A GLOOMY MORNING MATCHED OUR GLOOMY MOOD AS WE LEFT THE FLYING W RANCH

OUR LAST SUNRISE AT THE FLYING W

Saturday’s tremendous winds slowed themselves down a bit in the night but never totally abated.  Despite the slide awnings flapping we did manage to slip off to dreamland.

I was up at 3 & Kelly at 5.  Sky was overcast & gloomy.  It matched our moods because this was the morning we left the Flying W Ranch.  I filled the bird feeders for the last time & topped up all the water dishes.  Kept myself busy packing things up so I wouldn’t think about the ranch.  Kelly did the same.  The winds were brisk & cold.  Even the Swisshelm Mountains lacked their morning appeal.  A last minute check of everything & we were almost on our way, but……:((

Our main slide would not retract again.  Switch was totally dead just like our last move a week ago.  Wasn’t until I moved the Motor Home ahead & back that the switch worked & the slide came in.  Definitely something amiss with our slide.  Not a fuse & probably not the motor.  More like a loose connection somewhere.  We had the big wheels rolling at 10:05.

 

I’m not going to tell you how we felt as we rolled out the driveway.  I have said enough about all that already & as previously stated I concentrated my mind on the journey ahead & not the journey behind.

 

Couldn’t help but reflect on some fine memories of the past 3 months as we rolled north through the Sulphur Springs Valley.  Jeep tours with Jeanie & Ray along with Rosanna, Carol & Joy.   Lunch at Margie's with DOUG & JOANNE along with FRED & JO.  Breakfast with JOE & NANCY at Sandy’s RV Park, hiking the Chiricahuas, my Tumbleweed Photo Group friends, the wiggly piggly gang, meeting W.D. Arizona, cold nights and broken pipes, Rucker Canyon & the Muleteam Hiking Club,  Bisbee’s many photos, Parker Lake tour, Wings over Wilcox, Grapevine Canyon Ranch,  up & over the Middlemarch Pass.  Shopping at J.C. Pennys & finding Cochise’s Council Rocks & let’s not forget  searching for the lost Donkeys.  RVing friends JERRY & SUZY,  Kathy & Bob, Ed Frey, Ivan, MIKE & JANNA, JIM & RENE all dropped in to see us.  Bob even considered waving a white flag before approaching:))

 

These few memories of the past 3 months are some of our best & it would take me all night plus a day to list the rest.  Thanks to everyone for making our stay in Cochise County again the absolute best ever & if we weren’t heading west at the moment we would head right back there & do it all over again.  Hello to Paula in Bisbee:))  Cochise County has definitely become a second home for the Bayfield Bunch…10-4 & then some:)))))))

    

Waved to JERRY & SUZY as we rolled through Benson about 11:20.  Darn nice folks those two & probably the Bayfield Bunches greatest supporters.  We did make a quick stop for $225 worth of fuel for the rig in Benson plus $12 worth of McDonalds for us:))

The sky brightened a bit as we headed into Tucson & sailed through the city & embedded ourselves right into the rear end of a massive traffic jam just north of the Tucson on I-10.  That cost us the best part of an hour before getting through that mess.  An eastbound vehicle had rolled across the median into the westbound lanes involving several other vehicles.

 

DOWNTOWN TUCSON & A TRAFFIC JAM

Jim Kortsen Park west of Casa Grande has always been a nice little free spot to pull in for an overnighter when traveling through the area & we have stopped there several times before.  That was our destination today but were disappointed there were no spots available.  Seems like a lot of Snow Birders have found the Park as well & are now calling it home for the entire winter.  Decided to push on for Gila Bend.

Gila Bend is another little place very familiar to us having stopped here to take on propane, fuel & water over the years.  Gray & Black water tanks can be dumped here free of charge as well behind any of the 2 Shell stations. 

Kelly noticed in her Day’s End book that Gila Bend also had free camping at the Elk’s Lodge.  Took us a bit of fumbling & backtracking but we finally did find it at the northern outskirts of town on highway 86 to Buckeye, west side.  Very large flat parking area with no facilities.

 

OUR OVERNIGHTER SPOT AT THE ELK’S LODGE IN GIAL BEND

Would you believe our slide would not deploy at first but after repeated threats to the slide Gremlin it finally went out.  I suspect we’ll have trouble retracting it in the morning.  Kelly has already sent in a question to RV NET FORUM asking about reliable RV repair places in Yuma & we are already receiving replies.  Gotta love these RV folks.  We have to pick up some special dog food in Yuma anyway Monday so we’ll see if we can get this slide problem looked after as well.

Anyway, that’s it for tonight folks.  We are in Gila Bend Arizona with our destination being Yuma in the morning.  Well, sounds good in theory anyway but knowing us we could end up just about anywhere……………… 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( 

How Old Are You Really?
From the following list of 25 items, count all the ones that you remember -- not the ones you were told about! How to score yourself is at the end.

1. Blackjack chewing gum
2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar-water
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda-pop machines that dispensed bottles
5. Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Party lines
8. Newsreels before the movie
9. P. F. Flyers
10. Butch wax
11. Telephone numbers with a word prefix (e.g., Olive - 6933)
12. Peashooters
13. Howdy Doody
14. 45-RPM records ... and 78-RPM records
15. S&H Green Stamps
16. Hi-fi systems
17. Metal ice trays with lever
18. Mimeograph paper
19. Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Rollerskate keys
22. Cork popguns
23. Drive-in theaters
24. Studebakers
25. Washtub wringers

If you remembered!
         0 - 5 = You're still young
         6 - 10 = You are getting older
       11 - 15 = Don't tell your age
       16 - 25 = You're older than you think!

HELD CAPTIVE ALL DAY BY HIGH WINDS

TO WINDY FOR PHOTOS TODAY SO HAVE PULLED OUT MY WHITE SANDS ALAMOGORDO FILE FROM NOVEMBER 25TH 2008

The pain in Kelly’s knee that has been bothering her for a week & a half now eased off about 6 hours after taking the first 800mg Ibuprofen pill.  No pain when she got up this morning either & she thinks the swelling may have gone down a bit.  We will now likely head out first thing Sunday morning (depending on weather)  for Borrego Springs.  Might be over that way early next week depending on wherever the wind blows.  No idea how long we’ll stay there & that may depend on what happens here with this ranch deal.  We have not heard anything from the Real Estate fellow since earlier in the week.  Despite that we may return here sometime in March on our way home & feed the birds.  Because of the California gas prices we will likely not head up around the Death Valley area as I had hoped.  Maybe Joshua Tree SP on our return to the Sulphur Springs Valley.

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS SAND THESE KIDS ARE PLAYING ON, NOT SNOW

(YOU CAN ENLARGE THE PICS BY CLICKING ON THEM)

The lifestyle between our home in Ontario & here in Arizona is so totally different that it is like stepping back into the past for us every time we come here.  I sometimes refer to it as having to put our southwest heads back on & look at things with our southwest eyes.  Ontario & Arizona are so different in so many ways.  And, it is that change I find so interesting & invigorating.

KELLY, CHECKERS & THE RIG ARE ALL IN THIS PICTURE

We find people very friendly & laid back in the southwest.  Especially in New Mexico & Arizona.  Not nearly as many rules & regulations here as back home & I like that.  Out here in the small towns & valleys there is still a wild west flavor & a closeness amongst the people.  For anyone who has read the Southwest's history they will know that is how the west has always been.  People could only survive by helping each other in the violent & turbulent times of the 1800’s.  There is a sense of that still present because life can be harsh in these here parts.   I’m not talking about the large towns & big cities,  I’m talking about the dusty little towns & burgs out here in the rustic & quaint wind swept desert backcountry.  Out here where the tires meet the mud, the rocks & the gravel.  Out here where you can see for miles & miles in any one direction & not set your eyes on a single car ahead or behind you.  People don’t look at you funny if your wearing a cowboy hat or have your boots on backwards.  If you want to grow your hair down to your knees that’s just fine because there are lots of good old down to earth characters in the west & I like that.  Doesn’t matter if you got a ripped shirt with an acre of dust in the top pocket or if you have an old beat up Ford truck with a missing fender, a blown headlight & a couple dozen dents in the sun faded paint job.  Half a dozen cracks in the windshield is alright too.  I like the idea a feller can just kinda fade away & become a part of the landscape.

I love this southwest lifestyle, feel totally comfortable here & fit right in like an old gray weather beaten barn board on a tumble down 49’er miner’s shack.

Aside from the scenic advantages of spending the winters in the southwest we have always known how much healthier it is than staying trapped in a house by the ice, snow & harsh freezing temperatures of a northern winter.  I was first hooked on the southwest back in May of 1992 when I made a fairly quick trip to Utah & back.  Kelly & I rocketed to & from Big Bend Texas during a Christmas Holiday break in December of 2004.  We had a Class C at the time & that trip sealed our love for the southwest.  We have returned to New Mexico, Arizona & California every winter since beginning in October of 06.

We have friends back home who have never been anywhere south in the winter & have no interest in going south despite being retired & financially stable.  That is a hard one for me to understand.  After having spent well over 60 years enduring all the aspects of full blown Canadian winters I do not want to ever have to do that again.  We have had enough of being trapped indoors day after day by blinding snow storms, freezing rain, closed highways & power outages, etc.  Here in the southwest we can be outside about 99% of the time walking, hiking, day tripping, working on outside hobbies, soaking up warm sunshine & all the time being surrounded by beautiful scenery, sunrises & sunsets.  We are not stay inside television people so the southwest is a natural & healthy place for us to be while we are still able.

We know this will not last forever but while we are healthy & still have control over our lives & destinations we will not be sitting around on our cans in Canada during the winter!!  The sands of time are just not in our favor anymore……………And, won’t you all be glad when we’re back on the road tomorrow & I will have something refreshingly new to blog about….me too:))

The air was so still this morning it would not have disturbed a candle flame.  However, around 9 a.m. the powerful southwest winds suddenly ripped in from the south scattering dust & tumbleweeds everywhere.  We retreated inside & hung on except for Checkers who really seems to enjoy having the winds tousling through her fur.  She just lays there under the Motor Home with a big smile on her face, fur blowing every which a way.  But, even she had to finally relent & come in.  So windy today a lot of the tiny birds weren’t even flying & as the day progressed we probably endured some of the worst winds we have ever had.  The north & south horizon lines were totally invisible at times because of the large clouds of billowing dust.

RETIRED ROD had a few questions about my Nikon D90.  In our comment section Rod asks, “Tell us more about how it works as compared to the older cameras, and how you lens transitions to the new body. And perhaps where you ordered it.”  I ordered the camera body from ADORAMA The Camera People.  That recommendation came from KEN ROCKWELL'S site which I highly recommend to anyone interested in photography.  He has the best product reviews & will tell you what is good or not about camera models.  He tests all new cameras/lenses & if he thinks a new camera model has a lot of useless tecky razzle dazzle kid’s stuff on it he will tell you so.  He also explains how to tweak your camera for it’s maximum performance.  His site has helped my photography & I’m sure would be helpful to other photographers as well.  Ok, back to Rod’s questions……Fortunately for me the D90 is not on a steep learning curve because the basics are carried forward from my D40 & D50.  Dials, switches, buttons, etc are all mainly in the same places.  Menu operates the same as well.  I was able to pick this camera up, snap on a lens & step out the door & start shooting.  The camera does have a lot of new internal features which will take me awhile to get onto though.  I can be a slow learner at times but thanks to Ken Rockwell’s site on the NIKON D90 I have already made some tweaks in the exposure department.  I like Ken’s photography so have basically set up my D90 the same as his.  Also made sure before buying the D90 that my 2 Nikor zoom lenses were going to be compatible, which they were.  Just snap em on & away ya go.  As I discover new technologies with the D90 I will pass them on but I’m not expecting you will see a big difference in my photos from the D40 but we shall see.  The D90’s potential is definitely there so we’ll see how lucky I can get with it.  The D40 is going to be hard to beat though because it was & still is an ‘Ace’ camera.  Also want to mention here that you can shoot your buns off with the best camera on the market but if you don’t have a good handle on some basic photographic techniques or are not familiar with your camera equipment & are not experienced with a good photo editing program you are probably going to be disappointed in your results.  As you all know, I use Google’s Picasa 3.8 photo editing program & it works just fine for me.  Lots of other expensive photo programs out there that do more but to each his own.  I’m not a smart techy guy so in my world….simpler is better.  Well, that sure took Mr. Blabberfingers long enough to answer a few simple questions didn’t it…………

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The Doctor was puzzled 'I'm very sorry Mr O'Flaherty, but I can't diagnose your trouble.  I think it must be drink.'  'Don't worry about it Dr Cullen, I'll come back when you're sober.', said O' Flaherty.

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
 
BISBEE PHOTO ALBUM
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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
 
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.

Technorati Tags: Alamogordo,Nikon D50,Nikor,Ken Rockwell,Nikon D40,Adorama,Ibuprofen 800mg,Borrego Springs,Big Bend

KELLY ENDS UP AT THE ELFRIDA MEDICAL CLINIC THIS MORNING

Let’s just say it was one of those nights where my mind woke up long before I did.

What an exceptionally peaceful morning again.  Desert sunrises are unequaled in their beauty.  Mountains to the east & west with a gentle breeze playing through the prickly Mesquite trees nearby added to the serenity.  The air is alive with the sounds of many happy little birds near the feeders & the daily warming temperature just adds a fine topping to an already splendid day.

With all these calming influences as a background, plus some very hard work I was able to concentrate on changing out some software today.  There come times when things bog down & do not run as efficiently or smoothly as they should & adjustments have to be made.  These adjustments are occasionally major.  The trick is to recognize the problem & have the proper tools to make the necessary changes.  I am talking about my head of course & today I had to swap out my ‘Ranch’ software & re-install my ‘Travel’ program.  I will keep the ‘Ranch’ software close by in case of a quick re-install but for the time being my screen is once again showing ‘Travel Mode:))’

Wished I could reprint some of the wonderful & caring emails the Bayfield Bunch has received from people.  Not just recently but ever since we started traveling.   Maybe one day we could weave those emails into a book & show how caring & sincere many people really are & how society could work….if it only would.

I am heartened by what I see here in Blogland.  Not only in our blog but many others as well.   Yes, we do have our little tiffs & spats with each other from time to time but overall it is a very tight knit & supportive group of people we have here & we at the Bayfield Bunch are glad to be a part of that.

 

Two weeks ago Kelly was stung by a bee on her knee over at the other property.  Since then the knee has continued to swell & become very painful causing her to lose sleep.  Kelly is the type of person who would walk a mile on a broken leg before ever telling anybody or going to a Doctor.  She is worse than me about that Doctor thing & when she got up this morning saying she was going to go to the Efrida Medical Clinic I knew she had to be in a lot pain.  In fact she was there when they opened the doors at 8a.m.  An hour & a half later she was back with a big bandage on her knee.  Lady Doc said nothing to do with a bee sting & everything to do with a knee injury of some kind.  She wrote her a prescription for 800mg Ibuprofen.  She picked that up at Wal-Mart in Douglas this afternoon.  Only $10 for 90 pills….try that in Canada!!  Kelly was extremely impressed with the medical clinic in Elfrida & all the staff she encountered there.  Only cost her $31 & the deal was half price if you paid the same day or else the bill would have been $62….& again, try that in Canada!!

 

WE LIKE TO KEEP LOTS OF WATER OUT FOR THE CRITTERS

We’ll hang around a couple more days now until Kelly’s knee improves.  We do have a cane & set of crutches on board just in case.  Kelly thinks she may have injured her knee exercising.  Darn good reason not to exercise I’d say!!

UPS brought my Nikon D90 body today & some of tonight’s pics were taken with it.  I can see where I’ll have a bit of tweaking & familiarizing to do but I’ll get that figured out soon enough.  Luckily this D90 is very similar to my D40 & deceased D50.

 

NEW D90 & OLDER D40….PHOTO TAKEN WITH MY CANON POWER SHOT SX210 IS

I’m typing this at 8 p.m. tonight & our side door is still open.  Now that is nice, nice, nice:))   

AND THE LITTLE MOTORMOUSE LIKES THE NEW D90 TOO:))

 

 

 

CHECKERS IS TOTALLY AT HOME IN THE FRONT YARD

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Here is the scene: The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Church elementary school for lunch.

At the head of the table was a large pile of apples.  The nun made a note, and put it on the apple tray...

'Take only ONE. God is watching.'

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, 'Take all you want. God is watching the apples.'

-------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
 
BISBEE PHOTO ALBUM
http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/BISBEEARIZONAAFEWFINEPHOTOMEMORIES
 
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
 
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.