ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO TO WEATHERFORD OKLAHOMA…A TIRING WINDY DAY

EAST BOUND ON I-40 SOMEWHERE IN NEW MEXICO EARLY THIS MORNING

We were on the road by 4:30 a.m. Arizona time & totally enjoyed Albuquerque’s sea of lights as we descended into the Rio Grande Valley & through the golden night time city of embers.  Traffic heading east in the San Pedro Mountains was light & we were out onto the flatter eastern plains before the sun was up.  Just as I had hoped:)) 

Overcast skies kicked up a tough gusting Texas crosswind coming at us from the south all day.   Saw a travel trailer on I-40 with it’s awning torn out & in tatters.  Our gas mileage really suffered as we fought our way across the Texas  panhandle.  Computer said we were averaging about 8.2 mpg.  The hectic winds chased us all the way right up into Oklahoma.  As I type this from the front passenger seat of the Sunseeker tonight the wind continues it’s relentless harassment.  Forecast is for winds again tomorrow but we can do er.

CROSSING THE TEXAS PANHANDLE

 

OH DAD, WILL WE BE HOME SOON………

This is our third stay at Weatherford’s Walmart alongside Interstate 40.  Stopped here on our way home last year & again on our way to Congress in the Fall.  We were needing a few groceries & we find this Walmart an easy stop.  Gas station on the way in as well.  After a long day’s drive I don’t mind just wandering around aimlessly in a Walmart store loosing myself somewhere between Housewares & Men’s Underwear……………….

JUST A FEW VIEWS FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT TODAY

Looks like the weather is going to hold for us so we’ll do the toll route in the morning around the north end of Oklahoma City up through Tulsa on I-44.  Don’t mind paying those tolls to avoid the chaos of city traffic congestion.  We are basically on the same time & route schedule as last year.  And as last year, we once again have an urgency in our step.

SNAGGED ME A COUPLE WINDMILLS FOR YA MIKE:))

Kelly & I are Executors Of The Estate for my Uncle Harry’s estate & we will have to hit the ground running as soon as we get home.  Uncle Harry’s funeral plans are already in place but a date is yet to be set, depending on our arrival date.  Harry’s room has to be quickly emptied at the care facility.  Many, many, tasks ahead of us.  Aunt Jean flies in from Florida next week as well.  Kelly has been busy on the phone these past couple travel days cancelling Uncle Harry’s phone, cable TV, etc.   Numerous things to deal with but as I sit here tonight with my headphones on listening to sounds of the Big Band era I know I am enjoying the same music Uncle Harry enjoyed so much as well all those oh so many young years ago. 

GROANER’S CORNER:((    I was browsing in a souvenir shop when the man next to me struck up a conversation. Just as he was telling me that his wife was getting carried away with her shopping, a brief power shortage caused the lights to flicker overhead.
"Ah," he sighed, "that must be her checking out now."

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

CONGRESS AZ TO THE ROUTE 66 CASINO WEST OF ALBUQUERQUE NM

ALL HOOKED UP WEDNESDAY NIGHT & READY TO RUMBLE IN THE MORNING

Thank you to everyone for your kind concern & warming comments these past few days.  Very much appreciated by Kelly & I & we are grateful to everyone .  And on behalf of my Aunt Jean in Florida I’d like to say how much all those comments about her brother Harry’s passing means to her.  Below is a photo of Kelly reading the comments as we head east on I-40 this morning.

Many thoughts on my mind Wednesday night as Pheebs & I spent a last few minutes under a star studded Arizona night sky.   Took me back to campfires & summer Star Parties at the old Weenie Roast Ranch years ago.  Uncle Harry loved those star parties.  As I looked to the stars last night my mind was filled with memories of happier times.

<<< A LAST MINUTE CHECK OF OUR COMPUTERS THIS MORNING

We were up about 4 a.m.  Browsed our computers for a bit & moved some last minute things to the rig.  After a quick check of the morning news I took our satellite TV dish down & stored it away in the shed.  Locked it up.  House locked, electricity off, & at 5:43 a.m. we were ready to go.  Water company will turn the water off today.  Under clear skies & a big canopy of Arizona stars we sadly & quietly slipped through our gate, turned right & headed down Ghost Town Road for home……..

KELLY TURNS OFF THE ELECTRICITY TO THE HOUSE & AWAY WE GO

The little Sunseeker whipped us up the Yarnell Hill atop the Weaver Mountains like nobody’s business.  Watched Wickenburg’s shimmering lights off on the southern horizon fade into dawn as the valley fell away below us to the south.  We were well on our way.

 

SUNRISE HEADING FOR PRESCOTT:))

 

A BIT OF CONSTRUCTION ALONG THE WAY BUT WE WERE EARLY ENOUGH FOR NO DELAYS

An hour into our trip found us making our way along winding roads & Pine forests west of Prescott Arizona.   This was our third time using this route so we knew where we were going as we skipped around the north end of Prescott heading for Interstate-40 another hours drive away.

HEADING NORTH THROUGH THE CHIMO VALLEY

Today’s journey was basically a carbon copy of last year’s first day on the road.  Stopped at the same gas station & McDonalds in the Chimo Valley.  Climbed aboard the Interstate at Ash Fork & hung a right for Flagstaff Arizona passing by the majestic partially snow covered San Francisco Peaks.  A quick pit stop at a Rest Area east of Flagstaff & we were back on the road.

  

ROLLING ON BY THE SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS

So pleased with how well the Sunseeker performed today.  Been many years since I drove anything new & what a pleasure it was today cruising along the Interstate in a nice new well heeled machine.  Setting the cruise control at 60mph the onboard computer told us we averaged 12.5 miles per gallon.  Always enjoyed driving our Damon Motorhome but noticed today the Class C Sunseeker did not tire me as much as the larger rig did. 

REST STOP AREA EAST OF FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA

 

My goal today was the Route 66 Casino parking lot west of Albuquerque New Mexico & we made that destination at 4 p.m. this afternoon Arizona time in a short 460 miles.  Same place we stopped on our homeward trek the past 2 years.  Big well lit parking lot & lots of room.    Probably a dozen rigs here for the night.

NOTICE HOW WE KEEP OUR DISTANCE FROM THE OTHER RIGS WHICH ARE ALL BUNCHED TOGETHER

 

IT WAS A GREAT TRAVEL DAY WITH CLEAR SKIES & WARM TEMPERATURES AS KELLY CATCHES A FEW RAYS & CATCHES UP ON A LITTLE READING

We learned a lot from our short shakedown cruise to Borrego Springs a month ago.  That was why it was a shakedown cruise & that is why it was short.  From lessons learned we are definitely more comfortable this time out but for sure the dinette set-up still has to go!!

 

A FEW PICS ON OUR WAY THROUGH NEW MEXICO

 

OUR DESTINATION TODAY ON THE RIGHT, THE ROUTE 66 CASINO PARKING LOT

As we drove along today Kelly & I talked about Uncle Harry being gone & how it just doesn’t seem to be real.  Having not seen Harry since late last October & being so far away all winter it just seems like Harry will still be there sitting in his chair waiting for Pheebs to slip up beside him & nuzzle his sleeping arm.  We will slip down to see Harry just like we always did.  I understand the reality but somehow we just are having a little trouble accepting it…….

We will roll out early in the morning & I will look forward once again to cresting a section of I-40 atop a ridge just west of Albuquerque & seeing the whole city ahead & below laid out like a sea of glittering diamonds.  We’ll skip through Albuquerque well before the morning rush & climb ourselves up into the San Pedro Mountains well before old Sol slowly slides his way up over the eastern horizon:))

    

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A man comes home and finds his house on fire. He rushes next door, telephones the fire department and shouts, "Hurry over here. My house is on fire."  "OK," replies the fireman, "how do we get there?"
"Shucks," says the caller. "Don't you fellers still have those big red trucks?"

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

UNCLE HARRY PASSED AWAY THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT 3:10 ONTARIO TIME…WE ARE LEAVING FOR HOME IN THE MORNING…………

UNCLE HARRY WAS ONE MIGHTY FINE POOL PLAYER
 
AND HE LOVED HIS SWISS CHALET RESTAURANTS

UNCLE HARRY ALWAYS BEAT ME 5 OUT OF 7 GAMES…..ALWAYS
We found out about Uncle Harry’s death this afternoon when Kelly accidentally dialed Harry’s phone number.  She had meant to phone the Nurses Station.  His long time & good friend Grace was in his room & answered.  Uncle Harry had just passed away 20 minutes before Kelly’s call.  We are very saddened to have not been there for Harry at the end.  I will have memories to share about my great Uncle in the coming weeks…………………….

 
EARLY MORNINGS GOLDEN HUES
We were up extra early in the cooler morning air.   Wanted to get one last walk in on our dusty desert  road.  Too cool for crawly things but we made sure to keep Pheebs close by anyway.  Many, many, pleasant memories over the winter in that little stretch of desert.  Said good-bye to the mountains until next Fall & headed back home with Pheebs saying her own goodbyes along the way to her many Arizona doggy Pals.

HERE COMES THE PHEEBERTOWN EXPRESS
Made the decision to roll out of here a day earlier than planned so this turned out to be our last day.  Pulled a few rabbits out of the hat & scurried about like a couple manic Monkeys getting everything squared away for an early morning departure.  No idea where the blog may come to you from Thursday night but I’m hoping to make it to the Albuquerque New Mexico area.  There’s a big Casino just west of there with lots of quiet parking.  Have stayed there a couple times before on homeward treks.  This will be our second sad homeward journey in 2 years.  Last year our little Motormouse passed away the morning we left.

<<< SAYING GOODBYE TO THE NEIGHBORS
We may not have a lot of blooms in our part of the northern Sonoran desert yet but Nina & Paul from WHEELING IT presently in LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK near Apache Junction in Superstition Mountain’s shadow are presently surrounded by fields & hillsides of yellow blooms.  And as usual they have themselves some nice photos over there.  Kelly & I along with Max, Checkers, & the Motormouse stayed at that same Park about 3 years ago just before heading back to Ontario in the Spring.  Here is one of our days there….HIKING UP SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN.

A FEW FLOWERS ALONG THE WAY ON THIS MORNING’S WALK
We have been to many favorite places in the South-West these past years & Moab Utah with it’s ARCHES NATIONAL PARK is one of them.  Been there a couple times.  The folks at OH, THE PLACES THEY GO are at the Arches now with again great photos of their rock scrambling hikes.  It is just one of those places you want to loose yourself forever in the majestic landscapes of echoing canyons & towering silent rock monoliths.  And then there are the Arches themselves.  You can sense our exuberance in this older November 2007 post of mine….. A WALK IN THE DEVIL'S GARDEN.  Better put Moab & The Arches on your Bucket List for sure.   We did:)) 
WE WILL MISS OUR DESERT BACK YARD
Apparently more changes at the Canada/U.S. border points as PETER & BEA found out when they crossed to their home on Campobello Island a few days ago.  Might want to have a look at some new procedures that will affect all travelers.  Especially RV folks with their lengthier stays in the U.S.  This whole border thing has always been a Dinosaur & that Dinosaur is now growing bigger & meaner.  Why is that????

As much as it saddens me to leave places it also excites me once again be on the road heading somewhere.  I will be all sad & blue as we leave in the morning but as soon as we get the wheels rolling & Congress fades into the night air behind us my mind will re-focus on the journey ahead & another great South-West winter will again become but another favorite memory.

CAN YOU SEE A MAN’S PROFILE  ON THE RIGHT  >>>
GROANER’S CORNER:))   From a passenger ship, everyone can see a bearded man on a small island who is shouting and desperately waving his hands.
A passenger asks the captain, "Who is that man, and why is he so upset?"  "I've no idea," the captain says, "but every year when we pass by, he goes nuts."
-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

UNCLE HARRY’S HEALTH TAKES A SUDDEN & UNEXPECTED DOWNTURN, PROGNOSIS IS NOT GOOD……..

SPOTTED US A COUPLE BEAVER TAIL CACTUS BLOOMS THIS MORNING

We woke up with a sense of urgency this morning.  Received a phone call late Monday afternoon from the Ritz Villa Care Facility in Mitchell Ontario where my 96 year old Uncle Harry lives.  Uncle Harry’s health took a sudden & serious downturn Monday afternoon.  He is now bedridden with a high fever, low oxygen levels, etc.  Congested lungs & a diagnosis of severe Pneumonia.  When we called first thing this morning his pulse was low & he has been barely responsive.   A close friend stayed by his bedside throughout the night.  Doctor said the prognosis was not good.

Kelly was busy on the phone today trying to tie up last minute loose ends here & making arrangements back home in case Uncle Harry doesn’t make it.  My day was mainly spent wrapping up outside things, laundry, packing the Sunseeker, etc.  It does not look like there is going to be enough time for us to make it back & say good-bye…………….   

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.