Rapid City, South Dakota

We arrived in Rapid City on 7.21.05 and will be staying for the Sturgis Rally. The weather was partly cloudy but warm, so we are looking forward to some beautiful rides on our Harley. The resort here is and ROD (Resorts of Distinction) and is called "Rushmore Shadows". It is centrally located in the heart of the Black Hills, midway between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Rapid City. Rushmore Shadows Resort allows easy access to all area attractions including Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, Crazy Horse Memorial, Badlands National Park, and historic Deadwood, South Dakota. Rushmore Shadows is your quiet retreat in the ponderosa pines of the Black Hills. It has 160 full hook-ups and trailer and cabin rentals. The amenities are grassy tent sites, shaded RV sites, pull-through RV sites, heated outdoor swimming pool, playground, sports courts and equipment check out, expansive commons, bonfire pit, horseshoe pits, clubhouse, convenience store, laundry facilities, free showers, clean restrooms, public telephones, bus tour access, rental car access and picnic area. The local attractions are recreational access including, fishing, boating, waterskiing, rock climbing & hiking in the Black Hills National Forest, and 10 area lakes. 10 minutes from shopping centers and 6 golf courses, 2 area water parks and 17 movie theaters. Historical attractions of the old west, scenic byways, amusement parks, and shows. The list is never ending. We went into Sturgis to check out the town before the rally and I got my first tattoo. It is a cross with a rose on it. We went to Mount Rushmore about 4 times while we were there because it is such an awesome sight to see. We also went to Custer State Park twice so we could check out the buffalo. There was a lot to see. Saw Rushmore Caves, very beautiful and big. Then we went to the rally and had a blast! I had bought a tank top and I had Arlen Ness (King of Bikers) sign it and his son Cory signed it also. I also got it autographed by Rick Fairless with Stroker Dallas and Randy Simpson from Milwaukee Iron. What a great group of people too. It so happened that around 600,000 bikes showed up that week for Sturgis Rally 2005. We ended up staying 5 weeks here so we could see everything and we really want to go back and see the Black Hills again but not during Sturgis Bike week. Too busy. :-)
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Gunnison, Colorado

Well, we arrived at Gunnison, Colorado on 7.9.05 and the weather was nice. The name of the Resorts of Distinction resort here is Blue Mesa Ranch. Here the sunny Colorado days sparkle brighter than stolen dubloons, with mountain meadows and spires reflected in the state's largest lake, Blue Mesa Reservoir. The wide, scenic countryside and five-star resort amenities offers guests more invitations than Butch Cassidy had arrest warrants: "Come fish, hike, boat, horseback, swim, hunt, sight see, bask by the pool." Train-robbing outlaw Butch Cassidy (who hid out in these mountains a century ago) might have gone straight had he discovered a place as delightful as Blue Mesa Ranch. Daytime's gentle warmth eases into cool, crisp evenings, perfect"cuddle weather" for sharing tales of the day's best catches, adventures and beauties. A classy resort in a classic western setting. Blue Mesa Ranch is a mountain hideaway perfect for stealing away. The campground has 324 full hook-ups and deluxe cabins. Local attractions include Blue Mesa Reservoir, Black Canyon Boat Tours, Pioneer Museum, Black Canyon National Monument, Elk Creek Marina & Pappy's Restaurant, Water Activities and National Historic Districts: Crested Butte and Lake City. The resort also offers an activity center, bath house, clubhouse, e-mail access, gated security, hot tub, lake or pond, laundry facilities, library, marina, picnic area, playground, sauna, sport court, swimming pool, visitor mail service, arcade/game room, badminton, basketball, bingo, boat rentals (pontoon), fishing at the resort, hiking trails, horseshoes, miniature golf, movies, ping pong, planned activities, pool tables, shuffleboard, teen center, volleyball and wilderness area. Whew! What more could you ask for? We took our black lab dog, Maggie, swimming with us in the lake. What a beautiful dark blue and really clear and refreshing. We also took a ride on the Harley to Crested Butte, CO. This is the wild flower capital of Colorado. The wild flowers were amazing. We stayed there until July 21, 2005. We had a blast! For more information on this resort, visit www.westernhorizonresorts.com
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Hurricane, Utah

We arrived on 6.28.05 and it was warm and sunny. I now record the miles we travel from destination to destination but did not get this one. This is an ROD (Resorts of Distinction) resort and it is an affiliate of Thousand Trails, Inc. The name of the resort is St. George. Moses Harris and the Mormon families who followed him must have thought time was passing all too slowly as they built their 19Th century homesteads rock by rock near Utah's Quail Lake. But the rise and fall of Harrisburg was a fleeting second in the span of geologic time, compared to the millions of years that formed this area's dramatic canyons, red-rock bluffs, mountains and lakes. Today, Harrisburg's old rock buildings are historical landmarks in the St. George RV Resort; 13 miles from the town of St. George (ranked by Rand McNally as a top-ten place to retire). Life is a mite easier now than in Harris' day. Folks fish, boat and jet ski on nearby Quail Lake, hike, swim, explore Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon, and play on the countless golf courses that ring the resort. Then they return to relax beneath shade trees or beside the pool, savoring a lifestyle beyond Moses Harris' wildest dreams. There are 120 full hook-ups, cabin rentals, and the amenities are: activity center, bath house, clubhouse, e-mail access, hot tub, laundry facilities, library, pavilion, playground, visitor mail service, bingo , hiking trails, horseshoes, planned activities, pool table, shuffleboard and swimming pool. The local attractions are: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, beartiful views of red rocks and Pine Valley Mountain, Historic town of St. George and Quail Lake Recreational Area. I rated it as very nice and of course it was the time of year for some great bike rides. We rode the bike to Crested Butte, CO while we were there. Crested Butte is the wild flower capitol of Colorado. We saw the flowers a week before full season and they were absolutely beautiful! There were so many! The little town of Crested Butte, CO is a neat little tourist town in the summer and most of the houses are painted a different color; like pastel colored flowers. Very pretty. Just the tips of the buttes surrounding the area had a bit of snow on them and it just looked like a picture so of course we took several to add to our collection. We really enjoyed our stay there. Our next stop, Gunnison, Colorado.
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My RV Journey Journal

Soledad Canyon, California. In a previous post I had begun reporting on my travel journal. Let's continue. I had given information on this resort and now I must continue on with our travels. We arrived on 6.12.2005 at 1430 hours and it was warm and windy. We stayed there for 16 days and it had all the extras like a recreation hall, grocery and fishing. The spot we stayed at though was really dry and dusty and the traffic that went through there did not drive 10 mph like they were supposed to so we had a lot of dust. We believe that the management there was new and did not have some things in control yet. We did have some good days, a lot of them were hot as it was June in CA, and we would go swimming in the pool while we did our laundry. We did find a Calvary Chapel nearby though and that is way cool. That is the church we always attend during our travels when we can find one. It is located in Acton, CA, about 20 minutes from the Thousand Trails resort we stayed at. The pastors' name is Bob and it is a small church but everyone was real nice and friendly and we really enjoyed the services. We hope to go back if we are in the area again someday. There were some great roads to ride our motorcycle on. We always ride the bike when we can. Not only because we enjoy it but also because it is great on fuel The bike is a Harley-Davidson 2004 Softail and her name is Pearl. She is a beauty alright. Then we went to St. George Resort in Hurricane, Utah. See more on the next post!
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A Place For Adventure

Thousand Trails, Inc. preserves stand apart from other campgrounds when it comes to facilities, amenities and services. All have lodges that beckon you to relax or socialize with fellow campers. At most preserves, you'll find sparkling swimming pools, spas, fishing, nature trails, children's play areas, game rooms, shuffleboard and mini-golf. Other exciting outdoor options include sport courts, ball fields, horseshoe pits and horseback riding (available at some preserves). And of course there are hiking trails. Lots of them. Thousand Trails preserves offer a great variety of campsites for RVs, folding tent trailers and tent campers. Electricity and water hookups, a picnic table and grill are located at each site; dome offer sewer hookups. Campsites come in various sizes, including some pull-throughs, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For your convenience, count on essentials like laundry facilities (at most locations) and immaculate restrooms. Need a few necessities? Many preserves offer a Trading Post or small grocery store. Whatever you're looking for in resort-style camping, Thousand Trails, Inc. has it covered...naturally!
Rental Accommodations
If you prefer an alternative to staying in your RV or tent, Thousand Trails, Inc. offers and array of affordable rental accommodations. Choose from fully equipped cabins, cottages, trailers and yurts. Be sure to ask your reservationist about linen service and other rental accommodation options.
Vacation Destinations
Thousand Trails, Inc. provides a fun, affordable way to explore popular vacation destinations throughout America. Visit Mickey Mouse in Disney World, view the majestic Mt. St. Helens in the Pacific Northwest, see the stars in Hollywood, go clamming along the Puget Sound, visit the world famous San Diego Zoo, leave your heart in San Francisco, eat German delicacies in the Bavarian town of Leavenworth or visit the White House and historical monuments in Washington D.C. With more than 50 camping preserves nationwide there are too many great places to list. Whether you want to relax and enjoy nature or treat your family to an activity-filled vacation, you'll love discovering the preserves of Thousand Trails, Inc. For more information see: http://www.thousandtrails.com/
Our People Make The Difference
At Thousand Trails , Inc., it's the people who make the big difference: campers who really enjoy the great outdoors... and caring staff who are experienced and responsive to ensure that your visit is ideal. The staff at TTNLT (Thousand Trails Naco Liesure Time) works hard to keep the preserves immaculately maintained...from well kept grounds to spotless cabins, lodges and restrooms. Should you have a problem, you can expect a rapid response from our maintenance and housekeeping staff. Whether it's a leaky faucet in your RV or checking your propane lines to make sure things are ship-shape, they'll work hard to keep everything running smoothly.
For your safety and peace of mind, high security standards are a top priority 24 hours a day. Gated entrances and security rangers control traffic into the preserves. And our staff is trained to assist in emergency situations. The recreation specialists of TTNLT are on hand to help you make the most of your visit. Innovative planned activities such as sports tournaments, chili cook-offs, yodeling contests, potluck dinners, talent shows and dances are available for adults and children alike! The recreation staff also serves up camper breakfasts, barbecues and other special meals that are available at most location during weekends throughout the summer. All you have to do is decide if you want to join in on the fun. We do the rest!
Thousand Trails, Inc.'s reputation for exceptional levels of cleanliness, security, and recreation is why so many people keep coming back!
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Where Were We?

To begin with, we belong to two nationwide preserve resorts. Our major stay spots are usually at a Thousand Trails resort. These are very nice and well kept. We pay an annual fee so when we go to these resorts throughout the year, we do not have to pay for anything...not water, electric or garbage. It is very convenient and relaxing, (no lawn to mow, they do that for you, no yard to upkeep, they do that too!). The other preserve resort is ROD, aka Resorts of Distinction. These are usually our second choice and are also the ones we have to use in the midwest because there are no Thousand Trails there. Most of them are nice and the advantage we have with both preserve resorts is that we are platinum members which means we can stay three weeks before moving on. (I will explain this more later). Now this may sound like a pain to some, but when your retired and you like to travel it is great! Both preserve resorts provide safety and security. You have to use the password to get in the gate. I will begin when I bagan my journal :-). (Note: since we travel wherever we want, our preserves information might go back and forth between TT and ROD). I keep a 'RV Camping Journal' for all or our trips and I started it on June 12, 2005. We were in California at the time and went to stay at Soledad Canyon. This is a TT (Thousand Trails)resort and is located in the high desert country along the Santa Clara streamway. For those who are not real familiar with California, it is an hour from Los Angeles. This 266-acre resort oasis is surrounded by lush greenery, magestic scenery and towering cottonwood trees. The 60 acres of the streamway traversing the preserve provide ideal nature walk activities. The temperate climate offers year-round fun and activities for all ages. Located only one hour from Los Angeles, this preserve offers the perfect stop to visit various Hollywood attractions and major theme parks. See next post for information on Thousand Trails, Inc.
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Let's Start Here

Where do I begin? Before I met my husband, I had only been to several states within the U.S. Now I can say I have been to almost all of them. Our home state is California. No comments from CA haters please. The state does have its' pluses. Before I met my husband he had already been traveling for a couple of years. He is retired from the Marines with his pension and decided to see the states. We have been traveling together since January of 2005 and we have seen some awesome sights! Tune in later for more!
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Our Travels

My husband and I have been traveling the United States for 1 1/2 years now and it has been great! We have a 31', 1973 Airstream and we love it! It is a small home but it does the job. We pull it with a diesel ford van named Marge and she does a great job. Oh, the trailers' name is Silver Twinkie, get it? :-). When you look at her from a distance that is what she looks like. We also have a 2004 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. It is chrome and pearl white and I named her Pearl. She is a beauty alright. We have been able to see so much while riding her when the weather is nice. It also saves on fuel and we all know where that is right now. We have been on some really great rides from the Grand Canyon to Washington D.C. We didn't ride that far of course but this is just a small example of what we have seen during our travels. We have traveled to certain place just to be at certain events like Sturgis, S.D. and several Toys for Tots runs. Most of the people we have met on our travels and rides are super nice. There really is a lot of neat people out there.
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