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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
I'm not sure about the wine tour as we're gonna be hitting the rally on the way back from our trip to Iowa and I either won't be able to afford any wine tasting,or I'll already have a MH full by the time we get there.
Wow, Bigdog, you must know something about midwest wine that I'm not aware of!! Choosing it over any Washington wine?!? :@:B
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Ron Butler
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02/09/12 07:53pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
David,
We are starting to put together our tentative route back to the wet side of the mountains from the sunny south. Since the rally is in eastern WA. I think we may make it. I can handle eastern WA. that time of the year, but not the wet side yet!! IF we make it, we would be very interested in the wine tour. I'm surprised that Big Dog hasn't jumped in for it.
Carolyn is up in Fed. Way - her son underwent neurosurgery to remove a tumor from his spinal cord on Mon. (Everything is looking good so far) I will talk to her about the rally and tour when she gets back and attempt to get more specific about our committment.
I'm currently down in Yuma. Going out tomorrow (Thur.) with Tradewinds on one of his patent jeep runs in the desert! Looking forward to it.
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Ron Butler
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02/08/12 08:38pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
Tradewinds - are you around? Give me a call. Plan on coming down to Yuma Mon. for the week.
Carolyn flying home this afternoon. Her son has a benign tumer on T-3 and scheduled for nurosurgery on Mon. Has lost sensation and feeling in legs.
Sorry folks, but have to add this - clear, sunny, mid to upper 60's today, getting into low to mid 70's for weekend and next week!!
Good to hear from Mopargo.
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Ron Butler
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02/03/12 12:41pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Planning 2012 trip ND, MT, WA, OR, ID, WY, SD
As one other person has said, you need to figure out when you will be in Oregon & Washington ASAP!!! Parks reserve way far ahead and your choices will already be limited. You may still be able to get spots if you don't want a weekend, but I'd hurry. Oregon has many more State Parks on great beaches than Washington. You may want to consider just seeing the Oregon coast. Take time to smell the roses and not cram too much into the trip.
RVcrazy is right on. You probably can still get in on mid-week dates, but need to get on top of it right away.
Being a Washingtonian I hate to say this, but the Oregon coast is much more rugged and picturesque than ours. Beside, there's greater public access to the Oregon beaches and coast than the Washington coast. The Oregon State Parks along the coast are unbeatable for location and access to the beaches as well.
As already stated, 3-4 weeks is far too short of a time to fit all of it in. Prioritize what you really want and then start from there. There's a LOT of mileage and distances to cover out here! It really does depend upon how much you want to smell the roses or just take pictures through the truck windows as you drive through just to say you were there!
See our travel blog and Picasa photo sites for many of the areas that you are interested in visiting. Maybe that will help you as well.
Have a great trip.
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Ron Butler
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01/21/12 10:02pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Campground near Rocky Mountain National Park
Have to agree with mtnman about Moraine campground. Stayed there for a week and loved it. Of course, we don't mind no hookups and always prefer the campgrounds within the national parks over the commerical parks. Great views and deer wondering through all the time. I could also be the great deal on our Senior pass as well!
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Ron Butler
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01/21/12 09:47pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
I know that this is a day late, but here is Fridays weather and activities from Sun City!
Me: dropped off with bike for a computer class in the morning. Biked up to Bell Center to watch the experts cast the sterling silver for my projects in the lost wax casting class in the Silver Crafting Club and Carolyn was doing a ceramics class, biked back over to where we do our water aerobics that afternoon with Carolyn, then biked home to meet back up with her to go out for a great Mexican dinner. Total biking distance for the day - 10.25 miles plus an hour of water excersize all the while in shorts and t-shirt! :B
BTW - this was all done in clear blue skies, sunshine and 71 degrees!! As Tradewinds would say j- "life is great!"
Hope those of you up in the rain, sleet, snow, grey skies and 40 degree weather are surviving!! :B
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Ron Butler
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01/21/12 07:34pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Madison Campground Yellowstone 33' Class A
We were at Madison campground this last Sept. with our 33' class A and tow car. They gave us a spot big enough. As suggested, make your reservation on the phone and they should match you up with a spot.
Have a great time. We got some great wildlife photos the last time. You can see them on our Picasa site - just click the hotlink.
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Ron Butler
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01/15/12 10:13pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
100 is a real achievement and hope that I can be in that good of shape when I hit it!! We lost Carolyn's mom on her 96th birthday.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The sun is back and climbing back into the high 60's again! Stepson and his family here for several days before they head over to his dad's place in Long Beach on the 24th. Great to have the 2 granddaughters and their youngest one already wants to retire to Sun City!!
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Ron Butler
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12/21/11 09:20am |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Yellowstone
I would like any and all input on the campgrounds in YELLOWSTONE. THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY. I AM TRAVELING THERE NEXT SUMMER WITH MY WIFE IN OUR 25FT TRAVEL TRAILER. THANK YOU
Well, lets see what I can offer here!
First - if your going to be there during the summer, you will need reservations. Make them as early as you can. Be willing to to use one of the dry camping campgrounds. They will still have water that you can fill your tanks with and dump stations.
Second - if there during the summer, there will be lots of traffic and traffic jams - a sure sign of wildlife along the road! Yellowstone is huge, so you will put lots of miles on your car.
Third - Incredible natural wonders with the largest collection of geysers, hot pools, etc that you will find.
Fourth - Plan on at least 4 or 5 days for exploring the park and you will only scratch the surface. Part of that is because of its size and the slow moving traffic you will have to deal with. Just sit back and enjoy it - don't be in a rush.
Yellowstone NP is one of top favorite national park. See our pictures and travel blog of our past visits there. Have lots of memory cards for your cameras!
Enjoy your trip and Yellowstone!
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Ron Butler
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12/19/11 07:27pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Colorado Springs, CO, where to stay, what to do
Cheyenne Mt. SP without a doubt. We were several weeks in the CS area and didn't see a private RV park that could come close to it. Big spaces, fantastic views from every spot, full hookups, wildlife coming through the campgrounds regularly, clean restrooms and laundry. What more would you want?
Easy drive to just about anything in that area. By all means head west into the Rockies and take in several of the old mining towns and take a mine tour. Olympic Training Center is a great visit as well. If your a rodeo fan, the National Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame is there as well.
See our blog and pictures for more information about the CS area.
I also agree, take in Rocky Mt. NP if you have the time. One of our favorites. You will need reservations for both the state park(s) as well as the np.
Enjoy your trip.
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Ron Butler
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12/19/11 07:06pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
John,
There is a battery place down on the tide flats in Tacoma that make them. I would suspect that they make "big rig diesel" batteries as well. I would get their big golf cart 6 volt batteries for my house batteries on the sailboat. Also my start battery but was only for a Yanmar 2 banger diesel!! They were much less expensive and higher rated than others than I could find. I can't pull the name of out but should find it on google in Tacoma on the tide flats.
Good luck
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Ron Butler
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12/05/11 06:29pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Bar Harbor Maine
We love Acadia NP - one of our top 3. We stayed in the national park campground and had no problems. No hookups as I remember, but they do have a dump station and fresh water. Some sites are snug but if your under 35-36' you should fit in most/many of them.
Enjoy the lobsters and seafood. It's great. The harbors of Maine are just like the Nat. Geo. pictures show them! Have lots of memory cards for the cameras.
See our hotlinks for more information about Acadia. Enjoy your trip.
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Ron Butler
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12/04/11 07:39pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Southwest US in March and April
You can’t really tell about the weather, though, I’d just start my trip at the southernmost point and slowly work my way north.
Great statement, fully agree with it!! After traveling fulltime for 5 years, we have a home in Sun City AZ. which is just west of Phoenix in the Valley of the Sun for the winter months. The weather here in March and April is great-blue skies and sunshine.
Head to your most southern point that you want to get too and then slowly work your way north.
Big Bend NP is WAY south in Texas. Great spot, make sure you have full gas tanks when you head south from Highway 90 if you decide to go that far south.
As mentioned earlier, New Mexico can be windy and much cooler than southern AZ.
Spend some time along the I-10 corridor in AZ. and maybe south to Yuma. Great desert area and you may still see the cactus in bloom. As you head north, you start climbing in elevation, so it will quickly cool down, especially at night.
Joshua Tree NP is just on the eastern border of CA. and north of I-10. Very interesting and unique.
Grand Canyon - South Rim - you may want to make reservations if you can plan that far ahead or stay away from a weekend. Check weather for the north rim as that is 1000' higher in elevation and may not be open yet!
Utah NP's are great. Our favorite is Bryce NP and its campground, which is just steps from the rim of the canyon. The only entrance is on the north end at 8000' elevation, so weather plays a role here as well. We were there once in the middle of April - clear blue skies, sunshine and it snowed! Lightly and didn't stick, but got cold at night!
Comment about coming down here during the summer. Remember, its the desert and it gets HOT. Even the locals head north for the mountains whenever they can to get out of the heat! Most of the past 2 summers from June-Sept. it was in 3 digits! Way to hot to be out in the desert hiking or sight seeing. Stay north of Flagstaff and I-40!!
Good luck and enjoy your trip(s).
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Ron Butler
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11/30/11 07:38pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Cross country with no interstates?
We traveled fulltime for 5 years and spent 70-75% of our time on the back roads! Of course it can be done, just takes some planning - not much - just look at a map and go from there!! :B
More important is to not be in a hurry, take your time and be flexible and spontanious.
Have fun.
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Ron Butler
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11/30/11 07:11pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: US 101 Oregon to central CA then I-5 to Yuma?
My wife and I will be heading from Tacoma to Yuma in early Jan. pulling a 25 ft. trailer. We are tired of going south all the way on I-5 then east on I-8 from San Diego. No timetable to meet at all. We are thinking of going from Tacoma I-5 south to Eugene, west to US-
101, south to Clear Lake, California, east on CA-20 to rejoin I-5 south. This will avoid the Siskiou area but puts us back on I-5 which is very rough from Sacramento to Stockton.
US-101 should be uncrowded and not to curvy for a rig like ours. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcom.
Shoofly21 - greetings from a Federal Way neighbor, but now in AZ. for the season! We now have a house in Sun City and this is our 2nd. winter for that. Some good suggestions. Several suggestions for possible alternatives at that time of year. I would second the coast, just watch for fog and/or ice. If weather a problem, jump back over to I-5 to Medford and go across the Siskiyou's later in the morning. They keep it pretty clear unless a real mess rolls in. Then back out to the coast.
Somewhere around San Francisco/Sacramento, cut east and take in Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia Nat. Parks. Opps, may be too much snow by that time of the year however!
Take State Highway 41, also called the Cal. Gold Trail, and take in a lot of the old gold rush areas. They have some pretty good wine in that area as well. This takes you right through the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas so I don't know about snow there.
We did the above loop last spring on our way north and had a great time.
You could also cut through into Death Valley NP and spend several days.
If we are just making a straight shot we leave I-5 at Red Bluff and take 99 on south. Takes you through smaller towns, orchards, but in places somewhat rough. However, keeps you close to easy fillups at Costco's!!
Where in Yuma do you stay?
Have a great trip down. It's been in the high 70's this past week, but "cooling" off into the low to mid 60's for the next 3-5 days!
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Ron Butler
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11/30/11 07:06pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: West of the Missisippi...your favorite?
Wow - "west of the Mississippi" - as already mentioned - covers a lot of area!! How far "west" do you want to come?
1. Learn to boondock without hookups before you leave! If you don't have a generator, get one to recharge your batteries. You won't find very many national park campgrounds with full hookups. Learn to reduce your dependancy upon 110, unless a medical condition doesn't allow that.
2. How much time do you want to spend in each park/area? 3 or 4 days to get something of an appreciation for it or just a 1 day drive through with the camera pointed out the window?
3. Do the northern portions first. Snow and ice aren't compatible to our RVing enjoyment!
4. Colorado - Rocky Mt. NP a must see. Stay in the campground in the national park. No hookups but well worth it for the scenery and wildlife. They do have a dump station and potable water that you can fill your water tanks at.
5. Yellowstone NP - a must, but need to spend at least 3-4 days to just scratch the surface of it. If you get there before Labor Day, hookups at Fishing Bridge, but will need to make reservations WAY ahead of time. Campgrounds start shutting down around Sept. 15-20, except for several of the non-hookup campgrounds. Are you starting to see why you want to be used to dry camping?!? :B
6. Utah - what a smorgasboard of national parks to choose from, a geologists dream! Our favorites in this order:
A. Bryce Canyon - words can't describe it, just have LOTS of memory cards for the camera! Color, color, color. The campground is just steps from the rim and sunrises are fabulous. No hookups, but fresh water and dump station. Just down the road is Kodachrome State Park as well - the name says it all!
B. Arches NP - in the Moab area. Color, color, color and great arches. You can stay in Moab with full hookups and its an easy drive into Arches as well as Canyonland NP.
C. Capital Reef NP and the Fruita campground. This is one of our favorite national park campgrounds - grass, shade trees, deer, Fremont River just steps away, fruit trees and lots of history and historical buildings. What more would you want?
D. Might as well take in Zion NP while you are that close. I know that its heresy to some here on net, but not one of our top choices!!
7. Drop on south and take in Monument Valley - you will think you are back in an old John Wayne western. Then on into Canyon de Chelley (pronouced de Shay) in Arizona. Be sure to take the Navajo jeep tours in both parks.
Keep in mind, many people from "east of the Mississippi" don't realized the distances that they will have to cover in "the west"! Not just to get to the next park, but with the parks themselves. I think that reading the comments from first time campers "our here" is attempting to cover too much and being so hurried and rushed that you don't get to really enjoy what all is offered.
See our accounts and pictures of these areas in our hotlinks in our signature box. If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me. Good luck and enjoy your travels.
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Ron Butler
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11/30/11 06:27pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
BOW DOWN TO WASHINGTON!! WAY TO GO HUSKIES!!
Sorry about the shouting, but just had to do it! :B:B
Sorry about that Dick and Bigdog - whose the BIGDOG now! I do believe that makes it 3 years in a row. I believe I predicted: 14+ points (was getting worried about that one!); Keith Price; Chris Polk; more imaginative coaching; QB problems for WSU. At least it was a fun offensive show from both sides. Now I just wish that the Dogs could come up with a tougher more consistant defense!
What bowl game for the dogs?
Now for the basketball season!
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Ron Butler
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11/26/11 10:00pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
Hardly!! It's as clear as the blue skies down here and just as bright as the sun! :B
Besides, its the low grey clouds, fog and rain that clouds the thinking that the Cougs even have any chance against the Dogs this year!! :B
I haven't seen any statements I made earlier of why the Dogs will win being countered yet!
BTW, clear, sunny, low 70's today, heading back to upper '70's & low '80's the next several days.
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Ron Butler
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11/25/11 06:51pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
Hey Ron,look who's talking,you must be a puppie fan since you're hiding out down where it's warm and cozy.:B:B
Look at our last game,we lost in o'time in a howling blizzard,20 degree temps,4" of snow on the field AND a qb who had been playing with a lacerated liver since early in the second qtr when he got speared in the ribs on a dirty hit.That was the qb that on his first play from scrimmage two weeks ago threw an 85 yard bomb for a td and went on to throw for 494 yds against a pretty good defense.
Soooo, what's your point?!? "Pretty good defense" - what does that mean? Who was it? And, that's my point, they have no qb now. I doubt very much that they are going to put him out there with a lacerated liver and isn't the qb that started the year reinjured?:B
Well, it wasn't as warm and cozy yesterday as it was supposed to be! Only got to mid 60's, but back to low to mid 70's into the weekend! I know, someone has to enjoy this sunny warmer weather than the northwest, just glad its us!! :B
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Ron Butler
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11/25/11 07:27am |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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RE: Northwest Spring Rally, May 18-20, 2012
Oh Linda, you had to stick that one in there!! That loss was the depth of my dismay and dispare of the Dogs this year! Absolutely unthinkable!! :B The stench of that loss will take some time to shake off - like a shot from a skunk!! :B
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Ron Butler
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11/24/11 09:59pm |
Rallies, Shows and Gatherings
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