Adventures of SanTony: TRAVELIN AROUND

We headed into California about a month and a half ago to stop & see relatives & spend some time by the ocean ...but we didn't really have a clear cut plan or time line. Our first stop was due west from Quartzsite AZ on hwy 10, the Elks Lodge in Indio CA. As we drove into town we noticed two things, how nice & clean this town was and Holy Cow look at all the Motor Homes!!! As it turned out there was a big Family Motor Coach Assoc. Rally going on, that we had read about...but was definitely not in our plans. We went to one of these FMCA Rallies three years ago and there were over 550 motor homes there and we weren't ready for anything like that on this trip. Besides we did attend a smaller rally back in Ohio last Sept. and got caught up on all that was new in the RV world.

The Elks Lodge was jam pact with motor homes (around 60) with most attending the rally, but because of our size...31ft. they found a place for us. We enjoyed a nice meal, talked with people from around the country that were heading further south for the winter and after one night we also decided to go a little south.

Our next stop would be one of our favorite places (that we have blogged about before) and a popular place for Snow Birds from the North/Western States and Western Canada. It's called The Foutain Of Youth... and yes it has a funny name, but with all they have to offer, we do feel younger when we leave...love the natural hot spring whirlpool.

They only had a few spots left and we decided to go for a premium one that was open. Yes this was very nice...and yes it will be hard not to go for one of these spots the next time we stop here.

After a few days of youthfull activities we headed north/west to Huntington Beach, another favorite place of ours, and not just because nephew Brian Payne lives there & his brother Brad lives just up the coast in Long Beach...OK it has a lot to do with it ...but they did find a nice place to land after leaving Michigan.

We like to stay right off the beach at a city park so we have easy excess to the miles of ocean side bike trails and within walking/biking distance to great restaurants & shopping.

After Visiting a few days with the boys and taking in the South California Sun we headed further south with the idea of staying in San Diego for our first time...BUT...WOW...where did the time go ... When you don't have a plan....the time gets away!!!

So we bypass San Diego and stayed at another nice Elks Lodge in Chula Vista. Another lodge with good food a inquiring RVing Elks about our travels across the country. Most of the people we have met in California camping are from California, Washington, Oregon or British Columbia so I guess it's interesting for them to meet and talk to a couple wandering Buckeyes.

Then we headed east on hwy.8 from sea level (0 elevation) to 4,181ft. at Crestwood Summit to minus 39 ft. in just two hours in El Centro along the Mexico boarder to visit Sandy's Aunt Mary, cousin Mari Jo & her husband Larry. After a couple days parked in the church parking lot next to their house, a round of golf and some very good Mexican food we headed back to Arizona.

Back in Arizona we decided to travel north with nephew Mike Payne & family Dana, Danielle, Gavin & Sharon, Dana's mom to Pinetop AZ for a short winter get-a-way. It was 75 degrees at there house in Surprise, just outside Phoenix and the idea of going up to 10,000 ft. in elevation to play in the snow....was going to be interesting with the thin cold air and all.

The plan was to sled this monster hill in the morning then ski in the afternoon!

Well if you can view the video you can see the outcome of Tony's second & last sled run of the day and trip...and also no skiing for Tony on this trip. Rang his bell and a little headache for a couple days, but all in all a better out come from what could have been. Mike put bright colored broken sled pieces (that should have told us something) in front of the ditch to warn us... but when you put that much weight on a peace of plastic at the top of a large iced hill......gravity just takes over. Still we had a good time and it brought back a lot of fond memories of ski trips with friends and relatives.

Our next little side trip from Surprise was east to Canyon Vista RV Resort in Gold Canyon AZ just south of Apache Junction and with great views of Superstition Mountain. Our plan was to go on a couple hiking trips offered at the resort and play a little golf at a couple of the near by courses....until Sandy took a spill off her bike while looking over a new housing development. One of those, in a blink of an eye moments, when she was going very slow looking one way and steering the bike in another. No stitches were required but her glasses, witch caused the gash in the nose, will need to be replaced. Needless to say we will be wearing our helmets for now on.

We did get to play 9 holes of golf that week...but no hiking this time. This is another place we plan to revisit with all they have to offer.

After a fun filled week, besides Sandy's spill, we went back across the valley to the town of Buckeye on the west side of Phoenix to watch cousin Larry from El Centro, CA compete in a live pigeon shoot, which was different but interesting. The one in the picture...we will call him Lucky, one of the few that got away.