Wanderin

I'll send you a message

Guess who arrived and guess what he's eating that Sandie made.

CHANGES ... CHANGES IYQ arrived today and couldn't find us. Since Sandie and I looked at so many different places, I'm not sure which one was posted but it didn't work. He would have been parked on top of someone else. Here is a corrected one where I am actually sitting at this minute so you don't want to get too close. I think IYQ will send you one where he was sitting earlier. N 33.61757 W 114.20592 (or -114.20592) That's it so now see if you can find us. If not, give us a call and we'll try to find you.

We'll be ready for you!! We noticed last year that people were collecting the hot water and taking it back. What a nice feature to have at a BLM!! Hot showers and hot water for free. See you tomorrow.

Happy Anniversary to you, Happy Anniversary to you. Here's hoping you have 45 more wonderful years of married life ahead of you. Well, at least a lot of years left! I also hope it was a good steak! Finding a restaurant anymore that knows how to pick a good steak and then cook it like you want it, is difficult. Happy Anniversary.

Actually, I really liked the hot tubs there. I think because it gave us an opportunity to really soak and it felt oh so nice. However, it wasn't really packed when we were there except for our group. Here you go. Sandie and I rode around the BLM today. This is where she is parked and we're moving next to her in the morning. Denise is parked there too blocking the other side of the already built campfire area. Latitude 33.61757 Longitude -114.20592 There are several places to turn off the main road to the left as you enter. One is by the Art and Jan sign before you get to the dump. Another place to turn is by the dump line sign. We'll post a picture of this on our class map page in the next day or two. Either way if any of you arrive and can't find us .. send us a text and we'll find you. I think you all have our ##'s. We've been carrying the leftover yellow ribbons from last year so have plenty to pass out. We'll be the "yellow" group. I'm not sure where the other group is going to park. Sandie and I talked about it a bit today. We think they really wanted to pick their own site. However, since we are already here we didn't want to set up and then change it in a couple days when they decide where they want us to be.

I didn't know they had a floor tax. It's a wonder there aren't more parked in the BLM empty. However, the lots around here sure are starting to fill up. About that cup ..... once Coldsmoke and Lairds get here, we'll be able to grind these coffee beans and we can all have coffee! Don't know who else is showing up early but probably a bunch more ... maybe. Sandie and Jim didn't show up today but I'll let them tell you THAT story.

I know. We have other people currently in Astoria that had a massive storm last night. Rain in Astoria probably means snow in the Coastal Range. Thank goodness Toni doesn't have to go there. Siskiyous were clear. The weathermen kept changing their forecast but it worked in our favor. Hopefully, it'll work in their favor too. Just looked at forecast through the Siskiyous and it does look clear for their trip through the mountains. Let's hope it stays that way. Edit - edit --------------- We just took a drive to La Posa South. They moved the garbage cans to a little west of where they were before. It looks like they have a couple watering holes there now plus the ones across the street. Still a lot of empty areas. However, some are starting to fill up. Once you get off the main road it gets pretty dusty and dirty but still good spots without going too far. More vendors have opened up shop than just a couple of weeks ago when we drove through. You can tell the action is getting ready to start ... but not quite yet. That's my news for the day.

We're going to take a drive out to the BLM this morning and scout it out. I'll post coordinates once we pick a spot with Jim and Sandie. They will be arriving today. Sailbad is already there, Coldsmoke is soon to arrive and Lairds aren't far behind. That doesn't even count all the others we've invited to join us. It'll probably be on the north side of the dump area. It was sure nice when we could watch that line before and know when it was short before we decided to get in it. It kind of depends where the 2007'ers decide to set up their little event whether we'll actually move where they are at. We might be the step-children at their party but oh well, been there this summer too so we will just play it by ear. We noticed some of the RV lots are filling up compared to a couple weeks ago. I guess the RV dealers want to push these in before all the people get here. Anyone have a grinder for coffee beans? I have beans and no grinder.

We arrived! Will send details when we can figure out where we'll be. Sounds like we're going to have a pre-party.

Well, can't say we beat our record but we did get 710 miles behind us today! Tomorrow should be a little easier day. at about 515 miles away from "Q".

We've been busy, busy, busy. Another year and Christmas is almost behind us. We start our trek back to "Q" tomorrow and so far it looks like the weather is holding out through the mountains. Well, at least nothing bad predicted. It's been great being with family but it's time to get back on the road. I think we can fit everything in the car in the morning. Hope everyone had a great day and didn't over stuff themselves with food. Tomorrow is a federal holiday so feel free to take it off. We are. See you in "Q"!!

Love it, Linda.

"DITTO" in the words of IYQ Merry Christmas

You were lucky I guess. Portland/Vancouver area sits where it gets the cold through the Gorge from the east and the Marine air from the west. Weird place, yes. It's been quite foggy for a few days. The moisture in the fog freezes around here making stupid black ice and windows you have to scrape. We didn't like it. Today we had beautiful blue skies and no fog or ice. That's how we want it to stay until we leave on Monday.

We saw ICE yesterday!! We gingerly walked to our car only to find it covered in ice. Obviously, we had no ice scraper but Terry's comb came out and went to work until the car warmed up enough to help. Ice is not something we had in our plans to see ever again. Monday morning we'll be heading back to Arizona -- 1246 miles. Anticipated arrival --- Tuesday evening so that means absolutely no ice or snow desired between here and there. Terry had another follow-up appointment yesterday and he's still cancer-free! Yeah!! Three more months until his next check-up!

Half the fun is figuring out where we think we're going to go whether or not we end up going there. We'll be heading back to "Q" probably on Monday after Christmas to reconnect with our "stuff". Maybe Jim and Sandie will have already selected the perfect spot at La Posa South. After Q we're still thinking about Holtsville and then the coast ... maybe.

The tiny ones eat less too so the dinner bill might be lower.

The hot baths there sure are nice but Freddy isn't allowed to use soap!! There's just a bunch of stuff in that area that we haven't seen including Borrego Springs -- a nice day trip .... We didn't take our little Honda 2000 south with us when we went but we're going to grap it when we head back. With all this electricity and the hot springs, the hot springs solves Terry's need to take a long shower too.

Right now that's where we're thinking. I know Freddy and Delcie are heading towards Yuma so maybe we can convince them to head 20 miles west. The Blue Angels practice in El Centro during February. Between the natural hot springs there and the show, it might be a great place to spend a little time.

We're thinking we might go down to the hot springs at Holtsville and soak after Q. I'm struggling with Christmas. it's a lot easier to buy for little kids than big kids but we need to finish so it can get in the mail too.

If you hang around long enough, you just might see that streak heading back going the other direction in another 10 days!! There's lots to see around that area. I'm sure you'll keep busy.

Congratulations Toni and Doug on the new grand baby! 690 miles on Tuesday and about 550 today but we made it. We were one day late so missed the snow through the Grapevine (thank goodness) and one day early for the snow storm through the Siskiyous. On day one we got our fix by stopping at the Winco in Indio. Then the Cabazon outlets for the Crabtree and Evelyn outlet plus the Brighton one. We have four girls that we bought a few Christmas gifts for. Then, we stopped at the Ghirardelli Outlet in Stockton but left without dropping any cash. With all the stops I think we did good.

In the past we've gathered on the left over a wash and behind the trash bins. It's a big area but the advantage is that you can see the lines before you need to go and a short walk to dump your trash. Once you get past where the road ends it really gets dusty and dirty. I guess we didn't necessarily notice so much dust where we were parked due to all the rock in that area. We drove around the BLM yesterday. There are a lot of large open spaces close. Of course, I am sure much of this will change over the next couple of weeks or so. Sounds as though Jim and Sandie will be the first one to move onto the BLM. I don't know anyone who has large cooking pot stoves just some barbecues.

Linda - Sandie will respond to you but ... she and Jim are going to be heading to "Q" about the 28th of December for 10 days or so. Does your group normally park by the dump when they congregate? That's where we are going to be and hopefully she'll get a chance to meet some of your group too before they head back to Phoenix for the surgery. I think you indicated some of the 2007'ers would be pulling into La Posa South around the 1st. Look us up ... we'll be at the dump with lots of yellow ribbons on our mirrors. I found our supply from last year that was still tucked in where they didn't belong.