(started this a week ago…)

So, Gallup…decided to stay, as we crossed that time zone line…found a great spot overlooking the drainage pond in the Wallyworld parking lot…sounds gross, but there were a lot of wildlife species to watch…ground squirrel families(gophers), rabbits, a variety of birds, and even a couple of wandering drunks seeking handouts to maintain that buzz…one even denied he wanted anything…for the first 15 minutes of his mostly undecipherable monologue…when he finally got around to my “NO!”, he called me a few naughty names in what I believe was Spanish, so I returned the compliments in Spanish, and he stumbled off to the next moho in line…he came back about a half-hour later with cheese remnants hanging from his chin, and we exchanged a few more language lessons…apparently his comprehension of “NO!” and ” GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE” was fairly clear…

Up and on the road by 1330 hours, headed to Cortez/Dolores CO, to stay at Bob&Lou’s…stopped on the way to take a couple of pics…visited, ate supper(I’ve never had a ground beef/bacon-wrapped hot dog before, but I intend to, again, in the near future(Mmmmm)…more visiting, then a sound sleep…up early(for us), a HUGE Bob-breakfast, a bit more visiting, and we were headed on…a couple of stops to cool the brakes, and then…

We arrived at that place where water is measured in thousands of gallons, the gray and black water tanks are limitless, electricity is metered, propane is in a 250 gallon tank, and sideways walking is almost non-existent….however, the water has to be reconnected(NOTHING broke this winter!!!), the gas has to be turned on and the corresponding pilot lights lit, the yard has to be tamed(beaten) into submission-we’ve been here three days, and I’ve assaulted the dandelions twice, now, dusting may or may not occur, sometime, and the rig will require the annual strip-and-search before repack…H O M E…lots of ‘important’ stuff that ISN”T when yer on the road, and feels more and more like an unwanted anchor when yer in its presence…

Today will be the third assault on the dandelions(they seem to thrive after mowing), a preliminary venture out to scout trees for firewood, and another stroll thru the house with the vaccuum cleaner…oh, joy…the smoke detectors have been re-batteried, the new cracks in the wallpaper are destined for clear tape repair, and the rhubarb is marked for harvest-dates to be announced…or maybe I’ll just get the Sunday paper and veg it…

YeeHaw!!! Halfway home from Tucson, and we only left on the 12th…Stopped in on Richard and Jan for the night…went out to eat, then pooltime and a movie interspersed with visiting…got up the next morning(early for us), and they’d been up awhile, replacing the front burglar-proof screen door…we took off in the Tracker to drop in on Jim and Mini(no, no BLOODY MARYS for me…driving in Phoenix traffic in the heat was a sure disaster if preceded by a BLOODY…made me wish we were back in Q, where the bar was an easy stumble across the wash. Got back to Richard and Jan’s, visited a short, offloaded the defunct Micro/convection in their front yard(Richard told me someone would ’steal’ it, and his email confirmed it), then headed north to Camp Verde and Steve and Reg’s…enjoyed the tour of “Roz”, visited and enjoyed the patio, had a few brews, and were treated to take-home mexican food from the Legion…had to pick it up, and HAD to drink a couple more brews while waiting, and Steve showed me the incredible uniform and war memorabilia collection in the back room of the Hall-a continuing work in progress…played cards, and boy was bed a nice thing…cool breeze, nodding with a book…if you park just right, in front of their house, you can experience the 1:30 am sprinkler system shower thru your window, too…INVIGORATING!
Visited a bit more, then took off for Pine Grove Campground, a State Park southeast of Flagstaff, on our hosts’ recommendation…NICE park located under tall pines(whooda thunk…), spread out sites, great cross-country hiking, friendly camphosts…there are no hook-ups, unless you want to be a camphost(and can outwait the waiting list)…
Reservations are accepted starting in January for half the sites, and the others are first come…the reserved sites are booked really early in the year…luckily, we arrived on a late Sunday afternoon, so the weekend warriors left a few sites. Dump and water station there, pay showers($3/5 minutes…lotta quarters to feed, and time’s running)… 2 flush toilets and dumpsters, located away from the showers.
Upper and Lower Lakes Mary are a short drive away…the lower is closest to Flag, but is also not much more than a grass bed with a sluggish, long, thin pool, but the fishing must be good, as we saw several folks out with the poles.
So, we left there for the determined goal of reaching Gallup…and that determination still holds, but we stopped at the Holbrook KOA on our way…standard KOA, but friendly owners, well-cared for, nice pool, play ground, beautiful tent sites…and, thank you very much, showers with endless hot water…gonna miss having my own checkout line in the stores, but it does feel good to be clean. The KOA offers a pancake and coffee breakfast for $2(all you can eat/drink) and the first round of pancakes will suffice…two big, fluffy things that Tracy and I couldn’t finish between us….they also offer a “Cowboy Supper” with several choices, but we’d rather eat at ‘home’.
So, it’s 10:30, and we’re about 1-2 hours from getting another early start…will probably make it to Gallup today…maybe…might even get further…we’ll keep you posted.

Well, that says it all…no stores, no spending, no compromise on non-existent space…we bought a cheapy replacement…embarassment, blush, diffident demeanor to finish with…microwave…$20, and clean…no evidence of fried toads or burned bass…functional, yet oh so smooth…probably can’t do popcorn(the REAL only reason to own one), but the hint of elegance still prevails…can’t be proper trailer trash without one, and, I AM THE QUEEN…did I tell you about my tiara…?

OK, well, so today was a day of short arguments(no, I’ve never won one that left me…uhm…comfortable), several dips in the pool, and time to scratch my peeling forehead(TMI). The fridge seems to be working quite well, the beer hasn’t frozen yet-nor has that other liquid stuff-but cold is a nice change from almost-cool…Milo:the Glenlivet’s doesn’t require…shudder…ice anymore, but I may have a drop or two to share with you, next time…it’s not a solo quaff, tho I’ve stretched the truth a wee bit…

Am whiling(whining?) the time away till the L A S T appointment, hopinjg that the rig doesn’t self-immolate in the process…taco salad for supper…you may kiss my ring…oh, wait, I don’t have one…DONATIONS are accepted…?

This morning, on the Gracie walk, I hadn’t yet left the RV park, and found a quail egg, sitting on the edge of the gravel/pavement…tried to imagine it over-easy with a s m a l l piece of toast and one french fry…realized I must be hungry.

We went to a ‘bookstore’ a couple of days ago…Bookman’s…what a great store…lots of books, obviously, but also CDs, DVDs,VHS tapes, audio books, jigsaw puzzles, games(board and electronic), and an…uhm…eclectic collection of dishes, knick-knacks, and Deco stuff thrown in haphazardly around the store. The employees are about as diverse as the offerings: punked teens to balding 60’s(hey, maybe they’d hire ME!!!). They will also take your read books and give you a credit slip, or cash, should you so desire. I’ve always been an avid reader, so ANY bookstore is prime hunting ground, but this one tops the scales…even has old(but comfortable- think grandparents’ furniture…well, for some of you, think great-grandparents’ furniture) stuffed chairs, and wifi…beats the triple-digit mall venture all to heck.

Tracy is up and running, so to speak, and is beginning to get her cruising-thru-the-store mode back, and she’s getting fussy with my normal(ok, ok, I know) habits, so life must be back to usual. It’s an overcast day, here in Toocson, so outside is cooler…last night was one of those nights with mid 80’s temps, a bit of humidity, and a slight wind that felt like silk against the skin…hmm…not looking for a XXX rating, just trying to describe the sensual…ok, that’s enough: I’ll put the shovel down…I’m deep enough.

I think we’ll do a thrift store, or two, today, as we just don’t have enough stuff in this walk-sideways moho. Got to work more on the fridge fan…Murphy was sitting on my shoulder, yesterday. While the fridge was AWOL at the rebuild shop, I mounted and wired a computer fan just below the ceiling vent. Yesterday, in the relatively cool, overcast evening, I set about wiring in the switch…did a hand stab wiring check, the little blue light in the switch came on, so I did the 5 miles of black tape and hard-wired into the fridge’s 12 circuit….no more little blue light…well, obviously, I need to check the circuit with my Sears voltmeter…no reading…hmm…try it in a known working circuit…no reading…dead battery in the voltmeter…we have a gazillion batteries stored under the couch, except for the needed 9V…at this point, everything was put away for the night, except the tiny screw that holds the battery cover in place, somewhere between the coach and the 40 feet of gravel I traversed…there’s a reason folks like me carry 3 rolls of duct tape.

I’ve just been informed that we’re going to Sam’s Club…this is a dangerous thing to do while living in a limited, somewhat already maxed-out space, but living on the edge is a challenge…I put my foot down, though…I insisted that we hit the thrift store first…gotta be firm about these things.

Wow…June 1st and we’re still in Tucson…BUT, the date of departure seems to be near(er). Tracy saw the bone doc, and was admitted to NW Medical Center for a kyphoplasty…simply described, a large needle is inserted into the crushed vertebra, a balloon is inflated in the crush space to re-expand the bone, the balloon is removed, bone cement is injected into the space, the needle is removed, and yer done. Surgery was at 0730 last Friday, she was back in her room by 1000, walking by 1130, and discharged the same afternoon…pretty darned amazing…some site pain, but NOTHING like what she had been feeling. A follow-up visit, hopefully this week, and we are outta here till winter.

Been walking the desert and wash areas around here, picking up discarded or lost items(small), and have quite the collection of oddballities(literary license). A wooden shoe insert with engraved tag, reflector, small gameboy(ok,so there aren’t any BIG gameboys except in sports), golf balls(I will find a golf ball or a marble WHEREVER I walk), yep-a marble, a penny and a dime, an oyster shell, a blue poker chip, and a prescription eyeglass lense…I’ve seen about a dozen shopping carts, some sunk into the sand from previous monsoon seasons, some stripped of their wheels, and some that appeared to still be in use as can/bottle/sack collections. I’ve met half a dozen homeless folks living in plastic and pallet houses(Chuck, the drainage pipe resident, has apparently moved on). And, of course, there are plenty of rocks to bring home(they aren’t allowed in the MH, and are to stay here when we go<hope she doesn’t look under the seats of the Tracker…>…). Obviously, I’m easily entertained and inexpensively occupied.I’m also already spoken for, ladies, but I might allow myself to be rented.

Have developed quite a following of the local birds…could be because I’m scattering upwards of 5 pounds of seed a day…the neighbors probably don’t appreciate the increase in deposits, but most of them have gone for the summer or are just passing through…monsoon season should wash away my sins. I was using an aluminum(natch) collander for a birdfeeder, and a late night arrival ran over part of it with the trailer tire…managed to kinda beat it back out…but last week’s gusty winds blew it into the street, and one or more motorhomes turned it into a pancake…I think I’ll make a windchime out of it…

Apparently, having not much to talk about doesn’t deter me, but a need for some seriousl pool time will.

Once again, into the fold…Tracy twisted her back a couple of weeks ago, but was treating it with NSAIDS and tylenol…but a couple of DAYS ago, it got really bad…so…off to Urgent Care, the(by now) blizzard of paperwork, and a few xrays later…compression fracture, which will require neurosurgery…in the meantime, some kind of huge skin patch and muscle relaxants…now we have to evaluate WHERE we want to be…Colorado doesn’t offer much in the way of neuro stuff in our corner of the state, and while Tucson has a great medical community, it’s REALLY kinda HOT, and I don’t believe it will cool down for awhile…rent an apartment? stay in the motorhome and find shade and buy a portable cooler? We’ll figure it out, and keep you posted…

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Yep…the mall is a good way to let someone else pay for the air conditioning…I take a book, Tracy surfs the stores…otherwise, I spend a LOT of time in and near the pool…today was an overcast day…even heard a bit of thunder, but mostly an obvious increase in humidity…found myself grateful for 92 in the shade…

Went thru 20 lbs of birdseed in 4 days…bought another 20…getting more finches…and more Gambel’s Quail…stirred up several cottontails, a couple of ground squirrels, and the evening walk lets me watch the bats feed around the street lamps…interesting thing about this street that abuts the RV park…it’s 4 lanes, has regular street lights, and dead-ends into those metal pylons you see outside of stores, nowdays. Parallel to this street and 30 feet over is another street which makes a 90 degree left turn about hailf a mile down, and stops at the freeway feeder…the river(read wash…dry) runs parralel to the other side about 0.2 mile, and has a trail which runs both sides of the wash…you can access the wash by several ramps, and watch a lot of wildlife(and joggers/bicyclers)…there’s a homeless(well, houseless) guy living in a 3 foot drainpipe just across the street from us…the pipe is above ground, but surprisingly cool during the afternoon…his name is “Chuck’ and he doesn’t talk a lot, but he’s a real person, and takes no offense at my questions. Actually, this guy impresses me as someone a whole lot smarter than your average 9-5er, and he is comfortable with himself…I really like these chance encounters with alternate lifestyles…I like most animals better than people, but there are those folks who make you re-evaluate your choices.

99 in the shade, doing 2 bags of ice a day while we wait for the latest fridge repair…gave up the dry ice for freezer stuff, as it costs more than the stuff…gonna eat good ,and a lot, tonight…been to the pool 3 times so far, and the front AC is running(cross yer fingers) with a boost from the fan…rear AC still throws the breaker over outside 95…it’s cooler than outside, but Tracy is the victim…can’t do the pool. walking to the AC commons room is out as she hurt her back, and I’m seriously considering a ‘portable ” cooling unit for the interim…I LIKE Arizona, just not on the present terms.

Bought a 20# bag of birdseed for the finches, wrens, and incredible host of pigeons…water in a couple of ‘dollar store’ pans…know a few by their appearance, and can recognize the ‘bullies’ by behavior,…apparently, the park people don’t like bird feeding, but so far, like our checks are better< cash and carry…>Hey, I’m a relatively low-keyed  dude, but I do have some simple pleasures to enjoy. Temp is not good, but life IS;…QUIT EARLY, and enjoy life while ya can…the toys are going somewhere else when yer gone…but they ain’t gonna go with you, ‘less yer just selfish…Jim&Jan Dean developed a credo when they left Silverton…”Let It Go…”…GOOD thought…we leave our 3 month home for 9 months+ of wandering, and are trying to make it a full-time venture…speed bumps will appear in the future, but that’s part of it…c’mon, folks, why are you waiting to get too old to enjoy this incredible country???

it’s just another day …

W A N D E R…

E N J O Y…

E X P E R I E N C E…

Don’t look Back, unless you’ve lost yer transmission or trailer, then move on…it’s still all in the front of you…you could be at home, wishing for it, or you could be out there enjoying it before ya can’t…join us…we’re waiting for you…

m

So, I’ve been a bad boy and haven’t tended my verbal garden…

Still in Tucson, but wanting to reach higher elevations and cooler temps…there is something WRONG with 102 degrees in the shade…I’ve been to the pool so many times that my foot flesh is starting to…ok, too much information…needless, it’s HOT…we’re stuck in the medical treatment plan…see me in two weeks so we can schedule you for three weeks after that…I keep watching the weather forecast and wincing. Triple digits(not the mammal-type), not a hint of rain or cloud, an air conditioning system that throws the breaker when it hits 95(as do I), a fridge that still refuses to behave in warmer weather(or is that whether…?), and warm whine /limp cheese…GOOD news is that Tracy’s 6 month follow up was unremarkable…18 month reprieve from further testing!!! So, now it’s my turn to face the grim reamer…full frontal assault…oh, joy…”…his excited eyes, within the dark interior glazed, watered in appreciation of this thoughtful preparation…”…I don’t know…it just came to me…an old acquaintance used to say that a lot…

We have, however, managed to make up for our puritanical thrift store behavior earlier in the year by bringing home the requisite paperbacks(mine), the preparatory pirate-type stuff for next year’s Dead Horse Rally in Cottonwood, AZ(not done there, yet), additions to the microwave/convection oven cookware(did I forget to mention that the original one died this year, repairs would be $500 +, and our new replacement into 21st century technology would take $260 and three weeks to take delivery in Tucson…?) H E L L O $35 microwave from where ever till we get home and can provide a physical address other than a trailer park(they didn’t seem to be impressed with my TTQ status, other than a GREAT suppertime story for the nearest and dearest). We all have our tiaras to bear, ‘cept mine is real…found some really good ensembles for my role, but passed, as I’m having to pass the title…sigh…profound sadness with a glimmer of pride and a glimpse of shameless arrogance in my eyes(maybe that should be described as regal disdain?)…Ya gotta visit the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas to REALLY appreciate haughty, naughty, and nice.

Uhm, oh yeah, we’re still in Tucson, sitting and waiting…the fridge is being s l o w l y attended to by a guy that actually may know what he’s doing(more, as this episode unfurls)…soaking up this glorious heat, sweatin’ buckets, visiting stores for their air conditioning(after a couple or three hours, some of the employees are convinced that we’re a major shoplifting ring)…to their credit, it IS hard to believe that ANYONE could be THAT interested in  ‘dollar’ store inventory…can”t wait to do the lingerie at one of the higher-scale stores…in the meantime, we occupy ourselves with relatively harmless ventures, an eye to the north, a daily bag of ice, a revolve-around-the-shade-tree seating arrangement, and the knowledge that our brakes have been, once again, repaired…I never meant to be heard as ‘give me a brake…’…

The tires are round, the 454 starts religiously on the third crank, the horn still sticks, and the dash ac works quite well…life is still a hoot.

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Landed in Tucson, again, yesterday…spent most of two weeks with Jim&Lou…grilled almost every night, and with Lou’s cooking, I may never reach 140 again…Jim, Amy, and Levi dropped in for a few days(Silverton folks), and it was a pretty laid back atmosphere. J&L’s property is near the Air Force practice range, so we got to see the jets practice maneuvers…even got a night time display of flares…makes the bailouts of businesses seem kinda(ok, MORE) lame…same ethic…don’t want a cop around until you need one, then you want him or her yesterday…uniforms represent a safety factor that most folks assume is there and have grown indifferent to(’less they get a ticket), but they keep us in our safe little worlds…

Staying at the same centrally-located RV park(Prince of Tucson, #162) for yet another series of medical tests…will be here for a week or however long it takes…pool and hot tub at night, good ‘puter router reception…fridge doesn’t seem to work too well over 98 degrees, but then, neither do I…rear AC throws the breaker at 95, but the front one provides, and a small fan redirects…I’m trying to find something to complain about, but likely subjects are pretty sparse…haven’t even stubbed a toe in weeks.

If we can get released from here soon, we’ll definitely be headed north and higher…not ready, just yet, to return to Silverton, but maybe in a month or so…we’ll do some back-tracking, visit friends, steal their silver, and then HI HO Away…well, silver weighs a lot, we’re overloaded…anyone out there have any platinum???…we’ll come visit…

Hoping this finds all of you healthy and happy…