Day 33 - Meet Jan and Mike

On the road a little early so we can stop at the grocery store to get items for dinner tonight with Jam and Mike. Jan is another member of the online group I'm in and we haven't meet in person..only online for many years.

We're driving in a valley with all kinds of fruit trees and vegetables: orange trees, apricot trees, olive trees, almond trees, grapes, tomatoes, and more we couldn't identify. We even saw a crop duster spraying the fields. Then we discovered it's not a crop duster; it's an "arial applicator!" We could still see the fire from the day before.

I'm really a child of media: went through the town of Lodi (Oh, Lord, stuck in Lodi again - Credence Clearwater Revival), went through Stockton (Big Valley - wonder if the Barkleys are home?), and when we went through Sacramento (state capital), we couldn't decide if we should stop to see if "Ahnold" was home. The best was when a CHP (California Highway Patrol) motorcycle passed us - I wondered if it was Ponch or John!

We got into the campground and get settle so I called Jan to tell us we were here. Jan told me, too, that Tim Russert of NBC had passed away. That was sad to learn. I always looked forward to his political explanations and he seemed so excited about the upcoming elections.

Jan and Mike had planned to come to get us for some sightseeing and so they did. We drove to one of the firestations where Mike works and got to see everything. I got to sit in the fire engine (not truck) and got the whole tour. They slide down a pole at this station and it scared me to death looking at it! You have to step out to grab it. I don't think I'll be a fireman here anytime soon. We met the guys there at the station, too and you couldn't ask for a more nice and patient group. Thanks for everything!

Back to the RV and dinner. Mike and Jan brought steaks that we marinated in Moore's Marinade (from Alabama) and garlic. Jan also brought some awesome Paula Deen lemon "muffins." If I'd know how good they were first, I'd never made it to the great steak. David made his wonderful mac and cheese. YUM! The leftovers of the mac and cheese went home with Jan and Mike. We explained it was great for breakfast - milk, eggs, cheese, etc. We got the leftover steak and muffins. I think we got the better deal.

It was a late evening, but so much fun. Chrissy made friends with both and them and relaxed to the point that she fell asleep under the table, curled up next to Jan's foot! She was a tired puppy when she went to bed!

Off to Yosemite tomorrow where we'll meet our friends (formerly from Alabama now in California) John and Jean.

See ya down the road!

Jenny :)