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......