Cruising ~ The Cat’s Meow Style ~ Summer, 2009

Our Most Excellent Summer Adventure – Pt. 3

At the end of the first week in August, we were in South Dakota and headed for Oregon. The question now was: which route to take to get there? After some discussion, we decided to take the more southerly route, and to take in whatever sights we came across on the way. Now the weather was a mix of great sunshine and huge, dark thunderstorms. One night we parked in a road-side rest stop, along with a few big trucks, and got buffeted-about purrrty darn good from the strong winds and rain. We drove on two-lane roads, watching the storms, skirting them by puttin’ the pedal to the metal and heading west. We crossed the Continental Divide and saw snow up in the mountain passes – in August!!

Martin said that he and his ex-wife, Joan, had spent many a great time skiing with friends many years ago, and that their friend Nancy used to work as a park ranger in some caves near Salt Lake City. So….”let’s go find the cave and Nancy” we said, and off we went. Timpanogos cave is in the Wasatch Range of Utah, along the American Fork River. We found a nice RV park in Provo, and we called the Timpanoogas Cave Nat’l. Park to make a reservation for the cave tour. Martin was able to find that Nancy was leading a tour at 9:30 a.m. Purrrfect……except that first we had to hike up to the cave, 1,092 feet up, a distance of1.5 miles – purrrty much a vertical climb. Well, we did it! We made the hike, starting at 8 a.m., and had a grand tour of the cave! Nancy is an exceptional tour guide – we learned a lot about the cave, and of course we enjoyed seeing the wonderous formations such as stalactites, flowstone, helictites, and more.

View from the Timpanoogas trail One part of the steep incline on the trail

It was great for Martin to find old friend Nancy, our really great guide in the Timpanoogas Cave

Since we were within a few miles of Salt Lake City, we dared to drive the RV right into the heart of the downtown area so we could go to the Mormon Church grounds, and to listen to the huge, famous organ. We finally found a safe place to leave the RV (Robin is still suffering some un-easiness after losing the RV while parked in Pto. Vallarta….) and walked the hilly blocks to the Mormon Church compound. Wow. Who knew there were SO MANY Mormon buildings in the downtown church grounds? We saw wedding parties – brides in gorgeous, beautiful gowns with multiples of attendants – waiting in line to take their turn for their wedding ceremony in the Tabernacle. We walked through gardens and gardens of lush, lovely, healthy flowers and statuary. Finally, we found the building with the grand organ, and the recital had just begun. WOW. This was impressive, too! The organist is playing four complete keyboards, with his hands, while at the same time playing another entire keyboard with his feet!!! Wow. Glad we got to see this.

THE organ at the Mormon Tabernacle

We had seen what we came to see and do in and near SLC, so we hit the road again. Along the way out of the city, we saw signs for the Hill Aerospace Museum, and Martin wanted to find out if they had any of the planes he once worked on (as a mechanic) while in the Air Force. “Let’s go see!”

While the museum did have one or more of the planes Martin used to lovingly work on, he was not able to find the Connie C131. We had a good time seeing the aircraft on display anyway, looking up into the bomb-holds, wondering how those pilots felt while strapped into their tiny cockpits……

Look closely to see Martin and one of the aircraft he used to work on

Once again, Martin said “I’d like to find another friend of mine whom I have not seen in decades….. Mike. He moved to Boise - wonder if he is still there?” “OK – let’s try to find him!” And we did!! Martin found his friend Mike’s name in the Boise phonebook, called and said “Mike, this is Martin Hardy”. Thankfully, Mike did not say “Martin who??” but he said “I’ve been looking for you!” and invited us to his home. Wow. Another example of reconnecting with people. We spent a few nights with Mike and his wife, Charly, catching up and having a grand time seeing parts of Boise, a very pretty city.

Mike & Martin – good ole buddies from waaaay back Charly & Mike – great hosts in Boise, ID

We were on the road, again, heading northwest with the next destination being Roseville, Oregon. Once again we saw snow on the mountains – very pretty as long as it was in the distance! Another thing we saw a LOT of: gasoline stations. We saw many, many gasoline stations all along the way! The gas prices varied from Oklahoma’s low of $2.19/gallon, to California’s high (!!) of $3.49!!! Ouch!!! It was a good thing that our RV served as motel and restaurant most of the time we were on the road!!!

We spent a lot of time, and money, at gasoline stations

The Cascade Range was between us and Oregon, so we had to go up and over them. Our RV did a great job on the inclines and declines; Martin drove slowly and used the lower gears to get us down some long 7% grades. Whew!

Roseville, Oregon is where Martin’s mum, Laura, lives. Daughter Robin and granddaughter Brianna, as well as brother Jim & wife Ginny, all live a short distance away, so it was another “family time” for us. While we were there, we helped Jim get Mom Hardy moved into an assisted living facility. Roseville has a number of facilities for the care of elder-folk, and great professionals like doctors and therapists who work in the area. The facility Mom H. is in is quite nice, and the people who work there quite nice as well.

Martin & his mum, Laura (otherwise known as “li’l gramma”)

Jim spent many a year collecting Hot Wheels but now he has started a new collection: tractors!! Bigger wheels…. He fixes ‘em and cleans n’ paints ‘em…… what a hobby!!

Jim’s new pastime: fixin’ n’ paintin’ tractors

While Jim is workin’ at his tractors, Ginny is usually cookin’ up a storm and/or enjoying the beautiful creek on the property.

Ginny plays down by the creek (sometimes)

OK – now it was late in August, and we still had lots to do and see, and we were just getting into California!! The RV got us down the road, past the snow (more snow?!?) on Mount Shasta and down through the Sacramento valley, and finally back to the coastline, where we found fog. Lots of fog. Some things never change. Robin’s good good long-time friend, Kathy, served us a nice warm (in many ways) meal in her home in Petaluma, helping Robin catch-up on who-and-where-and-why stuff.

Mt. Shasta still has some snow, in August

Our friend Katya, who used to cruise the Mexican waters aboard Kindred Spirit, continues living aboard the boat in Sausalito, where she has her own jewelry-making studio. We stopped to have lunch with her and to visit her studio. Gawd, it was GOOD to see her! Then we crossed the San Francisco Bridge, always an amazing sight, and drove the short distance to see Debbie & family in San Carlos. Deb is Martin’s first child, always welcoming and wonderful to visit. Grandson Jake had just graduated from high school and was already working within his area of choice: computer gaming! Wow. He must be related to Martin……. J

Katya, a true Kindred Spirit, in her jewelry studio Martin and grandson Jake – speaking a common language

Note: we recently learned that two days after our visit with Katya in Sausalito, the building housing her studio burned! Thankfully, she is all right, but has spent months trying to get re-settled in a new space. We wish her good luck and lots of love.

Although brother Ken Hardy and wife Rhonda (and doggie too) were still RV’ing somewhere, we were able to park our RV in their driveway for a few days so we could do our San Jose shopping & visiting. While in San Jose, Robin had a chance to spend one day with the aforementioned Kathy, and their good friend, Andrea while in San Jose. For about the third year in a row, we chatted and laughed over great, huge, yummy crab salads!!

She was also able to reconnect (yet another one of those…) with friends whom she had not seen in at least 20 years. Wow, again. Harold and Linda drove down from their home in Grass Valley to spend the day with us. Can you imagine all of the yakking and talking and laughing that went on, trying to catch-up with each other’s lives, after 20 years?? A lot! We talked so much and for so long we had to revive ourselves with some great local Mexican food

Harold & Linda, friends of Robin’s “back in the day”, and once again

It was while we were in San Jose that hurricane Jimena wrought havoc on the Baja peninsula. We were not aware, until friend Kathy alerted us by cell phone, that Jimena had crossed the peninsula and had hit Loreto and area. O, this is NOT a good thing to learn while you are away from your boat! According to the US media, once Jimena had passed the tourist-and-party mecca of Cabo San Lucas, there was no more storm. Not true. Jimena caused much damage on both sides of the Baja, ruining a number of pueblos and affecting many people’s lives and livelihood. Our boat, The Cat’s Meow, did ride-out the storm just fine, on our mooring in Pto. Escondido. Whew!

Off we went again, heading south. But….not too fast….we wanted to see our good friends who live near Paso Robles, Dianna and Vito. On the way, we received a call on our cell phone from Jaye & Irwin, of the sailboat Winsome! They were driving north, in California, while we were driving south… Our two cars met in downtown Paso, where we hugged and had lunch, roadside. Great timing! Dianna and Vito were, as usual, the consummate hosts. We enjoyed their beautiful home and tasty foods from the kitchen. This is the one place during our trip that we actually moved out of the RV and into their very comfy guesthouse for a couple of nights. Aaaaahhhh…….

It was time, once again, to celebrate married bliss. Or whatever. HA! Just kidding…. We were married on September 9, 2000. This wedding anniversary was on 09/09/09 – auspicious, yes?? We bought a lottery ticket, but didn’t win. Darn. We did, however, have a very nice celebration with our very good friends, Hans & Dianne, in the Long Beach area. It is always good to see these folks, who continue to be members of our former yacht club, Hurricane Gulch in San Pedro. They have two new members of their family: Latte & Java. Too cute.

We have not seen boating friends Lynn & Deloris for a few years. Lynn recently had hip surgery, and was recuperating at another boater friend’s ranch in Escondido, where we finally were able to catch up with them. Yet another great re-connection. We hope to see them on the water again, sometime soon!

Lynn and Deloris, resting up after surgery

This had been one great road trip, seeing so many new things and new places, and seeing LOTS of friends along the way. Re-connections seemed to be the order of the trip….so, why not just one more?! Formerly of the motor vessel SundancE, Dave & Debra now live in their 5^th-wheel, and have traveled over lots of the USofA. We found them hosting the Elks Lodge RV park area in Oceanside!! Wow. Just saying that it was great to see them is not quite enough – it was bigger than great!! One night while we were present, the Lodge was having a “sock hop” (remember those?). Dave & Deb went all-out and looked the part for the party! Another day, the four of us cruised the Harbor Days festivities at Oceanside, and had a great time. There was the annual race of boats hammered and glued together with wood and little else…..great fun!

That would be ex-boaters Debra & Dave, lookin’ the part for the sock hop at the Elk’s Lodge

Martin had his annual VA check-ups, we were ready to head across the border and back to The Cat’s Meow….but, somehow it took us another two weeks to get away from SoCal! We just kept running into little reasons to stay, such as more VA visits (nothing bad, just checking…) and getting those boat parts fixed. FINALLY, we were ready to make the crossing, and we did!

It had been a wonderous road trip, longer than expected, more fun than expected, with more reunions than could have ever been expected. We were ready to be back at home, on our boat, in Mexico. But…we still had to get there….. Continue reading, find out how we did, with just a bit more land Cruising ~ The Cat’s Meow Style…….