Ray Plumlee's an American Odyssey
Traveling Webmaster's Deck Log
This is a copy of my old Deck Log (Online Journal). I am now using an online blog at my "Have Web Sites Will Travel" web site. I use it to chronolog my travels around North America (my American Odyssey).
This "Old" Deck Log is now only an archive of past postings. It tell's the reader where I have visited and what adventures I have had up til the time I started my blog on Have Web Sites Will Travel. This archive was written primarily from the perspective of a tourist. Not necessarily my work log though I may do some of that too, especially in those early days when I built the sites resouces. Initially I used it to detail my efforts in getting prepared for the adventure. Then I chronicled the adventure itself.
To read my current Blog, Deck Log, Journal or Captains Log go here.
Date: 25 February 2006 4:20 PM
Location: City: Tubac State: Arizona
Log Entry Title: Summary Of My Transit to and Stay in Phoenix Arizona 10 November 2005 to 25 February 2006
Log Entry:
Links to specific SitRep Updates:
10 Nov 2005 Underway for Phoenix, Arizona and Warmer Weather
11 Nov 2005 Transiting to Phoenix Progressing Well on Day 2
12 Nov 2005 Arrived in Las Vegas Today
19 Nov 2005 Arrived in the Phoenix, Arizona Area Today
26 Nov 2005 Arrived in the Phoenix, Arizona Area Today
15 Jan 2006 Apologies and Excuses for not keeping Sitrep Up to date
29 Jan 2006 Long Weekend in Southern Arizona
8 Feb 2006 Just a little update about where to next
11 Feb 2006 Day Trip To Quartzsite, Arizona
19 Feb 2006 Day Trip To Fort Verde, Arizona
24 Feb 2006 Visited the Arizona Scottish Gathering and Highland Games in Mesa, Arizona
25 Feb 2006 Underway for next Homeport, Tucson, Arizona
10 Nov 2005 Underway for Phoenix, Arizona and Warmer Weather
Well finally got everything under control, health and other business, and I am now underway en route Phoenix, Arizona. My first night is in Twin Falls, Idaho at the Twin Falls/Jerome KOA. I will probably stay tomorrow night in or around Provo, Utah. I plant to stay, at least Saturday night in St. George, Utah or longer depending on weather and what I see after I arrive. I have heard St. George is a really neat place so I may stay for a few days.
For you Wireless Internet enthusiasts, I stayed connected to the Internet all the way from Emmett, Idaho to Twin Falls. Never lost my connection all the way. I use Verizon's Broadband access network.
11 Nov 2005 Transiting to Phoenix Progressing Well on Day 2
Started out this morning from Twin Falls/Jerome KOA and planned to make it to Provo, Utah. When I got there it was early enough for me to decide to continue on. I made just over 400 mile to Fillmore, Utah.
Again for you Wireless Internet enthusiasts, I have continued to stay connected to the Internet without loosing connection once. This is nothing but outstanding. I wonder just how far I will get before I finally loose connection as I know I surely will.
12 Nov 2005 Arrived in Las Vegas Today
Once I got to St. George, Utah it was early in the day so I decided to head on down to Las Vegas. Arrived about 3:00 PM. I plan to stay here for one week then this weekend proceed on down to Phoenix.
19 Nov 2005 Arrived in the Phoenix, Arizona Area Today
Enjoyed my stay in Las Vegas. One of these days I am going to spend a couple of months there. Anyway departed this morning and was planning to stop in Kingman, Arizona but when I got there (and I got there early) my Verizon X1 or Broadband access was not available. So I decided to push on through to Phoenix.
I am at the Lake Pleasant Marina and RV Park. I plan to stay here a week while I look for a place closer to Cave Creek or North Phoenix. I stayed here at the Lake Pleasant Marina and RV Park once before back in 2003. It is really nice here but just a little too far from where my friends Wally and Jean live.
26 Nov 2005 Arrived in the Phoenix, Arizona Area Today
Moved from Lake Pleasant Marina and RV Park over the the Pioneer RV Park North of Phoenix. This put me about 12 miles closer to my friends who live in Cave Creek.
Spent Thanksgiving with Wally and Jean. This was an especially thankful day because Jean got out of the Hospital Thanksgiving morning. She had spend almost a month in the hospital and was very glad to be home. If I didn't already know it I learned that Wally is one heck of a cook. We had a great Thanksgiving dinner.
15 Jan 2006 Apologies and Excuses for not keeping Sitrep Up to date
Since arriving here in the Phoenix area I have been overwhelmed with programming projects. This is the first time in the 10 years I have been working as a web programmer that I have had more work than I can do during the month of December. Every year before my project list has dwindled to nothing. This year my work load has gone off the scale.
I am finally getting things back under control. The main problem was the sudden surge in projects caught me off guard. Being the first time this has ever happened this time of year I was surprised. Plain and simple.
Anyway I am getting it back under control. I have begun declining to pursue projects from new clients, especially what could be large projects.
Hopefully in a few days I can take some more time to expound on what I have been doing recently and what my revised plans are for the rest of 2006.
29 Jan 2006 Long Weekend in Southern Arizona
I have had so much work to do the last three months that I haven't had any time off, just to relax, so I took a few days off and headed south to Green Valley, Arizona. Green Valley is about 40 miles above Nogales and the border.
I arrived in Green Valley on Friday and got me a hotel room at the Green Valley Best Western. Then I headed down to Nogales crossed the border into the other Nogales in Mexico. Since I got there mid afternoon and I was by myself I only stayed a couple of hours and scouted out the main shopping street.
Going across the border into Mexico was a snap. First there is plenty of parking lots ($4/day) and it is only 5 minutes or less walk to the border itself. Unlike Tiajuana the shopping area begins almost immediately after you cross. Comming back through, as you would expect, was a little slower. I had to stand in a continually moving line for about 30 minutes. Then just a short look at my retired military ID and I was back in the good old USA.
Saturday was one of those days. There was no hot water in the hotel room for a shower, then I went to the restaurant for breakfast. First I forgot to get a newspaper before going in to the restaurant but the waitress was very nice and went and got one for me. But as Saturday was turning out a certain way the paper turned out to be Fridays. For some reason the Saturday papers were never delivered.
After a good breakfast I went back to the room and did a little catch up work I had for a project that I promised to have done that day.
Then I laid down for a while and fell a sleep and didn't wakeup till mid afternoon. I decided to turn the late start into a lazy day and just lounged around the rest of the day. I watched Forrest Gump and the Truman Show. Both of which I hadn't seen since they came out so I enjoyed watching them.
Today (Sunday) I have two things planned. A late start then head back down to Nogales and spend a little more time looking around then head back here and visit the Titan Missile Museum. The Titan Missile Museum is one of the most popular destination pages on this site and is one of my personal favorite tourist attractions. You actually get to go down inside the bunker and the Launch Control Center. It is a very interesting place to see. The museum is staffed by a bunch of very dedicated volunteers. I decided that it would be a shame for me to come this close, the Titan Missile Museum is located right here in Green Valley, Arizona, and not stop by for a second visit.
8 Feb 2006 Just a little update about where to next
Well I never did make it over to the Titan Missile Museum, even though it was only two miles away. I went back down to Nogales and spent another afternoon on the Mexican side and did a little looking around on the US side.
The main reason I didn't go to the Titan Missile Museum was because I found an RV Resort Park just a few miles a way and I reserved me a space for a couple of weeks starting 26 February. So I will have plenty of opportunities to visit the Titan Missile Museum.
After I stay in Green Valley, Arizona I am debating whether to go over to Quartzsite for a week then back to Phoenix for a week or two before I start heading North again for the summer. I may bypass Quartzsite all togather as it is getting a little late in the season. I was in Quartzsite around the first week of March in 2004. The place was winding down with all the temporary visitors just about gone. If I went after my stay in Green Valley I would be at least two weeks later than I was in 2004. Which means it wouldn't be worth the trip. I may try and sneak a day trip there before I leave Phoenix but I am not sure If I will have the time.
One little tid bit. The temperature here North of Phoenix hit 92°F. An all time record for 8 February.
11 Feb 2006 Day Trip To Quartzsite, Arizona
Went for a day trip to Quartzsite, Arizona. I mainly went over for a little shopping trip. It is after all the world's largest flea market.
Stopped by the Book Oasis and chatted a few minutes with Paul Winer (aka Naked Paul). He was telling me that last year (2003/2004 season) he nearly went out of business. His store is for the most part open to the weather so when it rains it takes him several hours to cover all his books. Well last year it rained so much that he basically was closed most of the entire season. Paul and I posed together for a picture and I will have it up here on the site soon.
Chatted with a couple of the other flea market vendors and they said this year is also down. Meaning that there are not nearly as many RVers there this season. On the other hand I talked to a couple of other vendors who said they are having their best year ever. I guess that means this year is good for some and not so good for others.
11 Feb 2006 Day Trip To Fort Verde, Arizona
Went for a day trip to Fort Verde to scout out an RV Park to stay in after I start heading north back to Idaho. My plan now is to leave here (Phoneix) sunday and spend a couple of weeks south of Tucson near Green Valley, Arizona. From there I intend to spend a week or two in Tombstone, Arizona or Globe or even both. That is TBA for now.
After Tombstone I then plan to come back here to the North Phoenix area for a couple of weeks then depart for For Fort Verde. From there I will scout around for an RV Park in the Flagstaff, Arizona area. I want to spend a few weeks there so I can get a couple of day trips to the Grand Canyon. I haven't been to the Grand Canyon since I was a kid so really want to get back there.
24 Feb 2006 Visited the Arizona Scottish Gathering and Highland Games in Mesa, Arizona
Attended the first of two days of the Arizona Scottish Gathering and Highland Games in Mesa, Arizona. I found this to be the largest Higland Gathering I have scene here in the states. I have attended others in Idaho, Virginia and in the Washington, D.C area. The Arizona Scottish Gathering was by a factor of at least twice the largest gathering of the clans. At least there were more clan tents than any other I have attended. As soon as I settle in at my next destination I will write a short review of what I saw and include pictures for the Arizona Scottish Gathering and Highland Games
25 Feb 2006 Underway for next Homeport, Tucson, Arizona
Departing today for a short trip down to the Tucson, Arizona area. I plan to actually stay in the Green Valley area just South of Tucson.
Ray Plumlee
Ray Plumlee
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