Time slows down in Mexico

Days seem to melt together here in San Felipe. The sun makes a gentle, yet spectacular entrance to the morning. It’s a wonderful spot for coffee and writing in my journal.

Terry and I enjoy walking the malecón. The shops are lively and bright and the people are kind. I bought a cute decoration for outside.

The malecón also has restaurants and food carts. Look at all this delicious fresh fruit!

Oh, and fresh shrimp! I made scampi with these camarones.

Mexico has more than its share of street dogs. This sweetheart greeted me on my morning run. Not all dogs are happy to see me.

So I realized that I talk about laundry a lot. But this is worth mentioning. I took my 3 giant loads of dirty clothes to the lavandería and DROPPED THEM OFF. The next day it was waiting for me, all clean and folded! 240 pesos, or 12 bucks! 👏👏👏👍👍👍

This is not a resort town, really. Many people may not appreciate the authenticity of San Felipe. I’m happy to be here, and happy to have this long stretch of time to experience Baja during its quiet time.

Hasta la próxima…

San Felipe Mexico

We left El Centro and headed south to Calexico for the border crossing. The agents were very respectful and only asked for our passports and vehicle registration. I walked over to the visitors office to get visas for both of us. My Spanish came in handy for that.👏

I returned to the RV and Terry was waiting patiently. He wasn’t sure if we got cleared to go, but since nobody was near us, we took off. Seriously, they could probably run and catch us, if they wanted to. PeeWee doesn’t move quickly out of the gate. Anyway, we made it through Mexicali and headed further south down Highway 5. It didn’t take too long to get into the rough and unforgiving landscape that is Mexico.

The highway was a little rough, and the wind was howling. Terry did a great job keeping PeeWee and the Toad on course. Suddenly, Terry yells for me to go back to the bedroom and check the window. So I unbuckle and quickly make my way to the bedroom and WTH the entire window and the shade are flapping in the wind as we fly 60 mph down the highway! I had to use all my magical powers to put it back in the track and secure the latches. 💪. Crisis averted! No photos LOL. But here are some landscape shots:

Oh, I forgot to mention the sandstorms. Made for an exciting ride.😳

After some interesting arguments with the GPS and each other, we made it to Victor’s RV park in the town of San Felipe. It’s a very quiet place on the Sea of Cortez. And it’s also very rustic.

We have plenty of space and the sea is steps away. 5 minutes after we arrived, we met a couple from the south side of Chicago! They have been coming down here for 12 years.

Then, I got a message from a friend I made while we both were camping in California (Lassen National Park). Kelly and I have enjoyed staying in touch during our travels, so when I found out her and her husband Mark and their baby Bella were in San Felipe, we immediately made a date to meet at the malecón.

Kelly and Mark are a wonderful couple. They live to serve impoverished communities of Mexico. Mark is “that guy” that can fix just about anything and Kelly is a teacher who is passionate about teaching and giving back. And that adorable baby!!! I loved holding her. 💕 I sure hope we meet again someday.

Well, the people here are open and friendly. We quickly made friends with Carlos and Cesar. They even invited us to eat fresh barbecued grouper!

They are a rowdy group.

This fish’s next life is ceviche.

I sampled some aged tequila that was ooooohhh so smooth. Then I saw the rattlesnake in the bottom of the jar!

Today is a clear, sunny, slightly breezy day. Terry went to play golf. I’m here by the Sea of Cortez, remembering my dear brother who passed 2 years ago today. Healing is a process that cannot be rushed. I’m appreciative of my alone time for awhile today. Much love to you all. Pass it on.

Happy New Year 2018

Chicago can be cruel. The cold settled down on our city and tried to stop its heart. But Chicago is all heart. Even in frigid temperatures. Spending quality time with friends and family was the intention of the visit, anyway. Mission accomplished!

San Diego’s weather is perfect this time of year. Especially after the Chiberia experience. So in order to ring in the new year, I registered for a 5K.

It felt really good to be running again. It doesn’t matter to me how far or how fast. I just want to be in the moment. Sweating on purpose, heart pumping and feeling ALIVE!

So Terry and I are with PeeWee and the Toad, headed for El Centro California. We’ll spend 2 days there, preparing for our trip to San Felipe Mexico. I’m excited for 2018 to get underway. We are both feeling healthy and very happy. Thank you for all the love and concern while Terry got his tune up. He’s back in the saddle, and glad to be there. Sending much love and warm vibes your way; you are the reason I keep this journal. Peace out.✌🏿

Christmas in Chicago

Let’s begin by saying that you never know what’s gonna happen from day to day. I’m a true type A; I plan ahead and have been known to color code my Google calendar. I planned for every single day during my stay in Chicago from 12-13 to 1-05. My birthday dinner with Terry, Jeff and Debi ended up minus Jeff.

My birthday celebration with the kids went from a Thai food luncheon to bowling. My choice🎳😀.

The kids were not indulging me in a photo session and when they were ready I was not. Clearly.

I enjoyed an afternoon at the Christkindle market downtown Chicago.

Then I met Wendy at Rosebud for lunch. Always fun to catch up with that girl!

Besides, she has a great app for making photos look goooooood.

I met Nancy for dinner in Lincoln Park the same night. No photos, but great conversation. My jeans are definitely getting snug.

Some traditions never get old. Looking at holiday lights with Maryl and Meredith was a blast from the past!

Then the true excitement begins! Stephanie and Jack became engaged on Friday December 22!

We celebrated with them and many others at the Green Door in Chicago until about midnight. Then, at 6:30 the next morning, Terry wakes up feeling not so good. He ended up having an angioplasty with 2 stents put in. No photos here. Just a couple of days where I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. Terry feels fine now. We’ve got an even score. I scared him last February and he scared me. DONE.

Christmas Eve was not at my sister Debi’s place like always. She has the most wonderful Christmas trees and decorations. Instead, Terry got released from the hospital and we celebrated in our apartment with Mike, Katie, Jack, and Stephanie. It was lovely and we both felt so grateful to be with family in Chicago.

Christmas Day was another small celebration at Terry’s sister’s place in Mt. Prospect. One thing that we truly miss is the presence of little children during the holidays. Adults are boring.

The day after Christmas I went wedding dress shopping with Katie! She looks beautiful in every dress she puts on. No spoiler alert, sorry.

I’m hoping this polar plunge doesn’t hang around much longer. Single digit temperatures that keep me inside is too much of a change for me. I’m ready for an umbrella drink and sunshine on my shoulders again.

Terry and I counted our blessings this holiday season. But we quit counting because we realized we have an infinite number of blessings to count. Instead, we take one day at a time, cherishing what has been given to us and looking forward to our future together.

PeeWee’s Big Adventure in Review, by Terry and Annette

At this half-way point, we think it’s time to look back on the four months since we left the security and comfort of our beloved home on Spinnaker Drive in Longmont.  We tried to come up with categories that are important to us and interesting to you.  It’s been quite an experience, most of it very good.  So here we go with PeeWee’s Big Adventure in review.

Favorite Campsites:Terry and I both loved Olympic National Park and our campsite there.

T: roomy, rustic, right on the river

A: super remote and near great hiking opportunities

Best Golf Experiences:

T: Old Works in Anaconda MT. We stumbled upon this great course and I played well.

A: Circling Raven in Coeur d’Alene ID. I started out not so well, but I rallied and had a blast!

T/A: Battlement Mesa golf club in Parachute, Colorado with Matt and Lindsay Kelly. These kids were so much fun and GREAT hosts while we stayed with them in Palisade CO.

Best overall experience over one week:

We both agree that Half Moon Bay/San Francisco with Stephanie and Jack was an all around great time!

T: I got to play golf with Jack and connect with him in a new way.

A: My girl. ‘Nuff said. Love you too, Jack😉

Most Memorable Drive:

T: Douglas Pass driving up toward Dinosaur CO. Pretty treacherous and very early in my RV experience. No photo because we were deep breathing.

A: I would say driving out of Longmont, looking at Long’s Peak and watching Terry drive PeeWee and the Toad as we left our beloved Colorado. Very emotional for me.

Runner Up: We agree that crossing the Golden Gate Bridge was a real rush!

Least Favorite Overnight Experience:

No question. Spending the night at Les Schwab Tires in Coeur d’Alene was not fun. At all. The bright lights and noise of the parking lot and the impending purchase of 6 new tires did not lend itself to a good night’s sleep.

Runners Up:

Crescent City CA. Foghorns and barking seals All Night.

Lake Alva MT. Too close to the forest fires. We slept with one eye open and left early the next day.

A: I’m detecting a pattern; I guess us oldsters need our sleep.

Memorable Hikes:

T: Grand Teton hike that started with a boat ride across Jenny Lake. Other hikers saw moose, but we weren’t so lucky.

Yellowstone tributary hike. Rushing rapids and cool temperatures at the lowest part of the hike.

A: Hiking Cutthroat Lake in the Cascades. Stunning fall colors and mountain peaks. Watching Terry catch a trout!

Oregon Dunes 5 mile trek to the Pacific Ocean. Gorgeous golden sand dunes and the bonus of reaching the ocean.

T/A: Reaching the summit of Lassen Peak. Exhilarating!

Scary Moment:

T: being so close to the fires in Lake Alva, Montana. I woke up in the middle of the night with helicopters buzzing overhead.

A: when I almost fell out of the raft into the Yellowstone river. Ok, so it was the lowest water level of the year. And I had a life jacket. Also, the possibility of finding a scorpion in my shoes.

Before the trip started, what did you expect that never happened:

T: I thought we would establish a base camp and then go off into a more remote area with the tent. We never did.

A: I thought I would kill Terry in his sleep. I never did. I thought I would increase my running mileage. I never did. I thought I would find a place to live that I liked better than Colorado. I never did.

Being on the road I miss:

T: never ending conference calls (yuk-yuk).

Golf with the guys, live music, sports.

A: My family, friends, a home with my own shower and laundry. No photos of laundromats and campground showers.  EEEEWW.

Ok, I may have gotten a little carried away with the photos there, and there are so many more that I could have posted, but I bet you understand how important our people are to us.

So now we are spending the holidays in our apartment in Chicago. We will send out additional categories and reviews while we are here in one spot for a while. In the meantime, GO Bears!! 😳

Carlsbad State Beach, CA

Right on the beach. All I have to do is walk about 7 minutes and I’m toes in the sand.

This place has so much to offer; running and biking paths, clean facilities, and endless beaches.

When we wake up in the morning, we are greeted by this view:

One “unfortunate” thing was that our kitchen faucet broke. I immediately thought YES, upgrade!

Nice work, Terry!!! Now let’s go to the beach!

He’s so cute, even with those trunks. Lol!!

We went on a wonderful drive to La Jolla to meet Meredith and her fiancé Dean for dinner. La Jolla is a beautiful town right on the coast. Looks like they are ready for Christmas, too!

We walked around before dinner and saw local wildlife.

Right now, I’m preparing for our trip back to Chicago. I’ll try to bring some sunshine back with us. All I know is that I’m so very excited to see my family and friends in the Windy City. I’m grateful for my apartment that is waiting for us to decorate for the holidays. Stay tuned as our adventure takes us back to Sweet Home Chicago!

San Diego; by Terry

Here we are at the half-way point of our adventure – San Diego.  Looking at the views from our campsite at Mission Bay, I am reminded of my first exposure to business travel 36 years ago.  It was one of the things that really changed my life.  I had always hoped I would return for an extended stay “for fun” and travel in the RV has made that possible.  We’ll be here for 10 days before the flight to Chicago for Annette’s birthday and Christmas.  The weather is perfect and it’s a beautiful place.

A big weight was lifted from my shoulders on Monday when we worked out the logistics of getting needed repairs on PeeWee and, at the same time, arranged storage while in Chicago.  Whew!  When we resume our trip it’ll be January and we’ll be in San Diego heading east and further south.  Gotta love it when a plan looks like it will work.

We’ve been in California since about Oct. 20 and we’ve successfully chased the weather for the past six weeks.  It’s been great alternating between inland campgrounds and coastal sites.  Annette does a terrific job of planning the itinerary, finding great places to stay and navigating us from point to point.  I just drive.

At this half-way point, we think it’s time to look back on the four months since we left the security and comfort of our beloved home on Spinnaker Drive in Longmont.  We tried to come up with categories that are important to us and interesting to you.  It’s been quite an experience, most of it very good. Stay tuned…

Mission Bay San Diego CA by Annette

Beautiful, sunny San Diego! Our campsite is in an RV park with full hookups, so I can get laundry done. I’m sure not a fan of sharing my laundry facilities, but that’s how it goes. The campground is right on Mission Bay. Wonderful!

Our RV park has decorations, too!

And live poinsettia trees!

Our visit to Coronado Island was fun. It’s so crazy to see all of the holiday decorations when it’s warm and sunny.

The hotel Coronado was opened in 1888. It is a magnificent, elegant place right on the beach.

The homes on the island are lovely, too.

Our next stop was the military area of Harbor Island. Can you even imagine being on an aircraft carrier with 5,000 other people? Just being around the military presence gave me a feeling of gratitude for the men and women that are willing to serve.

Our last exploration of Mission Bay was by bicycle. We took off to Pacific Beach and ride along the boardwalk. Such a cool place!! I could have stayed there much longer.

There is a Christmas tree at the end of the pier!

And the surfers entertain us with their aquatic skills!

San Diego is a beautiful city. I’m so happy we made it one of our destinations. We will fly out of SD on December 13 to come to Sweet Home Chicago. ❤️ Stay tuned for Terry’s post.

Ca-ching!$

Sometimes you just need a place to stay before you get to your next real destination. I’m not too proud to admit we’ve stayed overnight at the Walmart before. We have, and shopped there too. But this time, we chose to stay at a couple of casinos. Ugh.

This is our spot at Morongo Valley, near Palm Springs CA. Not bad for free. We went bowling. And we played golf at Morongo Golf Course at Tukwet Canyon.

Saw a roadrunner, too.

We finished the 18th hole in the light of the supermoon! Terry got a par. Me no.

Oh, and Terry had luck at the casino. He won enough money to pay for his sandwich. 👏👏

Next stop, Pechanga Casino in Temecula CA. The town of Temecula is really nice! Everything was decorated for the holidays. But I didn’t take any photos because it was dark when we were there. But here is one of the decorations on the street:

Now off to Mission Bay in San Diego. Terry is especially excited about this visit. He spent time here over the course of his career, and he knows I will love it. Who doesn’t love sunshine and 75 degrees?

Joshua Tree National Park

I have always wanted to visit this special place. There is a quiet beauty that surrounds the landscape. Even though this park is part of two deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado, there is an abundance of life here.

First, the trees. The Joshua Tree looks like a cartoon character. Perhaps Dr. Seuss was inspired by this tree when he illustrated The Lorax.

Terry and I set up camp in Black Rock campground, on the northwest side of the park. As we we settling in, the sun made its last appearance of the day.

On Wednesday, we took advantage of cool temperatures and went on a 6.5 mile hike. Our trail led us to Warren Peak, 5150 feet.

The path was sandy and not easy to walk in. But the scenery was beautiful.

All of the plants in this desert are spiny and sharp. I imagine you’ve gotta be pretty tough to survive in this environment. Yet, there is a fragile beauty to these desert dwellers.

So that is Warren Peak. And of course we climbed it. To the top.

I was happy it was only about 60 degrees because that was a doozy!

Today we scaled things back a bit. After being on the phone with ATT for an hour, and then reconciling our budget (busted, for sure) we got into the Toad and went to a different park entrance. Here we found Hidden Valley and Quail Springs.

There are jumbles of stacked boulders everywhere! I mean mountains of them!

I climbed up and got a good view of this vast wilderness.

Oh by the way, I do have hair. You just don’t see it very often because of the hats. I’m looking forward to my salon visit when I get to Chicago.

But for now, it’s back to camping and appreciating what is my life at this moment. And I must say, I appreciate Minerva Hoyt for convincing President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim Joshua Tree as a National Monument in 1936. Finally, it was renamed as a National Park in 1994 as part of the California Desert Protection Act. I ❤️ our National Parks!