PalmSprings Thousand Trails

Sunday was my last float in the pool and we moved closer to Palm Springs to the Thousand Trails. It's different here, listening to advertisements. They sell blocks of ice to cool pools. They talked about summerizing your trailer, and we winterize ours.

Here's our site at Thousand Trails.

As you can see looking out our door, most people have left. They close on the 15th as it gets too hot here. This place only has one pool and one hot tub. Must be a zoo in winter when it is full.

A couple people asked what we did with our dog Mocha, as she is not in any of the pictures. No we didn't toss her out. Here's me sharing a bone with her. It's hard being a black dog in the heat. We are just deciding where to go next as it is too hot here.

SkyValley

Here's me on the Segway on my way to the pools. I have to leave time for all the people stopping me to ask about the Segway. Everyone here drives golf carts all over the place including the shopping center. I never knew there were so many diferent golf carts. One looks like a 65 Mustang, another a Cadillac and also a Ferrari. I'll have to shoot some pictures.

Here's Carol in one of the 9 hot tubs. They are naturally heated hot spring water. They are different temperatures from each other, starting at 105 degress, then 100, then 95. Also no chlorine.

They also have 4 large swimming pools also at 95 degrees. We will stay here untill Sunday and move down the road to Thousand Trails as it is free for us there. This is a nice down time from travelling. Napa has too much to do to stay still and relax. This place is perfect.

Palm Springs

Sunday we left Bakersfield and headed to Palm Springs. This scene is typical of the hundreds of wind mill farms in the desert.

Lots of these cacti trees also.

We went to see a natural oasis down the road from us. This picture does not do it justice. There are trails going into it down to a large water hole.

Here's a picture where we are staying. (Sky Valley). This is a natural hot spring. Even though it is a RV complex, alot of Canadians and Washington people put park model trailers here and keep them here year round. One couple I met come here for six months of winter and then to Salt Spring Island for six months of summer.

Orange grove

Last night we made it to Bakersfield. We are staying the the Orange Grove RV Park. You park right in an orchard. They give you a bucket and a picker to pick oranges for your own use. They already picked the oranges, so the pickins were slim. We bought some there at the orchard. We are going to stay here 2 nights to recuperate from getting up at 5 for the balloon ride, plus the driving for 6 hours.

There is nothing like a ripe tree ripened orange. It was so juicy.

Ballooning

Friday April 18
We got up really early and went on a balloon ride.

Looking up the shoot. I learned a few things. The flame gives you height. The different altitudes give you different directions of wind.

Flying high at 3500 feet.

Enjoying the sun and breeze and floating.

We went over a river and this is our reflection over the water.

This is flying over a vineyard. It makes a nice pattern in the background. The flight was supposed to be an hour, but we had trouble landing, or getting to a spot to land, so we were in the air over 2 1/2 hours. On one landing attempt, the wind took us over too far and we scraped the roof of a building. They gave us a champagne breakfast after.

Still Napa

We went to Copia for another class this morning but it was cancelled, so we had to take our lessons out in the field.

We had to check for clarity, but the further we went the less clear the glasses became. (just kidding).

This is the driveway to one of the vineyards we visited. The owner was originally from Vancouver.

We drove through Napa Valley visiting a few wineries. This is the highway through it. Almost reminded us of Hawaii.

Here's me taking a break at one of the vineyards. A nice slow pace out here.

I got a job driving truck here. This is a picture of Mocha helping me drive. This metal statue is about 3 times the size of a truck.

Napa

The weather is nice in Napa, so we thought we would spend a few days here. There are many fine resaurants. (106 just in the town). Today was in the high 70's but a nice breeze.

They have a large wine culinary center here (Copia) and we took a class on wine pairings with food. Here we are hard at work studying. As you see this was a hands on class.

I found a new friend to share a drink with. He likes his dry.

We had lunch in Copias garden. They have a huge garden with organic herbs they us in their restaurants and classes.

California

As we left our RV site and headed over Grants Pass we ran into snow, but none on the road.

Just in California we stopped in Yreka for lunch. Time to turn on the airconditioner as it hit 70. Here's me panning for gold with Mocha looking over my shoulder.

When we were finally in the warmth, we punched Starbucks into the GPS and got our raspberry green tea fraps. On a whim we turned west before Sacramento, and headed to Napa, where we are now for night.

Oregon

The second night we made it to Southern Oregon, to the Seven Feathers Casino. They have a huge RV Campground with indoor swimming pool and hot tub. They also have a shuttle bus we took to the casino, with all you can eat. It was excellent with prime rib cut to order, pork loin, meatballs etc. This is different for me as I usually make it to Northern California in one day, but day two and we're still in Oregon. Driving leisurely is relaxing. Don't get me wrong, I'm still doing 120 km/h, just not as long a day. (I still have a reputation to keep up).

We're Off

Well, we're finally off. Taxes were finished Saturday morning, and Sunday after lunch with Carol's siblings, we left. No we didn't go too far south, this picture is where we had dinner in Marysville. Carol saw the Margarita sign from the I-5 and we had to turn back to go there. For night we made it to Kent Wa. to a KOA just off the freeway. Tomorrow we plan to make it to Redding California area for night.

Skytrain

This is a great little trip for people from the valley to do. Drive to Burnaby somewheres, and catch Skytrain on the new Millenium line. Burnaby is a safer place to park and get on than Surrey. Or you could take the West Coast Express from Mission. Even if you just do lunch at the TransContinental and return. A nice date.

The Transcontinental Restaurant is in the terminal where Skytrain ends. It is an upscale restaurant where we had a good lunch. Dinner would be excellent here also. A hamburger is about $11.00 but it is ground steak and the Beef Dip is sliced prime rib. You can taste the difference.

Next we took Seabus to North Van and visited the little shops there, then headed back.

Next we went to the Pan Pacific Lounge for a little relaxation. Everything is walking distance from Skytrain.

View to the North Shore over the Grand Piano in the Pan Pacific lounge.

One of the nice views on the return trip.