HITCH ITCH!

Yes, it's snow,at Park Sierra. The park said"above the fog below the snow" when we signed up.They lied! Yes we got a little afternoon storm that rolled through and dropped an inch of the white stuff on us.

We took a little day trip to Groveland to check out the park we are going to be working for this summer.Yosemite pines resort located just east of Groveland Ca. Its about 35 miles from the north entrance to Yosemite Natl Park. Jeni just has to throw a snowball at me.We checked out north Yosemite and she found Snow.Its time to hitch up and find warmer weather!

We won't be able to travel this winter but that doesn't stop us from dreaming of our past travels.here are some pics of the places we have visited.Jeni and I at Cape Canaveral Florida touring to Kennedy Space center.

Galveston island Texas

Turner Field home to the Atlanta Braves

Savanna Georgia

Tybee Island,South Carolina and the Atlantic ocean

Yosemite Valley,Yosemite National Park

Natchez,Mississippi and the Mississippi River

Natchez State Park the entrance to the Natchez Trace Parkway

The Grand Ole Opry Nashville Tennessee

The Louisiana bayou

Yosemite National Park south entrance

San Diego,Ca and the Pacific ocean

The Apache Trail  in Arizona.See sunny and warm!

Quartzite,Arizona. Well kinda warm

Tombstone,Arizona

Where our adventure began in 2005 in Folsom,Ca.Our promo picture for our P&J adventure Chronicles

Even though were stuck here in the snow and cold,dreaming of warm temps and sunny Sky's,we have our past adventures to fall back on.This summer we will be on the road again making new memories to fall back on.We will be workamping this summer for the resort by Yosemite,and next winter maybe basking in the sun in Arizona.2014 we hope to be heading north for new adventures in Yellowstone,Glacier,Rocky Mountain,and Custer National Parks. Being an RV'er, you know the signs. Restlessness, the urge to study your travel maps,the smell of the road.It is an addiction that drives you. You dream of the hum of the RV,you have to load up and go. Its a fever all RVers get......Its "HITCH ITCH"!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

My brother and his wife joined us in Sacramento for a big family Christmas. Their holding their nephew Waylan.

We all had dinner at the "Spaghetti Factory".the night before Christmas eve.

We had Christmas at Daughter Jackie's house.Let the present opening begin



Jeni and I got our Granddaughter Alyx a Marilyn Monroe collectible.



A nice Christmas ornament for Katie's tree

Dad and Waylan opening presents

DJ and Waylan checking out sesame streets"Elmo"playing the drums

OK,my brother is showing off his fabulous outfit he got for Christmas.He is certainly comfortable in his manhood.

Jackie and Dustin put on a great feed.We had ham and turkey with all the trimmings

And of course the master carver was at work slicing and dicing

They were opening presents in Riverside too.The Grandsons were hard at work.Jeni and I enjoyed 2 Christmases.

We gave Aiden a science kit for Christmas.He had a ball doing different projects.

As the day drew to a close,our tummy's full,we were all ready for bed.Martha looks tired as she holds Waylan.

In Riverside Nevin looks tired as all the presents, candy, and roughhousing has taken its toll on the little guy.

Waylan out!

Dogs out!

Back at the park,Jeni and I hosted a Christmas party called a Wassail.We served hot buttered rum and mulled cider.What a hoot. My buddy Ron and I were the bartenders for the evening.

Grandma and DJ enjoy a quiet moment doing a puzzle.There weren't many.

The holidays are over, Jeni and I survived 10 days of parties,travel,Grand kids,and park business.We are "Toast"! We hosted a Christmas party at the park Saturday night. Then Sunday headed for Sacramento for Christmas with the family.Headed back to the park the next Wednesday for park business,then headed to Riverside for a belated Christmas with our son and Grandsons.We headed back to the park for a new years eve party Monday, and today (new years day) Jeni is doing laundry and I am watching bowl games.Tomorrow maybe we can get back to normal.I think this year we have enjoyed the holidays more than past years. It was a blast.We will see what 2013 holds for us..As we set here tonight in our own little place where we can sleep in our own bed,I use an old phrase my concrete mentor used to tell me,Jeni, "back on our heads tomorrow".I guess that means back to normal. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The Holidays!

Yes the holidays are here.There won't be any weight lost this season!The park had its Christmas tree decorating party and the main coarse.....SWEETS!

Ole Santa was there to ask all the members if they had been good

Our 12 foot tree brightly decorated

Jeni putting her ornament on the tree.she is decked out for the season and enjoying a holiday "Nog".they serve Leaded and Unleaded eggnog,make mine unleaded please.

This is the side of our storage shed on our lot.Jeni did a great job of decorating it.she loves this time of year.

For Thanksgiving we went over to Ventura to my brother's,We got Jeni some much needed "beach"time.We enjoyed the sunset on Thanksgiving evening.

Jeni is a happy camper!

We had Thanksgiving dinner at MImi's Cafe.A delicious Turkey dinner and pie for dessert.(I can't understand why I'm not losing any weight!)

Back at the park,I've been working on this block wall.It usually takes a crack const. crew a couple of days to complete....It took us 11 days! no production here.

Jeni started the "movie and a hot dog"night again at the park.Her movie was the "Hunger Games".She sold 61 hot dogs.Yea,the members are real health conscious.Jeni gets the famous Costco hot dogs and buns,she has chili,chips,and of course candy.The park has their own popcorn machine so we have everything the big theatre's have.(Gee I can't understand why I'm not losing weight!)

For Veteran's day the park had a dinner and salute to our members who served.Jeni and the Entertainment group put on their salute to Veteran's.(Funny what a couple of glasses of wine will make you do!)

The holidays have been great so far.We are heading to Sacramento for Christmas with our family this year. We have been busy at the park,Jeni working with her committee's and me helping out in Maintenance,But it keeps us busy and its fun.You know the ole saying,"move it or lose it".The food, the decorations, the lights, the food,(Give it up Phil your not losing any weight now!) Ah the Holidays!

Back at the Park

We are back at the park having fun.The activities here at the park are endless.Wine tasting,Bunco,dinners,stage shows,movie nights,and holiday parties.For our annual Halloween party, Jeni and  I dressed up as our Grandson's favorite character..."Super Mario and Luigi!

The park sponsored a trip to Oakhurst,Ca. which is 16 miles north of the park for their annual car show.this isn't one of the cars in the show.This car belongs to one of our members.It's a 1980's Buick Riviera in mint condition.It should of been in the show.Jeni sure loved it. It is a convertible.

This Chevy 1960's "Apache Step side"pickup caught my eye.I used to own one like it.Mine was a 1959 with a long bed and green.What a classic!

The park sponsored a trip to "Cat haven" which is a sancuary for wild cats.They had Tigers,panthers,Jaguar's,lions,Bobcats,and many others in their natural habitat.The place is located east of Fresno up the "kings canyon Highway".This little Bobcat was keeping a wary eye on us.

This Black panther is letting us know he sees us.We found out that a black panther is actually a Jaguar that is black. The people that run this place are doing research in Africa on the Jagures..

This tiger wishes we would go away as he is trying to nap!We had a great day here.There is a member of the park that sets all these excursions up for us and we sure thank her. they try to have 2 or three a month.So far we have been to the theatre in Oakhurst,a butterfly ranch,wine tastings,Cat heaven,and attractions in and around the Fresno area.Thanks Val!

In October the park had its annual meeting where we elect new officers for our board of directors.Its a week of the various committees also electing new officers. Jeni was elected again to head up the DPC(disaster preparedness committee.) We also have dinners,themed lunches,and our famous "Hitch up Breakfast" on Sunday.The highlight of the week is our "Variety Show" which features our members.Jeni was again the MC for the festivities(She does a great job and the members just love her) There were some great acts,and....... 

....Ole Phil was again called upon to perform!This time we performed to the song"YMCA" by the"Village People".I was the construction worker.Fun Fun Fun!

In early November we got over to see our son Dan and his sons Aiden,and Nevin.My how they have grown. Aiden is 10 and Nevin is 5. While we were there,even in November,it was warm.So we took them to the water park.They had a ball,and even "ole Grandpa" got wet.

The next week,we headed to Sacramento to see our girls and their family.We took the train instead of driving and we actually loved it.It was about the same as driving money wise and we saved an hour.I would do it again.Our Grandson DJ broke his arm and got lots of attention from Grandma.Those" monkey bars"always get little people!

Grandpa got lots of time with DJ and new Grandson Waylan.DJ just turned 6 and Waylan is 5 months.

This is the "Lil devil" Waylan in his Halloween costume. Very cute!

These two are Aiden and Nevin as "Iron Man" and "a Storm Trooper". in their Halloween costumes.Very nice!

When we were in Sacramento we went to "Apple Hill" with the family and had a great time.Sunday evening we rode the train back to Fresno and drove back to the park,Its been a great fall so far and there's plenty ahead as we head into the holiday season.Jeni has been very busy at the park as she wears many hats.In addition to "chairing" the DPC,she is involved with the "sunshine Girls"(decorating and party planning committee)The "Hello Squad"(greeting,new member info,movie night committee) The Budget committee,takes care of the soda cooler(buys and stocks all the drinks for the park)These people drink a lot of soda! And on top of all that,she works in the office. Also she just got elected Asst Treasurer for the park.'HOLY  COW"! That's a lot.Me? well I'm just working in Maintenance and helping with cleanup for the dinners. That's enough for me. And, Oh yea, my acting gigs on the Park Sierra stage.I've got to stay in character so I can't do too much.....right? All kidding aside,we are enjoying ourselves and looking forward to the Holidays.It's great to be...Back at the Park.