Sunday, April 15, 2012

Some Shopping and Getting Ready To Wander

Kingsburg, CA.

51 deg. overcast, no wind.

Forecast = Clear. High of 72F. Winds from the South at 5 to 10 mph shifting to the NNW in the afternoon.


Yesterday morning, Jim and Linda decided that it would be a good idea to go into town and buy some groceries, so about 10:30 they left here and headed out.

They found a Save Mart Supermarket and by about 12:30, they were back here putting the groceries away. : )

After the groceries were put away, both Jim and Linda took naps before starting to get me ready to travel. Jim went out and checked my fluid levels, tires and made sure everything in my basement compartments was stored properly, Linda started putting stuff away inside of me, did some organizing, and then read some and did some crossword puzzles.

For dinner, she heated up some roasted chicken that they had bought at the store and that, along with some potato salad and bread seemed to fill up their tanks. ; )

The water from the storm that was standing in the park is all gone. There were only a few small puddles yesterday morning and by noon it had all soaked into the sandy soil.

This morning we'll continue wandering. There's a park about 150 miles North of here that Jim and Linda have been to a couple of times before and I think that's where we'll be heading.

I hope we have an easy travel day.

Did you know that it was on this date in 1912 - The ocean liner Titanic sank at 2:27 a.m. in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg the evening before? 1,517 people died and more than 700 people survived.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

A Little Rain

Kingsburg, CA.

46 deg. mostly cloudy, no wind.

Forecast = Partly cloudy with a chance of rain. High of 61F. Winds from the NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20%.


We had a little rain here in Kingsburg yesterday. : O   As you can see by the photo below, I was thinking that I was going to have to go swimming!!!! The way it was, I was standing in about 4" of water and it was still coming up as Jim took this photo!!!!


I really didn't have too much to worry about though because the water in the park, at that point, was starting to drain into the river which is about 5 or so feet below where I'm parked.

It was kind of weird feeling though, sitting right in the middle of that huge puddle.

It all started early in the morning. The rain wasn't too heavy until the afternoon, and then it came down in buckets!!!! It was coming down so hard that I couldn't see across the river and that's not very far.

I just checked Jim's rain gauge and there's 2 and 1/10 inches of water in it!!! And, that's just from yesterday. We had about 1 1/2 inch in the 2 days before that!!!!

The water in the CG is almost gone now. Just a few puddles standing here and there, so I'm not anticipating a problem when we go to leave here tomorrow.

Needless to say, Jim and Linda spent the whole day inside of me yesterday, just doing the normal things like reading, watching the TV, watching the weather on the computer, and taking naps when it wasn't storming.

Other than getting me ready to travel, I don't know of any special that's happening today. I'm sure Jim will be out and about some, he's been inside for almost 2 days now and I think he's getting cabin fever. ; )

Oh, one other thing about the rain. Just the rain that we had yesterday is more than this area usually gets in an entire month at this time of the year.

Very unusual.

Did you know that Kingsburg, CA. is the headquarters of Sun-Maid Growers of California, a producer of raisins and other dried fruits?

I heard it on the grape vine. ; )

Friday, April 13, 2012

Big Rigs

Kingsburg, CA.

47 deg. rain, SE wind @ 8 mph.

Forecast = Overcast with a chance of a thunderstorm and rain, then a chance of a thunderstorm and rain showers in the afternoon. High of 55F. Winds from the SSW at 5 to 15 mph shifting to the NNW in the afternoon. Chance of rain 100% with rainfall amounts near 0.2 in. possible.


I've been sitting here thinking.  Yep, I know, it's dangerous when I start thinking, but I did it anyway. ; )

What I've been thinking about is "big rigs".  I'm wondering just what a "big rig" is?

To the guy in the little pop-up trailer, a 25' trailer or MH may seem like a big rig. The people in the 25' RV may think that a 30 or 35 foot RV is a big rig. And yes, the family in the 35' RV may think that the 40' MH parked next to them is a big rig.

Now, I'm 45' long and so I'm pretty sure that I'm considered a "big rig", but who decides what a "big rig" really is? The CG directories say which RV Park or CG is suitable for "big rigs", the web site that Jim uses to see reviews of parks specifies which parks "big rigs" can get into, but who decides, and what size RV is actually a "big rig"?

Now, I know I'm not alone trying to figure this out. In fact, I know of an instance where a lady called ahead to an RV park to find out if they could get in with their "big rig". When they got there, their MH was less than 35' in length and they were not pulling a toad!!

But, to her, their rig was a "big rig".

Now, the reason I started thinking about this is when it says in the CG directory or review that a park is OK for "big rigs", are they talking about the 35' MH, the 40' MH or me at 45'? Can I get into any park that says that it's "Big Rig" friendly?

I seriously doubt it.

So, what do you think? Is your 35' MH a "big rig? Or, how about you with your 35' 5th wheel pulled by a medium duty truck. Is your rig a "big rig"?

Inquiring minds want to know!!!!!  ; )

Did you know that the bark on a Sequoia tree can be as much as 31 inches thick?

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Kings Canyon / Sequoia N.P

Kingsburg, CA

46 deg. clear, SE wind @ 5 mph.


Forecast = Overcast with a chance of rain, then rain in the afternoon. High of 66F. Winds from the SSE at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.



It was about 9:45 when Jim and Linda drove CLT (Cute Little Truck), out of this park Tuesday morning and headed for the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. Jim had talked to the owner of this park and had asked him which was the best way to get there. He not only told Jim the best way, but drew him a map too.

That was sure nice of him. : )

The route from this park to the North Entrance of the N.P. was to leave the park on Rd 28. Take it to Rd 400. Turn Right on 400 and take it to Rd 120 and turn left. Follow 120 (which joined up with CA 63) until it comes to CA 180. Then, turn right on 180 and follow it right into the N.P.

On the way over there, they had to stop and buy CLT a drink of 87 octane because there are no gas stations inside the park. So, they stopped at Squaw Valley and filled him up.


Shortly after leaving Squaw Valley, they came upon a pull-off where Jim got out and took this photo.
They had already climbed to almost 3000' by this time, (the park here in Kingsburg is at about 300'), and were looking down on the valley.

CLT said that from that point on, he was never out of 3rd gear all the way up to the turn-off for the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, which is at 6589' !!!!

After Jim presented his "Old Foggy Card" , they were given a tag to put on CLT's windshield and proceeded into the park. The Ranger gave Jim a newspaper and a pamphlet that showed what attractions were in the park as well as a driving map.

The main reason for coming to this park was to see the giant redwood trees, so from the Visitor's Center, they drove about a mile to the General Grant Grove.

There are a whole bunch of the giant redwoods there and the parking lot was right in the middle of the grove. Linda said that no matter which way you looked, you were looking at some of the magnificent trees.

CLT said that Jim and Linda both got out and just stood and looked at the trees.

They're so big that it's almost impossible to describe the feeling you get when surrounded by these huge trees. It was such an emotional experience for Linda that at one point, she told Jim that she felt like crying.

The photo below may give you some idea of the size of these trees, but pictures don't really show it well. This is another one of those things that you just have to see for yourself to really appreciate it. (That's Jim standing in front of the trees).

After spending almost an hour looking at the trees, both Jim and Linda decided not to go any farther into the park. The Generals Highway is very long, twisty, hilly, and right now, is also under construction, with up to 2 hour delays.

What they really went there to see was the giant sequoias, they saw them, and that's what counts.

It was about 2:30 by the time they returned here to the park and they were both still talking about their experience.

As for CLT, he just wanted to rest. Going from about 300' to over 6500' and back down again almost did him in. ; )

Oh, when they returned Jim walked over by the river and took this photo. There was no wind and hardly a ripple on the water. I think it's kind of neat so I though I'd share it with you.

It rained all day here yesterday and at times it really rained hard. In fact as of last night, it rained over an inch and a half. (Jim had put his rain gauge out the night before).Being that it rained almost all day, about the only thing that happened was that Jim went up to the office and paid for 3 more nights.

All the weather forecasts are saying that it should clear up by Sunday.

Oh, one more thing. Jim talked to Jeff on the phone and it was decided that we would get to Portland on the 8th of May. We'll stay for 3 weeks and will leave on the 29th of May, the day after the Memorial Day Holiday. Because we're going to be there for 3 weeks and Jim wanted to make sure we had a site for that period of time, he has already called the park and made reservations for me.

So now, for only the second time on this trip, (The first one being the CG just outside of Death Valley), we're locked into a date. That's OK though. I would sure hate to get to Portland and then not have a place to stay.

Did you know that the General Sherman Sequoia Tree in Sequoia N.P is the earth's largest tree? It's estimated to be 2,200 years old, its largest branch is almost seven feet in diameter and every year it grows enough new wood to make a 60-foot-tall tree of usual proportions.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Club Royal Oak RV Resort

Kingsburg, CA.

53 deg. light rain, SE breeze at 2 mph.

Forecast = Mostly cloudy with a chance of a thunderstorm and rain, then a chance of a thunderstorm and rain showers in the afternoon. High of 63F. Winds from the SE at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.


I'm getting a late start this morning, so I'm going to just show you a few photos from the park here in Kingsburg.The photo below is of the sign you see as you come to the entrance.

After driving just a short way down the paved road, you see the office ahead. To the left of the office you can see the entrance, which is through the gate I told you about.

There is a call button next to the gate if there's no one to let you in, and once you register, you are given a card that us use to open the gate.

As you drive into the park, there are sites on both sides of the road. The sites on the left are the "river front" sites and that's where I'm parked. All the sites are on the grass and most appear to be fairly level.

Below, you see me in my site, (#12), and it is quite level and long enough for both me and CLT with room left over.


This photo shows how close I am to the river. The river is kind of low right now because they've not had much rain here. There are however people using kayaks on the river, so there's evidently enough water for that.

Being that I was able to pull in, Jim and Linda have a great view of the river, and especially, Linda, really enjoys that.

It's nice and peaceful here. Many of the sites are empty at this time of the year, but those sites will probably fill up when the weather gets warmer.

Jim and Linda did go into the Kings Canyon / Sequoia N.P. yesterday, but it's getting late and I'm starting to have trouble loading photos with this slow Internet connection, so I'll save that for tomorrow's post.

I'm pretty sure we're going to stay here awhile longer, so I should have time to get you caught up.

Did you know that on this date in 1921 Iowa became the first state to impose a cigarette tax?

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Not Far To Go, A Drink Of #2, and A Site With A View

Kingsburg, CA.

46 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Mostly cloudy in the morning, then overcast with rain showers. High of 77F. Winds from the South at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.


I knew we didn't have far to go yesterday, so I wasn't surprised that we didn't leave the Bakersfield Palms RV Park until 10:15.

From the park, we headed to a Shell Truck Stop along  Rt. 58, that Jim and Linda had found, to get me a drink of #2 diesel fuel.  It had been awhile since I had a drink, so I was pretty thirsty, and at $4:13 per gallon, my bill was pretty high!! : (

From the Shell station, we continued West on Rt.58 for a few miles and then tuned North on Rt.99.  99 then brought us up here to Kingsburg and the Club Royal Oak RV Resort.

Even with stopping for my drink, it still only took us 2 hours and 15 minutes to travel the 99 miles up here. Not really too bad considering that there was a lot of traffic on 99 and the road itself was not in very good condition.

Oh, I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but in California, (at least on the roads that I've been on, including Interstates), if you're towing anything, the speed limit is 55mph. This includes all semi trucks, and all other vehicles who are towing.

Evidently they enforce the law because almost all of the trucks and vehicles pulling trailers are traveling right a that speed.

The Club Royal Oak RV Resort seems to be really nice. There's a fence that has one of those electric gates all around the property, and it seems like the park is pretty well maintained. As promised, I have a site right on the Kings River and have a great view of the water. Jim took a bunch of photos yesterday, but didn't get them downloaded to this computer yet, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to try to get them loaded onto the blog.

The weather forecast for this week is not too good, so today, Jim and Linda are going to take CLT and head to the Kings Canyon / Sequoia National Park. The forecast is for rain coming in this afternoon, so I think they're going to try to head over there fairly early this morning.

Then, the forecast is for rain for the rest of the week, finally ending on Saturday. So,  ,  ,  ,  , even though Jim only paid for 3 nights here at the Royal Oak Park so far, he's now thinking that we may stay here until Saturday or Sunday.

A Point to Ponder : Experience tells you what to do - confidence allows you to do it.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Just About Ready and A Great Easter Dinner

Bakersfield, CA.

49 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Clear. High of 84F. Winds from the SW at 5 to 10 mph shifting to the WNW in the afternoon.


I'm just about ready to leave. We've been here for over a week now, and I'm ready to get back to some wandering. : )

The weather today is supposed to be really nice, but by Tuesday they're talking rain which is supposed to last all the way to the weekend. They're even forecasting snow at the higher elevations, and that's where it may cause some problems for Jim and Linda's plans.

Right now, we're in the San Joaquin Valley, and the next RV park is in the valley too. But, Jim and Linda want to go into the Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park and the elevations there are well abovt the fore casted altitude where they're forecasting snow. : (    There is a chance, however, that tomorrow the rain may hold off until the late afternoon, so that may be an option.

This park was pretty empty in the short term section yesterday, but in the afternoon a few RV came in and another 3 or 4 in the evening. Still not full by any means.

Linda baked a ham in my convection oven yesterday. It sure did smell good and from the comments I heard, it tasted really good too. Of course, the cauliflower, scalloped potatoes and deviled eggs that Linda made to go with it, made it even better. : ) 

I hope all of you had a nice Easter too.

Did you know that on this date in 1953, the TV Guide was published for the first time?