Rainy Day Carl

Its cold (57 degrees!) and raining, for a change, in SoCal.  So, no free range outside walk with Carl this morning.  Instead, we started a fire and are watching the weather; rainy and windy.

Sage, CA Sunrise

This morning's sunrise looking southeast then west with the full moon setting.  No two sunrises or sunsets are ever the same.  We continue to be amazed with SoCal's everchanging views.

Water Tank

We got a water tank and booster pump for storing and aging potable water.  The new tank is green plastic positioned next to our beige metal fire tank.  The new tank will allow our water to age before being fed to our filtration system.  Hopefully this will improve our water quality.  And, should our well ever stop producing, we will have a tank of water to hold us over while.

Julian, CA

Yesterday we rode sport bikes to Menghini and Volcan Wineries in Julian, CA.  It was perfect riding weather.  We met a pair of 25 year-old cats living in the Menghini tasting room.

Dattilo's

3rd generation Dattilo Lisa Maria delivering Jim's chicken marsala, a Dattilo's favorite.  Dattilo's in Hemet, CA is such a great Italian restaurant; as good as any we've experienced in world-class cities.

Sierra Roble Winery

Yesterday we road sport bikes to Warner Springs, CA and stopped at Sierra Roble Winery

and Hawk Watch Winery.

Roswell - the truth is out there

Are we the most intelligent life form?

Leaving Chama, NM in 2016

We are leaving Chama, again, until next year.  We had a great time.  Again, Carl proved himself as the essential hunter.

Rio Grande National Forest

Yesterday we rode a Rio Grande Nat'l Forest road between NM and CO.  It was a warm day and the roads were empty.

Fall at 7800'

Carl enjoying fall at Sky Mountain Resort and RV Park in Chama, NM.

Parked on the banks of the Rio Chama

Jim raising Stalog 13 on his HAM radio while parked on the banks of the Rio Chama.

Antonito, CO

We had a great time yesterday riding dirt roads off Highway 17 in Antonito in Conejos County, CO with friends Brandy and Stan.

Platoro, CO

Joellen and Jim riding dual sports in Platoro, CO at 9800'.

Rio Chama, Chama, NM

Carl and Jim relaxing on the river

 

New Pony in the Stable

Because we don't have enough vehicles ...

Now we have a tricked-out golf cart to ride around our property, our SoCal neighborhood's dirt roads (to the wineries) and RV parks.

Sky Mountain RV Park Chama, NM

We had a great time parked on the Chama Rio.  The RV Park was located on a fast running river, in the mountains (8,000 ft.), in the woods, 8 miles from the CO border, far from crowds.  The river was running fast, clear and cold and stocked with fish.  Jim hooked up his HAM radio.

Petrified Forest / Painted Desert National Park Holbrook, AZ

Joellen and Jim went to the Petrified Forest / Painted Desert National Park on the way to SoCal.
Jim's is pictured at the Painted Desert National Park.  Joellen is pictured in the Petrified Forest NP in the Blue Mesa.

Bandelier National Monument Near Santa Fe, NM

Joellen and Jim went to Bandelier National Monument near Santa Fe, NM.

Chama, NM

We are enjoying our stay in Chama, NM, 8 miles south of the Colorado border.  Jim and Joellen are pictured in downtown Chama, NM at the historic Cumbers & Toltec railroad that made Chama a major stopping point and party town circa 1880. 

Arizona

Driving in our RV through Arizona enroute to Chama, NM.  We stopped at Needles, CA the first night, then spent a night in Tuba City, AZ.

Carl's 5th Birthday

Today is Carl's 5th birthday.  Here's a picture of Carl today and from 2011.

Kitchen Inspector Carl

Kitten Carl

Sage Sunset

Another great  sunset in Sage, CA. The rain missed us El Nino has been a no-show this season.

Mole Monday

Carl and mole

mole

On this morning's free-range walk at dawn with Carl our cat, Carl located and presented us with a mole.

KG5LTL Ham License For Jim

Jim just got his Technicians Ham license KG5LTL. He'll test for the General next month. He has a hand held 2 meter radio and his 10 meter system will be up and running in a few days. He hopes to talk to Europe at some point when the conditions are right. He hopes his Dad decides to get his radio setup again so he can talk to him in Florida. At some point he hopes to learn Morse Code(CW).

Accomplished Hunter

No mice in the traps last night so Carl handled rodent control the old fashioned way.

Happy Birthday Jim

We had a great time yesterday celebrating Jim's birthday at some of our Temecula wineries.  The below pic features Jim with Oak Mountain's Steve Andrews and Randy in Oak Mountain's wine cave.