Tuesday, October 18th, Santa Rosa Campground, New Mexico

Greetings!

We drove another 500 miles today, and are camped at the Santa Rosa Campground in the center of northeastern New Mexico. I don't remember on previous trips realizing how high New Mexico is. We weren't below 5000 feet all day long, and actually hit 7,000 a couple of times. The mountain rock strata colors are amazingly beautiful. And now we know that the huge wind turbine blades we saw yesterday must be made somewhere east of us, as we saw at least 20 of them being carried on trucks coming at us as we drove east on Hwy 40. I'm going to be curious if this was just a one-day transport blitz of a completed job, or a steady stream to deliver wind power to the west.

A few minutes ago, Pat asked me where we stayed the night after we left San Diego and before last night. Working backward in our minds for a few minutes, including looking at the map and not recognizing any town name, we came to the realization (only by looking at the calendar on our computer) that we were only two days out of San Diego (not three). These have been long days where we only really saw roads, gas stations, and RV parks. I've chosen to only photograph the RV parks, and the rows of customized homes on wheels has been pretty overwhelming.

I'm going to include a link to some photos I forgot to post yesterday from a visit to the Spanish Village near Balboa Park in San Diego. We drove out there on Sunday and walked around some shops where we had once bought some New Mexican pottery.

Spanish Village, San Diego Zoo

Gregory

Monday, Oct 17th, Distant Drums RV Resort

Greetings!

El Centro probably existed when I grew up in San Diego, but I’m sure it wasn’t until the major east-west freeway out of it was named after the town that San Diegans became aware of it. Heading east for Phoenix, we topped off the gas at the first Native American truck stop, and headed to El Centro. Up through ridgeline wind turbines towering over boulder piles scattered along the highway. In one stretch, Imperial and San Diego counties traded border signs six times, and we kept an eye out for what could make each of them care for this arid and isolated area. Something must be happening here, for we saw three new sleek helicopters dangling skyhooks or perched on rock platforms ready for service.

Yuma is 33 miles ahead, and I must have missed seeing the exit to El Centro. I have a feeing that someone from CalTrans probably named the freeway to honor the only thing out here. A few miles further, the road comes to within a half-mile of the U.S. Mexico border, crossing the Rio Grande east of Sand Dunes State Park. Wethe mny who have made the journey across these sands.

We drove all day today, and arrived at Camp Verde, Arizona about 5pm. It's in the middle of the state between Phoenix and Flagstaff. The Distant Drums RV Resort is homebase to a huge collection of enormous RVs, and their owners have been very welcoming. The sunset from the pool deck, as we drank beer and chatted, was spectacular. Would have been better if I'd remembered to bring my camera from the car, but I did find a photo online to show you what it looked like. We were pleased the temperature had dropped to the mid 70's this evening.

Tomorrow, we're aiming to get to somewhere east of Albuquerque. We're hoping the next night we'll be in Arkansas.

Gregory

Saturday, Oct 15th, PLHS Reunion

Mike Russell, Keith Darracq, Alex McDougall, and Blaine Roberts.

Greetings!

The PLHS 45th Anniversary Reunion was held tonight at Nick's at the Pier, and those in attendance had a great time.  My reluctance to take flash photos in the evening light probably doomed a large photo video, but I have some hopes that the several other attendees with cameras caught enough to make an enjoyable collage of our classmates.  I'll post them as I get them to a Picasa album, and send you al a link to it.

Imagine ninety faces whose eyes and smiles haven't changed much in 45 years, now beaming back from bodies which have, but are still holding up.  Small clusters of 4-6 spread all over an upstairs bar sitting our standing with drinks and hors d'oeuvres (a little slow in arriving - sorry), and re-visiting old stories and new rumors.  Will Point Loma really close?  Fortunately, english lit teacher and baseball coach Kermeen (Punkie) Fristrom and his wife were there to straighten us out again.  Though some reorganization may occur in the junior high schools in the area, PLHS will stay the same design and open.

In the end, the comments all seem to include the agreement at some point in the evening that we had a pretty good education.  Sadly, most also agreed that schools in recent years would not be given the same grades.  Many thanks were given to the Reunion organizers for an excellent evening, and all seemed to be encouraging a more robust effort for the 50th.  At least three classmates volunteered to join the Reunion Committee.

Gregory

Oct 14th, PLHS Homecoming

Greetings!

This evening, I went to the PLHS Homecoming game. Kim Melhorn, our favorite Alumni coordinator, stood near the front gate with a Pointer sign she had made today, greeting alums and letting them know there would be a parade at half-time, and that they were invited to participate. I took the opportunity to check in with her about the Reunion, and then went off to see if I could capture the game in photos.

Here's the result. Hope you enjoy it.

PLHS Homecoming Game, Oct 14th, 2011



Gregory

Visiting the South, San Diego and the U.S.

Greetings!

Yes, we are driving our Airstream to San Diego this week for the Point Loma High School's Class of 1966 45th Year Reunion. We'll be there until Oct 16th, when we'll then head east to Arkansas to begin a month-long journey throughout most of the states that Pat and I haven't spent much time in. Tennessee, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and others as we pass through them will be featured on this blog daily.

We've sent for lots of info, are reading and watching videos, and hope to be able to catch all of the interesting places and events along the way. If you know of a place on our route which you think we should consider, please include your comments below.

There are folks staying at the house while we're gone, and we appreciate their dedication to our enjoyment. Our fish and plants add their appreciation too.

Gregory

2011 Fall Strawberry Music Festival

Greetings!

We took another Airstream adventure this past weekend to the Fall 2001 Strawberry Music Festival at Camp Mather near Yosemite, California. It was great, and I made a short video which is posted on our MobileMe Gallery. You can also see the entire collection of photos at: 2011 Fall Strawberry Music Festival

Gregory and Pat

July 14th, WorldFest Music Festival

Greetings!

Well, we're on the road again in the Airstream.  When e bought this, we said, "Gee, wouldn't it be great to go to a summer music festival, and live in the Airstream?".  The World Music Fest in Grass Valley, California, is our first test.  Three of our couple friends are here with us (Richard and Brenda Nichols, Jon and Vina Breyfogle, and Tom and Vivian McFarling).  We're having lots of fun enjoying four days of great and varied music from performers from all over the world.

We arrived yesterday afternoon, set up in our RV site, and heard some great music from Cafe Musique, Bluehouse, and Delhi 2 Dublin.  Her is a link to the WorldFest Music Festival website, and to the photos I took last night.

Gregory

Well, time flew by, without a wifi connection at the concert, and the 15th Annual WorldFest is over.  Here is a link to the YouTube photovideo I made of the four days of music and dance.  We're really glad we went, and will be looking for other opportunities to go to music festivals in our Airstream.

15th Annual WorldFest