West Sacramento, CA - June 4 - July 4, 2010

On June 4 we said good-bye to Peaches in Kelseyville and journeyed 130 miles southeast to ML and Joyce's home in West Sacramento.  Our friends had generously offered to let us park at their ranch during our month stay in the area.  After discussing our concerns about space and weight we agreed we could maneuver the Beast into their full hook-up site without causing any damage.  As it turned out, Bill barely got the rig through the gate, around the racetrack and parked beside the barn and stables, while avoiding trees and stacks of hay. 

Once we were settled, it turned out to be a great location.  Our friend's house has a wide veranda on three sides where we spent many evenings just hanging out and chatting.  The Clarksburg Branch pedestrian/bicycle path is about 1/3 mile from their home and leads to markets, shopping and dining, and provides a perfect five-mile walking loop for our daily exercise.  During our stay, ML taught Bill how to play snooker and Susan soon learned that if she couldn't locate her husband she should check the snooker room.

It was time for Susan to renew her South Dakota driver's license so she planned to leave Bill in Sacramento and journey to Rapid City to take care of the task.  Consequently, Bill had to get most of his socializing in while he had easy access to a vehicle.  We both had a wonderful time renewing friendships over lunches and dinners, and sharing the joys and sorrows of life.

While in Sacramento we eagerly accepted an invitation from Ginger and Chris to spend a hazy day sailing on the Bay.  Bill actually took the helm for a time during which a patrol boat intercepted us, and with blasting authority, directed us to change course.  Apparently, there was construction in progress on the new Bay Bridge span and boats were being directed away from the area. 

We drove back over to Kelseyville to visit Peaches.  She generously gave us an early 30th anniversary gift.  The much appreciated Bose Wave stereo radio and CD changer is a welcome addition to the Beast and will also enhance our Arizona home.  Thanks again, Mom.

South Dakota Girls Adventure

On June 18th Joyce and Susan threw their luggage into the Honda and took off for Denver.  We spent our first night Orem, Utah just north of Provo.  The next day we took scenic Highway 6 to I-70, then over the Rocky Mountains to Susan's sister's home in Denver.  We spent two nights in Denver during which time Joyce visited her nephew in Boulder.  Linda joined us for the rest of our adventure, and then spent a couple of weeks with her son Justin before flying back to Denver.

Linda and Joyce had never been to Mount Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons so we were all looking forward to our whirlwind tour of the West. On Monday we stuffed our luggage into the Honda and headed for Hill City in the beautiful Black Hills. That evening we hoped to visit Mount Rushmore for the light show, but a thunderstorm rolled in and thwarted our plans.

On Tuesday morning Susan left the sleeping beauties in Hill City and drove over to Rapid City to renew her license, rejoining her traveling companions by 11:00 am.  That afternoon we took the Wildlife Drive in Custer State Park to view herds of bison and watch the wild burros beg or steal food from tourists.  Once again an evening thunderstorm kept us from the light show on the mountain.

The next day we visited Mount Rushmore, and then took the Norbeck Highway to Game Lodge, returning to Sylvan Lake via the Needles Highway.   The following morning we were off to Cody, Wyoming via Devil's Tower and the Bighorn Mountains.  The entire drive was stunningly beautiful.

After a quick breakfast we drove west to Yellowstone National Park, taking the Grand Loop from Fishing Bridge up the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, through Norris Canyon, then south along the Firehole River and on to the geysers and Old Faithful.  It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day until early evening when a sudden storm blew up.  We sought shelter and sustenance at Old Faithful Inn, but we didn't have the required dining reservations so we headed south to Grant Village on Yellowstone Lake. 

After dinner we continued south to Jackson as the sun was setting behind the Grand Tetons.  It had been a wildlife rich day.  We saw moose, elk, bison, deer, osprey, swans and eagles.  Then, after dinner we were thrilled to come upon a grizzly bear busily rooting for grubs quite close to the road. 

Unfortunately, when Susan made reservations the only room available in Jackson was at Motel 6.  After one night we decided we had enough that.  The following morning we got a refund for the second night, and set out to explore the Grand Tetons.  After lunch and a bit of gallery hopping in Jackson we drove over the mountains to Twin Falls, Idaho and our last night on the road.

After a very long drive to Sacramento, we delivered Linda to Justin and Rachel's, arriving home at 7:00 pm.  It had been an exhausting trip, but lots of fun and very rewarding.  Susan has determined she absolutely must return to the Tetons for at least a month stay.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

While Susan and Joyce were out racking up mileage, Bill and ML were installing additional irrigation lines, tending the horses, cats and dogs, selling our scuba equipment, going to the stock car races and playing snooker. 

During our remaining time in Sacramento we trekked over to Carson City to visit Roy and Marcia, down to Stockton to visit Sheri and Allen at their new home, and Bill drove to Kelseyville for a last visit with his mom before moving north.  On 4th of July, we participated in a group birthday party at the Ranch.

The following day Bill carefully maneuvered out of our parking slot, gently rounded the racetrack and squeezed out the gate.  We said goodbye to ML and Joyce and moved on down the road to Bodega Bay to rendezvous with Mary and Henry, and Sheri and Allen.

We want to thank ML and Joyce for their hospitality.  We had a great time staying among their menagerie at the Ranch.  We also enjoyed the fabulous meals ML shared with us.  Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to offer them some warm Southwestern hospitality in the future.