December 16 to 27: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas one and all!

We left for Seattle for Christmas a day earlier than we originally planned. Rather than get up at the crack of dawn and drive like crazy, we decided to stay at a hotel near the airport the night before -- the Quality Suites has a Park, Sleep, and Fly program so we got to leave our car at the hotel while we were gone.

The direct flight on Continental from Houston to Seattle went well (we were even fed a little!). We were met at the airport by one sister and brother-in-law (the ones that have been living in their motorhome for over ten years now). We stayed at the same hotel as that sister and celebrate at the other sister's house.

We performed many of the family rituals such as cookie-baking and pizza-eating night. Four kinds of cookies (chocolate chip, spritz, snickerdoodles, and a new one called boiled cookies). We usually make more varieties but chose to concentrate on our favorites and the one new one.

We met the newest member of the family: Snorky who is now the new ruler of the roost. But she is adorable and sits up and boxes (but she didn't get new boxing gloves for Christmas).

We performed many strange and wonderful rituals, even if we aren't so sure what we were doing or why we were doing it. In this particular ritual we appear to notice that the room has a ceiling!

We enjoyed the family's traditional Christmas dinner of spareribs, meatballs, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and all the trimmings. Let us not overlook the Jell-O salads which are an absolute requirement (two, one red, one green). Dessert was the cookies mentioned earlier, a delicious chocolate mint mousse cake, and pumpkin pie from Ron's tradition.

We opened our Christmas crackers, read the jokes, admired the prizes, and proudly wore the paper crowns. Here Ron contemplates whether meeting Joyce and joining her family for Christmas was really such a good idea!

Joyce tried self-portraiture while looking through the prism looking glass that was in one of the crackers.

And of course there were presents, lots and lots of presents! We are a Christmas Eve family so we got to open our gifts after our wonderful dinner. Christmas Day is a casual "Day after Christmas" event for us when we get together to enjoy each other's company and eat left overs.

December 7 to December 16: Livingston (our new hometown)

The drive to the Escapees RV Park in Livingston was a reasonable 220 miles. When we arrived we got the last spot (#5) in the park with electrical hook-ups! We moved the next day to #95, which we quite enjoy.



We have been enjoying the Christmas activities around town including the street fair and the evening parade. The parade was astounding for a small town -- it ran for over an hour!

Escapees is the RV club we belong to which provides our mail forwarding service and advice and many items through their website. Part of the advice is about how to become a Texan. We did that on December 12 (a date that will live in infamy). We left our site about 10 am and returned by about 3:30 with all our work done. The vehicles had been inspected; we had gotten the license plates; we had received our driver's licenses (including Joyce taking the exam and driving test for a special license because our motorhome is so heavy!). That even included time to drive to Lufkin to the Social Security office to get a document verifying Joyce's social security number as she didn't have her card with her.

Saturday we will put the RV in storage and head to Houston to fly to Seattle for Christmas.

December 3 to December 6: Arlington

Our next stop was in Arlington which is between Forth Worth and Dallas. It was a long driving day down from Amarillo (about 350 miles) but preferable to setting up and breaking down camp twice in quick succession.

It is a real shopping mecca (in other words we loved it!). We visited with friends including a woman from Colorado who was in desperate need of a kind of Tropicana Twister and a variety of canned peas that she used to buy in Colorado. As a form of charity work, we brought some to her.

We also visited the Sixth Floor Museum about the death of President Kennedy. And that same night we attended the Dallas Camera Club and saw an interesting use of a photo judge in Kansas who recorded his comments.

November 28 to December 2: Amarillo, Texas

We covered the 300 miles to Amarillo, Texas, in fine shape, arriving about 5 p.m. on Tuesday (the time zone change made it later than we would have thought).

Wednesday we drove out to Cadillac Ranch about 14 miles from here where there are ten Cadillacs from 1949 through 1963 buried nose first into the ground at the same angle as the Cheopps Pyramid in Egypt (we don't know why). The wind chill was so bad we would have been in serious trouble if we couldn't get back into the car quickly. (The picture above is from our second visit, in the snow!)

Our original plan was to stay three nights and then journey on to Oklahoma City. Our current plan is to survive our stay here and head south! It's cold (in the teens for highs but the wind chill makes it seem as if it is zero or a little lower!). Then there is the snow. It's a fine, drifting powder snow that, when the wind settles down is about zero to a foot deep.

The RV is staying nice and warm thanks to a large supply of propane and a good furnace. We are not connected to the local water supply but have plenty in our own tank. There is frost on the inside of the windows, though, so we don't get too close to the windows.


Thursday afternoon the wind was calmer and we ventured out. Ron pulled enormous (up to five feet or so across) tumble weeds away from the RV and car so we could drive out on the ice and snow to the main roads, which are sanded and plowed. We visited Cadillac Ranch again in the snow and there were cows running around just to add to the general excitement.

Friday and later should be a little warmer (up to 30 degrees!) and sunny so we will be heading south when the storm clears from there, too. We want to follow this Canadian arctic blast storm at a respectful distance.


We ended up staying Saturday night which enabled us to go see the Amarillo Gorillas hockey game. They are in the Central League. It was Ron's first in person game and one in a long continuing series for Joyce.

October 15 - November 27: Albuquerque

After the Balloon Fiesta we moved to a campground that Ron had stayed in previously. It is inexpensive if you stay a long time, located right next door to American RV where we had warranty work done, and near Route 66 Casino -- probably our favorite casino to date.



Another casino we visited (especially on Wednesdays for their $5 senior buffet and for Thanksgiving dinner) had a strict dress code for their lounge and it was enforced by armed guards!


During various times the RV was being worked on, we took off in the car for fun trips. One time we went to Colorado Springs for a photography weekend followed by a three-night visit with Ron's daughter and her delightful family. We were there for Halloween -- what a blast with little kids!


Another trip was overnight to Santa Fe where we ate lunch at Tia Sophia's, visited the miraculous staircase, and generally wandered around before heading north to Cities of Gold Casino where we spent the night. We came home on the scenic route the next day.


On that trip we also stopped by Chimayo to photograph the church.




We also visited Bosque del Apache bird reserve for two nights where there were over 50,000 snow geese, 23,000 ducks, 8,500 sandhill cranes, and three bald eagles. Massive birds and we only had to wash the car once (if you get my drift).



We will be taking one more car time before we leave up to Taos but the RV will be staying in the park here as the work is all completed on it.

We have also met friends for dinner several times, attended the local camera club twice, eaten a vast number of $5 senior buffet lunches at two different casinos, and paid full price (horrors!) for the buffet at the fancier casino for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.


Another quick trip was to see the petroglyphs that were just a few miles from our RV resort. This one includes the two birds which is a favorite of Joyce's and is used in some of the advertising for the National Monument.

A highlight of our stay was a four-day visit from sister Sharon and brother-in-law Dave. It's fun when our paths cross.

October 11 - 14: Balloon Fiesta!

Originally we had planned to be here for the Fiesta from the beginning but our plans were changed when Creative World canceled the first half rally. What a blessing that turned out to be! It rained and was too windy most of the time for the first part of the Fiesta and we arrived for the really good days.

It was great to see Joyce's caravan friends who were running the rally. And it was a little odd not to know any of the attendees, but then Joyce's RV friends had been attending the Fiesta in prior years, asking her to come down too but she hadn't made it.


We saw the special shape balloons inflate the first morning we were there and watched them launch. Special shapes are balloons that aren't shaped like balloons but rather are shaped like cows or trees or witches or just about anything else. We cruised the Fiesta grounds which were reminiscent of a fair with lots of (expensive) food and many opportunities to buy things.


We saw the special shape Glowdeo twice: This is when the special shape balloons are inflated at dusk and the burners glow inside lighting them up.


There was also a very nice fireworks display every evening. We saw it once on the field, once while walking toward home, and once from up in the RV parking area.


The coolest day was the morning that we didn't go down to the field but just stayed in the RV for a while in the early hours. When the TV said the special shapes were definitely going to launch (with the iffy weather it was possible they wouldn't go up). When we saw them take off on the TV we looked out the window and here they came! The balloons came right for us! All the special shapes followed a little later by all the regular shapes. About 800 balloons came right over the RVs and some even landed between RVs. The target field for the day started about 50 feet from our RV so we didn't have far to walk to see all the action. It's easy to see why Kodak used to sponsor this event -- they must have sold 10% of their year's film sales right there. But now with digital they have withdrawn. Ron and Joyce took literally hundreds of photos each day!

We had two dinners with the group and also visited the Pueblo Cultural Center with them also. We skipped one of the field trips because we were busy down on the field. We really want to come back for more!

October 8 - 10: Gallup, New Mexico

This was our rest and preparation stop before going into the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. It was also in the schedule as "just in case" days to allow some cushion in the schedule just in case we were delayed on our way in. We weren't delayed though.

October 3 - 7: Mancos, Colorado

Where is Mancos?, you ask? Why, it's right outside of Mesa Verde National Park. We toured ruins on the rim of the canyon including Square House where we met some other photographers we chatted with until sunset. The sunset wasn't as wonderful as we all hoped but the conversation was nice.


We also toured Cliff House, the largest ruin, on the required Ranger-led tour. The cool thing is that we were on a special late tour that only goes occasionally, is limited to 20 people (instead of the 60 people during the main part of the day), and lasts longer than the day-time tours so that we got to just sit and absorb the place.

September 30 - October 2: Green River, Utah

What a cool place! We had no idea that there was so much to see and photograph around Green River. We only stayed three nights but we will definitely be back -- probably for more like three weeks.


We had learned of Goblin State Park so that was on our list but there was also so many other places, including some that Ron thought might not really be places. He eventually persuaded Joyce to turn around and leave the dirt paths she was driving on. One dirt road wasn't bad except for this one spot where there was only one tire track. We don't mean one set of two tracks, we mean one track: One goes through that section sort of tilted up on one side. But then later on the road got worse and we gave up.

September 28 & 29: Salt Lake City

We spent two nights at the KOA right there on North Temple. We took advantage of our proximity to Temple Square to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal. The Tabernacle is under renovation so the performance was in the incredibly huge Conference Center. Joyce had never been in this building and was very interested to see what it looked like inside. We left on Saturday morning, which was not a moment too soon: Conference started that weekend! The place was going to be crawling with extra Mormons (and all the RV parks were booked).

September 27; Jackpot, Nevada

We dipped down into Nevada to stay at Cactus Pete's campground for the night (there isn't much in Jackpot so one night is pretty much all one needs to spend). We ate dinner in the buffet restaurant and gambled some, of course. We were there on Wild Wednesday and Ron was a new card-holder there but he didn't get a T-shirt or anything. How disappointing.

September 25 & 26: Huntington, Oregon

We spent two quiet nights here on the river. Mostly it was just us and a bunch of bugs. A big bunch of bugs. Ron did not like the bugs.

Update! Finally!

Here's the plan: Acknowledging that I am seriously behind on the blog, I am going to start with the words and then go back and add the photos (probably). Let's get this party going!

Wildhorse Casino

When we left Prosser we stopped at Wild Horse Casino for a lunch break. After watching their balloon for three days it seemed the right thing to do. Joyce also won a bunch of money there (nearly $45!).

Prosser Balloon Festival

We then moved on to the Balloon Fiesta in Prosser, Washington. This was fun in it's own right and good practice for the big gathering in Albuquerque coming up in October.


Friday we watched the balloons inflate and take off from the field. It was a working day so the ascent was when each balloon was ready. This was Mickey Mouse's first appearance since they put his black ears back on (last year he was wearing a gold hat and ears in honor of Disney's 50th anniversary).


The next day we found where the balloons dip into the river.


That night we attended the balloon glow that featured six balloons at the high school stadium.


Sunday morning we saw the dawn patrol balloon dip in the river and then . . .


. . . there was a mass ascension.

More NW Trek

When we left Everett, we travelled only 66 miles to Graham, Washington, where we spent four nights. The main reason we chose this spot is because it is right next to NW Trek and we wanted to visit some more.


The coyotes were fun to watch, alternating between shy and inquisitive.




The beaver scared Joyce (but then what doesn't make her jump a little?).




Joyce had never seen a fisher before. He moved really quickly which made it a challenge to photograph him.




The river otters were long and sleek and hard to focus on. They slid through the water and in and out of their den.




The wolverines were fascinating. Their was a "baby" who was born in captivity on February 14 and hand raised by a keeper. She was rambunctious and nearly big and strong enough to move back in with her parents. And her parents! My goodness, watching them "play" explained why they have such a reputation for fiercness.


And of course there were opportunites for artsy-fartsy photos, too.

Mukilteo Festival

We attended the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival (where Joyce was living just prior to starting this adventure). There were craft and food booths, rides for the kiddies, music, and a juried art show (where Joyce's niece won a $15 prize for her soft sculpture!).


We attended a fun party on the Saturday night and that included watching the fireworks show up-close.

Evergreen State Fair

Joyce attended the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, Washington, twice -- first with a girlfriend and again with a sister, niece and niece's friend.


The Grange Exhibits of fruits and vegetables are always attractive.


The pig races are a standard at the Evergreen State Fair. Those running the races invite little kids to "help" by holding up rails or being cheerleaders for different pigs.

More Time in Everett

We enjoyed more time in the Everett area -- you may not be surprised to learn that we stayed "for just one more week." Highlights included more visits with family and friends and photography opportunities, too.

We made the big trip down to NW Trek which is part of the Tacoma Zoo system. It has animals in a natural setting which fulfills their interest in education of the public and our interest in good photo opportunities. We were prompted to visit because of a friend that Ron made at the camera store at Alderwood Mall. We attended a meeting of the camera club he belongs to and enjoyed that, too.


The eagle was a very patient photography model. The fact that it's permanently disabled and can't fly (that's why it's now at NW Trek) helped with the posing and eliminated the need for cage bars.


The snowy owl, also here due to permanent injury, was adorable. He would pose and move a little and pose again.


The grizzly bear, a large male, was playing in the water with an animal skin. The keepers give him the skins of animals that die out in the open range portion of the park (and they also get skins from a butcher when the other herds are overly healthy).

Despite what you may think , , ,

We aren't dead or in jail. Joyce has just been too busy and/or lazy to update. She even has a bunch of photos ready to go. Maybe posting this will shame her into updating for real.

[Maybe not!]

Halfway Through Already!

As the card says, Greetings from Seattle! Actually we are in Everett which is the next larger city north. We'd been here for about two weeks now and in another two, we'll be gone. Time flies.

We have visited family and friends, completed doctor appointments, attended the Evergreen State Fair, spent a few hours each Tuesday at the Tulalip Casino (seniors get 30% off the buffet!), bought new computer equipment, washed and waxed our lovely (fusion orange) car, and attended a camera club meeting. The next two weeks will be just as busy.

We are well and happy and today is not only the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans but also the first anniversary of when Joyce and Ron met.

Onward toward Everett

Joyce was going to change the photo in the profile of our blog to this one. She thought we would make millions in product placements from Coke, Nikon, and Manfrotto (that's the tripod) but she can't figure out how to do it yet! The picture was taken along Firehole Drive in Yellowstone.

We spent two nights in Butte, Montana, and now we're in Post Falls, Idaho, for two nights. Two nights per place is pretty much a forced march rate of travel for us. It will be really bad on Saturday: We're only staying one night in Ellensburg, Washington, before heading into Everett on Saunday. We'll be in Everett for weeks though, so we'll recover.

It turns out there is a pretty big casino about 38 miles from here in Post Falls so you know where we were last night! Ron only lost a few dollars and Joyce made 9 cents! They have lots of Rich Little Piggies games (our favorite) and other good ol' games we know and enjoy.