ON THE ROAD JUNE/JULY 2021 CALIFORNIA (ELK GROVE)

Our first three days in Elk Grove gave me opportunity to ride each day, and I plan to do that for the next few days as well. Depending on the rides, the photo ops and potential stories, I may post those again. But to not make this post too terribly long, these will do it for now. The Grands come home on Sunday and we we be taking them for a three day camp out on Tuesday. Sarah is doing fine and is happy for us to be here during her R&R time.

The Grands are in Alaska with Jeremy for some visit time with Granny and Papa Paul. Sarah has had surgery and is at home recuperating from that. Susan and I arrived to be able to attend to Sarah as she needs. I have had a bike ride everyday around the Elk Grove area ;’-). This post is mainly of some random photos I took on my variety of rides.

I road into Old Town Elk Grove for peek. Small town with not much there. I had hoped for a tea stop or something, especially with the name “Old Town”, but there was no place there.

As I rode back, I wheeled through a park with interesting display.

The route I took to ‘the Delta’ was a country kind of ride on mostly quiet roads along a river.

This river is being eaten by the encroaching plant life of some kind. The river continues to flow but does seem to be going under that plant life. It looks as if soon there may not be a river there.

There are orchards and vineyards and corn fields oh my.

And there was a lot of headwind. Or cross wind. But almost no tailwind no matter where I turned.

Pears to the left of me, pears to the right of me…

Surprisingly I came across this Mexican cafe and decided I was a bit hungry, thirsty for a cold one, and in need of a rest stop.

I waited for my quesadilla at the outside table with my cold drink. These serendipitous finds always seem like an oasis to me.

A gas station nearby the cafe has seen its day. Must have been a busier time for the area back in the day.

On another day I found a similar route but with a few different roads involved so chose to visit basically the same area again. On this day — I forgot my water!!! I had put my camel back into the garage fridge to get it cooler the night before, with hopes the coolness would last longer than it had the previous day. That is where the camel back stayed for the day. 

Marian was my savior. The route has no, none, not one cafe, convenience store, or gas station that could offer a water stop. I started searching for a friendly house. Houses, friendly or not, are also scarce on this route. Finally I spotted two people hovered over a 5th wheel RV and knew they would be the ones! As I rolled up along their gravel driveway and they looked up at me, I barely got out the word ‘water’ and Marian was dashing into her garage/breezeway/patio and returning with two bottles of cold water. We chatted for at least 10 minutes and she was concerned that I was riding so far out in the world alone! When I told her I was from Seattle and that we were visiting family she asked (seriously) “they let you out here?”. She made sure I had my cell phone, that it was fully charged, that I had a map, and then went back to fetch two more bottles of cold water to give me. She said on my return trip, to stop again if I needed water, and if she was not there, just go in to the fridge around the corner there and take some. I so wanted a photo of Marian but knew she would not want me to take a picture of her with curlers in her short gray hair, wearing a faded shapeless tee shirt so I didn’t even ask. I didn’t know people still used curlers like that ;’-0.

I am so glad that I forgot that water bladder or I would never have had the pleasant experience of meeting and chatting with Marian whose sister in Massachusetts is named Nancy ;’-).

The newly found water meant that I would need to release some of it! Where would I find a place! Magically appeared this in a deserted area..

Apparently the vineyard workers had a day off and fortunately left this door unlocked. 

There was a hand washing area as well but no water. Since I carry my own sanitizer, I did not try theirs.

Along that river I saw the same egret I had seen the previous day but had not been quick enough to get a photo before it took flight. I stayed further away before reaching for my camera this time.

Time to head home. As I neared the end of my route I found a few things to catch my interest.

My camel back was still safe when I got home.

ON THE ROAD JUNE/JULY 2020/21 IN AND OUT OF NEVADA

Shortly after our Betaso salads at Betaso restaurant, it was coming on to bed time. Not much to say about our overnight spot except that is was basically perfect for an overnight stop ;’-). Before heading out in the early morning I was able to get in a very short but somewhat interesting bike ride. I love slowly drifting through little towns or neighborhoods on my bike. Here in Wells, NV I got that opportunity. This photo is typical west…

This next photo could well be typical of much of the west…I would add that shooting can cause much more than wildfires.

There were several horses in a dry and dusty corral that looked hot and dusty. They looked so forlorn that I had no desire to take a photo. They must adapt to these hot and dry conditions and I’m sure the ranch hands give them hay and water, but not seeing any of that made me feel bad for the horses.

Nevada was mostly a drive through state. We entered into Jackpot where there are casinos lining the roadway, one right after the other. I did note the Hold ‘Em Street sign in the last post. As we drove through another town — of course there were more casinos. This one caught our eye…

It is located on an appropriately named street …

We took time to also drive through another town that I had read somewhere is a typical Cowboy Town. We did not find it such, but did see a lot of cowboy/cowgirl boots along the way. I got a photo of only one, but there were many.

More casinos through towns, and a lot of empty prairie along our drive to exit Nevada and enter California. We are now at Sarah’s and will be staying put for about two weeks now. We’ll see what I come up with to blog about ;’-)

YAY!!! I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO POST

I had been trying in several places that said they had wifi. Well, not strong enough for me to post my blog. But here we finally are ;’-).

That is about all I really wanted to say, and to let everyone know that I have been off the grid of electronics but all is well. We left camp in Montana this morning — driving through Bozeman we appreciated the electrical box designs. Note he moose on a bike ;’-).

After about 500 miles we have landed in Wells, Nevada. The first town we hit when we crossed the border was “Jackpot’, and I had to have a photo of this street name, even though it is a bit out of focus from the passenger window of the RV.

We drove around here in Wells to check our possible places to stay for the night and chose Mountain Shadow RV Park. Cheap at $31 and we got a AAA discount ;’-). Very nice owner also directed us to the Mexican/American restaurant next door that we walked to.. and look at the size of this salad!!

I know this is a more or less a boring post, but I could not pass up this great wifi without writing a few things post-Montana camp.

ON THE ROAD JUNE/JULY 2021 MONTANA (DAY 2)

This would be parade day. In the afternoon Susan would be up for biking into town for the 2:00 parade. Needing more than that I took myself for an earlier ride in the “other” direction. I would stop at the campground entrance, walkie-talkie to Susan, and wait for her to ride up to meet me.

Every morning as I am preparing my tea, I look out the back window and I feel like I am on a house boat. That is the Boulder River directly behind us, and Susan is not quite ready to get up ;’-).

Another view of Montana countryside.

This lone deer watched me and did not take her eyes off me the entire time I took photos of her. She was so sweet.

A little later on I stoppped to commune with the sheep. I love them in the field and seldom get to be so close to them.

The babies nudged each other out of the way to get to feed from Mama ;’-)

A typical homestead around will most likely have horses involved.

As I continued on I felt a few raindrops here and there, but fortunately actual rain did not develop. Big Sky is full of Big Clouds on this day. As the day progressed it would become less densely clouded and more blue would be allowed through.

Susan met me at the campground entrance and we rode into town for that parade. It could possibly be the most boring parade I have ever watched. Mostly it was the line of 94 cars that had been parked for the Car Show, fire trucks, and cars carrying varying people - the guy runnng for mayor, the Nile Shriners and 1970 & 71 HS graduates, as well as recent graduates. There was no marching band, no baton twirlers, no dancers and only one small group of horses that did not perform in any way. It seemed endlessly long and the ones who mainly enjoyed it were the kids gathering up tossed candies. 

Here are at least a few photos (that Susan took) to justify sitting there through this rather quiet (except for fire truck sirens) parade.

The only “float” in the parade…







That’s it for today folks.

ON THE ROAD JUNE/JULY 2021 — MONTANA

From Oregon we headed to Missoula where we would have two nights with our friends Vikie and Ray at the their house. They are most welcoming to our visits and sleepovers with them ;’-). 

I did not get any photos while we were with them, but Susan had a great time fly fishing with Ray floating around in their float tubes at a local lake, and I had a fine time being chauffeured by Vickie for a visit to the old western town of Phillipsburg, famous for gems, especially sapphire.

After breakfast out, we said our farewells and see ya soons and Susan and I headed for our next destination: Big Timber MT, but first we would do a drive through Livingston.

We enjoyed a walk around town and a stop for Smoothies to have for today’s lunch. Old buildings and old ads on buildings interest me.

Susan found a fish she could not pass by.

 Pleasure Way (the manufacturer of our RV) is holding a rally here at Spring Creek Campground at Big Timber.

It has taken me two days to think about posting here because I really did not want this to be full of negativity. Why post that?? Now that I have had even a short bike ride today, I am better ;’-).

We will get over with the negatives first: campsite is on gravel with not a blade of grass close by; sites are small and we can almost reach out to shake hands with our neighbor (ok, this is a little exaggeration but not much); there very few trees around us so no shade and no privacy; all roads — in, out and around — are gravel which make for not fun riding for me; there are at least some flying insects that bite and we must use OFF. See these photos…

Negatives done (unless I think of something else)

Our site is directly on the Boulder River. Sitting and watching the river roll swiftly past is my only activity for an entire day. I read a lot. Susan prepares to do at least some fly fishing. 

There are two stocked fish ponds wher campers can fish — and can keep the fish they catch if they so choose. At least Susan did some of her preferred activity. And she caught a good size trout. Of course, she released rather than kept.

That brings us to this day. I told Susan last evening that I was thinking of walking my bike up the gravel road to the paved road and riding into and around the town of Big Timber. Much to my surprise, this morning she geared up to join me! I do think she was feeling a little bad for me in the environs we were in and in my boredom mode.

Surprisingly, I made it up to almost the top of the little hill on the gravel road and it was not really all that bad. Goes to show what worry does — nothing. Of course Susan made it all the way up and through the looser gravel at the top.

A little view at the top to show some of Montana’s usual landscape.

Looping through town was a nice bimble for the mid morning with a few interesting things to take a photo of.

Susan hitched up her wagon and says “wagons this way”…

…or maybe that way…

Disappointedly this tea shop was closed, but I took the photo to send to my friend Cindy…

This next photo needs a little explanation: I, and all of us who know of Susan’s propensity to “be prepared” (for everything) laugh, make fun of her and joke about her preparedness and all that she always carries with her. However, if and when (and it often happens) someone, anyone, needs ANY thing — Susan has it and we have all benefitted from her preparedness and the things she carries in those huge panniers and/or buckets. Well, she did it again. I/we needed a restroom stop and found one in a nearby park. Susan went first and fortunately had her stash of Kleenex in her pocket (prepared) as there was no TP! I did not have any tissue with me, but was saved by Susan’s preparedness: she gave me her backpacking “poop bag” fully equipped with shovel (you need that to dig the ‘cat hole’ when backpacking), hand sanitizer, extra baggies (to carry out your tp when backpacking), AND TP!! 

I was chuckling as I was in the restroom peeing and pulling the TP out of this well prepared bag ;’-).

Before heading back to camp we needed lunch. THIS place was the highlight of my day. 

We learned the owner is Nancy and possibly the kindest, friendliest, most welcoming person we have met. We asked if we bought a drink from her could we buy lunch elsewhere and sit in her garden to eat. She responded with a loud smile and freindly voice that we did not need to buy anything from her, just come and sit and have our lunch. “You’re in Big Timber, you can do anything you want” she told us. Of course we did buy drinks and a slice of pie for after lunch, but she did NOT allow us to tip. 

This was a short ride but so necessary for me! And Susan will say how true that is. It has lifted my mood and spirits, and made all else just fine. I know that is mostly due do having a bike ride, but it is also helped by doing something outside of camp ;’-). And tomorrow — I get to do it again ;’-)