Snowbirds Trip 02/29/2012--Tooele

Winterized the trailer so it will be ready to park in Evanston until summer. 

Left Mesquite and hit a blizzard near Stockton, Utah. 

Drove to Tooele and parked the trailer in our friends drive way and then spent the night at another friends home.   They called another couple to come over and we all had shish kabobs. 

Snowbirds Trip 02/28/2012--shopping

Went shopping around town and we bought some gifts at antique store to take home for a few people who have been helping us out.

Snowbirds Trip 02/27/2012--Great Chinese!

Moved to the new RV Park by Smiths and finally have internet.

After setting up we took a drive over to Beaver Dam and Littlefield Arizona.

After walking around Mesquite for a while we have decided that it is much nicer than we originally thought.

We went to the movie and watched The Descendants.  

After the movie we went to Panda Garden and had great Chinese food!  I loved the won-ton soup and the walnut shrimp.  I have to go there again!

We stopped at the sporting goods store near the Smith's and I bought new walking shoes for the treadmill.

Snowbirds Trip 02/26/2012--Bunkerville

Drove to Bunkerville and went for a walk on Falcon Ridge.

Watched Academy Awards.

Snowbirds Trip 02/25/2012--Mesquite, Nevada

Left Lake Mead and drove to Mesquite, Nevada where we signed up at the Oasis RV park for 2 nights.  We rested for a while and then drove around downtown.  We found a new RV park next to the Smith's grocery store and will probably move there after tomorrow.

Snowbirds Trip 02/24/2012--Boulder City

We went for a long walk from the camp to the marina and toured a house boat and then walked around the NRA campground.   It has a lot more vegetation than the private campground we are in, but no hook-ups.

Later we did some exploring and a little shopping in Boulder City.

Last night we watched a Netflix movie.

Snowbirds Trip 02/23/2012--Hoover Dam

Went and walked all the way across the new bridge over Hoover dam. 




On the way back to camp we stopped and hiked through the five abandoned tunnels, following the railroad bed where trains once hauled the materials for building Hoover Dam.  This took a couple of hours and we stopped and read signs about the town that was there while the damn was being built.

Time Line & Facts

• 1931: Lewis Construction Company began construction under Bureau of Reclamation.
• 1961: Last year railroad in use.
• 1962: Tracks dismantled and sold for scrap.
• 1984: Nominated to National Register of Historic Places.
• Length: 3.7 miles from trailhead to Hoover Dam Parking Garage.
• One of two most difficult sections of track to construct.
• Only remaining section of Hoover Dam Railroad system that is not highly disturbed or under water.
• All tunnels are approximately 300 ft. in length, and 25 ft in diameter. The tunnels were oversized to fit penstock sections and large equipment being transported to Hoover Dam.
• Nine steam and four gas locomotives and 71 people were used to operate the system. It was a standard-gauge, 90-pound rail construction that used Oregon fir ties.
• This section was used in the motion picture "The Gauntlet" starring Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke for a sequence in which they were on a motorcycle being chased by an assassin in a helicopter.

Snowbirds Trip 02/22/2012--Lake Mead

Left camp and headed toward Mesquite but passed an RV park on Lake Mead and decided to stay.  I changed our reservations for Mesquite to postpone for a few days and we got a spot in the RV park. 

Walked around old town Boulder. Had dinner in Boulder at the Boulder Dam Brewing Company.  Ray bought a pint glass souvenir.

Snowbirds Trip 02/21/2012--Searchlight, NV

Another beautiful day.  We drove to Searchlight, Nevada and toured the museum.

We got gas at a place called Terribles and then checked email at McDonalds.  My iPad wouldn't work there at all and the connection on the laptop got cutoff.  We made reservations in Mesquite.

Back to Cottonwood cove and took a nap and took a walk.

Snowbirds Trip 02/20/2012--Cottonwood Cove

It was a nice, warm, sunny day.  We walked around the marina and out on the dock.  A guy came up and told us we could tour the house boats so we looked at all of them.

We walked around the beach and to the lower campground operated by the park service.  Drove over to Six Mile Cover beach.  

Met Wayne from Parowan who Spends 5 months of the year here at $400.00 per month and also spends 3 months each summer in Homer Alaska. 
Wayne has a Verizon mifi and a Wilson booster with a bidirectional antenna (sounds similar to what Jerry Etzold was telling us about).  Which Wayne says works well to get internet.  

Snowbirds Trip 02/19/2012--Cottonwood Cove

Pulled up camp in California City and headed to Cottonwood Cove campground at Lake Mohave, Nevada which is just down the road from Searchlight, Nevada (home of Harry Reid).

Snowbirds Trip 02/18/2012--California City

We did laundry at the RV park (which I guess is really in California City rather than Mojave).  It was really handy and the cost was $1.25 for washers .75 for 35 minutes in the dryers.  Pretty good deal.

We drove around the town of Mojave to see what was there (not much) and then tucked ourselves in for the night.  Ray's cold is not getting much better.

Snowbirds Trip 02/17/2012--Sierra Trails in Mojave

Packed up the trailer and left Cayucos around 10:30. 

 We headed for Tehachapi with plans to stay there, but there was snow on the ground when we got there so continue on down the road and went on to Mojave and camped at Sierra Trails RV Park.

Snowbirds Trip 02/16/2012--Pismo Beach

Picked up Dan and Viv and drove to Avila Beach, a small seaside community.  It is very picturesque and there is camping right on the beach.  We then drove to Pismo Beach and had lunch down at the pier.  Very nice here.

Later we went to dinner at Dan and Vivian's for our last night in Cayucos.

Snowbirds Trip 02/15/2012--Cambria and Elephant Seals

Ray and I rode back up to Cambria so we could see more of the town.  We walked around Main Street and did a little window shopping and then rode over to Moonstone Beach.   We had another really nice walk.  

We rode back to W. R. Hearst State Beach in San Simeon and walked out on the board walk and the pier.  

After that we went back to Elephant Seal Beach and I took a bunch of photos and a video so I could capture the sounds.

Snowbirds Trip 02/14/2012--Piedras Blancas Light House

Today we all went a toured the Piedras Blancas Light house.

I took a cute pic of Dan and Viv looking up at the lighthouse.

Notice the top is missing.  It has been relocated to Cambria. Here's a picture of it.

Later we had Valentines dinner at Cafe Della Vila back in Cayucos

Snowbirds Trip 02/13/2012--Old Creek Road

Took a drive up and down Old Creek Road.  This time without the trailer (this is the route "Betty" our GPS had taken us to get to Cayucos).  It's very scenic but very windy road, so without the trailer it was much easier on the nerves.  

Ray has a cold so we got some cold medication and some inexpensive alcohol at Rite-Aid in Morro Bay and then went and bought a bridge for the sewer hose.  

We took a walk just north of Cayucos on the shoreline bluff.  

Dan and Vivian came over for dinner.  Ray bb’qd pork chops.  We watched Jeremiah Johnson after dinner.

Snowbirds Trip 02/12/2012--No Ice Cream For You!

The Cayucos Vet's hall down by the pier had been advertising an Ice cream social for weeks.  We had been looking forward to it, but when we arrived they told us they had run out of ice cream (although I noticed they let a few of  their friends in ahead of us).  We were pretty disappointed so we went to the Cayucos Candy Counter next door and bought some.

Snowbirds Trip 02/11/2012--Chocolate Escapade

There was no fog today, but it was cool and windy.  

The town of Cayucos had what they called a Chocolate Escapade today.  Participating businesses gave away free chocolate.  We strolled through town and stopped at each of the participating places and sampled.  One lady even had chocolate margaritas!  This day was made for me.

Before heading back to camp we stopped and had tamales at a small place near the gas station.  

Ray and I took a walk along the coast.

Later we ate dinner and watched the movie Grand Canyon at Dan and Vivian's.

Snowbirds Trip 02/10/2012--Morrow Rock/Fog

It started out a nice day, but the fog rolled in.  

Ray and I drove to Morro Bay state park and took a look at the campground there.  It is nice, but a bit pricey at $30.00 a night with no hookups.  It is $50.00 per night with water and power--no sewer.

We went out to the big rock and walked around it as much as is possible.

Walked around down by the wharf.  There are a lot of fresh fish markets and salt water taffy here.  Went to Spooner Beach, but it was cold and windy so we didn't stay very long.

We stopped and had lunch in Baywood at a place by the water, cool and windy though.

  

Later Dan and Vivian came over to our place for a dinner of bratwurst, german potato salad and sauerkraut.

Snowbirds Trip 02/09/2012--Hearst Castle

It was another warm, sunny day in California.  We drove out to a path on the state beach just north of town a bit and took a walk.  We had lunch and then loaded in the truck with Dan and Vivian and went to Hearst Castle.  We met Mike and Val there and toured the Castle together.  Very impressive.

Here's a picture of Dan and me.

We stopped and had dinner in Cambria at Main street Grill.  Very casual, but good.

Snowbirds Trip 02/08/2012--Cayucos sunshine

A beautiful, sunny day.  Ray and I took a ride up Cayucos Creek to look at the avocado groves and possibly buy some avocados, but there were none for sale.  We had a beautiful ride nonetheless.

We stopped in at the Library again to check our email, etc. and then went in to Morro Bay and got gas and washed the truck.


I sat outside and soaked up the sun.  

Vivian and I walked around town and had a latte at The Big Dog coffee shop.  Viv stopped in at the Brown Butter Cookie Company and exchanged the shirt she bought the other day.  

We looked around in the antique store and then went home.

Ray and I made pizza for dinner and watched a movie.

Snowbirds Trip 02/07/2012--Rudell's Smokehouse

It is a little rainy today, so we went to town and did laundry.  I took this photo from the trailer window.

We ate fish tacos at Ruddell's which is famous (" The best fish taco on the planet.".) A local author mentions it in his book. What was the name of that book again?  Anyway here is Ray out front.

After lunch we browsed the antique mall and I bought a cute little pitcher to use for my kitchen utensils.

We stopped by Dan's and Viv's and made reservations to visit Hearst Castle on Thursday and then went to Mike's and Val's for the traditional Happy Hour.

Dan and Vivian came to our house for dinner.  We made sloppy joes and Vivian brought a great salad.

Snowbirds Trip 02/06/2012--Valencia Peak Hike

It is a bit cloudy today, but we went out and filled the propane bottle and then Ray and I went to Los Osos state park and hiked to Valencia Peak.  It was 2 miles up and 2 miles back which was a good hike.  We had a 360 degree view from the top.

  

We are both tired!  

But not too tired to drive to San Luis Obispo to shop at Trader Joe's!  It's a great store, but it was totally packed with customers.  We bought Ray some of his favorite All-Sorts licorice, some Two Buck Chuck and some seafood and other goodies.

Snowbirds Trip 02/05/2012--Super Bowl at Dan and Viv's

Ray and I checked email again at the Cayucos Library and filled up a couple of water jugs.  The water coming from the tap is especially brown today!

We had a super bowl party at Dan's and Viv's.  Viv made a Chile Verde type dish and it was really good.

Snowbirds Trip 02/04/2012--Harmony Head Hike

Ray and I checked our email using the Internet at the Cayucos library.  


Dan and Vivian delivered our mail that Greg and Deb collected and mailed to us.  Thanks Greg and Debbie!

 Ray and I went for a hike at Harmony Head.  

 

Ray and I also went to Harmony and looked at the glass blowing.  It is expensive, so we didn't buy any. 

Had happy hour with Dan and Viv's neighbors from Canada-- Val and Mike.  Several couples get together every afternoon at 4:30 and have happy hour until it gets too cold and dark to enjoy it.

Dan and Viv came to our place for steaks and we drank some of the wine we bought at Doce Robles.  

Snowbirds Trip 02/03/2012--Wine Tasting

Went shopping for groceries in Morro Bay while Dan was in physical therapy.  Dropped the groceries and water off (the water at Bella Vista is not drinkable and it's barely good for anything else) and then went to Paso Robles. 

We filled Ray's prescription at Walmart, ate lunch at Subway and then did some wine tasting at three wineries.  

Doce Robles, Veris, and Eagle Castle.  The best winery in our opinion was also the least expensive and didn't charge for tasting.  We bought 3 bottles at Doce Robles, two at Veris and one at Eagle Castle.  The one we bought at Eagle Castle will be for Steve's birthday.  

Eagle Castle--Dan and Ray

Ray and me

A close up of Ray and me

The moat

Viv and me at Veris

We ate dinner at Duckies. 

 

The fish tacos and chowder were great!

Snowbirds Trip 02/02/2012--Views of the Ocean

As I said yesterday, we have a great view from our spot #55. 

Today we walked along the beach -- This is Dan and Ray:

and had fish and chips at Skippers.  We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  The food was very good.  

We did a little browsing in the shops along main street (Ocean Avenue) in Cayucos.  

I bought cookies at the Brown Butter cookie company ($1.00 each!)

http://brownbuttercookies.com/

Ray bought a hat.  

We went in to the saloon to have a beer, but the lady bartender kicked us out because Dan had purchased liquor on the way there (to take home--not to drink in the saloon.) and it is supposedly against the law to take it in to the saloon!  Needless to say we won't be going back in there.  The stuff was in a gray sack you couldn't even tell what it was.  She had to ask us what we had in the sack for crying out loud!

Snowbirds Trip 02/01/2012--Bella Vista

We arrived at Bella Vista in Cayucos around 2:15 p.m.  We got parked and then went to the office.  They only take checks or cash.  The rent for two weeks plus two days will be $406.00. 

The view is beautiful and the name indicates.  Our spot overlooks the ocean!

Dan was at physical therapy for his broken arm, so he and Vivian came to our place around 4:30 and had drinks and then we went to their place for dinner and more drinks.

They have a cat named Cleopatra.  We can't get any TV stations to come in, but others can get over the air channels.  We'll have to work on it.