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December in Arizona
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December 1 2008-Forgot to mention yesterday that we passed through the town of Hope AR, home of Mike Hukabee, former governor and runner for US President this year, and also home to a guy named Bill Clinton. Morning in Texarkana AR-an over cast sky and cool. Had trouble getting the generator started this morning - we are out of battery by about 3 AM each morning, and it should not be that way. We drove on through Dallas-Ft. Worth, and just west of Ft Worth I started driving and drove till we stopped for fuel at Abilene. I did fine and pulled us into the Flying J station and then Charlie took over. We drove on to Big Springs and stopped for dinner and the night.
December 2 - Took our time getting started but finally on the way WEST. This was a long and boring drive, but the sky is blue with just a few fluffy clouds and the temp is around 70. Forty nine miles before El Paso we turned right and headed out a small paved road to the Cattlemans's Ranch at Indian Hills, http://www.cattlemanssteakhouse.com/ where we have eaten at the last 2 times through here. After some finagling got us parked and this time we remembered where the only hookup was - but someone was parked at it. We had just enough extra cord to reach and share the hook-up! Charlie is exhausted today. He was so good the last 2 days but this one is bad, just worn out. We checked internet, but can't keep the signal, so he opted for taking a nap. I walked over to make a reservation and they don't take them, but are putting us on a wait list, and we are first on it, so need to show up around 6. Gary phoned and woke Charlie so we got ready to walk over to the ranch eating area. We were seated right away right by the window and the coyotes were already feasting on raw meat. A couple at the table next to us got to chatting with us and made the evening even more fun. He and Charlie had each other laughing all through dinner. We had the filet, as usual, cole slaw, spicy cowboy beans, baked tater with cheese and butter and bacon, a roll and beer for each. Very good and love the atmosphere. Home after a very enjoyable evening. Yesterday read that Venice Italy is flooded- worst in over 20 years, and today a sister ship to the one Carol and I were on, the Oceania Nautica, was approached by pirates who fired shots at the ship which then outrun the pirates! Nice to have electric for a night too. News report follows:
A cruise ship traveling off the coast of Yemen managed to outrun two boatloads of suspected pirates last weekend. A spokesman of Oceania, Tim Rubacky, said 30,000-ton luxury cruise ship , the Oceania Nautica , faced gunfire from one of the pursuing vessels, but managed to outrun the potential hijackers. While the suspected pirates got within 300 yards of the cruise ship, Rubacky said evasive maneuvers and increased speed helped the tourist vessel escape. Cyrus Mody of the International Maritime Bureau said Sunday's suspected pirate attack marked the first time a ship of the Nautica's size has been targeted by pirates.
December 3-Wednesday - I was up at 7, looked out the front and there were 6 peahens and one peacock strutting around. Fun to watch. Still cannot get on line here-we get on and before we can do anything it gets dropped. Well we are way out in the sticks! So with nothing else to do we were on the road by 8:45, stopping just at the AZ/NM border for fuel. This took a long time as there was a line, plus 3 mexicans in a car that did not need to be in the line-right in front of us! They have two propane bottles they want filled- small so did not need to park the car in the way-they cannot get anyone to pump the propane and we cannot move till they do! So we had breakfast while we waited, and finally enough vehicles in the other lane leave that we can very carefully wind around them and not scrape or damage anything. Charlie did it-he is good! So finally on our way, deciding to get off the I-10 and go through Stafford and Globe, saving 80 miles of driving. Temp is 75 and sky blue-what we have been waiting for. Pulled in, checked in, and Al came to help Charlie back into a very challenging space! He did a great job and in, straight and level in one try! Als wife Joy was over too and glad to see both of them. They invited us to dinner but we decided on a raincheck - we are tired and have lots to do to get settled in for what we hope is a 4 month stay. A dinner of left-overs from last night, some computer catch up and off to bed. Oh- diesel fuel was $2.13 today, the lowest in over 2 years! We have paid as high as over $5 in the last year for a gallon! Note: this motorhome has a 100 gallon tank! We drove 1997 miles on this trip from Centerville Ohio to Apache Junction Arizona in 3½ days and about 36 hours driving time.
Dec 4- Thur-I was up after 7 and Charlie not till 9:30, but he was very tired and needed the sleep. Yesterday was blue sky but today is grey sky, though still around 70 degrees. We didn't do anything today - then about 4:30 Scott came by to show Charlie the reconstructed pickup. After he left we headed to Wal*Mart for groceries. Home to a dinner of scrambled eggs, fried taters with onions.
Dec 5th-Did some housecleaning and sewer, water and all that. As we were finishing up Gary and Sharons friends from Vermont dropped by. We met them here last year. A nice chat and then we were off to get registered at the office and pay, then to Wal*Mart for some RV stuff and on to La Mesa RV to get an appt to have the RV worked on-but they were closed this afternoon! Will call them on Monday. Next stop was to the Forest Service to renew our permits for the backlands and home. Later I got an E-mail from Carol saying her friend Dave had died Thanksgiving Day of a heart attack while out elk hunting. I called her and we talked for a long time. Such a shock as she had recently talked to him. 76 degrees today and blue skies-just what we are here for.
December 6th Sat - Up early to go to the clubhouse for breakfast-that we will do every Sat morn while here. It has been $2 in the past but upped to $3 this season. And the attendance was DOWN, very few and no line at all. This price is not too much- we thought it was too low in the past for all you get- and you can eat till you are full! Later we drove over to the Mesa Swap Meet looking for the suction cups that hold our inside screen for the front window up. After a lot of walking we found the right place and bought 8 for $5, then some Avon face cream for me and home we went. Washed all the coach windows, then spent rest of day reading, computering and napping.
Dec 7th - I woke at 6 and finally just got up before 7! It was after 9 when Charlie joined me. After the beautiful day yesterday we were greeted with an overcast and Oregon kind of day, with a high in the 60's. We hung around here till around 3, just doing nothing and being bored-then around 3 we decided to try some caching. When we left here last spring I was in 6th place for Arizona standings and since have slipped to 9th! It has been a long time since we have cached! Off we went finding all 6 of the 6 we tried for. On the way home we stopped to see JR and Nancy - they had been out on their ATVs and Nancy has slipped on loose rocks and tore her leg muscles and tendons up. She is moving slowly and will be feeling worse in the next couple of days! Home to snack on all our leftovers for supper.
Dec 8th Monday-It rained last night- all was wet this morning; I thought I had heard rain, but dismissed it during the night! But now we do have sunshine and blue sky. Charlie and Wayne came to visit us and to talk 4 wheeling. We were still in our pajamas - and Charlie never got out of his all day! I did finally go outside to a side storage for my Christmas stuff, I had brought so little with me but enough to look festive!
Dec 9th-A late start to the morning, but finally off to Charlie's oncologist for some blood work. No results for a few days though. Then shopping for groceries and new tennis shoes for both of us. Home for a quick lunch then drove out to Gold Canyon to visit Steve and Jayne. They told of us a vehicle repair place so we checked it out and will take the jeep out there next week, after I get the van registered. For a snack tonight we had a new, to me, version of a root beer float-we used crème soda and it was good! I did get our Christmas cards started. And now off to bed-
December 10-Wed - Up early and Charlie off to try playing golf. This will be a big test of his stamina. I spent the day doing laundry and house stuff. About 1 he called to tell me the doctor had called and his counts are all messed up and he NEEDS to come right in for transfusion! Since he is golfing told them he would finish and come home, then back to doctors. While talking with Joy this morning she had introduced me to the gal that cuts hair here in the park, Mary Jane, and just before 2 she came over and cut my hair. Before she finished Charlie arrived home and called the doctor. They decided that he would put off the transfusion until he felt worse than he does now! We snacked a bit and then put on swim suits and headed to the hot tub, where we soaked for as long as we could. Back home to dry off and enjoy our evening.
Dev 11th-I fixed us 'real' buckwheat pancakes-with batter started last night with yeast-and they were very good-better than the ones I had been making. We headed into Phoenix to get the Land Use permits - they were $35 last year and $75 this year!! Next stop was about a block away - The Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum. They have thousands of rock samples-beautiful stuff, only $2 entry fee and well worth it. If you like rocks you could spend hours in here! We spent a long time and then back to Mesa where we lunched at a Subway. Next over to where I used to live-where my mobile home is completely gone-just an empty space. They even took the Pine tree out! Cal, my neighbor, has been keeping my Van for me, in my old space. We visited with him and Georgie for a while, then I left to take the van to the emission testing place, where for $27.50 and ½ minute of their time they passed my vehicle. Charlie had stayed to talk with Cal and then went to the post office for stamps for our Christmas cards. I drove in at home, parked and looked behind me and there was Charlie - how was that for timing! Most of the cards will go out tomorrows mail - glad to have that done. We snacked for dinner and off to bed.
Dec 12th-Drove to the DMV to have car inspected, then back into the office for a long wait to the get it registred and get a new plate. Back home where we did nothing all day except get the Christmas cards finished. A big juicy burger for supper.
Dec 13- Saturday-we were up early for the park breakfast, then home to get a lunch together and meet Steve and Jayne in Gold Canyon for a day of 4 wheelin'. Up almost to Superior - turned at the Hewitt road and on in to make a large circle- not challenging but interesting drive. Up on several 'hogback' ridges where we could see forever. Did 2 caches out there also. Back home by around 3 -the weather is windy and turning nasty for the next 4 days. The NE USA had the worst ice storm in 20 years. Carol said 1-4 inches of snow predicted for Portland area tonight. We have been listening to Christmas music all evening. Ignored the news tonight - tired of hearing about corrupt Illinois!
Dec 14th-We were up about 9 to a cold day- no sun and lots of clouds! Did I mention cold? It was high of 51 today! We did house stuff, went out to check on a motel for Dar and family in January, to Post office, and home. Then decided about 2:30 to drive to Florence for an early dinner at my favorite place, A & M Pizza, that makes the BEST Philly Cheese Steak in the world, and again it lived up to my expectations! Back home the long way on Hunt Hwy, picked up our mail and home again. Still only 51 degrees. Charlie fixed a base for the board I have on the steering wheel that has our Christmas tree and the santas on it. Now it looks much more secure that what I had piled up under it for level. I made a trial CD of all the pictures for Charlie and he loved it. Now he is going through it and giving me dates and names on some that I could not figure out. When he completes that, there are 2489 photos, I will be able to make the CDs for all the family and get them mailed off, hopefully before Christmas. Carol sent me a snowy picture from Sherwood Oregon tonight. It looks pretty, but I would rather be here. Sharon also sent me her backyard covered in snow.
Dec 15th-A cold, windy and lazy day. Charlie took the Jeep out to be checked for the strange noises we here and they think it is a bearing in the rear end. Then he went to 2 airports trying to find an instructor he can fly with, as he does not have a valid pilots license. A minimum of $150 an hour to do this so he is thinking it over. We were going for groceries but never did, so I fixed some filets we have in freezer, stuffed then with gorgonzola cheese and a sauce over them, with cheesy mashed taters and a cottage cheese salad. A glass of wine completed a good dinner.
Dec 16th - Cold and windy and rained most of the day. At 4pm we were still in our PJs! Lots of little things done around here, but just not a day to think of going outside. We need those groceries but I think we will be OK tonight without them - though Charlie is completely out of cheese! So now at almost 5 we are showering and heading out in the rain for groceries! And back home in the rain and 51 degrees. Spaghetti for dinner, computing, TV and bed.
December 17th - Wednesday - I couldn't sleep last night so took a strong sleeping pill at 1 AM, and didn't even roll over till I woke at almost 10AM!!! Charlie was gone-the weather had cleared and the golf game was on! It turned out to be 66, warm and blue skies. A very nice day. I filled my spare suitcase with stuff that will go to my storage shed, vacuumed, did the floors and finally a shower. I walked to Dianes but she was gone, so saw Joy in the clubhouse, then later Diane was home. Got my orders for what Christmas dinners food to prepare-dessert for both events. That is my favorite to prepare anyway. We took the Jeep over to have its rear end worked on, leaving it for who knows how long. A pork loin in the crockpot was dinner.
Dec 18th- It was another dreary day and it had rained last night, but during the day it cleared up some and by mid afternoon we decided to do some caching, finding 10 out of 11 so a good day. As soon as the sun started down it was cold so we headed home to warm up. We had a great dinner of chicken, dressing-regular for me and oyster dressing from thanksgiving for Charlie, cranberry sauce, salad and wine. Very enjoyable. Charlie has been working on the photo CD and tonight stayed up till midnight but has everything labeled that he can identify.
Dec 19-A lazy day- warm enough to go out without a coat but still overcast. Looking at the weather around the US we should not complain at all. 0 degrees and snow and ice and wind over much of the states! Charlie checked on the jeep and they are having some problems-you didn't expect it to go smoothly did you? Then he went to have blood drawn before Monday doctor appt, but they decided not to draw any as it was just a short time since the last one - but he wanted to know if it had changed. Guess we will just wait for a month to do another draw. I started on my desserts for Christmas Eve and Christmas day dinners we are invited to. I also cleaned and rearranged some cabinets and found stuff I didn't know we had! Charlie did get the AZ license plate on the van - now all legal, and so good to have it to drive. I got the CDs made and now to get them mailed and hope they can get to everywhere on time!
Dec 20th Saturday-Up early for the clubhouse breakfast - another cold 45 degree day! I'm ready to mail the CDs but no box! Finally figured out what to use to mail them, packed up and later in the day we went to the post office and they are off, late, but off. Next a bit of caching-only 7 today but had fun, then to WalMart for groceries and stuff to make my desserts for the 2 Christmas meals. Home for a leftover meal of the pork loin and trimmings-ice cream with caramel sauce and off to bed. Haven't mentioned it but we have been having fantastic sunsets the last week, some just really beautiful!
Dec 21-Sunday-I slept in till 9 and Charlie didn't get up till 10:30! Some days we do feel like old people!! Potato pancakes for breakfast and messed around here - it was only 48 degrees when I got up so we were not in a hurry to do anything outside. The rest of the US is having much snow problems- Carol, in Sherwood Oregon has 6 new inches of new snow as does Sharon and Gary in Salem and they have an inch of ice on that; beautiful if you can stay in the house, with electric and heat! Charlie finally decided to try a long walk, so took off from here and headed North, calling me 75 minutes later to come and pick him up. He had walked 2.4 miles! He was tired, but not exhausted. I started my baking, getting the cinnamon spirals done, and the peanut butter cookies in the freezer and will bake tomorrow. This is a challenge because the only oven I have is the convection oven and I still am not comfortable with it.
Dec 22- Up early and IM'd with Carol in Oregon - she has 18" snow and still snowing heavily! Charlie off to the doctor at 11:30 - no change, but they said he is an atypical CLL patient - he does not follow the norm for symptoms and changes. Later in the day they called to say the Jeep was ready to pick up - we had both forgotten about it since we have another car! Picked it up - $400 bill, and now can go wheelin' again. The repairs were on the rear differential. Had a big package from Dar today. We opened it and took out the mail but will wait to open the rest. I baked 3 kinds of cookies today- one I will not take to the public-I just can't get the hang of this oven for baking! I have ruined 2 types of cookies. Will make some 'no bake' on tomorrow morning! It was overcast here today but not too cold. Dayton Ohio was down to 0 degrees last night and only 2 at 10 this morning!
December 24th - A sleeping pill last night and I didn't even move all night and woke just after 8 to loud banging on our door. As I looked out there was a Phaeton motorhome waiting across the street. The lady suggested I might want to move out Jeep, and glad I did cause they would have plowed right through it. The guy gut parked in one try and looks like they may be here for a while, as they put a neon palm tree, like the one I want, in front of their coach. Another overcast day but temps in the high 40s. Even Dayton Ohio is finally having 50 degrees and rain this morning! Carol in Sherwood Or has 33 degrees and snow again this 9 AM. I did some no-cook cookies to replace the ones I ruined yesterday! We didn't do much till about 4 when we showered and got dressed up- long causal skirt- grabbed our food contribution, our exchange presents, a bottle of wine and walked to the clubhouse to a private party with friends, both old and new. There were 26 of us, lots of food, but we didn't pig out as usual. Later a gift exchange where I ended up with a cute Christmas 'tin' containing 9 lotto tickets. Charlie has a big box with 2 Snowman mugs, and all kinds of things to eat and drink, all chocolate! Perfect. They said I had to scratch the tickets before we left so Charlie started scratching-I had left my glasses home so couldn't tell if I won or not. Second one he scratched needed 3 of a kind to win and had $20, $2, $40, $10,000, $10,000, $10,000! Wow - everyone was excited- I couldn't even think! Wow! When all finally settled down Charlie read on the back to see where we went to collect and found it was a fake/joke lotto ticket! Burst my bubble!! I did really win $4 on the other tickets. After the dinner we took a drive all around the park and there are some really pretty and elaborate lighting display about. Home to open the packages from the kids. A black dressy jacket for me, and a shirt, for Charlie a 7" digital photo frame, something he has been wanting. And a gift certificate to Outback to both of us.
Christmas morning 2008. I was up early, When Charlie finally got up (Christmas not the same as when we were kids and up at the crack of dawn!) he opened my card and gave me a card and package - It is the diamond 'S' necklace that I wanted. I thanked him, I loved it! Later we went to the lunch at the clubhouse and had a good time and good food. Just lazied around the rest of the day.
Dec 26th- It is cold and blue sky. All we did today was got to Walmart for groceries and some connectors for the TV, and looked at the necklaces, they do not have one like mine in gold, but have another I really like. Will think about it. I made baked potato soup tonight and it was excellent!
Dec 27th Saturday-Up early, it is 33 degrees! Ice on the car! Charlie turned on the TV and it was on a minute and went off, as did all the electric in the park! We were going to the hall for breakfast but first talked with our neighbor Mike for a while out in the cold! The hall was limited lights and luckily the kitchen runs mostly on gas. Just as we were finished eating the lights came back on! Hooray! Back home and Charlie cleaned out the Jeep, then I took it and our dirty clothes to the laundry room for a couple of hours! We had planned on 4-wheelin today but to cold and probably still muddy out there - we will try for Monday. Later we were off to WalMart again-Charlie needs one more TV connector and I had decided to exchange the necklace for the gold one with the 3 diamonds hanging on it. It is more unique too, as everyone is getting/selling the S style ones now. I really do like it and we were going to Outback tonight so I could wear it, BUT, there was a 2 hour repeat-special on the opening ceremony of the summer Olympics in China and it was fantastic. We both agreed it was worth staying home and watching it! The high today was 0nly 50. Oh, and gasoline here is $1.45 now!
Dec 28th- I was up at 7 but Charlie slept until 11 when I finally just woke him up. It was cold again, though they keep promising us warmer weather. About 42 this morning and a high of 50 for the day but fairly comfortable with blue skies and no wind. Around 2 we headed south to do some desert caching, doing 9 and having a fun day in the desert. Home to shower and head into Mesa for the fantastic Christmas light show. I think even more than last year! http://phoenix.about.com/od/holidayevents/a/templeholiday.htm We sat there for a while to listen to a concert by 2 sisters and their 7 adult daughters. Leaving there made a stop at the Outback for a good dinner using the gift card from Dar and family. And finally home.
December 29th-We were up early and over to Jayne and Steves by 9. 7 vehicles took off for the jeep trip up cottonwood canyon, then a challenging wash and out via Woodpecker Road. Three vehicles turned around at the place where Charlie hung up on the rock. A blue and comfortable day-high 60s and no wind. This was a challenging trip-Charlie had to be pulled once -backwards a bit to get off the rock and then winched forward by Steve to get him up and over. From then on he did fine but there were some anxious moments. At least we were in a wash and not on a high up side hill! We were back by 3:30 making it a nice day.
Dec 30th-Charlie slept in till 10 this morning-another blue and 55 degrees at 10 AM. We stayed home all day leaving the house only to go swimming. It was a nice enough day to put on our suits and walk - about a city block - to the pool. We had expected to be the only ones there, but seems a lot of people had the same idea as us! Temp was 72 and blue, no clouds and no wind making it a great day!
December 31st Wednesday, the last day of 2008! Up early to go wheelin again with Jayne and Steve, meeting them at 8 AM!! Another couple went along with us in Steves Jeep - Pierre and Lyn from Quebec. A very interesting and interested couple - they are beginning cachers and beginning rock hounds, she makes beautiful jewelry, just a fun couple. We did Box Canyon and the 'notch' on jackrabbit trail plus a bunch of side trails. Just a beautiful day- blue sky, no clouds or wind and 73 degrees! We also found 6 caches along our routes finishing off a fun day with friends. Home a bit after 4, relaxed and at 8:30 we were off to the clubhouse for a New Years Party. As much as a bunch of seniors can party!! We sat with Diane and Lyle and Diane's cousin Clifford and his wife Patty. Cliff and Patty had sat at our table last New Years Eve. They are only here for the one night as they stay in Lake Havasu. We did dance a few times but it really wore Charlie out. The band was good, but played mostly polka, and fast waltz, very few slow or 2 step. We headed home at 12:30, walking as it was such a nice night. It's been a great year, we have done so much and saw so much. Charlies health isn't as good as we would like but he is still getting around and still want to do things. We are looking forward to 2009.
Where I stayed:
Countryside RV Resort
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