Baseball again today. The Phillies played the Minnesota Twins and lost 4-2 in a rain- shortened game of 7 innings.
The rain from yesterday continued into the night but was mostly clear this morning. The forecast was for another band of rain to come through this area, probably around 3:00 pm. Sure enough the rain came as scheduled, not as hard as yesterday but enough to stop the game around 3:30 pm.
We headed back to the RV and ate in again tonight. The rain passed through about 6:30 pm and things cleared out pretty quickly after that. The forecast is for mostly sunny and warm weather through the middle of next week before a cold front is scheduled.
Another game tomorrow, this time against the Baltimore Orioles.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 23
No home game today, which was just as well since it started raining this morning and rained hard all day and into the night. It was a typical early spring Florida deluge and there was some local flooding but nothing where we are and certainly not what everyone back home is currently experiencing as a "Pineapple Express" dumps a lot of rain on the area.
We didn't do too much other than work and relax in the RV. Judy did get her nails done later in the afternoon and I ran a few errands.
The Phillies away game against the Yankees in Tampa was cancelled due to the weather. They don't ordinarily make up games that are cancelled in spring training. Ticket holders are instead given a "rain check" for another spring training game this year or the next
The rain stopped overnight and it is clear this morning. More rain/showers are forecast for this afternoon so it could affect the game this afternoon against the Minnesota Twins.
We didn't do too much other than work and relax in the RV. Judy did get her nails done later in the afternoon and I ran a few errands.
The Phillies away game against the Yankees in Tampa was cancelled due to the weather. They don't ordinarily make up games that are cancelled in spring training. Ticket holders are instead given a "rain check" for another spring training game this year or the next
The rain stopped overnight and it is clear this morning. More rain/showers are forecast for this afternoon so it could affect the game this afternoon against the Minnesota Twins.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 22
The Phillies played the Detroit Tigers today and won again. The early spring training games usually feature a lot of rookies and non-roster players trying to make the team. The first two games we have seen have featured a lot of first team position players and mostly all young pitchers. It is too early to evaluate anything about this year's team, but the Phillies have a good number of young pitchers who should do well as they refine their skills in the minor leagues the next few years.
We picked up a few groceries on the way back to the RV and then ate dinner there. No home game tomorrow, so we will continue getting settled in and getting caught up with the inevitable paperwork that follows you even on vacation.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 21
We left the RV park in Palm Harbor around 11:00 am for the short 7 mile drive to our destination, the Bay Bayou RV Resort in Oldsmar. We could not check in to our site until 12:00 noon so we decided to have an early lunch at the local Cracker Barrel restaurant. We had another great Cracker Barrel meal. The Sunday special was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and cornbread/biscuits and "fixins". It was not health food, but delicious.
After we checked in to our site, I did a quick wash of the RV to get the road dirt and bugs off from Texas and beyond. We then started to "make our nest", setting things up outside and reorganizing the inside of the RV for daily living. After drinks on the patio, we had a quiet dinner and early to bed. It was a short travel day but a busy long day after we arrived.
The Phillies played an away game today in Lakeland, FL against the Detroit Tigers and won.
After we checked in to our site, I did a quick wash of the RV to get the road dirt and bugs off from Texas and beyond. We then started to "make our nest", setting things up outside and reorganizing the inside of the RV for daily living. After drinks on the patio, we had a quiet dinner and early to bed. It was a short travel day but a busy long day after we arrived.
The Phillies played an away game today in Lakeland, FL against the Detroit Tigers and won.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 20
The first home game of spring training for the Phillies was today. We drove down from Palm Harbor, about 9 miles north of Clearwater where the games ae played. We are staying here for another night until our site at the RV park in Oldsmar, a little closer to the stadium, is ready tomorrow.
It seems like we just left - everything looks about the same here , the ushers and staff we have gotten to know are mostly still here and the weather is good. Alas, the Phillies lost today to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was a close game but still a loss with a lot of rookies and non-roster players playing which is typical early in the spring training season.
Before the game, we had breakfast at Lenny's, a Philadelphia-style restaurant near the park where the faithful gather for breakfast before each game. It is a true slice of Philadelphia - the menu, waitresses, clientele and ambience.
Friday, February 22, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 19
We hard a short drive (distance) of 50 miles but a long drive (time) from Crystal River to Palm Harbor today, driving down U.S. 19. There were endless red light intersections with an almost continuous string of strip malls and roadside businesses through a number of towns and communities along the way. Traffic was heavy and Florida drivers seem to have mastered the art of crossing in front of you just in time to avoid a collision as they enter/cross the busy highway. And, they have plenty of "weavers" here too who don't feel the need to use turn signals before changing lanes. We left the RV park in Crystal River about 11:00 am and didn't arrive here until after 1:30 pm.
We are staying at a KOA in Palm Harbor until our site at Bay Bayou RV Resort, our destination for the month of March, is available on Sunday. After getting set up, I went over to Bay Bayou to pick up a couple of packages that had been sent there and made a stop at the local Camping World for a few supplies. The weather is warm and humid (80s) already here but can change in an instant as we have experienced in the past
The first home game is tomorrow. They won their first game today - away at The Tampa Bay Rays home park in Port Charlotte. Dinner tonight was at a favorite restaurant, The Lucky Dill, an authentic NY style delicatessen restaurant just down the road.
We are staying at a KOA in Palm Harbor until our site at Bay Bayou RV Resort, our destination for the month of March, is available on Sunday. After getting set up, I went over to Bay Bayou to pick up a couple of packages that had been sent there and made a stop at the local Camping World for a few supplies. The weather is warm and humid (80s) already here but can change in an instant as we have experienced in the past
The first home game is tomorrow. They won their first game today - away at The Tampa Bay Rays home park in Port Charlotte. Dinner tonight was at a favorite restaurant, The Lucky Dill, an authentic NY style delicatessen restaurant just down the road.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 18
We slept in today, had a leisurely breakfast then did the laundry. While the washers and dryers were running, I ran a few errands and helped Judy with the logistics of laundry day in an RV park.
That was about it for the day - life in the vacation fast lane.
We are going out to dinner tonight, looking for some fresh seafood. We head further south tomorrow (about 60 miles) to Palm Harbor for two nights until our spot at the RV park in Oldsmar where we will be staying through March becomes available on Sunday. The first spring training game in Clearwater is on Saturday. We will be there - and for 15 more into March.
That was about it for the day - life in the vacation fast lane.
We are going out to dinner tonight, looking for some fresh seafood. We head further south tomorrow (about 60 miles) to Palm Harbor for two nights until our spot at the RV park in Oldsmar where we will be staying through March becomes available on Sunday. The first spring training game in Clearwater is on Saturday. We will be there - and for 15 more into March.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 17
When we left the RV park this morning is was raining (not too hard but it was also windy). As we headed east, it remained cloudy with decreasing drizzle. Traffic was not too bad on I-10.
Just west of Tallahassee , we started to notice a lot of downed trees, damaged buildings, billboards and traffic signs. Other trees off the road were either bent over or snapped. There was also a lot road crew clean-up activities going on, clearing downed trees and associated debris on the sides of the road. We finally realized we were passing through the path of the hurricane that devastated this area last fall. It must have been a very scary time. Luckily, this area is not heavily populated, so property damage and personal injury appears to have been minimal although a lot of skinny pine trees took a hit..
After we turned south out of the Florida panhandle just east of Tallahassee, the weather began to clear. We had a bit of a cross wind however until we got closer to our destination for the next two nights, Crystal River, FL about 60 miles north of the Tampa/Clearwater area where we will be staying through March. We arrived at the RV park where we are staying about 5:00 pm. We are now in the Eastern Time zone, 3 hours later than back home.
My sister Eileen lives in Crystal River where she now lives full time with her friend Linda. We normally visit with them on our way but this year Eileen and her daughters and their families are on a family vacation in Orlando, FL while we are passing through. We will see them however as they have tickets to three baseball games with us while we are here.
It was a long drive today (350 miles) through mostly open space and little traffic but we are still tired. We will have dinner in the RV tonight and go to bed early. Tomorrow is a R & R day - sleeping in and doing the laundry. Dinner out tomorrow night is a distinct possibility as there are several excellent restaurants in town.
Just west of Tallahassee , we started to notice a lot of downed trees, damaged buildings, billboards and traffic signs. Other trees off the road were either bent over or snapped. There was also a lot road crew clean-up activities going on, clearing downed trees and associated debris on the sides of the road. We finally realized we were passing through the path of the hurricane that devastated this area last fall. It must have been a very scary time. Luckily, this area is not heavily populated, so property damage and personal injury appears to have been minimal although a lot of skinny pine trees took a hit..
After we turned south out of the Florida panhandle just east of Tallahassee, the weather began to clear. We had a bit of a cross wind however until we got closer to our destination for the next two nights, Crystal River, FL about 60 miles north of the Tampa/Clearwater area where we will be staying through March. We arrived at the RV park where we are staying about 5:00 pm. We are now in the Eastern Time zone, 3 hours later than back home.
My sister Eileen lives in Crystal River where she now lives full time with her friend Linda. We normally visit with them on our way but this year Eileen and her daughters and their families are on a family vacation in Orlando, FL while we are passing through. We will see them however as they have tickets to three baseball games with us while we are here.
It was a long drive today (350 miles) through mostly open space and little traffic but we are still tired. We will have dinner in the RV tonight and go to bed early. Tomorrow is a R & R day - sleeping in and doing the laundry. Dinner out tomorrow night is a distinct possibility as there are several excellent restaurants in town.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 16
We went to the National Naval Aviation Museum on the Pensacola Naval Air Station today.
The naval air station is the home of the Blue Angel Aerial Demonstration Team and a naval aviator flying training base. It is the first naval aviation base, formed in 1914 as a sea plane base. It is now a first class Navy base and arguably the mother ship of naval aviation.
The museum is world class. It has every type of airplane and helicopter the Navy has ever flown on display. There are over 150 historic aircraft on display covering every era from the birth of naval aviation to the present day. The exhibits are inside and outside covering 350,000 square feet of exhibit space on a 37 acre campus. Included in the exhibits are life size dioramas , hands-on exhibits, different types of motion simulators, a Blue Angel motion experience and video presentations of different events and experiences related to naval aviation. There is also a very nice library and research center that also features special exhibits. The current display was about the Flying Tigers, American volunteer pilots who fought in China prior to WW II. There is also a giant screen theater where you can watch hour-long movies related to naval aviation and activities that were directly involved (e.g. WW II). There is no way you can experience all of things there in one day but we gave it our best shot.
The museum is on the base but is open to the public. You have to enter through a special gate (the west gate) and show some sort of identification. You also have to show an ID to get into the main building. Interestingly, the people checking ID.s to get into the building are young Navy ensigns waiting for their flying training class to start. We were told they were "volunteers" for this duty. The docents at the museum appeared to be mostly old white guys, many appearing to be retired naval aviators who were waring their wings and airplane pins on their blazers. There were also some people walking around wearing their flight jackets (e.g. Tom Cruise in Top Gun). There were also guided tours available and we even saw "Rosie the Riveter" walking around.
We had lunch at the café in the museum, the "Cubi Bar Café". Cubi Point NAS in the Philippines, adjacent to Subic Bay, was the home for over 40 years to naval aviation units deploying in and out of the area. A tradition started at some point that each aviation unit that passed through the base presented a plaque to the facility that was posted on the wall of the officers club as gestures of thanks and remembrance. When the American bases in the Philippines were shut down in 1992 their were literally hundreds of these plaques covering the walls of the club. The plaques were all returned to the US and stored as historic memorabilia. When the Cubi Bar Café was established at the museum, it was designed and built to duplicate part of that famous club. Today, many of those plaques adorn the walls of the café. The plaques not only capture Naval Aviation history but also the artistry and creativeness of Philippine culture. The custom also generated a local industry among Filipino woodcarvers whose imaginations and expertise brought the endeavor to the level of fine art.
You can not get on to the main base from the museum portion of the base without military IDs (active duty or retired). We went out that way and on the way out, we made a short stop at a historic lighthouse on base.
We picked up a few groceries and got gas on the way back to the RV park. It was a long day but well worth the visit.
We drive down the Florida Peninsula tomorrow to Crystal River, FL for the next stop on the trip.
The naval air station is the home of the Blue Angel Aerial Demonstration Team and a naval aviator flying training base. It is the first naval aviation base, formed in 1914 as a sea plane base. It is now a first class Navy base and arguably the mother ship of naval aviation.
The museum is world class. It has every type of airplane and helicopter the Navy has ever flown on display. There are over 150 historic aircraft on display covering every era from the birth of naval aviation to the present day. The exhibits are inside and outside covering 350,000 square feet of exhibit space on a 37 acre campus. Included in the exhibits are life size dioramas , hands-on exhibits, different types of motion simulators, a Blue Angel motion experience and video presentations of different events and experiences related to naval aviation. There is also a very nice library and research center that also features special exhibits. The current display was about the Flying Tigers, American volunteer pilots who fought in China prior to WW II. There is also a giant screen theater where you can watch hour-long movies related to naval aviation and activities that were directly involved (e.g. WW II). There is no way you can experience all of things there in one day but we gave it our best shot.
The museum is on the base but is open to the public. You have to enter through a special gate (the west gate) and show some sort of identification. You also have to show an ID to get into the main building. Interestingly, the people checking ID.s to get into the building are young Navy ensigns waiting for their flying training class to start. We were told they were "volunteers" for this duty. The docents at the museum appeared to be mostly old white guys, many appearing to be retired naval aviators who were waring their wings and airplane pins on their blazers. There were also some people walking around wearing their flight jackets (e.g. Tom Cruise in Top Gun). There were also guided tours available and we even saw "Rosie the Riveter" walking around.
We had lunch at the café in the museum, the "Cubi Bar Café". Cubi Point NAS in the Philippines, adjacent to Subic Bay, was the home for over 40 years to naval aviation units deploying in and out of the area. A tradition started at some point that each aviation unit that passed through the base presented a plaque to the facility that was posted on the wall of the officers club as gestures of thanks and remembrance. When the American bases in the Philippines were shut down in 1992 their were literally hundreds of these plaques covering the walls of the club. The plaques were all returned to the US and stored as historic memorabilia. When the Cubi Bar Café was established at the museum, it was designed and built to duplicate part of that famous club. Today, many of those plaques adorn the walls of the café. The plaques not only capture Naval Aviation history but also the artistry and creativeness of Philippine culture. The custom also generated a local industry among Filipino woodcarvers whose imaginations and expertise brought the endeavor to the level of fine art.
You can not get on to the main base from the museum portion of the base without military IDs (active duty or retired). We went out that way and on the way out, we made a short stop at a historic lighthouse on base.
We picked up a few groceries and got gas on the way back to the RV park. It was a long day but well worth the visit.
We drive down the Florida Peninsula tomorrow to Crystal River, FL for the next stop on the trip.
Monday, February 18, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 15
We left the Lafayette, La area (actually a suburb town called Carenco) about 9:30 am after getting gas and a real mocha. We traveled east again on I-10 under cloudy skies, cool temperatures and a little cross wind.
The traffic was heavy. I am not sure if was the holiday weekend or not but there were lots of cars and trucks on the road (I-10). We also had a number of states and cities to get through. We started out in Louisiana, then Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. There were also several cities we went through including Baton Rogue, LA, Biloxi, MS, Mobile, AL, and Pensacola, FL.
There may not be a lot of interesting things to see in Mississippi but they have the best rest area/visitor centers we have seen on the trip. Here are a few pictures of their visitor center as you enter the state from Louisiana, decorated for Mardi Gras.
We arrived around 4;00 PM, relaxed awhile and ordered pizza delivered from Dominos for dinner. The weather remains cool (60's) and overcast. This time last year here the temperature was in the 80's (beach weather) but not this year.
The plan for tomorrow is to sleep in, then visit the National Naval Aviation Museum on base at Pensacola Naval Air Station, the home of the Blue Angels, the Navy's aerial demonstration team.
The traffic was heavy. I am not sure if was the holiday weekend or not but there were lots of cars and trucks on the road (I-10). We also had a number of states and cities to get through. We started out in Louisiana, then Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. There were also several cities we went through including Baton Rogue, LA, Biloxi, MS, Mobile, AL, and Pensacola, FL.
There may not be a lot of interesting things to see in Mississippi but they have the best rest area/visitor centers we have seen on the trip. Here are a few pictures of their visitor center as you enter the state from Louisiana, decorated for Mardi Gras.
It was a long 325 mile trip today, but we are here in a very nice RV park in Milton, FL (just east of Pensacola, FL). We will be here for two nights. We have stayed here several times in the past and it is a good place to stay along he way.
We arrived around 4;00 PM, relaxed awhile and ordered pizza delivered from Dominos for dinner. The weather remains cool (60's) and overcast. This time last year here the temperature was in the 80's (beach weather) but not this year.
The plan for tomorrow is to sleep in, then visit the National Naval Aviation Museum on base at Pensacola Naval Air Station, the home of the Blue Angels, the Navy's aerial demonstration team.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 14
It was raining this morning when we got on the road about 9:00 am. It continued to rain, sometimes hard, other times just a drizzle and partial clearing most of the way to Lafayette, LA. It was a short trip today so the rain was not much of a problem, just more trucks and Sunday drivers on I-10. There were also a few Daytona 500 "wanna bees" out today, perhaps celebrating the start of the NASCAR season.
It was partly cloudy when we arrived at our stop for tonight, The Bayou Wilderness RV Resort around 12:30 pm. We have stayed here several times in the past. It is a nice park, quiet and close to our favorite Cajun restaurant Prejean's.
The rain caught up with us and it turned cool later in the afternoon as we relaxed in the RV and watched the Daytona 500 race. It was actually a pretty exciting race and a change from something we probably wouldn't have done at home.
We had another great dinner at Prejean's. It is hard to beat authentic craw fish etoufee, craw fish pie, gumbo and hush puppies with live Cajun music.
We picked up a few groceries on the way back to the RV and it was early to bed.
We continue east tomorrow to the Pensacola, FL area (Milton, FL) for two nights.
It was partly cloudy when we arrived at our stop for tonight, The Bayou Wilderness RV Resort around 12:30 pm. We have stayed here several times in the past. It is a nice park, quiet and close to our favorite Cajun restaurant Prejean's.
The rain caught up with us and it turned cool later in the afternoon as we relaxed in the RV and watched the Daytona 500 race. It was actually a pretty exciting race and a change from something we probably wouldn't have done at home.
We had another great dinner at Prejean's. It is hard to beat authentic craw fish etoufee, craw fish pie, gumbo and hush puppies with live Cajun music.
We picked up a few groceries on the way back to the RV and it was early to bed.
We continue east tomorrow to the Pensacola, FL area (Milton, FL) for two nights.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 13
We had a lot of urban driving today - from Fredericksburg to Austin and through Houston to our destination today just east of Houston in Baytown, TX.
We got on the road just after 8:30 am after getting gas. It was cloudy and overcast all the way with little wind. It was east to Austin, through the southern suburbs then SE to I-10 again to Houston.
Before facing the Houston traffic, we stopped at a travel center called Buc-ee's. This is the first time we have stopped at a Buc-ee's and we were amazed. It had about 25 gas pumps and a huge store with take-out food and drinks. It was like a Cracker Barrel on steroids with all the "cute" things for sale. There were also a wide variety of food choices available with pre-packaged sandwiches, salads and deserts. They also had food stations that were making BBQ sandwiches, a candy/fudge station and hot entree items that you order at a computer and pick up when ready. Since there was no inside eating area we had a great lunch in the RV before heading through the middle of Houston in heavy traffic.
We are staying at an RV park just east of Houston in Baytown, TX. It is a nice park but just off of the interstate. There might be lot of traffic noise tonight, but it just an overnight stop and it on to Lafayette, LA tomorrow.
We got on the road just after 8:30 am after getting gas. It was cloudy and overcast all the way with little wind. It was east to Austin, through the southern suburbs then SE to I-10 again to Houston.
Before facing the Houston traffic, we stopped at a travel center called Buc-ee's. This is the first time we have stopped at a Buc-ee's and we were amazed. It had about 25 gas pumps and a huge store with take-out food and drinks. It was like a Cracker Barrel on steroids with all the "cute" things for sale. There were also a wide variety of food choices available with pre-packaged sandwiches, salads and deserts. They also had food stations that were making BBQ sandwiches, a candy/fudge station and hot entree items that you order at a computer and pick up when ready. Since there was no inside eating area we had a great lunch in the RV before heading through the middle of Houston in heavy traffic.
We are staying at an RV park just east of Houston in Baytown, TX. It is a nice park but just off of the interstate. There might be lot of traffic noise tonight, but it just an overnight stop and it on to Lafayette, LA tomorrow.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 12
It was forecast to be windy all the way to Fredericksburg today so we got an early start. After getting gas and a mocha again (actually French Vanilla) we were on the road by 8:30 am. We headed NE up to I-10 from Alpine, then east again. The trip was uneventful across lots of open space, arriving at Fredericksburg about 3:00 pm. It was windy but it was going the same way we were so a tailwind was not a problem.
Fredericksburg is a neat Texas hill country city that always seems to have a lot going on. It is sort of a tourist town with a German Heritage flavor that has lots of downtown shoppes and restaurants, nearby wineries (not sure about Texas wines) and the LBJ ranch and library is nearby. There is also the Chester Nimitz WW II museum. Admiral Nimitz was born here and this exceptional museum and associated attractions (e.g. the family house where he was born, etc.) We visited the museum on a previous trip and would do it again but we don't have time on this trip.
We went out to dinner tonight. We asked the lady at the RV park where we could get some good BBQ. She mentioned the Backwoods BBQ and said that is where she was going tonight. That was good enough for us if locals ate there.
Sure enough we went there and the place was packed. We ended up sharing a table with a nice couple who live near Amarillo and have a second house in Fredericksburg to be near their children and grandchildren. The food was great and the restaurant closed early because they ran out of food.
This the first of three overnight stops in a row as we head east - Houston tomorrow then Lafayette, LA on Sunday. Our next two-night stop will be on Monday and Tuesday at Pensacola, FL.
Fredericksburg is a neat Texas hill country city that always seems to have a lot going on. It is sort of a tourist town with a German Heritage flavor that has lots of downtown shoppes and restaurants, nearby wineries (not sure about Texas wines) and the LBJ ranch and library is nearby. There is also the Chester Nimitz WW II museum. Admiral Nimitz was born here and this exceptional museum and associated attractions (e.g. the family house where he was born, etc.) We visited the museum on a previous trip and would do it again but we don't have time on this trip.
We went out to dinner tonight. We asked the lady at the RV park where we could get some good BBQ. She mentioned the Backwoods BBQ and said that is where she was going tonight. That was good enough for us if locals ate there.
This the first of three overnight stops in a row as we head east - Houston tomorrow then Lafayette, LA on Sunday. Our next two-night stop will be on Monday and Tuesday at Pensacola, FL.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 11
We visited the McDonald Observatory today.
The observatory is primarily a research facility of the University of Texas at Austin but is also a world class observatory that is home to a number of telescopes including the Hobby-Eberly Telescope,one of the largest optical telescopes in the world. Here is some information about the observatory:
The observatory is primarily a research facility of the University of Texas at Austin but is also a world class observatory that is home to a number of telescopes including the Hobby-Eberly Telescope,one of the largest optical telescopes in the world. Here is some information about the observatory:
We visited the observatory a couple of years ago and felt it was worth a return visit. We had reservations for the 11:00 am tour that takes about 2 1/2 hours. The tour started with a program in the theater about the sun; then we visited two of the main telescopes at the observatory.
We first visited the Harlan J. Smith telescope that was commissioned in 1969 and with advances in software and associated equipment it is still viable and a widely used telescope, with astronomers around the world scheduling use time 3-6 months in advance.
We next visited the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, the fifth largest telescope in the world with innovative and cost effective spectrography.
We also saw a new radio telescope that is presently in the process of being installed and commissioned.
It was an excellent tour with a very knowledgeable tour guide. It was windy on the mountaintop (50 mph gusts) and partly cloudy, but we survived .After the tour, we had lunch in their snack bar and drove the 40 miles back down the mountain to the RV park in Alpine where we are staying.
We continue east tomorrow to Fredricksburg, TX
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 10
We left Las Cruces about 8:30 am, got gas and our morning mocha (truck stop version that was not mocha but tasty).
Las Cruces is about 40 miles NW of El Paso and I-10 runs right through the middle of it. They are apparently rebuilding the Interstate through town the best we can tell. Every time we have come through El Paso in at least the last 4 years, the road has been under construction. In their defense, the overpasses, flyovers, and supporting structures are all attractively designed and visually appealing, at least for highway structures. Nevertheless, it was a "white knuckle" experience getting through town with all the trucks, weavers and associated local traffic getting off at the next off ramp that may or not be open during the construction.
We made it through just fine, staying out of everyone's way and trying to keep up. The road after that was good, dry and not too windy, and again, just us and the trucks.
We turned south at Van Horn Texas where we stopped for a truck stop fast food lunch. After that, we headed south on US 90 towards our stop for tonight, Alpine TX. On the way we passed though Marfa, a quirky town in the middle of West Texas. Here is some more information about Marfa - interesting:
On the way in to town we also saw a tethered Border Security balloon/airship about 2,000 ft in the air with a variety of sensors on board that is part of our border security program. Here is a little info about that program:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/08/23/us-testing-surveillance-balloons-on-mexico-border.html
We arrived at Alpine, a little further down the road where we are staying for the next two nights. The plan for tomorrow is to visit the nearby McDonalds Observatory, a world class observatory on the top of Mount LLoyd in West Texas. We have been here before and it is worth a return trip.
Las Cruces is about 40 miles NW of El Paso and I-10 runs right through the middle of it. They are apparently rebuilding the Interstate through town the best we can tell. Every time we have come through El Paso in at least the last 4 years, the road has been under construction. In their defense, the overpasses, flyovers, and supporting structures are all attractively designed and visually appealing, at least for highway structures. Nevertheless, it was a "white knuckle" experience getting through town with all the trucks, weavers and associated local traffic getting off at the next off ramp that may or not be open during the construction.
We made it through just fine, staying out of everyone's way and trying to keep up. The road after that was good, dry and not too windy, and again, just us and the trucks.
We turned south at Van Horn Texas where we stopped for a truck stop fast food lunch. After that, we headed south on US 90 towards our stop for tonight, Alpine TX. On the way we passed though Marfa, a quirky town in the middle of West Texas. Here is some more information about Marfa - interesting:
On the way in to town we also saw a tethered Border Security balloon/airship about 2,000 ft in the air with a variety of sensors on board that is part of our border security program. Here is a little info about that program:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/08/23/us-testing-surveillance-balloons-on-mexico-border.html
Marfa Prada
Also, outside of Marfa are the famous Marfa Lights. There is even a viewing center just east of town where you can/might be able to see the lights on a summer night. Some believe the lights are some sort of paranormal event. Others have a more objective explanation:
Marfa Lights Viewing Center
We arrived at Alpine, a little further down the road where we are staying for the next two nights. The plan for tomorrow is to visit the nearby McDonalds Observatory, a world class observatory on the top of Mount LLoyd in West Texas. We have been here before and it is worth a return trip.
We had dinner in the RV tonight and went to bed early. We still haven't seen 70 degrees yet but we are not complaining.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 9
We left Phoenix about 9:30 am after getting gas and a mocha (Starbucks this time) and headed east through Phoenix and Tucson on I-10.
The weather remains good, the skies were clear, the road was dry and there was no wind. Today is about our longest leg - about 410 miles. The good news there is not much between Tucson and Las Cruces and we could pretty much put it on cruise control and go 70-75 mph which is the legal speed limit on most of the highway. This stretch of highway can be exciting however as there are numerous sections susceptible to high winds and blowing dust. There are lots of warning signs and flashing lights along the way about the dust storms e.g. Pull Over, Turn Off the Ignition, Stay Buckled In, etc.. Fortunately, we didn't experience any of the above.
We arrived in Las Cruces about 5:00 pm after a long but relatively easy drive. We originally planned to stay here for two nights but that changed when we spent the extra day in Bakersfield due to weather over the mountains. So, tomorrow it is off to Alpine, TX for two nights and a return visit to the McDonald Observatory.
The weather remains good, the skies were clear, the road was dry and there was no wind. Today is about our longest leg - about 410 miles. The good news there is not much between Tucson and Las Cruces and we could pretty much put it on cruise control and go 70-75 mph which is the legal speed limit on most of the highway. This stretch of highway can be exciting however as there are numerous sections susceptible to high winds and blowing dust. There are lots of warning signs and flashing lights along the way about the dust storms e.g. Pull Over, Turn Off the Ignition, Stay Buckled In, etc.. Fortunately, we didn't experience any of the above.
We arrived in Las Cruces about 5:00 pm after a long but relatively easy drive. We originally planned to stay here for two nights but that changed when we spent the extra day in Bakersfield due to weather over the mountains. So, tomorrow it is off to Alpine, TX for two nights and a return visit to the McDonald Observatory.
Lunch Rest Stop - Dragoon Mountains - Cochise's Stronghold
Las Cruces - Hacienda RV Resort - Another Sunset
Monday, February 11, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 8
Today was laundry day. Not a favorite weekly chore but necessary while on the road.
After a light lunch we rested and went out to dinner tonight with Rich and Sylvia Aunger, friends from Nevada City who have a second home in nearby Sun City Grand. It was a great meal and great conversations.
We are leaving tomorrow and heading to Las Cruces, NM, our next stop on our trip east. It will be the longest leg of the trip but is mostly open space after we get through Phoenix and Tucson. The weather looks good right now, but still cool.
After a light lunch we rested and went out to dinner tonight with Rich and Sylvia Aunger, friends from Nevada City who have a second home in nearby Sun City Grand. It was a great meal and great conversations.
We are leaving tomorrow and heading to Las Cruces, NM, our next stop on our trip east. It will be the longest leg of the trip but is mostly open space after we get through Phoenix and Tucson. The weather looks good right now, but still cool.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 7
We decided to visit the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix again this trip. We have been there at least 4 times and discover something new every time we go.
Here is a little background about the museum:
"The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) was founded by Robert J. Ulrich, former CEO and chairman emeritus of Target Corporation. An avid collector of African art and a world museum enthusiast, Ulrich and his friend Marc Felix originated the idea for MIM after a visit to the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels, Belgium.
Their unique vision was to create a museum and collection that afford equal representation to the musical instruments and music of every country in the world. Using state‐of-the‐art audiovisual technology to show musical instruments being played in their original cultural context and delivering the sound of these instruments through high-quality headphones, MIM provides a one-of‐a‐kind experience to museum guests.
On the upper level of the museum, there are 10 geographic galleries (US/Canada, Europe, Africa, etc.) featuring the music and musicians from each area.
The main level has galleries featuring musical artists, an experience gallery where guests can have hands-on experience with musical instruments, a mechanical music gallery, a special exhibits gallery and the conservation lab. The museum also has a great restaurant.
The special exhibits gallery was featuring the history of the electric guitar, invented in the 1930's and which became the instrument that changed the history of American music.
There was also a special event there this weekend called Experience Canada. The event included musical performances, workshops, face painting, and a photo booth. The museum café also featured Canadian entrees, Alas, there were no mooseburgers, beaver stew or Moulson's beer. The meat pie was good however and may or may have included a little moose meat, although it was described as "beef".
We only had time to visit the Artists Gallery, the Electric Guitar Exhibit and several of the Experience Canada exhibits and activities this time, but we will be back again another time. The MIM is the top-rated attraction in Phoenix and is considered one of the best museums in the world. We don't disagree.
We also were able to get tickets to an afternoon concert at the MIM theater. It was a classical music concert by a piano trio, Trio Solisti. It was an excellent concert and a great way to end our visit to the MIM. We then headed over to Scottsdale for a great Italian dinner at a restaurant/pizzeria we had visited before.
We then headed back to the RV after a long but pleasant day.
Here is a little background about the museum:
"The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) was founded by Robert J. Ulrich, former CEO and chairman emeritus of Target Corporation. An avid collector of African art and a world museum enthusiast, Ulrich and his friend Marc Felix originated the idea for MIM after a visit to the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels, Belgium.
Their unique vision was to create a museum and collection that afford equal representation to the musical instruments and music of every country in the world. Using state‐of-the‐art audiovisual technology to show musical instruments being played in their original cultural context and delivering the sound of these instruments through high-quality headphones, MIM provides a one-of‐a‐kind experience to museum guests.
MIM’s
collection was assembled by five expert curators, with consultation from
distinguished ethnomusicologists, organologists, and other field experts. The
bulk of the collection is highlighted in Geographic
Galleries that focus on five major global regions.
There are also exhibition spaces such as the Target Gallery, which hosts traveling and special exhibitions, and the Artist Gallery, which includes noteworthy musical instruments and artifacts associated with some of the world’s leading musicians.
The museum opened its doors to great acclaim on April 24, 2010."
When you enter the museum you are given a small receiver with attached earphones. When you approach one of the gallery displays, you hear music from a related video being displayed on a TV screen. There are usually 3-4 short video clips and music for each display. Associated with each display are musical instruments related to the music being played. Often, the same instrument in the video is on display.There are also exhibition spaces such as the Target Gallery, which hosts traveling and special exhibitions, and the Artist Gallery, which includes noteworthy musical instruments and artifacts associated with some of the world’s leading musicians.
The museum opened its doors to great acclaim on April 24, 2010."
On the upper level of the museum, there are 10 geographic galleries (US/Canada, Europe, Africa, etc.) featuring the music and musicians from each area.
The main level has galleries featuring musical artists, an experience gallery where guests can have hands-on experience with musical instruments, a mechanical music gallery, a special exhibits gallery and the conservation lab. The museum also has a great restaurant.
The special exhibits gallery was featuring the history of the electric guitar, invented in the 1930's and which became the instrument that changed the history of American music.
There was also a special event there this weekend called Experience Canada. The event included musical performances, workshops, face painting, and a photo booth. The museum café also featured Canadian entrees, Alas, there were no mooseburgers, beaver stew or Moulson's beer. The meat pie was good however and may or may have included a little moose meat, although it was described as "beef".
We only had time to visit the Artists Gallery, the Electric Guitar Exhibit and several of the Experience Canada exhibits and activities this time, but we will be back again another time. The MIM is the top-rated attraction in Phoenix and is considered one of the best museums in the world. We don't disagree.
We also were able to get tickets to an afternoon concert at the MIM theater. It was a classical music concert by a piano trio, Trio Solisti. It was an excellent concert and a great way to end our visit to the MIM. We then headed over to Scottsdale for a great Italian dinner at a restaurant/pizzeria we had visited before.
We then headed back to the RV after a long but pleasant day.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 6
We left Palm Desert about 9:30 am after getting gas and a not-so-good truck stop mocha.
It was overcast but no wind, an easy drive on I-10 with little Saturday traffic - mostly just us and the trucks.
We arrived at Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort around 3:30 pm. The park is in a suburb in the NW part of Phoenix near Luke AFB, a busy fighter training base. It is a large high-end snowbird park that has a mix of small park model modular houses as well as spots for RVs. There is a golf course inside the park and is an attractive seasonable location for snowbirds from mostly northern states and Canada.
After we got set up, we enjoyed another beautiful desert sunset and had dinner at the golf course club house restaurant. We will be here for two more days and plan to do things in the Phoenix area while we are here. The weather remains cool (60's) but the skies are clear.
It was overcast but no wind, an easy drive on I-10 with little Saturday traffic - mostly just us and the trucks.
We arrived at Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort around 3:30 pm. The park is in a suburb in the NW part of Phoenix near Luke AFB, a busy fighter training base. It is a large high-end snowbird park that has a mix of small park model modular houses as well as spots for RVs. There is a golf course inside the park and is an attractive seasonable location for snowbirds from mostly northern states and Canada.
After we got set up, we enjoyed another beautiful desert sunset and had dinner at the golf course club house restaurant. We will be here for two more days and plan to do things in the Phoenix area while we are here. The weather remains cool (60's) but the skies are clear.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 5
It was another quiet day today. We slept in again and just relaxed in the RV. We did go out for a few groceries after a light lunch and that was about it until we went out to dinner tonight.
We had a great dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for a pre-Valentines Day treat. It was then back to the RV. More life in the fast lane.
We are off to Phoenix tomorrow for three nights. the weather looks good - dry roads and light wind. It will still be cool in Phoenix with temperatures in the low 60's but better than dealing with snow back home that appears to be imminent.
We had a great dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for a pre-Valentines Day treat. It was then back to the RV. More life in the fast lane.
We are off to Phoenix tomorrow for three nights. the weather looks good - dry roads and light wind. It will still be cool in Phoenix with temperatures in the low 60's but better than dealing with snow back home that appears to be imminent.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 4
We slept in this morning and didn't do much other than relax in the RV and continue to get things organized. We also arranged to have the RV and truck washed. They were both really dirty due to all the rain we came through.
We decided to drive over to Palm Springs (about 15 miles west) for their Thursday night street fair, VillageFest. It is a multi-block event along Palm Canyon Drive, the main street through downtown Palm Springs. There were lots of booths selling crafts and things, food booths, street muscians and even a farmers market. All the shops and many restaurants along each side of the street were also open. They even had a statue of Sonny Bono sitting on a fountain.
After walking along most the fair area, we had dinner at a Tommy Bahama restaurant (We didn't know they had restaurants) connected to a Tommy Bahama store selling their tropical line of clothing. We had street tacos that were very good.
After all this excitement we drove back to the RV and went to bed fairly early again. It was a unseasonably cool but enjoyable evening.
We decided to drive over to Palm Springs (about 15 miles west) for their Thursday night street fair, VillageFest. It is a multi-block event along Palm Canyon Drive, the main street through downtown Palm Springs. There were lots of booths selling crafts and things, food booths, street muscians and even a farmers market. All the shops and many restaurants along each side of the street were also open. They even had a statue of Sonny Bono sitting on a fountain.
After walking along most the fair area, we had dinner at a Tommy Bahama restaurant (We didn't know they had restaurants) connected to a Tommy Bahama store selling their tropical line of clothing. We had street tacos that were very good.
After all this excitement we drove back to the RV and went to bed fairly early again. It was a unseasonably cool but enjoyable evening.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 3
It was clear and cool as we left the RV park in Bakersfield this morning around 9:00 am.
The weather forecast was for clear skies either over Tehachapi or the Grapevine although the potential for high winds and icy roads over Tehachapi was greater. So, we decided to try the Grapevine which is also a shorter route distance wise, but with heavier traffic.
The Grapevine is a steep ascent on I-5 over the southern mountains at the end of the San Joaquin Valley. It is about a 20 mile climb to the highest summit at 4,000 ft. then a long up-and-down descent to the LA Basin at about 500 ft. elevation.
The traffic was heavy - lots of trucks and too many cars many weaving in and out of traffic at speeds above the speed limit not using turn signals. We stayed out of everyone's way though and made it through all that and arrived in Palm Desert at the Emerald Desert RV Park around 4:00 pm. It is a nice RV park with lots of things to do. We have stayed here several times in the past. It is not yet Spring here however as it has been in the past around this time in February. The skies are clear though, with a high today of 61 degrees. There is no rain, snow or ice which is a welcome relief from our recent weather experiences.
After we got settled in we ate out at a pub down the road and went to bed early, glad to be finally heading east.
The weather forecast was for clear skies either over Tehachapi or the Grapevine although the potential for high winds and icy roads over Tehachapi was greater. So, we decided to try the Grapevine which is also a shorter route distance wise, but with heavier traffic.
The Grapevine is a steep ascent on I-5 over the southern mountains at the end of the San Joaquin Valley. It is about a 20 mile climb to the highest summit at 4,000 ft. then a long up-and-down descent to the LA Basin at about 500 ft. elevation.
The traffic was heavy - lots of trucks and too many cars many weaving in and out of traffic at speeds above the speed limit not using turn signals. We stayed out of everyone's way though and made it through all that and arrived in Palm Desert at the Emerald Desert RV Park around 4:00 pm. It is a nice RV park with lots of things to do. We have stayed here several times in the past. It is not yet Spring here however as it has been in the past around this time in February. The skies are clear though, with a high today of 61 degrees. There is no rain, snow or ice which is a welcome relief from our recent weather experiences.
After we got settled in we ate out at a pub down the road and went to bed early, glad to be finally heading east.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Spring Training 2019 - Day 2
We slept in, took another look at the weather and decided to go with our plan to stay here today.
It was snowing over the passes but the roads were open with metered traffic control over the Grapevine with lower snow forecast later in the day. Caltrans was advising to avoid travel over the passes so we just hung out in the RV, did some laundry and got the RV a little more organized.
It has not been much of an adventure so far, just essentially dodging and dealing with winter weather.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
It was snowing over the passes but the roads were open with metered traffic control over the Grapevine with lower snow forecast later in the day. Caltrans was advising to avoid travel over the passes so we just hung out in the RV, did some laundry and got the RV a little more organized.
It has not been much of an adventure so far, just essentially dodging and dealing with winter weather.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 1
There was no snow on the ground when we got up so it was time to get going. It was still raining pretty hard when we left around 9:00 am and it continued to rain with a short break and partial clearing until we headed south on CA 99 from Sacramento.
The drive from Sacramento to Bakersfield was mostly in moderate to heavy rain, reduced visibility on occasion, and windy. We arrived in Bakersfield around 4:00 pm at the River Run RV Park along the Kern River. The skies cleared later and we had a beautiful sunset.
We have stayed here several times in the past. It is convenient to either going over the Grapevine on I-5 or on CA 58 over the pass at Tehachapi. Our plan was to check the weather and take the best route to Palm Springs on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, the forecast didn't look good on either as both routes were forecasting low snow and possible road closures. So, we decided to stay another night in Bakersfield and try to get over the mountains on Wednesday.
We had dinner in the RV and went to bed early after a long and tiring day and a lot of busy trip preparations - and a lot of rain. We are on our way however.
The drive from Sacramento to Bakersfield was mostly in moderate to heavy rain, reduced visibility on occasion, and windy. We arrived in Bakersfield around 4:00 pm at the River Run RV Park along the Kern River. The skies cleared later and we had a beautiful sunset.
Unfortunately, the forecast didn't look good on either as both routes were forecasting low snow and possible road closures. So, we decided to stay another night in Bakersfield and try to get over the mountains on Wednesday.
We had dinner in the RV and went to bed early after a long and tiring day and a lot of busy trip preparations - and a lot of rain. We are on our way however.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 0+3
We slept in a little on Sunday then got everything out of the house we are taking with us and secured everything there for the trip.
Our next event was the annual Super Bowl party at Susan Panzica's house. We were hoping we could watch last years game that our team, the Philadelphia Eagles won, but alas we watched the Rams and the Patriots. It wasn't much of a game, but it was a great party with good friends.
It was also still raining. We additionally had one eye on the weather as the forecast was still for low snow Sunday into Monday but it was "iffy" on how low. We contemplated leaving after the party and traveling to Auburn, but found a forecast that said the snow level would be 3,000 - 4,000 ft. on Monday. The fairgrounds are at 2,500 ft.
So, we spent the night in the RV and kept our fingers crossed we would be able to travel in the morning. It continued to rain hard all night.
Our next event was the annual Super Bowl party at Susan Panzica's house. We were hoping we could watch last years game that our team, the Philadelphia Eagles won, but alas we watched the Rams and the Patriots. It wasn't much of a game, but it was a great party with good friends.
It was also still raining. We additionally had one eye on the weather as the forecast was still for low snow Sunday into Monday but it was "iffy" on how low. We contemplated leaving after the party and traveling to Auburn, but found a forecast that said the snow level would be 3,000 - 4,000 ft. on Monday. The fairgrounds are at 2,500 ft.
So, we spent the night in the RV and kept our fingers crossed we would be able to travel in the morning. It continued to rain hard all night.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 0+2
Saturday was a busy day. It was also raining very hard all day.
My Rotary club, Rotary Club of Grass Valley, was having our annual fundraiser, Casino Night, at the fairgrounds that evening. I was there from 8:00 am to early afternoon helping with the set-up. After that is was more packing/transport of things for the RV and a stop at the Friends of the Library monthly used book sale where Judy and I volunteer and where I usually work during the sale.
Judy and I went to the Casino Night event. After it was over we helped break down the equipment and decorations and finally got to bed after 11:00 pm. The good news was the RV was close to the fairgrounds building where the event was held.
My Rotary club, Rotary Club of Grass Valley, was having our annual fundraiser, Casino Night, at the fairgrounds that evening. I was there from 8:00 am to early afternoon helping with the set-up. After that is was more packing/transport of things for the RV and a stop at the Friends of the Library monthly used book sale where Judy and I volunteer and where I usually work during the sale.
Judy and I went to the Casino Night event. After it was over we helped break down the equipment and decorations and finally got to bed after 11:00 pm. The good news was the RV was close to the fairgrounds building where the event was held.
Spring Training 2019 - Day 0+1
Based on the forecast of lots of rain and the possibility of low snow before our planned departure on Monday, we decided to move the RV to the Nevada County Fairgrounds RV Park in Grass Valley so we would have a better chance of getting out of town if the weather is bad.
We were not quite ready to depart so there was some back-and-forth loading maneuvers involved.
It did start raining very hard Friday night as forecast and we spent the night in the RV.
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