Life Rolls Down Many Roads

Although not necessarily fully organized and efficiently stowed in our new home, we are pretty well settled in to our personal camp site and going about the routine of work and play and life... Did I say routine? Well, really there's nothing routine about life with the Hoeppners, as you will see. 

We very much like our new (to us) rig, but we are still grieving a bit over the Safari. There is no comparison, really, and even today, as we were going about our recycle route, we spied a Safari at an overlook and had to pull in there to have a closer look-see. No one was around, so we just circled it admiringly and went on our way.

Daughter Stephanie and granddaughter Tia

We did manage to get in contact with the person who bought our Safari... Yes, it sold immediately. Well, of course, it was gorgeous! A local pastor bought it and plans to live in it after he retires... Cool!

We were blessed to see two of our children recently. First, daughter Stephanie came through during travels from California to Utah. We didn't have much time to see her since she was only here a short while, but it sure was a special treat, anyway.

Also, our oldest son, Norman, came through on the truck he drives. He is a Certified Driver Trainer for a large Salt Lake City truck line. He too, didn't have much time, but we managed to share a meal together and enjoy a delightful couple of hours visiting.

On the way home from our visit with Norman, our car seemingly lost its transmission. There we were, suddenly coasting ever slower in the middle lane of a very busy freeway... on Saturday night... in Las Vegas! Cars were whizzing past us on both sides at 70+ mph while Richard desperately tried to move toward the semi-safety of the right shoulder. We were adrift and powerless and fast becoming a sitting duck... er, make that: toad.

Our Ford warrantee includes towing, so we called and were soon told help was on the way. Yay, Ford!!

An hour later, we were still sitting against a wall on a narrow shoulder... on a curve! Late night Las Vegas traffic was in a hurry and half drunk. Many times, we were only missed by inches. 

We called again. They are coming, it's a busy night. Yeah, tell us about it! 

Over two hours later, we watched as the Little Green Toad was dropped off at a Ford dealership and the tow truck drove away... It was late at night and we were there alone. 

Granddaughter Tia to the rescue! Three in the morning and we're 50 miles away, she doesn't care, she's there for us. What a trooper! She came for us and loaned us Eddie's pickup. Eddie is in Korea and won't be driving it for a while... still yet, we are so blessed!!

A few days later, we were back in the Little Green Toad. The transmission was fine all along, but the computer had gone berserk and in an evil attack, disabled the transmission. Hmmm? Hope they were able to rehabilitate the computer so that never happens again!

Vegas excitement never ends. The food and the wine and the money flows 24/7. But it is the food that really beckons... The town is full of buffets; some are fantastic and very reasonable. The other night, we went to a casino for a nice buffet dinner.  Just as we began our desserts, pandemonium broke out. Amid loudspeaker instructions to stay calm, lights were flashing, alarms were going off and tourists were yelling and taking pictures of the smoke coming up the escalators. 

We, like some of the locals, continued to eat our diner. There was no where to immediately go, anyway. The Bingo room was open, so we went on in until all the panic was over. It seems a slot machine had caught fire and scorched part of a wall.

Here I am looking like a tourist. 

 Yes, we are enjoying our stay here but are about ready to move on. We have been signed on with the Forest Service to be camp hosts at the Boise Creek Campground in Big Foot country near Willow Creek, CA. We will be leaving here at the end of April.

We are expecting our first Hurricane motorhome house guests! Ruddy and Merida, dear friends from Florida, will be coming in early March. They live in an RV, too, so will be comfortable here. We are so excited to see them!  

Maybe by the time they get here I will have this motorhome and everything in it all organized.... Nah, that's a pipe dream because when I can't recall where things go, I end up putting them in a new place, and the confusion starts all over again, hehehe.