WEEK OF 4 OCTOBER 2020; PAHRUMP, NV

 Sunday, 4 October

Rob and company started on the Rubicon Trail this morning.  Here is a description I found about it:

Perhaps the best known and most popular 4x4 trail in the world. A rare combination of difficulty, beauty, length and pure rock-crawling pleasure. Great camping next to crystal-clear lakes with stunning views. Most people drive the trail in the direction described here, but it can be driven in both directions. The trail reaches elevations above 7,000 feet and is partially snow covered in the winter. However, only the Granite Bowl is officially closed to vehicular travel at that time. From a practical standpoint, however, the trail is for summer use. A mix of granite slabs, soft dirt, sharp rocks and large boulders that require precise maneuvering to avoid body damage. Several extreme sections can be bypassed but many very rough sections cannot. Cadillac Hill is very steep, tippy and potentially dangerous. During wet periods, one water crossing can be very deep and muddy. Extremely dusty with tight brush in places. With an expert spotter, you might get a stock, high clearance, short-wheel based 4WD vehicle through without body damage, but the average driver should not try it. Best done in a modified vehicle with ample body protection and lockers. Travel with a group.

He is using a Garmin GPS with emergency text messaging and tracking. I was able to track his progress (which wasn’t much) throughout the day.

Below is a picture of their tracks. Unfortunately, I do not know where they actually spent the night. I believe they were planning on going all the way to Rubicon Springs, or to Buck Island Lake camp....

But as you can see, they stopped before they got to the lake. It took them 6.5 hours to go the 4.98 miles. They were not planning on traveling in the dark. I talked to Rob at one point and he said it was hard, and nerve racking, but fun.

I in the mean time finished my pumpkin project. I don’t especially care for it. It’s a bit flat and boring I think. Perhaps I will donate it to something.

After I finished the sewing I took a shower and then settled in for football. My two teams are not playing at the same time for a change. The Raiders played first and lost...again. Stupid penalties, and fumbles and dump stuff like that while facing a very strong, good team, the Billls. They are now 2-2. Soooooo disappointing. They even played in their own, brand new, amazing stadium in Las Vegas built especially for them. Sad.

The Seahawks, on the other hand, kicked butt. They were awesome. They played the Miami Dolphins and won. They are now 4-0 having won all four of their games so far.

After football I took Bella out for her walk to the creek.

I did not hear from Rob anymore this eve. I was hoping he would send me a text telling me they were done for the day and all is well. But, nada!

Monday I didn’t here from Rob first thing again. I kept looking at the map, but they weren’t moving. I figured everything must be ok, otherwise I would have heard something.

Bella had a Vet appointment with a new Vet. I figured I better have one here in town as well as in Temecula. All she really needs is a toe trim, but I want a year supply of her heart worm prevention as well as flea and tick prevention. I had to wait forever. When I put out to the area that I was looking for a vet most recommended this place, and the only negative comments were that they always had to wait, even though they have appointments. It was very frustrating. It was 40 min after arrival and check in that I was finally seen. Bella was really anxious by the time she was seen. But, the vet was very nice and I got a year supply of Revolution which is a topical combination for fleas, ticks, heart worm, hook worms and various other gross things that biting insects can give dogs. We are happy now.

We went to the store and then home.

The Rubicon peeps are moving again. In fact, they are making pretty good progress today. I have been sending updates to Joey and Johnny, Tony’s sons. I’d send them to his wife as well, but I don’t have Holly’s contact info.

Rob called me around 6 and said they had completed the trail, they were on a real road heading to South Lake Tahoe to find a place to spend the night. Awesome. They ended up staying back at the South Shore Beach and Ski club which is where they stayed on Sat night and is where Tony left his car. They will be home tomorrow. Rob had planned an extra day on the trail because he didn’t really know how long it would take them. Im glad they are done, are safe, with no damage to themselves or their jeeps and that they had a great time.

Tuesday, 6 October.

I made pockets today, lots of pockets. I have shorts and yoga pants that do not have any pockets. When we were RVing I liked to stick my drivers license, ATM card, Military ID and credit card, as well as a face mask in ziplock baggy and stick it in my left back pocket. Then I would put my phone in my back right pocket. Then I didn’t have to carry a wallet or a purse. But, some of my shorts and my yoga pants do not have pockets so I made a pattern from a favorite pair of shorts and cut out 9 pairs of pockets. I sewed them on 6 pairs or shorts, capris, and yoga pants as well as a pair of sweats. Now I’m happy. Then I cleaned up the sewing room which has been quite a mess for a couple weeks from my various projects. All better now.

Our Virtual Great Loop Rendezvous starts today. It is being done through Zoom and some other platform. I have the computer and iPad all set up and ready for it. Rob is hoping to be back in time for it, but I’m not sure.

Part one of the Rendezvous was very informative and really nice. Rob got home when there was about 15 min remaining. For part 2 they sent us off into small groups so we could meet other people who were in the planning stage as we are, as well as a couple of people who have already completed the loop. It was fun, and again very informative.

Wednesday, 7 October;

Rob wanted to re organize and clean out the garage. That’s good, because there is a big neighborhood garage sale planned for this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. One of the goals it to try to eliminate one of the shelving units in hopes of being able to park the truck in the garage. Tony is going to come and get the Jeep and use it for the year and a half we are planning on being gone, we sold the other vehicles, so that leave my car and the new truck. We know my car fits and if his truck fit that would be awesome. Both vehicles would be safely inside while we are gone.

I helped him on and off through out the day. I also went through all my shirts and blouses and bagged up (for give away) everything that didn’t fit or that I didn’t like. Yippee, all my clothes fit in one closet now. In the garage we sorted, tossed, gathered for the garage sale and re shelved. We took Robs old photo albums out of the house and brought in crafts, cook and travel books. We found and brought in all the books of our blog from our 2 year RV adventure. It was great. There is still a lot of stuff we can go through. I finally had him come in for dinner.

After dinner we went through his pictures from the Rubicon Trail. What an amazing adventure.

And it was beautiful up there!

Thursday; 8 Oct

We continued to work on the garage until I had to leave for Vegas. I have an eye appointment. As I was leaving Rob was taking apart the shelving unit we were able to empty. We also did laundry.

I was trying to be very efficient while waiting for my eye appointment by picking out a frame or two. I only have one pair of prescription glasses. If anything were to happen to them I would be in a world of hurt. I want to have at least one back up pair for our boating adventure. As it turns out, my prescription has changed since I got these glasses last May. So, I am getting tow new pairs and my current will be another back up. My right eye has slightly changed. The good news is that both eyes as well as nerves and veins associated with them are very healthy. However, they are both very dry and I am developing cataracts. That’s typical for my age. Another ten years and the cataracts will need to be repaired. The bad part was that due to the Coronavirus it took forever to be seen to order my glasses. There were about 10 people in line all standing the required 10 feet apart. My appointment was at 1:00 at 3:00 I finally got out of there and headed home. I got home in time to catch the last 5 minutes of part one of tonight’s Rendezvous. Then there was a break and then they put us in a small group again. We all got to tell a little about ourselves and ask all the questions that we have been wanting to know about various things having to do with boats and the loop. It was very informative and helpful.

We also got the laundry done, and, all our garbage taken away. That always makes me happy

Friday; 9 October

We had lots of people come by this morning for our garage sale. We sold our big tent, sleeping bag, camping kitchen and a bunch of other stuff. Not bad since we didn’t advertise. But, it is going on throughout Mountain Falls, so there were a lot of them. It was great to get rid of a bunch of stuff we no longer needed and to make a little money as well. We quit at noon. I think it is supposed to go on all day, but it was getting hot and like I said, we were not on the advertised list.

I cleaned the house and prepped things for dinner. I also got the Rubicon Slide show ready. It really is awesome.

Don and Linda came over at 5. We bar-B-Qued chicken and asparagus and I made a nice salad as well as rolls. They brought over some delicious cookies from a local bakery. Yum Yum! We had a nice visit and dinner then we all sat and watched the Rubicon Slide Show. They loved it! It is really awesome. Tony took a lot of videos of Rob And Don crawling over the rocks and Rob took a bunch of Tony as well. It was great. Don had asked Rob for his favorite picture from the trail and then he had it put onto T-shirts. It also had the Rubicon sign on it. He had one made for each of Rob and Tony. So very sweet. They are a nice couple and we enjoyed the evening.

Saturday, 10 October

Another morning of Garage sale. We sold all the rest of anything worth while to sale. We quit at noon again and bagged up what was left to take to Good Will. We ended up making $206 which we split! Not to bad.

Rob went for a run and I stayed home and chilled. Our friends from the Ranch, Bruce and Debbie came by. They are the ones who have the 29’ Trailered Ranger Tug. We went out on their boat with them up in Gig Harbor in Aug. It was fun.

Anyway, they are here visiting with friends who also live here in Mountain Falls and came to visit us as well. Naturally we had to share the Rubicon Slide Show with them. They enjoyed it and were awed by the trail. Afterward we went to the Mountain Falls Grill to meet up with their friends Mark and Teresa. They live over in Ovation and have been here about a year. They also have a boat, but theirs is a sail boat. They keep it in a Marina in Redondo Beach, Calif. That is where Bruce and Debbie met them. After dinner we went over to their lovely home and sat outside around their fire pit with a little wine. They are on the 8th green which is fun. They have watched two different ladies get holes in one. We had a really nice evening. We really enjoyed their company and will get together with them again.