The KOA in Crescent city was nice, and we might have stayed longer, but our space was rented out. So we left. We headed up the Oregon coast. I have taken this drive before, but keep forgetting how beautiful it is. The ocean on one side and the trees on the other. Some really beautiful vistas. I saw people stopping to take pictures and thought about doing so, but you just cannot capture the beauty of such vistas in a small camera. (Maybe I will get a better camera, but maybe you should come see this yourself.)
The drive would have been great except there was a very very very strong wind that kept buffeting the rv. The rv is tall and square and takes the wind head on. Bob got very tired. It was a familiar trip as we got closer to Lincoln city, so that made it easier, but he was really tired by the time we got here.
We are staying in a private park, called Devils Lake rv. It is new and clean and well maintained, but the sites are very small. This will be nice for a few days, and, unless we can think of someplace else that we want to go, I think it will be time to head home.
We had a small dinner in the rv and then headed for the casino. We stayed at the casino for about ten minutes. Bob was so tired that he just wanted to go back to the rv for those that know Bob, that tells you that he was really tired).
We are reading our books and then I think it is early to bed for us.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Lassen area was great
We spent four delightful days at the KOA near Mt. Lassen. We never left the park. In fact, we never even disconnected the car. We just spent the time healing. When we got there, we just slept the first day. By that I mean that we pulled into the spot, connected the electricity and the water, turned on the air conditioning, and went to sleep. Bob tried to feed me that night, but I could not eat anything. I ate a few bites and went back to sleep. For the next three days we sat around the rv. We walked once to the pool. It was nice and heated, but neither of us really felt up to swimming. We read a lot and did a lot of crossword puzzles.
On one side of us was a family of five kids - four girls and the littlest was a boy, probably aged 3,4,5,6, and 7. They were incredibly well behaved. They were gone all day and came back to swim in the pool, eat dinner, sit by the fire, and then to bed (in a very very small trailer) They were always in bed by 10 and gone by 9 am the next morning. They were nice neighbors. On the other side was a very nice retired couple from Virginia. We shared wine and talked about travels. Also very nice neighbors.
The hosts of the campground were exceptionally hard working and very nice. It was a nice place to sit and heal. Each day we felt a little better. By yesterday I was feeling good enough that I wanted to take a walk. Normally I can walk for about two hours. But at one half hour I could feel myself getting tired, so I headed back. Bob healed a little more slowly. I was worried because he was also complaining of chest pain. We were at about 4000 feet, lower than we had been, but still high for Bob. But each day he got a little better. I must say that I felt a little like a sloth for doing so little, but I knew that both of us had been sicker than we wanted to admit and that we just had to spend some time healing. Lassen was the perfect place.
Then this morning we took off for the coast. We had reservations at a KOA in Crescent City, California. We could have taken the interstate for most of the trip, but Bob wanted to go over the Trinity alps. So we did. It was quite a trip. Short, but intense.
The road was very steep, with the Trinity River running right by us for most of it (although sometimes quite a bit below us). The trees got larger and larger as we got closer to the coast. They were really large by the time we got to the coast range. The drive took longer than expected because there was so much construction along the way. By the time we got here, Bob was quite tired. So we went out to dinner at a local favorite. I had great seafood and Bob had prime rib. Then we sat and listened to the end of our audio book. (We had not been able to listen to it since the road from Las Vegas, and I was already forgetting the story). We decided to just sit and listen. So we did. Now time for bed. Tomorrow a tour of the redwoods, then north and heading toward home.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
My Turn
Wow. I had no idea how prophetic the title of this blog would be. There is truly no pleasure like the absence of pain.
Sunday evening Bob was feeling better. We went into the casino restaurant and had soup and salad for dinner. The food tasted fine, but it wasn't digesting like it should. I still felt full five hours later when I went to bed. I was in bed about two hours and woke up not feeling too good. I got up to get a drink of water and realized that I was nauseous. Boy was I nauseous. I spent one very awful night on the couch trying not to upchuck and trying to get some sleep. I was successful on the first, but not the second. At a certain point Bob realized I was not in bed and came to check on me. There was nothing he could do. I sent him back to bed.
In the morning we decided that we wanted to get out of Nevada. The air was too dry and when we were feeling better, it was not a great place to be. So we headed north. I was still feeling nauseous and now I had that wonderful ache all over feeling. I could hardly do anything to get us unhooked. Bob had to do it all. And he was not feeling so great either. But we got unhooked and took off, heading for northern California and Lassen state park. (We had been there before and knew that it was nice.)
The drive was fairly short, but it seemed to take forever. Once we got through Reno, I went to the back and tried to lay down, but I could not sleep. I stayed there for about an hour and then sat up front with Bob. I could tell from the way that he was driving that he was feeling lousy and was just intent on getting us somewhere.
We found a KOA near the park. The people here are incredibly wonderful. I told them that we were feeling poorly and needed a place to recover. Al, the manager, took us to the site and kept saying (he must have said it five times) let me know if you need anything. We hooked up quickly, turned on the air conditioning, and went to sleep. I woke once when Bob turned off the air - it was not needed. Then Bob woke me and tried to feed me. I got down and six bites and could not get any more down. I felt warm and sure enough had a low grade temperature. I was achy and could not move. Guys, this is not fun.
I took some Tylenol PM and got back in bed and slept through the night. I woke up this morning feeling great. (thank heavens). Had a great breakfast, which seems to be staying down. And am now ready to enjoy this great place. There is no pleasure like the absence of pain.
Sunday evening Bob was feeling better. We went into the casino restaurant and had soup and salad for dinner. The food tasted fine, but it wasn't digesting like it should. I still felt full five hours later when I went to bed. I was in bed about two hours and woke up not feeling too good. I got up to get a drink of water and realized that I was nauseous. Boy was I nauseous. I spent one very awful night on the couch trying not to upchuck and trying to get some sleep. I was successful on the first, but not the second. At a certain point Bob realized I was not in bed and came to check on me. There was nothing he could do. I sent him back to bed.
In the morning we decided that we wanted to get out of Nevada. The air was too dry and when we were feeling better, it was not a great place to be. So we headed north. I was still feeling nauseous and now I had that wonderful ache all over feeling. I could hardly do anything to get us unhooked. Bob had to do it all. And he was not feeling so great either. But we got unhooked and took off, heading for northern California and Lassen state park. (We had been there before and knew that it was nice.)
The drive was fairly short, but it seemed to take forever. Once we got through Reno, I went to the back and tried to lay down, but I could not sleep. I stayed there for about an hour and then sat up front with Bob. I could tell from the way that he was driving that he was feeling lousy and was just intent on getting us somewhere.
We found a KOA near the park. The people here are incredibly wonderful. I told them that we were feeling poorly and needed a place to recover. Al, the manager, took us to the site and kept saying (he must have said it five times) let me know if you need anything. We hooked up quickly, turned on the air conditioning, and went to sleep. I woke once when Bob turned off the air - it was not needed. Then Bob woke me and tried to feed me. I got down and six bites and could not get any more down. I felt warm and sure enough had a low grade temperature. I was achy and could not move. Guys, this is not fun.
I took some Tylenol PM and got back in bed and slept through the night. I woke up this morning feeling great. (thank heavens). Had a great breakfast, which seems to be staying down. And am now ready to enjoy this great place. There is no pleasure like the absence of pain.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Better.
There is truly no pleasure like the absence of pain. we are both better this morning. This casino campground that we are staying at is pretty basic, but the people here could not have been nicer. When Bob got sick I called to get directions. We drove a little way and did not see it and pulled into the wrong place. Rather than try to figure it out I called again and got further directions. When we pulled up I walked in to registration. The gal at the desk said "Pull into any spot and take care of your husband. When you are settled fill out this information and come back and register." So that is what we did. I have no idea how Bob drove here, but he could do nothing more. We got the car unhooked, and then I plugged in the air conditioning.
When I went back to register they were so nice and have been nice whenever I asked for anything or needed anything. Bob slept most of the day yesterday (from 11 am on - after the heaves were over).. I was prepared to take him tot he hospital if he heaved again, but he did not. He tried to eat several times and just could not keep anything down - saltines, ginger ale, mint tea, top ramen - nothing. He made himself drink the ginger ale because he did not want to get dehydrated (we have been there before).
At about 6 pm he woke up and said that he was feeling better and knew he should try to eat. Nothing sounded good to him. He tried a banana and that would not go down. Then I heated up some beef broth and poured it into a cup. He took one sip and said "Oh that tastes so good." He was so relieved that he actually started to cry. He drank the entire can of broth and then went back to sleep. He started getting tingles from the peripheral neuropathy and so he took his medicine that helps him sleep and slept through the night.
He woke up this morning very hungry. The restaurant did not open for breakfast until 7 am and he was very angry that he had to wait, but he wanted restaurant and not me making breakfast. So I washed my hair (in the sink) and bathed and took my time getting ready. When we walked to the casino, the restaurant still was not open, but there was free coffee. We drank the coffee, then went into the restaurant. Once again they could not have been nicer. The service was excellent and the food was great - very large portions. It is staying down for both of us, but a little queasy.
That was enough walking for Bob. We are now back in the cool rv and resting happinly. There is truly no pleasure like the absence of pain.
When I went back to register they were so nice and have been nice whenever I asked for anything or needed anything. Bob slept most of the day yesterday (from 11 am on - after the heaves were over).. I was prepared to take him tot he hospital if he heaved again, but he did not. He tried to eat several times and just could not keep anything down - saltines, ginger ale, mint tea, top ramen - nothing. He made himself drink the ginger ale because he did not want to get dehydrated (we have been there before).
At about 6 pm he woke up and said that he was feeling better and knew he should try to eat. Nothing sounded good to him. He tried a banana and that would not go down. Then I heated up some beef broth and poured it into a cup. He took one sip and said "Oh that tastes so good." He was so relieved that he actually started to cry. He drank the entire can of broth and then went back to sleep. He started getting tingles from the peripheral neuropathy and so he took his medicine that helps him sleep and slept through the night.
He woke up this morning very hungry. The restaurant did not open for breakfast until 7 am and he was very angry that he had to wait, but he wanted restaurant and not me making breakfast. So I washed my hair (in the sink) and bathed and took my time getting ready. When we walked to the casino, the restaurant still was not open, but there was free coffee. We drank the coffee, then went into the restaurant. Once again they could not have been nicer. The service was excellent and the food was great - very large portions. It is staying down for both of us, but a little queasy.
That was enough walking for Bob. We are now back in the cool rv and resting happinly. There is truly no pleasure like the absence of pain.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Traveled yesterday
Up early. Got everything done while it was still cool (85 degrees) and off we went. I had to laugh. We started on I-15 and our gps told us to get off at exit 42 A. (Bob does not know how to use the gps and does not like it.) The next exit was 41A. Bob asked if this was the one. I told him no. There was a very quick interchange with us yelling at each other. Me telling him not to exit and him telling me that he hated the gps and I should just tell him what to do. That repeated several times until I finally convinced him not to exit. He kept saying if the gps was wrong he was going to throw it away. I just kept quiet at this time, figuring that he was tired or frustrated or something. We got off at exit 42A and we were headed in the right direction. A short time later I was hungry and got both of us a banana. We ate the bananas in silence and then I said "Those mountains are very interesting." He said "That is what they do, bananas just sit in your stomach." I started to laugh and repeated my comment about the mountains. Then I looked in his ear and realized that he did not have his hearing aid in. That explained both 42A (he only heard the A) and bananas. We got the hearing aids in and laughed for a long time. Laughing is really good for the soul. This is not the first time that we have had such an interchange, but it is one of the funniest. I will have to keep a book of these entitled (The Fun of Hearing Loss).
The drive was one that we had taken before, but in the winter. It is much more awesome when it is not snowing and sleeting. The mountains are high and jagged. You can see many layers of various rocks and minerals. The minerals are so plentiful that there are many colors. At one point there were a couple of rounded hills, each one a different pastel color from a different mineral (green, pink, gray, and blue) It looked like Easter eggs.
We stopped in Fallon Nevada at the Wal-Mart to get groceries. We intended to drive a little farther and stay in a campground with hookups so that we could run the air conditioner without the generator. But it wasn't near as warm as we expected, so we decided to stay there. As the evening wore on it did get a little warm, so Bob started the generator and turned on the air. All worked well for a few minutes, then the generator went off. (there is nothing wrong with the generator, you just need more than a half tank of gas when you run it and Bob had forgotten. We had less than half a tank of gas, but when you are talking a 50 gallon tank, you don't worry about it so much.) We got salads from the Wal-Mart and then after dinner sat outside in the shade until it cooled down. and it did cool down nicely.
But there was something wrong with the salads. Both of us had upset stomachs this morning. Bob has been nauseous and throwing up. So, we located a campground with hookups at the back of a casino, less than a mile away. Bob was able to get up enough to drive here. I did all of the hooking up. the air is on, and Bob is sleeping. I will keep a close eye on him. There is a hospital just a few blocks away. UGH!!!!!
The drive was one that we had taken before, but in the winter. It is much more awesome when it is not snowing and sleeting. The mountains are high and jagged. You can see many layers of various rocks and minerals. The minerals are so plentiful that there are many colors. At one point there were a couple of rounded hills, each one a different pastel color from a different mineral (green, pink, gray, and blue) It looked like Easter eggs.
We stopped in Fallon Nevada at the Wal-Mart to get groceries. We intended to drive a little farther and stay in a campground with hookups so that we could run the air conditioner without the generator. But it wasn't near as warm as we expected, so we decided to stay there. As the evening wore on it did get a little warm, so Bob started the generator and turned on the air. All worked well for a few minutes, then the generator went off. (there is nothing wrong with the generator, you just need more than a half tank of gas when you run it and Bob had forgotten. We had less than half a tank of gas, but when you are talking a 50 gallon tank, you don't worry about it so much.) We got salads from the Wal-Mart and then after dinner sat outside in the shade until it cooled down. and it did cool down nicely.
But there was something wrong with the salads. Both of us had upset stomachs this morning. Bob has been nauseous and throwing up. So, we located a campground with hookups at the back of a casino, less than a mile away. Bob was able to get up enough to drive here. I did all of the hooking up. the air is on, and Bob is sleeping. I will keep a close eye on him. There is a hospital just a few blocks away. UGH!!!!!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
It has been an uneventful day.
We got up this morning. The air conditioner had worked and we both slept well. The temp in the rv was 79 (95 outside). We had a good breakfast and drove over to the casino, where we stayed all day. The weather report was that today was to be even hotter than yesterday so there was no point in trying to do anything else.
We lost a little, but we both had a great time. We are now both exhausted and planning on leaving tomorrow. It is still over 100 degrees outside (how do the folks who live here stand it? I know that they say that dealing with the heat is like us dealing with the cold in the winter, but I can put on a coat and bundle up. In this heat, there is nothing you can do.) But the new air conditioner is till working fine. It is 83 degrees in here. In order to keep out the sun and the heat, we have pulled down all of the shades. It is a little claustrophobic in here, but worth it to keep the temp down. As we got back to the rv tonight Bob said - I know someplace we are never going to go again - here.
So back on the road tomorrow. Still three weeks to enjoy traveling. Then home and ready for the Alaska cruise.
We lost a little, but we both had a great time. We are now both exhausted and planning on leaving tomorrow. It is still over 100 degrees outside (how do the folks who live here stand it? I know that they say that dealing with the heat is like us dealing with the cold in the winter, but I can put on a coat and bundle up. In this heat, there is nothing you can do.) But the new air conditioner is till working fine. It is 83 degrees in here. In order to keep out the sun and the heat, we have pulled down all of the shades. It is a little claustrophobic in here, but worth it to keep the temp down. As we got back to the rv tonight Bob said - I know someplace we are never going to go again - here.
So back on the road tomorrow. Still three weeks to enjoy traveling. Then home and ready for the Alaska cruise.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
It only got worse
They say that bad things come in threes. I hope that three is the limit. First, on the way to Las Vegas, we stopped at one of the public/private rest areas to log on to our computer and find out which Walmarts allowed overnight parking. I went and got some ice cream. When I came back, Bob was just ready to leave, but a man in a service looking uniform called to us. He pointed out that the tires on the tow dolly were getting worn at the top. Bob is always afraid of scams. But he went and looked. The guy was right. It was probably wearing funny because of the dolly being off center for so long while we were driving. (Hopefully that is now fixed.) Anyway, we decided to get new tires for the tow dolly.
At the same time, Bob has been worried about the tires on the RV. We went to Les Schwab before we left and they said that the tires were fine. But Bob kept worrying. The rv was shaking a little when we were driving and he was not able to check the tire pressure on the inside tires. So he asked the guy to check the tire pressure on all of the rv tires. The guy looked at the tires and showed Bob that there were numerous cracks in almost all of the tires. There was still lots of tread, but the tires were cracking. Part of the problem is that the rv sits for so long in our driveway. But it can't have helped that the weather was getting pretty warm. So after a long thought, Bob decided to get all new tires (6 of them) for the rv. The guys in the shop were wonderful. The three of them all worked as fast as they could and got the tires changed on the tow dolly and the rv in less than an hour.
When we got back on the road we realized how unaligned the old tires had been. The rv was riding much better and sturdier. We did get a higher quality of tire than had been on, so I am sure that helped. So it was worth the money. (And we getter a mile per gallon better mileage with the new tires.)
By this time Bob was seriously tired. We were still at 6000 feet altitude. We wanted to get to a Walmart, but Bob just couldn't drive the 100 miles it would take to get there. So we stopped in a rest area. It was nice there, but it was very windy.
We got up the next morning. I fixed a nice breakfast because I figured that I would be able to wash dishes once we were in Las Vegas. (Wrong) We got here about noon and it was already over 100 degrees. We did the basic set up, turned on the air conditioner, and then showered. When we got back to the rv, the air conditioner was off. It had tripped a breaker. Bob fooled around with it, got it working again, and we went into the casino to have lunch. We waited a while for the air conditioner to cool the rv enough to get in it. When we got back at about 6 pm, the air was again off, and the breaker was again blown. We didn't know what to do. We had almost no clean clothes. So, while Bob tried to figure out if he could fix it, I started laundry (it was still over 110 degrees.) I got the laundry started and came back. Bob decided he could not fix it. We decided to rent a room at Circus Circus. I finished the laundry and we packed up some stuff. It was only a couple of hundred feet away, so we decided to walk rather than take the car. MISTAKE. By this time Bob was exhausted and overheated. I walked ahead thinking I could get it done and save him from walking the whole way. But there were a lot of turns and I could not see him, so I kept back tracking to find him. He was moving slow. We got to hotel registration. I explained the problem to the clerk. She was very sympathetic and gave us a very inexpensive room near the rv park. That did mean that we had to walk almost the whole way back. We did. By now, Bob can hardly move. I sit him down in the room and go back to the rv to get the car. It was now about 9:30 pm, dark, and still over 100 degrees. By the time I got to the room, I was so thirsty. There was a refrigerator, but nothing in it. There was no indication of any pop machines or ice machines. There was no room service except for pizza. I called the front desk and learned that there was an ice machine on the first floor (we were on the third floor). I got the ice and poured some water. It really tasted bad, but it helped. I sat for a few minutes. Then we both took showers and went to bed.
I was so worried that I did not sleep well. I got up in the middle of the night and got on line and learned that there were a number of businesses that did mobile rv repairs, including air conditioning. I tried to sleep more, but it was useless. We got up at 6 and walked to the casino. The restaurants opened at 7. We played slot machines until then and got some breakfast. Then back to the room and on the phone. Most businesses said that they could not even put us on the schedule for another two weeks. I finally found one who came out. He announced that the unit was kaput and we needed a new one ($$$$$$). He called the local camping world. We drove and picked it up. They came back to install it.
We stayed another night in the hotel. By the time the unit was installed it was 113 inside the rv and over 130 in the sun outside., We came back to check after dinner and the unit was working, but it was still over 100 degrees inside. This morning it was down to 75 degrees (yeah). We are now back in the rv and trying to survive the heat. (We did have a small disagreement with the service company about whether they could connect the unit through the ducts. It is a long story and not very interesting. But it is finally resolved.) It is now almost 6 pm. The temp outside our unit 123 degrees, but it is 92 inside - a 30- degree differential. We will survive. We have not had much time or inclination to enjoy Las Vegas, but we will be here for another day, so maybe tomorrow.
Hopefully, this third incident is the last. If the third time is a charm, we will be very happy not to have a fourth.
At the same time, Bob has been worried about the tires on the RV. We went to Les Schwab before we left and they said that the tires were fine. But Bob kept worrying. The rv was shaking a little when we were driving and he was not able to check the tire pressure on the inside tires. So he asked the guy to check the tire pressure on all of the rv tires. The guy looked at the tires and showed Bob that there were numerous cracks in almost all of the tires. There was still lots of tread, but the tires were cracking. Part of the problem is that the rv sits for so long in our driveway. But it can't have helped that the weather was getting pretty warm. So after a long thought, Bob decided to get all new tires (6 of them) for the rv. The guys in the shop were wonderful. The three of them all worked as fast as they could and got the tires changed on the tow dolly and the rv in less than an hour.
When we got back on the road we realized how unaligned the old tires had been. The rv was riding much better and sturdier. We did get a higher quality of tire than had been on, so I am sure that helped. So it was worth the money. (And we getter a mile per gallon better mileage with the new tires.)
By this time Bob was seriously tired. We were still at 6000 feet altitude. We wanted to get to a Walmart, but Bob just couldn't drive the 100 miles it would take to get there. So we stopped in a rest area. It was nice there, but it was very windy.
We got up the next morning. I fixed a nice breakfast because I figured that I would be able to wash dishes once we were in Las Vegas. (Wrong) We got here about noon and it was already over 100 degrees. We did the basic set up, turned on the air conditioner, and then showered. When we got back to the rv, the air conditioner was off. It had tripped a breaker. Bob fooled around with it, got it working again, and we went into the casino to have lunch. We waited a while for the air conditioner to cool the rv enough to get in it. When we got back at about 6 pm, the air was again off, and the breaker was again blown. We didn't know what to do. We had almost no clean clothes. So, while Bob tried to figure out if he could fix it, I started laundry (it was still over 110 degrees.) I got the laundry started and came back. Bob decided he could not fix it. We decided to rent a room at Circus Circus. I finished the laundry and we packed up some stuff. It was only a couple of hundred feet away, so we decided to walk rather than take the car. MISTAKE. By this time Bob was exhausted and overheated. I walked ahead thinking I could get it done and save him from walking the whole way. But there were a lot of turns and I could not see him, so I kept back tracking to find him. He was moving slow. We got to hotel registration. I explained the problem to the clerk. She was very sympathetic and gave us a very inexpensive room near the rv park. That did mean that we had to walk almost the whole way back. We did. By now, Bob can hardly move. I sit him down in the room and go back to the rv to get the car. It was now about 9:30 pm, dark, and still over 100 degrees. By the time I got to the room, I was so thirsty. There was a refrigerator, but nothing in it. There was no indication of any pop machines or ice machines. There was no room service except for pizza. I called the front desk and learned that there was an ice machine on the first floor (we were on the third floor). I got the ice and poured some water. It really tasted bad, but it helped. I sat for a few minutes. Then we both took showers and went to bed.
I was so worried that I did not sleep well. I got up in the middle of the night and got on line and learned that there were a number of businesses that did mobile rv repairs, including air conditioning. I tried to sleep more, but it was useless. We got up at 6 and walked to the casino. The restaurants opened at 7. We played slot machines until then and got some breakfast. Then back to the room and on the phone. Most businesses said that they could not even put us on the schedule for another two weeks. I finally found one who came out. He announced that the unit was kaput and we needed a new one ($$$$$$). He called the local camping world. We drove and picked it up. They came back to install it.
We stayed another night in the hotel. By the time the unit was installed it was 113 inside the rv and over 130 in the sun outside., We came back to check after dinner and the unit was working, but it was still over 100 degrees inside. This morning it was down to 75 degrees (yeah). We are now back in the rv and trying to survive the heat. (We did have a small disagreement with the service company about whether they could connect the unit through the ducts. It is a long story and not very interesting. But it is finally resolved.) It is now almost 6 pm. The temp outside our unit 123 degrees, but it is 92 inside - a 30- degree differential. We will survive. We have not had much time or inclination to enjoy Las Vegas, but we will be here for another day, so maybe tomorrow.
Hopefully, this third incident is the last. If the third time is a charm, we will be very happy not to have a fourth.
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