So the other day we were at Red Rock Canyon.It was neat.In fact the next day some climber had to be rescued when he was stuck in mid air during his climb/descent.You can climb there but you need a permit.We decided to take a drive to the Valley of Fire a couple of days ago.This was even more spectacular than the canyon was.The very scenic road wound thru some of the most gorgeous formations of bright red rocks that went on for several miles via a loop road.I've included a few pix here, but they don't really capture driving thru the "valley" formed by the firey red rock hills.Daisy got in a picture to contrast the red to her coat.It was a long day but we enjoyed it.What is getting old out west is the dust.It's everywhere.And the dryness.Having humidity numbers in the single digits are common.We'll be happy when we are east of the mississippi!My Toyota is contrasting the large rocks in another photo.Tacoma will be at one hundred thousand miles in a few weeks.We'll have to celebrate with a margarita!
On Sunday, Lindy went to a brunch with a group from the park.She had a great meal and good time.Daisy and I stayed home (slept in!).Yesterday, we went to a Sportsman &
RV show at the Vegas Covention Center.Good news is that we got in free with our military ID's.
I was glad to not have to ask for a seniors discount.We ended up spending a lot on a complete set of titanium cook ware.So I guess we made up the free entry.You may be wondering why we haven't posted any pictures of downtown Vegas.Well the two or three times we were there, I didn't have my camera and we felt if you watch the opening shots of CSI (In Vegas), you'll see it all better than my shots would show.
We are now spending our last weekend at Nellis quietly.Lindy is enjoying the heck out of her new Kindle2 book device thing.She's had it only two weeks and has already read six novels!For avid book readers, like Lindy, this thing is a godsend.It's about as big as a large paperback and only a quarter inch thick.It will download a full book in less than one minute!So no more carrying a load of hardbacks with us, or looking for them, and paying a small fortune to buy them.The Kindle downloads for just $9.95.An amazing invention.Check it out at Amazon.Com.The warm eighty degree weather is to break by tomorrow and stay in the seventies.However, the wind is going to gust to forty plus also.Our next stop for those interested, is this wednesday to Lake Havasu City, Az.We'll spend a few days there sightseeing.They have the London Bridge there. If you remember, they purchased it from England years ago.It was dismantled, shipped, and re-assembled in Lake Havasu.From there we will begin our slow eastbound trek to the eastcoast and tentatively plan a mid-april arrival in NJ.We'll try to get out a blog as often as feasible on the road eastbound and are looking forward to seeing our friends in Jersey soon.Spring is here, enjoy longer days, shorter nights & warmer weather.For now.................From The Road,...............................over & out

Hi everyone!I'm getting to write a little to give dad a break.Yesterday the folks took me for a drive to Red Rock Canyon.They are a 25 mile drive west of the city of Las Vegas.
They are as high as 4700 feet above sea level.We got in free using the golden age card we now have for national parks.There was a 13 mile scenic drive road thru the hills and rock formations.We stopped about ten times for pictures.The rocks are red from having very high
levels of iron bearing minerals deposited over 600 million years ago when the formations were below sea level.About 180 million years ago, a giant sand dune formed over what would become the western US.Winds formed the lines in the sands, and over time the sand compressed into stone.After telling you that, isn't it a shame I will never see college!Anyway I had a good time and gave up a lot of afternoon nap time to make this pilgrimage but it was worth it.I actually met another long hair Dacshund named Izzy.We talked a few minutes about our quest for food and techniques to use on our owners ( push-overs in my case).Dad got a picture of me in the car window.And sort of like Alfred Hitchcock always having a cameo in his movies, well it is my blog.So, we are going to the Valley of Fire tomorrow to see,
you guesssed it ....more rocks.I'll be wearing my asbestos harnesses I'm sure and just in case I'll bring a fire bottle.I half expect to see Godzilla around some of these prehistoric looking areas.If we get some good pictures, I'll have them on the blog.Right now I need to go to the couch and catch up on some of my lost nap time...............................Daisy

I'm still learning use of the Nikon so while not perfect I thought they were good and you can get a sense of the precision timing these pilots

have in executing their aerobatics.Lots of blaring hard guitar rock is playing on the speaker system as the "Birds" perform.Also

several patriotic songs interspersed.Watching

and hearing this show is an experience I would

recommend to everyone.Check their schedule on ....The USAF Thunderbirds

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Week two at Nellis AFB has gone by faster than week one.We didn't do much the first week here.Didn't have to go far to be entertained.Meaning Red Flag was on going.Every kind of fighter was overhead our motorhome to include aircraft from Canada, Great Britain and Austrailia.Some 80 takeoffs a day.They will use live weapons in these final stages as it ends friday.We've been at the BX and commissary often.Also met some nice folks.One guy is an Army Appache pilot currently flying UAV's located in the mid east.Yes, they're operated/flown from right here.Another couple are from our neck of the woods, Maine.We went to casino "hop" with them since they've come here for years and know it real well.Daisy stayed at "home" for that trip and did real well.We leave the radio on and she can look out some windows for entertainment.

One trip she got to go on was an easy and scenic ride to Hoover Dam.About a 30 mile hike.You can see her in the pictures above.She met another friend there, a german shepard named Lady.Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to leave her in the car according to garage attendants.We didn't know that before we went.It was cool enough out to not be a problem.So, we didn't take the tours of the dam.However, we were ok with that having recently seen a documentary on the building of the dam.Just the size and magnitude of the dam were interesting enough.We parked in a couple of different viewing areas.We decided to drive over to Boulder City airfield to see what might be interesting.Well, the two major sightseeing companies that service the Dam and Grand Canyon were based there.Twin otters and a fleet of helicopters.I wanted to "fly" with these outfits after retiring from the Boeing airliners, however that was not to be.I was only going to do it for six months.Six months here, six in Hawaii and wherever else they have good sight seeing for helicopter ops.Having done it in New York for a few years, I can say it never got boring and the passengers were always enthusiastic.There's nothing like flying a helicopter.I'm glad I have one!

Today we had a special treat.The Thunderbirds put on their "kick off" airshow for the commanding general.He kind of gives them the hand wave blessing to start out on the road across the country on their show schedule for the 2009 airshow season.They invited family and friends and retiree's.I got to use my new Nikon to it's fullest.Using continuous shoot mode, I shot about 650 pictures!I couldn't believe it.But, I got a few gems.Remember a broken watch is correct twice a day.Well, you take that many pictures, your bound to get some lucky shots in there.That's how a lot of weddings photographers work.Shoot a lot of pixs!I'm going to put a few shots on this blog.Hope you like them.The "Birds" are good and put on an excellent display of precision flying, but I must say I prefer the Navy's Blue Angels.Their shows are much more exciting and very little delay between manuevers.They seem to do a few daring manuevers also.Now you Air Force folks remain calm.It's just my opinion after watching these teams for some 40 years.I also enjoyed yesterday's practice by the Birds.I was out cleaning the Tacoma and had taken some photos of them from my area.I had put the camera in the coach and some 5 minutes later the roar overhead was deafening.The venerable diamond formation flew directly over my motorhome at about 5 to 700 feet AGL.Now that there was impressive.

One last thing that we enjoyed was visiting a Mini-Cooper dealer here in north Vegas.What a neat car.Unfortunately not towable, we still would consider one in the future.They can get over 40 MPG in stick shift transmission versions.They're are really comfortable too.One other thing we've encountered out west.DUST!Very dry and everything gets a layer on it.Never thought I'd look forward to some humidity.However, in their defense out here, they are having a long dry spell.We haven't seen rain since a few days in december at Arizona.Tomorrow we will go to the Venetian casino for lunch with our friends from Maine.Weather has been sunny with day temps in the high sixties expecting eighties in a few days.We see temps moderating in the east and hope to have good weather for our slow trek eastbound.We'll take about two weeks to get to the New Jersey area.So 'til next time ........................................ QSY, Good Day.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Winter is still hitting hard on the east coast.We're very happy to be complaining about the 89 degree temperature on our last day in Indio.In fact we extended one extra day.Seems that NASCAR had a big race planned in Vegas for our travel day.We heard from some of the california folks at our park about it.So today we made the 291 mile trip after everyone had left the event.Folks here at Nellis AFB told us that was a smart decision since traffic was really bad and lots of accidents added to the misery.Now with the sound of freedom overhead, (F-22 Raptors), we are parked on the base RV park.Large parking spots with lots of room between sites we look forward to the change of scenery.Daisy is not nuts about leaving Indio.After two months she had her favorite places to "go".It'll take her a couple of days to re-

aclimate to new surroundings.

The last week at Indio was pleasant.We took a hundred mile ride to visit a family friend I hadn't seen in almost 50 years.The three of us had a real nice day with them.Driving home in the dark, not so nice.Lindy started experiencing some eye problems also.She was seeing green- yellow flashes in her vision.We googled it and for the better part of valor she saw an eye doctor.

He said it was not uncommon in our age group.

He said they should subside in a week or so.They

have and hopefully won't return.

The RV park "spot" owners had their once a year block party we attended.Lot's of food and drink and live music too.We enjoyed meeting some folks we hadn't already met.Even the weather was terrific.But then it was almost always very nice.

The last "to do" planned at Indio was

visiting the Living Desert Zoo & Exhibit.Lots of animals, plants indigenous to the Desert and wild bird exhibiits.I'll try to attach some here for your viewing.Today as the east gets pummeled by a big snowstorm, we wish an early end to winter for our friends and look forward to seeing them in warmer times...........................................out.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

This week we went to a few different in-
teresting events.One was a car show & auction in Palm Springs.Some great old cars were available.
Your looking at my favorite right here.A 60's vintage Porsche.I don't normally have an interest in any Porsche's, however, this was the finest restoration I've ever seen.It looked factory new inside & out.Lindy liked it, but was more attracted to early Benz 280's.We passed on a bid!
Oh well you can't tow either of them!


Another event we visited was the Riverside County Fair & Date festival.If you didn't know it, the coachella valley is the date capital of america.Dates are fruit unlike the dates you get on E-Harmony!There were all sorts of carnival rides and foods available.If your into "health" food, they were deep frying everything from chicken to snickers bars.I'm not kidding about the snickers bars!We had a fun time.Daisy had to stay home and watch Fox news.Only for a few hours.She's very informed on the news.


The pictures your now seeing were taken with the new Nikon and telephoto lens.I have a long way to go on learning the use and capabilities of the equipment.We took a few of these shots today at the Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area.I can take shots of Daisy without being near her which of course distracts her.The area was a nice state park around a small lake.There was an area designated for camping without services(electric/water) where folks had trailers, pop-ups and maybe a tent or two.Another area was available for motorhome/trailer parking with electrical and water hook-ups available at the sites.Very nice and not real expensive.We always collect information on these parks for future use and to pass along to other RV friends.This week we will finally get to the living desert museum.Hope to get those great animal shots.Hard to believe our two months here at Indio is coming to an end.Next Sunday, we'll make the 275 mile trip to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas.Located about 8 miles from the strip, we 're looking forward to the change of scenery.



We hope you guys noticed Daisy's extensive wardrobe.Those "Puppia" style harnesses are made by a local women (She's from Columbia, her husband worked on the alaskan pipeline, very interesting folks).She had a booth at the College of the Desert street fair.The harnesses are really great and it seems Daisy likes them.The leash hook is on top so she doesn't get "neck pull" when the leash is taught.By the way she had a good time walking around the car show meeting other doggies.That is until some old truck made two very loud backfires that probably caused some ex-GI's to hit the deck.Well Daisy made a taught leash B-line back to the safety of the Toyota.Thankfully, we had seen everything available in the hour and a half or so we had been there.Her little heart was beating fast 'til we got inside the truck and distracted her with some treats.Anyhow, we talked with friends in Wolfeboro today.They confirmed what my computer weather check detailed.Another large dump of snow was in progress.Another tough winter for the folks at home.I hope there's an early end to winter and the cold weather.'Til the next time..................over and out.

Long shot of The Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area