Our eight days here in Palm Springs have flown by. Lots of things on the to do lists. We don’t feel rushed but have had no time to sit and read nor play the guitar. I guess that will have to wait for the Isla. The election and post election nonsense is a time taker.
Our November calendar photo. This is the last bit of road we drive before we get to the RV park and the girls know it. Only five more sleeps.
After a long day of shopping at Walmart, Lowe’s and Trader Joe’s we stopped for lunch. Much to my delight a bottomless glass of champagne was being offered. I got a full bottle and there was more if I drank it all. I did bring the rest of the bottle home for later. It was very nice. A perfect perk to the day. I really like this trend!
Caeli being loco and rolling under the carpet. You can just make out her nose at the bottom of the shot. Meanwhile Carmeh looks on perplexed.
This was the perfect place to have the RV washed. Colin will wash and wax it once again before we leave Mexico, likely in February. This was a team of 7 workers and they swarmed the RV and it was done in thirty minutes.
It was the best cleaning we have ever had done here in the US.
The RV is spotless and as there is no rain in the forecast it should stay that way.
Roger and Sara dropped by in a surprise visit. We used to RV with Roger and Susie ( she had to stay behind in Canada for a weeks ) on the Isla. We spent several winters together before they stopped coming to Mexico. They have many dreams on their plate and have not been to the Isla for a few winters now. Such a lovely surprise. We miss you Susie. The three doxies remembered each other and it was a great reunion.
I have had some questions in the past week and this is a good time to answer them.
Chris asked “Looking at the picture of the metal piece that pierced your PT Cruiser, I can’t tell what it is. Have you determined what it might be?”
First off have a Chevy HHR. We have no idea what the piece of metal was but it does appear to have had a handle at one point. We think it might be part of the mechanism that you would use on your trailer to level it higher or lower.
Gene in Ohio asked “Do you not have a GPS? The Garmin products show exit ramps easily on a screen that even looks like the road you are traveling. As far as the sign goes for I-80 Sacramento, it clearly was not the way you wanted to go and you can see even up to the next sign that there is another sign yet to come. True, there are multiple signs blocking a clear view, but there was also evidence that another green highway sign was ahead. I always write down the roads I need to make turns before I depart for unfamiliar highways so that even tough I also use a GPS, I have my paper maps that I trust more. You were very fortunate to not have that piece of metal penetrate your tire. Thank goodness we have some considerate drivers on the road.”
No we don’t have GPS, instead we have a CPS, a Contessa Positioning System and it has worked perfectly for over 15 years. Perhaps because we were so high up in the RV neither of us saw the sign. It was a very poor exit. It was not till we were well into our turn onto the wrong exit that we saw the sign. We are talking about the I 680 sign re the turn error which was our second incident that day. The I 80 Sacramento was the way we wanted to go. We had to back track for one exit in order to head south in I 680. I, as navigator, was totally prepared with a paper map as well as some printed out Google Maps including close ups. I knew where the exit was supposed to be but it was not there. I even had the exit number, it was just one of those flukes. As for your comment that it was evident that the sign was there, that is because I took that photo as we passed the first sign on our second time around. Trust me there was no way to see it the first time as we exited before our intended exit. For those who want to reread my post on the incidents click here.
The last question was from Anne who wanted to know which shoes I wore to walk over 14,000 steps per day. In all honesty I have only done over 15K once and over 14K once. I actually usually average between 8 – 10 K per day. I suspect that that will increase once we are on the beach. On the beach I go barefoot.
These are what I call my walking shoes. They are the Mojave model made by Vionic but sadly are no longer being made. I love them so much that I went online and found four pair and ordered them just before we left. Hopefully they will last me for many years to come. I love the high support arch. I can walk forever in these.
Colin discovered the most fabulous RV parts store just down the road from us, called Blair Station RV. One of the things he purchased were new water hoses. The white hose from Camping World shown on the bottom has poor connections, they are very flimsy and distort easily. The newer blue hose has machined end fittings and we no longer have any leaks. The perfect water hose.
Up close and personal.
…and just in case you forgot!
Just a few hours ago we had an Isla reunion here in Palm Springs. Note the three weiner dogs. From left to right, Budd, Wendy, Roger with Sara on his lap, Contessa holding Caeli and Colin holding Carmeh.
This morning Colin noticed Budd walk past us in the distance on our morning walk. There is only one Budd that walks this earth. Sure enough Budd and Wendy had arrived here at Catalina Spa RV Park yesterday. How amazing is that? So I got in touch with Roger and we had a happy hour at Wendy’s. We are just back from a great few hours together. FYI Budd and Wendy and their sweet dog Flossie own a home on the Isla and we will see them in early December. Not only do they have a home in Mexico but also in Seal Beach, California 😀
Tomorrow we hit the road on the final leg of our journey to the Isla, aka Stone Island/ Isla de la Piedra, just south of Mazatlan. Stay tuned for our day to day journey south.
