Ehrenberg, Arizona 2014

We are slowly headed back to OR for the summer. First stop is Ehrenberg and we stayed at the Colorado River Oasis. It was a Western Horizons park. It has been sold to the same folks that have Caliente Springs and Sky Valley. We met the new owner on check-in. It is going to be interesting to see how the park develops and what improvements are made.

Across from the park is the Pioneer Cemetery. First used in June of 1862.

The last burial was April 22, 1988. 

We took a day trip to the Cibola Nat’l Wildlife Refuge. Our GPS led us on an adventure. We traveled on the CA side of the Colorado River to a dirt road with ruts and sand and ended at a small dirt boat ramp with a sign that read Cibola NWR. This is not what we were looking for. A man that was about to get his boat out thought that the Refuge was on the AZ side of the river. So back track we did.

The visitor center was closed but the auto tour road was open. We walked part of the nature trail and took the auto tour. We picked up a brochure of the area and saw that in a number of places you could access the Levee Road and continue to the Cibola Lake Overlook.

We came across this Pioneer Dog Run house.

At the Cibola Lake Overlook we ate our lunch with a great view of the lake.

On another day we drove to the Blue Water Casino in Parker to visit their exhibit, “Leonardo Da Vinci The Genius”.

This exhibition brings to life the genius of Leonardo as an inventor, artist, scientist, anatomist, engineer, architect, sculptor and philosopher.

Italian Artisans have faithfully crafted interactive and life-size machine inventions. These works include the first concepts of a car.

 

Air Screw the beginnings of the helicopter.

The first Hydraulic Saw.

Pulleys designed to lift heavy loads.

He was fascinated with water and the things that might help man in water like the breathing tube, life ring, and to walk on water.

The exhibit also includes the world exclusive Secrets of Mona Lisa - an analysis of the iconic painting, conducted at the Louvre Museum.

If this exhibit comes to your town my advice is don’t miss it.

Southern California Fun

We started the new year out right with a party at the Palm Springs TT. We had a great time with great friends and great music. Then came the Humana Challenge Golf Tournament. PGA West on the last day of the tournament.

This year we got to go to the Appreciation Party. It was held at the Jackalope Ranch.

Great food, entertainment, and grounds.

After the great lunch we headed to Pio Pico TT in Jamul, CA for our first of the year pool tournament.

Here is the view of the park from our hike up the hill (really it’s down there).

This is the view from the “phone booth”. Yes I said phone booth, you can hike up here and get some cell service.

From here we headed to Wilderness Lakes TT for the second pool tournament of 2014. We had some foggy mornings.

And sunny evenings.

After the tournament we went on a couple of day trips. Our first excursion was to March Airfield Museum.

The entrance to the museum has war memorials throughout the grounds. This one is the memorial for the Canine Corps.

Karen is by another memorial.

They have a number interesting displays. They received a console from the NASA’s Space Program and have it set up with flight simulators. Dick really enjoyed flying.

This was a highlight of the museum. It is the SR-71 Black Hawk.

Here is another view where you can see just how big it is. That is Bill looking into the cockpit.

On another day Bill & Karen and Dick & Marla joined us in Perris to tour the Orange Empire Railway Museum.

We got to ride on 2 trains and a trolley.

The train ride takes you a short way into town and back. Trolley takes you through the grounds. We walked through the Engine House and car barns with Norm who knew everything about the trains.

We look pretty bored but it was nothing like that he was very interesting and had so many stories to tell. Our next stop was the Grizzley Flats Engine House. It houses a 3 foot narrow gauge steam locomotive, passenger cars, and related artifacts dating from the 1880’s.

Ward Kimball donated the narrow gauge train and barn.

Steam engine.

The narrow gauge railways served many mining, agricultural, and lumbar communities in the West.

Our next pool tournament is in Palm Springs in March. The weather is great, the food fantastic and the games fun. Hope, Kathy, and Mike are waiting to play.

Friendly competition between Earl and Richard.

The winner’s of 9-ball. Richard F., Vic K., and Ed R.

Jack & Jill winner’s Darol & Ruth, Budd & Beverly, Vic & Marilyn.

After the Jack & Jill tournament on Friday a bunch of us went to Mario’s for dinner.

Saturday was the Singles tournament. The winner’s are 1st Joe H, 2nd George R, and 3rd Bud H.

Last day Sunday is Doubles. The winner’s are 1st is Bob Munson, 2nd Joe & Bob, and 3rd was Richard & Doug.

Next week we head into AZ to visit with friends and take in a birding festival in Cottonwood.

On our way South 9/2013

Our calendar has been full this summer and so much fun. We had a big wedding to attend and we are saying goodbye to family. The big wedding was Rachel Mather our nieces daughter and David Pratt.

Reception was fun and we had time to visit with family. All cousins Hallie, Sarah, the bride Rachel, Renee, McKenna, and Lexi.

Wedding Cupcakes.

Throwing the bouquet

When we are in Keizer we park at the Keizer Elks.

My Mom came for a visit.

Next stop is Myrtle Point to say goodbye to Mae, Dick’s Mom. This is her yard that blooms with gusto year around.

We stay at the Coquille Elks and coming home one evening we came across turkeys. More than likely trying to escape the Thanksgiving Dinner.

They have a Harvest Festival in Myrtle Point every year. Classic cars line the streets.

And 50’s entertainment.

Just one of many unique cars.

Next stop is Hawthorne NV.

Hop Farm Tour in Keizer OR 9/2013

Our Nephew Paul took us on a tour of a local hop farm. The hops are ready for harvest.

From the field to the barn.

We inspect what a hop really looks like. Paul with Larry, Linda, and Rockey.

This is what they look like. If they split exactly down the middle like this they are ready to harvest.

The truck brings them in and they are hung not to dry but to go through a series of conveyor belts and machinery to shake the hops from the vines.

It takes the hops off and the vines go to be ground up and eventually put back into the field.

Another view of the machinery. The hops are headed to a drying room.

We walked to the top to look down on the process.

Ready to follow the hops to the drying room

There they go into the drying room.

The drying process.

When they are totally dry they are sent to the packing room.

They are packaged into tightly packed bales.

Then loaded onto trucks.

They are their way to a special processor in WA. Most are dried and vacuum packed in Mylar. So at that point they are returned to OR for storage and sales distribution.