3/13/2013 Wednesday
   Had a nice chat with the owners of the other Casita.  Left about 8:30 (our usual departure time) with a gorgeous sunrise.  We continued on the 58 .  We were up and over the Tehachapi pass before Jerry had a chance to worry!  Saw a helicopter on a flatbed truck pass us...Then down the other side...rolling green hills. The first in forever!   We then hit the 99 and went north.  Wildflowers, orange groves, and trees in bloom everywhere!!  A beautiful drive...Much better than I-5

Stopped at a truck stop for gas and the smell of these amazing trees overpowered the diesel smell.  I asked a fellow sweeping up and he told me they are almonds!  The smell was like marzipan or amaretto!  wonderful!  And it looked like snow underneath.

      We hadn't been in contact with our friends, the Peskoffs since January.  We had read on Facebook that they were moving near Modesto and they called on Tuesday out of the blue!  Lisa told me they had just moved into a house in Turlock the week before and would we like to use their driveway?!!  You know our answer!  Boondocking with friends and family is the best!  Turlock is south of Modesto on Highway 99. 

 And they had a pool!

    Pool party after school!!  Probably 80 degrees!  Pool.....55!!!  Lilly is the second from the left and in 5th grade.  Hannah is the 4th from the left and is 13 and in the 7th grade.

      We had a lovely time and even got to attend Lilly's science fair!  Learned a lot!  Oh, the memories of having two girls ;-). So much catching up and they will be up for our yearly party!

3/14/13 Thursday

      We left in the morning as everyone scattered to their respective weekday places and drove about 30 min. down the road to Jerry's brother, Tom's house in Riverbank just north of Modesto. 

      We talked and laughed and caught up.  There was even a slideshow of many of our thousands of pictures.  They asked to see them!  Really, they did!  I'm sure none of the rest of you will dare!  After a lovely lunch of Burritos (it's Mexican week at the Mayville's!) we headed north to see how close to home we could get!

Sacramento

     After driving a bit to boondock again north of Sacramento,  I told Jerry I was tired and to stop somewhere so we paid $35 at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland.  Not very picture worthy, but it did have electricity and water.

3/15/13 Friday

   We must have been getting closer to the barn because we were up and out of there by 6:30!  

Sunrise over the Viking pool factory on I-5.  Where our pool came from.

     Highway 20 was beautiful with green hills and redbud.  Lots of burned areas, though.  Sure is beautiful in our neck of the woods!!  Nothing like it.  Absence does make the heart grow fonder!  The sunshine didn't hurt either! 

 

 Needed some redwood shots with the Casita for the fellow in Texas at the Casita factory so took a few.

 Home sweet home at Mom's house showing off our Mardi Gras loot!

Catchin' up with Tom and Barb and Mom

     We got to Mom and Sue's just in time for a great lunch.  We visited a while and Jerry unhooked the Casita and drove to town to visit with Susie and his dad and do a quick job at an office in town ( no moss grows under his feet!)  I unloaded clothes etc. out of the trailer and visited and visited.  Jerry took Susie out to dinner and then came back.  We slept the last night in the Casita in Mom's driveway.

3/16/13 Saturday

      The ladies fixed us a glorious breakfast and away we went again.  Groceries and then 299!  Ohh how beautiful and sunny!  When we got to Salyer, the church was having a corned beef and cabbage feed so...let's make this trip as long as we can.  we stopped by and it was great!  Home by 1:00.  A gift on the gate from the sweet Taylors.

     Everything is wonderful.  The daffodils are in bloom, the redbud are just beginning and the house is just as we left it!  Thank you, Fultons!  I nested and washed clothes while Jerry took off on his 4 wheeler to check out the neighborhood.  He came back in an hour or so and told me we are having the Taylors and Fitzgeralds for drinks cocktails about 5.  What a neighborhood.  Had a great time talking Riverbend Politics and checking out our map of the trip.  

     Sure felt good in our own bed...

3/17/13 Sunday

    Still trying to put stuff away.  Took the cover off the pool and then we walked the hill with Janet (my weekend walking buddy).  After that it was off to Forrest's 4th birthday party at the Fulton's Farm.  Forrest is the boy I watch every Thursday and have missed so much on this trip.  He remembered me and we all had a great time frolicking with all the other little boys and their parents at the party. It was a super hero St Patrick's theme!

      That evening it was a great corned beef and cabbage dinner at the Taylor's lovely home.  Home and slept like the dead!

 3/18/13 Monday

      Jerry took the day off ???? and I watched Forrest.  Whew, what fun we had!  We cleaned the pool and caught frogs and read stories.  He hadn't taken a nap after his party so took a 3 hour one here.  What a sweet sweet boy!  He is really growing up!

3/19/13  Tuesday

     I made the mistake of calling the Willow Creek Open Door Clinic on Monday.    I just wanted to let them know I was back and could work when they need me and so I am working.....Not as bad as I anticipated, my brain does retain some stuff about computers.  Jerry went to town to set up jobs and do the Costco run.  I came home to a spaghetti dinner!  We caught up on some of our favorite TV shows like Dallas and Blue Bloods.  All are recorded just waiting for us to come home.  Ah, technology!

3/20/13  Wednesday

    Here we sit, a rainy day but we did get our walk in!  Jerry is starting the taxes and I am finishing this blog.  I have loved writing my thoughts and not knowing who is reading what.  Thanks for all the help and support and I think I didn't get homesick because of all of you!  See you soon!  Karen and Jerry says Hi!