I SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END!

I think I can finally see the light at the end of that tunnel! 

Thanksgiving has come and gone and since then, I have been busy working, sleeping, and working….

The first Saturday after Thanksgiving, was voluntary overtime at work that I signed up for.  But since then it has become mandatory overtime.  We first started out with 12 hours shifts-5 days a week.  Then this past week it went to 11-1/2 hours shifts and now the next week we go back to 12 hour shifts and yes, still five days a week.

So when I leave for work at 5:15am I see no sun, when I get home at 5:30 or 6:00pm-it’s once again-dark.  I get two days off and if I’m lucky it’s a sunny bright day-as it is today. 

We are now down to just two weeks left and peak season is really upon us here at Amazon.com.  This past week in just one afternoon we got hit hard with orders that all had to be shipped out between 5pm & 5:30pm.  We all worked hard and in some case we tagged teamed and rushed to meet the goal.

Amazon is expecting it to be a very, very busy week once again coming up-so plenty of rest is in order.

A few days ago, C-NBC news was here in Fernley reporting on the workcampers and temps that Amazon hires during this busy time of the year and yes, I got interviewed!  here is are two links to that story:

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?play=1&video=3000133724

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100286251

Our poor little Leah sure didn’t know what to think of that huge camera in our rig and she just wouldn’t quiet growling!  it was almost comical!

Anyways, that is the reason why I haven’t had much time to think about writing on the blog-just a few more weeks and then it’s on to another adventure for us!

 

WHAT A WEEK

Once again I have gotten behind on my blog writing….I guess coming home from 10 hour work days; I’m just too beat to think about getting on the computer.  On my days off I just want to kick back and relax, spend time with Brian and Leah-so again the computer usually gets pushed back on the back burner.  Then before you know it-another week has flew by-again.

Brian and I about a month ago got eye exam and ordered new glasses.  With his being specially made-it takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks to make.  Upon making his and putting the lens in the frame-the lens broke and there for causing another delay in receiving our glasses.  I finally went to pick mine up just to discover that the gal measured wrong and my bi-focal placed wrong!  Now mine have to go back to the lab to be redone and now  Brian’s are finally finish.  This means another trip or maybe more back to Sparks/Reno area.

We have taken short drives around the area.  A couple of weeks ago we took a Saturday drive to both Lahontan Lake and Pyramid Lake.  Now as for Lahontan Lake, well…let’s just say thank goodness we no longer own our canoe and took it there!  The lake no longer has any water in it what-so-ever!!  Here are some pics of the place:

It does still have a very nice and spacious campground that if we ever come into this area early again-we could stay at.  Just too bad there is no lake anymore though….

So then we went on towards Pyramid Lake which is on the Piute Indian Reservation.  Now there was still plenty of water in this lake that we saw many out fishing and folks camping along the shoreline.  Here are some photos of Pyramid Lake:

Along the way to Pyramid we followed the Truckee River which flows into the Pyramid Lake and found some spectacular views:

After exploring we found an area to where we could get out and walk a spell.  again we were along the Truckee River and found the trees starting to turn colors here:

We learned where the wild horses hide out and got some good photos of them roaming free here in Nevada: 

recently the BLM had a round-up; catching about 3500 wild horses.  They had an auction and sold all but a few hundred that are still pinned up and not sure what they will do with them.  Even though it sounds cruel with this round-up, if you could see how scarce the vegetation is around here and water source-I do understand why they do this round-up.  Out of all only a couple had to be put down due to a sickness.

The past few weeks have been uneventful at work-until this week….I am in outbound/shipping.  Meaning that I basically package single items to go out to customers.  This past week I got the pleasure to go upstairs to Crips Plant.  I’m basically doing the same thing-except I’m filling boxes with multiple items for customers.  For the most it’s not much different than single shipping.  But occasionally it becomes like a Tetris game; trying to get items to fit properly into the box. 

As proud as I am being a camperforce for Amazon.com, it also makes me sad to see other camperforce folks coming into the plant and acting almost like children!  They don’t want to follow the rules that the leaders have us follow-almost making up their own rules-and making it difficult for us that do follow the rules. 

I was involved in a bad situation this past week with another camperforce and due to the fact of the nature and being under investigation-I cannot go into anymore details…other than I pray it don’t happen again and proper actions will be taken.  I wasn’t hurt in any manner-just bullied and intimidated….

Other than all that “stuff”,  work has been good and soon we will be gearing up for “Peak” and I’m hoping for plenty of overtime in outbound.

 

 

BUSY, BUSY & TIRED

I know that I should be writing more often than what I have been.  But it seem of late that I have been very busy or just plain too tired to even think about getting on the computer.

Work is going great!  This week I did voluntary overtime-and that should really help the paycheck and our future trip to California.  I do have to say that I think I’m working much harder than what I did last year in Coffeeville. 

I had to break down and buy a pair of therapeutic gloves to wear while I’m at work to help my hands from hurting so bad and then braces for at night when I’m sleeping-to help keep them from going numb and tingling.  Both seem to be helping greatly.

Last weekend was busy.  Friday we went out with another couple (he is working for Amazon) for a nice Prime Rib Dinner.  Being it was close by-Brian and I chose to walk to the casino/restaurant and on the way home we caught one of the many beautiful sunsets.

 Some of our sunsets around here have been beautiful-and I happen to have the phone with me to take these pics

Then the following day we went Rock Hounding near by.  We even manage to see some wild horse in the distant. 

     Brian & our new friend, Ray checking out some “junk” that was found while out rock hounding

Wild Horses grazing/napping out in the wide open spaces that Nevada seems to have

this week I volunteered to do overtime-so that shot one of my 3 days off.  Since it was a pay-week, we had decided that the both of us needed new glasses.  So off to Sparks/Reno we headed.

Brian hasn’t had a good eye exam in a very long time and the Dr. was intrigued with his eye condition.  He had study a little in college about what Brian has (Milk Cataract behind the eyes-but never had a patient with his eye condition.  At the same time it gave me a new found look at what he (Brian) sees or does not see.  The Dr. was impressed that with his vision impairment as it is-that he does not allow it to slow him down.

all in all-there has been little change in Brian’s eye’s.  Maybe a little weaker-but not progressing any worse than what had been thought in past exam-which is good.

And of course I too had to have an eye exam.  Little change in mine as well and as the Dr. so kindly reminded me: I’m no spring chicken and mine is progressing at the normal speed of me getting older each year…Now where did he ever get the idea that I was growing old????

While in the Sparks/Reno area we had to go check out the worlds largest Scheele's store.  It was amazing with two huge aquariums and a Ferris Wheel inside the store!

         

 One of the two aquariums inside the store.

We did find some nice hats that we have been looking for that is light weight and yet help protect our head, face & neck from the sun.

And then or course today (my last day off) I had to do some minor cleaning of some cupboards that was long past due.  Brian does the majority of the cleaning and cooking while I’m at work and does a great job.  He even does most of the laundry-I just nicely help him sort it out so that my whites don’t end up with my darks-as he use to do once upon a time-before we were together-but he has come a long ways and learned a lot!

I do appreciate all that he does while I’m at work: Feed Leah, clean, Walk Leah, visits with the neighbors,  Plays and Walks Leah, gets dinner ready, Feeds Leah and of course I come home from an exhausting day to a nice hot meal and a clean motorhome!

This week will once again be a bit crazy.  The dept. I’m in will have another “Stress Test”  on Wednesday and they have changed our schedule for that day-slightly.  Instead of our normal 7am-5:30pm; it will be 8:30am-7pm and possibility of another volunteer overtime that yes, I will sign up for.

So until the next time that I’m not busy or tired………….

FERNLEY RV PARK

Last year while working for Amazon.com in Coffeeville KS, we stayed in a RV park right across the street from Amazon itself.  It made it an easy commute with me walking for the most part to and from work.

Last season while there, I did a blog on the park and described the set up.  Although it was very  spacious from site to site-it had a lot of issues like constant water breakage and even electrical lines breaking due to large rigs.  When they completed the shower house-that became a joke in itself-for when one person showered it about ran out the main doorway-literally!

The weather in Kansas seemed to be gloomy and rainy; making the final decision that we would not return there this year, but instead try Fernley NV.  We had been told how nice the RV parks around Fernley and Sparks were that Amazon contracted with.  True to what has been said-we are presently sitting in a very nice RV Park this season.

Fernley RV Park is situated right on the western side of the town, Fernley NV.  Within walking distant to downtown businesses and a few casinos, not to mention some nice restaurants.   I’m not really in walking distant to Amazon-although if I was to be more ambition-I could walk to and from work; for it’s less than 3 miles-one way.  However after being on my feet for the 10 hours-I don’t think I’m in the mood to walk home at night.  So I choose to drive instead.

But getting back to the park; it’s not very big.  Fernley RV Park only has 40 sites-small enough for us to become acquaintance with each other, but big enough to help a neighbor out when one needs it or left alone if we chose to be.  Right now there are a few what we would call “locals” that have been here for a couple of years.  We have become fast friends with them.  We have met some folks that just stop here for a lay over for a night or two and then move on.  Each week a few more of us Work Camperforce are showing up to start our seasonal work for Amazon and soon the park will be completely filled to the brim.

The park has all blacktop roads and cement pads with a picnic table to each site.  The office is kept very clean and those that run have always been very pleasant to us.  Both Owner and Managers don’t give you the feeling that they don’t like their job or that they don’t want you here-it’s just  the opposite.

Mail is kept organized and not thrown out on some coach.  We each have a small grassy area that is watered nightly-very green.  The elderly gentleman that mows does a fantastic job and makes sure that he’s very careful around all of our rigs-and he manages to do it with a smile on his face!

It’s nice to come home from work and being as dirty as I am, walk into the shower building that has been kept very clean and guess what?  Yep!  Water doesn’t flood the whole place and run out of the building!

Even the laundry facility is immaculate and very reasonable.  Enough to where we don’t want  to go anywhere else to do our laundry-what a nice conveniences for us RV’ers working for Amazon.com!

On the back side of this park also is a small mobile home village and we are getting to know a few of them back there as well.  The mobile home has a mixed diversity of Hispanic and Americans and both seem to be very nice as we walk through.  Several have fallen in love with our little Leah, including this Spanish lady that tries to speak to her and we just don’t understand what she is saying-but Leah seems to like her as well.

Did I mention that since being here, we have seen some beautiful sunsets?  And that just outside of the park wall are some spectacular mountains and wild horses run just not too far away from here?

All in all if I were to rate this park-it would mostly defiantly get a 10+ rating.  You know-I just might have to go online and do just that!!  Two thumbs up Fernley RV Park-you are doing a great job and Thank You for Making us Work Camperforce feel right at home!!

 

Here are just a few pictures of the park:

              

PLAYING CATCH UP

I know I haven’t written much on my blog webpage.  But there comes a time in one’s life that just needs a “slow down”.  Well this has been my time to slow down.

I haven’t really done a whole lot with the computer.  I go on and check emails and maybe write a few things on Facebook-but that’s been about it.

Now that I’m back on track and in gear once again-it’s time to play catch up.  I know I haven’t written much of late on my blog; but that soon should change and will write at least once a week.

Since my last post we left Las Vegas a couple of days ahead of schedule; we just got tired of the business of the place and wanted a little peace and quiet before I initially started working.

so we headed to Walker Lake just outside of Hawthorne NV.  The land surrounding Walker Lake is either BLM Land or belong to the Army Ammunition Depot. 

Again we only stayed for a few nights.  There really wasn’t much there.  Oh there was a lake-but we couldn’t swim in it due to all the silt in the water.  There was hardly any boat activity since it’s a salt water lake.  We were surrounded by very rocky mountains with absolutely no trees anywhere.

                                              

The only thing I could say about this place is that we did get some beautiful evening skies.  But generally the days were hot and the nights mild.  We had no hook-ups at all-since it was BLM land.

 

After leaving Walker Lake we moved on step closer to Fernley and landed our feet again for a couple of more nights at the County Park in Fallon NV.  Here we did get water and electric on our site; which meant we could run our AC.

The park wasn’t too bad and there was a nice walking/bike path that we could walk on.  The downfall was that we were on Hwy 95 and constantly heard semi’s all day and all night long. 

 

Did you know that Fallon is the home Top Gun?  We weren’t too far and could constantly hear the roar of the jets taking off.

We arrived one day before our schedule date at Fernley RV Park.  This is where we will be parked until at least the 23rd of Dec.  It’s not a super big park and host only 40 sites. 

Fernley is about 30 miles east of Sparks/Reno and only about 3 miles from Amazon.  So far we are finding it to be a friendly little community and everyone thus far has been nice to us.  Some of the folks here in the park have been here for a long time while others are just traveling through and then of course there are us who work seasonally for Amazon.

Brian likes it here a lot.  Everything is in walking distant for him (including Wal-Mart) and once the temps get out of the 90’s I know he will be outdoors more.  We even think Leah likes it here-she already has a boyfriend (or two) and she is getting along great with the other doggies around here.

I do have one week already in with Amazon and has gone fairly well so far.  I got days and in outbound-which I request-So that makes me a Happy Camper!

The body was a bit sore the first few days-but it was actually easy for me to get back into the swing.  I have already exceeded way past what was expected out of me by the second day.  I received a “positive feed-back” which will go into my file.

Now that we are settled in and I can play “catch up”- we will see how the rest will pan out……

VIVA LAS VEGAS-2ND TIME ‘ROUND

A little over a year ago we spent some time out at Lake Mead National Recreation and drove into Sam’s Town to take the shuttle bus down to the strip.

Well, we have turned a 3 day stay, into a 5 day stay into a two week stay here at Sam’s Town RV Park in North Las Vegas. One, the price was right so we couldn’t beat the rates. We got 25/7 security, swimming  pool & hot tub plus the free shuttle down to the strip.  We also caught an online promotion special and got 4 free breakfast to boot.

The temps have been in the 100’s each day and nights aren’t cooling down any, but we just run our AC, and spend time in the pool cooling off.

We have braved the hot temps and taken the shuttle bus down to the strip.  We always make sure we stay dehydrated with lots of water and a few beers.  We have seen things this time around that we didn’t see when we were here once before.

Some can afford to do shows here in Las Vegas; us, well we can’t afford to do the main show attraction, but that hasn’t stopped us from enjoying the free attractions.  You don’t realize what all there really is to see and do.

Here are just a few things that we have gotten to enjoy this time around:

Sam’s Town Water & Laser Show:       

                   The Fremont Experience:                  

Fall of Atlantis at Caesars Palace:                    

Conservatory at Bellagio:                     

The last time we were here we went at night and saw the Fountains of Bellagio, Sirens of Treasure Island, Volcanic at the Mirage to name a few.

We yet want to see the wildlife at the Flamingo, Show in the Sky at the Rio & Streetmosphere at the Grand Canal Shoppes.  So I guess this means we have to put up with the extreme heat and the  crowd of people at least one or maybe two more time.

 

 

ADVENTURE NEARING AN END…..

As we traveled a mile and a half each morning to the top of the “hill” to check emails, I finally received the email that I have been waiting for for several weeks.  Amazon.com in Fernley NV has decided to take on us seasonal camperforce a ahead of normal schedule. 

We all were given start dates for both September and October.  The first being on the 2nd of Sept.  We had to email back two choices for start dates.  I chose the 2nd or the 9th of Sept-in hopes for the 2nd.  As it turned out, I got the 16th of Sept.  That’s okay now it allows us to complete our Adventure here in New Mexico-finishing with Bluewater State Park.

So now we sit back and go “wow, already”?  Where has our summer gone?  Yes, I could choose a later start date, but knowing that we will be traveling California next summer and knowing that the prices are higher there-the more money-the better for us to travel.

This will be my second year working seasonal for Amazon.com, my first with the Fernley fulfillment center.  Last year was at Coffeyville, KS.  It seemed to have rain, and the campsites at the park we were at was always flooded out.  Never seen much of the sun come the month of Dec.  It made a “depressing” area for my husband, Brian and our little Min Pin, Leah while I worked.

We know this year in Fernley, the nights can get mighty cold, and the wind may blow fierce at times.  But, the days will be warm or at least tolerable and we should see more of the sun.  That will help Brian and Leah while I’m at busy working away. 

As I write this I have to tell a quick little story told to us by a friend:  This friend had another friend that worked Amazon.com in Fernley NV last season, and she told her about how her sheets froze together!  Gee, I wonder if they ever ran heat????  Brian and I laugh at this little bit every time we think of the cold in Fernley.

Fernley has more to offer, with Reno being a very short distant away and shopping will be made easier.  By the sounds of the campground it will be paradise compared to what we had last year. 

Being at Fernley fulfillment center also keeps us centrally located here in the Western part of the U.S. as we travel each summer and explore new states out West.

So, as our adventure for this summer nears to an end-another new one will soon begin….

DAYS GONE BY….

Wow!  Here it is the middle of August and I can’t help but wonder where the days have gone?  As I received news about when I will start working at the Fernley fulfillment center for Amazon.com, we make our final plans as we head in that direction.

Where has this summer gone and what all did we get to see and do?

Well, when we started our adventure back in early April, we first landed at Navajo Dam State Park near Farmington, NM.  It was cold and we even saw a bit of snow.  We got to visit the Aztec Ruins.

 Site at Navajo Dam State Park

 Aztec Ruins

We then moved onto what we hoped would be a little warmer temps; El Vado State Park.  The days weren’t bad, but the nights were still quite chilly.  There wasn’t really much for us to do there so we moved onto Heron State Park. 

Site at El Vado State Park

I think at Heron, we both agreed this was probably one of our favorite parks here in New Mexico.  We had an excellent site with privacy, great view of the aqua marine lake and many trails to keep us busy with.  The days were warm and sunny,  our nights were still on the cool side yet.

View of Heron Lake from our site-Spectacular!!!

The foot bridge crossing over the Rio Chama.

One of the things we said is that each summer as we travel a state, we will do something “special”.  Well, this year we choose to do the Cumbre & Toltec train ride out of Chama NM.  It was the best ever and enjoyable.

Riding the Cumbre & Toltec Train

Now it was time really head to the mountains.  Our daytime temps are perfect-yet the nights still stay on the chilly side.  We towards the Taos area.  First destination was at Cimarron Canyon State Park, then onto Eagle’s Nest State Park.

Cimarron Canyon State Park

Eagle’s Nest State Park

Due to the extreme dryness, the burn ban for Northern New Mexico went into effect a lot sooner than many of us thought.  So piles of fire wood, including what we had gathered and cut was all left behind.

As we continue on our travels we venture into Coyote Creek State park.  This will become a very nice park, once they get all the work done.  While there, we had no water resource-for they were putting in a new well, and a recently built new shower building. 

Site at Coyote Creek State Park

The new Ranger Station and Shower Building

I got wind of some spectacular hiking in the Carson National Forest and part of the Pecos Wilderness and was told of a National Forest campground called Santa Barbara-so off we go again to a new place.

This became a favorite of ours.  The trails were awesome and always something new to explore-no matter what direction we headed.  Here we wish we could have stayed much longer.  But with the 4th of July sneaking up on us and rumors flying around that both State Parks and National Parks may shut down for a spell due to the extreme fire dangers in the mountains-we had to get somewhere that we could hold over for a spell.

Santa Barbara Campground in the Carson National Forest-so peaceful and awesome!

  

Each one of these pictures were from a different trailhead that we adventured onto.

We headed towards Storrie Lake near Las Vegas, NM.  We had been told by the park ranger that it would be “safe” during the crazy holiday and they have never shut down due to any fire danger.  When we arrived there-we saw why; There was literally nothing to burn!

Storrie Lake State Park-where’s the lake?

The days were hot, but tolerable and by early evening we could live without the AC running.  However we had to put up with neighboring dogs constantly barking, but enjoyed listening to the coyotes carrying on during the wee hours of the night and morning.

The monsoonal rains came early and was a blessing to all, including us!  So that meant we could continue on our adventure and not worry too much about fire dangers.  So back to the mountains we headed.

Next destination was towards Santa Fe.  We landed at Hyde Memorial State Park up in the mountains.  Hyde is New Mexico’s very first State Park.  The park shows the age-it is old, but unique in it’s own way.

Our spot at Hyde Memorial State Park-we are tucked in, but just behind us was a Day-Use Pavilion.

 

While here, we had a pleasant visit with our daughter as she moved from Grand Junction, CO to San Antonio TX.  The days are still warm and nights are still cool.

Our daughter, Melissa and her dog-Duke

The monsoonal rains have proven to us that when it rains-it pours here in the mountains.  Each day we got hit with a thunderstorm and even a little hail.  We wonder with all the recent rain-will they ever lift the burn ban? 

Monsoonal rains also brings hail with it during one of our afternoon thunderstorms.

Sure enough the day after our daughter’s visit-they lifted the burn ban and we can go back to having campfires.  Our problem is the site we could fit the motorhome in-we literally was inches from the fire ring and could not even think of a campfire while parked here.

I was starting to feel the summertime blues and the last two parks we managed to park very close to a day-use pavilion that always seemed to be rented.  At this point we have decided that we are not very fond of the State Parks and needed some peace and quiet.

We wanted to spend a little time at Bandelier National Monument, so we headed in that direction.  Here we did find our peace and tranquil.  Well, all except for one night when some partiers decided to come in and be rude.  After numerous complaints the next morning to the camp host by us campers-rangers were called in and the rowdy group was asked to pack it up and leave the park.

Campsite at Bandelier National Monument

We were amazed by the Indian Ruins in the mountainside and the trails.  Again the days were warm and now the nights are tolerable to where we could have a window open during the night time.  We even had a pair of bucks that grazed right behind our site.

 Part of the ruins at Bandelier National Monument

A Pair of young bucks grazing very near to our campsite.

As continue on our summertime adventure we now spend two weeks at Jemez Falls Campground in the Santa Fe National Forest.  During the week it was peaceful and not very busy.  But come Thursday and Friday we watched the campers piling in for the weekend.  On Sunday-they would all head back home.  Majority of those that come to camp came from Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Bernalillo to escape the heat and the city life.

Jemez Falls Campground in the Santa Fe National Forest.

We came across this elderly couple that camped next to us and we became fast friends.  Their few days became a week stay.  However-not knowing why or reason-they all of sudden packed up late one afternoon.  Strange…..we hope we didn’t offended them-and we always remembered our deodorant-I think…

Brian and I both have come to the conclusion that we really like the Jemez (pronounce: “Hay-Mez”) Mountains.  There are three hot springs nearby to soak in and the air is so refreshing and very relaxing.  We now know why the “city folks” come here for a little R&R.  Only thing is-we stayed clear of the hot springs during the weekend!

McCauley’s Warm Spring

Spence Hot Springs

While adventuring one day, and nature calling with no nearby bathrooms, one does what one must do-find a tree or in my case-a rock.

Not needing to go into details-I manage to look over the edge and found a white roof camper and another one on the move.  I went back and told Brian what I had discovered.  The question became where did those campers come from and how they got there….

As we get back in the car and head around the bend on Hwy 126 we soon learned of a Forest Road (379) that went 22 miles to the Gilman Tunnels (towards Albuquerque) and reconnected again with Hwy 4.  We adventured a small distant down FR 379, we discovered there was several disperse camping areas that we could actually get our little motorhome into.  So when our time was up at Jemez Falls-we would move into this area.

We literally had 3/4 of a mile all to ourselves for the most part.  Weekends picked up and campers piled in-but many respected each other and gave plenty of space.  We never heard any real noisy generators and only had one group not far from us that party a little-but was respectful.  And they played country music that we liked.

We first thought that we could only stay for two weeks and would have to move on.  But after making a phone call we learned that we could stay up to a month-that was perfect for us!  Both Brian and I and even Leah truly love our little piece of heaven and really don’t want to leave.

Well now hearing that I may go to work sooner than what we expected-it’s now time to think about heading towards Fernley.  So our month long stay in our little part of the world will be cut short.

First stop will be at Albuquerque for some shopping, then onto Bluewater State Park for a short lay over as we slowly make our way to NV. 

Spending the majority of the summer with temps in the low to mid 80’s and nights being anywhere from the mid 40’s to lower 50’s I now have to acclimate my body to warmer temps.  The temps in Fernley are still in the low to mid 90’s; and the fulfillment centers are not AC-so I must prepare myself to these temps once again.

I can’t believe that the days have gone by so fast!  We did many things that most don’t have the time to see or do.

There were many trails and errors over the course of the summertime adventure.  Many we learned from, some we have cried over, but laughed a lot, the most is that we made lots of fond memories to carry with us and we look forward to our next adventures in life.