Day 13..Christine Birthday !

                                          Bernie took this picture..How it happened..NO CLUE !

We left Ernie's and Larry's place after having morning coffee.  We had such a great time and they were just fantastic! We will see them again on Wednesday evening.  They gave us tickets to Cirque De Soleil  at the Kodak Theatre for a Christmas gift.  We are looking forward to doing that with them.  Should be fantastic !

We arrived back at Jeff's and Christine's, in Covina, around noonish!  Great to see them and the kids again.  We went out for dinner at Olive Garden per Christine's request, it was HER birthday!  Andy decided to stay home in the RV because of her hearing.  We all felt bad leaving her alone.  Went I got back from dinner I was happy to hear she really enjoyed staying home alone.  She made herself dinner and curled up on the couch and watched the movie "The Help" that Christine provided.  At least she didn't play "Angry Birds" the whole time. She has so gotten addicted to that game.  Never thought "Andy"..not Andy!  lol

Dinner, last night was fun and exciting. Great to see everyone !  Fantastic seeing family!  Didn't want to leave !  We all promised to make plans to see each other again very soon.  I sure hope this happens because I really enjoy them all.  Today we will be spending time getting things down around the house...RV.  Andy will be working on billing and payroll.

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Merry Christmas from Southern California !

We have been hanging in downtown LA, California since Friday afternoon. We stopped by where Andy lived  when she was a teenager.  She showed me where she had her first kiss..etc...like I really wanted to know this. :+)  I think she enjoyed seeing her old neighborhood very much !

We are currently staying at Ernie and Larry's places.  I really mean places..going back and forth cooking at one place and eating dinner ...carrying the dinner, to the other place.  Quite funny ! Having a blast!  Watched football yesterday at a sports bar in a tee shirt.  Today is sunny and 73 degrees.  I could get used to this real fast! Had a wonderful Christmas and dinner with Andy, Larry, Erie, and their good friend Ron !  Saw a real LA Lakers Championship Ring Ron was wearing..Ron is the director of marketing for the Lakers, so lucky for him, he gets the rings too..has six different championship rings from other years.


This is downtown LA.  We are staying in a loft apartment high above the city.  Fantastic views and they even have a patio and hot tubs on the roofs,,,how relaxing is that!

I just want to say, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to a lot of close friends in Portland before I left ! You know who you are.  You have been a part of my life for many years!  I will see you in the late spring !  Have a wonderful Christmas and great year!  See you soon !

Hermosa Beach, California

We spent the day being tourist with Andy's best friend Debra and her husband Richard.  We saw Hollywood Blvd, Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills and Warner Bros. Studio.  I was amazed at all the old stuff they have there.  I took a picture of the piano they used in the movie "Casablanca" and a dresser they are going to use on the TV series " True Blood" True Blood TV Series

                                          True Blood TV Series

                                          Casablanca

I also took pictures of John Wayne and Charlton Heston footprints in cement.  The Stars on Hollywood Blvd of Disney, Bob Hope and of Andy Woodburn. It was very fun and interesting!

                                          John Wayne

                                          Charlton Heston

                                          Walt Disney

                                          Bob Hope

                                          Andy is a Star !


Afterward we had appetizers at Debra's sons restaurant, he is the manager there...very yummy ! Debra and Richard have been great hosts.

RV repair "Update" !

I ordered the part for the Headlight Switch and the Headlight Switch Connector from NAPA that my RV mechanic, Brad and his side kick Debi,  in Portland, Oregon (Blue lake RV Repair) recommended.  The parts arrive tomorrow, December 21, 2011, in Covina, California.  I asked Jeff if he would be so kind and pick those up tomorrow since I am at Debra's and Richard's place in Hermosa Beach.  BLUE LAKE RV REPAIR could have ordered the part and shipped it too me costing me lots of cash...RV parts just cost more at RV places for some reason...lol ! Instead they found the part number from Fleetwood  Motorhomes and then checked at NAPA Auto parts and found the NAPA part number and sent me that information.  So total cost for those parts is $50.00.  I am sure that saved me some cash.

The leveling jacks are a different story!  I had a mechanic come to Christine's and Jeff's place to take a look at the jacks.  He told me he would have to replace both jacks.  I informed him that my mechanic in Portland said we could get a seal replacement kit and it would take about an hour per jack.  He informed me he called the manufacture and they don't have or make seal kits and that I would have to replace both jacks.  I again told him what Brad said.  His remarks to me were " who do you trust your mechanic or the manufacture".
Each jacks costs $600.00 plus 100 hour for labor for a total cost of $1,400.00 plus a $60.00 service charge.  Wow  !! I thought that was expensive. I told him I would get back to him and paid him that $60.00 and sent him on his way.  I called Brad again and told him what the guy said.  He checked again and said the jack seal kits are $180.00 each for a total of $360.00. and he would order then from the manufacture and have them shipped out!  He said it might take a 2 weeks before I get them since the manufacture is closed for the Christmas Holidays.  He asked me to explain in great detail about the jacks problem, so I did !  He said since I wasn't losing pressure and fluid leak is not that huge. I would do just fine!  He told me to just watch the oil level every once in a while and refill if/when needed.  He will order the part and have it ready when I get back in May 2012.  If I needed them before then... he would ship them to me where ever I am. He told me the worst case scenario I would have to use wood to drive on to level the motorhome. He explained what to do if this or that happens. His final words were "Preston have fun and we will get it fixed when you get back".

So the decision was easy enough...$1400 now vs $360....I think I will go with the $360.00 when I get "back" !  LOL

We made it ! Smoke under DASH !!

We left Santa Nella, California at 0930 after our morning Starbucks.  We knew we are arriving in Southern California at Jeff & Christine's home, we should arrive around 3 pm.

About 150 miles from LA we stopped for gas. We had been smelling a "rubber smell "  for the last 40 miles or so but we thought it was coming from the truck ahead of us. We had been following that truck for about that long.  Maybe its their tires or brakes... so we didn't think to much about it!  Well "NOT" !  When we pulled into the gas station their wasn't enough room to maneuver, we are about 50ft long, so I decided to go somewhere else.  All of a sudden smoke was coming out from under the dash and around the back up camera...Holly crap !  Andy freaked me out...and freaked out !  She yells "oh my god a fire" so I quickly pulled away from the gas pumps and parked across the street. I turned off the engine and headlights.  I got out and looked under the hood...under the motorhome...everything looked  just fine.  As I was going down the road earlier I noticed that the oil pressure and temperature was just fine...so what could it be.  So after about 15-20 minutes I started the motorhome and let it run.  I was trying to see where all the smoke was coming from.  Nothing...no smoke...the engine was running great..oh what could it be ?  I was trying to think of everything and anything. Everything was good !  So I said "heck with this, we are going to try and make it to Christine's and Jeff's place which is 150 miles away. I thought I would go 10-15 miles and pull over and check everything out again.  So before I pulled away I tried to turn the headlight back on...I believe it's safer.  Nope ! The headlights wouldn't come on.  The selector switch was broke...how could that be..they were just on.  Then it hit me...I bet they shorted out and burned the plastic around it.  So we continued south along I-5 and then onto I-210 towards Covina...I was trying to smell a hint of "anything"  but as it turned out...Nothing.  Everything was going fine !  We arrived in Covina at 16:00 (4:00 pm).

We visited with the Dossey's last night and went to bed around 10:30 pm.  Well I did !  Andy stayed up in bed playing "Angry Birds" on her phone until well over midnight.  I never thought in a million years she would do something like that..."Not Andy"  We laughed about it all morning long.

This morning I got up and went outside and noticed a wet spot in front of and under the motorhome...is that water.  Where would water be coming from?  NOPE ! ...a oil leak from the lever jacks..now what !  I guess the seals are gone.  Christine called a person and they will come noon tomorrow.  I took apart the headlight switch this morning and called "Blue Lake RV in Portland and they will be sending me the parts to fix the melt down.

About an hour later,  Andy was looking in a drawer that was  under the fridge... she tells me everything was wet...everything ! I thought maybe condensation...but nope not today!  It was major water ! Oh my..not something else !!!!  I pulled out the drawer and noticed the hose for the ice machine, which we never use..ever, was spraying a fine mist.  OK i can fix this...I turned the valve to off !  LOL


Andy said "we should be good now because it always comes in threes"  I sure hope so !!  lol

Tonight Christine, Jeff and Andy are cooking dinner and we are going to hang out.  It is very good to see them,  I missed them tons.  Very good people !

Tomorrow, after they hopefully fix the jacks, we will be heading to Debra and Richards place in Hermosa Beach.  Will be leaving the Motorhome in Covina as planned.

Day Three !

We departed Redding, California today at 10:30 am and got to Santa Nella, California about 1630 that's 4:30 pm for you civilians. LOL  Again nice place!  On the way down we stopped for gas and the car in front of us wouldn't start.  Since I couldn't move forward or backwards that could have caused a problem. I couldn't just jump their battery because they were 20 feet in "Front" of me.  Instead I got out my handy dandy 110 V battery charger with a quick jump button..oh no..wait no 110 V.  I am not connected..but wait..yes I do.  I just started the generator from inside the coach and got out my extension cord and just plugged it in.  "Whamo" Their car started right up and I was able to move forward and get some gas...I am proud of myself for getting that thing..lol  Our gas mileage from Asland, Oregon to Santa Nella, California...through all the passes was 6.7 MPG.  That's not bad when it burns 7.1 normally.  I believe it works out to about .50 cents a mile.  Well thinking of it that way... it's real bad !  lol

We are 275 miles from Los Angeles, California.  Should get there tomorrow afternoon but I might want to hang around here and watch the Seattle Seahawks football game.  So maybe Monday instead of tomorrow.   Will make the decision and inform Jeff and Christine what the plan is .  They have been so kind to let us Park the RV in the driveway...can't thank them enough... but dinner will be on us.  That's the least I can do for such wonderful family.

WE ARE ENJOYING THE TRIP DOWN !

Day two !

We departed that dreaded RV park this morning about 11 am.  The passes were dry, clear and sunny ! It was a quick drive to Redding, California. We arrived a little after 2pm. The RV Park we are staying, Sacramento River RV Park, is very nice and comfortable.  We arrived early enough for me to set up my Sat Dish.  Thanks Brent and Grey for getting it all set up.  You would be proud of me because it set up so dang easy.  So now I have HDTV ...yes ! We arrived to 64 degree weather with bright sunshine. What a big difference from Portland, Oregon.

Andy almost had a complete melt down if it wasn't for Mr B !  Her computer she does all her business work from had a major problem with the Internet.  Brent explained, over the phone, how to fix it.  It took about 20 minutes and he had it up and running.  I am very impressed Mr. B...very impressed and proud.

Tomorrow it will be a longer day of driving but we are getting closer to Southern California.  Closer to friends and family!

Andy saw a RV towing an RV...now that's something !

Day One !

We left this morning in the rain and fog at 10:15 am.  Andy had a hard time leaving Roxy but she made it through with only red sore eyes.  This was harder than we both though it was going to be...but excited too.  I had a hard time saying goodbye to Brent but I didn't let him know because we both would have been in tears. Saying good bye to Adam, Falon and Kloee was hard.  It's all good now and the adventure begins.

We are stopped for the night now in Ashland, Oregon at the Wells Springs Resort. Resort it is not!!  In no way Jose !  The place is a 1960's "Hippy" throw back.  I don't believe the RV's that are here, except ours, have moved in over 20 Years.  Reminded me of the Hots Springs I went to in 1997.  The water we were suppose to use smelled like sulfur.  No way was I going to drink..bath..or anything in that stuff.  So instead of a dinner Andy was going to cook, we didn't want to cook using that smelly stuff they call H2O, we had yummy hamburgers. I need to learn how to choose a place better!  I guess when you go on an adventure this stuff will happen.  I am sure we will laugh and talk about this for days and weeks.  Andy and I looked at each other and said "Let the Adventure Begin" when we saw this place.  It was funny!

On our way down to Ashland, Oregon "Epinephrine" ran like a charm...just purred !  We got 6.9 miles to the gallon compared to 7.1 miles without towing the car.  I think that's pretty good considering we weigh 22,000 pounds and travelling down the road at 60-65 miles an hour.  Tomorrow will be a short travel day, if the weather holds, to Redding, California.  I hope I make a better decision where to stay than I did today..lol

The Plan !

Tomorrow we leave at 10:30 am... hopefully the weather holds !  Everything is packed in the RV.  I have checked everything I can check.  All systems are a "GO"!  All the goodbyes to family and friends are done except Brent, Grey and of course the dog Roxy.We will do that just before we leave in the morning.

We will be stopping tomorrow, Thursday in Canyonville, Oregon exit 99 at the Seven Feathers Casino, they have an RV park, or Ashland, Oregon at the Wellsprings RV park.  Leaning towards the Wellsprings since they have natural hot spring pools and it is cheaper.  Not a big gambler anyways !  Friday evening we should be in Redding, California at the Sacramento River RV Resort if we can get through the passes. Saturday we will be in Santa Nella, California.  Sunday evening we should be in Covina, California to see the "family".  We are in no hurry!  If the roads are bad we will just chill and relax since we will have everything we need. No need to hurry since we have 5 months.

We will be staying in the LA area until the January 2, 2012. We have lots of family and friends to see plus I would like to do the touristy stuff while we are there. We have reservations for Delmar Beach Resort on Camp Pendleton, by San Diego, from January 2 to February 2, 2012.  We plan to store the RV there too while we go on the cruise on Feb 11, 2012 out of Florida.  After the cruise Andy will fly back to Portland, Oregon and I back to San Diego, California. She will spend about 2 or 3 weeks here in Portland getting her stuff done while I roam around.  I have no idea where I will be...since I (we) don't have any plans after the cruise.  I guess she will fly in where ever I happen to be.  I am thinking Yuma, AZ but then again maybe Dayton, Ohio... who knows !  I will try and follow the sun !!

I will post daily, depending if I have Internet, on where we are.

House Is gone !

Everyone and everything is gone from the house!  It was harder than I thought it was going to be !  I kept finding a reason not to leave..The floor wasn't clean enough or check this room again...this went on for over 2 hours. I checked...re-check and then checked again.  Knowing that once I shut the door it would lock, the keys and the garage door openers are inside, and I would never have that home again. All the memories of family and friends.  All those Halloween parties... the list could go on forever ! Finally I knew I had to go...so I left !  I stopped at the gas station and got gas and then to ThriftWay knowing that I would never be there again.  I have lived in that house and have been going to those business for 7 years and now it's over !  Seven (7) years you might say "is not that long" but for me it is the longest I have lived in one house or in one area in my entire life. Another part of me is glad it is gone..no more stressing over the house..feels like I am free...able to do the things I have been wanting to do for over 10 years. So as I sit here I am sad and excited at the same time.  A new chapter begins !

Choose A Life That Matters !

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.  There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.  All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.  Your wealth, fame, temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.  It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.  Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.  So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.  The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.  It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.  It wont matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.  Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.  So what will matter?

How will the value of your days be measured?  What will matter not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.  What will matter is not your success, but your significance.  What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.  What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence, but your character.  What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you are gone.  What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.  What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.  Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.  It's not a matter of circumstances but of choice.  Choose to  live a life that matters.



Given to me by my family !

One more week down and three weeks to go!

It has been a busy week.  Getting rid of stuff is an on going battle.  Deciding what to give away and what to sell.   The hauling of things to goodwill and to storage continues.

Andy never did go to "The cabin"... she and her sister had too much going on to go.  They were both really sad.  I am glad they didn't go because Andy was really sick Thanksgiving Morning...delayed reaction to jelly fish sting from Hawaii.  I went Elk hunting for just 2 days...didn't see anything...now I know why I never hunt Coastal Elk..Forest to thick,  lots of people and boy does it rain!

On Thanksgiving Brent, Adam, Falon and Kloee were here at Andy's home.  I cooked the entire dinner except Brent and Falon deep fried the Turkey and Andy made "Pumpkin Dump"  Deep frying a turkey is the way to go.  It cooks in just 45 minutes and the best tasting turkey I ever had.  I will never go back to roasting that bird again.  It can be a little pricey with the oil costing about 50 bucks but they say you can reuse it one more year.  Never heard of saving oil for a year but will give it a try. lol  HAD A GOOD DAY !

Brent signed up college classes which I am very happy about.  Been wanting him to go back for a year or so but I guess he had to decide "when" on his own terms,  I guess he is ready because he decided to!  Brent is doing well at Andy's Parcel seemed to catch on quickly.   Adam is doing good, they found a place to live since the house will be gone in 2 weeks.  That makes me less stressed out now that they have a place and a plan.  Starting to warm up to that little girl of theirs..don't know why yet but have a feeling I am doomed!  LOL

Maui, Hawaii, November 2011

The morning on top of the volcano in Maui, Hawaii.  Was very cold and wet but opened up at sunrise.  Andy said it was one the coldest she has ever felt in her life...oh it wasn't so bad... maybe because of my 21 years of Army training.  LOL

Just Before sunrise.

Sunrise !  It was well worth the cold and wet stuff.  It was amazing, just a few minutes before sunrise, the cold and mist just clears up.  They say it happens all the time!

We took the bike ride down from the crater...it was fantastic..downhill all the way baby! What A view all the way down.

From our condo the evening when got there..was a little breeze

The evening we arrived.

We took a evening ride on the ocean for dancing and a drinking....Great time with Andy's sister and brother.

Just having lunch in Lahaina, Hawaii

Hanging on the beach...snorkeling and soaking in the sun..what a difference between Maui and Portland.  Saw lots of fish and a Sea Turtle. I was loving this !!!  Can I just stay here please !

Isn't she so beautiful.  What a smile !

Saw a wonderful show called "Ulalena"....better than any luau !!!  We went out for dinner afterwards. What a evening it was !

It works finally !

Brent and Grey setting up the satellite receiver, Blu-ray. and the surround sound.  All installed...checked and ready to go.  Works great!  Even watched a football game in HD.  Thanks boys.  Dinner is on me !  Now we are off to Maui, Hawaii in the morning.

Clearing things out !

House will be gone December 9, 2011. Have gotten rid of lots of "stuff".  Mostly just gave it away to friends and family, donated it to Goodwill or simple threw it away! Yesterday Andy, Brent and I cleaned up and organized "Andy's Parcel Warehouse". We, Brent and I, are planning on storing a bit of our "stuff". Things like photos, papers, my raft and raft equipment, and other misc "stuff". Brent will be storing a few things in the warehouse since he will be staying at Andy's while we are gone... to kind of watch over the place and to keep Roxy, the Pit Bull, company. She is the sweetest dog I have ever seen...oh and so smart.  We wanted to take her with us on this adventure but she is not a good traveling dog. She just cannot seem to relax. So she will have to stay home. Very sad for Andy and I.

We do not have much time before we head south for the winter. Lots of things to do and get done! We have 2 slight detours first!

First detour;

Hawaii trip 8-15 November 2011. Andy's daughter, Briana, is getting married in Maui, Hawaii. This wasn't the plan when we booked this trip but it has worked out nicely. I know Andy is loving it!

Second detour;

Andy is going to her cabin in the mountains, Joseph, Oregon, during the Thanksgiving Weekend. She has been going there for years with her sister. No electric...gas...or indoor plumbing but they do have a wood burning stove to stay warm.   They use propane stoves to cook. Water they get from the mountain creek that runs right next to the cabin. All they do is read, take walks, talk and cook. These two woman can cook some fantastic meals.

While they are away in the cabin, I will be going elk hunting along the Oregon Coast.



So time is short...with many things to do, see and go! Can be overwhelming and exciting at the same time ! December 15, is still a go Houston