And The ADVENTURE Continues...

Friday, April 15, 2016

April 13, 2016 Pictures from Las Vegas, NV

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 Pictures from Las Vegas, NV

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR NIECE, JENNIFER

Here are some pictures as we drove through Las Vegas. No we were really good no gambling for us this time.

A Pretty Colored Castle

Paris

Fremont Street in the daytime

Mountain Goat

Alicia this one is for you

Stratosphere

The Famous Bellagio

Monday, April 11, 2016

April 10, 2016 Trip to Death Valley

Sunday, April 10, 2016 Trip to Death Valley

As we entered into Death Valley National Park the landscapes changed dramatically. The mountain ranges were of all different colors. Our first stop was a 26 mile round trip to Dante's View. This was about a 3000 ft elevation change before we arrived at the top. We were shocked!!!! The view was breathtaking. You could not only see the surrounding mountain ranges but you could see the white salt flats below. Our next stop was to Natural Bridge Canyon. Nice 2 mile hike. We then started to head for the Badwater Salt Flats. In order to fully experience this site one has to walk out to the flats. The white salt crystals were beautiful and it was blinding just like sand on the beach or snow. Our final stop was to see Artists Palette. This area showed us all different splashes of color.

We did want to go see Scotty's Castle but the road was washed out and damaged was done by the floods in October. Maybe another time.

I guess what I thought Death Valley should look like wasn't even close to what it really looked like.
Very enjoyable day.

HERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT SHOTS OF ALL THE DIFFERENT COLORS

HERE ARE SOME DESERT FLOWERS BLOOMING CALL IT MEGA BLOOM DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN

View of Salt Flats from up high at Dante's View

Another shot from Dante's View

Natural Bridge

The Canyon leading out from the Natural Bridge

CHECK OUT THE ELEVATION LOWEST POINT IN THE UNITED STATES

Badwater Basin

Pat on the Salt Flats

Closeup of the salt crystals

Artists Palette-beautiful colors

Something we haven't seen since the New Year--RAIN!!!!!!!

April 7-9, 2016 Heading to Pahrump, Nevada and emergency repairs. Part ordered and Pulling of the whole exhaust

Thursday, April 7, 2016 Heading to Pahrump, Nevada and emergency repairs

We headed out early so we could get to Pahrump before the day got hot. Pahrump is about 60 miles from Las Vegas and 60 miles from Death Valley. Since we wanted to go to both we figured this little town in the middle would be great. We traveled about 30 miles and were climbing mountains when heard some strange noise and then alarms went off so I pulled off the road and checked things out. We had an air leak and my rear airbags would not stay inflated. Without them inflated we could not travel. I could not find the problem so we called Good Sam's Emergency Road Service and they sent out a mobile repair guy. He could not find the problem either until we both got involved. The problem was we had developed an exhaust leak which blew hot exhaust on the air line for the rear airbags. I fixed the problem and off we went. The mobile guy was there for 3 hours but didn't charge me anything since I ended up doing most of the work to find the problem. We gave him a big tip and he was on his way.

We arrived at Preferred RV Resort in Pahrump around 5:30 and got set up and I took a much needed shower. I will deal with the exhaust leak tomorrow. There is a flex tube portion between the muffler and the exhaust brake and that piece split.

Friday, April 8- Saturday April 9, 2016 Part ordered and Pulling off the whole exhaust

Friday we had to head to Las Vegas for an appointment so we went to a Freightliner Dealer and ordered the part we needed. No big deal the part would be in on Tuesday.

Saturday I got up and started to take the damaged part off the exhaust system and prep everything for the repair. WELL, it didn't go as planned. The first nut broke loose without much effort. Then the problem started. Even though I had used penetrating oil on all of the other nuts they would not budge. I even tried my impact driver. So after hours of work without any luck at all I decided to take the whole exhaust system from the exhaust brake to the tailpipe off. Now it is sitting behind the motorhome waiting for Monday to see if I can find a shop to fix it for me. At least I don't have to take the whole motorhome, just the exhaust.

Mike and the Mobile Repair guy fixing air leak

On the road to Pahrunp, NV

Can you see the face?

Entrance to Preferred RV Resort in Pahrump

Our site

The exhaust out of the motorhome

April 3-6, 2016 Desert Emerald RV Resort-Southwest Regional WIT Rally

Sunday, April 3- Wednesday, April 6, 2016 Desert Emerald RV Resort-Southwest Regional WIT Rally

We were kinda worried about the rally because we didn't get a lot of information before we got there. We traveled a whole 26 miles from our last campground to this one. Once we arrived and checked in with the parking group we parked and waited for the Taco Bar and the $1 Margaritas. When we arrived for the Taco Bar and Opening Ceremonies we immediately felt at home. We were greeted by Butch and Becky Moore our old WIT Eastern Area Reps who are now the Western Area Reps. We were also greeted by Claire Gilbertson who we met when she and her husband, Orin, were hosting a Winnebago Caravan and were staying at Holiday Trav-L-Park in Virginia Beach back in 2008. I can't believe she still remembered us.

The 4 days of activities and meals were more than we had expected and made for a very nice rally. We made many new friends and look forward to seeing them again in the future.The RV Resort was a true resort but they welcomed the Rally participants like they were members of the resort and went out of their way to include us in their events.

Entrance to Emerald Desert- WHAT A GEM!!!!

Clubhouse

Pool

Our site

Limbo dancing and Steel Drum Band

This was the 1st placed trophy for Bean Bag Basball

March 28, 2016 Trip to Salton Sea and March 31, 2016 Trip into Los Angeles.

Monday, March 28, 2016 Trip to Salton Sea

Hello Everyone. As you can tell there hasn’t been a post in quite awhile. We are just chilling till we go to a Southwest Regional Rally in Emerald Desert, CA. and the internet hasn't been the greatest. The first place we stayed at had absolutely nothing to see and the closest Walmart was 50 miles away. Mike wanted Pat to see Quartzsite, AZ so we stayed 25 miles away in Ehrenburg, AZ at Arizona Oasis RV Resort right on the Colorado River. It was a Coast to Coast park that cost us $10 a night. We stayed here for 6 days so I worked on a quilt, yes ladies I am trying to make a quilt by hand. I try to do 1 flower each week. I find it very relaxing. We then went a couple of hours west to Two Springs RV Resort in North Palm Springs. This is another very nice Coast to Coast Resort . This one was $15 a night and we stayed here for a week. We are really getting our money’s worth with our Coast to Coast membership.

While in the Palm Springs area we drove completely around Salton Sea. It is located in the California Desert. It is 35 miles long and 15 miles wide. It is also saltier than the ocean. It was formed by the Colorado River back in the early 1900 and is known for its great fishing. Bird watching is famous too! As we drove around the Sea we also stopped off at Salvation Mountain/Slab City. It was very unique. Leonard Knight built this mountain out of adobe and paint getting Jesus’ word out to as many people as he could. There are verses and sayings all around this mountain. As for Slab City well it is not owned by anybody and you can live off the earth for FREE! I have never heard of either one of these places but that is what this trip is all about. A bit of history for everyone.

I (Pat) have a 2^nd cousin who lives here so we did go out to dinner and have a short visit with her. We ate at Al Dente Italian Restaurant in the famous Village of Palm Springs.

Thursday, March 31, 2016 Trip into Los Angeles.

We drove 2 hours to go into the city and do some of the touristy things like see Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, walk on Hollywood Blvd and see some of the stars on the Walk of Fame, Hard Rock Café and drove up Mulholland Drive to see the famous Hollywood sign. I (Pat) also wanted to stop by the Forest Lawn Cemetery to get some pictures of my relatives for my family history research that I am always working on.