Hello everyone!
It seems we can't stray too far from Phoenix, but we have left again for several weeks.
We returned from the Sedona area to Phoenix, running from a major snow storm. Since it was in the 70's in Phoenix we returned to wait out the storm. Flagstaff got 2 feet - glad we missed it!
A week later we headed off again - but not with the bus. Our friend Dave in Phoenix [our base there] has an extra car that needs to be delivered to New Hampshire by the middle of May. So we are headed there by car. But a few stops on the way. First stop was Corona, CA. to visit with John's niece again for a family gathering. Then on to Death Valley where we spent 3-4 days. Without the bus we are camping in a small tent [thanks to Steve and Heidi!]. We do have sleeping pads, but it is not our bed. Sometimes I really miss our home. Anyway, Death Valley is
much more beautiful than we thought, and the terrain is quite varied. Mountains, barren desert, salt flats, and incredibily high gas prices! 6.12 a gallon!
much more beautiful than we thought, and the terrain is quite varied. Mountains, barren desert, salt flats, and incredibily high gas prices! 6.12 a gallon! 
We could of stayed much longer, but it was time to move on. We headed to Lake Tahoe to see friends from Boston, who were there skiing for the week. We had two days sleeping in a real bed, going out to the casinos and generally sampling what Tahoe has to offer. We didn't go skiing though...
From there we headed for Harbin Hot Springs, a retreat center just north of Napa, Ca., set high in the mountains. 24 hours of hot springs, cold pools, meditation, and Watsu. There was also a concert that evening: a guitarist who played the banjo and mandalin along with 6 string and 12 string guitars.
The next day we finally hit the Pacific Ocean. Our first night was in Bodega Bay, just north of 'Frisco. And we meet a couple from Maine!
The next several days were spent winding our way north along the coast. Never have I encountered such winding roads - days and days of them. But the beauty around us was amazing. At the north end of California we enter the redwoods. WOW!! Big trees! And pretty cool touching a living thing that was at least 2,000 years old! We spent several days there but the rain was getting to us. It had been raining for days now. So off we went to Boise, Idaho.
12 hours later we arrived at John's sister's house. How nice to dry out, visit with John's sister, and his niece and family next door. We have been to a soccor game with Kai [6 years old], many fabulous dinners with them, and a babysitting eve with Mia [3.5 years old] John's sister Sue is off in Europe right now so we have dog duties also. Nice to have a dog back in our lives for a bit!
We have also managed to find two of the many hot springs in the area.
So we will be here till the end of the month before heading east. Hope to be in Maine around the second week of May for a quick visit, drop off the car then fly back to Phoenix to get the bus on the 19th of May. We won't have much time but hope to see as many friends as we can.
Be well!
Scott and Johnney
