Home Page

In preparation for our trip to Sonoma, CA to provide support for Jerry’s brother, Jim, and his wife, Sally, we took Bubba out of storage on January 17, 2009 and spent that night at the Morrilton KOA, just off I-40. Unfortunately, that night we had electrical problems and Ann was awakened by the smell of wires burning. Jerry shut off the electricity and we spent the rest of the night without heat – never fun on a January night in Arkansas! But the next morning, Jerry found the loose wire that was causing the problem and repaired it so we could hit the road.

We drove I-40 all the way to I-5 in California then turned north. Along the way, we spent the first night near Elk City, Oklahoma, the second night at the USA RV Park in Gallup, New Mexico and the third night at the Sierra Trails RV Park in Mojave, CA. The third day was an exceptionally long one as we covered 610 miles. Bubba was tired. From Mojave, we drove to Napa where we had reservations at Skyline Park, the closest campsite we could find to Sonoma. But after 4 days of driving 30 miles round-trip to Sonoma, we realized that we would have to find closer digs. After searching extensively, we located one trailer park in Sonoma that had facilities for RV’s so on January 25, we settled into Acacia Grove Mobile Park for the long haul. It was not somewhere we would have stayed by choice but we needed to be close to Jim and Sally and this was our only option.

We brought Jim home from the hospital on January 24 and began the process of closing down his architectural firm. On February 12, he was readmitted and received massive doses of chemotherapy over the next 3 days. We completed the packing of his office at the end of February and made daily trips, with few exceptions, to San Francisco to visit him in the hospital. He never recovered from damage to his heart and his kidneys, as a result of the chemo. As his condition continued to deteriorate, he made the decision to come home under hospice care. So, on May 8, he came home and on May 16, he died.

During our time there, we were blessed with visits from both Sally’s brother, Buddy, and Jerry’s brother, Bill. Our friends, Carl and Cheryl, and their dogs, Buckeye and Bucephalus, also came south for a picnic with us at Bartholomew Winery. All provided us with much needed respite. Bill and Buddy returned to Sonoma when Jim came home under hospice care. Sally’s other brother, Gary, and Buddy’s wife, Bev, also came out at that time and were with him until the end. It was a difficult time for us all but Jerry and I are so grateful that we were able to be there for Jim and Sally when they needed us. That’s what family means.

We stayed in Sonoma until June 1, assisting Sally and Buddy in packing for Sally’s move to Arkansas. We are happy to report that she is now settled into an apartment in Little Rock where she is surrounded by family who love and support her.

We made the decision that we would spend the next four months meandering back to Arkansas and that we would try to stay in forest service campgrounds or state parks as often as we could. Private RV parks are rarely pristine and we needed some time in the woods. So on June 1, we headed to Folsom Lake State Park, near Granite Bay, for a couple of nights. On June 3, we spent the night with our dear friends, Carl Lee and Cheryl Lane, in Lincoln. After a wonderful visit, we headed over Donner Pass to the California Gold Country and Cottonwood Creek campground, in the Tahoe National Forest, near Sierraville. We stopped for a visit at the Wild Plum campground, near Sierra City, where we had camped with Jim and Sally some 30 years ago. Good, good memories. And, interestingly, we bought some firewood from the same guy we bought from 30 years ago! However, it was $2 per bundle then and $6 now.

From Cottonwood Creek, we moved to Bootleg Campground in the Toiyabe National Forest, just south of Walker, CA for two nights then to Paradise Cove RV Resort in Bridgeport for on night so we cold tour the ghost town of Bodie. Our next stop was French Camp campground in the Rock Creek Recreation Area of the Inyo National Forest then on for a return visit to Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills. We camped at Diaz Lake near Lone Pine but decided that the next time we visit here, we will camp in the Alabama Hills on BLM land.

From Lone Pine, we backtracked north to Hwy 168 and followed it to the Nevada line. We did this to avoid traveling through Death Valley with temperatures about 100. When we reached the Nevada line, we stopped for a celebration. We were so happy to be leaving California. Great place to visit but we wouldn’t want to live there. We’re spoiled by Arkansas! No matter how far we roam, Arkansas will always be home.

Until next time, happy trails to you . . . til we meet again!