundred miles south on the interstate arriving in Stockton. It didn’t take long for us to miss the two lane roads and backwoods. Interstate driving includes crowds and idiots. The California valleys are teeming with agriculture and have more trucks than we have ever seen. The right lane was like a huge convoy. It seemed strange to see large double truck trailers full of tomatoes. Every so...

Dec 24, 2010 - San Joaquin, Valley

Left the hotel for home around 6 AM. Skirted LA to the East, picking up I-5 just to the north of the city in San Fernando. Juliet & Jim had a Luncheon appointment in the city before, they also, hit the road for their Walnut Creek home. After dropping down the Tehachapi Mountains Grapevine into the San Joaquin Valley, we ran into winter time valley fog conditions. Arriving in Stockton, highways I-5 and US 99 again come together. Sacramento our next junction.

Sep 6, 2010 - Leaving the Pacific Coast

9/6/10 Our trip today took us from the maritime climate of the northern coast of California, across the Coastal Mountain Range and into the Central Valley of California with temperatures rising into the mid 90’s. We have the A/C on for the first time since we left Portland. The 100-mile drive from the coast to the central valley was not easy as approximately 90% was mountainous. Our luck was not much better when we reached I-5. We traveled 20 miles south of Redding on I-5 when we hit a traffic jam. The back up stretched as far as we could...

Aug 10, 2010 - Spending Time on the Delta

Next stop...The Sacramento Delta to see our friends Mike and Pam Allen. The Allen's own a lot next to ours in the desert and spend the winter months there. In the summer, their "other" residence is a lovely home situated on the delta. We stayed at an RV resort called RiverPoint Landing which happened to be one exit down from the Allen's. Not only convenient, but was really a lovely place to stay for a few days. We couldn't have ordered more perfect weather to take to the American River. On Day Two, Mike and Pam picked us up at the RV...

Jun 23, 2010 - Back on Land

Spent the morning on the boat. The boys finally got in the water. In fact, Sam would not get out, he is our little fish. He jumped in and out like a pro. Max drove the boat all the way back to the dock. He is a natural!! We dinked around, again with Max at the helm. Boys had a chance to feed some awesome fish at Andre's boat. Everyone was exhausted, so we headed home. Ended the night in Stockton for an awesome Sushi Dinner at Raw. The boys, especially Max, devoured the fish!! It is an awesome site to see Max eat with such sophistication. He...

Jun 22, 2010 - Headed to the Delta

Had a relaxed morning and then headed to the boat for a night out on the waters. The boys were so excited for the adventure. Lifejackets on, we took the boat for a ride. Max drove almost the whole way - really he wanted to be the Captain!!! Sam napped by simply dropping. We anchored and the boys tried to swim, but way to cold! So cold Sam cried instantly. All enjoyed dinking around the waters. Boys went fishing, but unsuccessful. Had dinner and the boys watched movies in the galley. Dad, Bryan, and I sat on the abck watching an amazing...

Jun 20, 2010 - Father's Day

All of us slept in and got some much needed rest! Brenda and Dad hosted a party for Father's Day complete with awesome food and company. We were able to meet most of Brenda's family and spend time playing in the backyard on a perfect day. Much better than the heat wave in St. Louis. Tried to go to bed early to prepare for a long day at Yosemite, but no such luck! Had an awesome day!

Jun 19, 2010 - Peaceful day in Stockton

Spent the day doing errands and the boys were having fun playing with Zeuss and Tucker, the dogs. They laughed so much. Ended the night with Avatar on Blue Ray. Max stayed awake for the whole thing and loved it!! Sam fell asleep about half way through and was completely fine with it! All is well with us!