Winter beside Hwy 101 South from Arcata,CA

Here are a few pictures from my trip south on Hwy 101 Sunday 3/20th. Hey i think i have learned how to upload pictures to my blog. Proud of me. Hope all of you are having a great day. I am in Concord, CA, with a cold, and it is raining. 

Trip Home

The drive home was an experience of feasting my eyes on winter. The rivers were all full and muddy. In some places very close to cresting their banks. There are hours of trees. Green ones, grey moss covered ones, grey moss covered ones with grey moss hanging from every branch blowing in the wind. Brown moss covered ones with grey moss hang from their branches. There where small groves and then three or four in among the evergreens, stark against the green back ground.

The best part of the road is Richardson’s grove. The huge redwoods are on the edge of the road. I always have a feeling of sacredness as I drive the road that curves through the trees. I always sense a deep hush and sense of majesty.  

There was snow on the mountains and in one place on the roadside. There was intermittent heavy rain for a little over three hours. In places the clouds were so close and wispy it was hard to tell if they were clouds or smoke coming from the mountains. After Cloverdale the rain stopped and I enter into spring. Springs evidence showing forth in the budding trees and more daffodils than before.

At one point there was a field of yellow wild mustard, and then farther south there were long wide strips of white flowers.

Being aware of the beauty all around me made the trip back easier.

Blessings and good night. 

Saturday March 18, 2011

Saturday March 18, 2011

Should you write on your blog when you are ready to cry. Probably not but who listens to good advice from self?

Woke up, mind going 100 miles an hour. Even so managed to stay in meditation for 30 minutes. Tim, nephew, came over with, daughter, Taya. They had been at the skate park flying one of his remote cars. Yes they were laughing and having a good old time. Had to come to Gram’s do so some repairs, ‘cause when you fly cars they crash. Enjoyed laughing with them. Met them later for yogurt.  There is a new shop in town and Taya wanted to check it out. Taya and I got into a conversation about iPhones and apps. She downloaded a few new ones for me. If we had more time I probably would have a lot more to play with.

Got some parts for my motor home and called my brother Tim and ask him to help me. Long story short he did not have the right tools and was frustrated. Its hard doing work when you are frustrated. Its also hard being around someone in that situation. For those of you who know my brother, will totally empathize with me.

Motor home now has no tail lights SO its not going any where but to the shop. Good thing my April 1^st camp out got canceled because of the Highway 1 slide south of Carmel.

I think I got the leaks plugged. Tim, brother, thinks he can find someone to seal the top so I wont have to keep patching and a guy to fix the electric. This time I am going to listen to him.

Mom went to a memorial service for her friend today and now she is gone to Mass. She was here for some of the frustration. Bet she is praying big time for her children. She sure has had to bury a lot of friends since December.

Going to sit here and enjoy my cup of tea and then get ready to go home in my car, not my motor home. Will stop on the way down and see my son, Jeremy, tomorrow.

Hope all of you are having a better day than I.

PS Mom felt sorry for me and took me out to a really nice dinner with wine & dessert AND she paid. Thank you mom.

North

Okay I knew this was going to happen. Yesterday I thought about writing in my blog and that is as far as it got – a thought.  I consider this trip north the beginning of my 2011 travels with the Motor Home. We shall see how good I am about writing in my blog. Can you hear “oh yea of little faith” in my self?

Wednesday I went to Napa and spent the night with Chris, Marlo and Anthony. It was really great being with them. It had been way to long. Miles came up and had dinner with us. I spoke to Anthony on my way up and he and I keep a surprise from Marlo, which was that Miles was coming. For those who don’t know Miles is my oldest son and lives in Ojai, Ca and Chris is my “adopted nephew”. His mom always said he was mine from the time he was 3 days old. I just know I am blessed to count him and his family as my family.

Thursday morning I served on the World Ministry of Prayer for two hours, played with Marlo’s day care kids for a minute and said high to her friend Kathy, that I think of as my friend. Headed north for Arcata. Went by way of Oak Hill Road into Santa Rosa. Wish I was a powerful writer and could describe the beautiful trees along the road. I recommend this road if you have time. It is windy and tree lined most of the way. Stopped at Trader Joes and COSTCO; fuel for my body and fuel for my car. The rest of the trip was uneventful with rain on and off the rest of the way.

Got to my mothers and she was not home. Car was here. House was locked up but no mother. Unpacked and started to go out to do some things in the motor home. Stopped and thought I had better go back and check the house and make sure she was not here. Okay I know, stop thinking the worst like you accuse your mother of doing. About this time my cell phone rings. Right. My mother. Where are you? Standing in the kitchen, where are you? She was with our friend Larry. They came home and a short time later our friend JoVonne came by after work.

After everyone left and mom and I had dinner I went out to get things done in the motor home and got some work done. What a night!! On and off heavy rain with thunder and lightning. Motor home equals tin can, noisy rain.

Next morning got some things fixed in the motor home, finished doing the work I brought and got a hair cut. Had to move my motor home so I could get all the water off the top.  The tarp is keeping it out of the inside. Thankful for that. Could not believe how much water was on top. Will need to think about this. Guess it is all part of adventures with “senior” motor homes.

This afternoon, Tim, my nephew, came by with his boys. So fun to be with little ones. Marshall is 3 and Wiley is 8 mos. Played with Marshall and held Wiley while he sleep. So sweet!!! The boys stayed while Tim picked up his daughter Taya. What a beauty she is. 13 and growing up too fast for me.

JoVonne came over after work and we had dinner and a movie. So glad I could spend time with her. Movie was good. Lincoln Lawyer.

Time to quite. Would love feed back. To much information?  Thanks for reading this. Rita. 

Beginning

This is the beginning of my blog about my travels this year. It is not the beginning of my travels since I have been to Arcata CA and San Diego once each already. My mom, Iona, and I are planning a trip in the motorhome. To keep everyone informed of where we are I though a blog would work best. So here goes and welcome everyone that reads this. Hopefully I will learn to post pictures.