California here we come ! More sunshine and more great weather.

Where are we today ?

 Catalina Spa resort, Desert Hot  Springs California

        Been here at Pilot Knob Resort for almost 2 weeks and we need to get on the road. We have that itch again. So we will wander on down the road to Desert Hot Springs California. Travel day and we slept in until 6 am, what's the rush? We will get there when we get there.

        Another membership park that we enjoy, hot springs and all. Love the area for a while and want to be somewhere for Christmas and New Years, this will do the trick.

only 163 miles today

       We will miss the amazing sunrises and sunsets at Pilot Knob but we will be back, I hope!

this mornings sunrise at Pilot Knob

        No hurry to leave this morning only about a 3 hour drive and the time zone changes as soon as we leave Pilot Knob. Left here at 10 am but only 9 am in when we got on the road heading west. Took our time enjoying the countryside through the Imperial Sand dunes , El Centro and Brawley and stopped at the rest area by the Salton Sea to stretch and make a bite to eat for lunch.

Imperial Sand dunes, we have some great memories
camping here with friends a few years ago.

amazing scenery here exploring the dunes 

      Heading north of El Centro Ca, thousands of bales of either hay or straw amazing to see.

           On the west side of the Salton Sea we noticed the smog over the area of Indio and Palm Springs coming through Banning pass from LA.

smog in the air looks like fog.

        Arrived at Catalina Spa Resort about 12:10 pm California time. Checked in and choose  our site. One that we like, right inside the gate, nobody beside us and afternoon sun. Checked the electric here as I always do and there was a problem. Told them at the gate and within 5 minutes the electrician was here to rectify the situation. Its a small site but one that we like. Membership park $15.00 a night ( more than we usually pay) with all the things that we will enjoy while here close at hand.

inside the entrance but really nice for us

          This is the old lower park but no children allowed in this area. works for us.

all set up and relaxing with our e-readers

love the hot tub here it is huge!

 Excellent pool as well

        Registered with the office and bought our tickets here for Christmas Dinner, All inclusive Ham dinner, only $10.00 each with all the trimmings., Works for us, for a special day.

nicely decorated office

       We even got to relax and chat for a while enjoying this amazing weather here for a while. In the high 70's very nice!

looking to Palm Springs at the smog

looking north to the sun shinning on the mountains, much nicer

         Then time to whip up supper, grilled catfish fillets, red peppers and add to a tasty salad, sure did the trick.

Love catfish ( love food too! )

       That was an wonderful travel day, something we really enjoy. New places and new faces works for us. Tomorrow the hot springs and pool, looking forward to it.

       Hope you had a good day too and thanks for stopping on by,

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle. 

 Check out the interactive map below to see where we have been this Winter.

Hanging out in Desert Hot Springs for our last day here, wonderful!

Where are we today ?

Desert Pools Resort, Desert Hot Springs California

        Hey our last day here in Desert Hot Springs and the weather was better than it has been. Mostly sunshine and no rain. A light breeze and temps in the low 70's, not too bad. Walkabouts the resort, chat with lotsa people and enjoy reading our books in the sun and shade can't beat that with a stick, can you?
       We said our goodbyes to a few friends we met here that are on the road today. We have run into a few times (unplanned) and is so much fun.
        This morning again with most of the cloud cover gone we can see "snow"(thats a four letter word) on the mountains tops at higher elevations. Sure glad it stays there. We have seen our share of "snow" up close and personal over the years, hope we don't see too much more of that.

snow on the peaks

      Then late afternoon we are invited to visit with our friends from Ontario, (Emile and Monique) for a social hour, and met another couple from British Columbia Canada, Larry and Linda. Flap our gums, tell lies and exchange travel tips. A great social time.
      But soon time to head back home to whip up supper.
      Tonight fired up our Weber Q, baked a couple taters, acorn squash in foil with butter and brown sugar, and some fresh mushrooms with onions, oh yeah and a bacon wrapped fillet mignon, picked up on sale.

our Weber Q sure makes it easy

       Before we know it supper done, add a sour cream mix to our taters and we have a very tasty meal.

sure hit the spot

           Then just take it easy for a while, let the TV watch me, hey its pretty good at that.

            In the morning we heading to Pilot Knob resort in Winterhaven California for about a week. Hot and sunny there.  On the way we plan to stop by the Hot Springs BLM to have a short (unannounced, unless they read our blog) visit with some friends there (if they are home). Not a long travel day so we have time.

          Thanks for stopping by again, and hope y'all had a great day too, just lovin' this weather!

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle.

 Check out the map below to see where we have been this Spring

View Spring 2014 in a larger map

Funny weather but still pretty warm and visit with a few friends before we head further East.

Where are we today ?

Desert Pools Resort, Desert Hot Springs California

         Did we have great night last  night?  You betcha, cool enough for a great night's sleep with the windows open a bit = perfect!

        The weather here is kinda different, Desert Hot Springs is only a short drive from Palm Springs but a higher elevation, and a bit further from the mountains. So we don't get too much flooding, and too much weird weather (my opinion of course) We just get to look at it in the distance.

         This morning can see the San Jacinto mountain peak from out site. Elevation over 10,000 feet. The fog and smog has lifted and we can now see snow on the peaks.

          Thats about as much snow as we would like to see. Where we are about 900 feet above sea level suits us just fine!

         We enjoyed some nice sunny weather off and on, got a couple walkabouts  the resort and chatted with a few people here and there.

nice day to walkabout

Hey we saw snow in the distance, 

just the way we like it, far away...

snow in the mountains is good

        Then after lunch we drove around the corner to Catalina Spa Resort to visit a couple friends that we knew were there. First couple we stopped by was Joe and Betty. We only met a couple weeks ago,  (fellow bloggers). Such a supper couple. Unannounced we stopped by for a short nice visit, then let them head off to their commitments and we on to ours.

         Next visit at Catalina Spa was to drop by and visit Jim and Sharon from Alberta, that we last saw in Quartzsite. Had a nice short visit and caught up with them again.

         Back home we got together with a few friends here from Ontario (8 of us altogether)  and enjoyed a very nice social hour. Two couples are on the road tomorrow so was a nice final get together, and probably meet up again soon on down the road.

A nice social hour we had.

        As the day cooled off time to head back home and whip up supper. Tonight again, inside cooking, but thats ok. We have some leftover pork roast to use up. And what to do with that?
       Pork Stroganoff is a very tasty meal that we enjoy, check out the recipe here if you like. And we added the Acorn squash too, one of our favourites.

pork Stroganoff and Acorn squash, yummy

       That was just another fun day we had, hope you enjoyed yours too!
       Thanks for stopping on by.

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle

 Check out the map below to see where we have been this Spring

View Spring 2014 in a larger map

Some rainy weather, sunshine and friends from Ontario stopped by for a visit,

Where are we today ?

Desert Pools resort, Desert Hot Springs.

          According to the weather guessers we gonna have some brutal weather. But so far not much more than some morning rain showers and very cloudy skies for most of the day. 

This morning shopping in Desert Hot Springs

           The problem here in this area is they have no storm sewer systems. Because they very seldom get any rain. So when it rains, the sun baked soil causes water to flow where ever it wants. And guess what ?  It causes flooding, mud slides, road closures etc... They deal with it and then everything is good until the next time, maybe a year or two down the road.
         We just puttered around inside and got some (spring ?) cleaning done,  Washed and waxed most of our wood work for a few hours. Was a job that needed to be done and perfect weather for it.

major cloud cover for Palm Springs today

        Most of the day had rainy drizzle then we thought about heading outside to read around 3 pm as the sun came out.

        We had a surprise! Friends from Ontario Emile and Monique stopped by for a visit. They had just pulled in and set up this afternoon and looked us up. (they follow our blog).

me, Monique and Suzie

Emile, Suzie and Monique

        We chatted, shared stories and got caught up, a very nice social hour. The Palm Springs mountains did not appear from the cloud cover all day. We are still having more weather.

        Shortly after 4:30 pm the drizzle began again so they headed back home and we headed inside to whip up our dinner.

        Tonight a very tasty Italian Fettuccine Shrimp and a tossed salad, sure hit the spot. (not a great day for our Weber Q) for the recipe click the link HERE  or check my recipe blog on the sidebar at the top left side. So easy to do.

yummy

       That was our fun day here in the storm zone, not too bad and we have full hookups. All is good with us.

        Thanks for the visit and hope your had an AWESOME day too.

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle.

 Check out the map below to see where we have been this Spring

View Spring 2014 in a larger map

Relocating, to Desert Hot Springs CA, no rain and warmer temps... love it, oh yeah met more Canadians from Ontario too!

Where are we today ?

Desert Pools Resort in Desert Hot Springs California

       Last night the weather guessers got it right. It rained, and it rained all night, and poured this morning until shortly after 9 am. We were still in Cherry Valley Resort, Beaumont CA. and relocating back to Desert Hot Springs this morning. 

        The rain let up so we took the opportunity to secure our coach and hit the road before 10 am. By this time the highway was pretty well dry and we had a very strong tail wind and mostly down hill to Desert Hot Springs only 36 miles away. Seems like we used no fuel at all.

roads dried up pretty quick

wind generators getting a workout today

         Shortly after 11 am all checked in and set up on the same site we left a week ago. Much warmer here, and sunny. Big bonus "NO ROAD NOISE" yeah!

same site as before

         Now set up here, no rain yet, maybe tonight and tomorrow but the winds and dust in the distance. According to a weather channel gusts up to 65 mph (105 kph). We are pretty sheltered here. Sure glad we decided not to boondock in the desert this weekend. Think we can afford $9.00 a night with full hookups.

Major dust blowing in the open areas

        Got to enjoy a nice afternoon outside with our books for a while. Then 4 pm Jim  and Judi (our  new friends from Ontario) invited us to join them for a Happy Hour with Ron? and Alea from Ontario (near Peterborough).

Suzie, Judi, Ron, Alela, Jim

        Such a small world that we travel in. Had a great time enjoying conversation and exchanging stories with these great people. Then hour is done time for dinner. Easy tonight, I had made a shepherd's pie the other day, just need to warm up in the oven (coulda done on the Weber Q but was such a windy day). Whipped up a nice tossed salad, and sure hit the spot.

sunset happening that we missed

Shepherds pie all heated through 

a bit of salad and we happy

        Lets see how the weather guessers do tonight? We don't care much, full hookups and here for 4 nights. No plans and just taking it easy.
        Thanks for stopping in again hope y'all had a great day too!

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle. 

 Check out the map below to see where we have been this Spring

View Spring 2014 in a larger map

Just hanging out and relaxing, AGAIN....

Where are we today ?

Desert Pools, Desert Hot Springs California

        More great weather and we are going to enjoy it to the fullest today. We can putter around, walkabout the resort, have a snack or two, read our books in the shade and nothing much else to do. This is the life. 
        Guess what, we really love this lifestyle. Enjoying our books, walkabout and putter around thats what we like to to do. Tidy up a few things, you know check tires and stuff wherever the mood takes me. 
       We relocating in the morning only 35 miles down the road, kinda enjoying this area and exploring our membership campgrounds. New one for us, not sure what its like but like the $10.00 a night fee, so will see how it is.
        Need to be in Palm Springs tomorrow for the Follies Matinee show about noon, so we want to be close.
         After a great afternoon we joined our friends Jim and Judi for a nice social hour about 4pm. Chat for a while and share stories then time to head home to whip up supper for us. Hope to meet up with them down the road again, yep know we will at some point for sure. 
        Had packed up our Weber Q already so doing a quick and easy stir fry tonight. Marinated, boneless, skinless chicken breast, a bunch of veggies with some Chinese noodles. Add a fresh bun from the store and we had a very quick easy meal.

sure hit the spot

      There that was it for our fun day, not exciting for you but it was for us.
      Thanks for stopping by and hope you can  join us again soon.

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle. 

 Check out the map below to see where we have been this Winter

View Winter 2013-14 in a larger map

Just hanging out, enjoying life,and friends dropped in for Happy hour.

Where are we today ?

Desert Pools Resort, Desert Hot Springs

        What another wonderful day we are having here close to 90 f again! You getting sick of hearing this? Sorry but that is just the way it is. We sure got real lucky this winter for sure.

a nice sunrise, even in the campground

           A comment from yesterday's posting from Jodee Gravel about the trees beside our site. They are salt cedars. Taste a sprig from the branches and they are VERY salty. Kinda cool, what do we know?

salt cedars,
check them out here

       Plan today was we had no plan and that suits us just fine. Puttered around for a while and enjoyed our books in the shade, Its been a while for us I think.

Suzie's new book today ,"Sharon"

           About mid afternoon a couple we met in Ehrenberg Arizona, Jim and Judi stopped by to say HI. They are from southern Ontario too. So agreed to meet here at 4 pm for "Happy Hour" chat for a while swamp stories and tell some more lies, all is great to get together with them again, such a small world.
         Eventually time to fire up our Weber Q bake a couple taters, fresh mushrooms and onions in foil, then grill a very tender rib eye steaks I picked up on sale at Vons. We only eat beef when I can find it on sale.

our Weber Q-100 does a great job

added some steamed cauliflower w/cheese
 made for a great meal

        That was it for a nice lazy day in the shade for us.
        Thanks again for your wonderful visit with us today.
        Y'all come back now, hear?

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle.

 Check out the map below to see where we have been this Winter

View Winter 2013-14 in a larger map

Met two more Bloggers today, how Awesome is that?

Where are we today ?

Desert Pools Rv resort, Desert Hot springs California

      Now talk about great weather, the best winter they have had here in years, wow did we get lucky!
      Today we are expecting a famous fellow Rver' and Blogger Rick Doyle to stop by and visit this morning. We have been following each others blogs for a few years and he has helped out with some computer issues to, what a great guy he is! The main reason we came this far west was to meet Rick, oh and enjoy the great weather too, we were so close.
       They are spending the winter just down the road and he found it convenient to drop by this morning for a visit after chasing president Obama's visit here in Palm springs and getting some awesome pictures of Air force One. Check his posting here.
        Rick and his mutzso's (Riley and Molly) arrived and it was like visiting with old friends, but we have never met face to face. This is was too cool. Paulette was busy with here quilting group that she is so dedicated to, maybe another time.

Suzie got here doggie fix

        Conversation flowed and flowed. Where do you start and where do you finish?

water is here guys

Then had to get a picture of us together,

       Before we knew it time flew by and Rick had to leave for another commitment, such a short visit.

       Then a bite eat for lunch then got an email from Teresa (a life made simple)  they are at the Home Depot in Yucca Valley only about 30 miles from here.

        We have followed each others blogs for a couple years too and said if they were in the area we would love to stop by to meet them. We almost met in Missouri last fall.

          Thirty five minutes later we spotted them and once again meeting people that feel like close friends but have never met. This blogging community is real amazing.
          After greetings and hugs we settled in to chat so much to say, and so little time. Cassia instantly attached herself to Suzie, showing her pictures, toys, and her dinosaur collection.

Cassia, such a sweetie she is

        We settled in to exchange stories, conversation flowed and so much fun to actually meet these real people face to face. Such a young couple travelling and enjoying life, no schedule and exploring this great country we have, following the sun, much nicer than cold Canada in the winter.

their Rv and trailer

Me, Suzie, Derek, Teresa and Cassia

Cassia and their Husky Rufus

        Eventually we had to get back home, and prep supper. While I was doing this had an almost nice sunset.

         The meal of choice for Suzie was grilled catfish fillets, a rice pilaf and fresh tender asparagus on the grill.

Quick and easy

so tasty too

       Another busy fun day here in the Palm Springs area of California and meeting two more RV bloggers was an amazing bonus too. Hope we can meet up again soon, safe travels.
       Thanks for stopping by for a peak again and hope you had a great day too!

Posted by George, a.k.a. "The Weber "Q" Man of Blogland" according to Rick Doyle. 

 Check out the map below to see where we have been this Winter

View Winter 2013-14 in a larger map