Home Again

I have been telling people that my rig will be done any month now. My levity has become reality.  So I have returned home in an effort to expedite repairs.

Wes is the man. Go Wes

New Honda

A Sad Day last July

Even after being dragged several miles, I sold her for $650

Ta-Da. I found another 86. Gently used with only 529 miles. 

The Huntington

I am back in LA awaiting Serenity's completion. My sister and I visited the Huntington Library yesterday. The art collection is impressive and the grounds are beautiful.

In 1910 Henry Edwards Huntington retired to his 500 acre ranch called San Marino Ranch following a very successful career in real-estate and transportation in Los Angeles. In 1913 he married for the second time to his uncle's widow, Arabella Huntington. She and Henry were avid art collectors and amassed the greatest group of 18th century British portraits ever assembled by any one man. The estate and works of art were opened to the public in 1928, a year after Henry's passing.

The Huntington's hoe

Country living at it's best

The gardens represent several different bioms. Desert, Jungle, Subtropical, Australian and there are also formal rose and herb gardens. The conservatory is home to many exquisite orchids. 

Repairs :-(

We have been in Knoxville two and half weeks now. Linda's rig has a leaking radiator. Few days to diagnose the problem, one week to deliver a new $3000 radiator, and now a week waiting in the queue for shop space. The good news is Spartan will cover the radiator and the 12 hours of labor to install it.
It was great weather when we arrived, but now we are on the edge of the storm hitting NY and Washington DC.

Serenity is hopefully dry and warm in Brawley, CA. She is in the capable hands of Rod at David and Sons. Her engine has been pulled. The number three piston at sized. Her engine is being rebuilt. I hope to be home soon. 

Seeking the Warm

Linda and I are headed west to sunny :-) Arizona. It has been unseasonably warm in Hancock, NH, but still very cold for a thin blooded California boy. Linda just rolls her eyes.
We have been rolling south on Interstate 81.

Heading out of Hancock

Linda's capable hands on the wheel

Still cold outside

Pennsylvania farm land. What do you notice? That's right, NO SNOW

81 through Virginia's deciduous forests

Great Spots

I have always appreciated bloggers like George, boondocker supreme and master travelers Kevin and Ruth who share the great boondocking spots they find. Here are a few of my favorite spots.

Burns Lake 47.755160  - 119.226581

Bay Side CG, FL  30.516554  -87.007169

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, TX

33.958243  -102.782009

Bosque Redondo Park, NM

34.432551  -104.213278

Winslow, AZ  35.113156  -111.033298

Lake Walker, NV   38.740001  -118.766058

South Beach CG, OR  47.568103  -124.361592

Nova Scotia   46.211028  -60.593313

Jordan River Recreation Park, Vancouver Island

48.421161   -124.052082  $12/night

Georgie Lake, Vancouver Island  50..744553  -127.614665

Merry Christmas

Wishing family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Truly Jaw Dropping

We were enthralled by Kurios - Cirque du Soleil last night. What an amazing evening.

My nice Martiza and sister Wendy

Pictures were not allowed during the performance

Here are a few web photos that will impart a sense of this magical performance.

He is simply Awesome 

But to do this amazing production some justice, watch this video

At the exit

Natures Splendid Bling

I am in West Covina celebrating Christmas with my sister, niece and her children. My friend Cliff is visiting from Carson City. We decided a trip to the Los Angeles Nature History Museum was called for.
There are many wonderful exhibits here, but I particularly enjoyed the spectacular mineral specimens.

Elbaite Tourmaline on Quartz
from San Diego County, CA

Another exquisite Elbaite Tourmaline specimen 

Spessartine, red, and Muscovite, gray, on Microcline
from Pakistan

Selenite, a crystalline form of gypsum,
 from Mexico

4644 Carat Blue Topaz
from Brazil

22.64 Carat Tourmaline
from San Diego County, CA

The Greeks believed Amethyst
 protected you from drunkenness.
Amethyst is quartz containing iron impurities. 

White Calcite crystals on Galena
from Missouri.
Galena is an ore for both Lead and Silver. 

Native Gold from Placer County, CA