Rested, Laundered, Mama

 

After driving some 3,250 miles over 9 days, visiting three groups of people, staying in four Cracker Barrels, one driveway, one rest area, and one free desert campground...needless to say we were just a bit tired.  On a trip like this, the hardest part is typically the Big Cities, and last 200 miles.  Tallahassee, Mobile, Houston, San Antonio, and LOS ANGELES...with the two hard ones being Houston and especially L.A.   Thank goodness, we have had a couple of good nights sleep.  However, I took a nap on Monday and when I awoke, it took a minute or so to know where I was.  I thought I was at a rest area taking a nap.

So Sunday we went over to visit my Granddaughter, who is 2 years 9 months old...and when she calls and says, "I am excited to see you Grandpa"...it makes all those miles worth every inch of them!  After a nice visit, we went to see mom.  I was so relieved that she knew me as soon as she saw me.  She turns 95 in just a couple of weeks, and things in her mind are a bit confused, to say the least.  She thinks my brother Roger is her brother Jimmy, who died in WW2 on a aircraft carrier that was hit by a massive Kamikaze attack. Last year she called me "Al" many times, which is my Dad, who passed on Thanksgiving Day in 2019.  She refers to my Sister Sandy and her Sister Mary...I think you got the point.  But she is, for the most part, pleasant to be around. We saw her again Monday, and will see her again tomorrow.

Today was laundry day...we both have enough clothes for two weeks, but I have found that the laundromat we use here in Sacramento area is not as busy on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Today was not exception to that, and I was able to load the washers, get them right into open dryers, and out the door in about 90 minutes.  Went over to a Safeway to stock up on some food and water, and the day was complete.  Did not like hitting the shopping cart in the parking lot of Safeway, but it is nothing that a sticker can't cover up...maybe something like this...

 

 

Hurricane Milton Aftermath

Hard to believe that it has not even been a month since we got back from California...  My brother Roger texted me Monday to say that they had to evacuate from Alta due to a fire nearby...I texted back "We have another hurricane coming out way...".  He went home the next day...we head home tomorrow (Saturday) to a condo that has no power.  Been that way since 4 pm Wednesday and who knows when it will come back on.

As far as we know, all of our friends and relatives are fine..some were flooded, most lost power for some duration, but all is well.  To see the devastation has been heartbreaking, to hear stories of people saving others, people helping others, has been heartening.  

We plan to park van in the condo area, run the generator to provide AC and cooking what we can salvage out of the freezer, and wait...

Got to see Marcia's daughter, granddaughter, and 2 great-grandchildren...that was nice.

Prolong Stays in a Camper Van

 

Our fourth motorhome, this time a Camper Van, in my Sister's backyard.  Our two Class C's needed wooden ramps to get up over the curb as we drove up the driveway, but thank goodness, the Camper Van does not.  The first three needed a "Blue Boy", which is slang for Black and Gray Water Waste tank that is on wheels and can be taken to the nearest dumping outlet (which at Sister's House is on the other side of the house from where we park).  So far we are driving to a dump station every four days as we take care of other business (shopping, visiting mom, laundry, etc).  Which brings up my next point, without a car, the Camper Van becomes our main and only form of transportation for all three of us, but I have borrowed Brother-in-Law Arny's Toyota Truck a few times to get dinner or go to the store.  It would take us about ten minutes to get ready and pull out onto the street if we needed/wanted to hurry...about the same to set up again once we are back.

Here is something I thought of on our way to visit mom in the "Old People's Home".  Put her in her Wheelchair, brought her out next to the sliding door, put out the awning, swung Marcia's chair around so she and Mom could see each other, and I used Marcia's Walker to sit on.  Nice pleasant breeze, and we all have a nice visit without Marcia having to expend energy to get out, and back in, the Camper Van.  Speaking of which, Marcia can get in and out of the Camper Van all on her own, something she has not been able to do since we got rid of our Class A back in 2013.  It still is a bit tiring, but gives her the freedom of not relying on me or others to assist her with getting in and out.

Sister Sandy turned us onto a new Restaurant, it is called Huckleberry's Breakfast & Lunch.  There are a number of them in the general Sacramento Area, and many are located in former Denny's and Perko's Cafes.  At this location in Roseville we are able to park in the ADA slot closest to the door, and I could watch Indy when she was in the front looking out and barking at people who approached.  With our generator going, the AC was on, so she was fine...I made sure to let the cashier know just in case someone complains about a dog in a hot vehicle.

So we have been here for three weeks now, and the only major upgrade we have added is 3" of bed topper and a Fluffy Mattress Cover Quilted Fitted Mattress Pad to put on top.  The beds as they came were very uncomfortable...now we are both sleeping so much better, it is very comfortable, and worth the nearly $200 complete price tag.  We only have the electric connected, and I fill up the water tank as needed.  We have used the dump station at the Chevron Station in Roseville (corner of Eureka and Rocky Ridge), and find that Fridays and especially Sundays are very busy...midweek not so much.  Been stuck behind a newbie one time and that was like sticking pins in your eyes...  Overall, staying for a prolong time period in the Camper Van is doable...not as easy as the past three motorhomes we have owned, but not overly hard.

Of course, I would be amiss if I did not talk about my lovely Granddaughter, who turned 2 last month.  Last time we arrived her and my son Michael were in the front yard and she was so happy to see the Camper Van drive up.  On our previous visit, she was at the window saying goodbye to Grandpa, and Michael said she even cried just a little bit.  Tomorrow we visit with them all again, which will be the last visit until September due to their busy schedules.  There is something about hearing the words "Grandpa" from our Grandchild that just warms your heart...