Monday, February 09, 2015

WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING

Since I've been posting over on the Walking My Camino blog, I seem to have been neglecting the ongoings at Gassaway's Adventures.  Although we haven't been traveling to some exotic spot, we haven't been sitting on our hands either.

Don and Dorthory, who we met in Moab several years ago, took us up on an open invitation to do a little moochdocking in our back yard.  Now you may have heard the term "boondocking", which for an RV'er is camping for free in the boondocks.   Moochdocking is much the same except you're in someones back yard or driveway.  So first on the agenda is a tour of the USS Midway.  Don, who spent some time in the Navy, was in his element.  I was able to take him to the Combat Information Center, which is generally not open to the public.  This is an area where he worked while serving on board a ship.


Our guests had been to Borrego before, but just scratched the surface.  So, acting as tour guides, we headed out to the desert for a week of exploring.  We did some tame 4-wheeling, exploring Seventeen Palms, the Pumpkin Patch, Sheep Canyon, the arroyos of the badlands Spilt Mountain, and Hollywood and Vine.   Here's some photos:

CAMP IN ARROYO SALADO





No trip to Borrego would be complete without taking a look at the many sculptors that are on land that surrounds the town.




You and see many a different and strange things out in the desert.  How about a South African and a German camping in an 1959 Caddie.


Meet Johan, the South African and Kiki from Germany both of who love camping in Borrego in their spare time.  They bought the Caddie in Las Vegas, registered it in Utah and drive it around the west.  Of course they were invited to happy hour around the campfire for some great conversation.  Turns out Johan is the captain of the sailing yacht Kaori and Kiki calls herself the stewardess.  I think she is also the cruise director, purser, and wears any number of hats.  The Kaori is a 125 foot two masted sailing yacht currently berthed in San Diego.  Johan was gracious enough to invite us for a tour at the end of our camping trip.


So of course we took him up on the invitation and one evening we showed up at the dock. With a crew of 5 in addition to Johan and Kiki, they  have their hands full.  Recently they hired new crew members so training is in progress. Even so, we were given the grand tour, which included happy hour and story telling afterwards.

THE HELM

HOLDING TANK READOUT


THE SALON

MAIN CABIN WITH HIS AND HER'S BATHROOMS

THE GALLEY

CREW QUARTERS

JOHAN TELLING A GREAT STORY


You can do a Google search of the Kaori to find out more about the yacht.  Oh, if you have a spare $6,000,000 laying around, it can be yours as it is for sale.  Crew included for an additional price.

So what better motivation to get our boat in the water and do a little sailing.  We spent just shy of a week sailing each day with great weather and favorable winds.



 1st MATE RORY AT THE HELM

END OF ANOTHER GREAT DAY

So you see, we haven't been doing nothing.