Catching Up with the Paces

Kangaroos & Koala's from Down Under

It's been 1 year since my last post/update.  Where does the time go?  We spent the year doing mini trips so we could spend quality time at home here in Carlsbad. We don't want Ken's mom Julia to get too lonesome while we are gone. Short trips in and out have been fun, and it keeps us from getting "road itch", by keeping those RV wheels rolling in and out of town.

We had a fun cruise to Alaska. We didn't want to drive so far in the RV, so we did it the easy way and cruised. We enjoyed the sights, the weather, the food, and of course we geocached at every port. We went into the Red Dog Saloon as we needed to get a current menu for our friend Saundra who's father started the saloon back in the early 1900's. We visited museums, and took train rides up to where the gold rush happened. We didn't see any animals like we thought we would, but we read about and saw them in the many museums. Now Ken has been to all the states. Most by RV, but a few like Alaska, by stepping on land from a ship docking there.

We had our Thanksgiving in 2012 at Lake Mitry, AZ with our Boomer friends. (first time we missed it with our kids)  There were fewer RVs there this year, but we all had a good time. We had nightly fires and we did some star gazing with our iPads. The guys had a great fire built each evening and we never seemed to run out of stories to talk about.

Two of Ken's grandkids, James and Amanda,  came up to the lake to visit. Ken took them on a scary 4x4 ride to the top of the hill. They kept sliding back, so they got out and walked while Ken kept moving forward. James climbed even higher to the top of the sign marker.

The whole group went to the movies in town and out for Smash Burgers afterwards.

Thanksgiving Day we had several visitors come from Yuma, bringing food and drinks and chairs to join us in our Pot Luck Dinner.  We all had lots to eat and spent the afternoon chatting, eating pie with whipped cream and relaxing. We invited a couple from Europe who were parked nearby, and they brought a yummy dish from their recipe book and cooked it there on the table with a neat little burner.  They really enjoyed our company and said it was a highlight of their trip across America. They have taken their "homemade" RV all over the world, and had many exciting stories to tell about their adventures. We may never meet them again, but had fun sharing with them.

This year we had the Devane Family Christmas on Christmas day. It was at Sue's son Daniel and new daughter-in Law Shannon's home in Downey.  We all helped with food, and as usual enjoyed our gift exchange and Funny Gifts from MOM.

For New Years, 2013, we parked at the Rose Parade with other friends. We all had a fun time sitting around and waiting for the parade. We have been "teaching" our RV friends How to Park at the Rose Parade. It was fun seeing all of them come and have fun.







January as usual found us in Quartzsite AZ again with our Boomer friends. We all park about 6 miles from town, and caravan up in one area. This year we had about 165 rigs, which made about 300+ people for 2 weeks of fun.  We don't have hosts, but folks volunteer to put on discussion groups, pot lucks, games, crafts, hikes, 4x4 trips, trash runs, pancake breakfasts, chili cook-offs, auction for charity (CARE), and many more fun and interesting things during the 2 weeks. Sue put on a geocaching class, and as usual, it sparked a few people into the fun "sport" of caching. We went into town to the bookstore, to see Paul the Naked Bookman, went geocaching for caches that we hadn't found in years past, visited the RV tent vendors, found our WIN friends, Barbara, Ron, Brenda & Diana and had visits and lunch with them at Silly Al's Pizza place. We of course went to lunch for FREE at the RV lot, and to our favorite Mexican place Taco Mio. 

After 2 fun weeks with the Boomers, we moved about 3 miles to Dome Rock Rd. and rallied for 4 days with the Escapee Geocachers. We had about 100 people there who spent the time talking, learning, caching, (day and night), and teaching Geocaching. It was a big success and will happen again next year for our 4th annual Caching Rally.

February found us HOME in Carlsbad. Ken kept busy helping with his grandkids,  played tennis, pickleball, chatted with his men friends at McDonalds, ping pong, cards, and daily gym workouts. He loves being home in Carlsbad.
Sue kept busy with her volunteering at the Thrift Shop (for Battered Women), golf, tennis, pickleball, ping pong, and lots of time on her computer doing newsletters, keeping minutes of clubs, and membership lists updated, and notes sent to members.


Celebrating a little late, waiting from Feb. 5th to March 2nd, to get all her kids together (except John in AR.), Sue had a fun 70th birthday party. Patrick and Jacqueline presented her with a large "throw" with a picture from Daniel's wedding of all her kids! She loved that. Pickleball T-shirts, and lovely fragrant bath items, and a cake made her day. We all had a fun day in Rancho Carlsbad, playing 9 holes of golf, pickleball, and ping pong and swimming. Then a fun dinner out at a close by home style restaurant. with good food and a room to ourselves so we could make all the noise we wanted. Ken's daughter Susan and granddaughter Sarah joined us along with Ken's mom Julia. (16 altogether).

In March we took our cruise to Australia & New Zealand, which Julia gave us for Christmas. We were gone for 3 weeks and had a wonderful time. Sue is now a full fledged "Pace" as she can go "standby" for any flight. Getting there was great, but it took 4 days to get a flight home. Oh well, getting stranded in Australia wasn't that bad. We just did a few extra things each day after finding out we "didn't get on the plane".  We were way down on the standby list each day, and that's why it took us longer to get home. Now Sue can cross a few things off her bucket list. Hugging a Kangaroo, and petting a Koala.

April was spent helping in Morgan Hill with Sue's Aunt Audrey. She is 94 and failing in health. Having some time to be with her was good for both Audrey and Sue. She has been a perfect Aunt for me, and I will miss her a lot when Jesus comes to take her Home.

And looking ahead, May will be having fun in Carlsbad, and June we will be on the road again to Livingston Texas to volunteer again at CARE.  It will be hot then, but they have air conditioning inside and we will have hook ups while in the RV. We will help with activities, cooking, driving people to Dr's appts. , and to Walmart. CARE is our RV Club's Assist. Living Center. It is run by mostly donations, and volunteers.

For now, that's all. Hope it isn't another year before I get back to "BLOGGING".