Thursday, January 19, 2012

SAY, HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY WHY WE LOVE THE SOUTHWEST:))

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On our walk this morning both Kelly & I agreed this area is probably one of the most scenically interesting places we have boondocked. Not just a flat piece of ground, it is hilly with gullies & gulches crisscrossing ridges and washes. Lots of rocks to clamber up and & easy walking sandy dry creek bottoms to follow as they meander & cut their way through soft rock cuts. Jeep roads wind their way around Saguaros & Ocotillos and trail out to adjoining mountains & valleys. Add to all this the close proximity of green plant life & it almost gives it a forest like feel in some spots under tall Mesquite & Palo Verde trees. Lush green grass can be seen growing in low spots under the shading of trees.  Even some small pools of water can be found.

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HEADING OUT ON OUR MORNING WALK

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DEFINITELY NOT A BORING LANDSCAPE

On our return walk we stopped to talk with neighbor Rick while Lady & Pheebs had a regular dust storm going on with their playful antics. Rick wondered what my topic for a blog would be today so I told him it would probably revolve around this great scenic area we are in. Rick said to be sure & tell people this area is located somewhere north of Phoenix:))

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LADY & PHEEBS WERE SO TIRED THEY HAD TO FINISH THEIR PLAY TIME LYING DOWN

Another one of the many reasons we love the Southwest so much during the winter is it’s lack of bugs. No mosquitoes, gnats or pesky flies. Temps don’t get sweltering hot trapping us in air conditioning & we have no sweaty uncomfortable humidity. Few active poisonous snakes and no lurking Alligators anywhere. Plenty forest greenery, lakes and streams depending on what area of Arizona you are in. Panoramic 360 views that go on forever allowing one to easily see 50 miles in any one direction from mountain range to mountain range. Sunrises and sunsets will leave you breathless.

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No, it’s not a dry desolate desert everywhere here in Arizona as some would have you believe. That’s a myth. If you have a hankering for wide open spaces and a desire to get away from the crowded city urban areas and their affiliated traffic chaos I suggest you get yourself on out here to rural Arizona and kick back for a real nice dose of great weather, great scenery, and acres upon acres of peaceful living:))

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I see some folks using Comcast as their ISP provider are still having problems accessing our site.  We have no idea why this is happening with Comcast but we know they have denied it has anything to do with them……but it does!!

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We have been aware since leaving home last November the batteries for our solar system have not been holding a charge as well as previous years.  While boondocking lately we have had to run our generator occasionally to boost the batteries.  We may have to head for Slab City sooner than later to have Solar Mike check out our system.  He’s the fellow who installed it back in 07.  Something may be draining our batteries or our batteries have just reached the end of their lifespan.  Likely the latter.  Regardless, it is a problem that has to be dealt with soon if we are going to continue with the peaceful freedom of our restful boondocking lifestyle.  

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SOMETIMES THE LITTLE MOTORMOUSE NEEDS A LIFT OVER THE BUMPY SPOTS

We are surprised at the lack of RV’s out here at Darby Well this year.  I was certain the usual flood of boondocking Snow Birds would have flooded into the area right after Christmas.  But, nobody here.  Great for us of course but I wonder if it is a direct sign of our economic times. 

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With escalating gas prices poised for yet another upward spike I have to seriously wonder how the RVing world is being affected.  One thing for certain though & that is the fact fuel prices will continue their non stop rise.  That is just a reality.  At some point those high fuel prices have, and will affect each and every RV’er in one way or another.  Could it force us to put our Florida idea back on track?  ‘Anything’ is better than having to spend another miserable winter in the North!! 

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ALMOST JUNGLE LIKE IN PLACES

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CAN YOU FIND KELLY IN THE LEFT PHOTO… PHEEBS IS LOOKING FOR HER

Joe & Nancy from the RVING BEACH BUMS are back on the road for another round of adventures. Might want to get aboard early because it sounds like they have a long road trip planned which includes the far reaches of Alaska.

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Ended up having ourselves another quiet relaxing day.  Kelly had a bunch of Deer Park Lodge stuff to catch up on plus we had a cover letter to compose for my medical info being faxed to Canada.  Finished the day off with a campfire and supper outside.  Nice:))   

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OUR FRONT YARD:))    

GROANER’S CORNER:((  An Illinois man left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel he decided to send his wife a quick email. Unfortunately, when typing her address, he missed one letter, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher’s wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a dead faint.At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen: Dearest Wife,
Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow. P.S. Sure is hot down here.

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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

DROPPED IN TO SEE A COUPLE FELLOW RVing BLOGGERS TODAY:))

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A LOW MIST ON THE DESERT FLOOR JUST AFTER SUNRISE

Again, a very welcome warmer night and morning. . Oodles & Ooodles of sunshine all day long and we pushed to nearly 70 which felt more like 80 in the sun.  Just another great El Perfecto Arizona weather day.

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FIRST THING THIS MORNING LADY WAS AT THE DOOR WAITING FOR PHEEBS TO COME OUT AND PLAY

We were quite the social Butterflies earlier today as we headed the short distance into Ajo for groceries.  We knew Ed from THE PEREGRINATING GREYBEARD was hanging out at the AJO HEIGHTS RV PARK so stopped around to see him. 

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First met Ed just over a year ago when we were property sitting just east of Elfrida at the foot of the Swisshelm Mountains.  We hadn’t met Ed’s dog Patches before so that was quite a treat to meet another gentle & loving member of the great Canine society.  Ed’s having a few medical problems but other than that he’s hanging in there with a positive attitude.  Always nice to touch base with folks.

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PATCHES IS A REAL SWEETY PIE

It was a short hop across the road to Olsens IGA grocery store for some groceries.  Stopped by the in-store CafĂ© for breakfast as well.  Tried me some biscuits & gravy.  Chased that down with a couple pieces of home made deep fried chicken fingers.  My kind of brekky:))

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We knew another Blogging RV Boondocker was nearby so Ed told us where to find him out on Darby Well Road.  We had met Boonie from OCCUPATION OF INDEPENDENCE 3 years ago one time up in Silver City New Mexico.  This morning he was camped just across from the spot we were first settled in about a month & a half ago. 

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Boonie has two doggy Pals, Poncho & Coffee Girl.  Coffee Girl has the exact same personality and looks quite similar to the Pheebs.  She’s just a energetic ball of friendly energy.

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<<< COFFEE GIRL

Be sure to read Boonie’s account of his missing Poodle entitled SAD STORY AT BOOK CLIFF.  Had us a chat with Boonie for awhile & then it was off to our rig to get our groceries out of the hot Jeep.  If we stay in the area for any length of time we may get to see Ed & Boonie again.  Maybe even Patches, Poncho & Coffee Girl:))

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I like to take Pheebs for short walks in the afternoon.  We can strike off in any direction from the rig & wander among the green foliage of the Sonoran Desert.  Because of my energy drain these days I have had to keep our walks shorter.

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Kelly was able to get in touch with my Nurse Practitioner’s office back home in Goderich Ontario today.  They said to fax all my Tucson hospital medical records to them.  Because of the longer waiting times in Canada we are hoping appointments can be set up now for April rather than waiting until we get home which could put us months behind.

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LIKE THE SMOOTH GREEN BARK OF THE PALO VERDE TREES

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COLOR IN THE DESERT

The Last Paragraph:  As any long term successfully happy couple knows, decisions are shared.  Whether it be the model of a new car, color of tiles for the kitchen floor, financial planning or destination of travel, things are always discussed and worked out.  Always.  My disinterest in Quartzsite this year does not mean we will not end up there.  It just means I will not get my own way again.  I may not be too good at cooking & stuff but I am pretty good at compromising……and that’s OK:))

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KELLY CATCHES A FEW RAYS THIS AFTERNOON

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Co-workers sympathized as my mother complained that her back was really sore from moving furniture.
"Why didn't you wait till your husband got home?" someone asked.
"I could have," my mother told the group," but the couch is easier to move if he's not on it."

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-Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of
right now...AL.

Monday, January 16, 2012

WE LOVE THE GREEN SONORAN DESERT:))

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ORGAN PIPE CACTUS AND 2 YOUNG SAGUAROS AT LEFT

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Sunday night’s post title said we were back in the land of giant Saguaros but after publishing it I realized I never put in a photo of one single Saguaro.  Today’s post takes care of that little oversight:))

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SUNRISE AT DARBY WELLS

A pitter pattering of raindrops upon our roof caught my attention Sunday night around 9.  Continued on & off again through the night.  Not a heavy rain, just a pitter patter.  Ground didn’t even appear wet this morning & how nice the aroma from sweet smelling Creosote bushes after a light rain.  I was outside at 7:45 in pajamas & house coat with shovel & rake in hand cleaning up loose gravel and stones around our campsite.  Sooooo great not to have neighbors:))

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WE ARE DEFINITELY IN SAGUARO LAND

How nice it is not to have our heaters going full blasters all night just to stay warm.  Kept our Blue Flame heater on low & there was no chill in the air at all.  Weatherman is calling for clearing skies this afternoon.

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TEDDY BEAR CHOLLA & A GROUP OF SAGUAROS

Great to be back walking among the tall green Saguaro cactus in the Sonoran desert again this morning.  Pheebs loves bounding along the sandy washes & up the rock strewn banks through the Mesquite, Palo Verde trees & Barrel Cactus.  Minutes after returning from our walk she was sacked out on my bed.

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Despite needing a few groceries in Ajo we decided to just stay put & soak up the peace & desert serenity surrounding us.  No need to rush off anywhere.

Kelly’s kind of been rattling my chain to stop in Quartzsite so she can pick up a few things but I have been rattling the chain right back saying up till a couple years ago we had been there 4 years in a row & besides, who needs all that chaotic people madness.  Like Las Vegas, glad we experienced it when we did but I don’t see no darned good reason to go back no more.

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DARBY WELLS ROAD RUNS RIGHT THROUGH THE DESERT

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HEDGEHOG & BARREL CACTUS

Question in our Shout Box wondering where we are going for the next 5 weeks.  Short answer….don’t know.  Only stop we might make for sure is Slab City to have Solar Mike check out a few small problems with our Solar system.  Other than that, who knows.  We’re in Ajo right now but for how long we have no idea yet.  Could be a couple days or a couple weeks.  Whenever the Spirit moves us….we’ll move.

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THESE 2 ARE FOR YOU RV SUE….PHEEBS IS WONDERING WHERE SPIKE AND BRIDGET WENT

Finally remembered to put our solar panels up about 1 o’clock this afternoon & hoisted our flags while I was at it.  So easy setting up our satellite TV dish now with the new tripod.  Almost doesn’t seem fair when things are so easy.  Definitely not normal!! 

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The Last Paragraph:  Well, well, well, couldn’t believe it but just minutes ago they announced on a B.C. news channel Tim Hortons is going to bring their coffee cup sizes in line with other coffee shops.  Boy, have I been ranting about that for a long time!!!!  Here is just one of my posts and my rant begins about a third of the way down….TIM HORTONS....THE DUMBING DOWN OF CANADIAN COFFEE DRINKERS.

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A CANDID SILHOUETTE OF KELLY AGAINST MONDAY NIGHT’S SUNSET >>>

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A little boy went up to his father and asked: "Dad, where did all of my intelligence come from?"
The father replied, "Well son, you must have got it from your mother, because I still have mine."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.