Rain in the Desert

It rained here yesterday so we had a lazy day mostly indoors. It has been a productive week all in all. We had the motorhome detailed and it sure looks good what a difference a professional wash and wax job makes.

I wrote about the control arm breaking for the air suspension. I was able to locate the part I needed at a local truck parts dealer, I crawled under the motorhome and replaced it easy enough. I was worried that more unseen damage had happened so I was nervous when we started the engine to fill the bags with air, well they filled up, and popped back into shape and there were no leaks, got lucky on that one.

I have nothing but good things to say about Crystal, she is a trooper. She wasn't too happy when they were all over the outside of the rig washing and waxing and hid while that was going on. Gorgie put her leash on and ventured outside for a short time but she wanted back in right away, at least she knows where she lives and wanted back in. Having her with us is going to work out just fine.

Last night we went to dinner at a favorite restaurant, Shanhai Reds in downtown Palm Springs, and it was wonderful.

 

 

The Lobster Bisque is still to die for, and the grilled fish and shrimp tacos were too. Gorgie saw they had a seafood gumbo featured and that's what she had I had a couple of tastes and it sure was good.

 

Yummy gumbo!!

Today we have tickets for Celtic Women's Christmas concert at the Fantasy Springs Casino. I'll have report on that another time.

More Later,

Rich

 

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Desert Hot Springs

We have arrived at Catalina Spa and RV Resort in Desert Hot Springs, CA. This is our first visit to this park but not the first time in the area, this area is a favorite destination. We have been staying at Desert Pools RV for years but it has been sold to the same owners of this park. They are making some much needed repairs and improvements and will open before the main group of snowbirders arrive after Christmas.

Crystal has been a trooper and has settled in just fine. She doesn't much care for the cage while we drive but yesterday she pretty much slept all the way. She is very aware of all the new smells and spends time looking out the window.

The motorhome took a beating on the California roads and the control arm broke loose that controls the air to the airbag suspension, we need to get that repaired and hope nothing is damaged.

We were tired when we got here and discovered they were having a pot roast dinner, so we went and it was very good. People were complaining that there are fewer folks as compared to past seasons, we'll see if it starts to fill up. Meanwhile we will relax and enjoy the area.

More Later,

Rich

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We are off

Monday morning we headed out for points south. Our friends Deb and Jerry went with us to Seven Feathers to have dinner and see us on our way. The drive was not bad if you don't care about driving in a downpour, but it was mostly dry by the time we arrived so I didn't get soaked hooking up.

The Crystal report is nothing but positive, she howled to Salem, meowed to Eugene, and slept to Seven Feathers. We had her in a cage so she wouldn't get under my feet (not a good thing). Since then she has settled in and seems to be adjusting to life on the road with her pride.

The drive on Tuesday was not any better as far as rain goes but we made it to JGW RV Park in Redding a little sore in the neck and shoulders from holding on the steering wheel so tight. We have a problem with our electrical hookup to the Jeep it wants to unplug itself when we make a tight left turn.. It was a design error on my part. I have a fix figured out and I bought the needed materials yesterday evening. Today is supposed to be the the wettest day in years here with a forecasted 1.5 to 2.5 inches. So we have decided to ride it out here in Redding, I'll fix the electrical issue and we'll go to lunch and just have a rainy day off the road.

More Later,

Rich

 

 

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Travel Plan

We have set Monday December 1st as our departure day. That's only two weeks away, yikes. There is still plenty to do to get ready but if we keep plugging away everything will get done. Our first stop will be at the Seven Feathers RV Resort. A 225 mile drive. From there it is an easy 100 mile drive over the Siskiyou summit into California. Our first night in Ca. will be in Redding at JGW RV park, another 225 mile drive.

This year we will be bringing our cat Crystal with us. It's a long story as to how she has become so important to us but we can't leave her home alone. So here we go, the three of us. Let the fun begin.

More later,

Rich

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Itinerary

Here is a look at where we plan to be this winter, reservations have been made for December and January so the rest are flexible until we can make those. Most parks take reservations only 60 or 90 days in advance.

Itinerary 2014/15

1- Dec. 6-Dec. 20 Catalina Spa and RV Resort. Desert Hot Springs, CA.

2- Dec. 20- Jan. 3 Indian Waters RV Resort. Indio, Ca.

3- Jan. 3- Jan. 31 Arizona Oasis Ehrenberg, AZ (formerly Colorado River Oasis).

4- Jan. 31- Feb. 14 Yuma Lakes RV Resort Yuma, AZ.

5- Feb. 14- March 14 Casa Grande RV Resort Casa Grande, AZ.

6- March 14- March 28 St. David RV Resort St. David, AZ.

7- From here we will wander home. No plans yet. Our favorite schedule for travel home is to drive one day and stay two nights somewhere. I'll work on those plans when we get close to coming home.

 

More Later,

Rich

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We are Booked

We have made reservations for the months of December, and January.

Our first stay will be at the Catalina Spa and RV Resort in Desert Hot Springs. Our stay will be from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.

We have visited this park but never stayed there. It’s just around the block from Desert Pools, that resort has been sold to Catalina Spa, but things are up in the air and we wanted to be sure we had a place to stay. we’ll see how it shakes out.

The next stop will be to Indian Waters in Indio, CA just 28 miles away. We have stayed there many times in the past when it was in our system (now we have to pay), but we think it’s worth it. Our stay there will be from Dec. 20 until Jan. 3.

A month in the Palm Springs area is just right for us so we’ll head east to Ehrenberg, AZ to the Arizona Oasis. We have stayed here often and has always been a favorite. It was called Colorado River Oasis until it was sold. We have booked into there from Jan. 3 to the 31st. Are you getting the theme here? almost all of the places we stayed at on our winter trips have been sold, thankfully we can stay at some of them for reduced rates.Our travels are getting more expensive.

I’ll post more stays soon.

 

More Later,

Rich

 

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Planning Ahead

We have two reservations in the books. Our first stop is going to be in Desert Hot Springs, CA, at Catalina Spa and RV Resort. We have not stayed here before but it's just around the corner from one of our favorites Desert Pools, that was sold this year and we still don't know if we can use it this year. We have also booked two weeks at Indian Waters in Indio, CA. Losing all these parks is going to cost us. Before we didn't have to pay (other than our dues) to stay. That made winter travel very affordable. We have other memberships that offer reduced rates so we plan on using those. 

Well it's a start, every two weeks we will be making an additional reservation until we are booked up. 

More later,

Rich