IN THE BEGINNING...

“In the beginning…”   

Well, isn’t that how a story should begin?  Since this is the first installment of the blog we are calling “CoolRVers On the Road”, I thought it would be appropriate to write something that tells you who the CoolRVers are and fills in the gaps from our first RVing adventures 42 years ago to our upcoming trip north to Alaska (and beyond). 

First of all, the “COOL” part of our name comes from living in a small community actually called Cool, California.  We moved to Cool in 1979 and learned that the annual Founders Day Celebration was to honor the town’s namesake, Aaron Cool, a Gold Rush era traveling preacher.  It seems the area had been known as Cave Valley, but when it came time to get its first US Post Office, that name was already taken.  Legend has it that Rev. Aaron Cool was in town at the time and the local town folks asked if they could honor the fine gentleman by naming the town after him.  Thus, Cool, California got its first post office in 1885 (and later became Zip Code 95614). 

The rural area has about 4,000 residents and we live within a gated development called “Auburn Lake Trails” that got its start in 1970.  (BTW, there is NO Auburn Lake – but that’s another story sometime.)  http://www.sierranevadageotourism.org/content/cool,-california/sie519B2A48F9E3FDEDD

Our home, with 2000 feet of decking, sits atop one of the highest hills in the area, overlooking the American River Canyon with a 360-degree view where you literally can see a 100+ miles in any direction.



We have spectacular sunsets. Looking towards Sacramento.



Some say Cool is the pot of gold at the end of our wonderful rainbows.

 

Who says we don't have all our ducks in a row.  Too bad they missed the cross walk.



Deer live a protected life and love to visit yards and the golf course.



Not all creatures are welcomed. Rattler on the dog's pillow in the garage.

     The “RVers” part of our name goes back to our courtin’ days.  In 1968-69, Luke was going to college, just starting his post-Air Force DoD career at McClellan AFB, and living in a bachelor apartment in Sacramento.  I was going to college at San Jose State and it would be at least two years before we would wed.  To save money, Luke purchased a 22’ Terry Travel Trailer and had it moved into an old, somewhat-dingy, mobile home park.  To pull it he purchased a 1963 GMC Suburban.  While it served him well as a place to sleep and study, it wasn’t very mobile for him.  In fact, I think it only made one trip – July 20^th, 1969 – a weekend trip to the “Valley of the Moon” near Napa, CA.  The day is truly memorable because that was the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon! 

The GMC Suburban, however, did become our first true traveling “rig”. The back seat was eliminated and made way for home-built twin beds, a porta-potty, a Coleman stove, two 5-gal. plastic water jugs, and a K-mart dorm-style storage trunk for our panty.  It took us from California to Pennsylvania via the Trans-Canadian Highway and back along I-80 later that summer so Judy could meet the Rinehimer family.  Guess things worked out because we were married in December, 1970 and have been RVing ever since in some form of a vehicle. 

Up next:  “RVs in Our Life”