My Side of the Adventure

While I was up at Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks, my Honda started giving me some warning messages, so I made an appointment at the nearest dealership in Clovis, CA, just outside Fresno. (I don’t usually go to a dealership for repairs but I had some warranty left. Ultimately, however, I was starkley reminded why it is not my habit to waste my time with dealerships).

Otherwise, my time at Clovis was extremely positive and I highly recommend a visit. Penny was kind enough to meet me there to give me a ride while my vehicle was in the shop, make sure I got there w/o breaking down, etc.

The first nice thing that happened was at the Chamber of Commerce where we went for info upon arriving in town. The woman there told us of a possible free place to park right in town. I think she was also the first one to tell us this was “rodeo week” in Clovis. We drove to the nearby area she told us about and talked further with some locals we saw outside a bar, including the owner, who gave us more info on parking and the rodeo. Ultimately, we went to a parking area adjacent to the rodeo grounds and saw a sign that said permits were required. We walked over to the rodeo entrance where a man was spraying weeds near a magnificent statue of a cowboy riding a bull. That cowboy was World Champion Lane Frost and the bull, World Champion Bucking Bull Red Rock. The movie “8 Seconds” was about Lane Frost. The incription is included in my photos. The man, who was also very nice, directed us to the police station for a parking permit after telling us about the statue and more about the rodeo.

Next, we headed down the street to the police station and met Corporal Chris Hutchison who after reading us the riot act about behaving well (apparently, there had been trouble in previous years), he gave us the very last spot in the permit parking lot! And, there was still no charge. This was a relief to me since I knew I had a large repair bill coming. Thanks, Corporal Hutchison!

Since I’m so behind on my blog, I’m a little fuzzy on the sequence of events, but at some point Penny saw there was a blood drive in conjunction with the rodeo and off we went. I’m not sure what happened but I ended up losing a pint while Penny went and enjoyed some snacks & visiting with some nice locals. (She couldn’t give because she had recently taken an antibiotic. Personally, I think it was all a trick just to get me to give! LOL. JK, Penny.)

We took advantage of the coupons from the blood drive and went to “Cool Hand Luke’s Steakhouse/Saloon” for dinner one night. I wish I could recommend it–and I can on everything except my steak. It was not a good cut of meat and it was very expensive. The service and all the other food was great, so if you decide to go, I advise avoiding the filet. (Spending this much on a meal was very unusual for me so this was disappointing. I was celebrating the sale of my house.)

One of the Clovis parks was a frequent destination for me. It had a dumpster and green grass! A treat after all winter and part of the spring in the desert. Another bonus is it had a small botanical garden which I enjoyed more than once. Very pretty.

Friday night and Saturday morning were unexpected highights. We were able to get tickets for Friday night’s rodeo. It was my first, and it was great. Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed (So disappointing!) but I got some shots with my phone. Saturday morning was the rodeo parade. A parade with a plethera of horses – What could be better?! There were also lots of fun vehicles, marching bands, and lots of other entries. I loved LOVED this.

Oh, did I forget about my car repair? Let’s just say I wish I could forget about that part. It’s a long story but I did not get my repairs made–and I will not be returning to Clovis North Honda for anything in the future.

But, again, aside from this particular Honda dealership and the filet mignon at Coolhand Luke’s, I highly recommend a visit to Clovis. From the Chamber of Commerce help to the Police Department Corporal to the helpful Walmart greeter to the guy in the small engine repair shop next to where we were parked who fixed my broken hitch chain at no charge to the people who we parked next to who invited me for meals to the nice couple who sat behind us at the rodeo, etc., etc.–everyone was extra nice. I noticed it again and again during my visit.

Thank you, Clovis. (Some videos coming later).

Several videos from the Parks. Captions have more info.

This was definitely a bucket list item. What nature lover doesn’t want to see the largest trees on the face of the earth? This one certainly did. And they did not disappoint. It did turn out to be a bit early to visit these Parks (mid-April) – Many roads were still closed. It was quite cold at night, too (low 20s). So, you may want to note this if you plan an April trip.
First, as usual, a few “on-the-way” shots from Pahrump into CA. Then, trees, trees, and more trees–big ones. And, as usual, more info in the photo captions.

What is BYOV? “Bring Your Own Vehicle”, an event created by “Homes on Wheels Alliance” to give selected applicants help with their rigs (homes on wheels) in the form of free materials and free labor. Work included new floors, ceilings, fans, solar, etc. I volunteered as part of the support staff. I can’t share any photos of the builds, so these are just a few shots from around camp and town, including a few oddities, as usual. : )
EDIT: I should have mentioned that “camp” was where (most of) the volunteers camped together. For me, this was a highlight of the experience. I had the opportunity to meet and get to know some really good people–and have a lot of fun. I haven’t laughed that much in a while.

In addition to time at Valley of Fire State Park, my two weeks in the Lake Mead area included explorations along Northshore Road and a very nice–well, “mostly” nice–stay at Stewart’s Point. Only “mostly” nice because my arrival was immediately met with my very first duststorm (sandstorm/Haboob).
I highly recommend a stay at Stewart’s Point. Views are beautiful. Lake access for the right vehicle or by foot. Quiet. The cleanest pit toilet I’ve ever seen. Dumpster just across Northshore Road. Other amenities at nearby Overton (~15mi). This was my most enjoyable camping spot to date. More info in captions.

A photo from Valley of Fire State Park (NV) in a Facebook group caught my attention almost a year ago. I wanted to see where that photo was taken (and maybe try to recreate it). I was able to do that to some extent, but there is so much more to this Park. I highly recommend a visit. It’s next door to Lake Mead and has first come-first serve camping with bathhouses in a unique setting. The only disadvantage is a poor signal.

It was here I had what I probably consider my most exciting wildlife encounter to date. In addition to the photos, videos are at the end of the post re the encounter (plus one of many beautiful views). As usual, more info in captions.

Tell me what you think of this park. I’d love to hear from you.

While staying in the Lake Mead area, Penny took me for a brief tour of Las Vegas. It was exciting to see but I felt like a fish out of water.

I am thankful this memorial day for those who made the ultimate sacrifice so I could have freedom – including the freedom to travel and enjoy this great country.
The helicopter photo is in memory of my dad who served in the United States Army for 22 1/2 years as an officer and aviator.

Freedom does not come free.

Next stop was Lake Mead to camp with another one of those new nomad friends, Penny. First, as usual, some sites along the way.
More details in the captions.

One of the best things about nomad life is meeting nice, like-minded people. And the thing that makes this even better is, in all likelihood, you will get to see these nice, like-minded people over and over again, if you both want to. : ) (1) Communication between parties that each is welcome to camp with the other, (2) an exchange of contact information, and (3) keeping in touch, are all that’s required. Lots of texting is usually involved. That’s what happened with my friends Rob & Viki whom I had met in Tucson. When I left there, I needed an easy & brief stopover in Quartzsite and I knew they were there. We made contact and had a nice visit. See you down the road, Rob & Viki!