2009 Baker-Vegas Relay Race

It's impossible to really describe what all goes on before the race, during the race and after the race. This year there were 250+ teams. Each team has 20 runners (there are 20 "stages" or legs), substitute runners, drivers, team catchers (to "catch" the runners as they finish their leg), volunteers to help at each stage, support for the team and family! At each stage there are a minimum of 2 motorhomes to set-up the stages and be responsible for the stage, paramedics, radio hams, motorcycle support (they get to be "pretend" cops for the day and offer traffic control) and the team volunteers. Each stage is a buzz of activity!

This year we had to be out of the school parking lot at o'dark thirty so we decided to go out the night before! It worked out well and we were able to get our stage set up in plenty of time for our first runner! Our stage consists of me, Don, Vicki and Steve Terra. We have worked together for 12 years on this stage. This year Rick & Joanne Stone joined us and helped out, although their "designated" job was to be hosts for the motors. The guys on motorcycles need to get off their bikes at some point, and since most don't have refrigerators, etc. strategically located on the course are several hosts who have snacks and drinks.

In my pictures I'm showing...

the radio hams,

medics,

a line of runners coming into our stage (long distance view),

and the view after leaving our stage! Can you imagine running and seeing that "hill" in front of you knowing you had to reach the top of it??

Rick & Joanne hosting one of the motors,

Vicki T. signing in one of the runners

one of the air support units (they used to be on our stage and have now moved north)

one of the runners being caught by his catcher and a medic

vehicles used by the German team (we have/had several international teams)

some more runners coming in (it can get quite congested at times with runners and their follow vehicles)

One of the runners being taken by ambulance to the medical stage for more treatment (and possible air evacuation to either Pahrump or Las Vegas)

One of our stage signs conveniently posted on a historical marker sign!

And finally, it's the end of our stage! Time to relax and have some dinner! We'll head to Las Vegas in the morning! For us, it's the end of the race for another year! For the runners, it's just the beginning!

Westward Ho!

From Flagstaff, the Stones and Leiths headed to Avi Casino in Laughlin, NV. We stayed for several days recharging our batteries (literally and figuratively) for our stay in Baker for the Baker-Vegas race.

We spent some time going through the booths that were set up on the side of the casino, but the best thing we did while here was stop for a hamburger and fries at In-N-Out! Oh yummy! If you've never had an In-N-Out burger then you have no idea what you're missing! It's one of the things I miss the most about California/Nevada/Arizona! :-) I think that Rick & Joanne enjoyed them as well! I cheated and actually had it twice! One of the days Rick & Joanne went to see some friends who had a house in Laughlin and I went shopping to get what we needed before getting to Baker (nothing in or close to Baker...that's for sure!) an In-N-Out burger was just what I needed to give me strength while I shopped! :-)

One of the days we drove over to Oatman, AZ. There is a ghost town (that refused to die) there that has burros that walk freely through the streets! We walked through the stores, took pictures of the burros and then headed back to the motorhomes!

Once we left Laughlin we headed to Baker, CA to begin preparations (and socialize) before the race! In Kelso, we stopped at the Kelso Depot to show Rick & Joanne the refurbished train depot that is there. Don and I had seen it several years before, but wanted them to see this little "burg" in the middle of the desert! From there it was into Baker. I've blogged about our participation in the race before, this being our 16th year not much has changed! You can read about the race here.

It was fun to see "old" friends and talk to all the newcomers about what was ahead! Unless you've been a part of the race, you really have no idea what is involved in it or what an impact it has!

Flagstaff, AZ

It was a *l*o*n*g* driving day today! It's nice that I can get up and walk around the coach (well, if you want to call it that). I didn't walk up and down and get rid of some of the excess calories from last nights dinner! In fact, once we made it to Black Bart's we got the coaches parked, leveled, set up and went in to the restaurant for dinner! I could get spoiled going out to dinner two nights in a row! :-)

Even Furby was going a little crazy by the end of the afternoon! He was jumping up on the dinette chairs, twirling around and in general, just being a silly kitty! Of course, whenever he got too close to the front, Tess would chase him back to the back! It's not like they don't like each other! Tess is just a little protective of her "dad"!

Driving through Gallup, NM today we had some snow flurries! I had to call my mom and Ashleigh and let them both know we had snow! Of course, we were only driving through it so didn't have any time to really enjoy it! Don't know if there was enough to accumulate, but it was 41 degrees outside so doubt if it stayed long!

It's a chilly 24 degrees here in Flagstaff! The low is supposed to be 20 degrees tonight! That's a little on the cool side! We'll have a short day tomorrow! It's only 195 miles into Avi Casino in Laughlin!

On the road again...

After almost a year, we are once again "on the road" - heading to the very same place that we headed to almost a year ago!!! We are once again on our way to Baker, CA for the Baker-Vegas Challenge Cup Relay Race. If I knew how to add the link, I would, but it's somewhere on a past blog! :-) I've been really bad about blogging anyway, so I'm not going to look for the answer right now either! :-) It's been with some rather *S*L*O*W* starts, but we've made it to Tucumcari, NM and should get to Flagstaff, AZ tomorrow!

In early December we took our coach to be repaired from the tornado damage and from a little "self-inflicted" damage that both Don and I were responsible for (we forgot to put down the satellite dish before backing into the garage...after not using the motorhome for travel we forgot some of our routines). We told the shop at that time that we would be leaving "first of March" for a trip. Fast forward to Monday. We were "supposed" to take the Avalanche to the shop to have it prepared for towing and then bring both it and the motorhome back home. That would give me time to get it ready to go...on Wednesday! We were just about ready to leave when they called Don and asked if we could come on Tuesday instead because they weren't ready - little did we know! They had also informed us about a week earlier that the satellite dish had just been sent out for repair and wouldn't be back before we left. That's MAJOR! That's not only internet access but t.v. as well. We told them we would be in Las Vegas about two weeks after leaving and to see if we could get it put back on then. Since we are planning on being gone for almost a month...that's only half the trip! We changed some plans we had for Tuesday and headed there instead. We already aren't "happy campers" and once there find out that they need a piece for the Avalanche. They are having the piece over-nighted and Don makes arrangements for them to finish the job and bring the truck back to us the next day. Guess we won't be leaving on Wednesday after all!!

Don and I headed home with just the motorhome. All was well until we got almost home. We were going to turn on a narrow street and someone was turning towards us. Instead of waiting or backing up like he should have done, Don decided to turn. Guess what? The back tires went into the ditch and there they stayed! Couldn't go forward and couldn't go backwards! Ugh, ugh, ugh! Don's first comments were "call a wrecker", mine were a little different! Actually, I got on the cell phone and called Troy, our contractor/friend and asked him to bring a couple of boards. While we were waiting for Troy, another friend's son drove up and he called his dad's partner, Ken to come help. Ken and Troy ended up chaining their trucks to the back of our motorhome and between the two of them they were able to pull it out enough that we could back up the rest of the way and turn like we should have! Sometimes there is a reason for having PATIENCE!

On Wednesday the repair facility brought the Avalanche to us, finished what they needed on the motorhome and left. Thursday morning we hook-up and check the brake lights, turn signals, etc. and find out that we have NO LIGHTS! Now why didn't they check that before they left?? They offer to meet us "on the road" and we head out.

The first night our plan is to get to Oklahoma City to meet up with friends, Joanne & Rick Stone who are joining us at the race! After about a two hour delay we finally get going (I spent the time shopping since they met us in a mall parking lot!) No problems making it to Oklahoma City but once there we started to put up our "bat wing" antenna (it's the antenna that you use to get local channels over the air) and find out that they hadn't replaced it...the one that was destroyed in the tornado was removed, but they hadn't replaced it (Don had asked them about it about a week before when we had stopped by to check on the progress and he saw the old one on the floor)! So no satellite and no bat wing means that we are really out of luck for t.v.! Not much of a problem for me, but sure brings tears to Don's eyes!! One perk...Rick had told us about an empty mall parking lot just down the street from their home so that's where we went. We were just at the end from the library and they had wi-fi! If I sat outside, I could download our e-mail! :-)

After our arrival, Don called Rick to let him know we were there. Don looked out the window and who was in front of the motorhome in his car...Rick! Rick took us to their house and we had a great dinner that Joanne had fixed! All that and trying to pack for a month long trip too! Spent some time catching up and enjoying the evening and then it was back to the motorhome so we could get an "early" start on Friday! Nine a.m. this morning and off we headed! Our first stop was Flying J for fuel, next was a rest area for lunch and finally this evening we landed in Tucumcari, at an old RV park that Don and I have stopped at in years passed. One perk of being with Joanne and Rick...we walked a little ways down the street to a restaurant for dinner! Normally we would have had something in the motorhome! We needed to walk a little further back to work off our dinner but it didn't happen! Maybe tomorrow while we are driving I'll walk up and down the motorhome aisle to work off some of the calories...or maybe I won't! :-) It's an even earlier start tomorrow so that we can make it to Flagstaff and Black Bart's for dinner! Wow, dinner out two nights in a row...I won't know what to do with myself! BTW the park we are at not only has wi-fi (that's why I can blog) but they also have cable! Tomorrow night we plan on boondocking (being in a parking lot of Wal-Mart or somewhere so most likely no wi-fi - or t.v.)!

One other thing we have had to "deal" with...we had the repair facility winterize the coach since it would be sitting out during some freezing weather without the heaters on and not being used. Instead of blowing out the water in the lines, they put anti-freeze in our system. Even though the tank was drained...we are still dealing with anti-freeze in the water! I can't tell you how many batches of ice I've thrown away already and the water I've run! Ugh! Needless to say, I'm not using any ice and I'm certainly not drinking any of the water!!!

This trip will be a little different from the one last year in several ways. Mostly the house is finished and we won't be "racing" back to get it completed! Also, after the race we will be in Las Vegas a few days (getting the satellite put back on for starters) and then heading to Del Rio, TX where we will spend a few days with daughter, Stacy and of course Justisse and Korey too! From there it's on to Canyon Lake, TX where we will meet up with friends, Maribel and Bob Clerc, who are heading to Henderson, LA with us for a Monaco Wannagos rally. After the rally we will make our way back to Greers Ferry until our next trip in May!

From this to that!

Jan. 2008

Feb. 2009

BTW Don and I are helping to stimulate the economy!

Clyde died and other news...

Last week we had an ice storm that for most in the area was worse than the "Ice Storm of 2000". For us, we didn't really suffer too much from it until the day after! It was kind of neat to watch, and a few days after Don went for a drive with our neighbor, Bill and saw some of the areas that were still in ice mode. I took quite a few pictures of some of our plants, roof, lights, etc. that had ice on them (only one of those here). The day after the ice storm we lost our power for about 8 hours but it came on before we went to bed. Many in the area were out for the week and there are still a few in the surrounding areas that have no power because of the severe number of power poles that were lost.


We had brought my mom over in case, but there was never a real time when she could not have been at her own house! We were afraid if we lost power that the road between us might be too bad to go get her!

Since we have fireplaces and a gas stove, we knew that we could manage a little better. It was o.k. though since we enjoyed some yummy breakfasts and got in some tole painting and card making!


I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the weather, but Clyde (the camel pictured here) died at some point and was on the front page of the local newsaper. We used to look for Clyde on a daily basis when we were staying in Shirley and driving back and forth everyday! Both Ashleigh and Shae got to stop and see Clyde as well! Bonnie is still there, but Clyde loved to come to the fence when anyone stopped and you could see he had a very personable personality...even if he was a camel!

One thing about Arkansas...if you don't like the weather today wait until tomorrow because it's sure to change! The few days before the ice storm Kim, Tim and Ashleigh were here and we enjoyed appetizers on the deck! Don had to take off his sweatshirt and Tim was in his shorts for the entire day!

I haven't been too good about blogging lately and hadn't mentioned that we've had visitors lately! Dave and Marie Ostrander were our first "campers" after we've moved back in the house! I forgot to get pictures so the night before they left I went out in the bitter cold (the temps were in the teens at night) and took a picture of their coach in the dark! It was VERY cold while they were here and they stayed an extra day because of the cold temps but I had fun trying out some new recipes on them during their stay and a few days Marie and I enjoyed some beading!

Last week we had our first "official" house guests (family doesn't count) when Glenda and Ray Roe stopped to visit while traveling from Iowa to Arizona. Glenda's brother had passed away and they had driven their truck to Iowa. On thier way back to Arizona they made a detour through Arkansas to see us and the house! Glenda and I always have fun and we made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby! I think they enjoyed the downtime after their very busy and stressful few weeks! We had some nice weather while they were here so that was an added bonus! The last time they had been here we had been in the framing stages...the first time! They couldn't believe the change in our view after the tornado!

And just because I still haven't finished with my "mega" update from last year (!) I'm including a picture of Rick and Joanne Stone (well, actually of their motorhome) who were some of our last visitors of 2008 before we were able to move back into the house!

A New Birth Of Freedom...

Today was a day of history.

No matter which party you belong to, no matter which candidate you voted for this was a day of history for ALL Americans. Today our 44th President of the United States was sworn in.


He may not have been the candidate we voted for but he is now our President. I'm hoping that he can make those changes he has been talking about for all of us as Americans. He's got a BIG job ahead of him!


I've been around for a lot of inaugurations and I can't think of any other that drew me to watch it more than this one. I'm not sure what it was, or maybe it's just because of the problems our country is facing at the moment but I have watched it for hours, listening to his inaugural address and listening to what he said at each of the balls he and the First Lady attended. It would have been awesome to have been in Washington along with the millions of others! Guess I'm really glad that I was inside, in a warm and comfy house when I watched the inauguration instead of being in the 30 degree weather!


Some interesting facts that I found at "http://inaugural.senate.gov/" (Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies website) was this was not the best inauguration day in history nor was it the worst! It sure wasn't the shortest either! Did you know that you can even get the recipes from todays luncheon? Same website! To get tickets to the luncheon you had to contribute a LOT of money to Obama's campaign. You can see just how much we contributed since we were at home in Greers Ferry! Not all the inaugurations have been held at the State Capitol, some by necessity. This was the 56th quadrennial Presidential Inauguration (I'm assuming that quadrennial means something like every 4 years)!


I didn't find it at the same website, but did you know that there is even a "Presidential Barrel" of Jack Daniels? Just a bit of trivia for you!


"A New Birth of Freedom" commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The words, echoing across 200 years from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address, express Lincoln's hope that the sacrifice of those who died to
preserve the United States would lead to "a new birth of freedom" for the nation. President Lincoln was invited as the second speaker to give "a few appropriate remarks" at the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on Thurs., Nov. 19, 1863. His speech, now known as The Gettysburg Address and considered to be one of the most quoted speeches in U.S. history, contained only 10 sentences and 272 words. Although two phrases from this short speech, "four score and seven years ago..." and "...government of the people, by the people, and for the people...", are more widely recognized, the lesser recognized "this nation shall have a new birth of freedom" is the cornerstone for the 2009 Inaugural theme.


This day has been a day of history and a day, for me, filled with pride that I am an American and proud of my country! I am thankful that I live in such a grand country and I have so many freedoms. I am also thankful for all the men and women that keep this country safe!

God Bless America!

Out with the Old, In with the New...

Year that is! Happy New Year 2009! May 2009 bring you health, happiness and prosperity!

Don and I are looking forward to sharing the new year with lots of family and friends, either while traveling or in our new house in Greers Ferry! For those of you who haven't been here yet we look forward to sharing it with you! It's been a long, long road and we are glad to have reached the end of it! :-)

We were able to celebrate the new year with a small party here at the house! I'm not sure why I didn't have the camera out, but I didn't! Of course there was lots of great food and I think everyone had fun playing shuffleboard, pool and pinball! I know there was also a football game on, but I don't think it was much of a game...unless you were a Louisiana (is that the team that was playing?) fan!

I've been *busy* procrastinating on an update from September 2008 until December 2008, so maybe if I procrastinate long enough no one will be interested in what was going on in that time! :-) O.K., O.K. I'll work some more on it...I actually have it about 1/2 done! :-) In the mean time...

Happy New Year! Hope 2009 is everything you wish for!

In the Christmas Spirit!

Ashleigh & Tinkerbell - 2008

Allison & Brian - 2008

Danya - 2008

Shae - 2008

Justisse - 2007 (New picture coming soon!)

Haleigh (April 28, 2000 - May 10, 2000)

Merry Christmas!

Wanted to take a moment to wish all of our family and friends the Merriest of Christmases wherever you may be. I hope your Christmas is filled with the love and magic of Christmas! If you're traveling over the holidays...travel safe! Lots of winter weather to contend with!

Check back NEXT WEEK! I'm working on a MAJOR update to our blog! :-) I know, I know...it's long overdue!

Merry Christmas!

With love,

Vicki & Don, Tess & Furby too!