BENTON HARBOR MI. TO MOSCOW IA….DRY ROADS, SUNNY SKIES & WARM TEMPS

A COUPLE TIRED LITTLE TRAVELERS

It was a quiet night with the exception of Lowes outside speaker giving instructions to garden center employees from time to time.  It was our first night on the road in the past 7 months so routines had to be re-thought & RV habits remembered.  Aside from bumping into each other these first few days & stumbling over furry critters under foot we’re not doing too bad so far.

SUNDAY MORNING CHICAGO TRAFFIC WAS LITE

There was no hurry this morning because we had all day to reach the HWH plant west of Davenport Iowa so it was 9 a.m. before we had the wheels rolling.  Threw $150 into the gas tank & we were westbound on I-94 heading for Chicago.  Roads were dry, the sun was out & there was a touch of warmth in the mid mornings cool air.

  

CONSTRUCTION ZONE WITH NARROW LANES!!

Three years ago our GPS system, Garmin Gertie, took us through Chicago with no problem at all.  Today she did it all over again & we had no trouble whatsoever in the reasonably light Sunday morning traffic.  Easier to get through than Indianapolis I’d say.  GG has led us astray a few times but has never let us down in larger cities.  “Stay to the right,” “turn right in 1.2 miles,” “turn to the left",” “drive 4.5 miles & turn right.”  Garmin Gertie & I have nearly come to blows a few times over directions but we have managed to work things out & no blood or wiring has been lost.

NICE QUIET SPOT FOR THE NIGHT AT HWH

Driving for long distances gives a person time to think about a lot of things & I have found my mind going back to Margie & Bruce from time to time & their many travels.  It’s been nearly a month now since they tragically died & I still feel their presence not only in Blogland, but out here on the road as well.

Mike, over at HOMER & LUCILLE had some positive remarks & nice things to say about a few fellow bloggers, including ourselves, in his Saturday post.  Thanks for your kind words Mike. (the checks in the mail)

CHECKERS IS REALLY ENJOYING TODAY’S WARM WEATHER

Garmin Gertie led us right to HWH’s door alongside I-80 just a few miles north of Moscow Iowa.  The HWH lady on the phone Kelly made the appointment with a few weeks ago said for us to park across the road from the plant for the night.  How nice it was to discover HWH is located in a quiet country setting & not some heavy traffic infested industrial mall buried somewhere between mass suburbia & a big cities manic core.  Our location for tonight is a perfect & ideal spot for the Bayfield Bunch.  Not a soul around & the doggy guys can run free.  Now, how nice is that.

THE RIG TOWS THE JEEP WITH NO PROBLEM

Didn’t take us long to get our lawn chairs out & soak up some nice 70F air.  Our appointment is for 7 a.m. so how things will go from there we have no idea.  We may be happily back on the road again later tomorrow or we may be here a few days waiting on parts or something.  We also might leave here without enough money left to buy an ice cream cone either.  Oh dear, this lifestyle can be soooo expensive some times…

HWH’S MAIN BUILDINGS IN THE BACKGROUND & THAT’S WHERE WE GO IN THE MORNING

GROANER’S CORNER… Morris, an 82-year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical.
A few days later the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young lady on his arm.  A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to Morris and said, "You're really doing great, aren't you?"
Morris replied, "Just doing what you said, Doctor, 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.'"
The doctor said, "I didn't say that. I said you got a heart mummer and be careful."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE  http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

BAYFIELD ONTARIO TO BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN....RAIN, SNOW, FOG, SUNSHINE:))

MAX & THE MOTORMOUSE aka CORA:)) 

Kelly was up scratching around at 4 a.m. so that was the end of sleeping-in till noon for me & the Motormouse.  A few minutes later the whole gang was stirring & before long we were checking off the final few things on our checklist.  I had hitched up the Jeep late Friday afternoon so the rig was out front on the road ready to go.  A few last things to load & a final farewell to the house.  We all switched our sticks & bricks hats for our RVing hats & had the big wheels rolling for the great American Southwest at 6:03 a.m.

ALL ABOARD EARLY THIS MORNING:))

Quiet morning drive but was surprised at the amount of snow on the sides of the road just south of Grand Bend.  Saw a police cruiser in the ditch so we knew there had been ice.  Roads were wet & our rig & Jeep are now caked in road salt.  Thirty five miles east of Sarnia we ran into fog & five miles later it was snowing.  Crossed the big Bluewater bridge into the U.S. at 7:30 in rain.  Nice border guard fellow with a sense of humor spared us another border horror story, wished us a good trip & head us on our way by 7:40.  Wow, two years in a row with no trouble.  Yes Toto, there is a border crossing paradise:))

 

OUR FIRST GROCERY BLOW OUT THIS TRIP AT BENTON HARBOR'S WALMART SUPERCENTER

By the time we reached Cracker Barrel in Lansing Michigan the sun was out & we had a nice day going on with big bright warm & friendly sunbeams pouring in the windows.  Hadn't been to a Cracker Barrel for breakfast since returning home last March & it was nice to have a big hearty breakfast again.  Made it to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Benton Harbor by 2:30 & that is where I am typing this from.  Kelly has gone in for groceries & then we'll move next door to the Lowes parking lot for the night.  Hardly a flat piece of pavement here at Wal-Mart!!

  

GUESS HOW COLD IT WAS EARLY THIS MORNING!!

Sure nice having this Verizon Air Card.  Around Flint Michigan Kelly plugged in the card to a USB port on our laptop & seconds later we were on the internet.  Now how convenient is that.  No fuss, no muss, no bother & Kelly was able to check all the emails etc. without ever having to get out of her seat.  Some days I think we just have it tooooo darned good:))

       

BIG YAWN FOR THE MOTORMOUSE & SUPPERTIME IN A LOWES PARKING LOT.....BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN

Oh, & our biggest dilemma so far?  We totally cannot find the remote control for our onboard Toshiba flat screen television.  We have turned the coach upside down but it is not here.  Very strange because we never would have taken it out of the rig.  We are going to walk over to Wal-Mart or Best Buy after supper & see if we can find a Universal remote.  That is always the best way to find the lost one!!

OUR NEW COMPUTER CORNER IS WORKING OUT FINE

GROANER'S CORNER:((  If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it ,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment ,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
Then You Are  Probably ..... The Family Dog!

UPDATE.... Kelly programmed the new Universal Remote from Wal-Mart & it works fine.  She has been trying to reprogram me for over 17 years now but just hasn't had the same kinda luck......I think I might need a new set of batteries!!

ROUTE CHANGE....WE ARE HEADED FOR MOSCOW

SEDONA, ARIZONA

Sitting in quiet darkness this morning with the computer on my lap I couldn't help but feel how comfortable my recliner felt, how nice my ambient music sounded & how peaceful, serene & spacious my surroundings were.   And how nice my long hot shower was going to feel shortly.  In less than 24 hours this will all change as we shift our lifestyle into RV mode for the next 5 months.  We have a weeks worth of hard traveling ahead of us before the dust settles into any kind of relaxed & controlled routine again.  Long driving days, stressful traffic, questionable weather & the list goes on.  But, it’s all part of the RV lifestyle & that is what makes it all so exciting. 

        

HIKING THE AJO MOUNTAIN RANGE IN ORGAN PIPE NATIONAL MONUMENT SOUTH OF WHY, ARIZONA

Four out of the last 5 border crossings has been a problem for us because of agriculture checks.  Last year’s crossing was the exception.  Those ag checks are a total PITA!!  We have to exit the coach, dogs & all,  while the border guards go inside looking for horribly infectious food products like California grown oranges, etc.  We know enough now to dress warmly because it’s usually an icy freezing wind while we stand out in the cold hanging onto the dogs who of course are totally stressed because they don’t understand what is going on.   This is never a good experience & generally holds us up well over an hour!!  We’ll have our fingers crossed Saturday morning when we get to the Sarnia/Port Huron border crossing.  Hope we get a nice young fellow with a positively friendly attitude like we did last year.

  

OVERLOOKING BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA FROM THE CULP VALLEY.....'WE LOVE IT HERE:))'

Had to dodge cold rain showers all day long while making numerous trips to the coach & back.   Finally reached the ‘ready’ point  by late afternoon so all systems are go for the morning.  But, if your like me you do not feel comfortable with that ‘ready’ feeling.  Always the nagging doubt about forgetting something & even after supper tonight we were still loading last minute things.  Looks like we’re going to fill up a few of those empty bin spots anyway.   We will probably have the big wheels rolling about 7:30 A.M.  Saturday morning.

 

WILLIS CREEK SLOT CANYON, CANNONVILLE UTAH

We have made a last minute route change & have decided to head for Moscow Iowa just west of Davenport.  We have an appointment for 7 A.M. at the HWH factory Monday morning.  They are the company that manufactured the leveling system on our coach & we have decided to go right to their factory & have them repair the rear leveler that sticks sometimes & also find out why there is no power to the control box.  I’m hoping when they fix the power problem it will also solve the problem of why are rear view camera has stopped working.

           

TOURING THE RUINS OF OLD FORT BOWIE IN ARIZONA

 

APACHE INDIANS MAY VERY WELL HAVE LOOKED DOWN UPON THE ONCE MIGHTY FORT FROM THIS VERY VANTAGE POINT

We plan to spend Saturday night at a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  Kelly will probably have us connected to Verizon as soon as we get over the border so tomorrow night, if all goes well, it will be blogging as usual.  We will do the Chicago traffic mayhem Sunday morning.  We used this same route on our way to Moab Utah 3 years ago & didn’t find the Chicago traffic too bad.   We should make it to HWH near Moscow Sunday afternoon with lots of time to spare before Monday mornings early appointment.  No idea how long the repairs will take but as soon as we’re out of there it will be Westward-Ho for the ranch in Arizona.

 

SNACK BREAK ON THE COCHISE STRONGHOLD TRAIL IN ARIZONA

       

  

COCHISE IS BURIED OUT THERE SOMEWHERE

   

GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS, NEW MEXICO

Want to thank everyone for the comments, shouts & emails over the past few days wishing us well & a safe journey.  Much appreciated folks & keep an eye out for us on the road.....10-4:))

WE ARE READY TO HEAD OUT IN SEARCH OF NEW ADVENTURES:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((   Paddy was waiting at the bus stop with his mate when a truck rolled by loaded with of sod.  Paddy said, "I'm gonna do that when I win the lottery."  "What's dat," asked his friend.  "Send me lawn away to be cut."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.