27FEB-13MAR16 - Houma, LA & Various (leaving la & heading to pacific nw)

Saturday & Sunday, 27/28FEB, we take it easy & begin prepping for our departure from Louisiana & the long drive back to the Pacific NW.  On Saturday night Corrie made steamed mussels w/various dipping sauces (a traditional & very common meal in the Netherlands) for the family.  And on Sunday, Joe made pulled pork BBQ for everyone.

Monday morning, 29FEB (happy leap year), we had to say our sad goodbyes to kids & grandkids, & hit the road to Escapees RV Park in Livingston, TX.  Where we stop every spring to renew our TX vehicle registrations (& licenses if necessary).  Upon setting up camp Dan took the Toad in for inspection & license tags.  Dinner that night was at the Blue Duck – a new restaurant, which has a very different menu & is pretty upscale for Livingston (& highly rated on YELP)?  Late Tuesday morning we successfully got the RV inspected & tagged.  The rest of day was spent doing minor choirs, & relaxing in preparation for tomorrow’s drive thru HoustonL

Early Wednesday morning, 01MAR, on the road to visit Dan’s sister Sharon & husband Tim in Kerrville, TX.  As always the traffic in Houston is no fun as usual.  After our arrival at the RV park in Kerrville, we visited with Tim & Sharon, before all of us headed out for Thai food.  Thursday was a day of relaxation enjoying the good weather; before joining Sharon & Tim for more reminiscing & BBQ.

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2015/03/26feb-05mar15-phoenix-az-via-van-horn.html

Friday, 04MAR, early morning we started the long drive to our next stop – Van Horn, TX.  Last year we had planned on eating at the Hotel El Capitan Restaurant; as we did in 2010 when they first opened.  But we ate at a steak house recommended by the RV park.  This time we did eat dinner at the Hotel El Capitan Restaurant.  The food was very good, but it appears the menu has not changed since our last visit?

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2010/11/17-21nov10-various-az-nm-tx-big-bend.html

Saturday morning back on I-10 West for more boring driving to Lordsburg, NM.  Once again, like last year 27FEB15, the KOA person that took our reservation when we asked for a pull thru, had assigned to a back in.  So even though park was empty, they reassigned us to a pull thru barely long enough for the RV alone; & the Toad would still have to be disconnected to get it out of the road?  On our own we pulled into another pull thru, & Corrie went to the office to tell them.  After all this, they still couldn’t understand why we wanted a longer spot then assigned & did not want to disconnect the Toad.

Sunday morning we finished the drive to the Freightliner dealer outside of Phoenix, AZ, for our annual RV maintenance service.  During the drive we decided not to stop for a break/lunch like we normally do & drive straight thru to Phoenix.  Good thing – we got the last RV parking spot with hook-ups at the Freightliner facilityJ!  It must be spring break because AZ has their programmable highway signs w/messages targeted at spring breakers, like – Spring Breakers would your mom approve of how you are driving?  Dinner was at Haus Murphys (German restaurant w/Irish name?) where we last ate in April 2010.  Still excellent schnitzels!

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2010/04/10-13apr10-willcox-phoenix-az.html

http://www.hausmurphys.com/

Early Monday morning, 07MAR, it is straight into the service bay.  Assuming that the annual maintenance will take all day, we made a Costco run.  Upon our return at noon, we find the service had been completed.  Also, they have no empty RV spots for us to stay overnight & we must leave.  We were unable to find a RV park vacancy near us; & needed to head to Goodyear, AZ, to find a RV spot because of MLB spring training & NASCAR this weekend in the surrounding area.  That night we headed to one of our favorite Phoenix restaurants (La Piazza al Forno) only to discover it is closed on Mondays.

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2015/03/26feb-05mar15-phoenix-az-via-van-horn.html

Tuesday,08MAR, we continue westward on I-10 for Desert Hot Springs, CA, where we plan to take a two day break for R&R (& laundryJ).  We stay at Catalina Spa & RV.  One of the many (& we mean many!) RV parks surrounding Palm Springs, CA, frequented by snowbirds from across the northern USA & Canada.  It was a very nice facility, but it is obvious from the empty spots that the snowbirds are migrating northward.

The next morning we headed into Palm Springs for a walkabout before the temperatures hit the mid-80s (we were last here in April 2009).  Lunch was at Pinocchio in the Desert.  Pinocchio is a very popular (& different) local establishment.  It appears one of the owners is Dutch, because the menu states “wij spreken nederlands” & they proudly serve Douwe Exbert coffee.  Dan went w/the Bavarian Meatloaf Dip.  We are not sure, but part of the popularity w/the locals might be bottomless champagne for $3.95 or martinis for $2.95?  Then it was back to the RV to shelter from the sun (except for pleasant few hours at the pool).

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2009/04/0506apr09-indio-ca.html

http://www.pinocchiops.com/

Thursday morning we continued our drive & had to decide if we want to take the recommended route on I-10W thru Los Angeles, or go around LA?  We decide to drive around LA at San Bernardino.  But our planned route on CA 138 is completely stopped do to some unseen problem at Cajon Junction.  So we are forced to detour north thru Boron, CA; finally getting on I-5N & needing to find a RV park soon.

During Friday’s, 11MAR, drive we had to deal with on & off rain w/gusting wind to Woodland, CA, where we stopped to visit w/Bill & wife Liz Albert who we last saw 10MAR2015.  As happened last year, Liz was not able to join usL.  But Bill bought us dinner.  We threatened not to stop next time unless Liz was there.

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2015/03/06-13mar15-kittitas-wa-via-banning-ca.html

For Saturday & Sunday the National Weather Service forecasted a major winter storm in northern CA along I-5.  Supposedly Saturday is heavy rain along I-5 followed by snow on Sunday.  So we decided to get an early start Saturday & try to drive to southern Oregon; & hopefully miss the snow.  Unfortunately just south of Weed, CA, we ran into heavy wet snow, that quickly began accumulating on the road (& the RV’s front window)!  So around noon we decided to call it a day & found a RV park.  Of course the snow stopped & the sun came out around 1:30PM.

Sunday which was forecasted to be the “bad” weather day, was better than Saturday.  But the entire drive was on again, off again, rain squalls & gusting, high winds.  We forced ourselves to drive further than normal & finally called it a day at a RV park in Kelso, WA.  Looks like a good decision because major story on local news was the Seattle area being slammed by high winds, w/lots of power outages & downed trees.  170 miles left to go tomorrow.

15-26FEB16 - Sultan, WA (father & son ski trip)

Monday, 15FEB, & Tuesday, 16FEB, were spent dealing with sick grandkids; & Dan getting ready to go on a ski trip w/Joe on Wednesday.

Wednesday late afternoon Corrie took Dan & Joe to the New Orleans airport to catch Air Alaska to Seattle so they can go skiing.  The last time they made this trip was JAN/FEB of 2012 (see below BLOG link).  Their intention was to do it every year.  But because of different factors (Dan’s injury, bad snow years, Joe’s job), this is only their second time.  By the time they get to house in Sultan, WA, & open it up, it was 1AM.

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2012/02/26jan-04feb12-sultan-wa-skiing-boarding.html

Thursday, 18FEB, morning Joe & Dan rented ski equipment & purchase a few equipment items they don’t have (like a helmet for Dan).  Then it was off to Dan’s cousin Steve & wife Bonnie’s in Kittitas, WA, for the next two days.  Why?  Because the closest ski area to Sultan (Stevens Pass) has lots of snow but is now experiencing rain.  So after Dan checked the ski area reports & the highway patrol reports, he believes that the White Pass Ski Area & the Mission Ridge Ski Area will not have rain for the next two days.  Since Bonnie & Steve’s house is outside of Kittitas, it is centrally located between White Pass & Mission Ridge; what better time to visit relatives (ie freeload)?  See below BLOG link for our last visit with them.

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2015/03/06-13mar15-kittitas-wa-via-banning-ca.html

Early Friday morning Dan & Joe made the drive to White Pass for their first day of skiing.  Even though Dan skied for many years in western WA, this was his first time at White Pass.  No rain but it snowed the entire time, & every now and then the wind would kick up making the chair ride pretty brutal.  All-in-all a great first day skiing.  Then back to Steve & Bonnie’s for home cooked meal.

http://www.skiwhitepass.com/

Saturday morning if was off to Mission Ridge Ski Area outside of Wenatchee, WA; a ski area they skied during their trip four years ago.  Luckily they got one of last parking spots!  The place was so crowded, that it took 45 minutes to get on the first chair.  But after that the crowded lift lines disappeared.  Fantastic day - beautiful sun, beautiful snow.  As they did last ski trip, they tried to hook-up with niece Tessa Morris; but she was working ski patrol & couldn’t get free.  Late in afternoon Joe hooked up with nephew Dash Morris for couple of high speed runs on the back country slopes (ie out of bounds, w/no ski patrol).  Then it was an exhausted drive back to Sultan.

https://missionridge.com/

Sunday, 21FEB, they took a break from skiing (good timing – cold, cloudy & windy).  The day started with breakfast at the Sultan Bakery.  Joe then took off to hike at Wallace Falls State Park outside of Gold Bar, WA, where Dan & Rebecca hiked back in 2009 (& Dan across a bear).

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2009/08/31jul-02aug09-monroe-wa-bears-oh-my.html

Dan used his day of rest to straighten out numerous small evergreen trees that appear to have been blown over by some high winds on the property?  That evening they met Dan’s brother Shawn & wife Cindie (last visited with 11OCT15) for dinner in Lynnwood.

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2015/12/01-31oct15-sultan-wa-with-some-sad.html

Monday morning it was off to Stevens Pass Ski Area to ski with cousin Sheila Harris & beau Alan.  Since Alan had a morning dental appointment, Sheila hitched a ride with neighbor Hans.  Skiing started out great w/Sheila & Hans taking Joe on black diamond runs thru the trees; while Dan stuck to the blue runs.  Around 11AM heavy snow started falling & they end up skiing in white-out conditions – not fun.  Eventually Alan shows up & conditions improve.  The rest of the day was spent w/Dan sticking to blue runs, while everyone else challenges death on the double black diamonds.

http://www.stevenspass.com/site

Tuesday & Wednesday were more days of rest.  Dan stakes & ties more evergreens blown over by the wind this winter.  Dan also spent time doing battle w/invasive blackberries on the property.  Wednesday Joe went day & night skiing solo at Stevens Pass.

Thursday, 25FEB, last day for skiing for both.  A beautiful & great day at Stevens PassJ!

Early Friday AM they secured the house & make the drive to SeaTac airport.  For some reason Dan gets a red X on boarding pass & gets to keep shoes on & skip scanning (maybe it was his military ID?).  Flight is overbooked & even though we checked in 24 hrs ago Joe does not have an assigned seat.  Everything works out, & we make it back to Houma, LA; back together w/Corrie & in the RV at Rebecca & Raymonds’s.

01-14FEB16 - Various Florida (visiting friends & rv service)

Monday, 01FEB, we started prepping the RV for departure tomorrow. The RV toilet has been giving us trouble the last couple of days & Dan tried to fix it one more time without successL  So he had to jerry-rig a temporary fix.  To add to all the things we need to get done during the day, Dan made pulled pork BBQ for Joe, Rebecca, Raymond, Jaxson, Mason & Joe’s roommate Travis.

Tuesday morning we dump sewage & head east to get RV maintenance done in Tampa & visit friends in Florida.  As usual we stay at Keesler AFB FamCamp (now they take reservations?).  See below BLOG link for our last visit to Biloxi.  For dinner it was off to Mary Mahoneys Old French House – as our BLOG from 09-13OCT13 said - “Enjoy an upscale and elegant meal in one of the South's most unique restaurants, centered around one of the oldest homes in America.  Dine in an elegant New Orleans style courtyard under the canopy of a centuries old live oak, where for 50 years, presidents, dignitaries, celebrities, and millions of others have experienced the rich history and legendary cuisine of Mary Mahoney's.”  Followed by a little lite gambling at the Palace Casino (no smoking)J

http://www.marymahoneys.com/

http://www.palacecasinoresort.com/

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2014/01/0809jan14-biloxi-ms-on-way-to-fl.html

Severe weather rolls thru during the early AM hours Wednesday morning delaying our departure.  Finally we get on road to visit our friends the Guldenschuh’s in Navarre, FL.  As we usually do, we stopped at the FL state welcome bureau on I-10 for free orange or grapefruit juice.  A couple of years ago they added a computer set-up where you take you picture against a computer generated background (like a giant alligator).  So we had ours taken with Captain Citrus.  We deal with off & on rain the entire drive, with a real downpour on our arrival.  Early afternoon the rain lessens & we head over to Chuck & Anneke’s house for reminiscing & a delicious dinner (see BLOG link for our last visit w/them).

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2014/02/0304feb14-navarre-fl-via-tallahassee-fl.html

Thursday morning the rain has stopped & sunny skies (even if it is cold & breezy).  Dan made a parts run to Camping World w/no joy.  Late in the morning Guldenschuh’s come by to pick us up for lunch.  On the way we stop at Open Road RV to check their parts supply.  Open Road is one of those vanishing businesses that carry a huge (& often old) inventory to insure that almost anything you are looking for, they have.  Dan was looking for a replacement lock assembly for one of our RV cargo hatches.  These locks haven’t been made for over a decade; & if we found one, the key wouldn’t match the other cargo holds.  One of their employees looked at our lock & stated that the lock wasn’t bad, we just had wrong key (even though our key worked for nine years?)!  From behind the counter he pulled out boxes & boxes of keys & found the “right” one.  Amazingly it worked & no new lock was needed (& the “new” key does work in all our remaining cargo hatches?).

After that it was lunch at McGuires Irish Pub – where there is a millions of dollar bills on the ceiling & walls.  The original McGuires is in Pensacola & started in 1977.  Then it was back to the Guldenschuh’s for our favorite game - Mexican Train Dominos; before saying our good-byes (so they could head to one of their grandkid’s b-day).

http://mcguiresirishpub.com/

Friday morning we start making our long drive to Lazy Days RV in Seffner, FL.  Why visit Lazy Days?  Because we have several items on the RV beyond our capability to repair & we want to see if they can provide better service than Tiffin Motorhome factory in Red Bay, AL.  It seems every year the RV needs a few repairs that have required us to go to Red Bay & wait days (if not weeks) waiting for service; since they do not take reservations.  Lazy Days is the biggest RV dealership in the USA & supposedly is one of the top five most visited attractions in FL by out-of-state visitors.  Since we bought our RV from them; because they take reservations; & they have over 150 service bays, we decided to try our luck there.  Rather than drive the entire distance in one day, we decided to drive halfway & spend the night in Perry, FL (not Perry, GA).

http://www.lazydays.com/

Saturday, 07FEB, we finished the drive into Lazy Days in big time rain.  Even though it is a weekend, it was extremely bad traffic because the FL State Fair just started.  To make matters worse the road into Lazy Days is all torn up due to construction, & there is terrible signage for Lazy Days.  If you miss the signs (we didL), you end up on residential streets not meant for RVs.  In fact, most of the trees in other residential streets are pruned for vehicles up to 14 feet.  This neighborhood had major oak limbs at 11 to 12 feet!!!  Our RV is 11-1/2 feet tall & we often had to drive in the wrong lane to get out of the neighborhood.  Owners of the new taller RVs would have had to back out!

Finally safely making it to the Lazy Days campground we discovered the rates at RV park had been jacked up due to State Fair.  After setting up camp (camp is ok, but it is older & not really adequate for today’s bigger RVs w/multiple slides) we headed to their parts department - not very impressive.  Next stop was service department check-in desk, where we were handed old information & brochures for January?  All & all, not a very impressive start for Lazy Days.

Sunday late morning we head out to Big Top Flea Market; followed by the Hard Rock Casino.  Parking hard to find at the casino due to the State Fair right next door.  We were not impressed with the casino & left without gambling.  Late that afternoon it was off to Jim & Mary Spence’s for dinner & the super bowl.  Jim was Coast Guard Academy friend & classmate of Dan’s, & they served together on CG Cutter MUNRO in Seattle back in the mid 70s.  As you will see from the below BLOG link, we also visited them two years ago (also during Super Bowl).  A great, but too short time, visiting & catching up with old & good friends.

http://bigtopfleamarket.com/

http://theryanrvexpress.blogspot.com/2014/02/27jan-02feb14-brooksville-fl-fmca-area.html

Early Monday morning we moved the RV from the camp ground to the Lazy Days service facility.  Two nice things about the camp park were – 1) you get a newspaper each morning, 2) & you get meal tickets for breakfast & lunch each day.  We spent the rest of the day twiddling our thumbs waiting to hear what portion of the repairs our aftermarket insurance would cover, & what we would have to pay for.  At the end of the day we learned:

---repair part for toilet is covered but will take three days to arrive; but if we pay $100 extra we get entire new toilet right now, but it won’t be white.  We opt to pay the $100.

---our roof top AC/heat pump is no longer manufactured; new model will take five days to get here, insurance will pay for new unit but not the $400 to modify it to work with our thermostat.  We opt to pay for the new thermostat.

---cabinet work is not covered by insurance; carpenters will hopefully look at cabinet tomorrow so we can have an estimate.  Cabinet is “falling” from ceiling, repair must be done.

Tuesday more twiddling of thumbs with no progress.  Wednesday, 10FEB, progress being madeJ!  Toilet installed; slide & levelers serviced; carpenter provides estimate on cabinet repair; AC/heat pump is enroute.

Thursday morning not much happens.  Turns out today is start of President’s Day “sales event” for Lazy Days.  For the next five days they will have free hot dogs (aka Lazy Dogs), chips & sodas.  In fact, these sales events are known by certain resident of the community on a fixed income – they come by for a free meal & take two hot dogs to go!  The AC/heat pump arrives after lunch & installation begins; late afternoon AC/heat pump installed; & it turns out the technician has seen the compatibility issue between the new unit & old thermostat, & knew how to solve the problem!  $400 dollars saved!

Friday not much done in AM; more free hotdogs for lunch.  Cabinet repair done early afternoon.  Rather than hit the road we moved back over to Lazy Days campground to do some small maintenance & get RV & Toad repacked for two day drive back to Houma, LA.  That evening Jim Spence dropped by for a quick visit & more reminiscing.

Was it worth it to have repairs done at Lazy Days vs the Tiffin Motorhome factory in Red Bay, AL?  Yes.  Lazy Days uses reservations; & even though you know they can’t get all the work done in one day, they need to finish you as soon as possible to keep system moving & service bays full.  At Tiffin you can wait days/weeks after arrival to even start; & then Tiffin might fix one thing & you wait days/weeks for next item.  The camp ground at Lazy Days although tight for room, is much better than Tiffin’s (& you have all of Tampa/St Pete for things to do).  In addition, many manufacturers have “classes” at Lazy Days (eg – Dan took the RV driver class).

Saturday (Rebecca’s birthday) morning was an early departure to make the long drive to Houma, LA, in two days.  We overnighted at a small RV park in De Funiak Springs, FL.  The park had only two pull thru spots (we got one), when these are full the exit road is blocked?  Sunday we finish drive to Rebecca & Raymond’s driveway.