June 3, 2026 (Wed.) – On the Road Again!

After nearly six months, we’re officially back on the road! Leaving family and friends was bittersweet, but the itch to explore returned, and it was time to roll out again. This time, though, we’re traveling without our furry companions, which definitely tugs at the heartstrings. Our plan for this leg is to stay in the Northwest—Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon are all on the list.

Lynn thought she’d catch up on the blog once we returned to CA, especially since her last post was from December 2, 2025, when we were headed to Arizona. The post about actually returning to CA is still in progress. Once we got back, she finally felt retired. Seven months on the road felt more like an extended vacation, but being home with no travel and no work made it real—and she enjoyed every minute of it. Naturally, the blog never caught up and is now six months behind. There’s not much to report from our time in CA, but she’ll put together a monthly highlight reel. Now that we’re traveling again, it’s time to revive the blog… after remembering how to use it. LOL.

We pulled out of Canyon RV Park in Anaheim, CA on 6/3/26 at 9:30 a.m. under cool, cloudy 70° skies—perfect travel weather. The drive was long (about 6 hours/330 miles), but easy. We made a quick stop in Baker around noon, where it was a toasty 102°. A preview of the day’s theme: Hot. Hot. Hot. By the time we rolled into Mesquite around 3:30 p.m., it was 103° and climbing. One plus side about leaving CA…lower gas prices! Diesel was about $5.25 but with Kirk’s fuel card, we were able to get it for $4.98/gal.! In CA, we were paying about $6.80 for diesel (but was as high as $8/gal. at one point!).

We booked a one‑night stay at the Casa Blanca Resort & Casino RV Park, which is basically a parking lot with hookups tucked behind the hotel. At $50 a night, it’s a simple, no‑frills stopover. Check‑in is the same for hotel guests and RVers, which feels a little odd but works.

We were assigned site #5 and headed back to park the rig. That’s when the fun began.

Our 43′ rig was never—ever—going to fit in what looked like a 30′ space. The bushes were creeping into the site, a laundry building sat directly in front of it, and the neighbors were parked so close that it left very little room to maneuver. Add in the 103° heat radiating off the blacktop, and it was a recipe for disaster.

Lynn’s usual parking job is to hop out and yell “STOP!” whenever Kirk gets a little too close to something. This time, Kirk spent nearly twenty minutes trying to make the impossible work from the comfort of the air‑conditioned truck, while Lynn slowly melted into the pavement like a forgotten popsicle. When Kirk finally called it, she practically dove back into the cool air before heat stroke kicked in.

Even though the rig ended up on the wrong side, one guy watching the whole ordeal gave Kirk major kudos for maneuvering it like a pro — and honestly, the compliment made the struggle sting a little less.

Kirk called the hotel, and thankfully we were reassigned to site #42—a much larger and roomier spot, and only $10 more per night! Honestly, the fact that they don’t ask about rig size at check‑in is baffling, especially since they did ask when he originally called to confirm they could accommodate big rigs. But the upgrade was absolutely worth it. Kirk swears its a scam. Stick you in the smallest/worst possible spot with tons of obstacles just so you call to ‘upgrade’ to a larger site. The RV Park was practically empty with tons of available sites (see photos below)! By the time we settled in, it was around 4:30 p.m., and still scorching, so we spent the rest of the afternoon hiding in the AC before dinner.

Whenever we pass through Nevada, we make a point to stay in Mesquite so we can have dinner at Katherine’s inside the Casa Blanca. It’s our favorite spot in town, and it has never disappointed us. We had 7 p.m. reservations and, yes, we drove the few hundred yards and valet parked. It was simply too hot to walk across the blacktop, and parking the big truck anywhere near the hotel would have landed us back by the RV park anyway. So valet it was—zero regrets!

The hot spinach salad is always one of our must‑order dishes. It may sound like an unusual thing to look forward to, but it’s consistently excellent. It’s definitely not a “healthy” salad, but it’s one we never skip. The tableside preparation—and watching the salad briefly go up in flames—adds a nice bit of flair to the experience.

For our main course, Lynn chose a wagyu filet while Kirk went with a regular filet so we could compare. Lynn’s was noticeably more tender and juicy, while Kirk’s had the deeper flavor. We’re still undecided on which wins overall.

After a delicious (and slightly overindulgent) dinner at Katherine’s, we headed back to the RV and spent the rest of the evening relaxing after a long day on the road.

Not many pics today. Just road trip pics and dinner. Tomorrow, we head to Utah.

Weather – (Mesquite, NV) – High 104*, Low 69*. No rain. Slightly humid.

Traffic – Moderate on the 15 through Las Vegas. Otherwise, not much.

Food – Katherine’s Steakhouse @ the Casa Blanca Resort & Casino.

Notable – Katherine’s Steakhouse. Lower gas prices!