Auld Lang Syne

   What a great year 2013 proved to be!  As Valerie has attempted in the past, we remember our journey over the past twelve months at year's end. 

The Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, Arizona

   January 2013 found us in Arizona -- where we traveled from Benson to Apache Junction to the RV Driving School's annual gathering in Quartzsite.  We especially enjoyed meeting with many of the school's friends, instructors and their students to share stories over a campfire in the desert.

   Following Quartzsite, we drove the short distance to Congress, Arizona for the annual Escapees' Boot Camp, where much important information is shared and great friends are made.

London Bridge is not actually falling down!

   Several friends invited us to accompany them from Congress up to Lake Havasu City for the annual "Winter Blast," a fireworks extravaganza where dealers demonstrate their products for buyers and the public.  We enjoyed the fireworks and the sights, including the renown London Bridge, which has been relocated here.  We parked first at "The Steps," BLM land where we first located high atop a hill with friends.  Valerie learned the joy of ATVing and George lost his wallet -- at least that's what we believed for many months.  We stayed at Lake Havasu State Park on the water for a few days and endured some extremely high winds.

   Valerie decided to ride Amtrak's Southwest Chief for old times' sake from Needles, California to Kansas City to celebrate her grandson's third birthday.  It was quite a sleepless 32-hour experience, and one upon which she will cheerfully pass in the future.

Needles, California - Many monuments are erected along the infamous Route 66.

   Upon her return, we traveled through Joshua Tree National Park for a visit with RV Driving School instructor, Jerry Caldera, in Yucca Valley.  

   Our next stop was the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster, California.  We had the privilege of meeting there with Jerry Ray, long time instructor for the school, who subsequently passed away following a lengthy illness, and his wife Arlyne.  We also had the pleasure of meeting with instructor Steve Mulcahy and his wife, Laura.  And there was a surprise visit from former owners of the RV Driving School, Dennis and Carol Hill.

Scenic California Highway 1 - the Bixby Bridge was constructed in 1932.

   From Lancaster, we traveled to Patterson, California to prepare for the upcoming Escapees' WARE Rally in Lodi.  The winds were continually so high we could barely open and close the door to the RV without struggling to keep it from being torn off the hinges.  Cabin fever set in, finally, and we decided to head out for a day's adventure.  We drove over to Highway 1 and headed down the Pacific Coast towards our destination -- The Hearst Mansion in San Simeon.  The castle and the views were phenomenal, and the trip turned into a two-day adventure of a lifetime.

Sunset in San Simeon

   Lodi was great fun.  We were joined by instructor, Frank Piccolo and his wife, Sharon.  We had some repairs done on the motor home and headed to Carson City, Nevada, where we toured the State Capitol Building -- very impressive!  

The RV park where we stayed in Reno was extremely close to the airport!

   We moved from there to Reno, where we were much too close to the airport but still enjoyed the trails at the nearby river.  A drive around Lake Tahoe was the real highlight, though.

Our first glimpse of Lake Tahoe was simply breath-taking!

   Early May we proceeded east through the Bonneville Salt Flats and arrived at Syracuse, Utah, where we had anticipated a less hurried return to Antelope Island, a delightful park where the buffalo roamed and the campground overlooked the Great Salt Lake.  Sadly, the biting gnats had also deemed it a good time to visit, and we left after only one night while there was flesh still left on our bones.

The gorgeous site on Antelope Island in Syracuse, Utah which we abandoned due to biting gnats!

Moab, Utah

   Next stop on our wish list was Moab, Utah.  This was a first for both of us.  We were dazzled by the colorful rock formations, and thunderstorms did not dampen our exhilaration at this marvelous place.  

Despite her fear of heights, Valerie made the climb up to the Delicate Arch!

   We have longed for years now to return to Durango, Colorado, the place we discovered was a soft place to land, thanks to many marvelous friends who welcomed us there when we decided to run away from our home in Minnesota, what now seems like so many years ago.  

Beautiful Downtown Durango!

Seven Falls near Colorado Springs

   
   From Durango we traveled to Walsenburg and then to Colorado Springs and to Central City, which Valerie confused with Central Denver, mistakenly believing it would be a short distance to Denver International Airport from which she was off again to see the grandkids in Kansas City, who have cast a real stronghold on her heart.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs provided a beautiful view!

   We stopped in Cheyenne, Wyoming en route to Gillette for back-to-back rallies of FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) and the Escapees, again touring a beautiful State Capitol Building and grounds.  These rallies are busy, but we always enjoy reconnecting with friends we have encountered throughout our RV years.

We so enjoyed this phenomenal view of Central City, Colorado directly out our front window!

   Between rallies, we visited Devil's Tower and stayed at the National Park with a beautiful view of the iconic mountain.  We enjoyed watching the climbers, the hike and learning the history.

Devil's Tower, Wyoming

   Our travels after the Fourth of July took us into South Dakota, where we visited friends, national monuments, and anticipated with excitement an extended visit to the Twin Cities and family there.

Mount Rushmore near Rapid City, South Dakota

   The engine whistle noise we noticed on our motor home in Gillette, which was diagnosed in Rapid City, was finally determined to be a leaking gasket, which we took time to repair at in White Bear Lake.  Meanwhile, Valerie had work done on the plantar fasciitis she had struggled with over the past year.  Family and friends kept us entertained and George taught some lessons until time for us to depart south again towards Kansas City.  Valerie again took care of some medical maintenance issues and we spent time memorable time with family and friends.

Zara is amazed by the city life from Aunt Patti's window!

   We left Kansas City in early October and headed for Goshen, Indiana, where George was scheduled for seminars during the Thor Diesel Club Rally at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds.  We again enjoyed the company of old and new friends and Thor owners.

   Our next commitment was an Escapee Boot Camp early November in Livingston, Texas.  Although we could have taken the easy route south, we decided to head east and south in an attempt to meet with some of the instructors with whom we do not often have an opportunity to visit.  These patient, knowledgeable and courageous men and women have helped to instill skills and confidence in so many people!

   So we stopped in Canal Winchester and met with instructor Terry Bacus and then moved through Kentucky, Tennessee, and on to Columbus, North Carolina for a visit with instructor Paul Nordan, and his wife Kristina.  We then met with instructors Beau Endres and wife, Connie, and Don Lundby and his wife, Maureen at a travel stop as we were all passing like ships in the night before we took a break in Jacksonville, Florida for an entire week!  George flew from Jacksonville to Minneapolis to celebrate with his sister and brother-in-law a surprise anniversary party, and we connected with instructor Chuck Urwiller and his wife Gayle before heading east to Pensacola.

   We enjoyed a nice meeting with instructor Tom Keyes in Pensacola and again headed east with a stop in Rogersville, Alabama for another instructor meeting with Jimmy Johnson and his wife, Gail.

   Our trip took us through Louisiana and Mississippi before we landed in Livingston, Texas at the Escapees headquarters, better known as Rainbow's End.  The Boot Camp was filled to capacity early and a second Boot Camp was scheduled for the following weekend.  Instructors Glyn Carson and Arthur Jacobson taught a record number of students, but we had commitments in Arizona for Thanksgiving so we had to make some time heading west.

   We stopped for a meeting in Benson, Arizona with instructor Sharon Del Rosario and her husband, Don.  We arrived at a winter favorite, Meridian RV Park, where George had plans to fly to Minneapolis and surprise his kids while Valerie's daughter flew down from Boulder for the holiday.

   We enjoy the friends we've made over the years at Meridian.  There have been many social gatherings, as well as outside activities.  George took care of his medical appointments and finally succumbed to wearing glasses daily.  Valerie flew out to Kansas City for a short visit and returned on Christmas Eve.

   New Years' Eve we celebrated with friends at the resort.  We laughed and danced and anticipated another great year on the road.  We've launched our newly designed website, and we'll continue to improve upon that.  We'll make travel arrangements, write articles, blog, coordinate the advertising, schedule rallies and private lessons, seminars and seminar presenters, pay bills, exercise, clean the coach and care for our two traveling companions, Princess Zara and Captain Charlie, and we'll make new friends while we cherish time with the old.  In our spare time we'll put on a lot of miles as we photograph old barns and churches and the natural beauty which surrounds us.

   Looking back on 2013, somewhere along the journey, after hours of searching, canceling credit cards, and monitoring for identity theft, George's wallet was found by Valerie, just beneath the passenger seat of our Subaru, where we both had searched countless times.  If we had to define this year, it would probably be recalled as a year we encountered numerous high wind storms, watched lots of fireworks displays, and enjoyed spectacular fall foliage.

   Such is the life of full-time RVers.  We meet a lot of phenomenal people.  We see so many awesome sights.  There is seldom a dull moment.  Continually we learn, and we long to keep moving.  We think back upon the days when many people told us in so many terms that we were "crazy."  We have learned that possessions, once treasured, are actually meaningless.  It is the experience and the loved ones that matter in the end. We are thankful for good health and have no regrets about our chosen lifestyle. 

   How intriguing that we found the lesser known verses of that yet familiar song, Auld Lang Syne: 

"We two have run about the slopes, 

and picked the daisies fine;

But we've wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

(Chorus)

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne."

Happy New Year, 2014!  Wishing you safe and fabulous journeys!

Ringing in 2014!