tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845085901527966052024-03-05T00:23:50.598-08:00Driving Miss MoseyWe're exploring North America and hope you'll stop by and visit with us. We will try to avoid the boring travelogue stories and instead show you the nuts and bolts and adventures of RV life on the road.FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-32513227350693194902023-10-29T16:58:00.001-07:002023-10-29T17:03:45.317-07:00OK, it’s time to pretend like we’re grownups again<p><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong>Elks Lodge #2390 Amarillo, TX October 29, 2023</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We raced to Amarillo, TX to get positioned for the rain and sub-freezing temperatures that were predicted for panhandle Texas and Oklahoma. As EJ said, “It was a dark and stormy night”. Well it was dark, and the wind was howling, the slide toppers were flapping but the predicted snow and freezing rain was disappointing. Not that I’m complaining mind you, but I expected more based on the dire predictions by the weather prognosticators. Regardless, we were prepared. The heat was on, we put an extra electric heater in the wet bay and the water softener was drained to avoid freezing damage. It did get down to 27 degrees and all the way up to 33 today but the precipitation failed to put in a serious presence. We woke to slick steps and frozen slide toppers and this.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=114cAWqhjmt9z3qTKcdKVdTnswEgMCmok"><img title="20231029_140826" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20231029_140826" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1909ejO29ovQ0TxqZcsqJFgT1XuWys5fT" width="364" height="484" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">That is frozen rain stuck to the side of Miss Mosey. Soooo, what this means is that we will spend an extra day here at the Amarillo Elks Lodge to let everything thaw out (The temps are expected to be 10 or 15 above freezing tomorrow). We will resume our trek toward responsibilities on Wednesday, November 1.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">I shouldn’t project such dire gloominess since part of this journey involves fun. We are going to visit friends Tina and Johnny Roush in Hot Springs, AR November 6 through 8 before heading to Red Bay, AL to give Miss Mosey some needed care.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Before delving into Miss Mosey’s needed physical uplifts, a little history. When we acquired Miss Mosey in July of 2017 she had a chip in her windshield. The original owners had graciously adjusted her price of acquisition accordingly. On our previous motorhome, Big Guy, we had replaced his windshields 5 times in 2 years. The insurance company was not happy with us. We decided this time around to not be so anal about the windshield.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">However, 5 chips and one big crack later, we feel it’s time to replace the windshield even though it is a huge target on the front end of Miss Mosey just screaming “Hit me, hit me!”. We know that within months of the replacement we will have a chip in the new windshield.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Since we were gong to be in Red Bay, AL anyhow, we decided to see if we could get some other stuff done too. For those unfamiliar, Red Bay is where Miss Mosey was built and is considered the Mecca for getting repairs and upgrades accomplished. But, October and November are extremely busy in Red Bay because all the snowbirds are headed south and a bunch of them stop by Red Bay to have work done.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So, I was not expecting to get much more accomplished other than the windshield replacement. We enlisted the help Happy Host Concierge Service to make the additional appointments. To our surprise, they were able to schedule us for almost everything on our list. Miss Mosey is scheduled for a new steering bell crank, new Koni shocks, new bushings on the front sway bar, getting her counter tops polished, replacement mats for the cockpit and stairs and getting the patio awning realigned. The week of November 13 is going to be very busy. Here are some pictures of the windshield that started this fit of responsibility.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pj2Je3qhZkvgykgfttvXw_41l-1LlvmZ"><img title="20231010_154649" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20231010_154649" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13xebcgEw2b7TQKN0vrIXTxHhasW7MG5T" width="364" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1UuzhSib5seAD0JLRZf4T8-r3jiExXeJW"><img title="20231010_154727" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20231010_154727" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1o-mk8D7HccNKN7B_ckFwuutzf4fs7VY6" width="364" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1O4OoxHjl_ma6yGORJf4u8fcyiKTNVUUG"><img title="20231010_155723" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20231010_155723" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1CeokXrA0EzLAC9E0v8rKfbLTJuxqst4M" width="364" height="484" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">But the responsibilities don’t end with taking care of Miss Mosey. We will continue on to Florida to renew vehicle registrations, replace verizon with visible, pay taxes, renew credit cards, visit our doctors and dentists, get Frank cataract surgery and work on the property in Branford, FL. We need to make another appointment for Miss Mosey to get her 60,000 mile checkup in Gaffney, SC. Plus make plans for our summer trip to Newfoundland.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">But on the plus side, we will get to visit more friends and be able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with them.</font> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows:</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1drxA348WifJU4LU_AUpU1snGo9nH4epv"><img title="20230930_174620" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230930_174620" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1J88eHGYCSGSKiSM5GYHdt73DOVdfh-9y" width="364" height="484" /></a>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-22818903724028810172023-10-29T15:40:00.001-07:002023-10-29T15:40:30.842-07:00How we spent our 2023 Summer Vacation <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong>May 5, 2023 to October 25, 2023 – Lake Alice State Park CG, NM</strong></font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1nJaDrQAAzUZZW9lyARnCSN2vrP5YtApg"><img title="Opera Snapshot_2023-10-29_163454_Summer20travels.htm" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Opera Snapshot_2023-10-29_163454_Summer20travels.htm" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=135Pess5gGoeUvVOQtacDlHjyNHHbPCxN" width="644" height="438" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3"><font face="Arial">Be aware, this blog entry contains lots of pictures. Click on them to embiggen!</font> <font face="Arial"></font></font></p> <p><font size="3"><font face="Arial">A little over 2600 miles in 5-1/2 months. During that time we spent 15 days in commercial campgrounds and the remainder at Elks Lodges, Casinos, BLM campgrounds, Forest Service campgrounds, city campgrounds, state park campgrounds and dispersed camping. </font></font></p> <font face="Arial"></font> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">As you can tell, staying in commercial campgrounds is really, really low on our list. Why put up with oblivious campers, screeching kids and barking dogs (along with their biological landmines) when you can enjoy spaciousness, peacefulness and wonderful views?</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">There are times when one must simply have a Trader Joe’s fix or a decent selection of craft beers that requires one to suffer the indignities of a commercial campground and their inherent drawbacks. The sacrifices one must make for Triple Ginger Ginger Snap cookies,  a decent bouquet of fresh flowers or a decent selection of stouts and porters.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Here are some pictures of our favorite spots this summer.</font> </p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1D63uEIHTAmG6_dzbph16BEX4LzFLvpxu"><img title="20230504_121527" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230504_121527" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1u1mddecixYmBVKfC2gMEp2-F5OcOsfct" width="364" height="484" /></a> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dg4WoyY0cWj_l6FDDbUz4U5nH1bNZNkf"><img title="20230528_144838" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230528_144838" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1tGx_gAnCkg-VrqmyJEvYXgM1h85i_cK_" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=16jalmDqhXcaeN5lC7Pq5zRq6vtUjcZsx"><img title="20230613_175323" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230613_175323" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1DPlA2yTHnLDLu_UduWqpuB8GTppMtDNp" width="364" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1B9XfkQVVI0UuJc5DpuaQ5Mo3mRazSUtC"><img title="20230701_210834" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230701_210834" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1EYn2heq50JCGflMPZxouEGGacYdldrQo" width="644" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1k16ITQEKbSkUY6QmF9iMuYmUND8BcQ-B"><img title="20230719_193459" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230719_193459" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1-7EfYmsePaRvb8ROq-I_-ZYOVWF3Bxzt" width="644" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1s7aFz2_LcgbzX9l2oLLt9gAEG-4YqpnB"><img title="20230810_201232" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230810_201232" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=17OjdvDLNiCMWJDN7MyEAzfhA1Qz7BDxI" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1FKem-bq2fXHObDuupX9MHlLjnrm8PZ-N"><img title="20230917_171932" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230917_171932" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13WXzATvnGh0A0X01kLCFBTExq3qDBjyC" width="644" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1KkJGcNO8B3MefgWCnr9zVwmfj2f2_fnQ"><img title="20230918_151521" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230918_151521" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Pe3-ukoFv9FAeno6ZiadP41Wwm3cT2yB" width="644" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ClmC4OJX2KBEmfz1tzAaoHThIzripvT6"><img title="20230928_185444" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230928_185444" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1hWxDI3nXl6IgKSOGClP5PH6IzX7SfIx1" width="644" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_VIAUm03dfXXO98A7zUO6Ta3D3qAzvX9"><img title="20231023_182813" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20231023_182813" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1k6-pwwdoZk0uHqixpwrSd2-4qHOtU5ac" width="644" height="484" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">This summer was also filled with animals. We have traveled to Alaska and Canada looking for moose without success. Lots of moose sign, but no moose. This summer it seems like they are everywhere you turn around. Unexpected, but most certainly appreciated.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1DHS5q8QjN8Udr_4zU7qhktvgbsgamwqL"><img title="20230813_161053" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230813_161053" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1FlFe3oniumSE8B5kFWqNbTzyJeQ63zXi" width="364" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Zzcu1koVY9HhRqf8xVShazk2vmXp2X21"><img title="20230719_135417" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230719_135417" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1iGTSFBb6wBl6lt1zrpTRY8MhyxNR6Cc_" width="364" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1svvCOVKbiu9r73c75xI-QkOl_iPt7LHj"><img title="20230731_191104" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230731_191104" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=12X59VHtEjuuN8odOSdPJs0FcjGH30Unl" width="364" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=14htfufbNwpWKba1PuW1b2kShhj9o-r6N"><img title="20231012_110219" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20231012_110219" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1fPrjMSK7PtX0_riJXRhlS149UzutjEL8" width="644" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=10Bm8YLra-_6GC7zkbuAtG_I11eDiCag8"><img title="20230701_135112" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230701_135112" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1GIXh-je5I1iOgITiBqKP_11FMCqwvGaq" width="364" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1tB-4vsMyCBeu_C9vpL9nV0YAtljL-oe-"><img title="20230701_152611" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230701_152611" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1HzGQRmj1cDCYIBYeqRKQemz52mSq4lBy" width="364" height="484" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1n672r9ikYjoCTsiDWI0LBkzwkWby2-2f"><img title="20230813_165806" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230813_165806" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pgaF9rkBiEqwvLaN9-EAcUbHZclI0aVq" width="364" height="484" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">And that dear friends, is how you spend a fantastic summer. Peace, quiet, nature, and the rejuvenation of the soul. As the T-Shirt says “Life is Good!”.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows:</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1N5_CgMVl4KTMp_bS4n3VhTSIT9_YXQRQ"><img title="20230730_180421" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230730_180421" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1iO0msJau_F6kK3fZwIeU6oSIWPZdtGNf" width="364" height="484" /></a></font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-15870226638563677892023-05-04T19:49:00.001-07:002023-05-04T19:49:31.333-07:00How We Spent Our Winter Vacation <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong>October 19, 2022 to May 4, 2023 – South Chief Mountain BLM CG, Caliente, NV</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1jR6Cg2xk_pmAzv_Ua9tH5VAMWGaAAebZ"><img title="How we spent our winter" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="How we spent our winter" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1E_LnwF08jJQ9V9W0KBty1spzA5ia-sjv" width="708" height="335" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We began this series of travel segments running from snow and now on May 4, 2023 at South Chief Mtn BLM Campground, we find ourselves right back in it. The difference though is back then we were worried about being trapped in snow for weeks, and now we’ll just wait a couple of days and it will be all warm and sunshiney again.</font></p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18LUciR9GZ6t8uDmCF3L8QQKw142vXTDL"><img title="20230504_121527" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230504_121527" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1n-grQwtYNXEXK6FDvG1RZYsX1ttIwNGT" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We have proclaimed this 2023 adventure to be about finding a place we would like to spend summers. Maybe not a place where we just go and sit for the summer, but a summer base from which to explore.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">While we are not having trouble finding camping spots, there have been places we would like to stay but we get shut out by the “weekend” campers. We are finding that we like to stay places longer, one week or perhaps even two, but that’s a no go because of “weekend” campers. It’s great if you only want to stay somewhere Sunday through Thursday. But weekends? Forget about it!</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So we’ve been reading about some RVers that are buying unimproved properties around the country  just so they will have a place to land if competition for campsites gets worse. That’s something to consider as we search for a summer base. Maybe a half dozen folks or so could form an exchange program, swapping stays at properties they own. Hmmm, just a thought.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows:</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1t2GwrLsVsGAyCOYNkhXP_u4rNkic6rvM"><img title="20230421_182130" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20230421_182130" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ZQWBP-87os25ZMl0lzWCXZBllKdcBkn-" width="644" height="484" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-63177423132321444312022-10-21T17:17:00.000-07:002022-12-04T17:19:17.278-08:00If It’s Wednesday, It Must Be Mosca<p><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong>October 19 to October 21, 2022 – San Luis State Wildlife Area, Mosca, CO</strong></font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1RGzptvCPxz-bFlbNxI2ZfoMnAm4C0BtT"><img title="Palisades to San Luis SWA" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Palisades to San Luis SWA" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Kk335uP6CYn45vbLeuqu2co8ZrZVL6re" width="704" height="317" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">As we have said before this is another one of our favorite campgrounds. It is basically free, with the exception of a $10 per person annual pass. And, this is a really big AND, it has free 50 amp hookups. There is no water at the campground. The water system broke down years ago and after it went from being a State Park to a State Wildlife Area, it was never repaired. There is a dump station, but no water to flush with. The nearest water source is the Great Sand Dunes National Park, which is about 30 minutes away.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Last time we were here we couldn’t get our favorite spot because it was already occupied, so we choose a double site next to the camp host. Guess what? This is now our new favorite spot and we were able to get it again this time. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We made several observations this time around. When we were last here 3 weeks ago, there were half a dozen rigs that were here that are still here. But there is a 14 day stay limit, how can that be? Another observation is that it is mainly older people that stay here, not young families with screaming kids. (Yay!) That means the campground is very quiet. (Double Yay!)</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">I asked one of the folks that seemed to be here well past the 14 day limit about the rules. The response I got was the camp host is cool, just move to a different spot every 14 days and one one will hassle you. Hmmm. We will have to remember that next time.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Since both Verizon and AT&T cell and data service is very good here, we decided to get busy with planning. After all, that was one of the main reasons for coming back here. And dang it, we discovered the weather was going to deteriorate significantly over the next five days. Snow, freezing temps and wind. So that certainly lit the fire under us to come up with a plan.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The other thing looming over us was we had to get our mid-term ballots from our mail service so we could vote! No way were we going to sit on our fannies and let the other side win. We had to get to a Post Office somewhere warmer that would accept General Delivery. It’s a common misconception that all Post Offices accept General Delivery. You have to call or go by the Post Office of your choice to find out if they accept it at that location and to find out how they want it addressed. Sometimes you even have to fill out a form before they will accept General Delivery. One Post Office we found wouldn’t accept it unless you had a PO Box with them. What? If I have a PO Box what do I need General Delivery for? So, as you can see, it’s a process.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">But, the weather was going to be great for the next couple of days, so we become tourists. We didn’t make it to Great Sand Dunes NP last time we were here because the road connecting to NP with our campground was under construction. This time it’s open. So we mosey on over to see the dunes, </font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=160oBtZrWFuSGYPK0v_PJ6liRmEy5ZUv8"><img title="20221021_154831" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20221021_154831" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1JC1gL3SqVG_n5qg0kFq46q8Q_Ci_huHq" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">and go for a hike.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1bHer2i3u6z17LUoRjpWQm78uvFWOsJ7T"><img title="20221021_160839" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20221021_160839" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1udHLct06BzEZbC8DjN72SDsoX6HKU8MM" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We also went to Zapata Falls Campground, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Everything I read said the road to it was horrible, you needed a 4-wheel drive and high clearance vehicle. Apparently the information I was reading was very old. The road is paved all the way from Colorado 150 to the campground. This is a no reservation, first come first serve campground, that has 2 or 3 spots that Miss Mosey would fit into and the views to the west are amazing. We will be back.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Well, the weather is going to be getting nasty, so it is time to head south.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows:</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1du17GTR0XsFdoxuzG9q_uEuVMi9Wh_mP"><img title="Cat on a cold tin roof" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Cat on a cold tin roof" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vN8XAyj9ihAeXMDENHLATUGr4gIGkhOM" width="704" height="444" /></a>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-85451316441182605982022-10-19T12:29:00.000-07:002022-12-04T15:53:30.292-08:00Peaceful Palisades Paradise<p><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong> October 6 to October 19, 2022 – Palisades NFCG, South Fork, CO</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=160JCVXq7EWDpIy_z36GD3WNchTYJFMXL"><img title="South Fork to Palisades" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="South Fork to Palisades" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=12p_PV_EqF8JvJVm0-Y4ttQ4XjC606lo-" width="704" height="423" /></a>After enduring</font> <font size="3" face="Arial">a week of screaming children hell, we escaped to a small Forest Service campground that happened to still be open this late in the season. Most Forest Service campgrounds in Colorado close in early September just because. No real reason, just because. During September and most of October the weather is often quite pleasant. But alas, these dates are carved in stone, and must not be altered.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">That’s why it is such a pleasure to find one that is still open. This one is an older campground as most of the sites are quite small. There are few sites suitable for big rigs. At this time of year the water is shut off and there are no other amenities. Just the way we like it. And there is this one site, a primo site, that just happened to be open. So we snagged it. This site is well away from the rest of the campground and is so quiet you can actually hear the Rio Grande River happily gurgling and splashing as it makes it way over the rocks on its southward journey to the Gulf of Mexico.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">After we got set up we just had to snap a picture out the window. This is the Rio Grande right next to us.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1kIWI3F-v-NGuCvw_8DNrykw7b2D55ZWF"><img title="River View" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="River View" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1AgWzPbUKPvJ69GmSqell6TQ8nc9EgwOu" width="704" height="344" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">And another view to show our isolated spot. No screaming kids, Yay!</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1L7MHWVBUs_u7ZMrehvGkPP_vJloK-Q7B"><img title="No 1 spot" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="No 1 spot" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1rWWXXMzUS7n7AgIPdlh-aTySwYKmEUv-" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The only drawbacks to Palisades is that there is no cell or internet service. But you know what? We did just fine for 13 days without it, well excepting forays to the brewery to pay bills and the visitor center to plan our next move. I generally check blogs I follow and the news first thing in the morning. But here, I catch up on magazine reading and just enjoy the view. And yes, it is a little chilly early in the AM.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Q6UzdbLVKyk5GAIex8Zc3HNEM1ZsQ_T5"><img title="Frank Reading" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Frank Reading" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1fa3hJl9oiQXWs1rqRoreGGcYdjkV0A6Y" width="704" height="344" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">One of the things I did was to cut and chop lots of firewood for the evening fires.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19rx--k9ol6j5bOrkKSxLZ_6ddqI6ESXX"><img title="Frank and Chainsaw" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Frank and Chainsaw" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1X4CKPb-ULNpgHvlPJEYXeR8efYnmJ4da" width="704" height="554" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_-JyzPqMALKP1eMCDbkUNjToSjkphDc-"><img title="Frank and Axe" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Frank and Axe" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1C5HNg56X0aYhXlxqHVb5RuizGD4oTJL9" width="704" height="486" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">And we get to enjoy the fruits of my labors. I did my best to keep the bear box full of firewood.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_ngDwHCWMZcvwtuXH-LTu0NKNwx3kRaz"><img title="EJ Campfire" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="EJ Campfire" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1aHIFK1X_R9XDZRP-wknpQqp3_HRcjj44" width="704" height="529" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1TbLnDvERKzOXCAYep7kPEKwFSGsyqXKv"><img title="FnEJ Fire" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="FnEJ Fire" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1YB4wqEZmz8i_RpqSjK4bH4yZOrWi2J81" width="704" height="485" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">EJ got caught up on assembling puzzles.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vTDXexWFwS8U7wt1nnpk0JuNQyvr15DQ"><img title="Halloween Puzzle" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Halloween Puzzle" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1oAJcccMqqhEoQOiFteFFY0wlJsjQfOpA" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">But lest you think it was all fun and games, tragedy did strike! Miss Mosey’s fresh water pump failed. This happened several times on our previous motorhome and we learned a lesson. We had a spare! Two actually. For without a working water system, life in Miss Mosey suddenly isn’t so carefree anymore. No water for the icemaker, no ice for the adult beverages, things could get ugly real fast!</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So, out with the old,</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1E7rNoYuIb67UswvZ_x4SOCDYVpzfi4-x"><img title="Bad Pump" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Bad Pump" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1SOMd2MiB2YgFAbzWvwmduirikjK4X2Gq" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">and in with the new.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1CdJb_zn_efp9Gk5DwojQrVUpiF8attIm"><img title="Good Pump" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Good Pump" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1JPz7H50QF2k5Iv00VWUQ1mPRqVRqOARG" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Occasionally we do have fits of responsibility and must do adult things. Like EJ paying bills while simultaneously enjoying a brew at Three Barrell Brewing in Del Norte, CO. My job was to keep her company.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ftk3_d61jIO3uw0gSql2bwoh_LwY_Qgn"><img title="EJ Bill Pay" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="EJ Bill Pay" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1wl9zv-5rS9KERaahdgInEpFUKJ0WRWZn" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Back at Miss Mosey, we attempt to plan our next move using the road atlas, but apparently someone is having none of that. She likes it right where we are..</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1bTRFu83b3P4bR7DuiMLRRCoaqSwiPHm6"><img title="Gabby Map" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Gabby Map" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1LVFwgQII8Esq2Ay5RlWvPMnLEnWvbFC2" width="344" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">She would be happy to sit and stare for hours. Here she is daring a ground squirrel to come closer. The squirrel (chipmunk, whatever) is sitting on the stump to the left. It was smart enough to not accept the challenge.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ghR3xM6Yr2cTNGIt6m0yW7nBzOh3CLUY"><img title="Gabby and Chipmonk" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Gabby and Chipmonk" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1X_xjRRK5GY3x0YKO6zym783g6-gU7F2D" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We also continued our quest to see all the yellow aspen we could. This involved EJ pointing me up various sketchy roads so we could get real close to the yellow.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1MRcgHDit6INEE5PuD0UbdFbbLMQ0w84h"><img title="EJ Aspen100" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="EJ Aspen100" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1jfuODdqPHz5glu8A2ZCWH5c8x-pvlnKn" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p> </p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1WlrXXwwFE7YYglUTv5QXdMWAjUQSFeuQ"><img title="More Aspen" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="More Aspen" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1RE9eM6VGTWQfn2V7HOPSbUJkKeUu4Eod" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">As a bonus, we even got to see some wildlife.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=191mLMM0gVesYrXv4FA7CvRj7gD_HMNwX"><img title="Pal Deer" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Pal Deer" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1MEcs-J-uo_e8_vTU16SnAMZzXyip3k5d" width="698" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Towards the end of our stay it started to get a little colder and we decided it would be a good idea to get a little lower and get back to somewhere with cell service and electricity so we could more easily keep warm and plan our next more. So back we go to San Luis SWA in Mosca, CO. But before we leave, one last look from our perfect campsite.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1GYrgjQqeWW2bxhNr7zFWl3sHiSTaCn92"><img title="Last Look at Paradise" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Last Look at Paradise" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=17Rx1drYX-iGSmzY-vdDi1DTvU9QvutRB" width="704" height="487" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows:</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1qONilGeCocP_d3d2hDtsMZr9uvU5iAOF"><img title="It's early" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="It's early" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1nvJ6iVPBHEIqERWSyJLIf62P-YUiYN6B" width="529" height="704" /></a></font></p> <font size="3" face="Arial"> <p> </p> </font> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"> </font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-69798468720113239362022-10-05T16:25:00.000-07:002022-12-03T16:25:54.586-08:00Yep, They’re Yellow!<p><font size="3" face="Arial"><strong>September 29 to October 5, 2022 – Aspen Ridge RV Park, South Fork, CO</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Lest our last blog left the opinion that our South Fork adventure was a bust, it wasn’t so. While the Aspen Ridge RV Children Fun Park hinted at a bit of the Lord of the Flies, our time away from there was filled with exploration and fun.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">As we mentioned before, the purpose of this leg was to catch the changing of the Aspen leaves. We had a secret spot to which we returned to seek out the Aspen transformation. Here, EJ is absorbing her first up close view of the colors.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1IuzN_CqqbqMTo0Sd_olM3OSf2DHHQBjA"><img title="20220930_123536" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_123536" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19Bc2dc1wDYW0s3R0cCJzgRIN4rl6IBUc" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The drive through the woods was quite full of yellow.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1rUtnHyezo9kXMhDfdDw8cYFarTOAegmt"><img title="20220930_130455" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_130455" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1HI--PtaS8o15ofoM6jZ8ysCUwJ6F_Ts_" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">EJ collected some leaves to show the various stages of the leaves.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pcm5463lbo1xAfGkURRjMb1xPWf0lFyt"><img title="20220930_123734" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_123734" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1e1bSKIqkRa6vEceLuMAIBjnaydlmg-RV" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Everywhere we looked it was yellow.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1iOw-baGUxESiXf2FdY9CasufqKJ1wwN6"><img title="20220930_131830A" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_131830A" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13lrL5Ov0amzCmWOTvRKhrWeI2loN7nRh" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We also indulged in our favorite hobby, geocaching. Although, I must admit, hiking to a cache at 11,000 plus feet is breath taking in several ways, gasp, wheeze.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1MWuvWLuoGuUasqc0ygb71npIhLhgIYxL"><img title="20220930_150556" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_150556" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1mWutARMRmDkuVDpqpnBNB-h5NxK-ZsQO" width="359" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3"> And of course a picture of the intrepid explorer wondering how far it is back to the car.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vSVyuYhzzvGBVmMOlNvXVBI5IgETcnZu"><img title="20220930_150630" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_150630" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1E20GwWyY_O0BMUMFsgPcn1tGiZp644XI" width="704" height="344" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">EJ telling me she found the cache. Apparently I was looking in the wrong place.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1cfFJIJvqS4a_suSLkYZFcompeesxNoly"><img title="20220930_150828" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_150828" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=10C-G1pAfKCw9VbSyRLs-guVn2l6pd6yY" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">This was a nice sized container, an old ammo can in fact. Lot’s of times these things are the size of a pill bottle or smaller.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1X56xsGZV50tJAOZS8aqqfgoFzzMWi526"><img title="20220930_150714" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_150714" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1p_e8Rn4Kv1wU2SM-0T5imu5SyenTNtdE" width="704" height="344" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Sometimes I get a wild hair and want to go explore places we haven’t been. EJ is generally willing to put up with these excursions because they end up with awesome views.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Voadyx1GJIiM2hXvFKiGP4s9tYviFy6V"><img title="20221001_162454" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20221001_162454" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1T0kTPdLSKxTBxmMrKzNC33HY4RpvXAGN" width="704" height="344" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13YKib94TZk77ENViyE9evMUfpmekuxK6"><img title="20211227_103434" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20211227_103434" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1aFtFwZgNzvXb3gs-GODOvwixLg4NVNlQ" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"> </font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-27007577417815015762022-10-04T16:26:00.000-07:002022-12-03T16:26:50.497-08:00You can’t go back again!<p><font size="4" face="Arial">September 29 to October 5, 2022 – Aspen Ridge RV Park, South Fork, CO</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Z6jYXS-Ix-n2BirNFXZOxY2LX3dtzVZA"><img title="Mosca to South Fork" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Mosca to South Fork" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=105gQoQeTnBZe8phuakbgupt3-00xTUyD" width="704" height="324" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Warning and disclaimer: I am a grouchy old coot, a title I wear proudly. (You have been warned)</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">You know how you have idyllic memories of places you once visited and you would like to go back and and live that experience all over again?</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Nearing the end of our stay at San Luis SWA Campground we were refocusing on the reason for this leg of the trip, “To see the Aspen leaves change color”. The choices were to go North, West or South from here. North from here was too peoplely (I made that word up) with Leadville, Buena Vista  and lots of popular boondocking spots. South from here is primarily high desert and less opportunity to see the Aspen leaves. So the only direction left is West. in the direction of South Fork, Colorado. We had been to South Fork three years ago and remembered that there were lots of Aspen trees higher in the mountains on the back roads. We wanted to relive that experience.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">During our former visit w<font size="3" face="Arial">e had stayed at Aspen Ridge RV Park. It was at the very end of the normal camping season so the Park was almost empty. We had a spot on the back row tucked away in a corner where it was nice and quiet. (Did I mention we really don’t like commercial campgrounds but they serve a purpose when you need to dump, fill and wash clothes?)</font></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So this time as we arrive we notice the entrance is nicely adorned with Halloween decorations. We check in and the owner is very friendly and talkative. During our talk she reveals that they are hosting a Fulltimer Families Rally and they are expecting 100 kids. Oh boy! That sets all kinds of alarms in my head! But she goes on to say they won’t be showing up until the end of October just in time for Halloween. Well, heh, we should be long gone by then.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">What she failed to mention was that families attending the rally would be trickling in well before the end of October.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So she assigns us a spot, the same spot we had last time, and we walk over to look at it. It’s a nice spot, good view, but it’s right next to the area where they are setting up more Halloween paraphernalia for the kids to play with. Uh, no! We request another site away from the children. Oh, the children are supervised they say. We still request another site.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So they put us in a row where we are the only RV. Ah, this is great. Room to spread out. Then a pack of kids walks by. Not having any children ourselves, there is a lot we don’t know about them. One thing we learned as the pack scurried by is that girls apparently love to engage in contests to determine which girl has the loudest, screechiest, most penetrating scream. A contest which is immediately disputed by the loser and the challenge begins again. Thus ends our first day at the Park.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The next day is a full day of exploration for us, seeking the perfect photo opportunities for yellow leafed Aspens. <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1utSnWN8SpfAOE7YOKCdujhEnwaCduoni"><img title="20220930_130455" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220930_130455" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1UTZ0UkrtTZqkT8atp0PQmZEE7ViymaII" width="529" height="704" /></a></font></p> <font size="3" face="Arial"> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Upon our return to the Park we discover the owners, whether through evil intention or just downright apathy, place a RV right next us in this empty, but for us, row. An RV filled with three hyper energetic boys and one girl who, you could tell, really didn’t want to be sharing an RV with three icky boys. This girl is apparently like honey to the other boys buzzing around the Park. So now the pack decides future congregations will take place next to our RV. The screeching contests continue.</font></p> </font> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Every day we leave the RV Park and return to find even more RVs with children have arrived. Other older RVers are giving up and beginning their exodus to escape the noise and shenanigans. The pack grows to a herd. We are still keeping an eye out for that adult supervision that is supposed to be taking place. I suspect the adult’s are hiding as are we.</font></p> <p><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="3" face="Arial">So, sadly we realized our ideal revisit was unobtainable. It’s true, you can never go back again.We managed to last for 6 days before we abandoned Aspen Ridge RV Park and headed for the wilderness.</font></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Ahhh. Peace and quiet. No more screeching contests.Just a cat constantly wanting to go out and explore. That’s more my speed.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Lpbkn_3dYvZK6Tz8mLHOnhpI5n66Lguw"><img title="20221006_115408" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20221006_115408" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1MlOI08jfEfDv_dBejAMwH1RtNK3swtzz" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">I know Gabby is in the above scene but the obligatory cat picture follows.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1YtLII8-aGbcz5LCx2eY-PVCVdJwczVwq"><img title="20221018_123322" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20221018_123322" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=14qU1lZrYVxPMBO71BrON5FgC91b5OosK" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"> </font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-43254208081117328622022-09-23T09:08:00.001-07:002022-11-23T19:28:34.167-08:00Purple Anniversary<p><font size="4" face="Arial">9-23-2022 – <font size="4" face="Arial">San Luis SWA Campground, Mosca, CO  </font></font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1lihP14ZGPASgulBVLC46MXSxXzPk9gYz"><img title="Mosca, CO" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Mosca, CO" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1iLb7z90ubkLyKxmbeOZkrbrAqJSQ4xOz" width="704" height="470" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">EJ and I were discussing that we had been RVing a good part of the time since 2010, when we bought our second motorhome, “Big Guy”, a 34 foot Winnebago Itasca Meridian Diesel Pusher. “Big Guy” was named thusly since he was almost twice as long as our previous RV, a 19 foot Class B Roadtrek named “Roadie”.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Just for fun we decided to tally up the amount of time we have actually lived in our Motorhomes since we really started RVing in 2010.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1jA-kzkm389yZFE3uOgp-Xsyxb8vsT7z9"><img title="RV Living" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="RV Living" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=11hO4JpOR5RMiSsIlRLFVNuofdakNG67L" width="140" height="244" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The numbers show that we have lived in our RVs 65% of the time over that 11 year period.Wow! That’s enlightening. So for 11 years we have been paying property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, HOA fees and who knows what else for something we only live in 35% of the time. But that is a thread for another time.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">As those of you who follow this blog, you already know we spent a good deal of time in 2019 and 2020 taking care of my Dad and handling his estate after he passed away. That convinced us of two major things. 1), live life to the fullest while you can. 2), we all have a bunch of stuff that we don’t need. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So in 2021 we spent the year getting the townhome ready to sell and getting rid of everything we absolutely did not need. It was not an easy task as the things you hang onto have emotional meaning and memories. But we finally got it done. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So as we were discussing our RV lives we decided we needed to define the moment we became full timers. To us, fulltime means you are living in your RV, sleeping there and eating there. So we needed a milestone to identify when that happened. We decided it was September 23, 2021.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Why that particular day you ask? Well it involved a wrestling match. Our opponent emulated a 160 pound slab of Jell-O that was so wide in 2 dimensions that there was no way for us to grab it. It was so limp, there was no way to pick it up. It would just there like a puddle of pudding if you tried to lift a corner or a side. It was so heavy we could not carry it even if it had cooperated with us.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We finally decided the best way handle this beast was to hog tie it. This thing was 6 foot 8 inches by 5 foot by 1 foot. So we wrestled and grunted and sat on it and finally got it rolled up and tied up only to discover it would not fit through the 28 inch wide doorway in the RV. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Cursing our opponent,</font> <font size="3" face="Arial">we took a break to consider a new strategy. There are only the two of us. And neither of us was particularly strong and at our ages, the likelihood of us getting any stronger real soon was remote. So, we were going to have to man up and tough it out. Our bodies will pay the bill tomorrow. While our opponent was trussed up, we drug it from the house to the door of the RV. (On a moving pad of course as we wanted to leave no evidence of the struggle).</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Once at the door, we untied the varmint and tried to get it to stand up. Imagine if you will, trying to stand a cooked spaghetti noodle on it’s end. It doesn’t work. And similarly our opponent was incapable of supporting itself in anything but a horizontal position. We were going to have to be lifting this thing if we needed it in an upright position. Which, of course, is necessary to get it through the RV door. Oh, and to add to the challenge, the floor of the RV is 3 feet above ground level. So not only do we have to wrestle our adversary through the door, we have to lift it 3 feet in the process, and lest I forget to mention, go around a 90 degree corner. I’m about plumb wore out just reliving the experience.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So we grunted, we pushed, we swore, we lifted, we cursed, we pulled, we sweated, we said foul things about the ancestors of our adversary but in the end we persevered and somehow managed to get this 160 pound slab of Purple Jell-O into the RV and onto the bed platform in the bedroom.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">This item, this thing, this adversary that almost did us in, is the most comfortable mattress we have ever slept on. It is the Purple 2 queen size foam mattress with a 2 honeycomb layer on top that supports you in ways you never thought possible. For this reason we fought this battle and knew we had to succeed at all costs. Our muscles and joints would be delivering their opinions the next day.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We had moved the Purple into the motorhome in preparation for a trip to Kansas to meet family and scatter my parents ashes. We swore, this being the second time we moved the Purple into the RV, that we would never move that mattress again.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The townhome now being bedless made easy the decision that from this date forward we would be sleeping in Miss Mosey. Thus, September 23, 2021, became the first day of our full timing lives.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows:</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1S4l8Zpkodeb3ipaZyRA4LkAQfzAFS7_p"><img title="Gabby Asleep" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Gabby Asleep" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Wn9YakksfdvnM4x-xMJZ8khgMu9uqdWz" width="704" height="468" /></a> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Arial"> </font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-91290104182131932172022-09-03T11:50:00.000-07:002022-09-12T11:51:32.113-07:00Well, That Was Disappointing!<p><font size="3" face="Arial">September 3, 2022 – Lonsdale, AR</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1KR-rKvDx5lfwAw6OmasmkNhEUodWgE-K"><img title="StudDuck Trip" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="StudDuck Trip" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1mmzehr_FJKvmpEaHRvJRMKhjUs9d7r_V" width="704" height="454" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">You all know my preference for nano-breweries. While staying in Hot Springs, AR I thought I had found one that checked all the boxes. It was small, check. It was out in the middle of nowhere, check. It had a small, but interesting, variety of beers, check. It looked like the perfect example of what I seek.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The StudDuck brewery is about 10 miles outside of Hot Springs, AR. As we drove there on a Saturday afternoon, the day was almost perfect. Sunny, a little but not unbearably so, and we were with new friends, Johnny and Tina Roush. As we neared the brewery the last turn off the paved road took us down a single lane tree covered gravel road. This fit the dream, the image I had of a small brewer tending his hobby out of his spare room or garage.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1JBMwgBGTxi4ZQz6T25zlQvb5LseN_32I"><img title="StudDuck Road" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="StudDuck Road" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1tORESW3XKYzVgkxJW0iOc_gPsO45DxHu" width="704" height="421" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Upon arriving at the parking lot there were four other cars. OK, this is a good sign. It means other beer lovers are here so it can’t be too bad.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The premises consisted of three 40 foot metal shipping containers arranged in a u-shape.. They housed the brewing equipment, a seating area, storage and a big opening cut in one of them to create a stage for visiting bands.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1gFj5Nz1ASJcNKGbK8shAoOMbRSlb_7FY"><img title="20220903_163936" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220903_163936" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Gr-fCnHOwYd7-IlkJ4CgLc_y8NAMyoWA" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3">StudDuck normally offers 7 selections. They were out of two of them. Does this mean they were so good they couldn’t brew them fast enough? Thus encouraged, we ordered a flight of four that had interesting descriptions. There was a Hefe, one with 3 spices, a nut brown ale, and another I don’t remember. As it turns out the owners were excellent wordsmiths. The descriptions they created for each beer almost made your mouth water.But there wasn’t even one beer I would order again.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ukbD8Zn6990iIaOp8On20Yz__4UaHThl"><img title="20220903_160618" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220903_160618" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1i84E4BoJtUaywmM8VA30rpZ_z4qbuw3W" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So my hopes of finding the perfect nano-brewery in the woods were shattered. Instead I got beer that tasted slightly off, even a little musty, with definite leanings towards being of the sour family that none of our group liked.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">But I have to applaud the brewer and his wife. They are pursuing their dream. We wish them well and hope they find customers who appreciate what they’ve brewed. They welcomed us with open arms, told great stories and had lots of friendly dogs (always a plus). They just didn’t have any beer I liked. But the worst part was that I drug EJ and our friends along for this little misadventure. My apologies.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1E65q-US8q3ya4NlQlY89N-s4jwa4Stzl"><img title="20220907_184234" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220907_184234" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ts_NIzKqfDNcIjxBfwWv5NA0gR4hJPP0" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"></font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-74599065954867010622022-08-06T11:14:00.000-07:002022-08-11T11:33:50.445-07:00What a S#itty Job!<p><font size="4" face="Arial">August 1 to August 6, 2022 – The Hideaway</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1sMjsa2ZoFat4EgUSQoiaPFqGwsJXnou8"><img title="Piney Grove to Hideaway" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Piney Grove to Hideaway" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1wJNCaZ1OjSZH3H66EswZfApNABbelV_H" width="704" height="614" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We thought we had finally made our annual summer escape to put behind us the heat and humidity of the southeast states from what remained of the summer of ‘22. Boy, did fate ever smack us on the back of our heads</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">After giving Miss Mosey her facelift, we made it as far as Tupelo, Mississippi. But on the 31st of July we discovered that our security system at the Hideaway had crapped out on us. That meant no access to security cameras on the property and no controlling the air conditioning system in the Shabin. Not feeling comfortable leaving the Hideway unprotected for an extended period of time we elected to turn around and head back to Florida to check things out.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Along the way we overnighted at the Gunter Hill COE campground just outside of Montgomery, Alabama. We stayed in the older section and had it all to ourselves. </font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ht2pyMoSXlTuLLI5P4_Lfm7ullduzLEX"><img title="Gunter Hill COE" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Gunter Hill COE" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1xT6z9OEklVSxlmWXrunsgk_u8T0qpY7v" width="704" height="153" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We had driven 253 miles to get to Gunter Hill and at the end of the day, we all decided , Gabby included, we didn’t want to do that anymore. We still had 350 miles to go and no way were we going to do that in one day. So we elected to stay at Eastbank COE campground just outside of Chattahoochee, FL That was only 175 miles and much closer to what we consider a normal travel day for us. We even managed to snag a pull through so we wouldn’t have to unhook Pearl (our Ford Explorer) for the night. </font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1z0MSg15QGu73tWfUXFD3oxedZZP-SOSl"><img title="Eastbank" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Eastbank" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1j8agP5Yx0kr3DQqMJ4B9SW_nBgS79pCm" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">And it didn’t take long for EJ to get into relax mode once we arrived.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BEjf3NkT7OfWU6PSKNcX0yvFUXI5eLcu"><img title="EJ at Eastbank" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="EJ at Eastbank" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1itsapN4Be_-k5DTrHlzzqUTOEIVqOvJX" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Even Gabby got into the mood, surveying her new domain from the picnic table.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19pkV5BLtrfNY2y-PbzLzCQof7L9vd4Rd"><img title="Gabby at Eastbank" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Gabby at Eastbank" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1OYuldg773W8efNBBh42LA2FNpySw2RQ8" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">As part of traveling you get to see some cool things. Well cool for a guy, at least. It’s an old International Harvester Scout pulling a tiny little camper. It looks like this setup could go just about anywhere. We think there were 2 people in the camper because we saw two chairs and two bicycles, but we never saw the occupants.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1N_hKS5B3tYWiBLS1WoYNkfg447D604OQ"><img title="International Scout at Eastbank" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="International Scout at Eastbank" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1aGBTphIMv-2adxXL0QNLfR1jEDdoJpTH" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Once we had found out the Hideaway security system was non-functional, I ordered a replacement for what I suspected was the weak link in our setup. Also, I had been borrowing EJ’s Royal Purple seat cushion for a soft cushy ride while driving and EJ let me know it was time to get my own. Actually it was my idea because I kept forgetting to put it back in her chair when I was done at the wheel for the day. Major husband points for not borrowing her cushion any more and bonus, I get a brand new cushion!</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1NKZb64RGnyzAeVoZboIIzZPPEZOgkzbH"><img title="Royal Purple Cushion" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Royal Purple Cushion" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=14U0bti-Sr8gnmXq6XryW5gEg6mE5u_5R" width="704" height="250" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Anyway, before I wandered off on that tangent, the short story is that of all the things being delivered to the Hideaway, none of them were due tomorrow. Yay, that means we can stay at Eastpoint for a second day. Yay!</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">On August 5th, we left Eastbank and headed to Live Oak, FL where we had lunch at Big Wood Barbeque. We split a pulled pork plate and we were stuffed when it was all gone. As an aside, Big Wood allows you to overnight in their parking lot if you are a customer. Then we went to Publix and Lowes to stock up on some items for the week or so we’ll be back at the Hideaway.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We pulled into the Hideaway’s driveway at 4PM and the UPS truck pulled in right after us. Talk about timing. That was close!</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">While we were back, I wanted to tackle the one issue that led to the title of this blog. Right before we left on what we thought was this summer’s escape an unfortunate incident happened. We had read about this happening to other folks and thought there was no way that could happen to us. We are too careful!</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Well, dang it! It happened to us too. Something that didn’t belong ended up in the black tank. Folks that RV a lot know just how nasty the black tank can be no matter how scrupulous you are about maintaining it. For folks that don’t know, let’s just say that everything that passes through your body ends up in the black  tank. Yup! We’re talking poo and pee. And it coats everything! The walls of the tank and the mislaid object in it were covered in a brown greasy slime of poo. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">In our motorhome, there is no way to access the interior of the black tank. The entry point (that’s the throne you sit to do your business) makes a sharp 90 degree bend and disappears into blackness. The exit point (where the contents of said tank gush out into the smelly white pipe that sticks up out of the ground) has two short 90 degree bends and there is no way I’m trying to stick my arm up there.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So for the last 3 or 4 weeks I’ve been struggling with how to attack this problem. We could leave it alone and hope for the best. But that means we might end up with a smelly load we can’t dump (legally of course) because the foreign object has blocked the exit point. Thinking it might be part of a solution I had ordered a 6 inch water tight access port like you see on boats before we left. But once on the road, I had no way to use it because I lacked the proper tools.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So back to the issue at hand. Here at the Hideaway I do have the necessary tools plus the attachment I picked up at Lowes on the way back here. I had decided the best way to approach for getting egress into the innards of the black tank was to make my own hole. A hole large enough to stick my arm in if necessary, but not so large as to create a structural instability. Also clearance was at a minimum which the normal tools one might use, saws, routers, drills, would not fit. But at the Hideaway I had a Dremel and I had just purchased a right angle attachment for it. Clearance issue solved!</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The hole…</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Iw_w61_NjMD99Eiyu4oJduB-_SPASsPG"><img title="Access hole in black tank" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Access hole in black tank" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Teu5tdTxWFZ6ZyCOR1uAH7KpdDFZ8t__" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">And we got really, really lucky. The offending object ended up right under the new hole.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1bgDixl4_Be4_bK5tssOu21yGHMa9sx4X"><img title="Toilet Brush" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Toilet Brush" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1hCFDufpRdNeHiXgMAQcIUWwuEGsohOTx" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">With the object safely retrieved and disposed of, the access port was installed, sealed, screwed and secured. Ready to hopefully never be used again.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Qnqnvsk8FWCqVR5AafSTAddwi5KOM2TE"><img title="New access panel to black tank" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="New access panel to black tank" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1yBQYzCyFZAdvE2dYLRrh5KiO8ss04fRT" width="704" height="583" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Well, with that bit of unpleasantness out of the way it is time to enjoy the Hideaway. Several deer came by to play.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1XkuLetYEpZZvXtLoEisX1TzaJeD9ox19"><img title="20220809_085254" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20220809_085254" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1RoS7jQzGW-luEqudKVKviceQ0TiAZbqx" width="704" height="687" /></a> <p> </p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pNIFpLnkKleRJtPy02dtFDWuBfPh4iBr"><img title="Fawns at Hideaway" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Fawns at Hideaway" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=15q4BN5-J7rDku-mvvIaEFRbmwtxOq3LB" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">And of course, the obligatory cat picture to end this blog entry. Miss Gabby surveys the Hideaway from the safe cool interior of Miss Mosey. Did I mention it was hot and humid here in Florida?</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1yNjiMs9SGTNe5IpkO5QzPCbv5QvTBLVA"><img title="Gabby surveying Hideaway" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Gabby surveying Hideaway" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1E2JmwDcJAEip_ehaLH3EsgyK6FSwuINA" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"></font></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"> </font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-70390263577018955832022-07-30T06:36:00.000-07:002022-07-30T17:00:30.696-07:00Back in the groove<p><font size="4">Piney Grove Campground, New Site, MS – July 28 through July 31, 2022</font></p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19CeCvrdVIDxoeauTwtlfcL1B2ZXUqtCr"><img title="7-24 to 7-31-2022" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="7-24 to 7-31-2022" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1xS8_NB46nzahDt_VS6NoZKVwABHUVYPI" width="704" height="470" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">After three days of mechanized chaos enduring the cacophony of air compressors thumping, compressed air hissing, rotary sanders imitating the sound of dentist drills, and polishing machines whirring away we have finally escaped to the quiet sounds of nature.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We spent those three days at Appalachian Foothills Service Center in Winfield, Alabama. Miss Mosey is now 10 years old and a general freshening up was her present. As part of her Spa Week she received new bedroom and bathroom windows, new slide toppers, new clearance lights, had a few scratches removed, front cap and rear cap and side rails repainted, grilles repainted, engine hatch repainted and the area around the bathroom window repainted. Finally the last vestiges of the <a href="http://drivingmissmosey.blogspot.com/2020/12/" target="_blank"><strong><font color="#ff0000">“Red Bay Disaster”</font></strong></a> are gone and we can put all evidence of that disappointing experience behind us. </font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Hz3qgfEdczNhBo1xijqect8guljH3fY9"><img title="MM Facelift(1)" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="MM Facelift(1)" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1mqbKHbUoIdGAlm5wGp4-Hh_BjJqFcxFs" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p> </p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1oMshxJhdzOM9SjPeITyTw0aA_A06kqpA"><img title="MM Facelift(2)" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="MM Facelift(2)" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ljnGwb8yLk61gh_WXf3GfySa7YZeIjWu" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p> </p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1OAo9a_KSt-2ogFDKG7n0wQaplp2Kqq0z"><img title="MM Facelift(3)" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="MM Facelift(3)" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pC7KrTVBLK0bBG-6S4_uBT7ND11u4gdc" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Knt4lO32Uv8QrCZl3bTJfvrrZ6Ze52va"><img title="MM Facelift(4)" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="MM Facelift(4)" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=17AIcq878uM6v-W_Mm26ifGehuUmKOklm" width="704" height="529" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We made a quick stop in Red Bay Alabama where Miss Mosey was built to pick up a few items at the Campground Parts Store. EJ found a new grille for the gas stove and I picked up a few miscellaneous spare to parts to have on hand. </font></p>   <p> </p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1YUxprr3hceNkmPUgcrImaM7pOHfWveoU"><img title="New Stove Grille" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="New Stove Grille" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1xuImo35qxAz7oNZgB0vDddmLDU4xbwED" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1gUSlEt03-iliYQOyQk272-u4i8XLELXm"><img title="Misc Parts from Red Bay Store" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Misc Parts from Red Bay Store" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1QFzQBKNAj1X5j4x0XeXeXf0Y7JDC4TZh" width="704" height="529" /></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Our final stop for the day was Piney Grove Campground which is a Corp Of Engineers park arriving at about 2:30PM. EJ provided hand signals and directions to get me successfully backed into our site, #99. </font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13C5P4l0g6xwK3lwNLwyWxUj1TM-Dt5CW"><img title="Piney Grove Rec Area Sign" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Piney Grove Rec Area Sign" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1hQzDNDRhC1-dWuTywJAl4xjLL0JX2uyw" width="704" height="461" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">But when she plugged Miss Mosey into the 50 amp outlet the energy management system displayed an error code and wouldn’t connect to the park’s power. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">This is definitely NOT good. It’s 93 degrees out and the “feels like” temp is 103. We NEED electricity! We fired up the generator to get the air conditioners going to keep Miss Mosey cool while we pondered the problem.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">One option was to request a different site. But we liked this site. It had a path to the lake and a breeze coming off the water. Nope, don’t wanna move. Then EJ asked “what if we just hooked up to the 30 amp receptacle?”. That initiated a brain fart on my part wondering if we could utilize the 30 to 50 amp Y adapter.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">The 30 to 50 amp Y adapter.is a device that takes two 30 amp inputs and combines them into a 50 amp output. It looks like this.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=12E5iUtLrAARnd_I3b0chh6ARbbtO8Lzq"><img title="30 to 50 amp y adapter" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="30 to 50 amp y adapter" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1J6jBSvlb6-kcQsk4F3-8Yt2etUZJPGi1" width="704" height="704" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">For this to work, the correct leg of the 50 amp receptacle had to work and the 30 amp plug had to be functional. I just happened to have a 50 to 30 amp adapter which we plugged into the 50 amp receptacle and the other into the device shown above. Then we plugged the other 3 prong plug into the 30 amp receptacle on the pedestal and crossed our fingers. Wow! Nothing blew up! Next I used the multi-meter to test the 50  amp end of the adapter and by golly, everything checked out. We then plugged in Miss Mosey and the EMS said OK, I can handle this. We were back in business.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">We went ahead and turned in a ticket at the front gate and they said someone would be out the next morning to check it out.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So Friday morning I woke up at 6:30AM for two reasons.First our furry co-traveler, Gabby, decided to let me know her food bowl was empty by dancing on my stomach (never a good idea when one must use the bathroom upon arising) and by batting at things on my nightstand and knocking them to the floor. The second reason was I wanted to be up early in case the park electrician was one of those folks that liked to get their work done before it got too hot and like to start the work day at 7AM.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Sure enough he showed up just about the time I started on my second coffee. Within 30 minutes he had discovered and repaired/replaced a bad 50 amp breaker, a loose connection and a missing ground wire. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Whew! Now we can hook up the proper way and keep the air conditioners running. Did I mention it is HOT? Now that the projects, schedules and minor hiccups have been handled it is finally time to slow down for a few days.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Our campsite, #99 (did I mention that already?) is on a finger of Big Springs Lake near the community of New Site, Alabama. While the lake is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway, we cannot see the main channel from our location. So no barge and tug viewing for us.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">So here it is Friday, July 29 and we are watching the sun sparkling off the ripples of the lake, the breeze gently caressing the cat-tails at the water’s edge and listening to the leaves rustling in the trees above us. Thankful for our health and good fortune, we are indeed, very blessed.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dmkrWi14Cc8Ibd4fr0ZAQwcpTW9CE8nR"><img title="Site 99" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Site 99" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1AS7hxe_rbZVimDew6NBkRHlM9jL1j-IK" width="704" height="529" /></a> <p><font size="3" face="Arial">Obligatory cat picture follows.</font></p> <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1NGKgQXfIotc6YyOTxdDVrlkGcSo3LTv7"><img title="Gabby Upside Down" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Gabby Upside Down" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ln4VsCFbawxb7AYbRSp1x2MR15OqBw36" width="529" height="704" /></a> <p> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Arial"> </font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-11529094876823978522022-01-29T18:51:00.001-08:002022-01-30T09:59:28.580-08:00What Happened to 2021?<h3></h3><h1></h1><p><font size="4"><strong>FnEJ’s Hideaway – Branford, FL 1-30-2022</strong></font></p><p><font size="3">We kinda fell off the grid in 2021, surrounding ourselves with a few close friends, and basically operating under a veil of secrecy because we didn’t know what we were doing half the time. We kept saying we knew what we wanted to do and then we would do something different. But we knew one thing we had to do was to simplify no matter what torturous path it would take to get there. <br />
</font></p><p><font size="3">After handling the dispersal of Dad Putnam’s estate, EJ and I vowed to each other that we
would not put anyone else through a similar exercise in the event of our demise. So after
wrapping up Dad’s affairs in 2020 (after almost three years in west Texas), we headed
back to Orange Park, FL. to spend 2020 Thanksgiving and Christmas with friends which didn’t happen because the events were canceled due to covid fears.</font></p><p><font size="3">But we did get to spend New Years in our motorhome, Miss Mosey, parked at a friend’s house on Seymore Point in NE Florida celebrating with like minded friends.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=16-jLEzL3z0GPmj4WryzwfkzJTI1MQu58"><font size="3"><img alt="20210105_113939" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1hgDcSG0NlyYRqi6pe-kMvuStejpLoicc" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210105_113939" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">After New Years we returned to where our townhome was (this is called foreshadowing) to begin
eliminating the clutter we had accumulated in 43 years of being together. We call this the “purge”. It was
disheartening to see how much stuff we had squirreled away and never used. </font></p><p><font size="3">But first a sidetrack. We had discussed that since we didn’t really like to spend the 9 hottest months of the year in Florida, we only needed an address for legal purposes. We don’t really need a house to take care of as we are quite content to live in Miss Mosey. So we spent a major portion of this year looking at properties in Florida. As our realtor friend says “Buyers are Liars”. And we fit that description to a tee. We started of saying we wanted 10 acres at least, no neighbors and the ability to see the horizon. We ended up buying a quarter acre, surrounded by homes with about 70 feet of waterfront. And it was a jungle. We took it from this…</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1lwp9s9EkXtr6zaVkeMbmhxNx2nB98gik"><font size="3"><img alt="20210412_175847" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1OE72DiL_chsR91QvkEUolbX6u1Eg0wRl" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210412_175847" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">To this…</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18JrmExYAOdD7wg47FK9U5rnIYWgbog0t"><font size="3"><img alt="20210819_124232" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1kwRX95UpHCKIJEdkfggm9-rkFJI5I-HC" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210819_124232" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">And as you can see it had a storage building. We changed the shed from this…</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1gS3Wr1L6kZMZEHqnDzdx0Qyxfp07imzx"><font size="3"><img alt="20210420_104024" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1c86mJemCFzae4F7zdgWAzdXzW7KctZ1H" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210420_104024" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">To this…</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1RkBYnGMYGaRYmsET2uBNQm7eWwFXImp8"><font size="3"><img alt="20210517_132923" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1K2-KZPG-Hpcnaxh2C2cOJzIZ2bkHrxMk" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210517_132923" width="529" /></font></a></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1xCAtKlxf2UjmMZ5lof_BNcWUzGfZoFHX"><font size="3"><img alt="20210820_132340" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1HCKrJw6EL4fMENN0Aha_X3gbDsIgi76H" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210820_132340" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">Not the Taj Mahal, but clean, dry, serviceable and air conditioned. It would do for a base camp.</font></p><p><font size="3">While all this was going on, EJ had cataract surgery on both eyes which put her out of commission for about 3 months. In the mean time I continued to chip away at the property, repairing fences, battling vines and generally trying to keep the jungle at bay. In the meantime we continued trying to decide what to do with the property. Finally we decided this really wasn’t what we wanted and sold the property in September.</font></p><p><font size="3">We continued to
chip away at the “purge” without any real urgency when all of a sudden October was almost here and we had commitments to honor. EJ wanted to freshen her big rig driving skills so she found a class in Ocala, FL. After 2 full days of driving instruction, she was ready to hit the road.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1T7FGVJgfEPP4mwSR7TPB9tQPaoqOf_Wh"><font size="3"><img alt="20211002_125404" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1W6mkS_p7mzuDSBquEyAMMqlNeeVlM3xZ" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211002_125404" width="529" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">
After the class we drove the motorhome to Kansas to meet up with Frank’s brother and sister
to honor Dad’s request to have his ashes spread over Ivy Cemetery and the farm he grew
up on, both close to Admire, Ks.
He also asked that Mom’s ashes be spread with his in the cemetery.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Dbg4UZsYWdLYJZ6okPe65e8qLljYnmlj"><font size="3"><img alt="20211009_120756" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=15zFT0Ep28LPdgHuhMQLy-Vw7_vLKtZvA" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211009_120756" width="472" /></font></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1HAgKfbkYP67dqecuNsG0MZkZnHkXQliA"><font size="3"><img alt="20211009_140442" border="0" height="448" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ORXyeUBGho3x7t4m1vrCwt6g8Wo5_Mf8" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211009_140442" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">After that, EJ and I wandered around in Kansas and Oklahoma enjoying the vistas and quiet solitude while discussing the next steps in our future. </font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1fjupuK8RlThugIYQEoI8KiOCcCrL0feN"><font size="3"><img alt="20211030_181334" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1JmDmdr_ikBOXSa5Tq7oP5shtO4npmhHI" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211030_181334" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">And we had fun doing sightseeing too.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=17XmvAYhlmVfTThLIimBwLYHXri2WtKq6"><font size="3"><img alt="20211105_140619" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1sTgUc8zrEg40xf2lnwBQU4mXtVEoi7WU" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211105_140619" width="529" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">Lest you think it was all fun and games, chores and projects still needed to get done. Our washing machine died and needed to be fixed. It took me a month to work up the courage to tackle that project. With the encouragement of an RVing friend we finally took the plunge and got it done.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18HUCHTSZSTRup6hqWn9umr6hdhdFmVlC"><font size="3"><img alt="20211024_143248" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ETqf6bUwDXtTSuMI2EFjnajLa32ZXTVV" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211024_143248" width="529" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">While all this is going on we still had to decide, stay on the road now, or head
back and finish what we started. We received an invitation to take part in Thanksgiving with our
extended family and longtime friends back in Bostwick, Fl. That was the “kick in the butt” we
needed to get started on the next phase of our lives.
</font></p><p><font size="3">After the Thanksgiving holidays we contacted our realtor friend and arranged to put our
townhome on the market. We now began to scramble to finish the purge. On December 3
the “For Sale” sign went up. The next day we had multiple offers.
</font></p><p><font size="3">In the midst of all this, we had something else percolating in the background. For the last
year we had been looking for a “real” homebase, some place to park and protect Miss Mosey when we were in Florida. Of course it was during this frenzied “purging” time that a
property which interested us came on the market. We drove down to Branford, Fl, looked
at it and made an offer on the spot. Nine days later it was ours.
Our own little 2 acre RV site out in the country.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1tbd7m7t1UB6Hpr2IgqpvQeLZqdMj0OXK"><font size="3"><img alt="20211220_131554" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1NuzxXOWNfHprBvawHQ7-AP6vQEVk1G_U" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211220_131554" width="704" /></font></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1yYVROFQfv8qenW-9xICm1xrgnpHDBhek"><font size="3"><img alt="20211220_131815" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1yPyLgSEpj9vg_xES_MoGq2XTNKlteYZn" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211220_131815" width="529" /></font></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1DQ6W_RhMysTDj6puAIYF5G2cQ-PG47Cm"><font size="3"><img alt="20220111_164311" border="0" height="344" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1aDy0zE5ORu0oT1lC5dEx9ndy6Tn2bI4n" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20220111_164311" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">Back to reality, we had agreed to a December 30 closing date for the townhome and now panic really set
in. We only had days to empty the house. Fortunately the buyers bank stepped in and
delayed the closing to January 5th . Believe us, we needed every minute to finish up.
</font></p><p><font size="3">We camped out in Miss Mosey in front of the townhome while we finished the “purge”. This allowed us to get early starts on cleaning up and getting out.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1PP2gFM0VZQ_QxQGbcFKi4QbjLQYinpPC"><font size="3"><img alt="20211201_083332" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1odgLzQBJDt0Yec9TzPRGXNgfe8vMfrPi" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20211201_083332" width="529" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">The house we worked so hard on fit our needs is now pretty much empty.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1k82czHwl4A66EWF2bByOEC2P3wPI17cW"><font size="3"><img alt="20220104_111004" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Wco924TUhEPQc8EjH3g5NVXLRjtAJ6Jr" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20220104_111004" width="704" /></font></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1EjT_fTi1UWPy-OqznOTou8TJp6WCj8Rw"><font size="3"><img alt="20220104_111106" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1EZmYsjpvQc8o8E4TrcidPkdrhaOiqARv" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20220104_111106" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">For folks that are wondering what in the heck were we thinking, it’s like this. We loved our house and had we been able to move it somewhere else we would have. But the place we lived, Orange Park, was no longer the quaint country town it was when we moved here. We could see the signs that the population demographics were changing, the friendly people we used to do business with were disappearing and it was getting way too busy. Traffic, the constant noise, and the crowds all outweighed the convenience of the location. We wanted peacefulness along with a slower pace and Orange Park no longer offered that.</font></p><p><font size="3">Now that most of our belongings have been sold, given away or donated, this is what the remaining 43 years of accumulation stuffed in a 10x10 storage locker looks like…</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=16qr72_lfkeCCVUXlMglaDY2jzsMG4mXq"><font size="3"><img alt="20220102_144757" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ya0Z6J5pd4PWW6LNojeKBAY2I9RQ-N3U" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20220102_144757" width="529" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">And of course the year hasn’t gone by without some stray cats adopting us. (Warning! Multiple obligatory cat pics follow).</font></p><blockquote><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1YvpdUuxaDsab8337a7CRR6cuArY2dJpQ"><font size="3"><img alt="20210215_180607" border="0" height="679" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1z-8Clw2cGE3f9fILjHN_yUgu4RmkVHPY" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210215_180607" width="704" /></font></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vhD7DBixyEq_WJI0yeeXffYlMll17upr"><font size="3"><img alt="20210308_131320" border="0" height="529" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1acVxkIwgwMava-in6BU34x1sxSdDEXRE" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210308_131320" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1GTC1hI9-yjvStGf23bj1mluXTjaJ9pOe"><font size="3"><img alt="20210517_145053" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1GNHI2C3C_Tj_-oHs_3vtDQUbDyHHrrtx" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20210517_145053" width="529" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">If you have made it this far, there is another cat story, but it’s a sad one. Miss Maggie crossed over the Rainbow bridge this year (2021). She had been part of our merry little tribe since September of 2016. We adopted her from a shelter in Priest River, ID. She captured EJ’s heart as she was an elder kitty, considered to be unadoptable because of her age and health issues. But EJ and I decided to give her the best life she could have for the rest of her days. We really didn’t expect her to survive 6 months, but she surprised us and lived over 5 more years. She was the best lap kitty ever according to EJ.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1nZVs_8VR8R1mAZ-Iy7zGcrZwrs6gBeyg"><font size="3"><img alt="20200624_131224" border="0" height="704" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Sj3Otja8Ot9hbqs4bnaqw6N9kWl6fhbs" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20200624_131224" width="537" /></font></a></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1EhFYNNrbJn3DYN1WGSOyyJEVtXxQ7dMJ"><font size="3"><img alt="20190120_213339" border="0" height="371" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Q7bwgX60Cpn31iPerHaLMcV5jW-6sCzU" style="background-image: none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20190120_213339" width="704" /></font></a></p><p><font size="3">She is free of pain now and we loved her dearly.</font></p></blockquote>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-35947883160665285342020-12-31T09:08:00.000-08:002021-01-23T12:18:28.036-08:00Red Bay Disaster<p><font size="4">Red Bay, Alabama - December 16 to 19, 2020</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">A long awaited visit to Red Bay was finally approaching. In November of 2019, while in Texas, we began making Red Bay appointments get some needed maintenance done on Miss Mosey, our 2012 Tiffin Phaeton. But then life happened and we ended up staying in Texas for most of the year. Fortunately, the Red Bay folks were very understanding and told us to call back after things were sorted out. So in early December 2020, I was making the trip solo while EJ stayed in Orange Park, FL. Sitting around for almost 2 weeks while people worked on her RV didn’t sound like fun to her.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Our experience with Red Bay vendors has always been excellent. Over the years we have done business with Trevor Nichols, Bay Diesel, Making Sawdust, MS RV Solutions and the Tiffin Service Center. Every one of those was a positive experience that I would repeat in a heartbeat.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Never having had a negative encounter with a Red Bay business and based on the recommendation of one of the above vendors, we took our beloved Miss Mosey to Banner RV Paint and Auto. I had researched Banner and found that while they were not the most popular paint shop, they had gotten several favorable reviews. I found no bad reviews for them.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">I apologize for the lengthy blog, but I must tell the story of my disastrous experience at Banner RV Paint and Auto. </font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">I arrived at Banner RV Paint and Auto just after noon on December 15 after having spent a day and a half at MS RV Solutions having new slides seals installed and the carpet replaced. Daniel and Carl are fun to work with and do top notch work.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"> I came a half day early thinking the owner of Banner RV Paint and Auto, Justin Allison, might want me to park inside the paint shop since rain was predicted that night and I figured he would want Miss Mosey nice and dry before he started to work on her. But, he said “No, I’ll just blow it off”. That set off a few warning flags in my mind, but he’s the “expert” I figured he knew what he was doing, and after all, he was recommended by someone whose opinion I respected. The second warning flag I got, was that I was the only customer there. All the other places I had been to were swamped, but this was the “slow” season for Red Bay.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">The next morning, December 16, Wednesday, I pulled into the bay and yes, Miss Mosey was wet and muddy from having spent the night outside in the rain. He said it would be better if I left during the day because if I stayed he would want to talk to me and get distracted from his work. Hmmm, none of the other vendors had that problem. The next red flag that went up was that he was alone. This was a one man operation..</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">To his credit, Justin did call around and found me a rental car. He even took me to McKinney’s in Red Bay to pick it up. Of course while he was doing this, no one was working on Miss Mosey.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">So I killed several hours at the Mason Jar in Red Bay eating lunch, drinking coffee and surfing the ‘net on my tablet. I returned about 3:30pm since that was the time most of the Red Bay vendors quit for the day. Justin wasn’t around when I got there, but at least some progress had been made on Miss Mosey.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ewhs8yzptGhJIjwF6U-AsFyJYlhn_G6B"><img width="704" height="529" title="20201217_152316" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20201217_152316" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1jMzcdUNRGVCXXhCMt9wVnWzxPBNk-ugW" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Thursday I was up at 6am having spent the night in Miss Mosey inside the shop.. Made breakfast and got ready for the day as I assumed that Justin would start at 7am as all the other Red Bay vendors seemed to. Finally at 9am, I decided to drive by his house to see if he was going to work on Miss Mosey today. As I was driving down the road, I saw him in his pickup coming towards me. We stopped and he said he had been out getting supplies. OK, I’ll give him a pass for that.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">So I disappear for the day at his request. When I come back around 3:30pm he is not there, again. He shows up about 5 saying he had to go pick up his boy. OK, Tuesday night, Wednesday night and now Thursday night and I’m not seeing a whole lot of progress. By now he realizes he has bitten off more than he can chew and brings in someone to help him. The helper is named Steve. Justin says they will have to work late to get me out on Friday. They quit at 7pm. Well at least the window frames got painted.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Now Justin is a nice guy and he will talk your ears off. Old timers in the area like to come by and schmooze with him for hours on end. I also found out his “real” business is running log trucks. Painting RVs is just a sideline. Wish I had know all this this ahead of time. By this time I’m in too deep as there are Miss Mosey parts scattered around the shop and out in back. I’m stuck. I keep hoping it will get better.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Now it’s Friday. Justin shows up at 7am to turn on the heat and disappears. About 9am he returns and say they can’t finish it today, but they will work late into the night to get me out on Saturday. Today the engine hatch, front cap, and side rails get painted. Steve gets to take me back to McKinney’s in Red Bay so I can return the rental car. They quit about 7pm, again.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">On Saturday, things get started about 9am again. Now they are working on patching some screw holes around the bathroom window. About noon, Justin informs me that they are quitting at 2PM whether they are done or not. I offer to stay through Sunday, but he says “No, we’re done at 2pm.” “Oh, and because we are pressed for time we can’t use the slow drying clearcoat, which is better, we’ll have to use the fast drying stuff which is almost as good”. By this time I am getting pretty upset. I mentioned the engine hatch, which had been repainted, looked like Fido’s ass. He said don’t worry, he would buff that out. If he buffed it out, I couldn’t see any difference, it still looked like crap.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">So at 2pm, Saturday, they wrapped it up and started pulling off tape and paper. I couldn’t get up on the roof at the time, but after seeing the mistakes that were evident from the ground I was madder than a pissed off hornet.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">I drove off and stopped at the Downtown RV Park in Red Bay to investigate what was making the flapping noise coming from up on the roof. I pulled out my ladder and climbed up top to find more left over tape and paper. I also found this.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Over spray on the roof. Justin did not even attempt to fix this.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1TZGN5FOycmw0EWr1Bu-SZb-FiInA0-vb"><img width="529" height="704" title="20210107_151737" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_151737" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pzSHRcOprLky0OBn6ncD8AodPZ493xVR" border="0"></a></font></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1i5nO3c3r7gr05JSP6UAJLWU6kKia8y3X"><img width="704" height="529" title="20210107_151745" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_151745" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1cddeKuMQNGfd6FMp6OTsOwsam3xueKqd" border="0"></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">And…</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ewrbBQ4yOYYoTnWMALK9AAjNpXZiztBI"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=125oQH06pSihqt4e4Nrtybjg8rmBHgcNQ"><img width="529" height="704" title="20210107_151718" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_151718" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=14LIvhc_xYKdFB4Zjlv6wCyJC4ZM4ed6W" border="0"></a></font></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Then I discovered that he only painted the front cap, and not the rear cap like I had asked him to do also. Of course that may have been a blessing since I won’t have to pay to have that fixed again too.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ueALFnDs7aKp1LsUQ1tNKGpEgXVaS5Ya"><font face="Arial" size="3"><img width="529" height="704" title="20210107_151628" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_151628" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19WOJNQsDgz99M5c6LlDXAuBKZbwwSABo" border="0"></font></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Further inspection revealed that the paint job to repair the front cap was not the quality I would expect a professional to strive for. There were runs in several places. He had to have seen this and just hoped that maybe I wouldn’t notice. </font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dVMgrvmmV2-u5ejU40ry51kMa6oL3iwm"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1yyxG92EAwXZ11MqKPKYjI9nomy4Yi5Pb"><img width="704" height="529" title="20210107_152554" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_152554" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ba1ipfqdcGrl0k4nvFconEl_8-lA_2aD" border="0"></a></font></a></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1y-3S1iRj2_KpiYZgibfSAi5jXUbahyId"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1kEfEBdoWyogl4QOlxgjnxGMeu8Yx3QRy"><img width="704" height="529" title="20210107_152500" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_152500" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1O9l2G0f9jVFh0QhQqFIRPNOaZGSeTEq7" border="0"></a></font></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">He did not remove the running lights. That means he painted over the caulk which is going to be a problem when I replace the ones that have moisture in them. When I remove the lights I will have to remove the caulk also meaning that may screw up the paint even further.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">The engine hatch cover had stress cracks in it and Justin gave me the impression that he would do a fiberglass repair to eliminate the cracks. Turns out all he did was paint over the cracks with no repair what so ever. And the paint job looks like someone threw dirt on it as it was drying. There are bumps and dimples all over it. The white stuff is the reflection from the clouds.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BLPfbLIk__kiTej_z6RtTYZtHTEwoOJL"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pTwMwA-lhvFmIHdBG7lzJtqkH3WxV16S"><img width="704" height="529" title="20210107_151924" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_151924" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1-OScFyvg5VMz6mKJn73DqIxvBkblqJTJ" border="0"></a></font></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">On the big air inlet above the engine hatch, there were a number of places where the paint had chipped away and the white primer was showing through. This was Justin’s repair…</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1OF2Kn9cTDwHS5H7fyIEH_bQE5IwW7Puk"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1xeN4ms17icux_PEkFIie7VqEGTtr5feZ"><img width="704" height="529" title="20210107_151042" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_151042" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vEXmdKPjrbSl-n1GdR6eAC1FEmhyr1J6" border="0"></a></font></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">I had also asked him to repaint the louvers on the rear of the coach as they were looking a little tired and dull. It looks like all he did was get out the rattle can (spray can) and spray over what ever was already on the louvers. Dirt, warts and all. And you can even see a hint of red over spray on the black. Not sure how he accomplished that.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1h5XwBnXlydIPVTLq004e2Y_-2uDDG2Yl"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1mHDJ7RcQKot-qybqbw096tBUJiVDsMJF"><img width="529" height="704" title="20210107_152251" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_152251" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1q2PlKvgjYtmnf8xyn7u4jasbOM_QSW_v" border="0"></a></font></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">And to wrap up the engine hatch, on the lower edge there was not enough clearcoat applied so the finish is dull.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1akd0zMe-OCJKuwXqQtEqH9gNnvsGGjlV"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1aRdJYcjSRPSImN6wiQ2n0Hd3Pl-XvBoP"><img width="529" height="704" title="20210107_152224" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_152224" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1GWEzWFJx5PezMBC94zI6b8oTRMTXjSKD" border="0"></a></font></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">But, apparently it all got applied on the opposite side where we have more runs in the paint.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1IMiP4ptjSN8kyBRvLPUxxE9EafpqM-Dw"><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1zrzwTsHNBUxLRn0ez-n1VjBbsWvYPDsj"><img width="529" height="704" title="20210107_152202" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_152202" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1-FBMnLA4ewFysLxle_iEwZuS1YvnTCzV" border="0"></a></font></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">The final area they worked on was the bathroom window. There were four screw holes that used to have snaps for a solar fabric window cover. We no longer use the window cover as we installed a window awning instead. But I wanted the snaps removed and the resulting holes repaired. I should have left the snaps and just let it quit bothering me. Instead we got a paint and fiberglass repair that appears to be the work of a 3 year old.</font> </p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1lPNnBvPq_KO-lsM2SjV_aMfth-4N_N5t"><img width="529" height="704" title="20210107_145754" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_145754" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1T23MOCJAe-Y1HFZJr35sshb5KJZ9w_nU" border="0"></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">The one thing I thought he did ok on was the window frames. But he even managed to screw that up. Yup, overspray on the freshly painted window frame.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=11rL5GanJRp2YVCERzbGzb10bxTp3UT_8"><img width="529" height="704" title="20210107_150001" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20210107_150001" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dp15z-O3u5u9pclvvNVQF4u-dLCJKi2I" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">I must say as I was leaving after I told him how unhappy I was, he did offer me a free wax job if I ever came back. He also gave me an empty bottle of polishing compound and some rags and said I could just buff it all and it would be as good as new. I thought I was paying for it to look as good as new?</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">I hate to trash any business, but I hope this serves as a warning for anyone considering using Banner RV Paint and Auto in Golden, MS for any work on their beloved Tiffins. Don’t do it!</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Obligatory cat photo follows. This little guy, I named him RB, adopted me while I was staying at the Downtown RV Park in Red Bay. Story was he was a mouser and was employed by a nearby business. He was starved for attention.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vZ-5ChhDT3X-GDSCtZ5bl7fdTLOxs2KA"><img width="704" height="529" title="20201211_163339" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20201211_163339" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1R8qdjoU_Um8gwmJ-QKm4MZPpQiDATbjb" border="0"></a></font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-48031500436903874752020-08-29T15:21:00.000-07:002020-08-29T15:25:57.138-07:00And now…the end.<p><font face="Arial Black" size="3">Concho Pearl RV Estates, <font color="#000000">San</font> Angelo, TX – August 29, 2020</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1DIVtraXpTRVGanSPE6zeCNFlYOKPdQjV"><img width="380" height="401" title="PUT" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="PUT" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ZJt2amr2agcPkVBwwbddxMQA3Has98j6" border="0"></a></strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>As most of you probably know by now my father, Bill Putnam, passed away on July 28, 2020. This was particularly hard on us and I’m sure it was on him also since we had not been allowed in his room since March 16, 2020 with the exception of a single day on July 22. </strong></font></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">I am bitter, annoyed, upset, whatever you want to call it, that our country chose to make this virus a political issue. This led to hysteria at all levels of government with each politician trying to outdo the next one by laying on more and more restrictive measures to “protect” their constituents. How many folks lost loved ones and were not able to be with them? How many patients and elderly residents felt like they were abandoned by their families when that wasn’t the case at all? Oh sure, some medical facilities would let you visit on the final day of life after the patient or resident was comatose but what good is that? You want to be able to visit while they are still aware and are cognitive and know that you are visiting them and that you love them.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">We are so grateful that our lifestyle has allowed us to spend so much time here in San Angelo, Texas over the last three years. Although Dad was fiercely independent, he had been needing more and more subtle assistance. We tried to make life simpler for him. We put his bills on autopay. We added my name to his bank accounts so I could do transactions for him. We took him to doctors appointments. We hired a physical therapist to help with strength training and balancing. We hired a lady to cook supper for him and to keep his pill dispenser full. In short, we did our best to make his life free from hassle. Our family did their part to by visiting and calling to keep his spirits up during his last few years. </font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">Terry and Joy, my brother and his wife, helped to celebrate Dad’s last birthday, his 98th on June 18. My sister Fran and her family sent many cards for the occasion. The four of us sat outside his room with an open window so we could see him and talk to him. Communication was difficult at best, but at least we could see him and he knew we were there for him. </font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">Since March that was how our visits went. Sometimes we had to argue to get the staff to open his window so we could visit. Once we had to involve the manager of the facility to pass the word down to staff that it was OK. Towards the end, the facility passed down the stupid rule that communication had to take place through a closed window. Understanding the impossibility of that working, staff remained accommodating and would open the window for us. For the last 5 months of his life, that little window was as close to a real physical connection as we would get.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">Towards the end of June or early July, I finally realized that I had to give up the hope that Dad would ever return to his apartment. Early on he fought hard to get better and get stronger so he could come back home. I felt as if somehow I would be betraying him by letting his apartment go. But inevitability, he became too weak to fight any more. Even so it was a couple of months before I gave up on a miracle happening. So I told EJ it was time to begin in earnest the task of letting his apartment go. </font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">Now here is where our two personalities come into play. Once I make a decision I am ready to move on. I was all for hiring someone to come and empty out the apartment. “Not so fast” EJ says. “Let me handle it” she says. For the next 4 or 5 weeks, she proceeds to organize and advertise the contents of the apartment. It’s particularly challenging, because due to the China Virus no outsiders are allowed in the apartment building. (It’s full of old folks,you know. Potentially high risk.) </font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">She would put flyers up on the bulletin board advertising some of the bigger pieces and invariably a resident in the building would snap it up. She even sold his power chair twice. (The first person that bought it decided they didn’t need it). Towards the end, almost everything was gone or spoken for except the clothes. Dad had lots of nice shirts, but we could get no takers. We eventually ended up donating all his clothes to the Salvation Army. </font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">We were on schedule for giving up his apartment on July 31 when Dad passed away on the 28th. I guess our decision to let the apartment go was more timely than we care to admit.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">He wanted no ceremony, he just wanted to slip quietly away. We honored his wishes. He was cremated and wanted his ashes spread over Ivy Cemetery in Admire, Kansas. All that remains now is to round up my brother and sister so we can make that journey sometime next spring.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font face="Arial" size="3">Obligatory cat picture follows.</font></strong></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13MzNho7BaWeRmMeFbYe8056arZIwL924"><img width="704" height="523" title="Maggie Sleep" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Maggie Sleep" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1JM0SOqP7Ok1XgWXpugEjxuQK2vbC5RPn" border="0"></a></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-74878690589936426352020-08-07T16:12:00.000-07:002020-08-09T17:27:41.647-07:00Gabby’s Got The Tail Droop Blues<p><font face="Arial Black" size="4">Concho Pearl RV Estates – August 6-7, 2020</font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>More tales of RV life. When you live in a 2 room apartment of less than 400 square feet you are definitely aware of your surroundings.In less than 10 steps you can be in the bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen or the living room. Throw in 2 cats and every step is a potential disaster for a cat. They definitely don’t like being stepped on. </strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>As anyone who is a cat servant knows, you are always on the lookout for unusual behavior. Why? Because cats are sneaky little varmints. And to their own detriment, one of the things they do best is hide their ailments. </strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1jx8UBntxC8H6NpQYTh2P6BPk11DwrYYG"><strong><img width="244" height="244" title="Hurt Cat Tail" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="Hurt Cat Tail" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1JH-BMCg9l7gJ12s0Zor2V8fNBKpHVYRC" border="0"></strong></a></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>They won’t tell you they are sick or they hurt their foot. Instead they just disappear. Eventually you notice the cat has been missing for several hours which is unusual since they are always begging for attention, food, to go outside, to come inside or any number of other things that are impossible for humans to decipher.</strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1NUmOFMVItlqew0HcqPh7fjIvvqPgbnY3"><strong><img width="704" height="468" title="hiding-cat" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="hiding-cat" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=15nL4OtWcGtrrvCA7TBaO6XWVNR1rCi24" border="0"></strong></a></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>We noticed that Gabby seemed to be a more subdued than usual. She normally is looking to get into some kind of mischief. But we noticed that she was acting timid about everything. She had the blues!.Very unlike Gabby! This is the cat that walks up to complete strangers to say ‘Hi” and sees possible prey around every corner (like my fingers). </strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1l5a245T2cDopqn-i1ZuSUdfr5RY68Qod"><img width="302" height="401" title="20190218_211435" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190218_211435" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1f1lLcEyQA0bHGiGMkw3MGV2ulLhjsVTF" border="0"></a></strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>At the same time, we noticed her tail was hanging straight down to the point of dragging the ground. </strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13Jjl54XcHZzZqcn8pt3BuK93ItqLceUT"><strong><img width="704" height="516" title="20200807_194152" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20200807_194152" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1sKd7RCilMXtZeDi8gD7T4u0lMer5WQqV" border="0"></strong></a></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>Normally when you scratch the “sweet spot" on her back her tail will spring straight up into the air. Now when we scratch it, nothing.</strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1niTYy2iuDbP86LRywNGN3QTdaFPH4qC_"><strong><img width="704" height="366" title="IMG_1353" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_1353" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1cRSqaLtanpA1SZXfGX3i4Oo--6tOFHVD" border="0"></strong></a></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>A little research on the web indicated possible nerve damage which can also cause bladder problems. A cat’s worst enemy is a bladder problem. Of course this is a Friday, the last day Veterinary Offices are open for the week. So do nothing and hope it gets better, or call the Vet and hope they can squeeze us in today.</strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>So we call the San Angelo Vet we favor to see if they can take us as a walk in, which of course is more costly than making an appointment. They want us there in 30 minutes. We grab Gabby’s medical files, blankets, throw on some acceptable clothes and of course Gabby and rush out the door. </strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>At the Vet, they check her temperature (it’s normal), give her a once over and an X-Ray. The Vet agrees that there is some trauma to the tail and the results of the X-Ray should tell us more.</strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>The X-Ray pictures come back showing no bone damage. Since the base of her tail (where it attaches to the body) is swollen, the Vet surmises that Gabby has some soft tissue damage (read bruise). Then we remember that Gabby fell off the counter 2 days ago. We didn’t see it happen, we just heard the “splat” when she landed. The Vet said she probably landed on her butt and bruised the base of her tail. Because that area is swollen, it is pressing on nerves that control tail movement, hence the tail droop and the limp tail Thus the title of this post, Gabby’s Got The Tail Droop Blues.</strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>So Gabby gets a shot to reduce inflammation, and we get to give her doses of pain meds over the next few days. Once again, Gabby survives another mishap.</strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>Obligatory cat picture follows.</strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1eBRSFO2B8bT9FBbmjmu61jWUGqReQ57t"><img width="704" height="697" title="Maggie Zoned" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="Maggie Zoned" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ceup32PJrnPw3PbJo_UOMlHbug0_XcV5" border="0"></a></font>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-60342858982628508242020-07-09T16:33:00.001-07:002020-07-09T17:43:00.613-07:00Chinky-Pox Paranoia<p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>We're living in crazy times, that's for sure. Unemployment rates are 14.7% to 20% depending on who you believe (Unemployment in 2019 was 4.8%). Bars are closed again. Restaurants can only operate at 50% capacity. No organized 4th of July fireworks, but that night San Angelo sounded like we were in a war zone. Mandatory facemask edicts. Social distancing. Here in town most fast food restaurants have kept their dining rooms closed, they are now drive thru only. McDonalds no longer serves breakfast items all day long (the horror!). But EJ and I haven't gotten all paranoid over the virus just like many other rational folks. We no longer trust anything the media says and it is sad that we have to fact check everything they produce. So many don’t bother to check and just believe whatever news(lies) they are fed. We adapt to the degree we are forced to and continue on with our lives.</strong></font></p><p><font size="3"><strong></strong></font><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>As long time readers know, EJ and I have temporarily relocated to San Angelo, Texas as this is where my father lives. His health has deteriorated and he is now under the care of hospice. We are staying here for several reasons.1) we hope to be able to once again be with Dad on a daily basis before he leaves this world; 2) we are in the process of wrapping up his affairs.</strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>March 16 was the last day I was able to spend with him. Since he went into the hospital on December 17, 2019 I had spent every day with him. We talked, he slept, I kept occupied on the laptop and I handled the small stuff like getting him food or water and making sure he was comfortable. Not being able to visit with him is an emotional challenge particularly knowing he may pass away before we are allowed to be with him again. So we continue to wait and hope the Chinky-Pox scare ends before he dies.</strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>Dad has always had a big heart and has always helped his friends if they were in a tight spot. He would loan money, buy furniture from someone that needed money even though he didn’t need another thing for his apartment. He would give friends a ride to the doctor or to go shopping. He would even go shopping for them if they couldn’t get out. In the last few years he hired a friend to drive him. Dad paid him every week whether he needed him or not. Even as recently as a couple of weeks ago he wanted to know if “Joe” was still being taken care of. That’s Dad’s big heart. But because he had a hard time saying no to people, Dad ended up with an apartment full of excess “Stuff”. </strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vfuwO60QjNFh1XR-lHPzjaSnZuIkiBFf"><strong><img width="704" height="529" title="Unedited view of Dad's apartment" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Unedited view of Dad's apartment" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1GORj77o7RwNF_xvD2KGivLsDx0erXznW" border="0"></strong></a></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>EJ has been working diligently over the last few months to sell odds and ends. Finally, about a month ago I finally accepted the fact that Dad was never going to be able to return to his apartment. It was time to let everything go. I guess I had a glimmer of hope that he might somehow recover and things would return to some level of normalcy. I know that was a pipe dream, but I could still hope. Since then EJ has gone into high gear and has been advertising and selling stuff right and left. Dressers, night stands, lamps, book cases, tables, computers, file cabinets, a water cooler, refrigerator, printers, tools, a huge TV and more. Now we are down to nick-knacks, clothes and a queen sized bed. She has a big sale planned for the remaining items as we are shooting for vacating Dad’s apartment by the end of July. </strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>But now for some RV stuff. We have recently had some major hail storms. Hail 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter fell for about 30 minutes on May 21, 2020. </strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Y6IgaGlpf-r60PEOlsS5hbVg1EFmAt3f"><font size="3"><strong><img width="323" height="243" title="Hail size San Angelo" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Hail size San Angelo" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1q82AW6FqMttNXz4QO912MX-TWcARsMwo" border="0"></strong></font></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pHlgSBNiZaQa3iRPD4vj_slU-ABs7rLJ"><font size="3"><strong><img width="351" height="199" title="Hail damage" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Hail damage" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vQ13YhcE4J5L7Z045ay54itlsMR0LbRU" border="0"></strong></font></a></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>Fortunately we were at the RV and heard the early stages of the storm. I managed to get the Explorer under a shelter here at the Concho Pearl RV Estates and left EJ and the cats in Miss Mosey. Boy did I hear about that later on. EJ was not a happy camper after all the noise and anxiety produced by the storm. Gabby was not happy either. She disappeared during the storm. How she manages to find hiding places in the RV that we can’t find is a mystery. The next day I checked the roof of Miss Mosey and found no damage. But, the Explorer did end up with a few minor dings you can see if you really look for them. Meh! I’ve given up on having a perfect car. It is what it is!</strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>However, Miss Mosey did not escape completely damage free. Our slide toppers are of indeterminate age. They could be as old as 9 years, or not. We think the previous owners told us they had been replaced once. Nonetheless, since the previous owners full timed in her and we are too, the toppers have been exposed to the sun for most of their lives. That means lots of sun aging or damage. The hail was just the final straw.</strong></font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1d3iQ8NU6ILOJjP1xV5Z3T9JkMgB_uvr_"><font size="3"><strong><img width="704" height="529" title="Topper damage" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Topper damage" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1QHvzJmVaO1KU0V44wiK9J9t3CKIK38dl" border="0"></strong></font></a></p><p><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><font face="Arial"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><strong><font size="3"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">That’s</font> a lot of sunlight coming through the weather proof fabric. So we ordered new toppers from Tough Tops and installed them ourselves. Youtube to the rescue for installation hints. It was so hot, we could only do one a day. The heat just wilted us.</font></strong></font></font></font></p><p><font face="Arial"><strong><font size="3"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As<font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I mention<font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">ed</font></font></font></font></font> above, Dad still has a car. It is a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT that he has had since it was new. It was his wish that “Joe”, his driver, end up with it. I met with “Joe” to discuss it and he didn’t want it. Said he couldn’t afford it. Well, alright. I can understand that. Licensing, insurance, maintenance that takes some serious coin. And if you don’t need the car, it could be a real burden.</font></strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>So I undertook the task of selling the car. To make it really presentable, I replaced a broken windshield and a O2 sensor in the exhaust that was making the check engine light come on. Showed it to a guy that was going to sell it for me and he liked what he saw. I told him I would bring it back after I got it cleaned up. I bet I didn’t get 3 blocks before that stupid car started developing major problems. Only 5 cylinders were firing. So I thought, I can’t sell it like this. I took it to a recommended mechanic. It had a bad brain box. So he replaced it. I drove it a block and it started missing again. I took it back. It’s got a bad brain box he says. I say, find out what is causing it. After 2 days he calls back and says you have a bad fuel injector wiring harness.</strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1nsPwmEw8QSrcp3_Mt2n29Bjz7_sWUJbN"><strong><img width="529" height="704" title="2004 Grand Caravan Fuel Rail wiring" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="2004 Grand Caravan Fuel Rail wiring" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=119XInzrt3sNyh4fSGLRskISvL2t5-ouw" border="0"></strong></a></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>Yep, it’s bad all right. There is a lot of missing insulation and it was shorting out. I did some research and turns out this is a fairly common problem on the early 2000’s Caravans. He couldn’t get the part because according to Dodge it is on national backorder. I called several Dodge dealers myself in a hundred mile radius and yep, it’s on backorder. So, EBay is my friend. I found a dealer back east that had one in stock and it’s being shipped to Dad’s apartment. Should be here late next week.<br><br>In the mean time, I have spent way too much money trying to get this car in sellable shape when I probably just should have taken it to the junkyard.</strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>And we haven’t just been sitting stationary. We actually moved! All the way from site 25 to site 42. We went from being surrounded by other RVs to actually having shade trees (well as much as Mesquites can provide shade) and space tor Gabby and Maggie to explore.</strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1kFguOwUVaq5hDjbdnjIVf49Wzg5qsLt3"><strong><img width="704" height="529" title="Miss Mosey's new spot" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Miss Mosey's new spot" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1q57VgKKBmgYpBjZKHVfxzUA7N8BOUNx3" border="0"></strong></a></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>Obligatory cat picture follows….</strong></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1uZZ1CAGAJSKhNKajJ-xnaLXb5IRkGAyN"><strong><img width="529" height="704" title="She has no shame" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="She has no shame" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1TvFgZ7Y6moN248FuxXaX6LqQ7qZG1Dhp" border="0"></strong></a></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3"><strong>Gabby enjoying the new yard. That is one relaxed kitty!</strong></font></p><p><font size="3"></font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-11091698807022141392020-06-06T14:36:00.000-07:002020-06-06T14:36:42.267-07:00And the child becomes the parent<p><strong><font size="4">Concho Pearl RV Park January 1 to May 1, 2020</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">This point in time comes for a lot of folks, I guess. Your parent or parents, go from being a person or persons upon whom you can depend on for being a steadying force in your life to needing to rely on you instead. It’s a sobering thought, at once a feeling of pride for being in a position to provide that support along with guilt for maybe not being able to do even more. </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">When we cut our trip to Big Bend National Park short to come back to San Angelo, TX because Dad was in the hospital, little did we know that a big change in our lives was happening. As it has turned out so far, December 16, 2019 would be the last day Dad would be living on his own, in his own home. </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Oghvu4fQ8XxDU9-dok7BQmleiv9Of0gY"><img width="704" height="529" title="20200107_154630" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20200107_154630" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1IZ0Tnqvx2gW4-esXL02_W4D3K5kcjzUj" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">When Dad first started feeling out of sorts, his friends in Rio Concho Manor tried to take care of him, giving him various pills and telling him he needed to drink more water. He was admitted to the hospital with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) with edema. I won’t go into all the details but over the next few months he would be in and out of rehab/nursing home facilities and the hospital. Each time with different ailments.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">This is our second experience with nursing homes, EJ’s Mom being the first. So this time around wasn’t our first rodeo. As such we had a pretty good idea that the level of help we thought Dad needed and the help he would actually receive would be different. We weren’t wrong. Again, I won’t regal you with the deficiencies between what actually do and what we think they should do. Nursing home management always talk a good game while they are trying to sign you up, but the actual performance always falls way short of their promises. We went into this skeptical and we weren’t surprised.</font></strong></p><p><font size="3"><strong>You always want things to happen instantly because that’s how it happens at home. You have to go to bathroom, you get and go to the bathroom. In a nursing home when you can’t walk under your own power, you have to ring a bell and hope someone shows up before you pee in your pants. You learn quickly to ring the</strong></font> <font size="3"><strong>bell</strong></font> <strong><font size="3">the instant you get the urge. You don’t wait until it’s urgent. Some of this was alleviated by either myself or EJ (or both) being with him 6 to 8 hours every day. This way we could smooth over some of the minor inconveniences of Dad no longer being able to care for himself.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">But enough of that. Suffice it to say, a nursing home will never do as good a job as you can do yourself, but they are there 24 x 7 and you are only you. </font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">OK, I lied. I am going to get into some details. When Dad first went into San Angelo Nursing and Rehab (SANR) he really tried to get better. He did his exercises and therapy and was able to move around his room under his own power. But somehow his Lasix dosages got doubled and he became severely dehydrated which meant another trip to the hospital. He was released back to SANR after his hospital stay. He then became weaker and weaker and could no longer do his exercises and therapy. He began to experience severe abdominal pain which became so bad he had to go back to the hospital again.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">The abdominal pain turned out to be an unstable vertebrate fracture. Any time he attempted to move he would experience debilitating pain. An operation was suggested then discarded as being too risky and his vertebrate being too fragile. When he was released this time it was to go to New Haven Assisted Living where he would be under Hospice care. He is given Fentanyl every three days to manage the pain and he is now bedridden.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">As each day goes by he becomes a little weaker and he spends a lot of time living in the past. We are hearing stories we have never heard before and it fun trying to piece together events to put the story into some perspective.</font> </strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">One thing we have learned to not do is to correct him as this frustrates him and interrupts the flow of story telling or general conversation. A wrong day or location or person makes no difference in the overall scheme of things. Just letting him talk and tell stories is what is important.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">And now with Covid-19 interrupting everyone’s lives it has also limited our ability to visit Dad. An assisted living facility is considered a nursing home which means no visitors are allowed in. We have not been allowed in Dad’s room since March 16, 2020. We can still talk to him by phone and occasionally they will open his window and let us visit with him that way. But lately they have even tried cracking down on that.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">And so we begin the painful process of going through Dad’s things and starting to let go. The Manor, the apartment building where he has been living the last 13 years, has an annual “yard” sale that we took advantage of.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Z5amaYKctX86TMOCBakopl_JS-1vcru2"><img width="704" height="344" title="The big sale" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="The big sale" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ek12GMKcsYiYuMwyYN3x15uGhXI3a9Nu" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">I have finally accepted that he will never be coming back to his apartment and it’s time to prepare for letting it go. He has collected a lot of stuff over the years. Slowly we’re selling it, trashing it or donating it. We have a ways to go yet. It’s not easy.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">Obligatory cat picture follows.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1-rkKpUM0HXzOpvzXGnzTxEgY0cdSORxK"><img width="704" height="515" title="20200424_181430" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20200424_181430" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1lhbqgBysmd69LWla6qbXTrhmjJWO8QwM" border="0"></a></font></strong></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-27383082979325814642020-01-01T14:35:00.000-08:002020-04-04T14:41:12.337-07:00Finding a West Texas Home for Miss Mosey<p><font size="3"><strong>Since the 24th of November, 2019 we have been in San Angelo and will be for the foreseeable future. Family circumstances are such that our presence is needed to oversee some things that are in the works.</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="3">Which brings us to our experiences in finding a place to park Miss Mosey for the duration. Normally for stays here in San Angelo of 2 weeks or less we simply park in the parking lot of Rio Concho Manor (where Frank’s Dad lives) next to the power pole which has 2-30 amp connections. This is great as it only costs $5.00 per day and we can combine the 2-30 amps connections and make a hookup which satisfies our power hungry Miss Mosey. But, and this is a major but, even with extreme tank management and showers in Dad’s apartment, a 2 week stay is the limit for our waste tank capacity. We know we are going to be here for at least 2 months, maybe more, so full hookups are in order.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">That began our search for an RV park where we could stay as long as we needed to. We drove out to the San Angelo State Park and spoke with one of the Rangers about extended stays. They told us we could stay for a month, but then we would have to leave for 25 hours and we could stay another month. Well, over and over we examined their website with a fine (really fine) tooth comb and we could not figure out how to make a reservation for any stay long than 2 weeks. So all we had to go on was the word of a young Ranger who may or may not be there when we tried to extend our stay. Hmm. I could see a problem happening here.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">So I started visiting the various campgrounds in San Angelo. KOA (no monthly spaces available), Spring Park Marina and RV Park (only 2 sites available crammed in amongst other RVers), Huling Mobile Home Park (kinda seedy), Cactus Lane RV and Mobile Home Park (No vancancies), Tucked Away RV Park (No vanancies), and we are seeing a pattern here.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">Energy Services contracting is going strong in here in West Texas. Wind turbine farms, gas pipelines, solar panel fields, and even road construction. All of these require workers and a bunch of workers live in RVs and need a place to park them. Good for the RV Parks, but bad for us. There are a few more RV Parks in the San Angelo area, but even with our flexible standards, we didn’t want to even consider them. The other thing we discovered, the rates at most of the RV parks were close to the same.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">Having discovered that monthly rates amongst the choices didn’t vary much, we contacted the owners of Concho Pearl RV Estates (the name is much fancier than the park, but friendlier owners you will not find) whom we knew from previous stays in their park. They said they were full also, but would call back to see if there was something they could do. Sure enough, later that day, they got in touch with us and said we could come on in. There had been some workers moving out and we could stay as long as we needed to.</font></strong></p><p><img style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block;" src="https://images.goodsam.com/sharedcontent/mmd/pdf_ads/tld/TX050792.jpg"><font size="3"><strong>As with all the long term RV Parks in San Angelo this one too, is filled with construction and energy workers. Which makes for an experience opposite that of what we are used to. It is quiet during the days and deserted on the weekends. The workers are gone all day long and they go home (where ever that might be) on the weekends. Normally RV Parks are bustling with activities during those times. During the week, after work, there is some socializing, but these guys are tired and dirty. All they want to do is get cleaned up, eat and go to bed. </strong></font></p><p><img width="700" height="308" src="https://eccentricnomads.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/img_0827.jpg?w=1050"></p><p><strong><font size="3">We are not in this picture, but we are the only motorhome in the park.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">Until next time, when we talk more about the family matters keeping us here in San Angelo.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">Obligatory cat picture follows:</font></strong></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1u_MD3_IIRRPoCaGe4rr-mx1pFPvO4qk1"><img width="704" height="529" title="20200320_224531" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20200320_224531" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VtDVP6Ez12us_7EnXZ6x0cbqALu9x1uK" border="0"></a></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-81355290227175573632019-12-17T17:02:00.000-08:002020-05-03T16:02:52.144-07:00Big Bend National Park<p><strong><font size="4"> Rio Grande Village Campground 12-9 to 12-16-2020</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">We did manage to sneak off from Dad’s for a few days and visit Big Bend National Park. That's the good news. The bad news is we both were under the weather the whole time. I hate it when you go someplace special and you’re not well enough to really enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t sit around and mope about it. We still got out and did stuff, but we didn’t do any long hikes. Just being in Big Bend NP was awesome enough.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">We had spent Thanksgiving with Dad getting his paperwork under control and making sure he was ok, health wise. Our plan was to spend 10 days in the park, then mosey back to Dad’s for Christmas. Then in late January end up in Red Bay, AL for some Miss Mosey upgrades and touch ups. That would put us in Orange Park in mid February where we would take care of some needed projects at the home base.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">We headed south out of San Angelo on US67 then connected with Interstate 10 ending up at Walmart in Ft. Stockton, TX to replenish our supplies. At our ultimate destination there is only a small camp store (with minimal supplies) near Rio Grande Village where we will be dry camping for 10 days. This is our last chance to stock up for that time period.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">As an added bonus, there is a huge gravel lot behind the Ft. Stockton Walmart. We decided to make camp here for the night.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1chmmZ2JXNRljIuwFmcJx3Ku2ERIbxmeR"><img width="704" height="541" title="Opera Snapshot_2020-04-13_104758_www.google.com" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Opera Snapshot_2020-04-13_104758_www.google.com" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=17DB1SE-Dzuc-009XGgAqokvhO6L-eD_L" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">The next morning we drove down US385 which runs from Ft. Stockton to the Persimmon Gap entrance of Big Bend NP. Along the way we stop to stretch our legs at a rest area we have used before for overnight stays.</font></strong></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BK6uW0Cq75EVrzjhiRfJLKcyLputRM_W"><img width="704" height="376" title="image" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="image" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1iq39R2O-mK_Rs_Go-ftFWVfDeBKH9ft2" border="0"></a></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1rUV0qCaqLwyAjRh-7gG2S199nyrpNZ7u"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191209_122758" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191209_122758" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1JXqI0D0FtIczJuVFCyfUFszueMRMms8V" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">While out walking around, EJ found some artwork left behind by some hardy souled bicyclist no doubt.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1zLVLB46Y3lKttpqun9g7ufUh5oBQD6hl"><img width="529" height="704" title="20191209_122700" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20191209_122700" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Sr7E87AAwId5mVAdoiaIWBVGFkr71aM0" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">When we arrive at the entrance to Big Bend, the guard station is deserted. Alright, we’ll just stop at the Persimmon Gap visitor center. Oops, can’t to that either. It’s closed. A sign on the door says we need to check in at Panther Junction visitor center.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">After showing our reservations to the Ranger at Panther Junction, we continue our journey to Rio Grande Village Campground. But along the way we spy a coyote lurking in the bushes giving us the “stink eye”.(More on the coyote later)</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1uUH6zq7GbA53u3XK7iTpKqAlLJV0gzzN"><img width="704" height="512" title="20191209_132847" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191209_132847" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1xi_r7i2GPdPJNbFhwo-kJDzfTiwwCuVD" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">Once we pass through the tunnel, we are greeted with this view. Oh my! A whole 10 days of scenes like this coming up!</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1WJvTofoDqpGBrXDO2SMhzZtlBdK1qlY9"><img width="704" height="344" title="20191209_142548" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191209_142548" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dMpt4M8CYx2VRxgpqgO5PvAUO_s1k0kx" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">We get settled into our spot and Gabby has already made herself at home.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dAmLbjseQZgVKD105p_8PTwX2hljgqVw"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191210_122443" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191210_122443" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=10MilzgqrpoApH2RoK59Smd23vOPN0qUO" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">We had a very large campsite and it was level. Plus it was raised, so when they flood the fields to irrigate, it will stay nice and dry. The red arrow marks our spot.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1luIjPbeLIUcN3mXV1riakn_8vUxrgi08"><img width="704" height="376" title="Rio Grande Village Map" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Rio Grande Village Map" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1sGYjsA8qtAK9JwMQ37_Dwlb3prgBaoVJ" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">A new addition since last time we were here are bear boxes. Folks in soft sided campers and tents make good use of these. The camp hosts were pretty strict about enforcing the rules, which we appreciated. Even I got chastised for letting our old arthritic cat (Maggie) walk around without a leash. I was much more diligent about evading detection after that.</font></strong></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ps2lVQBPlobW6n2ARvR9AoShrrflBD8B"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191211_171347" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191211_171347" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Izjr_P9_p5yIbS0ZUPk8scqw4XropyuQ" border="0"></a></p><p><strong><font size="3">One day driving around, it looked like the clouds were eating the mountains.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=10Ejl5U-_CxPhkq1QMUjGQquHUg8A8zIM"><img width="339" height="167" title="20191210_142800" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191210_142800" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1SPDkx-6rgcdv1BB5uuGMZdEckKVKzj_E" border="0"></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VoWBL1_1FvAGpscriPiqng-cUhCtXZ-O"><img width="339" height="167" title="20191211_135420" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191211_135420" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1fZDke23dvCeRGvbsA-cHlST7uCvt8YMz" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">We made drive up to Chisos Basin, which has the only restaurant and lodge in the park. After we ate lunch, EJ wanted to pay some bills (personal responsibilities never go away) so we got out the laptop and connected to one of the few cell signals in the park. And it was windy and it was cold, but she persevered and accomplished her goal.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1b3A7zYjbQEBl2sfjTofygxCLki3KGCEM"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191211_154037" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191211_154037" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1xfPAQhb1SGcZNOeI2ZDbZk2O4qHwyrtS" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">Here you can see the <strong><font size="3">Chisos Basin </font></strong>restaurant up the hill from the visitor center parking lot.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1CrndgLgLJhgeqV8UL2gq0PshLjXqIW2h"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191211_154201" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191211_154201" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1aE6oZvhZ25aAkraCLkXlUVdFk_xDa_Ta" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><p><font size="3"><strong>One day we took a walk along the Rio Grande River headed east from the campground. Along the way ( on the US side ) we were approached by an old cowboy-ish looking Mexican. He wanted us to pay him to sing. We opted to decline since we had already heard him singing as we walked up the trail.</strong></font></p><p><font size="3"><strong>EJ was a little skeptical about my choice of a trail as we walked along the continually shrinking path. </strong></font></p><p><font size="3"><strong><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_Zl_Ifb0pezidyiLzStRQDQ_jjCp11Be"><img width="529" height="704" title="20191213_143428" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20191213_143428" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BQHItzIAMbuinMxZgyRmERFyl77axY_y" border="0"></a> </strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="3">Another day we drove over to Castolon to see the visitor center and store. It is a 56 mile trip one way from where we are camped. I tell you, this park is huge!. Boy were we surprised when we showed up. When we quizzed the ranger on duty, she told of a fire that had gotten out of control and had burned down the old historic buildings. It appears that across the Rio Grande River, piles of trash were being burned when they shouldn’t have been. It was too windy. The ashes jumped the river and caught the under brush on fire on the US side . Unfortunately it reached Castolon and burnt the store, the ranger station and the old bathrooms.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pbcbNw7iuhpTHjOICfTBAkPVOdD5Jmfd"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191215_153926" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191215_153926" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1xZStbs714YDX27NaedEADTmfiQj1tjcp" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1-eJqfMYsdGUo_bK63MNQTEHpwVb5f34J"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191215_153934" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191215_153934" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1MSKYN0te-ac434XqCmsGutniocQK779S" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3">Since we had driven as far as Castolon, we went ahead and drove on to Santa Elena Canyon. This time though, the river was high. This meant to get to the Santa Elena trail we would have to wade through mud and water if we wanted to hike it. We decided maybe next time.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1IMDTWzkOcbCZASQVyvgtG1oVcF3GWD0G"><img width="529" height="704" title="DSCN1260" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="DSCN1260" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BMFlhuLc5pVziQ45divvvoIXWkrYSDgU" border="0"></a></font></strong></p><strong><p><font size="3">On the way back to Miss Mosey that evening, we spotted the coyote again. We had seen him almost every time we drove along this part of the road. This time though, as we slowed down to take pictures he (or she) ran out to snap at our tires. Guess he (or she) felt pretty strongly about guarding this section of the road.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1LFEgvQWu3qcBfyW0gM9allV18jKOYrz_"><img width="704" height="522" title="20191215_175121" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191215_175121" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1poST76WQ3xMiOiwyMkCwFACm-RUtGVWA" border="0"></a></p><font size="3"><p>One day that we were feeling particularly wimpy, (we had been battling colds all week) we took a short hike on the nature loop close to where we were camped. We didn’t realize we would have to cross a swamp as part of the hike.</p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ADNUAey9CeONGpJUZg-bNpMPj51jBLv0"><img width="704" height="529" title="DSCN1239" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="DSCN1239" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VGGFQoWgQRwa7qwJz2lMNcLTQOloiFCA" border="0"></a></p><p>Fortunately they had thought to built a bridge over it.</p><p>Along the way we also encounter an entrepreneur’s offering along the trail. Hiking sticks, beer can coozies, and wire trinkets are for sale. Along with a message that the proceeds go to the education of the children across the border. Whether or not they do go to the children, it tugs at the old heart strings. </p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1LWYt1pNfCPbukG2kgrVrgMCObPrETEsS"><img width="704" height="529" title="DSCN1247" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="DSCN1247" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18-AJA84ERsLXJaUVb_W6-jhzRYF2QAtB" border="0"></a></p><p>At the highest point of the nature loop, you can see Boquillas in the distance. (look for tiny blue buildings) That is the only Mexican town near Big Bend NP. There is even an official border crossing that serves the town and a passport is required if you travel over and want to get back in the USA. The only way to cross the border is to wade the Rio Grande River or hire a boat to take you across. Once you cross into Mexico it is still about a mile walk into town. Alternatively, you can pay for a mule ride or pickup truck ride into town.</p><p>The town has no external electric distribution system serving it. In 2015 the Mexican government funded the installation of solar power for the town and the electric lines to supply it to households and businesses in the town. The town has enough battery power to last two days without sunshine. But thanks to solar power, restaurants have refrigerators now and you can get cold cervezas.</p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1wv_OVAWsiGMGANCCuHR6G_EyN1YhWH4-"><img width="704" height="368" title="DSCN1241" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="DSCN1241" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1kwefiZfvGUvWhi7Q_G_NlMts4f1aPP0Y" border="0"></a></p><p> Every day we would stop by the Rio Grande Village Store to use the internet to check on Dad. We discovered a new feature on our phones that allow us to make phone calls over wifi. How cool is that!! Especially since in this part of the park there is no cell service. Each time we went to the store there would be a cluster of 5 to 10 people hanging around outside where the wifi signal was strongest. Invariably someone would ask us if we were getting a cell signal since they saw us talking on the cell phone.</p><p>Then on December 17th when we tried to make daily contact with Dad he wouldn’t answer the phone. We even tried calling Dads friend, Joe Farley, and he wouldn’t answer either. By now we were starting to get worried. Finally just after the noon hour, Joe called us to let us know Dad was back in the hospital.</p><p>EJ and I made a quick decision to leave 3 days early and head straight back to San Angelo. The cats settled in as we hit the road.</p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vEFlGcRJw6ulDac0dc0z-WTyOWXCFhnx"><img width="246" height="326" title="20191217_123750" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191217_123750" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=15enImNRH4E_TsVfgbGcmuBwXZ9iYAJSc" border="0"></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1MLwXmb8E68KnfzzoxcPFU53905A37FcP"><img width="432" height="325" title="20191217_123809" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191217_123809" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1e7MzySEjTZz_4r7TziflZ_rKn_5m6NUR" border="0"></a></p><p>By 6:45pm we were back at Rio Concho Manor in San Angelo, Texas hooked up to the power pole and on our way to see Dad at the hospital.</p><p>But, more on that next.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p></font></strong>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-72588830069370660682019-11-06T13:03:00.001-08:002019-11-06T13:03:43.877-08:00Public Lands<p><font size="4"><strong>Northern New Mexico, 10-18-19</strong></font></p><p><font size="4">Who would want to camp like this…..</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dI2g2Mx3z8Li5nacU7pyUXOj5jv0MZlL"><img width="704" height="469" title="crowded RV Park" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="crowded RV Park" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pIIIdcz1iBUcBIBBTEcoMsMVpm70_J9W" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">when there are so many better places to camp in your rig?</font></p><p><font size="4">Back in August I talked about the trouble we had been having finding “good” places to boondock, or dry camp. Looking back over the summer and early fall our luck has improved. We’ve continued to explore and have found some wonderful places to settle for a few days or even a few weeks. As much as we hope to find that ideal boondocking or Public Land spot that is just off the paved road that no else knows about, they are either very rare or don’t exist.</font></p><p><font size="4">Being realistic though, we<font size="4"> like to find a spot with a view. Being surrounded by trees is nice, but after looking at tree trunks for a few days, they all begin to look the same and bring on a claustrophobic feeling as well. We like an open spot with mountains or water or some spectacular terrain in sight. Some of these are several miles from pavement and that means Miss Mosey is going to get dirty. But the views and solitude are worth it.</font></font></p><p><font size="4">Gas pipeline right of way outside of Mancos, CO. National Forest dispersed camping.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1vIqyPJxs5Uu76R4AnXYbUdqpk-sIdUfK"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190820_134730" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190820_134730" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1V3HNwO18pN5-WtM7FQbZnJROK6DDK8Gw" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">National Forest dispersed camping alongside the Dolores River between Rico and Telluride, CO.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1jnk8jqZ6mX04-R4dU_MMTiy888vwj4FE"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190827_142629" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190827_142629" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1zL5pLR2Nm86ki5gcE1ZvKiWgQTg_V46V" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">National Forest campground alongside the Rio Grande River</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1h7J6dQAHpBYrbYv3UX34UW6AK6pCgCuU"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190913_140216" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190913_140216" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1PaSD8JBfvz43Tg_2Hscf65bk5JVYVEf_" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">Palisade NF campground near Wagon Wheel Gap, CO</font></p><p><font size="4"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190913_181404" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190913_181404" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1GTLptN-zaB-jTWeOXLbm4iNhmNSADcAV" border="0"></font></p><p><font size="4">Mosca, CO Wildlife Management Area</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1r8v4MNtkSCAugJ9jkrehaZT0cAql8mkU"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191003_175224" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191003_175224" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_Lwa1WRJTmBK5iLoJvoedjXm_CWHYs0V" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">Highway Springs National Forest campground near South Fork, CO.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=10bb4pkkHui_CmkDugrT5NXmNC2rqCC70"><img width="704" height="529" title="IMG_1667" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_1667" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1znyAbbC98kTS-goEpTu4HB5hxTY7gjXD" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">Dispersed camping near Lizard Head Pass, CO.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Cds80hYkBne4tX9fDS6BMMAQNqgY1W_i"><img width="704" height="529" title="IMG_3225" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_3225" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1uHuW7mNMyuxDbNzo02Np0thj0Y5wev_i" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">Not only do locations like these soothe our souls, but Gabby prefers them too.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=18PvCInrr0mmFTvzh46tCjTNNrRzqHSce"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190915_133550" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190915_133550" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1rg6DK9HEERkFI8u5BZEkT3o6JX44Ve9g" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">Noises in the bushes will keep her entranced for hours. But then after an afternoon of being in hunting mode, a nap is in order.</font></p><p><font size="4"><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ecZLDvgDz89yUXmJ0yheL3dBVzF-2-1H"><img width="704" height="344" title="20190818_165620" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190818_165620" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1GYufYxsdkFPbu3Y5CVYQI1zAqMq5KgIp" border="0"></a></font></font></p><p><font size="4">We have to admit, Colorado is probably our favorite state for getting away from it all. There is so much wide open space and magnificent beauty. It’s also a great place to indulge our hobby, Geocaching. Below is EJ entering our geoname in a cache we found in the mountains.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pJmGcAXdZH5BF3P-EUhvGf5jKAX0-A_0"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190915_175131" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190915_175131" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_b-W6Ot7kh6vNmN3scDbrRftCvdvUin9" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">So long until next time!</font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-66555202265417929912019-10-17T11:45:00.001-07:002019-10-18T12:36:53.178-07:00Arghh!! It’s open enrollment time again!<p><strong><font size="4">White Rock RV Park, White Rock, NM, 10-17-19</font></strong></p><p><font size="4">I am very proud of EJ today. It’s only been 2 days since open enrollment started (for us old folks on Medicare open enrollment ends December 7). She declared that we were gonna get this done and out of the way so we don’t have to worry about it any more. We are excellent procrastinators and waiting until the very end to accomplish something is not uncommon.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VTd-lKyMBUq2szzcGNE1PfWCA4zCZpT9"><img width="704" height="397" title="aep-graphic" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="aep-graphic" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1CMqwCDj_tC4QcncjXlRqdayXFTZm6ulq" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">One of the reasons for leading with the “Arghh” in the title is the mandate that we must carry Medicare Part D insurance for drugs or risk being monetarily penalized for the rest of our lives. Fortunately, EJ and I only have one prescription drug each that we require. And we can buy those drugs from Walmart with out using any insurance for far less than the price of the required policy.</font></p><p><font size="4">And not only that, Humana sent us an email stating that if we wanted to keep our equivalent drug plan for 2020 it would cost each of us over an extra $30 a month. We prefer to stick with Humana because they are partnered with Walmart. And almost any where you go there is a Walmart nearby. Plus, it is so easy to transfer a prescription from one Walmart to another which is great for full time RVers.</font></p><p><font size="4">So we started crunching numbers to try and understand which drug plan would be best and cheapest for us. Humanas’ price for a 2020 plan equivalent to what we have in 2019 is $58 per month. That’s $696 a year for each of us!! We can walk down to Walmart and buy four 90 day supplies for our prescriptions (with out insurance) for $40 per year each. That means we are throwing $656 down the drain.</font></p><p><font size="4">Obviously we have to make a change. We can’t change the law and we don’t want to be penalized by opting out of the drug insurance plan all together. We continue digging and find that Humana has a “Walmart Value Rx plan for only $13.20 per month each. So instead of paying $696 for drugs that only cost us $40, we will pay $158.40 for those $40 worth of drugs, or a savings of $537.60 per year. It’s sad that we have to pay 4 times what the drugs actually cost, but in the end I guess we are subsidizing those in less fortunate circumstances.</font></p><p><font size="4">For those interested, Walmart has a list of drugs and their prices for a 30 day and a 90 day supply is located <a href="https://i5.walmartimages.com/dfw/4ff9c6c9-1ce4/k2-_e81ec767-0d2a-41d7-8851-bd1b8be9510f.v1.pdf" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Compare this to the price of your drug insurance, you might be surprised.</font></p><p><font size="4">Next we tackled our supplemental health insurance. Since Medicare only covers 80% of your medical bill, we needed something to cover the other 20%. We’ve been with Florida Blue since I turned 65 and they have worked out well for us as we travel. This year I have had more medical attention than I like, and no matter where we were, Florida Blue has handled it. So even though they raised their prices by about $15 a month we decided to stick with them for another year. We use their Plan F. </font></p><p><font size="4">This all took the better part of the day. But it’s over with now for another year and kudos to my dear wife for making sure we did this instead of procrastinating.</font></p><p><font size="4">Obligatory cat picture follows:</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1oHCca_FiQBCM4E3Ucvsk13fgj1qp19au"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191017_195732" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191017_195732" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1tYe94JAVL16nvXMB8wyKncGrGxoN9blm" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4"><br></font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-42819600052070432462019-10-12T07:53:00.001-07:002019-10-17T15:59:39.970-07:00Miss Maggie Gives Us a Scare<p><font size="4"><strong>Aspen Ridge RV Park, 9-27 to 10-1-19, South Fork, CO</strong></font></p><p><font size="4">Miss Maggie, as you may know, is our elder rescue cat. She joined our family in September of 2016 after we found her in a Priest River, Idaho animal shelter. We thought she looked so old and frail that she wouldn’t last through the winter. We decided that we wanted to make her last days as comfortable as possible so the decision was made to take her home with us.</font></p><p><font size="4">Well, it wasn’t quite that straightforward as we Putnam’s never seem to make a snap decision about important things. We actually left her overnight while we talked about having her join our family. And it got cold that night so we worried about whether the shelter would keep her inside or would she be cold, would she make it and so on.</font></p><p><font size="4">Three years later, she is still a part of our nomadic little group. Oh she still has her health problems that we deal with. In her previous life she had some trauma with her hips and now her mobility is limited. But she has learned that if she squawks loud enough we will help her up into a chair or down as the case may be. We travel with a ramp that we set up at the foot of our bed so she can walk up to go to sleep, or walk down for a late night snack.</font></p><p><font size="4">She weighs about 5 pounds and never seems to gain any weight even though she has a voracious appetite. One of the medical problems she has is megacolon. This is a condition where the large intestine gets, well larger in diameter, and the bowel muscles get weak making it hard to go to the bathroom. The vet has prescribed lactulose which has really helped.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ee7kok1YqyFvRc8c1R9XxXFKvYbfr8gw"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190927_222756" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190927_222756" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ks-1z5iEyvJvz3lD1bLduSQnwt76EMCw" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">Naturally when anything changes with her eating and bathroom habits we go on high alert. In the past, she has been to the vets several times to get, as we call it, “roto-rooted” to get her go to the bathroom( that’s Frank’s way of saying she received an enema) . This hasn’t happened in over two years so the Lactulose is working really well.</font></p><p><font size="4">One day in late September she stopped eating altogether. She acted like she wanted to eat, but when she would get to her food bowl she would start making gagging noises. We tried all her favorite foods and got the same results.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1RBRptmYb-ToMZ0FuyBEF_f0lxG1D2cZd"><img width="704" height="529" title="20191010_081905" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191010_081905" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=17aoIgP2f1c3hLWiJDrYeU9dA0MraMwu7" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">We steeled ourselves for the worst (thinking this may be the end) and made an appointment at the vet in Monte Vista, CO. This is the same vet office we took Gabby to a year ago when she had the <a href="https://fnej.blogspot.com/2018/06/" target="_blank">“Gabby Bot”</a> experience.</font></p><p><font size="4">The vets there are kind and gentle and spend as much time with you as you want, while answering your questions and concerns. We insisted on all kinds of tests which all came back fine. There was no infection, her bloodwork was fine, all indications pointed to a healthy kitty. So why wouldn’t she eat. The vet ended up rehydrating Miss Maggie, and giving her an appetite enhancer. We asked for and received some special food that tasted extra delicious hoping that would help.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VI_uP9SyAxn-Ej-imCjQ0JHfiElJXpYu"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190928_093349" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190928_093349" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_JokTX8b-nXqu_GOZ3eQUVGJ3g08U4Jk" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">After paying a hefty bill, we returned back to the RV and opened up a can of the special food. And she gobbled it up.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1tC_W0ghZQ-ixSslvPfj97VzB8dCoY-Xt"><img width="704" height="543" title="20191010_075046" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20191010_075046" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=13Ce9eQI_uDbKgQtmbtqOBjiyQn2s2q9n" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">The next day, I got the old off brand cat food (Paws) out of the refrigerator and put it in her bowl. When I set it on the floor she walked up to it and started gagging again, but didn’t eat any of it. I replaced it with some canned Friskies and she gobbled it down. Hmpf!! Could all of this been because of a can of “bad” cat food? The only difference is this time she only sniffed it and the previous time she actually ate it.</font></p><p><font size="4">Life in Miss Mosey is back to normal again and so is Miss Maggie. Basking in the sun is always good.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1i3GLuE-UPgxlMAll0l5B88Xb3NCowpA9"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190929_123316" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190929_123316" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1HXtKpopurFUNO2U6kVztx6TgUhVoPKV3" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4"><br></font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-240913504641186192019-08-25T18:17:00.001-07:002019-08-25T18:17:25.560-07:00Musings about Camping<p><font size="4"><strong>Railroad Grade Road (FS-568) Dispersed Camping near Mancos, CO – 8-18 to 8-24-19</strong></font></p><p><font size="3">This year has seen our camping costs run the gamut from $50/night to free. As you know from following our blog we try to stay away from destination style campgrounds. However due to circumstances we may find ourselves near a popular town because we need to dump, fill and do laundry or because we are exploring boondocking possibilities and need a base to operate from. </font></p><p><font size="3">Due to the huge number of recreational vehicles being sold, 483,000 in 2018 and 504,000 in 2017, campgrounds are in high demand. This means that it is nearly impossible to find campground availability on weekends when making short term plans. Many campers are now making weekend reservations up to a year in advance to secure a spot. Life changes, who can plan that far ahead?</font></p><p><font size="3">Another thing that exacerbates the problem of lack of availability is that the penalty for not showing up for a weekend reservation in a federal campground is often only $9, or the service charge for the reservation service. Often we will travel through a Forest Service campground on the weekends only to find several spaces empty. But you cannot occupy these spaces because they have been reserved.</font></p><p><font size="3">In a perverse way this works out to our advantage because we don’t like crowds anyway so dealing with fully booked campgrounds forces us to seek out lesser known towns and campsites that are away from popular spots. This means several things: 1) you have to look at camp sites more than 2 hours away from a major metropolitan area to minimize the “weekender onslaught”; 2) you have to seek out less popular areas; 3) you have to visit areas in the off season; 4) you have to travel far to get beyond the “comfort zone of most RVers” which will also mean fewer camping opportunities and fewer camping services.</font></p><p><font size="3">We’ve been experimenting with fine tuning our techniques this year. We have imposed a limitation on ourselves to not be more than a 3 day drive from San Angelo, Texas for family reasons which makes this challenging.</font></p><p><font size="3">Our first major stay was in Cloudcroft, NM. We found a nice National Forest Campground with paved sites that did not accept reservations. But it was only 1.5 hours from Las Cruces/El Paso and it was too close to Texas. Anyone in Texas seeking cooler weather was coming to Cloudcroft. On the weekends, the campground was overrun by folks from Las Cruces/El Paso. Unfortunately the camp hosts were instructed to not make waves which meant that many of the campground rules were ignored. For example, sites were limited to one camping unit and one vehicle. On weekends no attempt was made to enforce this rule. As a result the noise and amount of people created quite a disturbance.</font></p><p><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1KcbnZ2ujKEfIANZaYyhog8qWNHuLhAkW"><img width="704" height="471" title="20190713_113037" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190713_113037" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19v-KiWjrwMfhm0I_Hx-riR2X6AYc170D" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="3">The site you see was a double site meaning 2 cars and two camping units or tents were what was expected to be on this site. There ended up being 5 cars and 6 tents, squalling kids and partying going on well after the 10pm quiet hour. We were formerly in the empty site next to them, but when it became apparent the rules were not going to be enforced we moved.</font></p><p><font size="3">So that is where we learned our lesson about being too close to major population centers.</font></p><p><font size="3">While there we talked to several full time or near full time RVers. Red River, NM was mentioned as a possible destination. It seemed to fit the criteria. Over 3 hours from the nearest major population center, no discernible popular activities and cool temperatures. </font></p><p><font size="3">What we didn’t realize we had to take into consideration was the proximity to Texas. Once again, it appeared that every Texan that had wheels was in Red River. Also the town had no uniqueness, no soul. It existed solely to serve the tourists. Obviously it was successful in that endeavor. </font></p><p><font size="3">We chose to stay in another National Forest Campground where we found once again that rules were the merest suggestion and not subject to any enforcement. We had what we thought was a secluded site flanked on 2 sides by single unit campsites. Then this happened right next to us.</font></p><p><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1a3sKDQ81UYyP6pFeGXOX6eTLMHNXKeoc"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190812_105517" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190812_105517" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1bRX8Cpi3z-5hMPMhgQZ9qK6JxPMaK6CP" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="3">This is a small single family site. The occupants are squeezing in 3 cars, one travel trailer, 4 tents, 3 shelters, 8 adults and 3 screaming kids. The two cars are partially blocking the interior road. The camp host is at a remote location and comes by once a day to collect money from the iron ranger. Apparently he too, had been instructed to not make waves about the rules.</font></p><p><font size="3">For RVers like us that seek out nature and peacefulness, it appears that National Forest Campgrounds may not be the answer. Usually they are peaceful and quiet Monday through Thursday, but come the weekend they more resemble a wild animal zoo.</font></p><p><font size="3">So, what are a couple of campers to do? In our search for tranquility, we have stayed at several lessor known commercial parks. While they are pleasant, and not horribly overpriced, they lack personality. We still want the mountains, forests and views.</font></p><p><font size="3">We had been reading a lot about boondocking up around Silverton, CO. That’s in the mountains, right? Plenty of camping opportunities in the wilderness right? We picked a spot in Durango (after being turned down by two other campgrounds because they were booked). It was fifty bucks a night for a site with the utilities installed backwards. We had to park with our front windshield pushed up to a tree so we could connect to the hookups. But we had air conditioning and since it was hot we were gonna use the heck out of that electricity. The only reason we were staying in Durango was so we could scout out some off the grid camping spots near Silverton or Ouray to spend a few weeks at cooler altitudes.</font></p><p><font size="3">Boy were we shocked. All of the spots we checked were either to dangerous to take Miss Mosey, or packed like a commercial campground on a 4th of July weekend. Any place accessible by Miss Mosey looked like this.</font></p><p><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1h5_-SuBahvPG9M7l5U5euOmsYhyiPlli"><img width="704" height="411" title="Silverton Boondocking" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Silverton Boondocking" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19jiJC3S0qKVG2YSJnK9j3TFbmHA38sXP" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="3">What’s is the point of going boondocking if your neighbor is 10 feet away from you. Free camping is nice, but at what sacrifice? So, disappointed, we returned to Durango.</font></p><p><font size="3">We know that in the summer, you have to find a spot at 9,000 feet or above to have cool daytime temperatures. We weren’t ready to go all the way to Telluride, so we picked a spot near Mancos, CO but it was only at 8,000 feet. We ended up in a spot with a great view and no neighbors.</font></p><p><font size="3"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1afPcuVsGsvKzCmATJfmzmTO1yn7lpqzV"><img width="704" height="529" title="P1040689" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1040689" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pz-KXnz61LoyCsUgiIIsK4DGbHw1BHwJ" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="3"> Because of the lack of elevation, it gets a little too warm during the day. Our solar system is handling 95% of our electrical needs and it is so peaceful here. However, because of the low to mid 80 degree daytime temperatures, we will soon be moving to either higher elevations or somewhere with an electrical hookup. Oh and one more thing, you can actually see the Milky Way from here.</font></p><p><font size="3">So what have we learned from all this? If we are honest, a lot of camping is hit or miss. Social media has ruined a lot of boondocking spots. Everybody wants to brag about the great spot they found and where it is. And so they become crowded. Also the shear number of RVers out there are competing for a limited number of spots. Think of Musical Chairs on steroids.</font></p><p><font size="3">Sometimes you have to suffer a lot of thorns to find the rose. We continue to learn and adapt about how to find wonderful places to camp while trying to avoid the crowds. More remote spots seem to help. Our style of RVing, “winging” it is becoming more and more difficult. But if it was easy, everybody would be doing it, right?</font></p><p><font size="3"><br></font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-70617835655222118902019-05-28T11:45:00.001-07:002019-05-28T11:46:37.917-07:00Ice!<p><strong><font size="3">Show Low, AZ, Elks Lodge #2090 - May 24 to 27, 2019</font></strong></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=195qoeTzLkrZEHu7m6yRbodzcNSSm2ytn"><img width="704" height="442" title="ice cubes" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="ice cubes" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1PkaT66vqGgk_CGGHZ3JK9ZBPE_Kth-7N" border="0"></a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Ice, the elixir of life. The substance, the glue that pulls together an excellent adult libation. Warm bourbon and soda? Nope! Warm gin and tonic? Nope again! Ice is a staple of life, an absolute requirement.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">In our refrigerator, a residential model, we have a spot for an ice maker, but they are problematic and takes up a lot of room. So instead, we buy our ice, as it is readily available at almost every filling station and certainly every grocery store across the country. Plus , a bag of ice doesn’t have any delicate parts to break like an ice maker.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">For the two of us a bag of ice will last about 2 weeks and cost between $2 and $2.50 per bag or about 5 bucks a month.</font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Uh oh! Looks like the ice situation is getting critical.</font></p><p><font face="Arial"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VSa1kR-MoOXQWoRDNttH7Qx8Z-gU9XLV"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190527_172840" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190527_172840" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1pf6m60r6o-tLl00cAViGC2-pMejGbqWC" border="0"></a><br></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">Fortunately we have reserves.</font></p><p><font face="Arial"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Rm3B2RiYxCsfKmt64Dn78N3EFhiKUlFQ"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190527_172834" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190527_172834" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1dQiatbSAfrFhDs4dpcjg2k3MsqrUbkCX" border="0"></a><br></font></p><p><font face="Arial" size="3">All is good, the adult beverages shall not go unchilled this evening. Once again, all is calm in Miss Mosey.</font></p>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84508590152796605.post-13913214468429172012019-04-14T10:04:00.000-07:002019-08-25T10:06:30.767-07:00On Route 66<p><font size="4"><strong>Kingman, AZ 4-7 to 4-13-19</strong></font></p><p><font size="4">Since the temperatures here in the high desert were a little cooler than Quartzsite we decided to check out the Elks Lodge in Kingman. They have plenty of space for RVs, just no hookups. In other words, right up our alley.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=19HV1VMaIji233fin_cNSpGcU9Jh7q_TQ"><img width="704" height="344" title="20190408_105907" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190408_105907" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1kVAF7sH-epqJl99HyVGTSLk72WPz6lLz" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">We stayed a week and generally had the place to ourselves. The lodge is located in a residential area next to a golf course so it was very quiet.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1n0rNfH64F554tlQJrafR5DZ27p_Li31q"><img width="704" height="344" title="20190408_105753" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190408_105753" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1RErTlzAZn1I67d-d1kBLpBVHwxvqVXFS" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">The RV parking area is located on an old tennis court. The lodge asks that you minimize running your generator so as to not give neighbors a reason to complain about noise. For us it was great because it is in full sun, the temperatures were mild and our solar panels were happy everyday.</font></p><p><font size="4">Kingman is a great jumping off point for various tourist attractions and we visited them all.</font></p><p><font size="4">Chloride is small mining community that is eking out a living by catering to a small number of tourists.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1NaBhY60seaJr1dzxJi2qvBEGd5JxiQNY"><img width="704" height="344" title="20190409_121744" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_121744" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1jX8ZHVv0dOGo8FzyIq1oVN4PEQ9CQA_f" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4"> It was formed in 1862 to serve the silver ore mining community. It’s main claim to fame now is “The Pride of Chloride”, a bunch of boulders painted by hippie Roy Purcell in the 1960’s. He reportedly stated that the paintings were the result of deep personal introspection. Personal, I think he just got high and stayed that way until he was done. But the paintings can speak for themselves. The aging hippie returned in 2006 to touch up his work.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1AQgSWP-Y5c9oHuZ-vsx5xMkeBsxaqrWJ"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190409_135601" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_135601" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=17-uoWXBRvj0OOLgSgobhm1fqahC_6b04" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1AkqKj3NX8lDACQCOpUBheLi5t-i0Jkjn"><img width="344" height="704" title="20190409_135835" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_135835" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1lECKIEuCawyCCgSpz1n9lPhlaK6gGOgs" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1M_XHXGwo2uPscVMtaH5unhiRpNH-G6BW"><img width="704" height="344" title="20190409_135911" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_135911" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1scFCpj4P-t2bwP2lp83a7z-lXFNCmLwA" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">In Chloride itself is an old western town recreation. We were the only ones there.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1HNYOF6gy82qqljym98ulxQGTHmVjHG74"><img width="704" height="344" title="20190409_122840" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_122840" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1KFhTlbIhjJ5WSDiDnE5WstxnBbQzpcyG" border="0"></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1x1JuTHMdXSNUbju0Vb0W3pbFcAMKtXQf"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190409_122517" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_122517" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1poqgrpBsnAATQBw8irwHJxQqLn9fMDgO" border="0"></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1lM2uCNrZHxRNz8nyKDPXE_zNOu_Hk8Uv"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190409_122604" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_122604" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Ai-T7pU_BIGuitITGtV25K-O9-yP0eTV" border="0"></a></font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=11hOLVdssOZRA8tOZzL2wsunNEndlHWmX"><font size="4"><img width="452" height="704" title="20190409_122903" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_122903" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1-U6ArMbvIj-qpfaXlrHlwBnQ4UqPB-nJ" border="0"></font></a></p><p><font size="4">We continued walking around town and discovered a sight that gave meaning to the phrase “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure”.</font></p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1VxtT3QBvl8LHqX4VIYaj83G40RHGgW4d"><img width="704" height="344" title="20190409_131833" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190409_131833" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1YJSC7XQpliTwhKwVP8yqzsJApAMFEI6W" border="0"></a></p><p><font size="4">Many years ago we had visited Oatman, AZ in our Roadtrek 19 Popular. It was long enough ago that memories have faded so we felt that a revisit was in order. Along the road from Kingman to Oatman, the tourist books tell of a must stop to visit a spring pool up a hill.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1DpnbtCcz4HQrwlaisz7FzP6R185JrDcz"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190410_131159" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190410_131159" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1bdrOymD1Jp8ON7TplFP2manwrA-MEGAC" border="0"></a></font></p><p><font size="4">It was a trickle of water out of a rock into a small basin someone had created with rocks and mortar. Oh, and it was up a steep hill from the road. Well, it was a good excuse to stretch our legs.</font></p><p><font size="4">And Oatman is a tired little western town whose claim to fame are the donkeys running loose around town. Other than that it is the typical little ticky tacky tourist town. It’s location is unique as it is squeezed in among steep hills and there is hardly any room for parking.</font></p><p><font size="4"><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1IWsXn-MDPtVP3A-fkUJ_eVOZjlK7kuSM"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190410_134134" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190410_134134" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1OAgBBlcT9x4UPxVCIB3As-FtjRyDtqVY" border="0"></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1wKw8vdGZqw-SxWQ6m_JRxGBZycK65xSB"><img width="704" height="344" title="20190410_135251" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190410_135251" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_be5tZnij_xuAnZMGc1fc-KNEV5-sKKa" border="0"></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1oliiPX3iiUcdWDz6w_NioNJdIlbenTSH"><img width="529" height="704" title="20190410_143425" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="20190410_143425" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BfEX6nps40dicAZVEHh4mNkYGgVz0hsQ" border="0"></a></font></p><font size="4"><p>By this time EJ is ready to try her luck at the gaming establishments. The closest place to Kingman is Laughlin, NV near the California border. She kindly chooses the Riverside Resort Casino thinking of me. I don’t gamble. My opinion is that I may as well throw my money on the floor considering the luck I have. The Riverside Resort just happened to have a car museum in it. Yay! So it was a win-win.</p><p><a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1BUKoOd68FusBMLyTd0vjm6ViDtI9nSzw"><img width="704" height="529" title="20190408_125735" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190408_125735" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1irII4BEfoUbz-ZsIgjNqpJoFSgtEtRRV" border="0"></a> </p><p>The Kingman Elks Lodge was one of the friendliest lodges we have visited. We were invited to play card games ( the sporting kind where money is involved) and to participate in their Wii bowling league. Unfortunately it is a smoking lodge and the smoke was quite strong.</p><p>We offered to pay for our stay, but there was no charge and they even told us to stay as long as we like. But we still had country to see and explore, so after 7 days it was time to move on.</p><p><br></p></font>FnEJ (Frank and EJ)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11205900868349223569noreply@blogger.com0