Still In Deming NM

Waiting for my 'puter to be repaired. Sometimes things take longer than you expected...
I'll fill in all the gory details later...

So here are the details; I got the computer back and at first I was upset cause when I booted it up (isn't that a strange phrase?) the computer came up but not the sound. I down loaded a Microsoft update and rebooted the 'puter and what do you know? The sound came back on! So I am pleased that I have sound now on my 'puter. However this episode has firmed my resolve to go Mac the next time I buy a computer, I hear they have less problems and the features are more intuitive.

So what have I been doing since I have been here in Deming NM? Well, I have been busy meeting people, I joined another RV club called LOWs loners on Wheels, they seem to be a nice group of folks. I have gone to lunch in Mexico with them and tonight met them at the local winery for wine and cheese and Thursday I am going with them to a brewery. I have gone out to dinner with the folks at this RV club called the Escapees, I've had brunch twice at the Holiday Inn and had lunch out almost every other day with a friend and escorted this friend to the hospital to get him scheduled for surgery, visited with a member of LOWs who is in a rehab facility with other members of LOW's. Been to Las Cruces to Sam's club for shopping and lunch and Wally World several times. And of course taking the fur kids for walks and play time at the dog park here at the RV Park. That and the usual household chores keep me busy.

I am staying here until my friend has his surgery to make sure he is alright so I should be here next Thursday for the brewery trip the LOW's group is making :)

Deming NM

I am here in Deming NM at the Dream Catcher RV Park. It is summer and the park has only a few rigs with an occasional traveler spending the night. The weather has been hot (DUH) with occasional thunder storms and wind storms. I have to be careful not to leave my awing deployed as the wind and storms are unpredictable.

The local Holiday in is next door to the RV park and they have a nice brunch also they allow members staying at the park to use their pool, that is so nice of them. The park has a nice dog park for the fur kids to play in and they head right for it as soon as they get out of the rig. We visit the dog park three or more times a day to give the fur kids a chance to take care of business and play on the grass.

So far I have done the usual shopping at Wally World and Sam's club, having brunch at the Holiday Inn and lunch at Denny's. I also visited Hi-Lo ranch an RV Park that is run by a singles RV Club. Other than an occasional thunder storm things are quiet here in Deming NM.

Sometimes ya gotta go....

It is never easy to leave family the heart wants to stay, but you know when it is time to go.

I left Idaho Falls Wednesday and drove south on I-15 till about exit 261 where I stopped for fuel at a Flying J. I had dinner there; I felt I needed some veggies and ordered the Cobb salad. I was going to stay at the Flying J but the area was crowded with truckers in to small a parking lot and there was no room for RVs. I planned on staying over night on the street next to the truck stop but it didn't give me the warm fuzzys so I went searching for some where more comfy than that place. I saw a sign for another Flying J so I followed its directions, when I got there the truck stop was closed, however there were lots of truckers there about forty of them spending the night. There was an empty parking area between the closed Flying J and the Motel next door so I pulled in and set up for a night camp. I was kept amused by the coming and going of people pulling in and finding the Flying J closed and the trucks coming and going at all hours. I slept pretty good and was ready to continue the journey in the AM.
It was a long ride to my next camp at the Sleeping Ute Casino in CO. I had stayed there before and knew what to expect. I got to use their laundry and shower walked the fur kids several times and got some good rest. Glad I got the rest I would need it as the next day's journey was long as I don't travel fast, just poke along. I finally made it to Dream Catcher RV park in Demming NM just as the sun went down and the lights came on. I met a friend here I have known for a couple of years and we had a quick reunion in the fading light and approaching darkness. We even took the fur kids for their first walk to the dog park in the dark and caught up on what we have both been doing since the last time we saw each other.

So this is Deming NM in the summer about 100 degrees in the shade and one looks for shade and there isn't enough to go around, let me tell ya. However the park is quiet and the company good,the fur kids like the grassy dog park and the A/C works, so I will be here for a few days checking the area out. There is another RV park here with another organisation that I want to have a look at since I am in the area.

Idaho

I staid with family just outside Idaho Falls ID. Camped in their driveway; used their washer and dryer had wonderful family meals, watched my granddaughter play softball and enjoyed my grandkids to the max. We went out to dinner several times had BBQs and sat by the fire and told stories, watched the kids make somemores and in general had a good time. Life is good :-)

I got some repairs done on the Rig; awning repaired, new twirly vents for the waste tanks installed, new lens cover for the front turn signal, new vent cranks installed on the vents, defrosted the fridge. It is great to get all that stuff done.

If you have an RV awning that has some holes or tares take it to a place that repairs canvas. I took ours to the one and only Canvas Shop here in Idaho Falls and they did a great job; cut off the warn vinyl weather cover and sewed a new one on in under two hours for a very reasonable price, way better than getting a whole new awning installed.

Washington

Washington is a nice place we explored Port Townsend and had a great time even though it rained off and on all the time we were there. Great food and excellent coffee, you know how I like my coffee and how disappointed I have been in the coffee on the road. A lot of folks don't know how to make coffee worth a damn anymore nore do they know how to clean a coffee pot. What's more they don't care and act surprised when someone complains about the taste of their coffee. Not in Washington they like their coffee and have the good stuff.

I loved seeing the boats on the water and it brought up longing for another boat. I even started looking at boats for sale ads. It's tough when your nautically infected your not happy unless your on a boat with wind and saltwater in your face braced at an angle splashing over the waves. Gads! I miss sailing.

The SKP park there, Evergreen Coho SKP Park, didn't light my fire. The park is a co-op park which means they own their lots and run the place themselves. This place was typical; they like the income from casual visitors, but don't go out of their way to make you feel welcome or improve the facilities for the casual visitor; like no showers, no cable TV, no tables or fire rings but you do get three pages of rules for free :-( Yup makes feel as welcome as a hair in a biscuit. Also the attitude of the owners towards visiters is rather odd-cold, chilly, distant, don't want to be bothered... well I won't bother them.

We spent our last night in Port Townsend instead of at the park even though I had paid for the night at the park. We enjoyed the town park there and so did our dogs and it all was for free and folks we met where happy to see us and our dogs.

Oregon

Oregon beautiful and green great scenery and lots of water. We spent a couple of nights at an SKP park Timber Valley Park a Co-op park that takes casual visitors. We rented someone's space there for two nights. Most folks we met were nice a few didn't seem to care for us. The one thing that ticked me off was that there was no mention of a dog park in the literiture they gave us but there was a dog park. Sort of a secret thing for themselves. Also no showers for visitors but a host of rules and regs. The deer and jack rabbits loved the place and had fun trying to eat all the flowers and trees.

Update 8/7/10 part 2

The difference from one state to another can be dramatic. From the dry and dusty flats of Utah and Nevada to the lush green of northern California, Oregon, and Washington is a feast for the eyes. The Pioneers that crossed the plains must of thought they had endured a terrible journey to be rewarded with green abundance. Of course most were hoping to gain wealth of one kind or another. Except for the Mormons who were escaping persicution.

Update 7/8/10

We crossed Utah on the I-80 what a boring trip that was; we skirted the Great Salt Lake and proceeded to Nevada where after a very long day we camped in a Casino Parking lot with the eighteen wheelers. We thought we would have dinner at the Casino, but dinner there would have been too expensive so we had a salad at Micky "D's". We went to sleep listening to the roar of the big trucks. In the AM we got back on the highway and headed to California.
In California we found a small Casino and camped over night in their parking lot. The parking lot at this Casino slopped in such a way we couldn't get the Rig level. It was a quiet night at this Casino, so we slept good. Back on the highway in the morning we stopped at a restaurant called Little Bit of Heaven, we were their first customers of the day. The food was very good and listening to other customer's conversations was entertaining.