LAST DAY IN OAKHURST JULY 16, 2015

July 16, 2015

LAST DAY IN CAMP

Nothing official planned for the day, some played golf, others continued exploring and some of us just relaxed in camp.  Getting quite warm and there is a pool at the near the golf course and sort of wish I took advantage a warm day. 

Typically the last night the group goes out to dinner but since we just did that last night, this was designated as heavy snacks (I cannot spell the H word).   Butch again as tradition, generally has our group sing a long after dinner.  Because there was going to be the grand finale playoff for Ladder ball, he decided to have it early.  This year Jack McGee joined Butch as he is a musician also.  Bonnie was so gracious as to print out our song books .  Ours were getting pretty worn and tattered.  Some of the songs we sing have fond memories of past trips and some sad memories as some songs meant a lot to members who have left us.  The last trip where we had our music evening was our last official SIRS 15 trip to Calistoga Calif. in 2013, before we merged with SIRS 96.     Have to admit that was a very emotional  time thinking back to all our trips and the fond memories.   The good news is we did merge with SIRS 96 and met and still meeting new people and looking forward to new adventures and memories.

Ok.... as usual I got side tracked.....  We had a great feast of different food, everything awesome and yummy.  Onto the big match for ladder ball!  There were eight teams and when a team lost they were out.  When it got down to the final two teams, the winner of that game, played each other and the winners were: Len and Bill H.   Their playoff the final 1st place went to Bill the second place to Len. 

After the big tournament we celebrated four birthdays, Mike, Len, Steve and Jack.  Happy Birthday Guys and many more happy birthdays to come.

The rest of the evening, there were card games and trivia games going on, people just chatting and time to break down the gathering area.  Always a letdown when we have to do this and get  everything put away.  Must remember there is always another trip/adventure to look forward to.

Last but certainly not least....  a HUGE THANK YOU to our trail bosses and wives, Ed and Carol Maloney, Butch and Betty Fisher, an amazing trip, we thank you for putting together the dinner train ride and just making this as many other trips come together.  Appreciate all your efforts.

Safe travels to everyone heading home tomorrow, hope to see you all soon...

Until next time............

 

OUR HOSTS

CAROL, ED,BUTCH AND BETTY

BUTCH AND JACK

THE MUSIC MEN

SUE AKA RED AND STEVE

BEV,GEORGE AND MAX

GROUP SINGING

ANOTHER SHOT OF GROUP SINGING

MAUREEN AND CAROL

CAROL IS ALWAYS SMILING

RON AND ED

 

MORE PICTURES TO FOLLOW

 

July 15, 2015 Yosemite Blog

July 15, 2015

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

Today was a free day, some went golfing, some went exploring, some went shopping and some just kicked back to relax. 

Ed and I went back to this cute shop The Purple Cow, where we found two neat lamps for the Yerington house.  Explored the town a bit and back to camp to hang out with some of our group.  We were resting up for the evening festivities..

A group of about 38 signed up for the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad BBQ, train ride and campfire.  The meal was New York Steak, or Chicken and for those that prefer a Vegetarian meal.  One thing about this traveling group, we can find fun and humor anywhere. The steaks were pretty darn good.  OK, for desert there was OMG bread pudding.  Long story about bread pudding and Ed and I contributed ours to anyone who wanted them in our  group. 

We boarded our outdoor car and some were in the cars with tops and we were pretty darn cozy as other people moved our belongings down and took our spots.  We take this kind of stuff in stride, well I did want to confront them but what good is that going to do, they would not have moved.  The ride was about two miles up the road and at the end of that part of the ride, an area with seating and a campfire.  The foursome group that entertained us through dinner were there to do sing  a longs and stories.  A lot of good old campfire songs and the funny part is to see some of the "younger teens" looking extremely bored.  I suppose not much of this type of activity is popular these days unless on a mobile device.   We headed back down to the train station, the weather was nice, just a light jacket needed.  We got back to camp about 10:00 pm, everyone went to their home on wheels for the night. 

If anyone is in the Yosemite area, I would recommend this train ride, it is not often you can find these old steam trains running anymore.

  YosemiteMountain Sugar Pine Railroad

Driving through Yosemite

 

Setting up for dinner

Campfire

Some of our group

 

More pictures to come as soon as I transfer them

 

Until next time......

DAY 2 July 13, 2015

July 13, 2015  DAY 2

 

Ed and I started out the day with good intentions to be to camp by 3:00 ish.  Hoping to start the day for breakfast at the RV park location  to find out it is closed Monday and Tuesday.  No problem, we will find a place along the way..   We get down to Highway 108 which was our intended route and the first warning sign was  trucks exceeding 30 feet not advised, then the second sign up the road said vehicles with trailers not advised, and the third one was the 26% grade, THAT was the topper, and it was "hell no" no doing that one. We finally find a place to turn around and headed back to Highway 395 and Tioga Pass.  There are some grades on that road, it is a pretty ride although Ed did not see much but the highway.  The roads are narrow through Yosemite to begin with but with idiotic tourists that stop smack in the middle of the road to take pictures and then the really intelligent ones that stand aside their parked car on the side of the road and backing up into the road to get a better shot of a TREE, that idiot is lucky to be alive.  Then the tunnels, glad I was not driving as I covered my eyes.  At any rate it took six hours and we arrived to camp at 5:00 pm   just in time for dinner.  Excellent timing for sure.

Butch, Betty, Carol and Ed our leaders on this trip provided a very nice meal of, pulled pork, beans and potato salad.  It was awesome and thanks for all the work they put in for this meal for forty people.  Now Butch came around with homemade cookies (at least that is what he said) red velvet cookies, not to be outdone Ed M. claims his cookies were freshly baked.  He must be a heck of a baker, they tasted just as good as Costco cookies.  I do believe both men as they are fine upstanding gentlemen... 

It was great catching up with everyone.  Since our SIRS 15 and SIRS 96 merged, there are still a few unfamiliar faces but over time I am sure that will be resolved.  Quite a few folks were playing this game, where you throw a rope type thingie with balls at each end at a thing that looks like a three step ladder.  After watching a while Ed and I went up against Len and Ron, and well, I have never been the most coordinated one so I may have made one point, Ed was a bit better but we got  whupped!  I am going to practice and show em!!!  Tomorrow was to be the official trip to Yosemite but I think only half our group is going, Ed and I declined as well since we just drove through the park but will no doubt go another day, maybe Thursday.  We do know one thing for sure, we are not going back the same way.  We will go with the rest of our group back to Amador County, maybe spend the night in Ione then back to Reno.   We live and learn.

I will report more tomorrow on who is here and doing what.  I will say it was great seeing Sue and Steve. They have been through a lot and Steve looks marvelous.  Don't tell him I said that tho!  

Some of our group watching the ladder tournament game

Making lunch driving through Yosemite

 

Time for some sleep soooooo.....

Until next time......

Back on the road again! July 12, 2015

July 12, 2015

Our first official trip with the RV group starts this weekend.   Ed and I are going in a day late as we had the opportunity to go to a Giants ball game with my daughter who works with Franklin Templeton and  had one of the VIP booths. It was amazing, very comfortable, good food and drinks and the host of FT was very gracious.  This came about because every year Denise goes, I complain, hey what about your mom?  Guess whining long enough got Ed and I tickets.  It was a great time and quality time with Denise and Doug.  We got back to Ione about 2:00 am, got about six hours sleep, drove back to Reno, picked up the RV and drove about 80 miles to Coleville/Walker RV park for the night.  We have the lovely drive over Highway 108 tomorrow about 180 miles of twisty winding roads.  We will catch up with our RV group tomorrow afternoon, a day late but looking forward to seeing everyone. 

Doug, Maureen, Denise and Ed at AT&T Park

 

Beau is not making this trip, he is being well taken care of by our dear friends Sally and Alf at our house.  He will go on our next trip to the ocean for sure...

 

Until next time......

April 2015

Well, so much for keeping up the blog.  As it turned out we did not do any trips since May of last year except to take the RV down to MCC in Indio.  As it turns out Ed and I may have spent eight days there and Sandy and I went down for about five days.  As much as I like the place in Indio it is just not practical to keep it.  The lot is back on the market and hope it sells but probably not until next "season" that starts in October.  MCC has been rated the most beautiful Motorcoach Country Club in the United States. 

Our Boat dock looking across to the Yacht Club

 

From the Contessa

 

To the Suncruiser

 

 

 The street view to our lot

 

 

Golf cart path thru the golf course

 

Across the street from our lot

 

We have so many commitments in Nevada especially since we acquired another property near Yerington with some acreage to play, shoot skeet and pretty much be out of the city.  Of course our Amador property needs our TLC as well. 

My goal is to travel with our RV group this year, we are signed up for at least two trips. So looking forward to these new adventures, our group has so much fun.  Friends Alf and Sally from MCC are heading our way and plan on some Oregon coast trips with them.  Also plan on spending time with Jimmy and Tori who moved to Oregon and she is actually looking for a shack on the beach for me.  :-)  :-)    LIKE I need another property but that would be so cool.  Practically we will drive the RV there.  One more trip hopefully to get in will be a trip to Yosemite with Denise and family.  With all her international travels, she has never been to Yosemite.  I think Steve finally drove through Yosemite for the first time recently.  Hope he considers going on this trip as well.

Another start here and I will do my best to add when we travel or just on a whim.  I so enjoyed writing the blog for all these years .....

Random pictures.....

Beau and Bullet

 

Ed on the Segway at MCC

 

 

Maureen on Segway at MCC

 

 

Steve and Scout

 

Doug and Denise

 

Cousin BBQ

 

Baylee, Jessica, Wyatt, Sarah and Katie The Grandkids

Bullet, Beau and Zena the pooches

So until next time......

Dang, where did this year go?

It has been a year since I have updated the blog.  We did not go on many trips this last year with the move to Reno and all the other interferences of life.  I will go back and post some updates and hopefully have a few trips this year to post about.


One of the main issues is the new coach was in the shop for almost six months.  Moving to Nevada, the laws on coaches and drivers license are different from California.  The Beaver Contessa was just too heavy and we would have had to take tests for advanced license and know why and where everything to drive on the coach would be.  No problem for Ed, but all I need to know is where the accelerate, brake pedals and shifting gear is to drive.  The blog will stay Contessa on the road, as I have named this "other" coach Contessa.  Works for me......  anyway will be back with more info and looking forward to a couple of trips this year.

 

  

Been A While... and Changes

Been A While... and so much has happened.  First of all Happy Belated New Year.  We have been so busy with so many projects that we have  not found time to breath.  The main news is California has finally driven us out of the State. 

We are now official residents of Nevada.  We started looking last October and closed on a home in Reno.  Who would have thought?  Born and raised in California, never thought I would ever leave.   I always pictured Reno as the sometimes unattractive Downtown area.  We have found that the city is totally different from what you see from Highway 80. The University of Nevada for one is such a beautiful campus.  There are so many unique neighborhoods and shopping everywhere.  I love Amador County but have to say the convenient shopping is a huge plus.  We will still be a part of Amador County, being there a few months a year.  Until the market gets better (hopefully in my lifetime) we will continue to have the California property.

FAREWELL CONTESSA-WELCOME SUNCRUISER

One of the things we had to do is switch out Motorhomes.  The laws in Nevada are different and they go by weight rather than length as in California as to what one can drive with a regular license.  If we kept the Contessa, we would have to apply for another class of license and have to know the workings of the MH, climb under and around and explain.  Well I know where the gas pedal and break are, and that is all I need to know.  We found a 38 ft. gas model that we both liked. We were looking for a Winebago Adventurer and found the Itaska Suncruiser is the exact same coach and found one which was not easy.  I really like the floor plan and seems easy to drive.  So it was farewell Beaver Contessa and hello Itaska Suncruiser.  I had such mixed emotions, first the move out of State, then giving up my home on wheels, the Contessa took us to a lot of fun and interesting places, many good times with awesome people.  I am sure the Suncruiser will bring as many fond memories.

FAREWELL SIRS 15 RV GROUP-WELCOME SIRS 96 RV GROUP

We started the new year with a dilemma regarding our RV Group.  We only had two trips last year and lost some of our dearest members, plus others selling their RV's and moving on.  Our roster showed quite a few Sirs 96 folks in our group and quite a few of us in Sirs 96.  At our annual meeting in January it was decided to merge with 96.  I know quite a few folks from 96 and traveled with them, I think this merge will work out well.  There are several trips planned already and know that the blended RV family will be a fun and adventurous year. 

As you can see, quite a few changes already in 2013.  I am hoping things settle down soon   We need to finish getting settled here in Reno, it has been a very busy two months. 

I have to talk to Steve about our final official SIRS 15 BBQ/Picnic which will be held at the Nunnally Amador home in a few months.  I will do my best to schedule the event when it is not over 100 degrees.  Seems no matter when we choose a date, it gets hotter than heck!!

That is about it for now, I will still get some pictures up from our previous trip.... and will post a few pictures of our current adventure. Just have to get things transferred to a different computer.

Hope everyone is well, looking forward to warmer weather and Spring. 

So, until next time.....

Back to Amador County September 20, 2012

Homeward bound!!!  We were leaving Redding about 9:00 am and gave George and Bev a call to see where they were.  They were about to leave Red Bluff in about 45 minutes, so we told them we would catch up with them.  We timed it pretty good and as they were coming on the freeway we were right behind them.  Back in line, George and Bev,  Steve and Sue, me and Ed and Oneta and Bob taking up the rear...  never would have known we split up..  We stopped for breakfast in Corning, rehashed the trip and as always concluded we all had a fine time.  

We got home about 2:00 in the afternoon after a stop and fuel stop.  I headed up to Pine Grove to pick up Beau dog.  I was so glad to see him, I do miss him when we are traveling.  He has a better time playing with Maggie, Koda, Bogie and of course the smallest dog Mini supervising.  He plays hard and does quite a bit of napping when he gets home. 

End of the SIRS 15 travels for 2012.  I am looking forward to 2013 and  travels with good friends.

Until next time....

Redding September 19,2012

We all got back on the road about 9:00 am, stopped for breakfast and when we got to Redding the rest of the group traveled on ahead.  They wanted to check out a RV park in Red Bluff. 

We were going to visit with Jim and Julie, old time friends for many years.  We stayed at the Premiere RV Park Redding, where we have stayed many times before.  This is also a sister resort to the Lincoln location.  Jim and Julie's son and wife Jimmy and Tori along with their son Hunter have started a new business, a 50's type Hamburger Food Wagon.  It is called Fallis Around Town.   Absolutely totally amazing burgers.  They are half pound burgers, fresh beef and so dang yummy.  If anyone is traveling through Redding, check out their facebook page for a schedule of where they will be that day.  You will not regret it at all..   Jimmy and Tori set up the truck outside their parents home, it was fun and the neighborhood folks dropped by for a burger.  I looked out and saw a police car and thought oh noooo they are in trouble... LOL  no way the officers were there for a burger!!!  We all got a chance to visit later that evening and caught up on the last year or so....   I am looking forward to stopping back in Redding on one of our adventures and will be sure to visit the Burger Truck!!

Tomorrow, the last leg of the trip home...

Until next time....

Leaving Oregon... September 18, 2012

Time to head on home.  We all left Premiere RV Resort .  Dorothy and Ed left quite a bit earlier to try and get home a day earlier.  We had an uneventful driving day and arrived at Seven Feathers Casino RV Resort.  This is a beautiful park and they are very accommodating.  The provide transportation to the Casino and the Truck Stop restaurant.  We all went over to have dinner and made a contribution to the establishment.  A very nice evening.. 

Tomorrow, Ed and I are traveling to Redding to visit friends.  Bev, George, Oneta, Bob, Sue and Steve will be traveling a bit further down the road..

Until next time....