Turtle Beach Resort Feb 2, 2014

We headed north some more. We traveled 158 miles up Hwy 99 to Manteca, CA. Our destination is a Thousand Trails Preserve called Turtle Beach Fish Camp. We are traveling this route because we are going to visit Donna's brothers in Oroville, CA and a TT park is free for us. And we plan on staying here for 2 weeks while the California weather warms up a bit. It is getting up to the mid 50s during the day, and low 40s at night. We even got rained on. It has been awhile since we experianced rain. California greatly needs it.

We got set up in Space D8. We have 30 Amp and water right now.

We will move Tuesday to a full hookup site with 50 Amp.

The park is located right by the San Joaquin River.

Saw a pelican fishing in the river.

This is not a bad place. Lots of trees (instead of Palms like AZ). It looks like Fall because the leaves are off the trees.

They have a clubhouse.

There was a Superbowl potluck during the game, but since we just got setup, we opted to watch the Seahawks blow away the Broncos in our RV. Yea!!!!!

They call this place Turtle Beach.

And by golly....I found them!

We checked out the area and found lots of shopping close by.

We visited Jo-Ann Fabrics, Safeway, Walmart, and ....

Bass Pro!

I love stores like these. Cabelas is similar. Like a zoo with stuffed animals, and a cool aquarium. Not to mention the cool stuff!

Look at these guys out front.

I did buy one item.

For my toys.

Oh... and here is the latest addition to our house.

It will keep our tomato plant company.

Visalia, CA Feb 1,2014

We decided to move north again. We are going to the Elks Lodge in Visalia, CA for a night. The beauty of the RV life. Change plans at the drop of a hat. We were here last September. And it's not too cold here.

We left Camping World in Bakersfield around 9 AM for the 77 mile trip. I like short travel days. We are using our Elks membership. $20.00 for a nice spot with 50 Amp and water.

Visalia's population is over 125,000 people, so there is any kind of shopping available here. We checked out Walmart, Costco, and Dick's Sporting goods. At Dick's, we bought a new pair of hiking boots for Donna. She needed some quality boots with good support, light-weight, and with good tread. No more slips!

We bought a pair of Merrell Moab Mid Waterproof hiking boots.

She just needs to break them in slowly and finish healing. So far...so good.

Our tomatoe plant is starting to produce some colorful tomatoes. We started her in early January. Tomatoes in Febuary...cool!

And look what we found growing in back of our RV. A little baby palm tree. I think I will give it a new home. A home on wheels!

:)

Camping World, Bakersfield, CA

We have begun our migration north. We have realy enjoyed our time in Arizona, except for the 'foot' thing. The weather couldn't have been better for our first 'snow-bird' experience. The rest of the country has been hammered this winter.

We left Fort Mohave Thursdy morning after a nice good bye get together at Gene & Cyndi's house yesterday. We were on the road by 9AM for our 296 mile drive. I don't like to drive this far normally. There was nothing along the route except for desert and Barstow. We did stop for fuel in Techachapi. I paid $3.91 a gallon for diesel at a Love's station. Not to bad for California.

We are going to stop at Camping World (free parking & 50 Amp) for 2 nights while we visit Costco and Walmart and of course Camping World. I also wanted to stop off at Three Way Chevrolet, where we bought our truck and double check on any PM that might be due on the truck. I found out that all is good and no service is required for another 3000 miles or so.

Meanwhile, we are here.

Our trip north is going to be slow. We have time to kill while the weather warms up. I don't think we will be entering Oregon till around March 23rd or so. We plan on checking out the Redwoods, San Francisco, wine country, and the ocean. Also another visit to Donna's two brothers in Oroville, CA.

Lovin' every minute of it!

The Great Oatman Bed Races.

We had to go to Oatman again for the 24th annual Great Bed Races.  This event draws lots of people. Participants and spectators (burros too).

We had to park quite a ways away and walk into town. I saw the public restrooms, and remember Dave & Diane mentioned some desert tortoises live there. Got to see them.

Two of them live here.

A couple of old ones!

Pretty cool!



In town, there were lots of strange folks in costumes and PJs.

.



The burros were out and about.

Here is one of the beds .

Quite a town.

Race time.

Crazy fun!

And a shot of a cactus on the way home.