Day 11 Jan 24 Thursday

Day 11 Jan 24 Thursday

We arose to warmer weather, 54 F at 9:10 and 72 F by noon.  We also had our auxiliary propane heater on all night so it was nice & warm in the morning.  We went up to the pools, had a good W.V.B. game and then came home for a late lunch.  After lunch, we decided to go to an afternoon  movie as it was seniors cheap Thursday, ($7.20 each – it’s gone up a lot over the last few years, we used to get in for about $4.00 or less).  We went to UPSIDE, I wasn’t thrilled with it to start but by the end I quite liked it.   Afterwards, back at the RV Park Sheila started 2 loads of laundry in the new machines they installed in the laundry room while I made supper.  One good thing is that the machines take credit cards now, so no fiddling with coins or having to buy a prepaid card which you couldn’t cash in if you didn’t use it all before you left.  After, supper, we went over to the pool where they were playing a night volleyball game, and Sheila transferred our wash into the dryers.

They had quite a set up for WVB.  The ball was quite large, (2+ ft. in diameter), almost transparent and had small lights in it which flickered as it flew back & forth across the net on which they  had hung green lights and most of the players were wearing lighted, glowing cords around their neck, some had dressed up a bit even with lighted hats.  It was a very striking scene!  They had coffee, hot chocolate and fancy cakes & nibbles for after the game, plus a propane fire by the refreshment area. It looked like fun so I signed myself up for the next one on Feb 17.  Sheila thinks she would find it too cold, even though the pool water is quite warm.  As by now it was close to 7 PM we went in the clubhouse to play the Thursday night Mexican Train Domino’s till after 9 pm.  Then we picked up the laundry that Sheila had done and were finally home around 9:30.  Both of us were quite tired.  It had been a busy day!

Day 10 Jan 23 Wed

NOTE TO ALL, BECAUSE OF WiFi CONNECTION PROBLEMS I WILL BE POSTING 2 OR MORE DAYS AT A TIME.

Up & off to water volley ball.  Then a quick lunch and over to the clubhouse for the noon Hand & Foot game.  Of course the rules are different from what we play with the Roamers on our club outings & games days.  I like our rules better but I may try once more, it runs ever week on Wednesdays at 1 PM.  We finished about 3 or so and then went out in the car to try to find Sheila a nail place.  After no luck headed back home for supper.  Sheila phoned one place & found they could take her at 5:30 PM so she gave me instructions on what to make for supp & that she’d be back a bit after 6:15.  I fried up the fish, made steamed zucchini & a sort of instant rice type side dish, (which took longer than anything else).  And I had it ready for her. Well, knowing Sheila, I pushed the time up & had it ready about 6:55; she arrived home about 7:15. Not totally her fault, the shop was running late, but…. Anyway after supper we just relaxed in the RV.  I turned on the TV to the weather channel and they were doing several stories of people who had got stranded or lost and how they survived until found--some did not survive.  It was interesting as they had a survival expert explaining how they could have fared better and gave tips on surviving in similar circumstances; some I knew or was aware of, others were new so it was an interesting show.  Sheila found it very interesting also.

Day 9 Jan 22 Tues

Today is Breakfast Group day.  It used to be “Bike to Breakfast” but with increases in ages plus, more importantly,3 major increases in traffic on the streets we have to ride on to get to the breakfast restaurants, (a different one each week), everyone drives there by car now.  They have specials at the restaurants so breakfast is not expensive, for example today there were about 6 choices, all $6.99, add in coffee & you are still under $10.00.  I went by myself because Sheila is going to a Ladies luncheon and swim suit event. I don’t know if they have models for the swim suits, but I don’t think so as none of the husbands were going.  When Sheila comes back I am going out to see if there is another internet company better than the one GVP provides.  I’m going to investigate the internet rental company, Spectrum, that, I’m told can put a full strength signal right to my RV that I won’t have to share with hundreds of other users.  It depends on cost of course.

Sheila’s back to share her account of the Ladies Luncheon.  H-e-r-e-s  Sheila!

“It was a great luncheon!  Much more fun than the other one or two I’ve attended.  The theme was swimsuits and beach wear.  Glossy’s--the famous swim suit shop in Palm Springs, had brought a large selection of their swimsuits, tops & cover-ups, summer dresses and one type of very comfortable slip-on sandals for luncheon attendees to try on and purchase if they wished.  Swimsuits were only $29.99, (no matter what the original price was—sometimes a hundred $ or more), sundresses & tops- $7.99 and the sandals $8.99.  The activity room off the Billiards hall was set up as a large communal fitting room for the ladies with 3 full length mirrors.  Doors opened at 10:00 am.  As we entered the ballroom and surrendered our $15.00  we were given 4 tickets for the door prize drawings, (there were about 20 in all!), plus 10 green tickets which we could use to play one or all 3 of the arcade games spread around the room to earn more tickets for the door prizes.  In addition, if you wished, you could buy 10 tickets/$5.00 for the 25/25/25/25 draw at the end of the luncheon ie. all of the money collected was divided into 4 jackpots and then raffled off.  Since about 120 ladies attended, I think they would have been good jackpots.

After our shopping & playing time,  “Lunch was served”  by men, most of them husbands of the ladies who planned & organized this event.  Lunch was pulled pork, rice, a soft, slightly sweet bun and the most delicious, layered iced lemon cake I’ve ever tasted!  Then came the “piece de resistance”--a short fashion show by 5 of the men who had run the games & served the food.  They modelled some outlandish swimming costumes which had been ‘whipped up” by some o the ladies, to humorous commentary.  The draws for the door prizes started just before lunch and finished just after.  I was lucky & won one.  It came in a bag which was taped shut, but to my delight when I opened it at my table; I found a 10 pack of mini bottles of Fireball Whiskey with accompanying drink recipes.  A great prize as far as I was concerned!  It almost made up for not winning one of the 25/25/25/25 jackpots!  A great party—great food & fun activities.  Oh yes, I forgot to mention, I bought a pair of their sandals and one of the best fitting, most slimming & most comfortable swimsuits I’ve ever had—I can’t wait to wear it in the pool tomorrow.

When I looked at the original price tag I just about fainted—I paid $30.00 for a $174.00 suit!!

OK, enough of that, the master of the blog is back.  OK, it’s only me.  I went out & ordered the accessory part I needed to be able to run my tire inflator pump off a 110 volt AC line.  It’ll arrive in a week, so no problem.   I have also been able to finally find a refillable butane gas burner lighter, a pair for $5.00 at Hemet Trailer Supply store.  I also got a btl of Sta-Bil to put in my gas tank so all is working out.  As it is Tuesday, this is Taco Tuesday & karaoke night at the Elks Lodge so we are off there for supper.  The Taco’s were great as usual, only $1.50 each, plus a delicious lemon cake for a dollar a slice. The Karaoke part was less than the usual reasonable singing, but with some outstandingly good singers.  Mostly people would do slow C.W. stuff that didn’t have a tune and they couldn’t get the phrasing timed right.  However, Sheila saw a singer from previous years that she knew was good and asked him if he was on, he said he would put his name, Howard, on the list plus she spoke with one of the very few other good singers and she was due to sing again later, so we stayed.  After he sang Sinatra’s “My Way”, we left and got home about 8PM.  It’s cool in the evenings still so the furnace needs to be on. It is supposed to warm up this week.

Day 8 Jan 21 Mon

Up for 10 am water volley ball under blue skies but still a bit cool.  It’s a bit cooler than yesterday in the 50’s to low 60’s but with the low humidity that is quite comfortable.  Sheila was still quite stiff from her first day playing WVB yesterday, so she went to find out about the Ladies Luncheon tomorrow and get tickets for some of the shows that are coming to the park in Jan. & Feb. & she didn’t come to WVB until 11:15 am.  After the game and a hot tub session it’s back to the RV for lunch. Then I went out for the items I couldn’t get yesterday.  After I took the computer up to the library where the in house computers are, and fired it up.  Great reception and speed, thank goodness there is nothing wrong with the computer we just aren’t getting a good signal.  After supper, I went to the Monday crib game. It’s a $2.00 entry which they give all back in prizes.  I don’t usually win anything, but sometimes I come close.  Tonight I was only about 10 or so points out of the prize circle.  Back at the RV Sheila, who is not a crib player so doesn’t usually go, found the “TV Land channel that shows all the old shows, so she was happy watching “Mash, Raymond, and Threes Company”.  There was a nice full moon out tonight in a clear sky.

Day 7 Jan 20 Sun

Up to slightly overcast skies, had breakfast and off to water volley ball.  I got there a minute or two early and they were already playing.  I joined a pool and spent the next 2 hours immersed in warm water having fun.  After the game, I sat in the hot tub before having my shower & changing.  On getting back to the RV the outdoor thermometer in the shade said 75 F so weather is great! Had lunch and then went out to get some supplies – a new water supply hose as the old one leaks at the RV end and I couldn’t fix it, plus we need a new porch light bulb and a cpl other things.  I forgot that today was Sunday and some stores were closed so some things will have to wait.  We got back in time to go to the Water Volley Ball Pasta dinner – pasta & sauce, salad, choice of dressing plus olives to add.  Then we have the Sunday night Bridge game in the banquet room, we had 4 tables. I’m still having trouble getting the computer to access the internet; I will have to investigate that.  Home to the RV by 9:45.

Day 6 Jan 19 Sat

It is not a long run into GVP from here so we took our time in the morning.  We finally pulled out at 10:20 at 52437 miles.  The hwys, (215, 15, & 10), had lots of traffic but it wasn’t a difficult drive although I am really glad I did not try it yesterday.  At 52504 miles at 11:45 we pulled into Golden Village Palms and registered for 3 months.  We are in site 693 on Fringe street. We discovered that today they have a “guest appreciation pool party” running from noon to 2 PM.  El Patron restaurant is selling food & drinks, and there is live entertainment, a band.  We just parked in our spot grabbed our chairs & went up to the pool area. Both pools had water volley ball games going and we found a spot in the shade as we are not as tanned as usual. After an enjoyable time we came back to set up the RV.  Got power, water, sewer, TV cable all hooked up, got our tire covers on to protect the tires from the sun, got the awning up, got the sides out.  Relaxation time. Sheila just had to go out to WINCO for something, I passed on the opportunity to join her. We tried to watch TV but reception is weird, we can’t get a clear colour picture but later when we went to another channel it was fine.  I also had trouble getting on the internet and I am behind in my postings.  However we are here, it is warm & nice, hard to complain.

Covered  67 Miles,   on the road 1 hr 25 mins

Day 5 Feb 18, Friday

Day 5 Jan 18  Friday

Out Sun & Fun @ 52241 @ 10:25.  Into Flying J at junction Hwy 215 & 385 at 52437, gas up 2:40 to 3:00.  Too late to head out as it is Friday & we have to drive main highways which will be busy with rush hour traffic.  We decided to stay around the station.  Sheila had asked in the station about a cleared area just outside their entrance but apparently the police regularly ticket people parked there.  Because of our configuration we can’t easily use the truck areas – we can’t back up with the car attached plus we have a slide out on each side – Sheila explained this and they said to go around to the far back end of their lot and there is a non paved area we can park in. Away we went & we are “camped” at Flying J tonight, at 3:10.  We walked up to the station, (Sheila said it was ½ a kilometre on her step counter thing), as they have a Wendy’s here where we can have supper &hopefully get WiFi or at least power for the computer.  Although we are near the 215 hwy I didn’t notice much noise while inside the RV, but lots when I stepped outside, so it shouldn’t be too bad at night.  It’s bright sunshine right now at 4:45 and mild. Yes, we got on the computer, yea.  Came back to the RV & I was really tired so I went to bed at around 8PM.  I woke up a cpl times at night but just stayed in bed till the morning, I did get up around 8:30 next morning to get set for our final day on the road.

Covered  196 miles,    on the road 4 hrs 15 mins. Lots of mountains hwy, curvy roads