Rapid City, SD

I made it to Rapid City. Travel days were good, but while I was there they had snow storms. ugh. Rapid City has lots to do and see. Each corner in the downtown historic district has a bronze statue of a president. There's also a lot to do in the near-by areas.

I was able to volunteer during a couple of good weather days at Storm Mountain Center Church Camp (yes, storm). It is a beautiful camp with excellent cabins, lodges, and dining facilities. It is nestled in a valley with a couple of 100 year-old buildings and the original gold mine. Yes...gold mine. It doesn't get any better than that. I went panning, but was not successful in that endeavor.

While I was in this beautiful city in the Black Hills (where I did find gold in a shop), I changed my residency. I took the plunge. Many full-time RVers become residents of Florida, Texas, or South Dakota for several financial reasons. So I did it! You will soon be getting my new address. I've added my freckled mug to the state that has license plates saying 'Great Faces, Great Places'

Salt Lake City

I spent more time than I had expected in this very pretty city. The weather was such that I didn't feel comfortable traveling east over the mountains. So I nestled in and let the rain and snow come. There were a couple of nice days that I was able to get out, but I read a lot about the local history and culture. hmmm, interesting.

The best, though, was visiting with a college friend. I was given the royal treatment and taken around town to local sights, movies, and fine dining. fun. I am very grateful for that.

After about ten days I ventured out to drive across I-80 headed for Rapid City, SD.

Leaving California

After a month of rain, wind, snow, and hail I left California. I had intended to wait until the end of March, and it was a good thing. I-80 leaving the state at Donner Pass had been closed daily and had chain restrictions all the other time. While we had flooding rains, up-country had snow measured in feet. This week promised normal weather, which is 70 degrees. I left on Thursday. The trip over the mountain was breath-takingly beautiful. The road was clear and it was nice and sunny.

I enjoyed my stay in California visiting. Only some of the sight-seeing was able to be done, so that was disappointing. But that's the way it goes.

It was good to be on the road again. I am now in Salt Lake City visiting a friend.

Jackson, California

I worked almost 3 weeks at Gleanings. There are many volunteers from all over at any one time and they are constantly changing. During my second week there, a group of 4 people arrived from Oregon. They have come every year for the last 6 years. One of them is deaf. There never has been an interpreter for him. Until this year. So I did my best to interpret the daily worship time and other special events.

Now, I haven't signed for a couple years, so my signing was even worse than before. He just laughed and said I needed to take more fish oil, because my hands were rusty. But he seemed to enjoy his stay more, according to others. So amazing how it worked out that we were there at the same time.

The third week I was able to work with several NOMADS who came from their church in Yuma, AZ to volunteer for a week. I had worked with some of them in other projects, so it was fun to be together again for a few days.

Now I am visiting with family and friends in Jackson and doing some tourist-type things.

Happy St. Patrick's day.

Gleanings for the Hungry

I am in my second week of working here in Dinuba, CA near Fresno. This mission outreach creates dry soup mix in the winter and sends it all over the world to those in need. Last week over 1.9 million servings were created. Most of the time I put spices in the ziplock bags. Those bags then go over to the line where the dry veggies are put in and then packed in barrels. I also helped on the line burping the bags to get all the air out.

In the summer Gleanings will process peaches by cutting them, placing them on trays which are put in the field (several acres) to dry. The dry peaches are then packed into 5- gallon buckets and are, again, shipped all over the world.

While I was here I saw a truckload of 43,000 lbs of soup mix leave, headed for South Africa. There is a staff of about 30 people here. We were fed 3 meals/day and 2 snacks. Gleanings runs solely on donations. Amazing. You can read about it and watch a video on their website (or youtube) Gleanings.org.

Yuma, AZ

I spent over a week here in Yuma. I was able to see some friends and enjoy some of the shopping and markets here. The area supplies much of the nation's lettuce, citrus, dates, and nuts. Its been interesting seeing the harvests going on.

I also was able to take advantage of dental and optical opportunities in Mexico. I had heard from several people about the excellent work that is done, so I came here to find that most of the snowbirds come here for just those reasons. So, I got some inexpensive, good work done. Of course, there's also lots of shopping to be done there too.

Now I will be headed to Dinuba, CA (near Fresno) for a two week project with Gleanings.org.

I will be able to have a brief visit with some family members along the way.

Towerpoint Mesa, AZ

Well, unfortunately my time at the RV resort came to an end. I was in such denial about it that I stayed an extra day. I also made reservations for next winter.

While I was there I attended several exercise classes everyday and a variety of activities. These included medium and high intensity water aerobics (in the two heated outdoor pools), core muscle exercise, easy cardio & hand weights, line dancing, and Zumba. I played bocci ball, pickle ball, and Texas hold 'em.

I attended stain glass class and made a stain glass bird. The best class, though, involved lots of hours. It was lapidary and silver smithing. I cut, ground, and polished my own stone, then set it in a hand-made silver setting. cool.

There were so many more activities offered that it was hard to decide. Not to mention the weekly parties and happy hour.

I ran into my childhood neighbor. That was crazy. It was a good visit with him and with my brother and sister-in-law, who came for a couple days. Lots of laughs.

Now I am headed to Yuma, AZ. I will visit with former NOMADS team members. After that I am headed to Fresno, CA area to do a non-NOMADS project.