Trip #91 (22): Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2017

October 2 – 11, 2017

Gallup, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Lyman Lake @ Springerville, AZ

One night in Red Rock @ Gallup
Two nights in Santa Fe @ Rancheros de Santa Fe campground
One night in Albuquerque @ Enchanted Trails CG for fiesta caravan assembly
Four nights @ Balloon Fiesta Park
One night Lyman Lake

Trip #90 (21): Grand Canyon

September 8 - 10, 2017

Grand Canyon

Friday - Sunday, at Trailer Village.
The Grand Canyon was beautiful, mild temps (hoping for cooler tho), so we simultaneously rode bikes while watching Irma attack the Florida Keys and west coast. Saturday we toured around and out to Hermit's Rest on the shuttles, and had dinner at El Tovar. Sunday we biked about 10 miles, including riding on a great paved path south to Tusayan Village. Bought the National Park Monopoly game and whooped some a** that night. 

Hurricane Irma

Trip #89 (20): Williams, AZ to Cool Off

August 15 - 16, 2017

Drove about an hour and a half to Kaibab Lake in Williams to escape the Sedona monsoon heat. Toured the town on bikes, walked around the lake, basically got outside and enjoyed some cooler temps (70s).

Trip #88 (19): Family Trip: Durango to Steamboat Springs

June 10 - 27, 2017

Del Norte, Buena Vista, Leadville, Steamboat Springs, Palisades

Great Trip: Parents along for stops at Great Sand Dunes and the Windsor in Del Norte, Buena Vista, Leadville Tour of Healy Mansion and Dexter Cabin, Vail for 2 relaxing days, and splendor in Steamboat Springs, beautiful place. Back home after a stop in Palisades to commence packing... and oh, anniversary dinner at Gazpacho in Durango.

RIP: Anita Pallenberg, Adam West

Trip #87 (18): The Vortex: Sedona after Encinitas Beach Rental

May 3 - 11,  2017
Been a while since we’d been out, having been house-bound after Bill slipped on ice and broke his left wrist in early February. The earliest we could bring the trailer back was now. We spent a gorgeous week with Becky and Pete in an old but cool (yet smelly) 1926 home right on the cliffs. Leaving there we headed east to Phoenix to get the trailer, then north to Sedona, there are a few homes we wanted to see.

Trip #86 (17): Arizona & California ... January Rain Trip

January 7 – 18, 2017
Arizona: Tucson's Catalina State Park
California: southern coast 


Wednesday Jan 4 it was just starting to snow a bit (again) in Durango. Did the long drive down getting an early 8am start and picked up the trailer with enough time to give it a quick bath before moving over to Wild Horse Pass Casino parking lot. Had a good dinner at Hong Kong Charlie's (my name for it) at the Casino because we now love potstickers. Later walked over to the outlet mall for the last few minutes before closing.

Thursday the 5th we drove down to Tucson to beautiful weather. A bit cool but nice. First thing's first: lunch at Inn n' Out, then to the campground across the street. Went shopping a bit, ate in.

Friday the 6th went for a short bike ride. Later went in search of the new camera, ending up on the other side of town at two Best Buys until I finally got it. HX-80. Had GREAT Mexican dinner at Guadalajara, a nice surprise and happy hour margarita too.

Saturday the 7th tried to hike a bit but didn't get too far, I'm just not into it today. Rode bikes to free concert at the trailhead, then went -- what else -- shopping again at the Marketplace.

Sunday the 8th drove from Tucson to Campo, CA to camp at Boulder Oaks in the middle of nowhere, but west of Yuma. Couldn't get him to stop in CIVILIZATION. Might as well have gone all the way to San Diego!! Left it on the hook for the night and hoping we have bikes in the am; kinda close to the border.

Monday 9th Arrived to wet San Elijo State Park.

Tuesday 10th Biked to Cedro Street shops in Solana, walked the low tide beach.

Wednesday 11th went inland to shop since it was raining

Thursday 12th Took the Coaster train to Old Town San Diego and got caught in more rain. Full moon night. Didn't see it.

Friday 13th moved north to San Mateo Campground next to Camp Pendleton. Did laundry in San Clemente, exciting, but noticed an upcoming concert on Sunday…

Saturday 14th Walked 1.5 mile trail to the Tressels Surf beach. Lots of surfers floating out there but not many waves. Beth, Asa and Teeko came over to visit then to dinner at the San Clemente Pier.

Sunday 14th rode bikes to beach area. Too many steep hills. Big concert! Robby Kriegers and his Doors concert in San Juan Capistrano at the Coach House! We are so there. Show started at 7 but got there early for "dinner." Great show with a few guest musicians and his son Waylon as Jim. Loved it, great music!

Monday 16th. Moved north to Crystal Cove/El Moro Campground south of Newport Beach. Couldn't move in until 3pm so hung out almost 2 hours which included a walk to Trader Joe's from the camp overflow park across the street along the beach.

Tuesday 17th Another nice sunny day. Hiked the El Moro Canyon for almost 3 miles, cleaned up and went toward Huntington Beach for my JoAnn's request. A stop at the big mall then delish dinner at Red O mexican restaurant.


 

Trip #85 (16): Bill Solo Trip to Phoenix

November 2 - 5, 2016

Usery Mountain Park, Mesa AZ

Time to get out of winter for a couple of days and have some time to do trailer maintenance after our two-month trip. Sheila was into crafting and didn’t want to go, so Bill went solo. Drove down Friday picked up trailer and headed to Usery Park. Worked on the trailer on Saturday and then took a drive to Saguaro Lake and checked out campgrounds along the Bush Highway. The whole area along the Salt River has been fenced off and the campgrounds have been turned into parking lots for picnickers and tubers. However the river is so low now, I guess they turn the water back on in the summer. It’s all government controlled now.

Sunday went for a bike ride on trails and then took a drive to to check out the ASU campus and Tempe art show. Lots of nice stuff but do not need any more trinkets so just walked around enjoying the nice weather and sampling some food. On Monday, put the trailer back in storage and headed home. Got a call that my brother Mike was in hospital with COPD. He passed the next day. So sad.