I Get My Kicks On Route 66…

Mary continues to be occupied with personal business. I am now not expecting to see her again until I arrive at her home in Murphys, California about the third week in April. It’s just the way things are and we just have to deal with it.

Over the years I have driven on segments of Route 66 many times. Yesterday I did it again…albeit for 33 miles from Barstow to Victorville, California. I could have driven it on Interstate Highway 15, but chose Route 66 instead.

While not a lot to see, one can still get their kicks imagining what it was like to drive along this road in the 1920’s and 30’s. In addition there are the numerous old, run-down, dilapidated and deserted building that also stirs the imagination.

Along the way there is little population…

Lenwood – 3,542

Hodge – 431

Helendale – 5, 623

Oro Grande – 975

Here are a few photos that I took along the way…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Some portions of the roadbed are in a lot worst shape than this segment…

I ran along-side a long freight train for a number of miles…

Low bridge with narrow roadway…

Shortly after arriving in Victorville, I stopped at the California Route 66 Museum…

Immediately entering the museum you see a beautiful teardrop trailer…

Henry Fonda played Tom Joad in what I believe was the best Route 66 movie ever…The Grapes of Wrath…

They have a neat partial 1960’s Volkswagen Van so popular back in those days. Look closely and you can see I’m wearing John Lennon sunglasses and an afro wig…

Lots of memorabilia…

A 1917 truck along with some Burma-Shave signs…

I love shooting reflections…

This is what happens over the years to a face that doesn’t use sunscreen…

The volunteer docents are very friendly, knowledgeable and have many stories to tell..

Thanks for making my visit so enjoyable!

After leaving the museum, I proceeded about eight miles south (no longer on Route 66) to the Napa Car Care Center in Hesperia, California…

You can see my Bronco on the far right. Here I continue to try to solve my stalling and hesitation problems. Yesterday they installed a new fuel pressure regulator…problems remain and further activities will continue today. Since the garage is on a busy and noisy roadway, I drove the motorhome about three miles to a quieter location to spend the night…Moose Club #1808 where I enjoyed some nice refreshment and conversation…

Here’s the usual dinette window photo…

To see the other 25 photos that I took…

CLICK ON THE BELOW PHOTO. ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT THE PHOTO ALBUM, SIMPLY CLICK “SLIDESHOW” AND ENJOY!

Route 66 From Barstow To Victorville, California

You can read all about Victorville by clicking this link…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorville,_California

You can read about the Route 66 Mother Road Museum by clicking this link…http://califrt66museum.org/

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE PHOTOS.

Yesterday was a sunny and 82 degrees. Forecast for today is sunny and 72 degrees.

The red dot on the below map shows our approximate location in the State of California. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures with low humidity most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

On October 27, 2012, I created a two-minute video titled America The Beautiful. The music America The Beautiful is by Christopher W. French. The photos, which I randomly selected, are from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia (not shown in that order)…are mine. Yup, That’s me standing in front of the Post Office in Luckenbach, Texas…Y’all!

Click this link to start the video. Make sure you have your speakers turned on and go to full screen asap.
http://youtu.be/FfZUzEB4rM8

If you would like to see my YouTube videos, click this link… http://www.youtube.com/user/JimJ1579/videos

There are more than 500 photo albums in my Picasa Web Albums File. To gain access, you simply have to click this link… https://picasaweb.google.com/110455945462646142273?authkey=Gv1sRgCKrvzqm8-IKGdA

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

For more information about my books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2015

Different Shades Of Red…

The motorhome is parked at Thousand Trails Birch Bay RV Resort in Blaine, Washington. This location marks the furthest northern most point of our planned 2014 travels. I’ve been here several times over the years and always enjoy the area. Our departure date is set at August 12th.

DIFFERENT SHADES OF RED…

Last Thursday we got in the Bronco to go grocery shopping and there it was…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

The red light came on indicating the battery was no longer being charged. Who needs it???

I was able to drive it in this condition to Blaine, 5 miles distant, to the NAPA store and garage…

In about 2.5 hours and about $250 later, they replaced the 7-year-old battery and installed a new alternator. Red light gone and all is well once again. When events such as these happen, I do not begrudge them for both the motorhome and Bronco are only mechanical/electrical devices that work really hard to bring us to many wonderful places and experiences. Such is life…

On Friday evening, on returning to the motorhome after listening to some live music here in the park at 9 PM…I saw some other reds in the windshield of our motorhome…

I just love photographing reflection…they are so much fun!

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE PHOTOS.

Yesterday was a sunny at 79 degrees. Forecast for today is sunny and 79 degrees.

Enjoying nice weather is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

The red dot on the below map shows our approximate location in the State of Washington. You may double left-click the map to make it larger…

Enjoying 65-75 degree temperatures with low humidity most of the year is a primary joy in the RVing lifestyle!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”…Albert Einstein

On October 27, 2012, I created a two-minute video titled America The Beautiful. The music America The Beautiful is by Christopher W. French. The photos, which I randomly selected, are from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia (not shown in that order)…are mine. Yup, That’s me standing in front of the Post Office in Luckenbach, Texas…Y’all!

Click this link to start the video. Make sure you have your speakers turned on and go to full screen asap.
http://youtu.be/FfZUzEB4rM8

If you would like to see my YouTube videos, click this link… http://www.youtube.com/user/JimJ1579/videos

There are more than 500 photo albums in my Picasa Web Albums File. To gain access, you simply have to click this link… https://picasaweb.google.com/jimjrver

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

For more information about my books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2014

Los Alamos, New Mexico – Day 1

Yesterday I drove the motorhome the about 65 miles from Taos to Los Alamos, New Mexico. The motorhome is now parked at VFW Post #8874 in Los Alamos.

If you read my last Blog entry you know that yesterday morning I was dealing with a motorhome tire that was losing air pressure. I went to the NAPA auto parts store in Taos and fortunately the had the new valve stem extender that I needed…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Then to the tire repair shop and about one hour later it was installed. Total was $30 for everything. Hopefully that’s the end of that problem.

I started south on New Mexico Highway 68 along the Rio Grande River Gorge, About 10 miles south of Taos I came across the Rio Grande River Gorge Visitors Center, so I stopped in…

The next three photos were taken from the visitors center overlook…

Looking North…

Looking South…

A 180 degree panorama…

In the lobby of the visitors center there were a couple of aerial photos of the Rio Grand River Gorge in the Taos area…

Wandering into a back room I found this sign…

And all the lovely paintings of the Rio Grande River Gorge as done by local artists…

and a couple of stained-glass…

When I arrived in Los Alamos I parked in the rear of VFW Post #8874..

And I always show you the view from my dinette view. While not spectacular, it’s in the center of town near everything and the price is right…

Today I’ll start exploring the local area. I expect to be here several days.

Enjoying beautiful unique scenery is another joy of the full-time RVing lifestyle!

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

BY WAY OF WINE COUNTRY

Oh, blimey, I’ve been home for five days and in my blog I’m still on the road. My brain has this need for chronological order, which Jim would refute. But, travelers, even if you don’t stop and sip, you can’t help but love wine country. The vines change character depending on the time of year. In places they undulate across the hilltops in beautiful patterns. We traveled twisty, quirky highway 128 until it ran out. Switched to 29, then 12.  The back roads whenever possible.

At a pull-out we stopped and grabbed a couple of pictures of plump grapes waiting for their transformation to wine.There are now hundreds of wineries to choose from.  Move in for a year or two and try them all.

At the main intersection in Calistoga, Busters Smoked Ribs and Chicken is some of the best barbecue you’ll taste West of  Kansas. No fat on these ribs, no steam cooking, simple wood smoke does the entire job. At this point, we could have driven the Silverado Trail, which parallels 29, a gorgeous scenic drive. It bypasses the small towns, Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and others. We chose to wend our way through the  colorful towns,  both have something to offer.

A friend once complained the drive on highway 12 through the Delta is boring. Not to me. Rough and too many potholes is a fact. Jim has to cover his head when I open the cupboards for fear a can will drop on his head after a road like this. A wind farm popped into view,  new since I’d driven it.

Small sloughs,  fishing and boating defines much of life here and gives you a feel for the place even without stopping.

The  island ferrys are gone.  The time will come when  drawbridges will be obsolete. Even now,  the amount of traffic on the road that stops for a single small boat whizzing under seems ludicrous. River traffic isn’t what it used to be. Paying a bridge tender is costly. The only constant is change, so enjoy them now, they are an endangered species.

We arrived in Stockton on October 9th, missed the Derby, and missed a train museum on Highway 12. I promise myself every time I drive that road to stop at the train museum.  There are no warning signs. Suddenly, the driveway appears and you are past it before you can say:  the space between the words Pig and And, and And and Whistle is uneven.”  You won’t find a place to turn around on Highway 12  until you are several miles past.   “Such is life,” says Jim.

California Wine Country…

Yesterday we traveled the about 135 miles from Cloverdale to Stockton, California. Along the way…we wandered through the heart of California Wine Country…transiting Calistoga and Napa. We saw miles and miles of grape vines.

Here are some photos…which if you click on you will get to see in an enlarged view…

Usually every day we work to bring you neat photos to enjoy. Sometimes they require a real effort to obtain. For instance…here’s Mary getting one for her Blog…

We arrived at American Legion Post #16 in Stockton where we were to spend the night.

Upon arrival we were met by Rick Caccam…Second Vice-Commander. Rick proved to be a very friendly and amiable fellow. He opened the bar just for us and we enjoyed a very pleasant 1.5 hours chatting with him. All the cars in the parking lot were for a family gathering in a rented hall.

In addition to once being in the U.S. Air Force…he’s a retired law enforcement officer.  He has also been involved in his local Drum and Bugle Corps for 32 years and travels all over the United States participating in Drum and Bugle competitions. He also serves as the Honor Guard Bugler for American Legion Post #16 in Stockton. With a little encouragement…just like Charles Kurault used to do…we got him to give us a little demonstration with his small emergency “Pocket Trumpet” which he keeps in his truck for emergencies such as this.

Here’s a short video of Rick doing his thing…

If the video does not work…click this link…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R59Bgjm_Gw

Here’s a link to Rick’s musical enrichment group…

http://someinc.com/

Finally…here is a never-before-seen happening. I seldom drink beer anymore…but when I do it’s usually Miller Lite…which Mary affectionately calls horse-piss. Mary really enjoys crafts beers…the darker the better. Well…yesterday…in the bar with Rick…the darkest beer that they had in the house was regular draft  Budweiser…which in my three years of knowing Mary…I have never seen her drink. Well…I caught the event on camera and here it is…Mary drinking horse-piss! A memorable moment…

So yesterday was our last full day on the road for the summer season. Today we’ll retreat to Mary’s home about 65 miles from here and for the next few weeks the motorhome and Bronco will get a thorough cleaning in preparation more travels on the road again!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Another Electrical Problem Pops Up…Excuse The Pun…

Or rather…the power door locks decided to stop opening (popping up) a few days back on my Ford Bronco II. In light of my Blog entry about one month ago…”It Helps To Be Technically Minded”… I thought I’d share this story with you.

After about an hour of cleaning electrical contacts…unplugging and plugging in the concerned solenoids..there are two of them…one for the locking and one for the unlocking functions…I finally decided it was a defective solenoid. I had replaced both of them about 1.5 years ago when I was in Pensacola, Florida.

So I stopped a NAPA Auto Parts and bought a new one. Buying electrical auto parts can be chancy…if you’ve guessed wrong. Once you’ve walked out of the door there is no returning them for a refund of your money. In my case the part number and diagram on the solenoid I was guessing was defective did not match the unit that the NAPA guy said was the right NAPA part…according to his computer.

Fortunately I guessed right and the NAPA guy was right. I installed the NAPA solenoid…doors now lock and unlock as the are meant to do. Another problem fixed. Shouldn’t electrical devices last longer than 1.5 years?

As discussed in the earlier Blog entry…by doing the repair myself I probably saved myself $120 an hour labor charge and a 100% mark-up on the $23 solenoid if I had gone to an auto repair shop. Instead I get to put that money into the motorhome gas tank and move on down the road!

In other news…

Yesterday we moved the motorhome the about 15 miles back to Thousand Trails RV Resort in Bow, Washington. They primary reason for the move was so that Mary can enjoy her daily swim in the Olympic-sized swimming pool here. We expect to be here for an eight-day stay.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust