On-The-Road-Again

June 20, 2010

I left Monterey CA yesterday after having breakfast with my friend, Betsy, at Sweet Elena’s.  Anyone visiting Monterey, CA should try and find this place.  Really great food, especially the pastries.

Then I drove to Camping World between Gilroy and San Martin, CA.  There I found the map I’ve been looking for… that I will mount on plexiglass and then put on the inside of one side door.  There are little state stickers that I will put on the map for each state I kayak.  I was tired from not sleeping well my last night in Monterey, so I spend the rest of the day in the Camping World lot… and even slept through most of the night.

I am writing this from San Luis Recreation Area/Reservoir where I stopped to replace the fuse for my trailer lights (again) but am unable to find my wiring/fuse kit I so carefully put together.  It is not in the space I allotted for it… so I’m going to drive on in to Los Banos Ca and try to find fuses.  There I also hope to catch up with Betsy’s granddaughter, Deanna, who is in the area training horses.  She is a budding young horse whisperer just starting up her own business, Natural Horsemanship.  I’ve known her since she was a baby, and in fact knew her mother Elle when she was only 6 years old.  Hope to take Deanna to dinner when she is done with the horses.  Then find a quiet place for another night’s sleep…. quietly.

Last thing I did in Monterey was to track down my favorite motley geese.  A Canadian Goose crossed with a white domestic goose and they had five gosslings.  I’ve been watching them grow and they are now as large as their parents.  Below is a picture of the five, the domestic goose parent is in the upper right corner.  Four of the babies are off white in color and the fifth looks like a washed out faded Canadian Goose.  They are much tamer then Canadian geese… their domestic parent’s genes are coming through.  Wonder if they will fly off when the Canadian geese do???

O.K. I’m on the road again in search of a grandson.

 

Darling Zoey seeing her baby brother, Will, for the first time.  O.K. it’s my turn.

My 50-state kayaking and camping adventure.

Starting in June 2009 I began a 50-state adventure with the idea of kayaking/camping in all 50-states. My van is now outfitted with a mobile computer lab and solar panel, t.v. antenna, and kayak rack. It has all the comforts of home. I needed a new goal in life... one bigger than myself... and this tour is what I came up with. I will be updating the map below... for those of you who wish to track my travels.

FIRST STATE PADDLED... I became a volunteer for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary... learned to kayak here in the Monterey Bay and love it. So, that makes California my first state. More photos will be posts and can also be found on my Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2009592&id=1573053507 .

SECOND STATE PADDLED... I made a "shake-down" trip to AZ and TX... to get my van ready, install Solar, etc. Stopped in AZ to visit a friend from High School and also to kayak with another friend at Watson Lake in Prescott, AZ. See photos on my Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2009592&id=1573053507&saved

Departing Monterey Bay first week of July 2009, to begin working on states 3-50. Last two states will be Alaska and Hawaii. I'll drive to Alaska. I'll fly to Hawaii and rent a kayak... that will be the last state. Then maybe I'll settle down.... ahhhh NOT! People ask how long my adventure will last... and I just reply "Don't know!" "Don't care!" "However long it takes."

I hope people will follow along with me in the adventure.

A New Grandson

William James Bailey was born 4/2/2010 in Washington State. He has a bit of an infection now... so little prayers are desired by a Grandma too far away. He is so cute, I can't wait to see him.

Big sister’s first look a little brother.

P.S. I promise to get my blog caught up soon. I'm in Pahrump, NV right now with other vandwellers and having too much fun to stay at the computer. Have found four tortoise shells here... rescued one tortoise and patched up his shell from a dog attack... and relocated him to a safer location. I check on him yesterday and he seems to be resting and sunning himself at the entrance to his new burrow. I'm fascinated by these creatures... and think they must be my "spirit" animal.

Slabs, CA

(from misc. notes)

Feb. 15, 2010 - Katie, Mar, and Michael were suppose to come but didn’t.

Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 – Smog is very bad here and held down an inversion layer. 

Sulpher dioxide form Ag. products contains sulpher plus oxygen = sulpher dioxide.

Camp began at the towers but due to pollution and my COPD we scouted out a new location away from the center of Slab activities.

At the towers, it was Sandy St. Louis, Steven Ballee, Bob Wells and me.  Area by canal at very south edge of the Slabs had much better air quality, so we moved there.   

Sandy joined us, but needed to stay in closer to town, so he didn’t stay long.  I think Steve and Bob and I stayed there for weeks… just a’chillin’..

We found a lovely spot along the old canal.  Several times we were warned by Border Patrol about drug runners, but the fellas were well prepared so I felt pretty safe.

 

Rainbow over my camp.  For me, it seemed like a spiritual place.

Good memories.