May 9 - Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day was very emotional. We all visited Sawyer and Avery’s memorial Joshua Tree. Shan and Carl visit it several times a year. So thankful that Shan and Carl shared this time with us. 

Joshua Tree is a special place to our family because Shan and Carl were married here 10 years ago. That’s why they chose JTree to spread Sawyer and Avery’s ashes here. 

Once we said “till we meet again,” we went to Kya and Caleb’s new home on Twenty Nine Palms marine base for a virtual wine tasting Shan had arranged for us. 

The base is huge. There are about 100,000 marines who live there. Even though Kya has only been there a little over a week, she knows her way around quite well. 

Drew and Erin needed to leave to drive back to Sacramento, quite a long trip for one day. So thankful they were willing to make the trip. 

Kya and Caleb made and brought tacos and all the fixings to our camper around the fire. Shan and Carl joined us after their anniversary meal at Pappy and Harriet’s Restaurant. 

This is our last night in JTree. We will start the trek back East tomorrow. But lots of memories to take back with us. 

Till we meet again. 

May 8 - visit JTree Park, dead battery, brewery

Saturday morning we met Drew, Erin and Winnie in the Park at Keys View. This is one of two places dogs are permitted on a trail. 

Winnie was resting to save up for the hike!

From this viewpoint, you can see to Palm Springs. Beautiful view. 

We met lots of dogs and Winnie found another corgi!

 The Joshua Tree forest. 

Some photo ops

I love the unique looking ones

When we drove onto the JTree Visitor’s Center, our car wouldn’t start. Thank heavens we were not in the park. A National Park volunteer was our Good Samaritan. He had battery cables (ours were in the motor home) and we used Drew’s car to give our car a jump. Drove to an auto parts store for a new battery. On our way without too much fuss. 

Saturday night we drove to Thousand Palms near Palm Springs to meet Drew and Erin at the Chocella Brewery. Shannon and Carl had arrived. Kya and Caleb drove them to meet us , too. Another wonderful memory. Look at Winnie. She’s in her backpack, and likes it. 

May 6-7 - Joshua Tree to see Kya and Caleb

Leaving the Sierra Nevada mountains was hard. Crisp air and beautiful scenery but it’s time to head to Joshua Tree where we will see Kya and Caleb. Drew, Erin and Shan and Carl will join us for our last hurrah in the West. 

The town sign is unique. At this time of the year, you may see tortoises in the park. We were not lucky enough to see any. 

This is our view from the camper ... rocky little hill, the high desert. Our campground is a venue for several music fests in the summer. We keep saying that we want to be here for one, maybe next year. 

Dinner at the RV was brats, salad, watermelon and s’mores. Caleb taught us how his family makes s’mores: slice an unpeeled banana lengthwise, fill with marshmallows, mini chocolate chips and wrap in aluminum foil. Put this in the fire for about 5 minutes, take our and enjoy. Thanks for a great new camping desert. 

A very fun night with lots of laughter and so many memories. 

May 4-6 - boondocking at June Lake

Time to start the trek home. Drove down the CA-395, which winds down the eastern  side of the Sierras. The mountains were in the distance and we were getting excited to visit them. 

When we stopped in Carson City for gas, I saw this eagle statue. Looked so real. 

Since we’ve driven this route going north, we knew we wanted to stop at June Lake. But when we were coming out to CA in March, the campground wasn’t open. Here’s a pic of when Carl was here in March. 

In May, the campground was open with just some snow high in the mountains. So this is our view for 2 days before we head to Joshua Tree to visit Kya and Caleb. 

Lenny liked the beach. Had to wrestle a few rocks. 

In the early morning, we hiked the Reverse Peak Trail that overlooked June Lake. For the first mile, we went up and up, over some stones but then it leveled off at the top. We crossed a meadow and through some pines. Bill wore his backpack to practice for the real thing in July. Nice 4.5 mile hike. 

A few wildflowers. 

Along the hike we saw Manzanita starting to bloom. 

Our view for most of the hike. On the way back, Lenny and Banjo both kept looking for shade. They were ready to get back to the car.

Sun is setting. Nights cool down. Perfect for sleeping. 

Beautiful sunset to end a great time at June Lake. 

May 1-4 - Celebrate Drew’s tenure, biking and tour

We moved the RV from the Alsup RV Resort (aka, Shan and Carl’s where we had lived for about 2 weeks, II’m sure it seemed longer to them) back to the Nevada City Fairgrounds since Carl was on overnights again and we were too rowdy!

We have a nice spot under the big pine and spruce trees. 

We’ll be here till May 4 when we head south to boondock a little and then stay in Joshua Tree to visit Kya and Caleb. 

After we got setup, Shan picked us up and we headed down the hill to Loomis to meet Drew and Erin to celebrate Drew’s tenure acceptance. He is now an associate prof at UC Davis. Quite an accomplishment for both Drew and Erin. 

We had take-out food from a Bernese restaurant then took that to Moksa Bewery close by for some good beer and great food. 

Sunday was a fun-filled day with another bike ride on the Pioneer trail before we headed back to the Ruhstaller Farm in Dixon, a small town west of Sacramento. More great beer and tacos!  Since the last time we were there, they had all their hop vines planted. That was just a week ago. They must have worked fast!

We sat in a covered area that was cozy and  lovely


Then Drew and Erin treated us to a Georgian meal complete with Supra, dumplings with plum sauce, stuffed eggplant with a walnut paste and more. Such a treat. 

With our last full day in Nevada City, Shan took us on a tour of the newly renovated, just opened, historic National Hotel. What a beautiful, authentic renovation. We just ooohed and ahhhhed the whole way through. It is so opulent with luxury all through. 

Here’s Shan pretending to rob the safe. We took this because they are having a photo contest for one night at the hotel. 

Some history of the town will provide some flavor to the reading.

In 1853, Broad Street was known for its houses of “bad repute” even though respectable citizens tried to go about their business. 

While a modicum of civility began to take hold in the camp, with running cattle or riding horses on the sidewalks finally outlawed, much of the town was built of canvas and wood with clusters of tents and closely packed shake-and-board shanties thrown together by the miners, very easy for a fire to start. 

The town burned 7 times before more substantial brick buildings with iron shutters on their doors and windows began to be built. 

The National Hotel was one of those buildings, built in 1856 in what was to become the most sophisticated of the gold rush mining camps, the National Exchange Hotel is a treasured piece of Nevada City history. 

April 28-May 1 - Biking and hiking

Felt like we were lazing around since projects were completed. Filled our time with biking and hiking. 

Bill, Lenny, Banjo and I decided to hike the ditch trail one last time. This time we went farther than usual. The weather was perfect and the native dogwoods were in bloom so we had a nice relaxing walk and lots of smelling opportunities for the dogs. 

Look at the roots on this stump. 

Next day Shannon and Carl took us biking on the Pioneer Trail, one of their favorite bike rides. I can see why they like it so much. Nice trail, some roots and rocks to maneuver over and around and jump (I did not do that!)

Friday, we drove down to Drew and Erin’s so I could fix and blanket that Lorena, friends of theirs had. It needed new backing and binding. Then back up the hill (as Shan calls going from Sac to Nevada City) so we could take Carl and Shannon out to dinner. 

We are at the Thirsty Barrel, a brewery in downtown Grass Valley and then to the Holbrook Hotel for drinks and dessert.  Sadly no pics. Must have been tired 😜