CARSON VALLEY INN AMENETIES

WHEN WE PICK OUT AN RV PARK WE HAVE A MENTAL LIST OF THINGS WE CONSIDER.

*LOCATION

*COST

*WATER, SEWER, ELECTRIC

*PULL-THU SITE (I STILL CAN'T BACKUP A TRAILER)

*WI-FI (AND IS IT FREE?)

*SWIMMING POOL AND HOT TUB

*EXERCISE ROOM

*CONVENIENCE STORE

THE CARSON VALLEY INN HAS IT ALL!! CHECK OUT THIS INDOOR SWIMMING POOL SHAPED LIKE THE STATE OF NEVADA.

AND ON THE UPPER DECK OF THE POOL, TWO BEAUTIFUL HOT TUBS.

MARY LOVES IT WHEN AN RV PARK INCLUDES A WORKOUT ROOM. PERSONALLY I'M CHECKING TO SEE IF THE MILLER LITES ARE ICE COLD AT THE BAR.

SO I FOLLOWED MARY OVER TO THE POOL AREA THIS MORNING TO SHOOT SOME PICTURES FOR THIS BLOG. SHE LIKES TO EXERCISE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHEN SHE GETS OUT OF BED, A LITTLE EARLY TO BE CHECKING OUT THE ICE COLD BEERS.

"SUNNY & 80" (ALMOST)

THE OUTDOORS TYPE

WHEN IT COME TO RV'ERS, THEY ARE DEFINITELY THE OUTDOORS TYPE. WHEN I THINK OF OUTDOORS TYPES I THINK OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE.

NOT A WEEK GOES BY THAT WE DON'T READ IN THE PAPERS, HERE OUT WEST, ABOUT SOME KIND OF SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORT, BE IT A HIKER, SKIER, OR BOATER.

SO TO THOSE OF YOU WATCHING OVER US, AND COMING TO OUR RESUCE I'D LIKE ADVERTISE THIS POLICE WEAR WEBSITE FOR YOU TO LOOK THROUGH, AND JUST TO MAKE SURE YOUR COMFORTABLE FOR SUMMER TAKE A LOOK AT THE 5.11 SHORTS.

CARSON VALLEY INN, MINDEN, NV

ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT RV LIFE IS THAT YOUR HOUSE IS ON WHEELS. SINCE WE'RE BACK ON VACATION (AGAIN), AND REALLY WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIFE STYLE? JUST WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VACATION AND ....... WHAT?

ANYWAY, "HEY MARY, WANT TO MOVE DOWN THE ROAD TO THE CARSON VALLEY INN?"

A NICE RV PARK CONNECTED TO THE CARSON VALLEY INN CASINO AND RESORT. CHECK OUT THE VIEWS OF THE SIERRA NEVADA'S.

I MIGHT HAVE MISSED THE MORREL MUSHROOM SEASON AT HOME, BUT YOU'RE ALL MISSING THESE BEAUTIFUL SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS.

AND CHECK THIS OUT, GREEN GRASS OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAMPER. BELIEVE ME THIS IS A RARE SIGHT IN NEVADA.

OF COURSE CHECKING INTO A NEW CASINO RV PARK INCLUDED A "FUN BOOK". WE ENJOYED USING OUR COUPONS, $10 FREE SLOT PLAY, AND 2 FOR 1 PRIME RIB DINNERS.

MARY EVEN FOUND ANOTHER HAPPY CAMPERS SLOT MACHINE TO ENTERTAIN HERSELF WITH WHILE SHE ENJOYED HER "FREE" MARGARITAS.

LIFE IS GOOD, BUT BRING ON "SUNNY & 80"...........

PAY PER POST

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SOME NEW BLOG ADVERTISING ON THE BLOG TODAY. IT'S AN INTERNET COMPANY THAT PAYS YOU TO MAKE POSTS IN YOUR BLOG. HOW COOL IS THAT? GET PAID TO BLOG.......



AFTER BLOGGING ALMOST DAILY FOR TWO YEARS, WE THOUGHT WE’D BROADEN OUR HORIZONS AND TRY TO MAKE A FEW DOLLARS ON THE BLOG. PAY TO POST IS OUR THIRD ATTEMPT AT GENERATING INCOME ON THE HAPPY CAMPERS BLOG. FIRST IS ADSENSE ADS, BY GOOGLE, SECOND IS AFFILIATE MARKETING WITH FOODSAVER AND CAMPING WORLD, AND THIRD IS PAY TO POST.

THE SYSTEM IS SIMPLE, APPLY TO PAY TO POST, WAIT FOR YOUR BLOG TO BE APPROVED, AND SELECT OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE LIST ON SUBJECTS TO BLOG ABOUT.

WE JUST MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TEST AND USE A NEW RECIPE WIDGET TO DISPLAY ONE OF MARY’S GREAT RECIPES, AND WE HOPE TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY IT ON OUR BLOG IN THE FUTURE.

IF ANY OF YOU OTHER RV BLOGGERS OUT THERE WANT TO LOOK INTO TRYING OUT THIS BLOGGING FOR PROFIT IDEA, JUST CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST TO CHECK IT OUT.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM, AND READ AND WATCH THE VIDEOS MAKING US BETTER BLOGGERS. AFTER TWO YEARS YOU READERS DESERVE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AROUND HERE!

MAKE A WISH

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.........

THE NEW SCHEDULE WENT UP, AND MARY AND I GOT NO HOURS, AND NO DAYS. I GUESS WE WILL BE ON VACATION FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS OR SO. VACATIONING WITHOUT A PAYCHECK? THAT'S GONNA TAKE SOME PLANNING. I'LL GET BACK TO YA ON THAT ONE...........

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE HORRIBLE HOLIDAY WEATHER DID INDEED MAKE THE CASINO BUSY, BECAUSE IT WAS TOO MISERABLE OUTSIDE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. THE TOKES WERE GOOD AS WELL.

DRIVING OFF THE MOUNTAIN AT NIGHT IN THE SNOW SHOWERS WAS NOT A PLEASANT ADVENTURE, AND WE HAD TO DRIVE IN IT THREE OUT OF THE FOUR NIGHTS WE WORKED OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEK-END. MARY'S KNUCKLES TURNED AS WHITE AS THE DRIVEN SNOW. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE EITHER OF US HAVE DRIVEN IN CONDITIONS LIKE THAT.

WE HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED YOUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEK-END.

MORREL MUSHROOMS

I NOTICED IN BARB'S BLOG THAT KAYLA HAD GREAT LUCK HUNTING THOSE TASTY MORREL MUSHROOMS I ONLY DREAM ABOUT IN THE SPRING TIME. NICE GOING KAYLA.

LAST YEAR MARY AND DELILAH BROUGHT ME SOME MORREL MUSHROOMS IN CARSON CITY WHEN THEY CAME FROM WISCONSIN AND I CAN STILL TASTE THEM...... YUMMMM!!!

THIS YEAR TODD AND DI STUCK SOME IN THE FREEZER AND HAS THEM WAITING FOR OUR SEPTEMBER VISIT AT HOME IN WISCONSIN. CAN'T WAIT !!!

MEMORIAL DAY WEATHER AT LAKE TAHOE IS WHAT I WOULD CALL NORMAL. RAIN, CLOUDS, COLD, AND SNOW. NOT VERY NICE CAMPING WEATHER, BUT AT 6,250 UP IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, SUMMER DOESN'T REALLY ARRIVE UNTIL THE 4TH OF JULY. THE CRAPPY WEATHER WILL HOPEFULLY BRING THE CUSTOMERS INSIDE TO GAMBLE.

THE CASINO IS HOPING FOR A BUSY SUMMER. THEY THINK WITH THE HIGH PRICE OF FUEL THE CALIFORNIA CUSTOMERS WILL STILL STAY CLOSER TO HOME AND VACATION HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS. I SURE HOPE THEY ARE RIGHT !!!

I'M SURE YOU'VE NOTICED SOME CHANGES TO THE BLOG THIS WEEK, JUST BEAR WITH ME, I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT PAY. BECAUSE IT'S AN ESTABLISHED BLOG I HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPERIMENT WITH SEVERAL NEW THINGS.

TAKE FOR EXAMPLE TODAY'S BLOG. THE TITLE IS "MORREL MUSHROOMS", HOPEFULLY IF SOMEONE DOES A SEARCH FOR MORREL MUSHROOMS THEY WILL COME TO THIS BLOG, GET BORED READING IT, AND CLICK ON ON OF MY ADVERTISEMENTS TO CONTINUE THEIR INTERNET SEARCHING, MAKING ME A FEW PENNIES IN THE PROCESS.

DON'T YOU WISH WE WERE STILL TRAVELLING AND POSTING THOSE COOL PHOTOS AND STORIES? SO DO WE !!!!!

FOODSAVER/CAMPING WORLD

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS........

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ADVERTISING, SO CHECK OUT THE GRILL SALE.










AND CHECK OUT THE FOODSAVER PRODUCTS.






ACTUALLY THESE TWO PRODUCT GO GREAT TOGETHER. THE FOODSAVER IS PERFECT FOR THOSE LEFTOVERS FROM THE GRILL.

WE USE, ENJOY, AND ENDORSE BOTH PRODUCT LINES.

HARVEYS, LAKE TAHOE

A FITTING RETURN TO HARVEYS CASINO IN LAKE TAHOE, CHECKOUT THIS WEATHER........

YUP, THAT'S GOOD OLE MOUNTAIN SNOW.........

WE HAVE THE CAMPER SET UP DOWN AT CARSON CITY IN THE CARSON VALLEY AND WILL BE MOVING IT UP TO THE LAKE NEXT WEDNESDAY.

THE FIRST DAY BACK ON THE JOB DEALING BLACKJACK IS ALWAYS FUN AS WE SEE OLD FRIENDS AND EXCHANGE OUR WINTER STORIES. MAKES THE FIRST DAY GO FAST. OH WELL, SUNDAY STARTS WEEK #14, SO IT WILL BE A SHORT SUMMER OF WORK.

FEELING A LITTLE SORRY FOR YOU REGULAR BLOG READERS, THAT WE ARE RETURNING TO WORK AND WON'T HAVE NEW STORIES AND PHOTOS OF OUR TRAVELS. IT WAS A GREAT VACATION AND WE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH.

$4 GAS

I WOULD'NT BE AN RV'ER UNLESS I SQUAWKED A LITTLE ABOUT THE PRICE OF FUEL. PERSONALLY IT SNUCK UP ON ME AS WE DON'T USE THE BIG RED V-10 TRUCK WHEN WE'RE SITTING STILL AND WORKING, MARY BUYS ALL THE FUEL FOR THE HONDA.

ON THE FINAL DAY OF OUR TRIP TO THE PACIFIC COAST WE STOPPED IN SUSANVILLE, CA TO FUEL UP THE TRUCK FOR THE FINAL LEG OF THE JOURNEY BACK TO CARSON CITY. I GOT CHANGE BACK FROM A "FRANKLIN" AND A "GRANT" ($150).

FUEL COSTS ON THE TRIP WERE IN THE $3.70'S IN ARIZONA, THE $3.80'S IN NEVADA AND OREGON, AND NEVER UNDER $4.00 IN CALIFORNIA.

ONE OF THE RV BLOGS I READ DAILY HAS THEM DISCUSSING PARKING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER AND FLYING HOME TO VISIT FOR A MONTH THIS SUMMER JUST TO SAVE MONEY, INSTEAD OF DRIVING BACK TO THE EAST COAST.

TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS THE SAME STORY, ONLY WE WE'RE A DOLLAR LESS ON FUEL, AND RIGHT AFTER LABOR DAY, FUEL PRICES FELL AND STAYED DOWN UNTIL SPRING. I HOPE WE HAVE THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN THIS FALL FOR BB'08.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M STILL HAPPY I DIDN'T BUY A DIESEL PICK-UP BACK IN 2001.



NEW POSTCARDS

MT SHASTA, CA

OUR TRIP UP MT SHASTA (14,125 ft) WAS DONE IN THE CLOUDS, FOG, AND RAIN.



WE DIDN’T GET HALF WAY UP, TO THE MEADOWS, BECAUSE THE SNOW ISN’T OUT YET. WE GOT AS FAR AS THE BUNNY HILL, AND THERE WERE PEOPLE GETTING SKI’S OUT OF THEIR CARS AND PREPARING TO HIKE UP TO WHERE THEY COULD SNOW SKI AND SNOWBOARD.




AND IT WAS COLD, WHY THE HELL DID I DECIDE TO WEAR SHORTS?


THE TOWN OF MT. SHASTA IS A NICE LITTLE TOURIST TOWN, WITH SKI AND BICYCLE SHOPS, FUDGE SHOPS, ETC. THE NICE PART IS THAT IT IS “GREEN”, GREEN GRASS, TONS OF PINE TREES, AND I EVEN HEARD A LAWN MOWER RUNNING THIS MORNING.

AFTER DOING THE GIFT SHOPS, AND A COUPLE OF QUICK BEERS FOR REX, THE SUN CAME OUT AND WE WENT ACROSS THE VALLEY AND BACK INTO THE MOUNTAINS TO EXPLORE CASTLE LAKE. FROM THIS MOUNTAIN TOP I GOT MY BEST PICTURE OF MT SHASTA.



THE LAKE WAS STILL MOSTLY ICE COVERED.

IT WAS GOOD TO GET BACK INTO NEVADA THE "CHING-CHING" SOUND OF SLOT MACHINES, THE DIRTY CASINO ASHTRAYS, EVEN THE SAGEBRUSH LOOKED GOOD IN THE NEVADA SUNSHINE.

WE’RE BACK IN CARSON CITY AGAIN.

MT SHASTA

AFTER DOING OUR 200 MILES TODAY WE ENDED UP AT ABRAMS LAKE MOBILE ESTATES AND RV CAMPGROUND.

I CAN SEE BOTH MY “TRAVEL NAZI” BROTHERS ROLLING THEIR EYES AT ONLY 200 MILES. I GOT THAT FIGURED OUT FOR YOU, THINK OF HOW FAR YOU ENJOY MOTORCYCLING IN A DAY, AND THAT’S HOW FAR I’LL PULL THIS 34 FOOT TRAILER IN A DAY.

SPEAKING OF MOTORCYCLING, YOU BROTHERS HAVE TO LOAD THOSE BIKES INTO THE BACK OF THE TOYBOX AND COME WEST!!! THE PACIFIC COAST AND REDWOODS WOULD BE THE BEST CYCLING YOU’VE EVER DONE. OUR FIRST 50 MILES TODAY, WAS DONE IN 3RD GEAR IN THE BIG RED FORD PICK-UP ABOUT HALF THE TIME, JUST TO MAKE THE CURVES AND GRADES. THE 200 MILES TOOK US 5.5 HOURS.

TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR OUR REPORT ON MT. SHASTA. HERE IS A PICTURE FROM OUR CAMPGROUND AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN DRIVE ABOUT HALFWAY UP.

CALIFORNIA

OVER THE YEARS IN MY MIND, AND POSSIBLY HERE ON THE BLOG, I'VE BEEN PRETTY NEGATIVE ON CALIFORNIA. AFTER SPENDING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ALONG THE COAST AND THE REDWOODS, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.

THE OTHER DAY AT THE WINE FESTIVAL I ACTUALLY SAW PEOPLE EATING PRIME RIB SANDWICHES AND POLISH SAUSAGES, AND NOT EATING LETTUCE SANDWICHES.

NOW THE WINE FESTIVAL WAS NO OKTOBER FEST, AND NO BEER FEST, BUT AT LEAST IT WAS ALL IN ENGLISH. IF TASTING $28 BOTTLES OF WINE IS YOUR THING INSTEAD OF A BEER TENT........

THE SCENERY IS SPECTACULAR, AS YOU SEE FROM OUR PHOTOS, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTS.

TODAY WE'RE HEADED TO MOUNT SHASTA IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, CAMPER AND ALL, AS WE HEAD BACK TOWARD LAKE TAHOE AND BACK TO "SLAP'IN JACKS" NEXT WEEK-END.

THE FINAL PICTURE OF THE COAST SHOWS THE FOG BANK HEADING IN OFF THE PACIFIC AND A FITTING END TO OUR VISIT.

Art, Seafood, and Wine Festival

It's Saturday and on the schedule is the Art, Seafood, and Wine Festival in Gold Beach, Oregon. Rex usually selects the sights we see and the thing we go to, but this was definately my idea. I first saw the sign adversiting this festival over a week ago and decided it was something I wanted to do.

This is the sign that was on the door to the events center this morning when we got there. We were early so had to wait about 15 minutes for the door to open.

In addition to wine, food, and artworks, there was a flower competition like they have at the fairs at home. Here are some of the entries...I would hate to do the judging!!

This is the display of wines at one of the booths....



The $10 admission fee included a wine glass. Rex decided we should set up our (my) purchases with the Pacific Ocean in the background. Turned out to be a beautiful picture....

For some reason, we decided I should be in the picture with wines...does that make me the wino of the day??

On the way back to Crescent City, we stopped at a brandy distillery. The brandy is aging in these casks. Does anyone think we need to be involved in AA??

This display was on the way to Gold Beach...these are made out of horseshoes and whoever did them is very talented I think. These are along the road of a farm that grows Easter lilies.....turned out this area is touted as the Easter lily capital of the world. You just never know what interesting things you are going to run into!!