judiandjr

This is just a test message to see how things will go.

This is a photo of Judi and her 1^st place chili. Man, she is good!

More later.

Time to catch up.

Saturday Judi and I had an all day private fly fishing lesson. The guide from Jacklin's Fly Shop in West Yellowstone, Andy was a 22 year old native. He told us that he really doesn't remember when he started fly fishing he was so young. We had so much fun!

Fishin' was great, catchin' wasn't too hot. Judi landed her first fish on a fly rod, a nice 14” whitefish. While not as glamorous as trout, they are native, and a nice fight too.

I hooked a real nice German Brown that stayed on line just long enough to show us how big he was, and then he got off. Oh well.

The outfitter provided lunch at one of the most scenic spots on the planet. After 10 hours of fishing we were whooped.

Grizzly RV Park only had one night spots, so even before the lesson we had to move the Pontslerósa ll into overflow parking, then after the day of fishing re-hook and re park the rig. On most of the one night stays, we aren't even bothering to unhook the truck, just put down the rear jacks, put out the slides, connect water, tv & electric and call it good for the night.

The drive from West Yellowstone to Missoula is amazing. We are trying to stay off the interstate as much as we can. We took US Highway 287 up to the I-90. 287 is a lot like 189 down in Utah/Wyoming in that it is a very rural route. Local traffic & commerce only. But they both wind through the most beautiful prairies you'll ever want to see. No nasty grades, no heavy traffic, just lots & lots of wide open spaces with an occasional small town thrown in. One of the neat things about Montana is it must be the fly fishing capital of the world! In one little town on Ennis they even had a sculpture of a fly fisherman at the entrance to the town.

Any how we made it to Missoula last night spent the night at Jim & Mary's RV ranch. Today we are headed to Kalispell to hit their target store and then on to Glacier.

Later,

John

BRRrrrrr, Baby it's cold outside!

When I got up a few minutes ago I saw frost on the tops of the cars parked near us! I just checked weather.com, they said 27. Judi will not be amused!

This is going to be short. I've got to get the rig ready to move before we go fishing. I will try and get some pictures of Judi learning how to fly fish.

Yesterdays drive here was easy, almost no traffic coming out of the park at noon. I'm not sure how far we will drive tomorrow, but we will take it easy to get to Glacier.

Later

John 

 My how time flies when your are having fun! I just take the time to update, and now we are leaving.

When we arrived in Jackson WY the mountains were shrouded in haze, locals tell us that it is due to the fires in California. Great! I made reservations to do a float trip for Judi and I on the Snake River for Wednesday. We took our time getting ready and actually stopped for a photo op on the way to Moose to board the van to the put in site.

Judi got some great photos and some very good advise from another rafter on how to best use our new Canon.

This is only one of the many great shots. This Mama eagle just checking us out.

Later, on the way back to the RV we spotted one of my favorite critters: TA-TAN-KA!

Man I love those Bison! The bison herd here in Jackson Hole is huge! We saw them by the hundreds.

A few years ago we were in Yellowstone with family and friends for 3 weeks. The one disapointment of the whole trip was that we didn't see Moose. I really wanted to see Moose this trip. Everywhere you drive here you see warnings about Moose crossing the road. Yeah right!

One of the suggestions that Bill gave us was to drive a loop that started on Antelope Flats Rd. and continued around to through Kelly and Gros Ventre the back to main Hwy.

Judi got this picture of the Tetons and wild flowers.

As we neared the highway Judi saw a lady painting a landscape and said she wanted to take a picture of her. While talking to the woman, Jude found out that the woman had seen Moose just across the river from where she was standing. Just our luck 5 minutes late again!

We went on with our sight seeing and search for the ever elusive Moose!

By 7PM I was ready to head back to the RV for dinner, Judi said she wanted to go back to where the painter saw the Moose. I told her it was 30 miles, her reply was “SO?” It was a nice drive.

We got into the area and pulled off the road to see what we could see. I spotted a Moose across the river and back in the weeds.

We drove north about a half mile and were rewarded with the best Moose viewing ever! A mom, 2 two year olds and a one year old. Right across the river.  We walked down to the edge of the river and were not more than 20 yards from the magnificent creatures!

Judi just kept snapping away, (the joys of digital) this was just one of the best of the Mom.

We had a great stay here in The Tetons. Later today we will head north again. I am thinking about spending a couple of days in Yellowstone, if I can find an outfitter that can give Judi and I fly fishing lessons, and if I can find a camp site.  We'll see.

Later

Where to start?
Here is a photo of Judi and me as we were leaving the ranch.

This is where we spent the first night on the road.

We left Red Ledge about 10AM Monday morning, drove almost 350 miles and made it all the way to Evansville Wyoming. That is where I wanted to by at the close of Monday so things worked out great.

The drive from Kannarville went well; we stopped in Payson UT for a Wal-Mart run and diesel fuel.

GPS routed us off the I-15 near Provo onto US HWY 189. Jude and I spent about 20 miles discussing this route and in the end we just chose to wing it and follow that route.
What a great idea! US 189 is a great road, and just to beautiful for words. Stayed on it all the way to I-80 and then into Evanston, WY. That set us up for a very easy drive today.

We left Evanston about 9AM, headed east on I-80 to pick up US 189 once again. If you ever find yourself in this area and need to get to Jackson WY this is the route to take. No mountain passes, good 2 lane road, no traffic, just miles and miles of high prairie with many antelope.

We got to Grand Teton Park RV. Once again Judi found us a great site with views of the Tetons, except for the haze. One local blames it on the fires in California.

Tomorrow we will be taking a scenic rafting trip down the Snake River with Barker & Ewing rafting outfitters. Our friend Bill Dawson gave us many good suggestions for things to do here. The rafting thing was just one, then we will do some of the other items on his to do list. I am thrilled to have his insight and ideas, saved me from fretting about  what to do and what to see.

Judi and I had dinner at our table in our RV for the first time tonight, I am not sure that I could be more happy.

More tomorrow

J

I have a pretty slow connection this morning, here in Red Ledge RV Park, Kanarraville, Utah. It is a small family owned park with 22 spaces. It is in a beautiful valley about 10 miles south of Cedar City. We had a brief thunder and lightening storm accompanied with a little rain. Nice show while having dinner. Due to the slow connection speeds I will have to upload the photos later.

I had wanted to leave the resort on the 5th, but the way things worked out we didn't leave the resort until 8:30 even though I started driving out at 7:30, more on that later.

The 4^th at the resort was fun. Judi had invited friends out for the golf cart parade and the BBQ following. She had a great time.
She and Jana did the parade, then lunch at Georges Cafe. Later Judi's sister Cathy came out and Just shortly before here were Phil & Luann. The BBQ was excellent.

The band was too loud for my taste, so I left shortly after dinner. After dinner and dancing, Phil & Luann went home and Judi, Jana & John (her husband) and Cathy went to the Stage Coach for some Karaoke.

She got home around 11, Cathy spent the night in the Pontslerósa ll. Jude was up and at the fishing lake by 6:10 the next morning for the fishing tournament. She caught 20 pounds of Catfish, that was good enough for 2^nd place. She also caught the 3^rd largest fish 4 pounds. She had a great time.

Then came the Chili cook off. She didn't enter this year just so she could enjoy the fun of driving around and tasting every one else's chili.

All the while this was going on I was happily preparing to hit the road! I am so glad that Judi was having fun, that allowed me to get a lot done, and I was having fun doing what I was doing.

But still it was not enough! After her friends went home, I stopped working long enough for a quick salad, then back at it.

When it got to be 8PM I finally gave up hope of getting on the road that day. We finally got to bed at 1AM Sunday morning.

I was up at 5:30 and at it again. By 7:30 we were ready! I pulled out of Suzan's lot and drove around to Rollie's to return his golf cart. On the way we stopped and had Lúis take our picture standing next to the rig. As we were leaving Rollie's lot I realized that I'd left Judi's hand lotion at Suzan's. Drove the rig back around to her space, said good bye to Roger and Jerry, then Petra, and got the lotion. Then on to our place for one last walk though. Headin' out, got as far as Diane's only to realize I hadn't packed my Handicapped placard. Said good bye to Diane, drove back to our place Said good bye to Mike for the 2^nd or 3^rd time, the first street was blocked by an RV getting ready to leave, so back down Rollie's street. Said good bye to Petra, Roger & Jerry AGAIN! Then got back to our house. Found the placard right where I had left it on the visor of Judi's car. On our way for real this time!!!!

The drive was not too bad. Traffic was light going north. It was HOT though. We stopped briefly at State Line for a truly forgettable buffet lunch. Then back on the road.

Going through Las Vegas it was 111 degrees! Yikes! We kept pushing north. The temperature dropped 10 degrees after going through the Virgin River Gorge. By the time we got the Red Lodge at about 6:15 it was only about 85. Just perfect.

I my plan is still to only drive 250 miles a day, but yesterday we made about 450, not counting the 25 we spent driving around the resort! Today I want to make it to Evanston WY about 320 miles. Then we will be back on track for arriving in the Tetons tomorrow afternoon.

We got some bad news via Cathy in Canada. Our friend Ed Robinson was in a motorcycle accident and was hurt pretty badly. Broken jaw and other things. Please keep him and Carol in your prayers.

It's 7:45 local and I'd better get cracking.

Love to all,

John

Aaron got home Monday evening. Judi and I picked up her Mom & Dad and took them with us to be there when Aaron landed. Traffic on the 15 south was a nightmare, we only waited 10 or 15 minutes before he came running down the stairs to baggage claim.
This is Aaron with his son Runic, and Judi & I.



It's great to have him home, even if it is only for 18 days.

Last night we had a farewell gettoghether with the part of our group that is leaving for Canada tomorrow (the 20th). Quite natrually I was having too much fun and forgot to take any pictures! DUH! Judi cooked chicken breasts, hamburgers & hot dogs on the grill. We had corn on the cob, Potato salad, fruit salad and a pistachio jello salad that was outstanding! 

After everyone left Judi and I were so tired from cleaning the lot to get it ready for guests, (Did I mention that it was 104 yesterday?) that we just put the food away and went to bed. This morning I got outside early and did all the clean up before it got hot. (85 at 8:20 AM)
I think I'll head over to the Pontslerósa II, I still have to re-work the front closet so as to beable to put our Oreck in it.

About all I have yet to do is get the BBQ taken care of, and get a satelitte dish for the road, and a piece of coax for it.

John

Yep, 28 years ago, almost to the hour, Judi and I were married in abeautiful backyard gazebo with friends and family. The following morning we left on our honeymoon. And our camping lifestyle was launched. We headed out for 2 weeks of camping in my Toyota Landcrusier towing a 16' travel trailer. Now here we are living in a very nice 37' 5th wheel, and from where I sit I can almost see the 25' 5th wheel that we will use for the next phase of our camping life. 

I have finally completed all the major projects that I wanted to get accomplished before we leave in 3 weeks.

My friend Rollie helped me with the biggest task, that of installing a 60gal fuel tank in the bed of our truck. While it will now take almost $400 to fill both tanks, it will no allow me to go almost 900 miles between fill ups, while towing!

Rollie is one of those guys that are very mechanical, he really did most of the work, I just stood back and handed him tools. He worked cheep too, only cost me breakfast, and a beer at the end of the job!

We started with an empty bed


I chose to mount the tank a little off center. If you look closely in the photo above you can see on the left hand side in front of the wheel well the cover to the 7-pin connector for my trailer.  I had to put the tank to one side so as to allow access to the plugin.


Also the directions called for drilling a hole in the side of the bed to run the fuel line from the tank to the filler neck underneath. Neither Rollie nor I liked this option. Rollie chose to put a bulkhead fitting in that gives me a fixed, solid way for the fuel to transfer. 



And it comes out here


 through the brass fitting in the top of this photo. 

I am so stoked, on how it turned out.

Gotta go, taking the bride to dinner.
J

Thought I'd take a few minutes while Jude is still in bed and catch up. After all my doctors appointments, I've been given the go ahead for the trip to Canada. The urologist says I should be fine for the trip, and we can attack the kidney stone when I get back.
So the last few days have been taken up in getting the Titanium ready for the road.

The good folks who built the Ti had some great ideas, and some not so great. Like the sewer hose storage. Every RV needs one, and you need a place to put the hose and related stuff while traveling.

This is thier idea of where to put the hose


Through the door on the left and into the tube in the center! Come on! No way a real hose is going in  that!

So this is what I've done...

I looked for a place to put an after market storage tube

Then I removed the old tube, cut the innards out behind the small hatch on the right with a Dremel tool. I found a shoe rack for a closet storage assembly at Home Depot, and a few minutes later I had this


And this


Then I mounted the storage tube here.


I'm pretty happy with the way everything turned out.

Now all I have left is to add an electiral outlet from the inverter to the bedroom, and install the new AGM batteries. Seeings as how I am not going to have my life complicated with surgerical proceedures I will have plenty of time to get that done.

My friend Rollie will be coming back from Arizona this weekend, and maybe by the middle of the week we can start on installing the auxillary fuel tank in the bed of the truck.

Life is just too sweet!

J.R.

Whew, time sure flies when you are having fun!  Where do I start? After we got back from Gretchen & Dan's it seems like it has been non-stop going from here to there! Birthday party, Doctor's appointments in the extreem! So the bottom line is....

I'm a 60 year old man with a stone in each kidney, and one in the gallbladder, a couple of water cysts on the kidneys, an enlarged prostate. I am almost 100 pounds overweight, and I have some sort of gravational excema in my lower legs that has been caused by being on my feet all my working life, the only treatment for which is the wearing of super support hose! I think those will clash with my sandal type life style!

We are debating the treatment for the largest of the kidney stones. Not quite as big as a dime, but still large enough to be of concern should it break free from it's current moorings and head for the bladder. The Urologist is suggesting something called ESWL, something with ultrasound, in hopes of shatering the stone into sand. Evreyone I have talked to says (and both Judi and I agree): I don't want to head into Canada in a RV with that kind of time bomb ticking inside of me. Better to delay our departure and cut out a couple of stops, rather than risking that kind of potential disaster. The jury is stlll out regarding the gall stone. Not sure just what to do about that. Don't  want that to break free and block a duct, but having the gall bladder removed adds challenges to ones life style that I haven't fully explored as yet. 

Weather here has been crazy! On Monday it was 105, Thursday there were tornados in Moreno Valley, Friday it snowed in Big Bear, and it rained most of the day here. 

Next week I have to get serious about getting the Pontslerósa II ready to hit the road. I have to figure out how to get an inverter line to the bed platform to power our bed(a sleep number), electric blanket and my C-pap. Plus I have to buy and instll 2 new AGM batteries to power it. 

Then when my friend Rollie gets back from Arizona we have to get busy about installing the 60 Gal. fuel tank in the truck...Lets see 60 gallons at $5+ dollars a gallon OUCH! 

Today it is a kind a kick back day. Jude and I will be headed to Fallbrook to watch a play that one of the pastors kids is in. Tomorrow afternoon is a progressive dinner here at the resort, about 35 people involved, and about 6 lots, it should be fun. Then on Monday to Phil & Luann's for a Memorial day cookout with friends from our old church. 

Now that I am no longer going to work, I am busier that ever. But life is just too fun.

John

We spent the entire day with Gretchen, Dan & Sabine. She is just the cutest baby ever! Only cries when getting her diaper changed. Just the sweetest kid!. And so aware at only one week!
 I got a couple more photos and will upload them tomorrow morning, but I am too tired to do it tonight.

Judi spent most of the day cooking. She made Plaza Soup and Chicken Enchaladas so the kids would have some thing to eat for the next couple of days. She also made a big pot of Plaza Soup for this afternoon and to freeze for use later. She also made her sour cream Potatos for dinner tonight and for later. We had that with our steaks for dinner. Very good!

After dinner the Kids supprised me with a chocolate birthday cake and Oreo ice cream. Too Cool!! 

It was tough saying good bye, but we are already looking forward to our next visit with them, it is going to be fun watching Sabine grow up. Dan and Gretchen are going to be great parents! 

We got back to the camp site about 11 PM. I let Judi into the trailer and got busy unloading the truck. At that hour I thought it would be best if I just left the doors open in the truck while I made trips to and from the trailer. I was in the trailer for only 2 or 3 minutes, just long enough to set some bags on the counter and headf back out. When I got back to Judi's side of the truck I was suprised to find not 1, but 2 huge racoons in the cab. I guess suprised wasn't the correct word, It was more like they scared the POOP out of me! I just stood back and told them to get out, and they did! Jeez, the things you see when you don't have a camera!.

Enough for tonight, 

J&J