Sacramento and back

Nothing but good news on the Doctor front for Jeni and I. We spent Thurs and Friday in Sacramento visiting our respective Dr's getting checkups.Boy I remember back when you only had one Doctor, now they are all specialists.Jeni and I each have three for our specific needs.Thank god for "union" insurance!

We headed back to Park Sierra Friday afternoon with our Daughter Jackie and grandson DJ in tow.They followed us and stayed with us Friday and Saturday.We had a great weekend with them. Jeni and DJ enjoyed the covered porch on our site as we just enjoyed the park ,played table games and barbecued.Sunday Jackie and DJ headed home and Jeni and I rested so we are ready to go Monday at the park.Speaking of workamping, Wednesday another workamper and I were locating a water valve in the park.It was for the main water supply and the park Mgr. wanted us to try turning it off and on to make sure it's working.They call it "exercising the valve."Well, I turned it and nothing.It would not move. I put a little muscle behind it and it started to turn.I put a little more pressure on it and "SNAP" Here came the water.LOTS OF WATER! I broke the valve and water was gushing everywhere! Panic set in." Where do I turn it off" as the only place you could turn it off at I thought was the one I broke! The park mgr. was not a" happy camper" he scrambled to get a set of plans to see if there was another way to get the water turned off. Meanwhile, 250 residents of the park had no.........WATER!!! I thought to myself as I stood there in shock,"this will be the shortest workamping job in history!"......"Jeni is going to kill me!" Lucky for me we located another valve and got the water turned off so we could fix the valve and get water to everyone.The park Mgr. said "it was no body's fault and all seemed well and I think I'm back in good graces with him.But,I have noticed the friendly people of the park have been waving at me with one finger,and their golf carts have been coming "Dangerously" close to me as I walk the park.....Hummm.

Park Sierra musings

Here is a picture of our "workamper site".It overlooks a gentle sloping canyon.It has a covered porch with a porch swing that looks out over the canyon.This is a delight for Jeni as she enjoys sitting out on the swing and reading in the afternoon.

We are both enjoying the volunteering here at the park.We were a little worried that not being members yet,and getting a free site might "outcast" us a bit with the members,but everyone has been great.They treat us like family.My work day consists of showing up at the "pole barn"(maintanence shop) at 8am.There is a park manager that assigns us our tasks according to urgency and difficulty.So far I have done a wide range of things,repairing waterlines,the septic system,patching asphalt,tree trimming,running the various equipment consisting of,backhoe,skiploader,chipper,chainsaws,and the dump truck.They pretty much take care of all maintanence in house.Breaktime is about 10am where we congregate at the clubhouse for coffee and cookies."lots of cookies"!Back to work at 10:30 and done by noon.

Jeni has been working in the office and is getting involved with some of the social ladies groups here in the park.We have met alot of the members by being involved in so much of the happenings at the park to see if we will fit in and be happy with living here when we are members{#35 now).So far we are impressed and can't wait to join.

I am amased at the spunk of the people here.They are up to the challenge every morning.If it is broke,needs repair,or replaced. No matter what it is, they pool their vast knowledge and abilities to get the job done.And some of these guys are in their 8os! Yea,I have a hard time keeping up with these guys. This is a close knit community for sure.

Here you are known by your first name and site number, hence Phil and Jeni site#426. If you are single it's your first name and site number only.I was surprised to learn that there is only a few single guys but alot of single gals in the park.Jeni has already told me not to get any ideas or it will be Jeni at site #426 only! "ole" Phil will be "dearly departed."

The main transportation here is golf cart.Big,small, all styles, and color.And when your out and about in the park,you better wave and say hello or they wonder if your an outsider and their security has been breeched!

This is an "escapee" park which is an RV club that supports the RV lifestyle. They have parks like ours at many locations around the U.S. They are very low cost and secure to stay at as you travel,but you must belong to the Escapees to stay at their parks.

We will be heading up to Sacramento Thurs. and Fri. for Dr. appointments and seeing the kids of course.

Workamping begins

Monday we start our workamping job here at Park Sierra. We have moved from site#421 to a nice spot with a view site#426.We get a golf cart to get us around to do our duties while we are here.It is a three month contract which takes us until the end of the year.As with most volunteer jobs there is no money but you get free rent, utilities ,laundry, and propane.In return we give them 24 hours a week between both of us.The work is always easy and the camaraderie is priceless.

My brother Gary and his wife Martha stopped in for a visit Friday(this is the only picture I have of them together from a couple of yrs. ago at Aidens soccer game.).They were on their way back to San Diego after a vacation that led them to Oregon.We showed them around the park and they seemed really impressed.Martha especially liked the dog run here at the park. As we strolled up, the people with their dogs started showing up and the dogs didn't disappoint as they put on a show for us.I would guess that about 90% of the population here has dogs.Jeni and I were proud of how warm and friendly the members here treated our guests.That is why we chose this place as everybody treats you like family.Friday night we played "skipbo"as I refused to be humiliated at "hand and foot"again. But alas,Gary and I got beat by the girls.I quit!No more cards!........Damn cards!

Saturday we all went to the casino for breakfast but managed to stay away from the slot machines.The last time we all were in Vegas, Gary and I found a "three Stooges"slot machine and played it all night.The girls were not happy with us as every time you made a bet it would sound off"whoop whoop whoop whoop" like Curley used to do.It also broke us both.

Today we moved the rig over to our new site and got set up.The only drawback was a light rain that fell all morning.It sure cooled it down here though.

We sure enjoyed seeing Gary and Martha this weekend They are great! Martha always brings along gifts for us.(yummy) We are a close family and our kids and grand kids are very lucky to have them in their lives.When the "going gets tough", they are always there for all of us.

Good friends,good food,Damn Cards!

It's been a quiet week here at the park. Me helping out with the "work detail "crew,and Jeni staying with the physical therapy for her knee.


We got the news this week that we have been accepted for the" workamper"position here at the park.We will start on the 24th of August.and work through December.Jeni will work in the office a couple days a week and I will keep doing what I have been doing. Were so excited!


We had a nice surprise Thursday as our friends Stan and Diane Shelstead stopped in for a couple of days.They got the site right next to us.When Jeni got a call Wednesday from Diane saying they were stopping by for a couple of days,my first thought was "uh oh," She read my blog blaming her for my card playing woes",but when they arrived, not a word about my "slanderous"accusations in the blog! Hmm,maybe she didn't read it?


We all went out to dinner Thursday evening for Chinese food in Oakhurst,a liitle town east of the park.The park manager had suggested the place to Jeni and Diane when they were checking into the park.The food was great and the owners treated us like family.The husband and wife included us in their lively bantering between each other.The husband was putting up shade screens on the windows of the restaurant while his wife of oriental decent,and her broken english kept us laughing as she kept her husband ,the cooks,and the waitresses on the move.I think they all were related.Back at the park,those "dreaded" words were spoken by the ladies,"HAND AND FOOT ANYONE'! Stan and I "cringed",but we knew we were doomed.Cards!We decided to play over at the clubhouse at the park.Stan and I thought that a neutral card playing site might be just the advantage we need.......WRONG! We got whipped by the girls again!


Friday Stan and Diane got to enjoy the park while I did my volunteer thing and Jeni her Phy.Thrpy.thing.Diane made a nice dinner Friday evening,we had hamburgers and this "fabulous" coleslaw she made.She is a great cook.Last winter at the potlucks where we all volunteered,she made some "yummy dishes".


After dinner,what else; Cards! Stan and I took another "trashing" at the hands of the ladies."That card game sucks!"I hate it!" Well the girls took pity on us and decided we would play C.L.R. A dice game where you play with dimes and roll the dice and have four options,C-put your dime in the center,L-put your dime to the player on the left,R-put your dime to the player on the right,and -a dot- means you keep your dime.The object of the game,be the only player with dimes and win the pot which is the dimes in the center.We all had fun playing and the tension of the dreaded card "trashing" was gone.


Saturday morning,we said our good byes as Stan and Diane headed south for more adventures.Jeni and I were sad to see them leave as I think we have all grown to be good friends.Hopefully we can meet up with them this winter somewhere.


I gave Jeni a tour of the "pole Barn" Sat. afternoon.this is the huge maint.bldg.that us volunteers meet at to get our tools and instructions for the work day.She was surprised how big it was and how many tools they have.I will try to get a couple of pictures of it,to give you some idea of the place.


Saturday night they had a dinner at the clubhouse for all of us.They served "pork loin",mashed potato's,green beans,salad and ice cream for dessert,and coffee all for $7 bucks.What a deal.

We met a lot of new people and Jeni made some contacts for volunteer work.A guy I have been working with this past week,George is an avid golfer.I told him that I would get my clubs out of storage in Sacramento and play with him in a couple of weeks.A guy and his wife at our table from Florida wanted to play golf while they were here so I "hooked" them up with George.I don't know if George was happy about it or not.

Monday we leave for Riverside for a couple of days to see our son and hopefully the Grandsons.Jeni also has a Dr.appt.for her knee.We should be back in the park Wednesday.

I love this time of year for sports as the baseball pennant races are heating up and NFL football is back with the preseason games going on.I sure don't get much done around the house and I put on a few pounds as I turn into a "couch potato" this time of year,but it's the"buena vida" time of year for me.

A cool ride

We are back at Park Sierra after 5 days in Sacramento. We got a lot accomplished and the biggest was our air conditioning in the Suzuki. Thanks a million to my Daughter Jackie ,her husband Dustin,and their friend Tony.They got the parts, put us up and fixed the AC for us.It was a cool ride back home yesterday. No 4-60 AC (4windows down 60mph) anymore.That's Jackie with Jeni and I in the picture. She is smart,pretty,and a great mother.
While in Sac. we also got to spend time with our grand kids,Alyx and D.J.We played cards,read books(D.J's favorite) and the girls went shopping(Alyx's favorite).
I'm calling our friend Diane Shelstead! I want to let her know that I Hate that card game "hand and foot". She taught us that game at "Agua Caliente
park ,when we all were volunteering out there last winter.I can't win! This weekend my wife,daughter,and granddaughter beat me every time.I consider myself a fair card player,but this game has my number! The last time I didn't finish last was with Stan(Diane's husband) when we played partners back in the spring!
I'm calling a "Shrink"!
My grandson D.J. loves "Monster trucks". He has about 27 toy replicas of them.he knows all their names and even the drivers names.He and I played with them but D.J.got irritated with me because I didn't know the different truck names. Hey,how can you remember names like "Monster mutt,the avenger,cowboy,grave digger,and brutus".
Well Saturday I had to pay our hotel bill at "Casa Jackie". Jackie and I washed and waxed her "Chevy Tahoe". It got the "showroom shine". Thanks to "ole"turtle wax!
I visited "campworld" in Rocklin Ca. for some supplies while in Sac. I am going to change out our "septic hoses" when we get back to the rig.
For just a few items,I spent a $100! How am I going to get this by Jeni.I can't get out of that place without spending a "bundle"!
Saturday night,after we finished the "Tahoe",and getting whipped at cards by the "gals"again,I decided to do something I enjoy,reading my grandson a book. We settled on the couch and began ,but as you see in the picture I failed. Actually,
I'm not sleeping,I am resting my eyes before the next sentence.Riiight!
Back at the park today,I met my buddies at the pole barn for work detail and Jeni had Physical Therapy for her knee.
I am really enjoying volunteering here at the park. The guys here are great.No word yet on the "workamping gig"yet,but we love it here anyway.We are #40 on the list for membership now which is still probably a year off but we will hang around and see what happens.

Park Sierra

As we promised, here are some pictures of the park. There is our site,spacious and shady.Each site has an 8'X12' shed that,when you are a member,It's yours to use.
The park is heavily wooded in oak trees,and beautifully landscaped. They have areas they themed in the "Old West" like the stage coach/covered wagon area(look closely on the stage,you can see a tv antenna and roof vent on the roof).this is a picnic area.The little waterfall area is close to the clubhouse and has a bench to rest and meditate about your losses in the stock market! But thats another story.
There is a picture of the spacious clubhouse.It has everything in it.Library,workout area,craft room,computer room,pool tables,card room up in the mezzanine area. My favorite is the big kitchen. Not that I cook but the gals always have cookies baked fresh for the hard working volunteers every day.yum yum!
It is a great place,and the hard working people
here at the park are the greatest.If your up this way,stop in.
Well I'm back volunteering today after a nice weekend of just enjoying our surroundings. Jeni is still doing Physical therapy for her knee. We have decided to take the workamping job here at the park. The Mgr.John has to go to the board here to get approval which could take another week.
Hopefully everything will go well and we'll have our fall/winter "workamper job and not have to drive to get there!
Volunteering here is great,but you have to know the "pecking order"The guys here are great,but you know the ones you like to work with and the ones you stay clear of. Most of the guys are "laid back" and think it should not be a job but "fun".There are a few that bring back my work days of "the foreman from hell!" Bossy,load,and obnoxious! I just stay clear of them.But all in all it's a great experience.
Wednesday we are headed to Sacramento for a meeting and getting the air conditioner in the car fixed. finally!Remember in an earlier post I told of it going out and the mechanic in Riverside wanting $2700 to fix it.Well my son in law has a friend that will do it for around $800.Thanks Dustin!We will probably be down there until Sunday,but maybe we will be driving back to the park in an air conditioned car.
One couple that live in the park,just got back from a trip to Florida. They were saying how mild the weather was in the south.I got to thinking that as hot as it has been in the west this summer,maybe the U.S. weather is changing in all areas because of "global warming".Hey, As long as we don't get tornado's,the Midwest doesn't get earthquakes,the north doesn't get hurricanes,and the south doesn't get early snowstorms,I can live with it!

volunteering again

I have been volunteering mornings from 8am til noon.I just show up at the "pole barn" which is the maint. shop at "park Sierra", and they assign you a task and pair you up with another volunteer. the tasks I've done so far range from, cleaning and servicing the coolers on the roof of the clubhouse,flushing the fire hydrants and fire line, trimming brush and trees and feeding it into the "chipper", changing "street light"bulbs from a bucket of the tractor,.and of course a 30 min. break in the clubhouse for coffee and cookies.(my favorite task). I have met a lot of nice people in the short time we have been here. That's how this park works, the volunteers keep the costs low by doing as much as they can "in house". Jeni and I aren't members yet,but we are experiencing everything we can to make sure this is for us. So far we are impressed.
Thursday morning when I showed up to the "pole barn",the park mgr. asked to see me after lunch,he offered Jeni and I a "workamper" job to help around the park. This way we can stay 6 months rent free and still get a feel for the place.We are leaning toward doing it.They are also looking for another couple to do the same thing.The job is advertised in "workamper"Magazine in the Sept./Oct. issue.If anyone might be interested!
Jeni and I headed into Fresno this morning to get groceries and supplies. Fresno is about 35 miles south of the park. There is also a casino just a mile from the park. It's called "Chuchankis Gold". It has a resort hotel, a "killer" buffet, and lots of other eateries.It even has weekend entertainment. Also there is" Yosemite" just 25 miles east of the park.We will wait until fall to run up there when the crowds are gone.
Jeni found a place just up the road to continue her Physical Therapy for her knee.She continues her battle to get the knee well enough to resume her normal duties.
We have been so busy this week we still haven't been able to get pictures of the park up on the blog yet,but tomorrow we promised ourselves we would take some pictures.
I have been summoned for jury duty Aug. 17th in Sacramento.I'm not looking forward to it but It is one of our rights as an American citizen and I should be proud they picked me.I guess!
This last winter we volunteered in the desert for San Diego county and we really enjoyed it.It keeps us active and in touch socially. We missed that this summer while in Riverside.Now that were volunteering again here at the park, we realize this is one of the things we love about the lifestyle we have chosen.