Spent a couple of hours with RV Coach people taking care of some minor issues with the coach. Had to go back to dealer for some work. Underway late on Wednesday the 25th and booked a night off the road in Ehrenberg, AZ at the Western Horizon resort Colorado River. Then on Thursday the 26th, headed for Casa Grande, AZ. The day looked fine, but winds continued to build and by noon we had gusts of 30-40 mph. Decided to avoid Phoenix and took hwy 85 south off hwy10 to hwy 8 into Casa Grande. Shari following behind the coach in the car as we have yet to have the tow bar installed , scheduled for 4/7.
Well, things happened in a hurry. Driving at 60mph +, Shari hit a 50-60mph wind gust tearing the kayaks and rack right off the roof of the car. Scary!! I lost her in my rear view mirror, but not to concerned as she would call me if trouble. Well, she had no cell coverage. A passer by helped pull the kayaks off the hwy and loaned a cell phone with local coverage to call me. By then I was 20 miles down the road. Turned around and headed back Arriving at the scene, hugged Shari for concern and observed the situation. Another citizen to our rescue, a law enforcement gal, already had loaded the kayaks in the back of her small pick up. Kayaks still fully attached to the rack, so the whole rack let loose. Trashed the rack, some roof damage to Shari’s new car, kayaks survived with out too much damage. Thank god no one hurt! Well, now what to do, two kayaks, no rack, and in the middle of “no where”. Well, the gal that came to our assistance offered to drive the kayaks in her pick up to “Cabelas” (a major sporting store) in Glendale, about 30 miles away, thinking we might be able to repair or replace the rack. We took her up on the offer. She called a friend to join us, we tied the kayaks securely, and off we went, still in heavy winds. Arrived at Cabelas, contacting the store manager and sending our helpers on their way, refusing to accept any payment, but managed to force $60 in their pocket.
Working with Cabelas proved to have no easy fix for a car rack option, and quite frankly, after the event, we were not excited about putting them back on the car roof, so with two kayaks laying in the parking lot, we decided to ship them home. Arranged for Conway freight and $500 later they were on their way. WOW! What a day. Cabela manager allowed us to stay overnight in the back of their lot. Relief that we found a solution, no one got hurt, and minor damage to the car can be fixed, we did get a good nights sleep.
Up early Friday AM the 27th to head to Casa Grande. Hit major morning traffic going east on hwy 10 right into Phoenix. Traffic crawled and Bob driving a new coach for the first time in major traffic. About an hour and ½ later traffic freed and we were well under way. Arrived at our RV resort around 10:00am and got situated relatively close to our friends Bill & Jody, feeling good to be settled once again. What a couple of days!
Saturday & Sunday spent the days getting acquainted with the workings of the coach. Lots of systems to learn. Automatic leveling, Air bags, GPS navigation, Sirius Satellite Radio, DC Inverter system, Washer Dryer, Home entertainment system, Sanitary system, and the list goes on.
Caught up with Tony & Dick and found Charlie & Clari in the afternoon on Monday. Joined them for a RV tour presentation to the Maritimes Canada’s Best Secret. Charlie & Clari then invited us to join them tomorrow, Tuesday for the International BNP Tennis Tournament. A new experience for us as we have never been to a live pro tennis match. These grounds located in Indian Wells and I believe considered the 2nd largest in the world. Over 40 courts in a very beautifully landscaped complex. Today was free admission as they are in qualification rounds. Players from all over the world, an open event, but based on the talent level it’s believed to be all pros, some armatures may try but likely won’t make it. Also some pre-qualification is required.
We started by visiting some practice courts then on to stadium match play. Tournament is both men & women. Some really awesome matches, but didn’t have a clue who most of the players were or their ranking. Players surrounded by large crowds obviously notables. Still a great experience. Beautiful sunny day and wind subsided. Nice crowds at the even, but manageable to move around with ease.
Thursday morning Shari and I got introduced to “Pickle Ball”. Lessons offered by the RV park. For those not familiar, it is sort of like “miniature tennis”. Played on a smaller sized tennis court with a little lower net, a “paddle” type racquet, and a ball that is much like an oversized “whiffle ball”. Rules and scoring slightly different. Fun game, particularly for us “seniors”.
Rest of the week pretty much stayed around the park. Nice steak dinner in the club house. Played a little “Hand & Foot” with Charlie & Clari. A few road trips into the Palm Springs area. Looked into a tour of the “wind turbine” farms, numerous out here. Proclaimed one of the best tours in the country. Maybe next week.
End of week 16, March 21, 2009
Week 17 (March 22-28) proved to be pretty hectic. We cut a deal on a new RV, a class A Motor Home, trading in our 5th wheel and truck. The RV market out here is “nuts” and it was a deal we could not refuse. A brand new 2009- 38’ Holiday Rambler Endeavor taken in on a bank repossession from a dealer. They wanted to get out of it bad, we made an offer and they accepted. The deal was facilitated thru a dealer, but no commission, just a fee between the bank and the dealer for closing the deal. As the result, we had to purchase a “tow” vehicle for behind the coach and settled on a new Honda CR-V, noted in the industry as one of the top tow vehicles for all four wheels down. So suffice to say our whole week was learning “our new equipment”. Spent A couple of nights in the dealer lot cross loading our “stuff”, way to much accumulated over 6 years with our old rig. A little overwhelming. Then back to Desert Pools RV park for a couple of more days, and then on to Casa Grande, AZ.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Week 14 ending March 7, 2009
Had a full week. Played golf at the Indio Municipal Golf course with a park tag along. Sunday joined Mike and Mary to the Desert Palms “Street Fair”. A really nice and very large flea market with lots of good stuff. Hybrid clubs almost a give a way. Monday we joined a park group on a 3-1/2 hour hike in the PushwalaCanyon, some steep climbs along the ridge then loops back through a wash. The turnaround point had an incredible oasis of palm tress right in the middle of the desert, quite a sight.
Tuesday another golf day at the Indian Palms Country club, but open to the public, and our park got a special group rate on a really great course. Teamed with Mike & Mary again and had a great day. Mexican dinner at the club house, Chicken Fajitas with all the makings, after a nice dip in the pool. Very good! Weather still great, sunny with temps high in the mid 80’s. Nice! Been doing aerobic exercise classes every morning at 8am for 45 minutes. A good morning wake up.
Wednesday was a “maintenance day”, Shari laundry and Bob housekeeping. Evening joined Mike and Mary to the “Fabulous Palm Springs Follies” staring Susan Anton. Multi-talented show with lots of singing, dancing, comedy, and special acts. A three hour show highlighting the old “Route 66” theme. Marvelous colorful costumes. Theme directed to the senior audience, da, and the performers seniors as well, the oldest 85yrs old, but can out dance and sing any of us. Was a fun evening in downtown Palm Springs, starting with dinner at the Las Casuelas Terraza Mexican Resturant followed by the Follies. Very Good!
Thursday, 3/5, a very interesting day. Mike & Mary being “Jeepsters” had wanted to take us Jeeping, but already had friends joining them, so needed another Jeep with an empty back seat. Apparently “Jeepsters” team up easily for mountain adventure trips. Anyway, after searching the RV park w/o success, they came across a jeep in the Costco parking lot and approached the strangers for Jeep trip in the Borrengo Springs area and the Anza –BorrengoState Park. Turns out they live in an RV park in that area and embraced the idea. Well, low & behold total strangers hook up for a Jeep trip and be are invited to join them. This all took place on Wednesday for a Thursday outing.
Well about noon we head to Borrengo Springs, hook up with Mike & Marys friends, Dick & Leanne, and then call to meet the new “Costco” friends Tom & Joan. Got directions to their place, and off we go. Very nice RV park in a beautiful golf course and mountain view setting. Very nice people and welcomed us with open arms. RV’ers are incredible people. After some conversation over Jeep trail maps, a route was decided and off we went. A moderate trail with desert flowers in bloom, a couple of interesting water crossings, and a large steep rock hill that we opted out of for this trip, but hiked to the crest. Great people and great fun! Back to Borrengo Springs for super at a local coffee shop. Exchanged cards with Tom & Joan.
Friday, Shari and I did some Palm Springs road trip stuff, and stopped for lunch at a favorite spot from last year, “Don and Sweet Sues” for a great lunch. Then back to the RV park to treat Mike & Mary to a fish fry from our catch in KinoBay. Fun! They are leaving tomorrow, so a good time to say our “good byes”. We will miss them as it has been a great week. Saturday morning we greeted them farewell as they pulled out. PM Shari and I hiked the 1,000 palms trail for about 1-1/2 hours. Straddled the Saint Andreas Fault. Back to RV to prepare for our departure Sunday Am. What a Great Two Weeks!
Sunday required a check out by 11:00am from Indian Waters, requested an extra night so we could get our new tire put on the fifth wheel, dealer not open Sunday, so arranged for early Monday AM stop. Indian Waters could not accommodate an extra night, so we opted to stay at the Fantasy Springs Casino parking lot. Had a late lunch in the casino, played some slots and lost, so back to the RV for Chicken dinner in.
Monday early stop for our tire change (7:00am), then on to Desert Pools RV resort in Desert Hot Springs for a two week stay. Arrived around 10am, settled in checking for friends, Tony & Dick and Charlie & Clari. Didn’t find them, but sure there here somewhere. Very windy day.
Can’t believe February is gone! Been on the road three months already and time seems to be flying by.
Enjoying our stay at Indian Waters RV Park, Indio, CA. Connected with a couple we met last year, Mike & Mary Diamond. Played golf with them at the Indio municipal golf course. Actually was a park outing, ten couples, and we formed a foursome with Mike and Mary. Had Fun! Both guys shot in the 70’s. Ha, ha! Par three course, but with a number of 200 yard holes, one 240, unfair par 3 for me. Shari got a par on each 9. Happy happy.
Shari and I joined a park “tag a long” hike to La Quinta Cove. It was a moderate hike of
about 4 miles through a canyon wash with one strenuous hill. We had about 8 couples hiking on a beautiful day. At the highest point, a beautiful view of the valley. Desert flowers are beginning to bloom. At the end of the half way point came to a magnificent private golf course. Tee boxes were manicured better then most greens I’ve played on. Memberships I understand pricy with a $50,000 initiation fee and must own property in the complex, probably starting at half a million plus range. Nice! Hiked back and tired but fun. Stopped in Old Town La Quita, Hogs Breath Restaurant with the couple we car pooled with. Great lunch.
Shari joined Mary on Friday for a museum tour in Old Town Indio, both enjoyed. Included history of the town and date harvesting, also tour of the original old school house. Also is black history week so we enjoyed a tour of a new display of the early blacks in the area. Bob took an 18 mile bike ride while Mike got interested in a water color painting class.
No end of things to see and do around here. La Quinta has beautifully landscaped boulevards with lots of flowers and palm trees back dropped by the mountains and snow caps. We have had sun every day with temps in the high 70’s and mid 80’s. First time running A/C since leaving home.
roof damage to 
