April 27, 2011 Enjoying Sugar Barge Resort

We expected to move back to the Contra Costa Fairground on April 25. Just before it was time to check out, we learned we could extend additional days here at the same rate. So we quickly paid for 11 more days to take us through Larry’s doctor appointment on May 4th.

I thought I would share some of the reasons we enjoy visiting Sugar Barge Resort.

Welcome to Sugar Barge Resort. You drive in and stop at the office down this road.

This is the office, laundry room and club meeting room. The pool is just to the right of the office building.

Sugar Barge Resort lies just below a levee in the Delta. The levee is holding back water, lots of water. Bethel Island is surrounded by Delta sloughs fed mainly by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Someone once wrote there are 10,000 miles of water ways in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta area. It is easy to get lost out there if you don’t carry water-way map.

On top of the levee, boaters and campers shop in the convenience store and eat on the top deck of the outdoor restaurant located next to the boat launching ramp. The upper level cafe is perfect for getting a bird’s eye view of Frank’s Tract--a breath-taking water view.

I climb up on to the levee on my evening walk—to add a bit of hard work to my exercise—huff, huff! Some days the climb is easy---and some days it is a LOT of work. But the view from the levee makes the hugging and puffing worth it.

We have enjoyed our visit, even with lots of rain, wind, sunshine, wind, wind and more wind. The friendly and helpful staff members make this place extra special. It feels like home away from home when we need to stay close to Antioch for a month or two. Thank you Sugar Barge Resort!

Last weekend we celebrated Easter with my dad, sister, Diane, and her husband, Roger. Easter just isn’t Easter without happy-looking dyed eggs. I have too many years of egg-dying experience to quit now—so I did the Easter eggs. Notice the cute colored cups—they sure made the job easier. Pour out and toss—no washing up needed!

The Easter bunny even left a basket for Larry this year. He looks so cute carrying his Easter basket. Yes, I said “his” basket. He didn’t want to share his delicious Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs with me.

(But he did—even if it was under duress, smile. Thanks Sweetie!)

Larry skipping down the Bunny Trail with my dad (Bill) and Roger cheering him on.

We cooked a ham and baked potatoes for dinner and I made our now-famous Argo-cornstarch lemon meringue pie. It tasted even better than it looked.

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We have been in the Antioch/Bethel Island area for almost 7 weeks. We plan on heading back to Texas next Thursday, May 5th, after Larry’s appointment with his kidney doctor. After sitting here for so long--with so little to do, we are going to be very busy for the last week.

We are helping with my dad’s yard sale on Friday, going to visit long-time Benicia, CA, friends Saturday, and on Sunday, we are looking forward to company joining us at Sugar Barge Resort for a few days—Don & Sharon Del Rosario. They are passing through on their way to meet up with Dennis and Carol Hill for a trip to Alaska this summer. They will have lots of great things to write about—so be sure to check out Sharon’s blog this summer: Gypsy and the Mariner's RV Adventures.

Stay tuned for the shock of going back on the road. You can follow our travels back to Livingston, TX, as we deal with high-priced diesel and a dramatic weather change. We will be driving from cool, spring weather smack dab into heavy, hot summer weather. How will I survive? I don’t do HOT weather!