OK I'm back with some updates.

Ray ended up working for Kinross for 18 months, didn't love it, but it was getting him ahead. He took a break for 2 weeks to Thailand and flew me over there to hang out with him. We had a great time, and it was the first time I'd been out of the country since I got out of the Air Force in 1969.  After Kinross he was home for a year, pretty much all of 2014. He has invested with his Mom and Uncle in a few rental property's, and paid off his home. Not a lot of work available still in California in his kind of (heavy) construction. So when  another opportunity arose to work for another company's gold mine in Africa he decided to make it his retirement opportunity. So he's back over there in Mali, a different part of Africa, savanna instead of Saharan desert, and much friendlier local people. He seems to be doing OK over there. Or at least as OK as one can be, separated from home, family and friends. He wants to fly his girlfriend, her son, and me to Belize for 3 weeks in July. I think I'll have to accept, I don't want to hurt his feelings :)
For the last 3 years I've been splitting my year between here in Grants Pass, and Ray's property in Nuevo, Ca. He's got 3 1/2 acres down there, I bought an older low mileage motor home for my abode down there. Works out pretty nice, good weather all year for me. I'm able to visit Mom, Daryl, Angie and my grand kids (4 girls), and help Ray with his property upkeep, and work with him on the rental property's. Then back to Grants Pass to rest.  Actually I joined a motorcycle group that that gets together for week end rides a couple times a month.  Last year I managed 6500 miles on my motorcycle. This year looks to be about 8000 miles. And this is just while I'm in Oregon.  Oregon is a fantastic state to ride in, good roads, gorgeous scenery, and light traffic. And the group I ride with are just great people in my age group (old farts). I'm having a blast touring around Oregon and adjoining states.
Youngest Son Daryl is doing well, has been working for one of the largest international construction company's for about 13 or 14 years now, started out as a mechanic (union) and is currently Western US fleet manager (desk job) His wife Angie of 17 years is a stay at home mom, and that is full , plus overtime job with 4 girls, 16, 14, and twins 12. I think the twins are the reason Daryl's hair is graying at 40, they are a handful. Great kids, each and every one.  And smart, super smart! They just recently bought a new home in a more upscale area, but in the same general area where they are comfortable. Both of my boys are successful, and great guys with integrity and big hearts. They both treat me great, and I'm very proud of them.
I turn 68 this November, hard to believe I'll be 70 all too soon. I can't complain, my health is good, my attitude is good, and I pretty much live life on my terms. Go where I want, when I want, and do what I want (within reason and budget). I especially love not having to be anywhere, at any specific time, unless I want to. Then I'll be there early :).  I've most likely gotten more involved in riding because I know it won't be long before my riding days are over, so as they say "make hay while the sun shines". Maybe wheelchair racing after that.

Wrote this in  2012
Just got off the phone with my Son Raymond, he's in Africa, North West Africa, The Islamic Republic of Mauritania to be exact. He is an independent contractor working for the Canadian Corporation Kinross, one of the largest mining company's in the world. He works 7 days a week, 12 hours a day at an open pit mine in the Sahara desert. He is a Foreman on a rock crushing rig. He lives on site, and in the last 5 months has had 3 days off. 3 days on the Island of Las Palmas, Cayman Islands.  He is well compensated, and gets room, and board. Has TV, Internet (slow) and phone (limited). He took this job so that he could pay off his debts and get ahead, which he is doing. If you could just send him an email, to let him know you think he is on track to a better future, and that as hard as it is, it's going to bring him to a better place, a more secure future.