Isleton, CA

We are updating this blog today even though we just posted an entry two days ago.  Why?  Because the last blog got messed up somehow.  In our last blog, we discussed our stay in San Francisco, but the blog software put the entry underneath our previous blog from Avila Beach.  We were so excited to be working with 4G in San Francisco.  Everything was moving so fast that something along the way went wrong.  Rather than deal with it and probably really mess it up, just scroll down past the Avila Beach pictures to get to the San Francisco entry. 

Right now we are staying at the Delta Shores Vista Resort and Marina.  Got here yesterday.  Winds are at 18 miles per hour and gusting up to 26 miles per hour.  Our coach is rocking a bit ever since we arrived.  The temperature is 62.

Parked at Delta Shores in Isleton, CA

This morning we had a great pancake, eggs, sausage, and bacon breakfast at the club house for just $5 each.  They also have a jacuzzi here that we will use once the wind dies down.  We will be here for a week.

Let's see what happens when I post this one.

 

San Francisco, CA

We have 4G speed with our new Samsung device, so we'll update this blog today.  The internet is lightning fast when it works!  Problem is -- it is not constant.  But, San Francisco has 4G, so we are happy campers for now.

After leaving Pismo Beach, we spent one night in Avila Beach (where AARP took our pictures last year).  Weather was great.

Parked at Avila Beach, CA

Avila Beach

Sea Lion in Ocean

Jerry and Chanti walking the pier

Wider view - RV in background

Chanti running on the beach

Chanti on beach after sunset

Evening

We are uploading lots of pictures because it is taking less than 5 seconds to upload a picture with the 4G.  Loving it!

Then, on Tuesday, after getting the generator serviced and stopping to see Bill in the hospital after his surgery, and visited with Pat, we made our way to Scots Valley to see Greg and his kids.  It is always a challenge getting into his place as he is up in the hills about 68 miles south of San Francisco.  Had a nice evening with Greg and Jerry will be making his next pork loin the way Greg made his that he served us that night.  It was sooooo good.  Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures of him and the kids because we thought we would be at his place for longer than we were.  Instead, we left his place and drove to San Francisco yesterday.

Found an RV park located right next to Candlestick Park.  We are staying here for two days, leaving tomorrow.  But, yesterday, Jerry drove me into downtown San Francisco to spend the afternoon with my really good friend, Jenny.  Only had my cell phone with me, so didn't get the best pictures that I could have if I had my camera.  Didn't matter -- we had a great time catching up.

Here we are today parked across the street from Candlestick Park

Taken from the window of Jenny's office area on the 19th floor of Steuart Tower

Jenny and I walked the city and talked, talked and talked.  Jerry joined us in the evening for dinner.  Jenny took us to Petroni's -- a great Italian restaurant and a very busy one for a Wednesday night.  

The lighting didn't help -- but here we are at the restaurant -- Jenny and me.

I had the halibut which was delicious!

Then, this morning, Jerry found a walkway along the ocean.  Here are pictures I took when Chanti and I went on the two mile walk.  These are taken with the cell phone, too.

Pathway along the ocean

Fishermen on pier along the path

Who would have thought that we would be parked so close to the ocean!

We are going to be soooo spoiled when we leave San Francisco and have to go back to 3G!

Pismo Beach, California

Well, we leave Pismo Beach tomorrow and may not be back here for the rest of this year.   But, first, here are some of the events of the last week or so.

First of all, last Sunday (April 17), Pat and Bill joined us for dinner here on the coach.  While we were sitting outside before Jerry had the meal fully prepared (ribs on the grill), a lone RVer, Mario, with a rental RV drove up and parked right next to our spot.  We got to talking with him and asked him to join us for dinner.  We had the most interesting evening.  He flew to Miami from Germany, drove a motorcycle across the lower half of the USA, rented an RV in San Diego and drove to Pismo Beach.  We was on his way to San Francisco to pick up his wife who would be flying in from Germany two days later.  Here's his job in Germany: he is an air traffic controller.  After his wife arrives, they will take another 6 weeks traveling across the top of the states and flying out of New York to go back to Germany.  We all exchanged Facebook info and when Pat became a friend of his on Facebook, she was surprised to see that it was all in German.  But, the pictures show his trip.

 Pat and Bill with Mario (from Germany)

Then, on Wednesday (April 20), Jerry spoke to the Pismo Beach Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.  He had a great time speaking to business owners.  And, the next day, he spoke to the Arroyo Grande Kiwanis Club.  He's a speaker and he loves it.

Yesterday (April 23) we drove to LA to spend time with the kids and grandchildren for Easter.  There was the egg hunt for the little and big ones, honey baked ham and lots of food, and the traditional egg bopping contest.  The contest is always a competitive loud affair. This year's winner is James (age 7) who beat his dad.  Too bad, Tom, who announced that this year there would be no cheating, and then goes ahead and claims he had picked number 1 (meaning he would go first), when he actually had number 5.  (It came to light when it was number 5's turn and no one came forward.)

After the egg hunt -- Brenna and James (front), Erin, Samantha, Christian, and Natalie (second row), and Sara (top)

Selecting the right egg is the first crucial step. (Erin)

Punching your opponent is against the rules. (Erin and Tom)

As is covering your whole egg with your hand.  (Christian and Shan)

Jerry presents the trophy, an egg agate that travels to the winner's house for the year, 

to James -- the 2011 winner.

Tomorrow, Jerry has an appointment to get the transmission checked on the coach, as we leave Pismo Beach and make our way north.

Pismo Beach, California

HAPPY EASTER to everyone!

Well, the rain is gone and we have been having beautiful weather here in Pismo Beach.  Just finished up with all things medical yesterday, except that Jerry still needs to get his temporary cap on his tooth replaced next week.  Then we are finished!  Glad to report that all is great with both of us and we should be able to continue this life style for many many years.  We certainly don't want or need any health or medical issues, and we feel for the people who have them at even younger ages than we are at.

For instance, we went to a fundraiser function in Cambria last weekend to support our friend, Wendy, who is undergoing chemo and was too weak to attend the function.  Wendy is a real estate agent who worked for us just a few years ago.  She is just one of the many friends and relatives we know who are battling cancer and they are all in our prayers.

On a lighter side -- this is what we found when we got home last week.  Seems as if Chanti now knows how to open the door to our trash.

We were able to attend the Crosby and Nash concert in San Luis Obispo last week.  What a great event.  They started at 7:30, took at break at 9:00 and then sang until 11:15 p.m.  Very very talented men.

Was able to see the Vandenberg missile launch last night at 9:26 p.m. from the beach.  We both set up with our cameras to capture the event -- but, it is difficult trying to take pictures at night.

Been doing a lot of walking, and going to the beach to see the sun set.

Not the greatest sunset picture -- just the latest one we took.  The sun is gradually moving north and will probably set behind the hills in a week or two.

Other people enjoying the sunset.

Pismo Beach pier taken from the north side of the pier with cell phone.

We will be driving to LA next weekend to get together with the kids and grandkids for Easter -- and participate in the annual Shea Easter egg bopping tradition.  For those of you who do not know what this is about, two people with hard boiled eggs face off, each with one egg.  The two competitors try to break the other person's egg.  When the eggs are bopped together, only one usually cracks.  The person with the cracked egg is eliminated from the competition.  Everyone participates, even the very youngest child.  The winners from the first round face off until everyone is eliminated except for the last two who have not yet been eliminated.  They face off and there is one winner.  Here are a couple of pictures taken in the mid-70s.

Susan -- the winner that year!

Frank (Jerry's dad) and Kheria, with Shannon in the background.

After going south for Easter (driving the van), we will be heading north in a little over a week from now and will be spending the summer mostly in Oregon.