As we close out this part of our adventure...

I just have to say that I have really enjoyed Nellis AFB. The facilities are amazing, the ability to drive to things easily within a short amount of time, perfect, and we have really had a good time here, I think.

Yesterday was pretty low key, spent a little time getting ready for our next move (gassed up, filled the propane that we cook and heat with - YIKES, expensive 20 minute trip), we played at the park in the morning (well, the kids played, I cleaned up around this joint) and then ventured to the other side of the base to check out the Thunderbird Museum. I figure that the jerks (said with the greatest degree of affection) have been waking us up super early every day and flying late into the night, might as well see what they're about. The museum is only open to anyone with base access and is free. It only took us about 20 minutes to look around, as it is mostly flight crew photos from every year in the history of the Thunderbirds (USAF version of Blue Angels). There were a few mementos from particular events in the history of the squadron, but mostly the flight crew photos. I understand that on occasion, someone from the current year will escort you into the hangar and whatnot, but I've been in a hangar before (right, VAQ 135 friends?) at least a few times, although not if I could help it!

Today we headed up to Mount Charleston and visited the snow. B had never been in the snow, as we left VA when she was only about 6 weeks old and have been in CA ever since. I am not a huge snow person, unless I can visit it, ski and leave in the same day (I blame my Pacific Northwest upbringing), so we never visited CA snow. Needless to say, the kids LOVED it, but never really got to fully appreciate how COLD it was until they took off their mittens/gloves (acquired yesterday at the base exchange on clearance). They were ready to come home when I bribed them with the eventual promise of  Cocoa when we got home. Even though it was in the low 60's when we got back to Nellis.

Beautiful drive to see snow

B's first snow experience

H was all about throwing snowballs

K isn't afraid to throw some either

They were off so fast I could barely keep up

C belly sliding

The crazy crew

C really enjoyed this part of our journey

She's such a ham

Snowball fight!

My angel

Gratuitous selfie

I wanna throw snowballs too!

H can be an angel too!

Best snowman we could find - didn't make it, just found it

This evening found us with a laundry extravaganza (sounds so much better that way) capped off by an extra load of laundry necessitated by an ornithological visitor to our home. Yup - kids left the door open when I was running to the laundry room and a little birdy flew into our home. I walked up and he (she?) was flying back and forth inside between the boys' bed and the back of the coach (my bed - gasp!). I opened the windows and screens passenger and driver front, and pulled back the curtains, and eventually the little bugger flew out. But not without fouling the dashboard of our rig and the boys' bed. H thought it was cool and C's little head was about to explode until I pulled the sheets, pillowcases and linens and took them to the laundry room to clean.

Tomorrow we head out and see what the next part of our journey brings.

If I had a million dollars

When last you heard from our fearless adventurers... Ah whatever. We're just north of Vegas, and the first day (Friday), we spent at the playground relaxing, doing a little shopping at the huge Base Exchange and Commissary, and ended the day with an hour and a half swimming in the base pool. We had to pay $3/ea, but it was a pretty decent pool - 15' deep and the kids were allowed to jump/dive in at the deep end, which they kinda dug. They also had kickboards and flippers and dive rings that they were able to use, which was fun, and it was a nice way to wear them out.

We headed out for supper after, because frankly I didn't want to cook, and went to a Mexican restaurant advertised in one of the flyers from the RV park. Unfortunately, that was closed. Instead, we found a road side taco shack type place where traditionally I have had really good luck. This place was just okay. Win some, lose some, but at least it was fairly cheap. And K got to use some of her Spanish. While we were there, I looked over at C and his tooth that had been loose was really hanging, so I asked him to just pull it (I don't do teeth).  We had purchased our first souvenir while in Calico the day before - a wooden tooth fairy box, and just in time, as we were able to use it that evening!

Why yes, that is a mango margarita with the tooth fairy box!

Saturday found us heading into Vegas to see some of the sites. I'll admit, my planning was inadequate and next time I'll know better, but I will just say, that I had forgotten how expensive Vegas can get so quickly (especially when Frank isn't here to win a meal or two at the blackjack tables, as he usually does). We went to Mandalay Bay because I thought I had read that the Aquarium was amazing and a not-to-be-missed, but at a total cost for us of $115, we decided, after more than a few tears, to skip it.

We consoled ourselves with a trip to the Hershey store at NY, NY, and then across to the M&M store, which is always one of our favorites, if for no other reason than the cheesy movie on the 3rd floor - "I Lost my M in Vegas." Stopped for lunch, then headed on up toward the Mirage, because I figured we could at least see the tigers as we walked through, however, apparently that is no longer a thing either, and rather there is now a little mini-zoo and Dolphin thing that would have cost us $80. Sheesh! Ugh! and Bah!

Strut it out at Luxor

Good thing there is a barricade!

This one is for Daddy

Boys wouldn't cooperate, but the girlies are having fun

We love the M&M store

We consoled ourselves with overpriced Frozen yogurt and the promise of the Mermaid show, which, I verified, was still actually free! We had a great time at that little casino watching the mermaids and the fishies, and exploring the Bass Pro Shop (H is going to be a great hunter when he grows up, or so he says. Of course he is kind of afraid of guns, but I guess he can be a great bow hunter.) We watched two sets of the Mermaid show, and the first was definitely the best. Then, C was tired, and there was still one more show and the girls REALLY wanted to see it. We decided to wait it out and C fell asleep on my lap on the floor, and the girls got really overly tired but at least walked themselves to the car before passing out. I carried C to the car and realized just how big he's getting when I'm not paying attention. (Note to self, PAY ATTENTION!)

A little Mermaid love

She was the best one that we saw

Yup, that's B on the window 

The girls loved this painting. Maybe someday we can afford a copy

We finished the weekend with a kind of mellow day - went to church, then bought a few things we were running low on, came home and the kids played at the park and rode their bikes. C fell and got yet another war wound, this time his knee and elbow and chin. He's going to be one big scab or I'm going to wrap him in bubble wrap, poor bugger. I got to do laundry, clean up, and do a little research on the next phase of our trip so we aren't surprised again and disappointed by my lack of preparation.

We are here for two more nights then heading south, We want to go see the Thunderbird museum (AF version of the Blue Angels?) and perhaps Hoover Dam before we leave the area.  I think we're cleaning out the Pilot tomorrow to see if we can find the camera, and if not, we're buying a new one. I give up and want to be able to take photos even if my phone is (perpetually) dead. I'm absolutely exhausted, but we are really having the time of our lives. I feel so blessed to be able to do this, warts and all!

I think that one thing the kids are really getting out of this trip is the value/expense of a dollar or more. I know that they have felt disappointment at the expenses that we just couldn't dole out, but I think they are beginning to appreciate the cost of things versus the value of things, which is a lesson that we have apparently been missing while teaching them life skills. A few tears, a little bit of pouting, but all-in-all, an acceptance of limits and boundaries. They have been, for the most part, gracious and accepting of the "no" versus "yes" things to do. Then again, we're less than a week into this adventure! Time to go snuggle my H-man, as he is tired and feeling neglected lately. I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's. )contented sigh(

The adventure and excitement continue

We had an uneventful departure from Port Hueneme, and smooth drive through Los Angeles/Pasadena and beyond (thank heavens!), landing in Calico Ghost Town. We have been there a few times and the kids always enjoy it, and they all decided they'd rather go there right away and be in the familiar, than go somewhere completely unknown. I have to admit, it was weird for me being there without the hubs.  It is somewhere we've enjoyed as a family, and it seemed odd not being a complete family, a feeling that I think I will become overly familiar with this year.

Here are a few photos from our trip.

Resident Cowboy

Outside of Maggie's Mine

Trying to get one shot of all four as we started day one

Mine carts beat Minecraft hands down

Charles is, of course, breaking out 

Relaxing

Four in a tub...

In the crazy house, apropos? 

As we enter Maggie Mine

Because they are all crazy!

Farewell, Calico!

While in Calico, we realized there was a little issue with the hydraulics that work the stabilizer jacks. I double checked the fluid before we left Port Hueneme because the jacks seemed to be slipping or sliding or something in the night while we slept. Fluid was okay when we left. When we set up at Calico (in the dark), the jacks sounded and felt wrong, and sure enough I could not get a stable setting without manually adjusting them (they are supposed to be auto-leveling). I checked the fluid the next morning and the reservoir was empty. Uh oh!

I called our dealership and talked to one of the service guys who mentions that there is a additive that has been recommended by the manufacturer, and tells me to try and find it local to me. I explain that I am struggling with internet on my phone only (and spotty at that) and he said he'd call me back and let me know if he could find it. The kids and I headed to Calico to explore and play for a bit. He called back a bit later, and had a location 45 minutes away that carried the fluid (a Caterpillar dealer, oddly enough). C read the attached MSDS sheet on the way home.

We piled into the car and drove 45 minutes to the town and picked up the product we needed, as well as additional hydraulic fluid and returned home for supper and bed, and I put the additive into the reservoir (in the dark) and cycled the jacks twice to re-level, then we all went to sleep. In the morning, I prepared for us to leave, and cycled the jacks (again) and pulled them up. I check the fluid and it didn't even register on the dipstick. )insert swear word of choice(

Panic set in, but I knew that once the jacks were up we would be fine to hit a new town with better, or at least more abundant services. So, we headed back to Calico town and went through the mine that we had missed the day before, and went to do the craft we had planned, then hit the RV, docked it all up and prepared to hit the road.

There is a lot that one needs to do to prepare before one drives. I had two issues this morning as I was distracted by the thought of hydraulic failure and issues with the jacks. First, I disconnected everything but the electric, then pulled the jacks up (you leave that connected and fire up the engine to run the jacks, or you could disconnect it and run the generator, but electric is better), and almost drove away with the electric still connected - this would not have been good! Luckily I was hesitating and being indecisive and looked out my mirror and saw the cord. Doh!

Next, I was flustered because I couldn't get my electronics to work in the RV. The camera that lets me watch the car that we tow behind, the radio, and (gasp) my charger for my phone. We left Calico without these things and I was okay, but I could not figure out WHY they wouldn't work. Texted hubby and asked, "what am I forgetting?" He knew exactly what it was (Battery switch from store to use) and at least that was working.

Meanwhile, I had called a few different repair places in Vegas trying to see if I could get anyone to let me come in this afternoon (which is apparently a pie-in-the-sky desire). I did get in touch with someone who talked me through the what-ifs in my head and told me I was doing the right things. Once I got off the phone with the tech, I felt confident that I was driving the right way and doing the right things. I went and checked the hydraulic fluid and planned to add a quart, but it was full. What the what?!?!

Insert photo of Nevada line that won't load

Decided just to do it, took off and headed for Vegas, or more specifically, Nellis AFB, which is where we rest our heads this evening - Desert Eagle RV park on Nellis. I actually bought the kids TV dinners at the Commissary (which is HUGE and lovely and I want to explore more later), we came back and they "cooked" their own dinners and played a little Wii, and now we are all going to crash for evening.

We are safe, we are mobile and we are stable. All good things.

Ready to roll!

Yesterday, hubby left early in the morning to start his year away from us. I suppose it should be stated, that technically it is not a year, but rather 355 days, which in the larger scope of things is less than a year and should likely be treated as such, but to be honest, a year is a year at this point. I know when we are down to the last ten days we will be grateful that it isn't twenty, but at 354, it is still just a year.

After our early morning trip to LAX, we came back and the kiddos let me take a nap and relax before we started running errands and preparing our "stuff" for the trip. I am so grateful that I can jut tell them, "Look, Mom has had a rough morning and woke up way too early. Please entertain yourselves quietly for a little while so I can nap. Watch a movie, read a book, play a game, whatever you want, but please let me sleep a little so we can get moving on things that need to be done." And they did.

The rest of the day was laundry and clean up and acquiring last minute things, followed by the company of good friends that we have made along the way, and a whole lot more farewells than I was prepared to handle. I have a greater appreciation for the heartache of saying farewell to a whole large group of friends at once today, as this is my first experience with it in a very long time. Yesterday was painful, leaving friends we've known for 16 years and friends we've known for just a short time, and the kids' friends... just emotional all around.

So last night, the five of us snuggled into my bed and watched "Anastasia" on Netflix and fell asleep and spent the night fighting for space, but making it work.  This morning, I'll pack up the rest of the stuff that needs to be stored, stop in at the grocery store for some snacks and then we'll hit the road, destination unknown. (Life is so strange!)

Some good news before we leave, hubby got the bike rack that we got from my brother fixed and I have figured out how to get all of the bikes attached safely. The bikes are a little smaller than those for which the rack was intended (cough, B, cough), but we have made it work. I'll try to get a photo of the rig in all of it's glory before we hit the road.

I suppose at some point we should draft more than a vague plan of where we are going and what we want to see and do, but right now, the possibilities are a little overwhelming and we can't really decide what to do first. I think we are going to simply head east and through L.A. and decide where we are going once I've crossed that hurdle.

On some level, I'd like to just get out of California and into Arizona, but at the same time, there are still so many beautiful parts of California that we have yet to explore. There is something kind of final and cleansing about getting across a state line and being able to close a chapter or start anew.

So, friends, buckle up if you are along for the ride, because I have a feeling this is going to be one crazy adventure!

Our first outing

We finally took a little trip of more than 10 miles, and went up to Camp San Luis Obispo. Camp SLO, as is self-titled, is a great place. There are only 16 slots, and they are fairly small, but the base is also small and easy to get into and out of. The surrounding towns are amazing and there are just so many cool things to do.

To the north, is Morro Bay, which has a great Natural History Museum, with great hands-on exhibits to check out, informative with good local information for all four of our kiddos.  We also took a quick drive up into the town and it looked like it would be fun to spend more time, with big surrey bikes to rent and ride up to Morro Rock, where you can see otters playing and lots of pelicans and sea birds, as well as sea lions and other marine life. It is just a really busy area for sightseeing.

The town of San Luis Obispo is a super cute college town that looks like it would be nice to hang out in the evenings, lots of cute little restaurants and bars and just a really good vibe. There is a place called Bubblegum Alley that is exactly as the name implies - an entire alley with both walls of gum that people have been sticking up on it for years. The gross part, is behind the current layer(s) of gum, there is moldy blackness of prior people’s gum. We walked down the alley and all I could think was that someone was going to get sick from breathing in the mold. But, K had read about it in one of her books and was thrilled to have experienced the real thing.

The final day of our trip, we went to Pismo Beach. This beach has to be the most beautiful beach I have been to, with clear waters and beautiful waves perfect for surfers and body surfers and for splashing in the sand. The weather was perfect for us, and the waters warm. We splashed in the water, then wandered and found ice cream and a place to grab a quick drink and some fries. It is close enough to be able to go for an afternoon, and easily return to Camp SLO, where we can stay for $23 a night with full hook ups. Yee Haw!