The first jaunt has actually been on our calendar since last spring: The Palm Springs Film Festival. This January event attracts thousands of film fans, movie stars, and desert lovers for a long weekend of events. Mike and Tamara Reddy have been before and thought it would be fun if the four of us experienced it together. So, the tickets are purchased and the RV slots selected.
In April it will be time to head to Show Low in the White Mountains of Arizona for several days. Fools Hollow State Park has become one of our favorite spots. Our campsite overlooks a beautiful lake. There are kyacks and row boats to rent, dozens of miles to hike, and the smell of pine trees to make every day a delight. At that time of year night time lows are still not far above freezing so a blazing fire pit and roasted marshmallows will be part of each evening.
Come June we will be flying to Pittsburgh and then making our way south into West Virginia. Betty has put together a family reunion that will be the first time she has seen some of these folks in years. Arrangements have been made to rent a large cottage at a lake resort for the weekend. Then, back to Pittsburgh to spend time with her brother before we fly home.
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| South Park Blocks in Portland |
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| Oregon Coast |
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| Wine country near Paso Robles |
Last year we drove over 5,000 miles during the summer RV trip; next year the total to and from Portland is half that amount. Not only will substantially less gas will be needed but the wear and tear on the driver (me!) will be appreciated.
It sounds like another fun year of blending time at home with family and friends and on the road in the RV.
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| Portland International Rose Gardens |
Sounds like a year of great adventures! With the price of gas dropping, hopefully that will help to cut your expenses. We're down to $2.78 a gallon. Driver fatigue is not to be underestimated. It seems to bother some people more than others. I get antsy if I'm sitting or driving more that 2 - 3 hours.
ReplyDeleteI think google is finally letting me post!
Well, thank you, Google!
DeleteWe are at $2.47 a gallon. I feel like we should take the long trip now before gas goes back up. At the moment is more than $1 cheaper than what we paid this past summer, or close to $800 less for the 5200 miles we drove.
You can always stop over in Delaware when heading down the coast! Our house should be almost put together by then.
ReplyDeleteGas is 2.35 in Kansas right now.
We do want to make Maryland Eastern Shores, Delaware, down the Smoky Mountain Parkway trip one of these years, but not in the RV. Just getting there and back takes three weeks in an RV.
DeleteWe filled up at $2.28/gallon over the past weekend!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a good plan for an enjoyable summer. We have 2 trips planned for 2015: in May we are going to Yosemite and in August we are going on an Alaska cruise. I've never been to Yosemite and never been on a cruise.
Betty and I have not been to Yosemite or on an Alaskan Cruise, either. Both are on our list of things to do.
DeleteExperts in these things expect gas to remain low through all of 2015. Wouldn't that be wonderful.
Sounds like fun! It's great to have fun things to look forward to. We're planning a trip along the west coast of Fla., and down to Key West to visit friends, in Feb. We've been to the east coast but never the west, so I'm looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteb
I prefer the west coast of Florida: FT. Myers, Marco Island, Naples...and Key West are all very special places.
DeleteSounds like good times coming up in 2015, Bob. In keeping with what everyone else is saying, here on the plateau in TN we are paying $2.45/gal. Definitely helps, particularly if you are pulling an RV like you and Betty will be doing.
ReplyDeleteOur first full year of me joining Deb in retirement will find us taking advantage of our Wyndham vacation club membership. Orlando (actually Christmas week this year), the Gulf Coast in Jan, New Orleans in Feb, Myrtle Beach in Sept, Daytona Beach (Biketoberfest) in Oct, and others that we haven't booked yet throughout the year. This retirement gig is getting to be more fun than I thought it would be!
You two are going to be super busy, and, yes, retirement is hard to beat.
DeleteHusband just retired Dec 6th, so we are in Scottsdale for 3 weeks now (timeshares). So nice to get away from the Colorado weather, even if is for a short time. Hoping to take some mini jaunts, as we are still semi-caring for my elderly parents who are in assisted living now. My husband still isn't aware of the retirement freedom yet to come. Enjoy your trips.
ReplyDeleteSue in Colorado
Enjoy our desert sunshine, Sue. The weather is pretty typical for this time of year, ranging from mid 70's to upper 60's with showers every now and then.
DeleteYour husband will absolutely love retirement when it comes. Take it from someone who was very unsure and now can't imagine any other way of life.
Wow, I'm impressed with the extent of your plans. I wish I was that organized. Here are our plans for 2015 vacation: We're going to take one!
ReplyDeleteAs well you should!
DeleteWow! You have planned a full and varied year of travel. I look forward to reading about your adventures.
ReplyDeleteIt should be an exciting year!
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