RV Upgrades

After 3+ months of touring the continent each summer, we always return with a honey-do list of RV maintenance, repairs and enhancements.  This year the big ticket item, in terms of dollars and time spent, was replacing all the window shades and valances.  We finished that project several weeks ago and we're delighted with the outcome.

I've just finished installing a few other conveniences that will make life on the road more enjoyable .

Bathroom shelf to hold TP, room deodorizer and wipes.

Step covers will keep the interior cleaner, and provide easier access for the dogs.
Ranger is always nervous about ascending the steps, maybe this will help.

Wasp nests in the furnace aren't a good thing at all.
These vent screens will keep them, and their relatives, outside where they belong.

Entry doors are cumbersome in the wind, especially if your hands are full of groceries, 

dog leashes, whatever.  This handle/cross bar will help with that problem.

This light replaced the butt ugly sconce light that came with the RV.

It swivels and has a dimmer.

Trish just ordered 2 more to replace the rear overhead lights,
and that will be the last of the upgrades for this year.

Or not.

Oregon Gothic

I was chatting with a friend (Roger H) a couple days ago and American Gothic came up.  He hadn't seen Oregon Gothic, so I said I'd send the image to him.  I decided to do a blog post, instead, thinking other folks might get a kick out of it, too.

Grant Wood's American Gothic is one of the most recognized paintings in the USA.  Most adults have seen a picture of it somewhere, sometime. 

Here it is, she looking worried, he looking dead serious.

According to Wood, the woman is the man's spinster daughter.

It was Christmas 2009, and I was thinking it would be nice to include a picture with my annual holiday greetings letter.  Not a boring picture, though. Needed something different, something that would generate a smile, if not a chuckle.  American Gothic came to mind and I thought oh yeah!  

The Salvation Army store didn't have any adult-sized bib overalls, had to get child-sized and cut the legs off.  Trish scrounged and sewed her costume, looked great.

Oregon Gothic

We took several pictures using the time delay feature.  Most were awful, some okay, none perfect.  This was the best of the bunch, although Trish doesn't look at all worried

and I don't look all that serious.

And now for the out-takes!

Trish: "That fork smells like manure!"

Mike: "Stop goosing me!"

Waaaay too happy.

And the perspective isn't right.  Was the picture taken by a dwarf?

Trish looking good.

Mike looking crazed and dazed, fake grin, 

Puerto Penasco 3

The beach fronting the RV park, looking south, Rocky Point in background.

This is our third RV excursion into Mexico.  Last year, it was San Felipe, which didn't have much to offer.  We were here in PP 2 years ago, liked it and decided to return.  We're at the same RV park but weren't lucky enough to get ocean front spaces like we did last time.  The park is nearly full after the arrival of a group of about 40 high end motorhomes a couple days ago.

Looking north at the string of resorts adjacent our campground.
That water slide tube on the right shoots the sliders into an empty pool.
Kinda hard on the butt, I'm thinking.

The main drag through town is under construction, have to detour via rough, dusty side roads.  Also under construction, is a long breakwater 5 miles north of town, the future anchoring location for cruise ships.  I wonder if that project is speculative - if you build it, they will come - or the cruise lines themselves are involved with design and financing.  Seems like a huge gamble if it's the former and there's no commitment from the cruise lines up front.

The breakwater under construction, huge trucks filled with rock.

Mother Nature's sand sculpture.

We are a group of 3 rigs: Terry and Lisa, David and Elaine, Trish and I.  Yesterday, we all decided to have our RVs washed and polished on the cheap: $51 to do the Cougar versus $230 in LHC.  The quality of the wax is suspect but what the hell.  Local folk wander through the park daily, offering various RV services, fresh seafood, all kinds of stuff.

It's 5 o clock somewhere.

Usually, we have dinner al fresco but it was too windy last night.

L to R: Lisa's leg, Terry, David, Elaine, Trish.

Rim to Rim

Doug C, my number one blog fan, told me to get off my butt and write a new blog post; "It's been 10 days, Mike!"  Okay, Brick-Man, here you go.

Rim to Rim
My brother, Pat, came up with the idea.  When he presented it to me, and asked if I was interested, it was quite a surprise because I wasn't even aware that it could be done.  The idea: hike the Grand Canyon, north rim to south rim, with an overnight stay at the bottom.  The year: 1987.

He gave me the details over the phone (I lived in Beaverton, OR; he in the Twin Cities).  It didn't take me long to make up my mind to do it, sounded like a great adventure.  Pat would drive from MN, I would fly into St George, UT, where we'd meet up.  Pat's son, Bill, would join us on the hike while Mary and Marge, my sisters, would shuttle the car to to the South Rim to pick us up.

North Rim Lodge dining room.

Having breakfast here as the sun gradually illuminates the Canyon is sublime!
The Lodge and log cabins were built 1927/28.

We spent the night in one of the rustic log cabins, had a great breakfast at the lodge restaurant, and hit the trail at 8:30 AM.  It was late September, below freezing when we left, not surprising at an altitude of 8241'.  We had reserved space in the men's barracks at Phantom Ranch so we needed only day packs, which were well stocked with gorp, water and personal items.

One of several lovely waterfalls along the trail.

We arrived at Phantom Ranch in late afternoon, altitude 2460', temperature 90 F, 60 degrees warmer than when we started.  Pat wasn't feeling well, didn't think he'd be able to hike out the next day: dehydrated, too much coffee, not enough water.  We discussed the situation with a ranger, who gave him electrolytes, told him to drink as much water as he could.

Mike, Pat, Bill at Phantom Ranch.

Pat is dutifully chugging down his water and electrolytes.

Delicious dinners and breakfasts were served up by the Phantom Ranch staff, and, after a good night's sleep, Pat felt well enough to start out with the Bill and I the next morning.  We took it slow, and the first few miles were relatively flat and easy.  Pat hung right in there and made it to the South Rim, no problem.  We headed for the nearest watering hole and toasted our achievement with a cold brew.

The R/R hike is 21 miles in length.  North Rim to Phantom is 14 miles, with an elevation drop of 5800'.  Phantom to South Rim is 7 miles, with an elevation gain of 4800'.  I highly recommend the hike - but only if you're in good shape and do several conditioning hikes beforehand.  And, drink lots of water!

Balloon Festival

This is a great shot of the Balloon Festival here in Lake Havasu City earlier this month.  It was taken about 8 AM.  There were about 80 balloons this year, the 3rd year of the event.

I didn't take this picture; it was forwarded to me.  Trish and I were in Puerto Vallarta at the time.

Puerto Vallarta II

Marina and Croc

We spotted Mr (Ms?) Croc taking a siesta when we were strolling around the marina.  Resuming our walk, we bumped into a gringo lady, told her about the crocodile.  She commented, "It's not supposed to be there."  Odd thing to say, I thought.  Sounded like Croc was her pet and she'd trained it to stay away from the marina.  Trish and I thought her comment was hilarious.  I should have asked her, "Where is it supposed to be?"

The view from our restaurant, above and below.

PV is situated in a coastal plain surrounded by rugged mountains, the Sierra Madre (mother mountains) Occidental range.  Condo complexes, homes and boutique hotels cling to steep slopes at the south edge of town, taking advantage of the fantastic views.  We had dinner at an elegant restaurant at one of the boutique hotels, a feast for both eyes and tummies, above pix were taken there.

Nov-May is the dry season and the tourist season.  Heavy rains occur July-Sept.  PV averages 52" precipitation per year; for comparison, Portland, OR averages 36".  Lush, subtropical vegetation abounds in PV, lots of palm trees (none of them native), bougainvillea, scores of other colorful plants I can't name.

Puerto Vallarta

We're here for 7 days, staying with John and Molly, old friends from OR, who rent a condo here for 3-4 months each winter.  Great weather, highs in low 80s, lows in high 60s.  Mucho gringos come here in winter.

The Millennia Statue

The Malecon is a wide, mile-long pedestrian walkway with the ocean on one side, 100s of retail stores and restaurants on the other.  There are several bronze sculptures along the way, including the Millennia Statue at the north end; it represents the evolution of mankind.

The Sail

The Sail marks the south end of the Malecon.  It's all lit up with colored lights at night.

Looking north, towards downtown with Malecon on right.

Another bronze sculpture, the Puerto Vallarta Dancers.

Trish and I had lunch here.

Can you find her in the picture?