As the Buddha Says ....

Several years ago I read The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck, MD.  The book opens with the following quote:

“Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”

I believe the original quote is one from the Buddha:  "Life is Difficult."  Dr. Peck's explanation seems very apt to me this morning.

Why begin today's post with this quote?  Well, as I said yesterday, the issues with my Petunia Smart Car battery / starter are going on as I write.  I'm just waiting on that one. 

The other issue that I became aware of yesterday afternoon:

* My Toyota Camry is parked at my friends' ranch in Loomis, CA 

* It's there for my son / daughter-in-law to pick up as soon as they can (180 miles away for them) as I'm giving it to them for my granddaughters' use when they turn 16

*My friend Bob decided it had been sitting a while, so he attempted to start it - dead battery

*He jump started the battery and decided it would be a good idea to drive it a little to make sure the battery is fully charged

*While driving it in the local area he rear-ended another car!  The accident was his fault - no argument there

*What to do now?  I still have the car insured, which I've planned to terminate when my son takes possession

*I have $1000 deductible insurance.  YIKES!

*Bob is having somebody come to the ranch to give an estimate for repair but thinks it'll be over $1000.  [Of course.  No repair is under the deductible, is it?]

*Hmmm.  I am choosing not to get all worked up at this point.  The car's paid for. If worse comes to worse, I could sell it for scrap.

*It's certainly not going to be any help at all if I sit here in Burns, Oregon trying to solve all the problems in Loomis, CA.

*Hope I can stay in this frame of mind

Not Every Day Can Be Perfect .... This is a Bad Day

After our first experience as Walmart boon-dockers, we were ready for the trip from Bend to Burns, about 140  miles.  First, here are a few photos taken along the way - a sunshiny day with fluffy white clouds, a changing display every moment - a fine start to a great day.

First of all, Lacy and Lincoln are ready to go ... Eleanor is ready too but doesn't like having to share a seat so she's actually under it!  Here's the proof!

Eleanor had, in her other life, a lot of trauma.  I got her at the cat sanctuary in December 2012 and she's been very very shy and skittish.  She has decided that she loves me (hooray) and sleeps nestled up to my legs at night and visits me as I work on my laptop during the day; but she doesn't fraternize with Lincoln or Lacy other than to allow that they can be on the same bed at the same time.  I really don't think she even knows how to play; the closest she comes to engaging is to roll over on her back when I scratch her tummy.  It's been sad to see what abuse does to a cat; she had lived at the cat sanctuary for over a year and hadn't bonded with anybody.  I feel happy that she 'loves' me and that she's very slowly coming around.

 Lincoln, on the other hand, was taken to the cat sanctuary as a tiny kitten and had lots of loving there.  He's a very well-adjusted kitty and thinks he's probably more of a small dog than cat.  He's very interested in goings on outside the RV and loves to be outside when I allow it.

Within 5 or 6 minutes after I start the RV engine, Lincoln is over on my lap and doesn't move from that spot until the engine's off again.  He's one cool cat who loves Lacy, Eleanor and me and thinks the world is a wonderful place.

So we get started about 10:15 and have no problem getting on the right road to Burns (after yesterday's extra driving I want to be sure I've got it right).  I really enjoy this high desert scenery.  There are areas of no trees at all, which is a complete 180 from yesterday, when it appears that Oregon could supply the entire world with building lumber by the looks of the forests.  Highway 20 heads almost directly east of Bend to Burns with only one town along the way.  It's a blimp on the highway called 'Brothers.'  Nothing there!

The little white specks in the clear blue of the sky indicate that the windshield needs care.  This is pretty much what it looks like all along Highway 20; albeit, there are a few hills and rock formations from time to time and 2 pleasant rest areas ....

 Here we are parked at one fairly close to Burns, but the tail bone was getting tired and Lacy needed a visit to the Pet Area

There was a group from Idaho who were having a picnic at the rest area.  Check out the cars.  What a treat to walk around them and talk a little to the folks who've put so much TLC into these treasures of the past.

A couple of close-ups.  The car club group is returning to Idaho from an antique car rally

So we arrive in Burns and locate the RV Park.  I've had a little issue with Petunia when I make a 90 degree turn.  As I approached the RV park and started to turn in it happened again.  The wheels seem to lock in the turning position and the steering wheel darts left and right and there's a loud metal on metal clanking sound.  It's happened before a couple of times and the remedy is I pull over , jump out and straighten the Petunia's steering wheel and it ceases.  Well, this time I had to stop while I was still on the street and a guy pulled up behind me and said that the steering wheel needed to be locked.  I hadn't heard anything about that at the place that installed the tow bracket.  This guy volunteered and jumped in Petunia and steered as I turned into the park. It all worked out fine.  I thank him and he's off saying, "Have a great vacation."

After registering at the office I drive to my assigned site, park and unhitch Petunia.  When I try to start her - NOTHING Happens - NADA.  The battery's dead.  That's strange, it ran fine yesterday and I'd disconnected the battery in preparation for towing yesterday and hadn't unhitched her last night.  Well, I call my trusty AAA and a guy is out here in about 20 minutes to jump her.  NADA again.  He has no tools with him and finds that when the mechanism for disconnecting the battery was installed, the terminal doesn't fit tightly on the terminal post (not sure of this vocabulary).  Anyway, he called a service repair shop and towed Petunia into town, where she is as I write.  

Stuart, the gentleman at the repair shop, by his own admission,  knows nothing about Smart Cars.  He fixed the obvious problem of the loose connection, but she still won't start; now he thinks there might be something bad in the starter.  He calls Mercedes Benz in Bend; they aren't Smart Car certified, no help there.  So, Petunia stays in his shop tonight and  he'll call Mercedes Benz in El Dorado Hills, CA, where I bought her and hopefully they can shed some light on what's happening.

But, that wouldn't make for a BAD DAY - it'd be just a little negative.   There's more bad news but I'll save it for later 'cause I can't do anything about it now anyway.  The saga continues .....

Serenity Sunday

9/1/13

It's September!  Time flies.

This morning we've been invited to another camp function - a pancake and sausage breakfast.  Lacy and I amble all the way over - about 40 feet! - and enjoy meeting even more folks and having nice conversations about RV-ing, camping, good roads, bad roads, etc.  Braced with freshly squeezed orange juice, Crater Lake coffee, delicious pancakes fresh off the griddle and sausage links, after an hour or so of kibitzing we came back and found that we can access the Internet.  Yippee!  So, Lacy, Lincoln and Eleanor are sleeping away a warm, lazy Sunday while I catch up on this blog.

I spoke with 'Pam,' one of the park owners, and she encouraged me to take a scenic route off of US 97 at Crescent, OR and meeting State 372 almost right at Bend tomorrow.  Now, with Internet access, I can scope out a plan for the drive; Bend is only about 125 miles from here but some parts are curvy and uphill so I plan to take my time.  So far, no reservation for tomorrow night; we'll see what happens.

When I was traveling in the Toyota Dolphin I felt I really had to 'gear up' for each portion of the trip; now, it seems so simple with Floribunda.  Hitching Petunia has not brought up any issues - yet - and battening down the hatches, not having to go to a dump station, takes about 10 minutes.

Six Hour 130-mile Trip Today

7:20PM

Today's trip presents me with some food for thought when traveling solo.  I'd spoken with 'Pam,'  one of the owners of the Crater Lake RV Park about a scenic drive off of 97N at  about Crescent and returning to 97 in Bend.  Everything starts out beautifully; I catch up on emails and a few blogs, have a nice cup of coffee and take Lacy for a morning stroll.   Then it's becoming a cinch to ready Floribunda and Petunia.  Since I had backed in to my site four days ago and parked Petunia nose to nose with Floribunda, I just move Petunia to the next site over while I pull Floribunda up close to the driveway, but not blocking anybody.  Then, I go over to Petunia and scoot her right past Floribunda and  hook a U-turn to line her up perfectly behind Floribunda for hitching.  Hitching is a breeze; I can't say enough for how much easier it is when the little Smart Car only weighs 1800 pounds!  I get her in position and get all the hook ups done in about 5 minutes, 5 more minutes for testing the running, brake and turn signal lights - all's AOK.

My cell phone is still dead so no GPS for now.  Last night  I went over the map and made a little step-by-step note to find this scenic drive Pam suggested.  My notes are plain as day and before I know it I'm chugging along and meeting every turn; I'm on a roll.  Yup, there's 97N, now I'm headed to Crescent and just before I'm actually in the town, there's a sign to turn west to get on this scenic drive.  And, it is scenic; I just can hardly believe there are so many trees and forests; it's indescribable.  Oh and we're climbing so I stay in the slow lane (when there are two lanes going each way).  Up and up we go, finally over 5000 feet in altitude.  And, right at the steepest grade up and also going down, there is major road construction.  So, only one lane of traffic is going through about a two-mile work area.  But, we're doing fine and I see a sign for 58; I think that's the number we want.  It's heading north so that's good.

Just about then I notice signs for Eugene.  No, we want to go to Bend, not Eugene.  I finally get to a place where I can pull off to go over the map.  [Lacy just refuses to be my navigator.]  Pull-over areas are few and far between.  OMG, I missed the turnoff to Pam's scenic drive; I've been enjoying a very scenic drive, just not the one she talked about.

Can I change my plans and go to Eugene?  Yes, I could, but that wouldn't help me get closer to my destination of Yellowstone.  I decide to turn back, re-do the steep grades up and down, wait for the one-lane traffic area.  The roads are crowded, especially the road to Eugene; all the campers and boaters are on their way home from the holiday weekend.  I'm getting tired, Lacy's bored, and oh my gosh, I'd better find a gas station because my dial indicates less than a quarter tank - no, actually it's more like an eighth of a tank.  I drive and drive and drive.  The fuel is getting lower and lower.  Now it's it the red zone.  No gas stations!  No distance signs!  No cell phone!  I start prepping myself for the white flag out the window.  After about 20 minutes of this worry there's still no gas station on the horizon; but, a couple of brain cells wake up.  I have Petunia!!!  If I have to park the rig when it runs out of gas, I'll take Petunia to get some somewhere!

Just about the time I'm seriously looking for a somewhat safe spot to park Floribunda, I see a sign for Crescent 9 miles.  OK, we'll try to get there ...... and we do, with a few fumes left.  I fill her up in a Shell station; no way I'm going to look for a less expensive place that might be 500 miles away!

OK girl, you're back in business.  Bend is only 45 miles further and there are two RV parks there.  We won't even be fussy, full hookup, partial hookup.  We just want a place to stay.  We bounce in to Bend and I pull into Walmart parking lot - it's packed with daily shoppers and I've never done the Walmart thing.  So we just park to call Scandia RV Park - no vacancies!  Nothing!  Zilch!  I ask the gentleman if he might recommend another RV park.  "Yes, there's Crown Villa and they'll have availability."  He's nice enough to give me directions from Walmart to this RV Park.  Off we go but when we get there they're just putting out the "no vacancy" sign.  I went into the office and the young lady said there's nothing available in Bend.  My best bet would be to go back on 97S about 45 minutes and there is one RV park.  I asked if there's anything going east towards Burns, where I hope to be headed tomorrow. "No, there's nothing between Bend and Burns.  Make sure you have plenty of gas too 'cause there're no gas stations."

What to do?  Well, I'm parked in Walmart parking lot for my very first experience of Walmart boon-docking.  I even turned the generator on for about a half hour as it was about 93 outside and rapidly approaching that mark inside too.  Now that the sun has gone down, it's much pleasanter, about 77 outside and 76 in.

I did take some pictures today but I'm too tired to upload them.  I'll save that for tomorrow or another
day.  I do plan to try to find an RV store in Bend before I leave as my door (I only have one) latch on Floribunda is acting up.  I stopped in an RV shop on the trip between Ashland and Crater Lake, but the lady there said they had nobody available to even look at it.  The door locks but I'm afraid one of these times it's going to balk.  Needs looking at.

I'm going to take Lacy out for a walk and then hit the sack, as my military dad used to say,  Happy Labor Day Everybody.

Oh, OK, so here's a photo taken  in 2012 from my bedroom window in Antigua, Guatemala at sunset.  El Fuego is often active in the morning and quiet at night.  He's the left volcano with a little cloud activity right around his top.

Crater Lake RV Park - Saturday

8/31/13   9:30PM

This morning begins with us all waking up relaxed and looking forward to another very relaxing day.  I spend some time this morning checking out a few things about Photoshop Elements 11.  I’m using the Dummies book and am starting to have a vague notion as to how to put together images in layers to come up with the title of my blog.  Dave of GoingRVWay has helped me so much; I really appreciate it.

I think with the Internet issues, I forgot to mention that Dave and Marcia of  www.goingrvway.blogspot.com stopped by to meet in person on Thursday afternoon.  It's so much fun to actually meet some 'virtual' friends after knowing much about them from their blogs.  Dave's parents and a sister (I believe) live in Citrus Heights, CA, very close to Roseville, where my house is.  They're full-timing it in their RV for about another year and a half before they return home to Florida.

I've stocked Floribunda quite well with staples and meat, etc; so today ....

I take some boneless, skinless chicken breast halves out of the freezer to thaw and this afternoon I make a Chicken Piccata using Mazzetta brand capers – Ron and Gail Mazzetta were next-door neighbors in Marin County, CA for almost 30 years.  I have lots of stories to share at a later date.

I only ventured out in Petunia for about 20 minutes, driving to the down-town metropolis of Prospect to buy sour cream for today’s meal.  The Prospect grocery, bait, tackle, hardware, liquor, drug, clothing and souvenir store is approximately a one-minute drive from the park.

I enjoy eating the big meal of the day in the afternoon so by 3PM I have the piccata, baked potato with butter and sour cream and sautéed home-grown patty-pan squash ready to be eaten.

The big project for the day is finishing the book, Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum, an extraordinarily written first novel for this talented author.  It is historical fiction, “An absorbing tale of two women’s struggles with the burdens and responsibilities of remembrance,” per the tome’s cover.  It simultaneously tells of Anna, a young German woman and her horrendous experiences as a German Aryan in Weimar, Germany [where Buchenwald Concentration Camp was located] during WWII; and that of her daughter, Trudy, and her need to find out more about the mother who can’t tell her what actually happened during that dark time.

Tonight there’s a giant campfire for all guests at the RV park; we all saunter out to the center fire pit and enjoy music and singing, hot dog and s’mores roasting, congeniality and story telling.  I sit with my ‘neighbors,’ Karen and Denver and their little apricot-colored toy poodle.  Lacy went with me and all have a good time.   

Crater Lake - Friday

8/30/13

I wake up this morning to the sound of birds with sunshine peeking in my bedroom window.  I don’t have to be anywhere, do anything, act anyhow – I’m free.  The ‘kids’ and I love our little house on wheels; Lacy and Lincoln are up for a little sightseeing walk around the park, which at this moment is occupied by only a few campers.  But, this is the beginning of Labor Day weekend, so I expect there will be several arrivals today.

So far I’ve had no luck with either WiFi or cellular reception; hence blog posts for the time being will be written in Word; then copied into the blog when possible.  One of my suggestions to myself before starting this adventure was to check out the landscape / sights, whatever it may be, at the beginning of a stay in a new place.  Then, if there’s something I just must see again I have time to do it without changing whatever plans I may have for later.  So, after walks and tidying up, Lacy and I hop into Petunia for a drive to Crater Lake (about 34 miles) and scope out the possibility of driving the entire rim road around the crater to get the best views from all angles.

As we drive out onto Hwy 62 to head East I notice the sign for the town of Prospect and decide now is a great time to get the lay of the land here too.

There's also a general store and a school - may be a grammar and high school combination - home of the Cougars!

After a couple of photo ops we head out onto 62 for the spectacular views on the way to Crater Lake National Park.  As I would expect, the drive takes a little time: curvy, uphill and only one lane going each way.  But, the beauty and majesty of Oregon is splendiferous – the blue of the sky, the white of the clouds, the green of hundreds, maybe thousands, of square miles of conifer forests.  

What a magnificent landscape ...

The mighty Rogue River begins in this part of Oregon - on the north side of Crater Lake; and flows 215 circuitous miles through lava tubes, etc. to meet with the Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach, Oregon.  The Rogue River is particularly popular with campers, fishermen and white water rafters.
About 11 miles north of Prospect on Hay 62 is a wonderful lookout to the Rogue River Gorge ...  Scientists believe that the gorge was formed by the river flowing over, under and through lava tubes all along the High Cascade mountain range.  From its beginning the river drops over a mile in altitude to flow into the Pacific.

The are quiet pools of fresh cold water

And, there are many opportunities to view fast-moving water areas

 Even white water areas

I "heart" lichen!

I show my lifetime “Golden Age Pass” to the young park ranger and she directs us pass all the cars waiting to pay the park entrance fee.   Hooray for aging!   We make a leisurely day of driving, stopping to gaze wondrously on this incredible work of nature. 

Over eons of time Mount Mazama had pushed its way up towards the sky forming a volcano that erupted 8,000 years ago, then collapsed into itself causing a great crater that filled with water creating Crater Lake.  At least that’s the story in really short form!  This spectacle has taken millions of years to make!

I never cease to be amazed at the diversity and magnificence of Nature. 

This is the first view of Crater Lake ......  This photo has not been enhanced!  Some people describe the color a purple but this is exactly what I saw ....

Trying out the panoramic setting on my camera .....

I take over 40 photos of this wonder as we drive clockwise around the 33 mile rim of the caldera.  At times little Petunia hugs the road, not wanting to spill over the side and down several hundred feet to the water.  Each time we exit the car I make sure the emergency brake is engaged and Lacy is right next to me.  It's a bit intimidating!  By the way, there are two islands in Crater Lake:  the larger is Wizard Island and the smaller is Lost Ship Island; both were created by further volcanic activity after the eruption that formed the lake.

At this time, just a year ago, I was living in Guatemala when El Fuego, Antigua’s local volcano, erupted and spewed hot lava for days and days.  It was the second gigantic eruption in a year and I witnessed both.  El Fuego has always been an ‘active’ volcano; most mornings I could watch her/him belch smoke into the clear blue sky from my bedroom window.   I hadn’t previously had the experience of living and carrying on daily activities right next to a spewing giant.  The two massive eruptions of 2012 brought volcanologists from around the World to research this wonder.  Guatemala has a long history of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and floods; the indigenous peoples, the Maya, have lived with the devastation caused by these natural disasters, believing that it is the will of the gods that they endure when the gods become angry, sad, happy – whatever.

Approximately 40,000 people were evacuated when the lava spewed down the western slopes for miles; fortunately there were no fatalities.  I had the opportunity to go to a restaurant outside of Antigua that faced the western side of El Fuego; when darkness came upon us it was quite a spectacle of red and gold lava and flames that appeared to be coming right in our direction as we sat, safely, in the resort dining room enjoying a gourmet meal.

My daily morning view from my bedroom ..... El Fuego, Guatemala 2011 - 2012

I digress, back to today and Crater Lake.  During this last real week of summer there are lots of tourists visiting; children and adults alike being introduced to one of Nature’s real handicrafts.  Had I visited as a child, this experience would have been the topic of an essay at the beginning of the new school year.

Well, Lacy and I have enjoyed this day to the max and Lacy has so many new friends from around the World!  Dogs. like Lacy, make conversations with strangers so much fun!

Crater Lake, Oregon .... Catch Up Posts 8/29/13

8/29/13

So far it looks as though the WiFi connection isn’t going to be much used!  Verizon Jetpack is really iffy too.  I miss reading my blogs, but I loved just curling up with my book until I felt sleepy, then drifting off, surrounded by my kids, in Floribunda while parked in a fir / pine grove.  I would imagine that the park will fill up today with Labor Day visitors.  There are several activities planned for the weekend here in the park; of course I’ll participate in the gatherings, but now that I’m on my own I can retreat to my cocoon whenever I want.

That said, I’ve always been a gregarious extrovert who loves (should I say 'loved'?) people and interaction all day long.  I remember reading a book by William Buckley, Cruising Speed, many years ago, in which he described his idea of how to utilize /  enjoy time away from the rigors of everyday life.  It wasn’t sitting and contemplating his navel as the saying goes.  It was traveling, sailing, doing, doing, and doing.  I think I drove my husband to distraction sometimes with my need to be around people, the more the merrier.  He built his career in sales and marketing in the data processing industry, his professional life was literally ‘encapsulated’ by interactions and people all week long.  He often wanted nothing more than to pass an entire weekend ‘puttering’ around the house and yard; I just couldn’t understand it!  I was particularly baffled by his requests for family-style solitude when I did roust him out to a social function.  Most often, what actually happened was that he became the life of the party; I know now that he was most likely just reverting to his career persona – not really feeling the relaxed sensation of a day off.

My guess is that, at a time when my contemporaries were in the college and their early career years, I was a wife and mother of three kids.  For me education and outside career came later.  In those years I felt, during the week, that I was kind of cloistered with the kids in the house; partially because there weren’t so many activities for moms, preschoolers and babies outside the house back in the 60s.  I recall participating in the coffee-klatches in the neighborhood, often with a guilt feeling for not having washed the kitchen floor or finished the ironing before heading out for chitchat.  Later I replaced those chitchats with college and studying; by the time I really settled into my educational endeavors I was somewhat older than my peers with a different set of obligations outside of studying.

This current desire to have much and frequent “downtime” began about 5 or so years ago.  I continued to work and even go to school, but began relishing my ‘alone’ time.  I still can’t do ‘nothing’ very well, but, wow, can I ever find lots to keep me interested and occupied.  The peacefulness of life in Floribunda just adds to my pleasure.  And, for all intents and purposes, I have more of a social life now than I’d had the last several years of my career.  However, now I have so much more control over my social calendar and can program activities and alone time to my own liking. 

This discussion wouldn’t be complete without a reference to how life, in general, has changed due to the prevalence of the Internet in our day-to-day lives.  I was one of those kids and adults who loved school and learning.  I’ve maybe developed, not into a wise old gal, but a trivia aficionado!  I love surfing from site to site depending on what strikes my fancy at the time.  I have lots of favorite sites and visit them with regularity – I’m even ‘taking’ a geography course and a grammar course online.  Oh, how I would have loved having the escapism of the Internet when those three kids were napping!

Today is Friday, I’m in Prospect, Oregon and will take Lacy in Petunia for a drive around Crater Lake, giving ourselves yet another opportunity to see a magnificent display of natural order in the Universe.