Labor Day 2009

8-28-09
We left the house at 3:30 AM. Carlsbad was still asleep.
At a small shopping center ,in Carpinteria, we had our cereal.
After breakfast, Doreen laid on the couch and tried to catch up on her sleep, while I drove another hour and then stopped at a truck parking area and had a half hour nap. We stopped in Pismo Beach at the Elks Lodge, but they were full, a large camping group had filled all the spaces.
We went to the lodge in San Luis Obispo and got a space with hook ups. Dry camping in 103 degrees F would be no fun. We had to run the roof air conditioner all day. We arrived there at 10:00 AM and after lunch drove to Avila Beach and had a nice walk on the pier. The temperatures at the beach were fine. Ten miles makes a lot of difference. Fisherman were cleaning fish and feeding scraps to pelicans. One pelican had his throat full of fish.
When we came back to the lodge we had an early dinner. Doreen had made a Shepherds Pie. We only had to put it in the microwave oven. The refrigerator and the freezer are packed to full capacity.
We had almost emptied the house refrigerator.
After dinner I went to the pool, at the lodge, for a swim. The whole town seemed to be there.













8-29-09
We had a bad start today. At 6:30 AM we left the San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge. I should have made a left turn on Madonna Street, but missed the turn. So I made a left turn at the next street, hoping to come around the block. The first sign I saw was "Dead End Street". There was a street going to the left before the dead end, I thought I was safe. This street turned out to be another dead end street. Now we were trapped.
We unhooked the car and Doreen guided me into a little driveway. I was able to turn the motorhome and did not have to back up all the way to the other street.
The next little mishap happened after we took off again. The GPS fell off the windshield, but it kept on working and giving us directions.
The rest of the drive was uneventful. People in the Salinas Valley were harvesting vegetables and one could smell cabbages for miles.
In Gilmore we got the aroma of garlic.
After setting up the motorhome at the Sunnyvale Elks we went to lunch with Vera and George, Doreen’s sister in law and brother in law.



I had fish and chips, like every good English man has. After the meal we visited Chris and his family. He is Doreen’s nephew.
The rest of the day we took it easy. It is still very hot.


8-30-09
Today was a driving day. We left Sunnyvale at 5:30 AM and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge at 6:45 AM. The bridge was in heavy fog.
When we came to the other side of the hills we were greeted by blue skies.
We had sunny weather until we arrived in Eureka. There the sun was hiding behind clouds.
I tried last night to sent the new part of my blog, but could not get into Juno.
While being on the computer in San Luis Obispo, Juno asked me whether I would like to upgrade to the newest version. I did it with my computer at home and had no problem. So I down loaded the new version. Now I have to wait until tomorrow and have to go on Claudia’s computer and also make some phone calls to Juno.
We stopped at Claudia’s house for a short time. The grandchildren are growing. Jacob will start first grade tomorrow, and Nicolette third grade.

8-31-09
I called Juno and got the computer problem resolved. They charge $ 1.95 a minute for support.
I also played with the television and found the correct wires for the cable hook up. Then I worked on the digital converter box. I had problems scanning for the channels. I finally figured that out.
Doreen went shopping with Claudia.
It is still cool in Eureka, about 65 degrees F.

9-1-09
Today we drove by car to the "Trees of Mystery".
We left highway 101 for a while and took the scenic coastal dirt road. Unfortunately it was not weather for taking pictures.












The park is located 60 miles North of Eureka, near Klamath. We walked the trails and also went above the giant redwoods in the Sky Trail gondolas.
When we were there the sky was gray, no sun in sight. As soon as we left blue sky appeared.
Yes, they have Paul Bunyon in Northern California. Barbara and Ron just saw him in Minnesota. I saw the Minnesota one in 1959, when I moved from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Chicago.













On one trail there are wooden figures, made by an artist with a chain saw.












A group of redwoods form a wedding chapel. Weddings are performed there.


On a sunny day one has a very good view to the coast, we had a bit of fog.













Trees of Mystery has one of the best privately owned museum with Indian artifacts.
In the late afternoon I went to Nicolette’s soccer practice. Doreen was all worn out from the walking and took a rest.












9-2-09
Claudia, Doreen and I drove over to Victorian Ferndale, where Claudia and Doreen went shopping while I kept benches warm.
Ferndale is a beautiful little town.














9-3-09
Today we went to the Eureka Boardwalk and Old Town. The weather is perfect now.














Eureka has a lot of Victorian homes. The largest is the Carson House. It was built by a Lumber Baron.












9-4-09
We left Eureka at 7:30 PM and arrived at Ruth Lake at 10:00 AM. The 60 miles on highway 36 were a long 60 miles, a lot of curves and up a hill and down again. We made it though.
Scott, Claudia and the kids came later.
The campground at Ruth Lake is not designed for motorhomes, and it took us an hour to level the rig.
We tried several spots and ended up using the hydraulic jacks and wood.














The kids and I went for a swim. Scott is sick, he takes it easy.

9-5-09
Scott felt better today, but the weather changed. It started to rain.
Doreen and I drove to two Forest Service campgrounds to check them out. They were built for tents and the sites are too short and not level. The campgrounds are beautiful and on the lake.
We also paid the little town of Ruth a visit. There was a community garage sale and we bought two toy trucks for Jacob and a dog for Nicolette. Nicolette gave the dog a hair cut.
We are located almost level with the lake.
Claudia and family were on higher ground yesterday and could not sleep because some young kids had a party until 2:00 AM. Today they moved on our site.
In the afternoon the weather improved.








For dinner Doreen made a big pot of meat sauce and I made a green salad. We had spaghetti for dinner.

9-6-09
There was fog on the lake this morning, what a beautiful sight that was.











Jacob and I walked through the whole campground. I have not seen so many tents lately.
When we got back I cooked pancakes for the whole family.
The sun came out and everybody was happy. At 10:00 AM Scott and I got in the canoe and Nicolette and Jacob were in the inflatable kayak. We pulled them across the lake to a small cove.



















Scott builds a big camp fire every evening. Claudia and the kids make smores.











9-7-09
We left Mad River at 7:30 AM and arrived in Red Bluff at 10:30 AM. I do not recommend highway 36 for a shortcut between I-5 and highway 101. The scenery is beautiful, but the curves and hills are not easy to maneuver with a motorhome with car in tow.
We went North on I-5 to highway 299 East.
At McArthur-Burny Falls Memorial State Park we got a camp site for the night.
After a rest we went to the Falls. They are magnificent. Since it is a holiday many people were at the park.














I tried to get my E mail but Juno would not let me on the Internet. The Visitor Center has WIFI

August 2009

8-19-09
Today we had lunch with the Convair Camping Club at Mimi’s in Santee.
I had brought my camera and it was hanging on the back of my chair. I did not take any pictures and almost walked out without it.
My neighbor, at the table, ran after me and handed the camera to me.
I am getting old.
Doreen and I had fun though. The food and company were great. We missed some members of the group. They are on a trip up the Eastern Seashore. Right now they are in Nova Scotia.

8-22-09
Today we had breakfast at Denny’s in El Cajon. Every fourth Saturday the Shanty Shakers Camping Club
has their monthly meeting at this restaurant.
This is another fine group and we enjoy their company. My camera was on the table this time.













The last few months I have been only talking about camping. The coming Friday, I hope, we actually take off.
We plan on spending Labor Day with Claudia and family at a lake 60 miles South East of Eureka.
From there we head to Idaho, and on to the Canadian Rockies.
This will be the first big trip with the new motorhome. The last few days I spent cleaning the fresh water tank with bleach.
I am ready to go.

Summer 2009

8-2-09
Summer is almost over and we have not traveled anywhere.
I am running out of work on the motorhome pretty soon.
Yesterday I installed an electric heater element in the water heater.
This went smooth until there was a leak. I had to remove the element again. This time I forgot to open one of the hot water faucets and at the last turn the element flew out from the pressure and I got wet. Luckily the element did not hit me.
Inside the motorhome I had to install a switch with a light, so I know when the heater is on.
When we in the desert, and I use the inverter, I have to be sure that the water heater only runs on propane, otherwise the batteries would be empty in no time.
This was the last important project.
Today I started on installing gas filled struts to one of the solar panels. Since this motorhome has no ladder I have to raise the panels from the ground.
Ron, one of my WIN friends designed this system, and Barbara sent me instructions and pictures.
I changed a door latch per instructions and after some trials was successful.
An extended paint roller pole, without the roller, activates the latch. A 5/16 eye bolt installed on the panel, is used for pulling the panel down again, to the latch.












8-3-09
Today we took the motorhome to the beach. It is a four mile drive.
I arrived at the beach five minutes before 5:00 AM. There is no parking between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM.
Since I want a spot near the grass area I have to get there early.
Doreen had told me that she would come along that early.
When I woke her up at 4:15 AM, she looked at me with one eye and told me she would come later by car. She promised me that she would make some potato salad and bring it for lunch. That got her off the hook.
I went back to bed after setting up the motorhome.
It turned out to be a beautiful day. Doreen did some knitting and we read the paper.
I went swimming and had a chance to try out the outside shower on the motorhome.















8-4-09
This was a hot day for us. We took the motorhome to Corona to have the new shower door and the right rear, outside molding installed.
Corona is a hot place, it was over 100 degrees F.
When the molding was installed I noticed that the bottom eight inches were not grey, matching the adjoining parts. When they ripped off the old part, I thought the did this to see how they had to paint it.
They threw it away and I was riding around with duck tape covering the area.
I was not coming back, seventy miles for a small paint job. The dealer called a mobile painter, he came in a van with all his painting equipment. He did a good job, matching the mating parts.
I did not have to pay for the shower door and the molding, this I requested before buying the rig.

Morgan Road Block Party

7-25-09
Today we had our annual Block Party.
We had it again at Jean Sinclair's house, since she has the most tables and chairs.
This is the last year though at her place. Next year a younger couple will take over.
The food was good as always. I feasted on Doreen's Shepherds Pie, it is one of my favorite meals.
In the morning I did some work on the motor home, and we went to the Shanty Shakers breakfast in El Cajon. The Shanty Shakers are the Southern California chapter of the Escapee Camping Club. The back up camera is installed now and so is the under the sink water filtration system. I put in a separate faucet for that.
We are ready to roll now, but have to wait for one of Doreen's doctor appointments and going to Corona for the new shower door and the large molding on the rear of the motor home.

Balboa Park

7-19-09
I am still not doing any traveling. Buying the new motor home ruined our schedule.
The solar panels are working now. The second panel is hooked up incorrectly.
Doreen's son came to the house and he played with it for a while.
We decided to bypass the diodes. As soon as I get together with the WIN's I copy the hook up from one of the members.
I had color coded all the wires from the controller to the batteries and solar panels, but did not do it for the panels, because it was so simple. It is not simple anymore.
I feel stupid. It worked on two motor homes and I could not get it right on the third one.
I removed the heavy TV and installed the LCD TV we had in the old motor home.
There was some wood work involved. I was able to match the wood around the TV very close with the cabinets.
The CB is now installed too. I had to remove the driver seat to get under the dash.
The driver door on the C class was very handy.
While I did this I also installed wires for the back up camera monitor. This is my next project.
On the 4th of August we have to go back to Corona to have the new shower door installed and the large corner molding on the back of the motorhome.
While the molding is off I can use this space for 12 volt wires for the camera. There is a light in the last storage bay and I can hook on to that.
Today we went to Imperial Beach for the US Open Sandcastle Competition. There was no parking available within five blocks of the beach. All the spaces along the streets and parking lots were taken. We went around several times but it was too early for somebody to leave.
Next year we will come real early and make sure we get a spot.
So we stopped at Balboa Park in San Diego, and went to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, to the Imax Theatre, to see " Wild California". It is a film about surfing, skydiving, snow boarding, climbing the Redwoods and other real California actions. The photography was fantastic.
Before the show we had walked in the park and also stopped at the Orchid Show.



















On the way home we stopped at El Indio Mexican restaurant.
We met Ron Johnson and his wife and grandson there. I had not seen him for 14 years.
When we stood in line I was sure I knew that person, so I asked him whether he worked for Convair. He was a supervisor on the F&G line on the MD-11. Later on he moved to the advanced cruise missile. It was wonderful to see him again. We shared a table and talked about the past and about what we are doing now. He is a mail carrier now.

Convair Camping Club Picnic 2009

7-7-09
We had our club picnic at San Diego Mission Bay.
Arlene and Howard, the hosts for this outing, served bratwurst with all the trimmings.
The weather was very good. Some of us actually had to wear sweat shirts because of the ocean breeze. Everybody had a good time. Some members, who do not camp anymore,
came and it was fun to talk to everybody.
We had the gazebo for shade.













Howard was cooking bratwurst on two grills.






















We had some excitement. Doreen thought that somebody took her hand bag. We looked all over the place. There were some strangers nearby. Finally somebody got up and there was the white hand bag with the brown handles. Doreen had moved from our chairs to a picnic table for a while. When she came back to the chair she did not bring her hand bag.




















Here is Bill checking out the dessert.









I am still working on the new motor home. I have the solar panels mounted and the four house batteries installed. Unfortunately the controller shows 13 volts and the charging light is on, but the amp meter is at zero.
To make sure that the batteries are full and it is therefore not charging, I turned on the microwave oven. That draws a lot of current from the batteries. The amp meter still was not moving.
I was really frustrated and wanted to accomplish something. So I removed the toilet and cleaned it and installed a new rubber seal. The bowl did not hold the water.
The Purple Heart organization is interested in my old motor home. If they take it and sell it, the money will go to wounded soldiers.

Independence Day 2009

7-4-09
Another 4th of July. Since the new motorhome is not ready for a trip, and Red Beach at Camp Pendleton was not open for camping, we celebrated at the club house.
The hamburgers were good and this time the committee had bought some bratwurst.
There was plenty of food and talking to the neighbors was fun too.


















In the morning I worked on the motorhome. Yesterday I had mounted the solar panels on the roof. Today I brought the wires inside and cut a hole for the controller and mounted it. It is not easy for me to cut a three inch by six inch hole in the beautiful wood interior.
Nothing bothered me on the other two motor homes. The Coachmen motor home is almost new inside.
San Diego Trailer Supply had the rig Wednesday and Thursday for installing the leveling system and reworking the hitch. They did a good job on the hitch. I gained another three inches.
When I came home and went up the driveway I did not hit the cement with the rear of the motor home.
Last week I removed two three speed fans from the old motor home and installed them on the Coachmen. Then I installed the vents in the old rig.
This was a messy job. Removing the sealants was not easy. Two of my fingers suffered too.
I had bought 1 1/2 inch aluminum angle material for mounting the solar panels, since I could not remove the brackets from the old motorhome.
When I got home and was realizing that I just paid $ 70.00 for material, I bought a new putty knife and worked at it again. This time I was successful.