Adventure #7 - The BIG 40 at the Pennzoil 400

So the 4th has arrived!

Not at all like I had planned, hoped, or dreamed!

Even when you have planned it for close to 18 months, something could always pop up, and it did!

Things we had wanted to do had to be replaced with things I could do. This was to be about both of us, not just one. It was supposed to be our Now. And. Forever. When I explained to him what I was planning pre-break, he liked the idea so much we moved it to another date. I am not going to jinx it by announcing it now. I think it's going to be perfect however it happens.

Here are some moments from our day.

We even picked up a cake! Not at all what it was suppose to be, but enjoyed what it ended up being.
This is going to be an anniversary we will never forget!

Adventure #6 ~ Boyd Gaming 300

After yesterdays winds I was hoping they would have blown away. Afterall, according to the weather app on my phone, they were supposed to have moved on during the night. Well, maybe some of them did. It was still windy come race time. However, it was better than last evening. Being a day race helped, but they were still blowing come time for the green flag!

Everyone is bundled up, even the photographer!

What a lens? I wish I could have her job. I do have the eye for such position, but I would not be able to hold a camera with that big of a lens! Actually, neither can she, which is why there is a stand attached. It must add weight though which is why I am sure I could not manage something like that all day as would be expected.

My camera can zoom out pretty far, which is how I found this RV parked in the infield. I have liked this style since we went to a rally after buying the one we have. We plan to hang onto her until we are ready for our "FOREVER RV." When the time comes, something like this is what we want to get. We don't want it too long so we can still do our backroad travels, 30ft would be perfect. I love it for the front grill. Since the Class A's with that big window, allowing one to see the road go right under the rig FREAKS ME OUT!!!!

Fortunately here in Arizona, there is a place in Phoenix that sells just what I am looking for.

Someday!!!!

Add in the misfortune of a wreck, there is not a whole lot of metal protecting us. Plus this type says, "Stay out of my way!" when it's in the rearview mirror of the vehicle ahead.

While I was zooming around with my camera, pit stops began...

Ryan Blaney in the 22 car, sure wanted Kyle Larson in the 42 to get out of his way!

Watching the action on pit lane is probably one of my favorite things to capture.

Kyle Larson won the race, I might have missed him crossing the finish line, but I did capture him doing his victory lap.

All in all, it was a great race...

We headed back to the RV, this time making sure we went the right route, eliminating the possibility of repeating of last nights adventure.

Hubby cooked us a great meal, found a movie to watch, and I fell asleep before the end of it. 

Can't wait to see what adventures tomorrow brings. 

Adventure #5 ~ "The Strip" and the Camping World Truck Race.

Good Morning!

After a restless night, a trip down memory lane, observing the view we will have for the next 4 days, putting our passes together for the weekend, I'm ready for our first day at the track! 

All we have to do is grab our lanyards, and off we go to the races.

Before the races tonight, I felt up to an outing but first, we needed breakfast. Yes, hubby offered to make it, but Biscuits and Gravy sounded better. Especially if a chicken fried steak could be included. We found this place right at the track.

If you have the time, check it out. I didn't explore it like I would have liked to, so there are no pictures of all the autographs and photos on the walls of drivers, crews, and fans. Maybe in September when we come back I won't be so handicapped! 

We didn't make it into the park. Had to be postponed until September.

We did check out the Pawn Stars shop. Went in looking for a unique ring for our 40th Anniversary. One with a Ruby, but didn't find one I liked. That search will continue until we do.

We made it back to the track in plenty of time for the truck race. Got to our seats. Watched this vendor with his tricky cooler.

With the crazy winds, we made sure I was all bundled up, but I still wasn't able to last but one stage of the race.

Back at the RV, hubby got me all settled in, and we watched the rest of the race without the COLD winds wiping around us. 

Honestly, it was a whole new adventure getting back! Went out the wrong gate. Crossed the street at the wrong place to get back to our rig. Had to backtrack to get to the right place. Navigating the bumps was becoming difficult. Please, Lord, Jesus, get me through this!

And He did!

Adventure #4 - "Oh, What a Night!"

Did you start singing the song? 

You know...

December, 1963

By Frankie Valli, The Four Seasons

Oh, what a night
Late December back in sixty-three
What a very special time for me
As I remember, what a night...

"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" is a song by the Four Seasons, written by original Four Seasons keyboard player Bob Gaudio and his future wife Judy Parker, produced by Gaudio, and included on the group's album, Who Loves You (1975)."

"According to the co-writer and longtime group member Bob Gaudio, the song lyrics were originally set in 1933 with the title "December 5th, 1933," and celebrated the repeal of Prohibition,^[1] but the lyrics were changed at the urgings of Frankie Valli and lyricist Parker to reposition the song as a nostalgic remembrance of a young man's first affair with a woman, and, more specifically, Gaudio's courtship with his wife, Judy Parker.^[2] 

"The single was released in December 1975 and hit number one on the UK Singles Chart on February 21, 1976.^[3] It repeated the feat on the US Billboard Hot 100 on March 13, 1976, remaining in the top spot for three weeks and one week on Cash Box. Billboard ranked it as the No. 4 song for 1976. On April 10 the same year, it topped the RPMNational Top Singles Chart in Canada.^[4] Drummer Gerry Polci sang lead with bassist Don Ciccone and long-time frontman Frankie Valli singing the bridge and refrain. It was the Four Seasons' final song, as a group, to reach number one. (Valli would have one final chart-topper as a solo act in 1978 with the theme song to the film Grease.)"(Source: Wikipedia)

How ironic that is was released at the time of our first Christmas together. His final solo was in 1978, the year we got married. 

Back then music was our world. Concerts, like our first date Sept. 20, 1975, to The Day on the Green, #6 with Lynyrd Skynard). Having friends who had bands where we would hang with them during their rehearsals. Then there were the parties thrown together with a live band on a Friday or Saturday night, to pop up concerts in Golden Gate Park! 

Guess you could say we just danced into each other's arms. Along with the racing, taking up other weekends, we went full speed ahead into a life that we were so excited to share.

From where we were then, to where we are now was not even a twinkle in our eyes yet. That adventure wouldn't start until the fall of 1978. Still, we had no idea then it would lead us to here. 

When I can't sleep, like last night, music is what soothes me and helps me relax so I can fall back to sleep. Getting comfortable was the culprit though. No matter how I laid, within minutes, I had to try another position. As my playlist shuffled through, memories of the songs, we once danced to, sung along with, gave way to sharing those moments, distracting me from the pain allowing me to finally fall back to sleep.

So yes, "Oh what a night!" was really "Oh, what an adventure!" After a long day of driving yesterday, then the restless night, to open our door and see our view in the daylight, to see this, made up for any pain and discomfort I may be having. 

Today will be a good day!

It's going to be an adventure of a lifetime!

Adventure #3 - Our LONG Drive to Las Vegas

With my doctor's blessing, we finished packing up the trailer and were on the road 3 days later!

It took us all day to get to Vegas! Doctor's orders, stop every 1 - 1 1/2 hours to walk around. That got us as far as Quartzsite for our first stop. Along the way, we caught up to this oversized load.

Once at the exit for HWY 10, they had to disconnect for the rig to fuel up.With our axillary tank, we didn't need fuel for the truck, but we did because of the doctor's orders and for our bellies! 

Stopping at the Loves Truck Stop, hubby pulled around and parked next to another RV, that just so happened to be going to the races too! Hubby went in for a couple Subway sandwiches while I stayed in the truck. Shortly after, I noticed this oversized load backing up. Pretty soon the pilot car came into view. She was guiding him back and seemed to have everything under control. A short time later the driver hopped out of the rig and began measuring the distance from our rig to his. Jumping back into his rig he continued to back up. Getting closer and closer to not only the truck but even closer to the trailer. I kept watching from all angles, out the front, the side and the side review mirror. Just as he got through the area and stopped, another Semi came zooming in the lot. Whatever was he thinking? He moved right up on the tail of this guy, giving no room to make any other changes to the direction he needed to go to get out. He began honking and yelling out his window at me! He wanted me to move our rig forward so he can get around the first guy. I knew there was nowhere for him to go! With the construction going on everything was messed up. I just watched, shrugged my shoulders, gesturing I am not able to perform the move he wants me too. After things had sorted themselves out, he was able to move forward, commenting to me, "You were so lucky!" I replied with, "No, luck had nothing to do with it. God had our backs!"  As the two semi's moved ahead opening up my view where I could see hubby patiently waiting to proceed toward me. As he climbed into the truck, he exclaimed, "Wow that was intense!" I told him he should have been in my seat!

 We decided to go the HWY 93 instead of the 95 because of bumps and winding road that would make it uncomfortable! As we were leaving Lake Havasu, there was this mountaintop that resembled a bears head!

Just before Kingman, there was this building that looked like a huge golf ball. Others have named it the Ping-Pong House, but back in 1970, it was built as Dinosphere Restaurant and Night Club. Now it is called Area 66 when a couple from Wyoming bought it in 1981, turned it into a home, and added some alien deco for passers-by. We didn't venture off our path for some reasons, BUMPS, being the #1!

Along HWY 93 there are a number of Historical Markers and of course the turnoff for the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Next stop was supposed to be the overlook at Hoover Dam, but with the high winds we were dealing with, decided it was best to keep going. It was getting late, and we really don't like setting up at dark, nonetheless back into a tight RV space. Instead of going to our already paid for RV spot in the Burnout Lot, hubby stopped at the ticket office to see about an upgrade,

By the time he got everything worked out, and we were escorted to the Checker Flag Lot, it was dark, and the Hauler Parade was driving by. Though I could see the lighted up trucks go by, I couldn't get a picture of them, but those streaking lights below the Las Vegas sign are the trucks. I am sitting at the lot gate while hubby took a look at which site we wanted.

He picked perfectly!

And yes, he had to back it up in the dark, in the last spot available toward the middle of the row, with everyone's vehicles at their rigs watching the parade that had gone right by this section. Talk about impressive! Sometimes I am amazed at his backup skills. 

What a long day, but Adventure #3 is in the book!