The Caravaner MESSAGE FROM THE OUTBACKS January 2010 Happy New Year Lazy Dazers! Don Reiner is the inspiration for this and I am supporting his efforts to have a historical, educational and fun field trip at this caravan. We have been in touch with the March Field Air Museum located a close 15 minute drive from our Lake Paris caravan. The web site is http://www.marchfield.org/. In addition we have added a free visit to the National Medal of Honor memorial located west of the 215 freeway on Van Buren inside the Riverside National Cemetery at the S/E corner of this beautiful location. The web site is http://www.rncsc.org/pages/ moh/index.html. As we leave Riverside National Cemetery we will pass the National POW Memorial, the web site is http://www.rncsc.org/pages/m_m/powmia_dedication.html. Check it out for the dedication and slide show. Riverside National Cemetery is frequently called the Arlington of the West. We arranged a group tour on Thursday January 21, 2009. We plan to leave Lake Paris camp ground at 10am on Thursday Jan 21, 2009. We will use POVs (privately owned vehicles) and should be able to double up and ride share to the Museum. Sign up for one or both of the tours at the host tent as you register for the camp out. The Museum is located just off the I-215 freeway at the Van Buren Exit in Riverside. The orange and white checkerboard roof is visible from the freeway as you approach. For map search programs, use the address at 22550 Van Buren, Riverside, CA, 92518. For assistance,call (951) 902-5949 National Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial is located at the Riverside National Cemetery at the S/E corner of the cemetery. It was dedicated on November 5, 1999 during the Medal of Honor annual convention hosted in Riverside, with 88 Medal of Honor recipients in attendance at the dedication. The cost for the March Museum tour will be the group rate of $6 per person. The cost of the tour for Medal of Honor and POW Memorial at Riverside National Cemetery is free. If you want to pass on the March Museum and just tour the Medal of Honor and POW memorial come along and we will escort you to the Memorial inside Riverside National Cemetery. After the group tour of the March Museum approx 1 1/2 to 2 hours we will escort those who want to visit the Medal of Honor and POW memorial. You can do lunch on your own after this visit. Greg Young Lazy Daze Caravaner 1
A Word From Frances Smith Thanks For The Memories Rosemary. What a great seven years you have given us and we can t thank you enough! When we think back after seeing your super DVD slide show it brings back a lot of memories for us to think about. You worked your tail off in organizing our club s 50th anniversary in Cheyenne and still had enough energy to keep on doing the Wagonmaster s job. After reading the card you received I m sure you realize how appreciative everyone is for doing the outstanding job you have performed. Again thanks to both you and Don for an awesome job you have done. Nature from Butterfield Ranch We have not seen the vermilion flycatcher as in the old days when we previously came to Butterfield Ranch. What we did see in camp were dark-eyed (or Oregon ) juncoes and a single red-breasted sapsucker. Yes, it is a real bird. Probably a female, it will return to the pines up in the foothills in the spring when it will get shiny, new feathers for mating time. A couple of miles before camp, a large bird glided across my path and landed running which got my attention. Sure enough! A roadrunner. On the way out, closer to Scissor s Crossing, there was a large hawk perched on a pole with the stance of an osprey and the black and white face markings of one. Some distance from water, I pondered and remembered that our Wagonmaster had commented on thinking she had seen one, but was thrown off by the lack of stream, lake or sea. They are capable of long flights, but our sightings were days apart so no confirmation was possible there. Keep your eyes open for our animal friends. Let me know what you see. Remember to bring some poppy or other wildflower seeds to see if we can bring some cheer to the hills and fields. Lurlie Edgecomb # 2285 WE SALUTE YOU Host Tent Volunteers For December What a jolly group of people we had working the host tent. If you have never worked the host tent please volunteer for you will meet a lot of very nice people. Thanks again to the following volunteers:: Vern and Charlene Tutterrow George and Rosie Reeder John Mailliard Tom and Jan Hiemstra Betty Boschma Bill Arthur Allen and Sue Mercer The Road Runners The Class C Campers Bob and Joanne Wayne Carol and Jean Orr Bob and LuAnne Lowe Ruben and Jenny Pasillas Dave and Katharine Spencer Larry and Sharon Turner Dave and Laura Techentin George and Alice Parrish Dan and Gretchen Heritage Bob and Cynthia Casebolt Frances Smith 2 Lazy Daze Caravaner
Goodwill Ambassador Report ness or other problems where you think a card might cheer them. Please don t think that someone else will send me an email, because they are thinking the same thing and I never get the word. Beside think how short this article would be if I didn t have anybody to write about. I would probably get fired from my job. Mona Shaner MonaL@sbcglobal.net Washer Toss Champions First Place: Allen Mercer Linda Geneser Second Place: Tom Riley Carole Hurley Before starting with my article I would like to thank all of you wonderful people who asked after BYRON SHANER s heart procedure last caravan. This is a truly caring group of people that are genuinely thoughtful towards their fellow carvaners. Thank you asking after him. I know he appreciated your concern for his welfare. Now, to move on to the breaking news, DI FILL- ER #2783 of At-Large seems to have trip over a dog crate and broke her foot. What a sneaky way to get BOB to do all the Christmas shopping and cooking. It was so nice to see both CAROL and DAVE HURLEY #229 of the Class C Campers at Live Oak. To top it off CAROL did quite well in the washer tournament. She sure hadn t lost the knack. At-Large, DOTTIE GREENE #2320 recently had to visit a Las Vegas Hospital. It seems her carotid arteries were causing the problem. One was 100% blocked which they couldn t do anything about and the other was 75% blocked which they operated on. SHIRLEY MONTEITH #1507 of the former Lazy Gourmets is again in the hospital for some unknown problem. If you recall she was in the hospital last May. Maybe it might be a good idea to drop a line to her with your personal message. Outback, MARTY MITCHELL #2340 had gall bladder surgery about November 18th. After the surgery he took a turn for the worse. As of this writing I have not heard of his condition. Hopefully by the time you are reading this he will have improved considerably. Fellow Back Scratcher, TERRY JOE #2347 had back surgery on December 10th. Hopefully he will be at Lake Perris in January. THIS IS A GENTLE REMINDER FOLKS. In the past, our esteemed Wagonmaster kept me informed of many of our members who were sick and under the weather. Well, there is going to be new management in the coming months and I would like to stress that it important for each and everyone to let me know when one of your group is missing due illwww.lazydazecaravanclub.org Lazy Daze Caravaner 3
live oak swapmeet Photos by Frances Smith & Carole Hurley 4 Lazy Daze Caravaner
Painted turtle Afghans, blankets, turtle pillows and craft supplies are off to a great start for the 2010 Summer Camp Season. Thanks go to Carol Hurley, Delores Thimlar, Jen Orr, Doris Joseph and Joyce Hirst for thier beautifully made afghans. More thanks go to Nancy Riley and Laura Techentin for the colorful so well made turtle pillows. Carol Hurley also gave craft supplies. Wow, I have collected 29 afghans and 21 pillows. Let assume I made it to Lake Perris and I will have some yarn and fabric for anyone wishing same to get started or continue what they are doing. If anyone would like to help I have some easy ideas and can put you in touch with some people who can help you learn. Please remember that the afghans, quilts, blankets need to be about 40 by 50 Jane Farwell Lazy Daze Caravaner 5
Celebrating our Wagon Masters Gary & Linda Geneser Assistant Wagon Masters Don & Rosemary Webb Wagon Masters Don s Snowblower Caravaners of The Year Congratulations to Bob & Frances Smith 6 Lazy Daze Caravaner
Finger Foods and Dance Photos by Frances Smith Lazy Daze Caravaner 7
HIGHWAY HUGS Laureta & Joe Gibbs (AKA Mama & Papa Bear) What a beautiful sight! All of those cute and cuddly critters around the Christmas Tree at Live Oak. We brought home 160 animals. We recently delivered 200 bears and friends to CHP offices at Bridgeport, Mammoth Mountain, Bishop and Lone Pine. Our next deliveries, another 200 animals, will have been delivered to Indio, Morongo Valley, Blythe, and El Centro by the time you read this write-up. This now increases the offices we cover to 16. The officers we deal with are so appreciative when we arrive. We always hear great stories of children who have been helped. Thank you, thank you! Christmas Decorators Where Are We? Winner for December! Gary Phillips Rig #2750 Valley of Fire State Park is located only six miles from Lake Mead and 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas via Interstate 15 and on exit 75. Valley of Fire is Nevada s oldest and largest state park, dedicated 1935. The valley derives its name from the red sandstone formations and the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert. Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park by areas of petrified wood and 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyph. Popular activities include camping, hiking, picnicking and photography. The park offers a full-scale visitor center with extensive interpretive displays. Several group use areas are also available. The park is open all year. 8 Lazy Daze Caravaner
Mother Nature aka Lurlie Edgecomb #2285 Too Many Dry Years What a bare-bones greeting I received as my eyes slowly scanned hill and vale in the lower area before ascending into Live Oak Campground on the first day of December. A pile of fresh horse droppings and the harsh discord of strident western scrub jay calls followed by a flash of blue was all that I was privileged to see. Reports came in of mule deer and wild turkey sightings, usually seen at the base of the hill and above and beyond the corral. There was one thrilling report of a six-point buck. Everyone got to experience crows, acorn woodpeckers, and dark-eyed (or Oregon) juncos. The females of this sparrow-sized species have gray heads instead of black ones and lack the brown feathers on their sides. The more variations between the sexes, the more likely the males will not help in nesting duties. However, some bi-colored species males will do territorial defense and bring twigs, but not help in nest building, setting, and feeding of the hatchlings. Like colored mates tend to share familial duties. Bird and animal counts, low anyway due to the time of year, are way down due to the serious lack of water. We ve seen the Santa Ynez River down to mere ponds before, but this time took the cake! Nothing! Nada! Zilch!! But as I write this, the TV weatherman says that north of Santa Barbara got a heavy rain today. Is it enough? Is the timing right? We will see in May when we are hoping to watch the antics of mating and nesting of violet-green tree swallows, oak titmice, western bluebirds, house (the red headed) finches, and acorn woodpeckers. On the Nature Walk, we discovered a woodrat s large nest and the leg bones of a large enough animal to have been a coyote eaten by a larger predator that snapped the lower bone. We found coyote or bobcat droppings, evidence of wild pigs, a red-shafted flicker, a white-breasted nuthatch, and a mourning dove in addition to some of the previously named birds. Fourteen of us learned about the live oaks and the few valley oaks which are deciduous. Their pretty leaves have turned brown and are falling. Live oaks lose leaves year round and are always replacing them. Later on Friday, I received the report and saw a very clear picture of a recent bear paw print found in the sand of the dry river bed. Enough said...think safety. On Sunday after many of you had left, I had the pleasure of watching juncos and titmice and ground squirrels move back in the camp. That is, until the crows also showed up and became obnoxious. However, watching them was unexpectedly educational. One crow stuffed his mouth with pieces of my stale rye and wheat bread. Then he hopped some distance away from my rig, found a hole, buried his treasure and covered it with leaves and twigs. He did it again. Then another one did the same thing using leaves and left over horse hay pieces to cover up his stash. Is this a normal behavior? I ve not seen it before. Or is it an indication of a cold, hard winter? The nights we just spent shivering may be a precursor of things to come. Lazy Daze Caravaner 9
DEATH VALLEY NEWS! Article and Photos by Frances Smith If you weren t at Death Valley you missed some great weather. Our total number of rigs was 37 which include some other brands. We ate a lot of hot dogs and hamburgers on two different nights and of course our super soup night. I believe the soup night is always everyone s favorite, I know it s mine. Our fireman, Don Reiner, had two really great fires going for those who like real fires and our fake fire and heaters went every night for everyone. There are a lot of great cooks in the 37 rigs that were present. Our great hors d oeuvres maker, John Beckman, brought out some really scrumptious hors d oeuvres. It is quite an experience to taste everyone else s creative snacks. What we do besides all the side trips to see everything, listen to the Ranger talks is EAT. What it gets down to is that everyone truly enjoyed themselves, so don t miss out next year. Death Valley Washer Toss Winners 1st place: Dave Hurley & Verona McCutcheon 2nd place: Don McCutcheon & Rosie Reeder 10 Lazy Daze Caravaner
Hors D oeuvres Singing in the New Year Stovepipe Wells Lazy Daze Caravaner 11
Terry s Tech Talk Tech Talk Article 46 Checking Fluid Level in HWH Levelers 01/2010 The HWH Manual simply states that you remove the breather cap and the fluid level should be an inch below the top of the reservoir. The jacks must be in the retracted (travel) position when checking the fluid level. Once I was under the rig, I found the reservoir about in the middle of the rig on the driver s side on the inside of the frame rail. The reservoir is a black rectangular box about 12 inches long by about 6.5 inches wide by about 5 inches high. The breather cap was located on the top of the box near the back end and of course it was near a cross member and amongst numerous hydraulic and electrical lines. The Manual does not mention how to remove the breather cap does it simply pull off or is it threaded? It is threaded as shown in the picture below which was taken before I cleaned the threads. The cap is about 1.5 inches wide and it has a dipstick that is of little use. I cut strips of paper about inches wide from an index card to measure the fluid level. I inserted the strip into the reservoir and creased the paper at the top of the reservoir for reference. I then pulled the strip out and checked to see if the level was about an inch below the crease mark. I used a plastic pump that fits into the quart plastic bottle to transfer the fluid from the bottle to the reservoir. I added a full quart of the HWH Specialty Hydraulic Oil. The fluid that was in the reservoir was red so it was Dexron automatic transmission fluid (ATF). The manual does not state what the capacity of the reservoir so I calculated the reservoir fluid volume at about 5.5 quarts. When replacing the breather cap, it was an exercise in patience to get the thread started. That is why the paper strips worked better than the dip stick on the cap to measure the fluid level in the reservoir. Techsnoz, the Tech Talk website. Check it out at: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/techsnoz/ Terry Tanner Rig #2779 12 Lazy Daze Caravaner
Anniversaries Greg & Sandy Young 25 Caravans? EMERGENCY? Call on CB Channel 30 CODE RED: FIRE/GAS LEAK CODE BLUE: MEDICAL PLEASE Do Not Use the CB Until The ALL CLEAR Is Sounded Bob & Jan Hawken 50 Caravans Don & Verona McCutcheon 50 Caravans We had a great group of ladies at our December meeting. We will gather in January to discuss some issues important to our day to day lives. We ll also have some fun with brain games, handy hints and more. Remember to bring your favorite word and its definition. See you at 2:00 PM, Friday. Don & Bobbie Nelson 275 Caravans Lazy Daze Caravaner 13
Traveling Photos by Terry & Eloth Burnes 14 Lazy Daze Caravaner
Dick Beach Danville, CA Rig #2976 From the Editor Rick and Annie Olson San Pedro, CA Rig #2977 The deadline for articles is the Sunday following each Caravan. Thank you for your continuing support in the production of the Caravaner. David Hurley Rig #229 PO Box 3155 Ontario, CA 91761-0916 d.churley@verizon.net Lazy Daze Caravaner 15
Thank You! From Rosemary & Don Don & I wish to express our most sincere thank you to all of you for the incredible retirement party! The amazing gift of a bigger and better camera, which I have yearn for a very long time, was without doubt a dream come true, thanks to your unbelievable generosity. To say I was flabbergasted would be a huge understatement. I have already put it to use and is so much more than I expected - I Love It!!! Don s very ingenious California Snow Blower will be the featured wall-hanging in his RV barn in Sisters where he ll proudly demonstrate it to the local inhabitants. Thank you for the huge card with the photograph of Don & I, (the first taken in 25 years.) Bob Smith, you re a very sneaky fellow! The very clever proclamation written by the even more talented Barbara Berggreen topped it off and then there s all of those wonderful words written by so many of you that I will forever cherish; all of which will be read and re-read for years to come. Without a doubt the best part was the fantastic party where we had the opportunity to come together to share in the huge assortment of finger food, delight in the many special friendships we ve all made, and relish a night of much merriment and laughter. And let s not forget the dirty old man that was finally exposed, thanks John Mailliard for a really hilariously good time! You re clearly one of a kind! And there is no way we will ever forget the outrageously fun time we had dancing to that tremendous band, Silver Beat even though the old bones didn t move very well the next morning it was well worth the great time we had keeping up with their terrific music! I do hope we can have that band back again someday! Don & I will definitely make the first contribution! Many months ago I was hesitantly asked by a very special friend, what I would like for a retirement gift. Caught by surprise and not having given it any thought, my quick but emphatic answer was, I don t want anything, just a party where everyone can have a good time and boy did we ever have a party, thanks to the clandestine activities of one Frances Smith!! A very special Thank You goes to a very special friend for all her, now known to me, extraordinary efforts. I never expected all which took place and December 5, 2009 will live forever in my memories. I feel so proud to have had the privileged to have been your Wagon Master and the joy and satisfaction of what I accomplished will remain with me until my dying day. The mere words Thank You can never convey how much we appreciate all you ve done. But the only thing we can say is.. Thank You to each and every one of you! Know you are very special to Don & me. 16 Lazy Daze Caravaner