Trip to Town!

Captains Log July 7 - Today’s trip to town was centered around Bill’s Dermatologist visit. 

We started our trip locating the correct 2 inch elbow to repair the small cactus we carry in the RV.  Lowes did not have it and Bill had already tried a couple of ACE stores.  He called a place and they said yes, so once we found it, he stayed in the truck.  It was a warehouse so mainly they were wholesale or direct to plumbers etc.  I walked in and one guy was on the phone at the counter and the other guy was totally embarrassed as he had his pants unzipped and open and tucking his shirt in!  I told him it wasn’t anything I hadn’t seen before and don’t worry about it!  Once he turned his back and finished, he apologized again and took my part out to get a match for it and gave it to me for free!

Next we found the UPS store and dropped the Amazon package off!  Hopefully the new satellite will work!

We had a nice lunch at a small café that Bill looked up.  While we waited for a seat Bill struck up a conversation with an older retired man from the Army Air Force from WWII.  He told Bill his story of being shot down over Germany and suffered a broken back and 2 other injuries.  He was pulled from the burning plane by a German officer and after he recovered he was sent to POW camp.  He was 19.  Five years after the war was over, he received a phone call from the German Officer who rescued him.    He’s a widower now and comes to that restaurant every day for breakfast and lunch.  Bill asked the server to let him pay and she said he pre-paid his meal, so he must pay at breakfast for both meals.  He was such a nice man and Bill enjoyed hearing his story.

We still had some time before Bill’s appointment so we stopped at the Walmart on the way and I did my dry goods shopping.  Then I dropped him at the doctor and went to Target and the Kohl’s next door.  They had a big clearance sale going on but I was only looking for a top in a specific color but no luck on that.

As I was leaving I realized the Kohl’s is on the end of the mall but I really didn’t feel like Mall walking so I headed back to where I left Bill and waited for him.  They removed a quarter size squeamish cancer from his shin area.  He watched the whole procedure and said it was no big deal at all.  He got his instructions and off we went to a small plaza on the way out of town where I did a quick Dollar Tree stop and pulled thru the Starbucks!  It’s been since at least October since I had a Starbucks and Bill only has one when he’s with me so I used a gift card and we both thoroughly enjoyed our splurge for the day!

I was sucking up the last of my treat when Bill dropped me in front of the Walmart we prefer in Eagle Point on the way home.  I had a list of fridge items and a couple of things the first store didn’t have in stock.  We brought our BIG cooler today and it was full and another big insulated bag.

We’d wanted to stop at the Venison Shop in Shady Cove so we said we’d do it today.  Just as we slowed down we saw the lady changing the sign to closed!  We pulled in and she was so nice and we checked things out, got some ground venison and a package of steaks and had a nice conversation with her.  Nice, nice lady!

On our way through Shady Cove we spotted 4 young elk crossing the road into someone's

The 4 elk

yard.  There were 3 females and one male.  That was kinda exciting!

Molly was quite vocal when I opened the door.  She must not like it when we’re gone so long!  It was a job carrying in all the groceries and getting things put away.  I bought a rotisserie chicken which is now our standard procedure on shopping day.  It was 7 when we got home so we were more than ready for a quick dinner. 

Time to kick back and read!

Doctoring and Working

Captains Log July 6 -   Bill had an appointment with an Orthopedic doctor this morning in

This was from yesterday.  The stump
has a root connected to the tree
behind it so it's called a Living
Stump!

Medford, so once we had breakfast he headed into town and I headed out to clean our sites.  There were only 4 sites in A and 6 in B, so it took more time waiting for them to pack up and leave than to do the sites.  I’d drive around then come in and read a while, then go back out again. 

By the time Bill got back there were still 2 that hadn’t left so once they did, he finished those 2.  Bill was a little upset that what he thought was a groin pull was hip deterioration.  From the look of things he will need one hip done before we leave next spring and the other the year after.  They say the hip is way easier than the knee so at least that is a good thing!

We tried one more time to move and get the satellite going but it was just not going to happen.  So, I went on Amazon and requested a return and replacement and printed out the paperwork.  We boxed it and the parts back up and got it ready to take to town tomorrow and drop it off at UPS.  I hope the next one works!  This one would not move to hunt for a satellite at all!

After dinner we went for a ride in the golf cart and ended up picking up a load of fallen dry limbs from A loop and pieces of trash that were left behind.  I had Bill stop for a piece a bit out behind a site and when I picked it up I found .35!  We also got a water bottle with a dime return in Oregon.  We’re filling our second bag of bottles!

We drove to the wood dump and the park is kinda empty and the ride there is very serene and quiet.

Tomorrow is a day off and we’re looking forward to a trip to “town”.  The fridge is getting empty!

Work and Play

Captains Log July 5 – It was a mass exodus today today! There were 41 who left and it was a pretty long day!  Bill went out first and did some and then he wasn’t feeling great so after a while I went out and did a bunch, then we gradually worked thru the rest.  Actually is as bad as it would have been if we to clean fire pits.  Because the heat trailer was full and there was no where to put ashes or burnt wood we got a pass.  As usual there were some hangers on that pushed the envelope for a long as they could!

Headed to the 
Natural Bridge

Once our work was done for the day and the loop was pretty empty, we cleaned up and went for a little road trip up towards Crater Lake.  Our first stop was just off the road to get a photo of the bridge over the aqua water of the Rogue River near the campground. Next we stopped at the Natural Bridge over the Rogue River.  It’s a short walk from a parking lot just off the road.  It was peaceful, relaxing and only a few people around. 

A little further up the road is the Rogue Gorge.  There was a group of uniformed teenagers that we think were in some kind of training group for a forestry company.  They were very polite and asked their group leaders lots of questions.

The water in the Rogue goes from violent to calm to violent along this section.  There are lava tubes that funnel the water into some areas and open tubes that look

The Rogue

like tiny pools with calm water.  It’s all under shade trees and it’s

amazing to see.  On the way back we took a side drive thru the small town of Prospect.  We stayed there the last time we were there to visit Crater Lake but snow limited what we could see.  We saw the nice restaurant where we had dinner and the starting point for a hike to a small river with HUGE boulders.  I would love to do it again but don’t think my ankle is ready for it.

Back at the campground we had an easy dinner of leftovers and called it a night!

Happy 4th of July!!!!!

Captain Log July 4 – Happy Independence Day!  It’s another hot dry day here in Oregon!  AND 

One decoration

we went back on 30 Amp this morning and managed to get a load of laundry done, then – yes- the shore power started going off and on again!  There was only ONE staff member on duty today until 2 this afternoon.  We only had 8-9 spaces vacating so Bill went out and did the first one.  Later we both walked the loop and interacted with folks and it’s a much nicer experience than driving around in the cart and waving.

I had several guests come and ask questions about fire wood, swimming etc.  I put my laundry in to dry and it got about half way before the power started cycling so it eventually got dry. 

One of the guests has a portable satellite so he offered to come over and go thru the process with Bill to get it up and running.  Didn’t take him 10

Another bunch of flags

minutes to get it working.  Then we went on generator so we wouldn’t have anymore glitches as it was up to 80 inside.  Bill was very excited to get the 2 main channels he wanted to see.

We had lunch then Bill checked on the last site and found they had extended so sites were done for the day!  He took some small flags out to put on the cable since we have to run it through a window to use the satellite until we get the wiring in the RV checked at some point.  Then the signal

Displaying our colors!

went out and Bill tried getting it back on but no luck.

We did grill out some asparagus, potatoes and burgers and had ice cream for dessert.  A regular 4^th of July celebration dinner!  We had sparklers but they were not allowed in the park so maybe they will still be good next year!

Gearing up for a big weekend

Captains Log July 3 – The campground is almost full and there’s been a huge power issue most of the day.  What a mess and no one wants to deal with it.  Of course our loop is the only one with power issues.  Our site is 50A and we were thrilled to go from 30 in the old site to 50 here.  However, it doesn’t do any good if it’s not working.  So we tried going to 30 and it still goes on and off to where the AC unit can’t keep up due to the heat.

Several of the guests have come over to report it and we called several times for a ranger.  The same guy came 3 times to the RV telling us he can show them what needs fixed.  The rangers say they are not allowed to change breakers or do anything with the electrical.  Someone from the county has to do it.  We told them it wasn’t just the inside of the loop but that our power is doing the same thing.  Well, after enough complaints repeatedly, they had a guy come out and fix the issue, except no one did a thing for us.  So we will be using OUR generator all night!

I sold quite a bit of firewood, like it’s 90 and who wants to sit out in the heat with a fire going?  I know it’s part of the “experience”. 

We put out quite a bit of decorations for the holiday.  I had a container of stuff so we put out most of it.

Well, we still have no TV but at least with the generator going we will have a cool night!

 

Another day in paradise!

Captains Log July 2 – We were up, dressed and fed by 8 as the RV tech was due at 8, which ended up being closer to 10.  While I waited Bill went out to do our sites for today.  He had 11 to do.  I felt bad but it wasn’t fun waiting for the guy to show up and then showing him where everything in the RV is that he needed to get to and check.  It ended up we need a new part from Lippert that controls the voltage to the legs.  They aren’t getting enough voltage to complete the process.  So, he said he’d try to call and get the part ordered if he got back in early enough but apparently he didn’t so now it will probably be Tuesday before we hear anything due to the holiday.  Bummer!

Bill finished up the sites and we sat our watching the hummers flit around. We had a 4:00 meeting at the office.  We met all of the other hosts, including the day use couple.  They went over some pertinent information and everyone got to ask questions and hash out some things.  It was a good meeting. 

Earlier today I made a delicious chicken salad with a box of Suddenly Salad, a cooked chicken breast, pecans, cranberries, and a mixture of miracle whip, poppyseed dressing and half of the sauce envelope in the salad box.  I chilled it all afternoon and just before serving I added a little more dressing so it wouldn’t be dry and it was really good!  Bill complimented it highly and I’m glad we have enough for another meal.

The power has been going off and on and the center loop of our big loop had been totally out several times.  What a mess!  Maybe that’s why the state gave it up because it was too much of a hassle with bigger units and they can’t keep up with the power!  Bill is going to change us to 30 AMP and see if that stays on. 

Just another fun day in the life of a camphost! 

Moving day

Captains Log July 1 – Moving Day! And not a good one! 

We had to wait for the lady in B3 to leave and we had 29 sites to clean!  So we finished packing up the inside of the RV and went on our first loop tour and did what sites were empty.  She left about 10 so we took the long drive 1/8 of a mile across the road and into our spot! 

Getting level was a challenge as I knew it would be!  We decided we needed to angle funny and to do that we needed to cut some branches.  Bill drove over to the maintenance and brought back the only saw, a VERY dull saw, and I removed the first branches from our ladder.  Then I got on the roof and just broke off the branches and dropped them down to Bill.  We had quite a pile but we didn’t want to risk scraping the roof or the various vents and air conditioners.  Then Bill blocked up the passenger side and we got it perfectly level side to side but not front to back.  We’re a little low in the front.  We decided not to deal with it any further today as the RV tech is coming tomorrow to see if he can fix our leveling system.

So once we set up we went back to site duty.  It always seems there are 2 hangers on that we

What i trimmed over
the RV

wait for.  Once they were done Bill did some clean up at our new site and I did a load of laundry.  We are surprised and excited to have 50 AMP service here.  We have a HUGE shade tree on the passenger side which is great since we can’t use the awning.  Bill hung the 3 hummingbird feeders and the regular bird feeder and the hummers were ready and waiting.

I like our other site better as I can’t see as much of what’s going on in our loop.  Good thing we have a big front window and windows along the side vehicles enter from. 

 Nothing much else to report!