Not a World Series game, but plenty of action anyway

ROCKLIN, Calif., USA - The Priority One text message came through at 8:30 a.m. this morning: The softball tournament was on for this morning, with granddaughter Samantha's team set to play at least one game, maybe three if they won the first two.

Yikes. Put down the Sunday paper and grab the shoes.

That news put a spin on things because we figured that the team was out of the running in the girl's softball tournament held in Rocklin's Lone Tree park, when we didn't hear Saturday night after the first round of games concluded. But as today was the last set of games of the entire season, we kicked into gear, packing cameras, sunscreen and roared up Interstate 80 to the ballpark.

(The roaring part was a lot of fun. Gawd, I wish I had some lights and a siren on my pickup truck.)

The 30-acre park is a sports nut's dreamscape with beautiful softball and baseball facilities, and a professional-style snack bar that was busy most of the day selling hot dogs, hamburgers and enough Coca-Cola to give the jitters to the entire population of Northern California. I had two Supersized Cokes (along with a cheeseburger and Doritos) and expect to see what kind of late night programming there is on Sundays. And maybe I'll check out the sunrise, too...


Snack bar menu

We arrived mid-way through the first game, immediately scooping up our other granddaughter, Kami, who was toddling about on her 13-month-old legs with various girls from the softball team shepherding her so she wouldn't get into too much trouble while her mom (daughter Anne) attended to the team in the dugout, one eye on the field, the other on the ever-toddling Kami.


The Captain and Kami read while the game goes on


The Admiral on stroll patrol with Kami

The games went fast - really fast - but unfortunately neither broke in favor of Samantha's team, coached by her dad, Steve. Samatha got several good hits, made several great plays (ok, I'm her grandfather, but damnit, they were good). The rest of her team played very well too, losing to girls teams, the members of which looked like they were an average of 30 pounds heavier.

And most of that extra weight seemed to be muscle.


Samantha at third base, right before she scores a run


Coach Steve huddles before the play


The pitcher's mom yells some encouragement

It was a beautiful warm day, maybe our last warm weekend of the summer as the forecasters are now calling for a chance of rain, falling temperatures and really cold weather in the mountains by the end of this coming week.

That might put a crimp in our plans to take the Grey Goose Express II to the mountains next weekend for a trial run. Perhaps a lowland expedition will be a better choice.

In the meantime, I have several huge files of video taken today at the game to go through. But below is a sample, the first segment of which shows Samantha getting a single.

Grey Goose II rolls off the lot and goes to - storage?

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA- The Grey Goose Express II left the RV Max sales lot this morning shortly before noon after we had received a thorough briefing on all systems by Mike the mechanical guy, not to be confused with Mike the owner guy who sold us the unit last Sunday.

And with Mike the owner guy, we had a nice conversation again about his business and how he would really like to open a branch in Mexico.

He said it would be damned good excuse to visit the warm climate in December and January when it is cold, even in Sacramento.

We motored out gingerly with a special hitch made to distribute the weight evenly, but even at that, we knew we were towing a huge package behind us. A new electric brake system took most of the terror out of it.

But still...

After a short tool around the city, we went to the Costco in Rancho Cordova (close to daughter Anne's house) and parked out on the outskirts (so we could turn around and leave). We loaded up on a few items and then had a nice lunch - with the slider popped out.


Basket of goodies for the Grey Goose II


Grey Goose II parked - with the slider popped out

After lunch, we checked out the napping spots (many) and the Goose II passed that test without any problems.

And it passed the maneuverability test, too, when we motored to Allstar Storage where we had rented a slot that was about 18 inches wider on each side than the Grey Goose II. After several attempts - and several pleas to various deities of Christian and non-Christian origins - the Grey Goose II slid into place nicely.

However, if the trailer didn't have a back door, we would not have any access without moving it.

Ouch!

Tomorrow the Admiral and I will start preliminary packing for our departure to Mexico with a tentative first cruise next weekend to see if all the systems work as advertised by Mike the mechanical guy.

The best thing is, if they don't work, both Mike & Mike said to bring the Grey Goose Express II back for fixups. It's all part of their service.

Is this a great country or what?

Logical progressions don't always seem so logical

CARMICHAEL, Calif. USA - The move to Mexico in seven weeks away and suddenly all the dominoes are falling: What do we take with us? Are we going to build a house? When will be actually start packing?

The questions didn't get answered over the weekend, but after wrestling with these three conundrums, we bought a travel trailer.

A travel trailer?

Yes, a towable land yacht (sort of) that is big enough for us to carry all of the things we wanted to take to Mexico with us as well as provide a ready-to-use beach house while we ponder the real house we want to build.

A travel trailer?

For two months I scoured the want ads for a utility trailer to haul kayaks, a rowing/sailing dinghy, household stuff, computers & electronics and, of course, clothes. (Clothes aren't that big a deal, given the climate.)

But every cargo-only trailer I looked at was either several thousand dollars - or so beat I would not drive it across town, let alone 1700 miles to La Manzanilla.

I was about to simply drive the Trooper south with whatever we could cram in when we saw a new-to-the-market small travel trailer, manufactured by Thor Industries, that we realized could double as a cargo trailer and temporary beach house. They are light, well thought out (like a boat) and easily towed. But the downside is they are also very expensive - as in the $20,000 range.

That's way beyond what I would pay for an aluminum box to sit on beach, 12 feet above sea level.

But a concept was born - buy a travel trailer.

A travel trailer.

And no, we didn't pay a fortune for our 1996 Aerolite (in the video below). Admiral Fox always gets a great deal and did so on this unit... Of course, now I need to head down to Camper World for all those accessories and then there is the issue of a Honda generator, and, oh, how about one of those outside awnings and....