Marsha/CA
Moderator Emeritus
Intro:
Well, I'm gonna give this a try. I'm sure I can't do anything near to the calibur of Betty and her Mexican and/or Canadian trip Journals; but I thought I'd try to give some form of a "blog"..."report"....daily journal"... or "what ever we want to call it" for the next several weeks of our trip.
On Sept 4th Tim and I left Kernville, CA which is just east of Bakersfield up in the Sierra Nevadas. Tim had spent at least 3-4 solid days cleaning and waxing the outside of the coach. I spent 1 long day dusting, washing windows, cleaning cupboards and cleaning the carpet. WE had lived in the coach for close to a year while our house was being built, so needless to say it needed a thorough cleaning.
We stayed in Bakersfield, CA Thursday and Friday at the Bakersfield RV park. This is a really nice facility with a good restaurant and they also serve microbrew beer. When you check in you get a coupon for either a free appetizer or a free desert. The dessert won out! We needed to pick up supplies and restock in preparation for our 6 week trip up to Northern California and possibly into Oregon...maybe...possibly...or not. We are on this "no schedule" plan which is entirely different from our personalities. Usually we like to plan a trip, research what to do and where to stay. However on this trip, we are gonna "wing it". We'll see. Both of us are anal; and I'm an indepth planner. This maybe harder than we think ;D
A couple weeks before we were to leave, I contacted Tom to see if he and Chris would have a night to meet us for dinner as we pass through their area on the way to Napa, CA and the wine country. (I know, it's not a coastal town; but we are low on wine ). I also asked if he could give us an idea where to stay close by. He pointed us to the Sugar Barge Rv Park in Bethal Island actually out on the the Delta. Great spot. Grassy sites, and most of the sites are satellite friendly for you internet junkies.
We arrive at Sugar Barge campground, got set up and headed to Tom and Chris's house during the early evening for a BBQ. He tells me in an earlier email that they are gonna invite a few friends....well, there were a few friends alright: a bunch of boating friends, as well as, RV Forum Framily "Caltex" and "Khona" the Great Schnauscher's mom and dad, Sara and I'm sorry to say oldtimes has set in and I can't remember her husband's name. Hopefully, Tom will save me the embarrasement and "fill in the blank". Great talk...great food...and great Karoke. Yes, you read right, Karoke. Tom belted out a few songs, along with lots of other folks. Tim and I needed to cut out early because we had left Charlie, the 10 month old Standard Poodle alone and we weren't sure how he would be. BTW, he was great.
Before we left, Tom mentioned he had made arrangements for Tim and I to ride along with Chris and Deanna the following morning. Deanna was bringing her boat over to Tom and Chris's to have some interior work done. So this morning, Tom and Chris pick us up and take us to the other side of the Delta, pointing out interesting stuff along the way. Deanna also loves standard poodle dogs, so Charlie got an invitation to come along.
We loaded ourselves up and away we went for a Delta Tour. We had a ball, we cruised the Delta, seeing farm lands, levees, and marinas along the route and really really enjoyed ourselves. Tim was especially interested in a railroad bridge called Orwood which is a bascule bridge that raises and lowers for trains to cross the waterways. When he worked for Santa Fe Railroad, he was involved in work on that bridge, so this was very interesting for him.
Got back to Tom and Chris's a bit later than expected and they had to go to an afternoon function, so Caltex, aka, Robert, drove us back to the Sugar Barge Campground. It was great to spend some time with him.
I think we are making good headway on this "no schedule-free spirit" stuff, we are staying an extra day, just cause we can.
Tom, don't forget to email me some pictures so I can attach them to the "blog" or what ever we are gonna call it. As you see, I've already failied miserably; Tim and I forgot our cameras both days. See Betty, you have nothing to fear. You are and will remain the "Blog Queen".
Marsha~
Well, I'm gonna give this a try. I'm sure I can't do anything near to the calibur of Betty and her Mexican and/or Canadian trip Journals; but I thought I'd try to give some form of a "blog"..."report"....daily journal"... or "what ever we want to call it" for the next several weeks of our trip.
On Sept 4th Tim and I left Kernville, CA which is just east of Bakersfield up in the Sierra Nevadas. Tim had spent at least 3-4 solid days cleaning and waxing the outside of the coach. I spent 1 long day dusting, washing windows, cleaning cupboards and cleaning the carpet. WE had lived in the coach for close to a year while our house was being built, so needless to say it needed a thorough cleaning.
We stayed in Bakersfield, CA Thursday and Friday at the Bakersfield RV park. This is a really nice facility with a good restaurant and they also serve microbrew beer. When you check in you get a coupon for either a free appetizer or a free desert. The dessert won out! We needed to pick up supplies and restock in preparation for our 6 week trip up to Northern California and possibly into Oregon...maybe...possibly...or not. We are on this "no schedule" plan which is entirely different from our personalities. Usually we like to plan a trip, research what to do and where to stay. However on this trip, we are gonna "wing it". We'll see. Both of us are anal; and I'm an indepth planner. This maybe harder than we think ;D
A couple weeks before we were to leave, I contacted Tom to see if he and Chris would have a night to meet us for dinner as we pass through their area on the way to Napa, CA and the wine country. (I know, it's not a coastal town; but we are low on wine ). I also asked if he could give us an idea where to stay close by. He pointed us to the Sugar Barge Rv Park in Bethal Island actually out on the the Delta. Great spot. Grassy sites, and most of the sites are satellite friendly for you internet junkies.
We arrive at Sugar Barge campground, got set up and headed to Tom and Chris's house during the early evening for a BBQ. He tells me in an earlier email that they are gonna invite a few friends....well, there were a few friends alright: a bunch of boating friends, as well as, RV Forum Framily "Caltex" and "Khona" the Great Schnauscher's mom and dad, Sara and I'm sorry to say oldtimes has set in and I can't remember her husband's name. Hopefully, Tom will save me the embarrasement and "fill in the blank". Great talk...great food...and great Karoke. Yes, you read right, Karoke. Tom belted out a few songs, along with lots of other folks. Tim and I needed to cut out early because we had left Charlie, the 10 month old Standard Poodle alone and we weren't sure how he would be. BTW, he was great.
Before we left, Tom mentioned he had made arrangements for Tim and I to ride along with Chris and Deanna the following morning. Deanna was bringing her boat over to Tom and Chris's to have some interior work done. So this morning, Tom and Chris pick us up and take us to the other side of the Delta, pointing out interesting stuff along the way. Deanna also loves standard poodle dogs, so Charlie got an invitation to come along.
We loaded ourselves up and away we went for a Delta Tour. We had a ball, we cruised the Delta, seeing farm lands, levees, and marinas along the route and really really enjoyed ourselves. Tim was especially interested in a railroad bridge called Orwood which is a bascule bridge that raises and lowers for trains to cross the waterways. When he worked for Santa Fe Railroad, he was involved in work on that bridge, so this was very interesting for him.
Got back to Tom and Chris's a bit later than expected and they had to go to an afternoon function, so Caltex, aka, Robert, drove us back to the Sugar Barge Campground. It was great to spend some time with him.
I think we are making good headway on this "no schedule-free spirit" stuff, we are staying an extra day, just cause we can.
Tom, don't forget to email me some pictures so I can attach them to the "blog" or what ever we are gonna call it. As you see, I've already failied miserably; Tim and I forgot our cameras both days. See Betty, you have nothing to fear. You are and will remain the "Blog Queen".
Marsha~