IT'S A HEAT WAVE

JAN 31, 2018

We are finally getting some warm weather. The average temperature in Phoenix right now should be 69 degrees. For the past few days, we have had it in the low to mid 80's.  That's almost 20 degrees warmer. It will continue on for several days.  We leave for Parker, AZ this Saturday, where it will also be in the mid 80's. I can finally pack away my sweatshirts.  YAHOO! Since we left, we have had temperatures from 22 to 83 degrees.That is quite a span. 

In a Motorhome 2 sites down, we saw something we have never seen before. A picture of a  man in the window of the door going into the RV. Why would you want a picture in the door? To each their own, I guess.  Even if it was to honor someone that had passed away, it just seems weird to us

When we first started traveling, everytime I saw a beautiful sunrise or sunset, I would run out and take a picture. I have so many of those pictures, I could fill  many albums. Rarely do I do it now, but a couple days ago, I took some. The first is the sunrise, 2nd is the sunset.

RV parks have some strange speed limits. They always have a half speed. This park is 14 1/2 MPH. Another is 9 1/2 MPH. I understand they want you to go slow, but what's with the half MPH. Who can do that? You can go 14 or 15, but not 14.5 or 15.5. Another thing that just seems weird to us.

TRAVELING TWO MONTHS

JAN 20, 2018

As of yesterday, Jan. 20th, we have been gone 2 months. We left Nov 20th.  Doesn't seem like that long, 3.5 months to go. We are at Sunflower RV Resort, our 4th park, in Surprise, AZ.  It is a suburb just NW of Phoenix. 

 We have many family and friends to visit here.  The main thing I have been doing  is geocaching with my friend, Bernie.  He is from Oregon. We first met him in Casa Grande, AZ, then Palm Springs. A few years ago, he started staying here for the winter. He also loves geocaching, he has over 9500.  Denny loves it when I can go with somebody else.  Denny  is not into as much as I am, but, he is very good at finding them.  We also have family on both sides to catch up with. Plus friends that moved from Kirkland to Scottsdale a few months ago.

We came here from Cottonwood. Our site up there was sloped quite a bit. We had to have our back tires off the ground to get the RV level. We have never had the wheels so off the ground. Always seems strange to only see 3 sets of tires on the ground. At times, we have seen 3 out of 4 tires off the ground to get it level. 

Our Internet  is terrible. We bring our own, so we usually have good reception. It was bad in Cottonwood, but, I thought it was because we were up in the mountains. I thought it would be excellent here since we are right next to Phoenix. BUT NO!!  I had planned on doing this blog yesterday at our 2 month point, but couldn't even get on. It has been very sporadic ever since we got here.  So frustrating, when you re paying good money to get it.

SPOOKY CLOSET!

Jan 17, 2018

At home, I went to BattleRope Bootcamp (alot like Crossfit) 3 days a week for 6 months.  I asked the instructor to show me some exercises to do on the road.  I thought he would send me a few, but, oh no. He sent a full 6 week program, everyday being different. Seeing them written down, I can't believe I have dome them all. I brought 10 # dumbbells and 15 and 25# kettlebells.  I started the exercises a few  days ago. For some odd reason, the dumbbells and kettlebells got heavier sitting in my closet. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!!!

My clothes also got smaller in the same place. What is going on in that closet?  Surely it can't be that I haven't done any excise since on the road.  I have been eating more, drinking more and doing no exercise, but there has to be another reason. I have lots of willpower at home, but on the road, it disappears. 

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THAT CLOSET!  Seems spooky to me!

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

Jan 3, 2018

We drove up to Cottonwood, AZ on Dec 30th.  It is in the mountains,  about 100 miles north of Phoenix. The elevation is 4000'. A few days ago we woke up to 22 degrees. Yikes, a tad cold. Thankfully the daytime temps were in the low 60's. The next few days, we had a heat wave of 28 and 29 degrees in the morning. Today, 40.   We have been coming here for several years and  have always been told to let our water drip at night so the pipes don't freeze.  On Dec 31, 2014, we woke up and it was snowing. Snowed all day to a total of 4-5".  Much sooner than in Washington, but not this year. Our house  in Washington got 6" of snow the day before Christmas. We would rather have cold than snow. Of course, this is wonderful weather compared to everywhere else in the States. Glad we are here. 

Dec 31, 2014

On our way here, we saw something that we had never seen before. At rest stops, there are separate areas for trucks/RVs and for cars. For the first time, we saw a disabled parking spot for truckers.  Our truck and RV are to the left. Seems like we are always seeing new things that we had never heard of.

When we are in this park, I feel very close to my parents. They traveled in an RV for 20 years. This is one of the parks they spent alot for time at. Over the years, we have been in alot of the same parks, but this was one of their favorites. The other one  they spent alot of time in is in Palm Springs, also one of our favorite parks.

In a previous post, I talked about recycling in parks. Some do it alot, others not at all. This park recycles everything, but does something I have never heard of. You bag it separately, but put it in the garbage. The recyclers separate it. Usually you put everything in a separate recycling bin. Seems like alot more work for the recyclers. 

DESERT GOLFING

Dec 31, 2017

Across from our park is a desert golf course. I have never golfed, but can't imagine hitting in the ball in the dirt and sand.  There is another golf course not far from here that is a regular course with all green grass.  I would think people would go there. This one  is  9 holes. 

THOUGHTS ABOUT EARP

DEC 31, 2017

We left Earp/Parker  yesterday, but wanted to comment about a few things.

In Parker,  we have to buy our water. It is 25 cents a gal. There are water dispensaries at the campgrounds and in front of every store.  You never realize how much water you use, between cooking and drinking, until you have to buy it. We go  thru about a gal a day. The first morning we were there I forgot and used it right out of the faucet. It tastes terrible, had to spit it out. The dish drainer turns brown and yellow in spots. UGH!!! You also have to buy it in Southern AZ, but, we aren't going there this year. We keep 3-4 empty gal jugs with us for the water.

Also, a note on recycling. In Renton, we recycle everything so much so that we have a very small garbage can.  Washington recycles alot more than another state. On the way down, no campgrounds recycled. At Menifee we were able to recycle everything.  At Parker, nothing but aluminum cans. Since we don't drink pop or beer (in cans),  we can't recycle anything. . Here, in Cottonwood, we again recycle everything.  Amazing how much garbage we have when there is no recycling. 

Had a good time in Earp/Parker. It is one of Denny's favorite parks, but we also visit our friends from Windsor, Canada. They stay the entire winter there. We met them several years ago. That's one of the nice perks about traveling, we meet so many people from all around the U.S. and Canada.

The average temperature was about 75, so we spent alot of time in the hot tub because our next stop was going to be much  colder. The picture below shows you our we spend most evenings

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I have some Christmas decorations, but I don't want to take up alot of storage for something that is up only a few weeks. Showing you some RV's that have alot of decorations.

There is  also a huge Santa in the back on the right side that is on the ground.

ON TO EARP, CALIFORNIA

Dec 21, 2017

Last Saturday we left Menifee to go to Earp, California. Had a great time in Menifee. We did a little geocaching, a little wine tasting, a little reading and a little relaxing.  Our reading consisted mostly of reading guide books on Italy and Ireland (more on that latter). 

Earp is a tiny little town of about 300 people.  It is on the Colorado River, which is the state line for AZ and California. It  was named after Wyatt Earp. For all the places Wyatt Earp lived,  this is the only place he actually bought a house. You can still see it.

One thing about being on the State Line is that my iPhone never knows what time it is. Eventho we are  technically still in Ca,  Earp goes on AZ time because we have to go  to Parker, AZ. for everything. AZ time is an hour ahead. When we first got here, my phone changed to AZ time. For the next 3 days, it went back to Ca time. Now, yesterday it went back to AZ time. Can be confusing if I forget!

There is absolutely nothing in Earp, so everyone has to go to Parker for groceries,  the drugstore and other misc shopping.  It is only 6 miles away across the river.  We came here to visit friends that we met several years ago from Windsor Canada. They winter here every year. Will probably doing basically the same thing here as Menifee except no wineries for wine tasting. Luckily we brought our own wine to tide us over. HA. 

It was 76 yesterday so went to the hot tub for the first time this trip. Today we are going to the movies to see the new Star Wars.  There is a casino here with a Movie Theatre.  Movies are $5 for seniors, can't beat that. Sometimes there are benefits to being old!!

Showing some pictures of tiny RV's, can't imagine living in them for any length of time. Certainly smaller than our 35 '.

This RV is on the opposite scale. Some RV'ers love their "toys" This RV is called a Toy Hauler. Notice the back end of this RV comes down. Inside are usually ATVs, motorcycles or even another car.

Notice the back of this truck is filled with an ATV. Can't imagine how they got it up there!!

Picture of us wine tasting in Temecula. We belong to this winery, if we lived in the area, we could get  free wine tasting EVERY day. This winery specializes in Champagne, my favorite !

We see different styles of this flag on RV's that winter here. They can spend 6 months here, hence the split flag. Or sometimes it's because there is one person from Canada and one person from the U.S.