OUR LITTLE MOTORMOUSE HAS GONE TO BE WITH HER OLD PALS, MAX & CHECKERS

OUR LITTLE MOTORMOUSE JUST A FEW SHORT DAYS AGO

We had a feeling all day yesterday that the end was near for our little Cora.  She had thrown up half dozen times, wouldn’t eat & wouldn’t drink any water.  She was very restless, very weak & could only move a few feet before laying down.  Her legs were wobbly & she had trouble standing up.  She did not appear to be in any pain & we didn’t want to subject her to any more Vet stuff.  We felt her time was at hand & we wanted her to die quietly at home surrounded by the love of her family.  I think she knew she was dying because she didn’t die before saying goodbye.

She had been lying quietly on her bed beside her toys.  Kelly had given her a snuggle before going to bed.  I was in my chair wrapping up my computer stuff.  Motor, surprisingly got up, walked past me to the bedroom door & laid down on the rug.  We later felt she had gone to say goodbye to Kelly.  I decided not to disturb her by lifting her onto Kelly’s chair where she normally slept.  I was afraid her restlessness would cause her to fall off the chair.  Sat on my bed for a minute & Pheebs jumped up on my red chair.  I was surprised to see Motor get up & walk around the corner of the chair.  Looked like she was regaining her strength.  She walked up to Pheebs & stood looking at her just a few inches away.  She then took a few more steps & looked up at me.  I reached down & petted her as she laid down on the floor.  Talked to her softly & squiggled her ears.  She then got up & walked smartly to her water dish & stood there for a few seconds.  I then watched her walk over to one of her favorite spots under Kelly’s front passenger seat.  She disappeared under there & I was slightly hopeful she was rallying back again.  With that thought in mind I fell asleep.  

I woke up around 3 with an uneasy feeling.  It was just too quiet.  Climbed out of bed, picked up my flashlight & walked over by the front passenger seat.  Saw Motor’s little brown tail sticking out so knew she was still there.  Knelt down & shone my flashlight on her.  She looked like she was sleeping but there was no movement.  When I put my hand on her I knew she was gone.  She had scampered off to be with Max & Checkers.

When Max & Checkers died last April we had them cremated & their ashes placed in a couple nice Cedar boxes with their names on top.  I brought those boxes with us on our travels this year because it gave me comfort to think they were beside my driver’s seat just like they were in all our Bayfield Bunch traveling days.  Motor died just a couple feet away from Max & Checkers.

It has always been my wish that Max, Checkers, Cora & Pheebs ashes will be mixed with mine & Kelly’s someday & scattered to the winds of travel, all together as a Bunch again.  The thoughts of burying Cora & leaving her behind was out of the question.  We had to get our little girl home where she could be cremated & take her place between her old best pals, Max & Checkers.

We had 6 days of travel ahead of us & only one way to get our little Mouse home.  We had to empty our freezer.  This may not sit well with some readers, but there are times we just have to make difficult decisions & carry them through if we are to achieve our goals, our dreams, our wishes.

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HEADING EAST ON I-40 THROUGH NEW MEXICO

Now, for today’s post……….As mentioned, our day began very early & very sadly.  We had a long journey ahead of us & it was best to get our mind’s focused on the travels ahead.  It was still dark when I waved a final farewell to the house.  A half moon surrounded by a sky full of wispy stars glinted off our newly painted roof.  It was 5:20 a.m. as we rolled the big wheels out the driveway & down the road.

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Wickenburg looked like a distant string of golden pearls on the darkened Valley floor. We climbed the winding Yarnell hill into the Weaver Mountains.  We were on our way.  And we were so thankful to have our exuberantly youthful Pheebs right there between us.

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Traveled in darkness through Skull Valley & it wasn’t until coming into Prescott we welcomed the first rays of a new day’s morning sun skipping over a distant mountain range & softly alighting on & lifting our Spirits.

ROLLING THROUGH THE CHINO VALLEY

Hardly any traffic & the truck route around Prescott made things easier than I had anticipated.  We were soon northbound through the rolling hills of picturesque Chino Valley heading for Ash Fork on I-40.  Mentioned to Kelly that was the end of our journey’s nicest section until we cross the border at Port Huron & make that final hour & twenty minute country drive back to our home in Bayfield, Ontario.

NICE TO SEE ALL THE GREENERY SOUTH OF ASH FORK

Destination today was the Route 66 Casino parking lot just west of Albuquerque New Mexico & this is where tonight’s blog is coming to you from.  Had stayed here last year on our way home as well.

EVEN GOT ME A TRAIN FOR SAM TODAY

It was so nice to see the sweeping pine forests & snow capped mountains in the Flagstaff area.  This was old territory for us having passed through here a year ago & also back in our 07/08 trip which included both rims of the Grand Canyon.

KELLY WAS BUSY ON THE COMPUTER TODAY AS WE ROLL THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

Nice new Rest Area east of Meteor Crater & I couldn’t help but think, this was our first pit stop since the Bayfield Bunch hit the road back in 06 that we didn’t have our little Motormouse out racing around checking all the new smells that only Rest Areas seem to have.

OUR FIRST PIT STOP EVER WITHOUT THE LITTLE MOTORMOUSE

 

LOOKING BACK FROM THE REST AREA TO THE SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS NORTH OF FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA

The day’s travels were rather uneventful except for a big 18 wheeler engulfed in flames on the westbound side.  That truck fire subsequently started a grass fire which began marching across the landscape.  No fire trucks on scene yet.

OH OH, OUR CB WARNS OF TROUBLE AHEAD

 

 

Further down the road our CB Radio crackled to life again warning east bound traffic of a truck roll over ahead blocking one lane in the west bound lanes & one on the east bound side.  We moved around the ambulance & squeaked by the overturned trailer.  Police were just getting there.  Shortly before reaching the Route 66 Casino we once again found ourselves on the end of a long traffic jam due to road construction.

Finally reached our destination around 4 New Mexico time.  We didn’t go for a look see in the Casino because we had done a walk through last year just to see all the dazzling lights & hear all the jingling coin machines.  No, we are not Casino people.  Just like to see the razzle dazzle sometimes.

STUCK IN A CONSTRUCTION SLOWDOWN LINEUP WE CAN SEE THE ROUTE 66 CASINO AHEAD ON THE RIGHT…ALBUQUERQUE IS JUST OVER THAT RIDGE ON THE HORIZON

OUR PARKING LOT DIGS AT THE ROUTE 66 CASINO FOR THE NIGHT

Sad supper tonight not having the Motor’s face alongside my plate trying to con me into a snack or two.  Yes, we have some adjusting to do again but tomorrow is another new day as we carry all those great years of Motor memories close to our traveling hearts……

THE LAST PARAGRAPH: Some readers may remember how the deaths of Max & Checkers devastated me so badly nearly a year ago.  Because of those deaths I feel better prepared to handle Cora’s death.  We are missing our little Mouse terribly tonight…….but we will be alright.

Love you Beans.   

MY CHIEF NAVIGATOR…..NO WONDER WE GET LOST SOMETIMES

GROANER’S CORNER:((   A man was driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back seat. The police stop him and say he can't drive around with penguins in the car and should take them to the zoo. The man agrees and drives off.
The next day the same man is driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back and again. He is stopped by the same police officer who says, "Hey! I thought I told you to take those to the zoo."
The man replies "I did. Today I'm taking them to the movies."

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- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.

- Home is where your pet is:))

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

HEADING HOME IN THE MORNING, BUT NOT ALL IS WELL……

ALL HOOKED UP & READY TO ROLL IN THE MORNING…BECAUSE OF A LOW POWER LINE OVERHEAD I PUT THESE BOARDS ACROSS DRIVEWAY TO STOP ANY TALL VEHICLES FROM DRIVING IN

It has been a very stressful day for us.  I woke up at 4 a.m. & our little Motormouse was very, very, sick again.  It has been a difficult day.  We plan to leave for Ontario first thing in the morning & we’re hoping we can get our little Mouse home OK.  She is not in pain, just stopped eating again & may have thrown up some blood.  The Vet had said the next stop for her would possibly be surgery & we do not want to put our sweet little 15 year old Motormouse through that ordeal.  Our hearts are very heavy tonight.  

Because it was the last day at Arizona House we were up early & hit the decks a running.  I won’t go into detail about all the things we had to take care of but I can tell you we did get our electrical problem solved:))

WE WILL MISS THIS FLOWER BLOOM ON THIS CACTUS KELLY BROUGHT HOME FROM A NORTH RANCH GARAGE SALE

MIKE over at North Ranch left us a comment this morning informing us of a garage in Congress that was pretty savvy about Motor Home problems.  We had tanks to dump so slipped over to North Ranch & took care of that plus topped up our propane tank.  On the way back we stopped at the B & B Garage on highway 71 in Congress.  In less than 5 minutes the fellow had solved our electrical problem.  There is a re-set button located (hidden is a better word) up front in the engine compartment on the drivers side.  He tested a few wires with a tester then reached around behind a conglomeration of wires & said, “try that.”  ‘Success’:))  Kelly hollered out the window that the interior lights were on.  It was $10 well spent for us & what a huge relief to have that problem solved.  We now know where our re-set button is……do you??

 

RE-SET SWITCH IS LOCATED BEHIND THAT MESS OF WIRES IN OUR 2003 DAMON CHALLENGER

While traveling, we leave our fridge on propane as well & it cycles on & off like the water heater.  We may be wrong about this but we’ve always thought the automatic refrigerator ‘igniter’ was electric & on the 12 volt system.

WE ARE LEAVING A SECURITY DETAIL AT THE HOUSE

Had to make a quick trip to Wickenburg to return some hardware store stuff  that we had not used or were wrong electrical parts, etc.  Returned a few things to the Alco store as well & came away with over $50 in refunds.

Mike at North Ranch had lent me a garden rake a few weeks ago so we dropped in on the way back from Wickenburg to return the rake.  Pat wasn’t home but Mike was busy in his shop reloading bullets.  He & Pat do a lot sport target shooting.  Mikes a great guy & it was nice to see him even if it was only for 20 minutes.  We knew the Motorhome was warm inside & we were anxious to get back & be with our little Motormouse.

RESTING TONIGHT WITH HER TOYS

We managed to get all the house windows covered with a collection of curtains, wraps & Mexican blankets.  Drained the hot water tank, turned off the electricity, checked that all windows were locked, etc.  Our little Arizona house was all set for it’s long summer hibernation.  Can’t wait to get back in October & continue with our creative property plans.

 

MANAGED TO FIND ENOUGH MATERIAL AROUND THE RIG TO COVER THE HOUSE WINDOWS

Our home in Bayfield will be needing a lot of attention when we get back so I will be focusing on that in the coming days.  Always a big yard clean-up this time of year & I don’t mind doing that.  Keeps me busy for a few weeks & I need that.  In another week or so I will be feeding Birds & doing battle with pesky Squirrels for another 6 months.

PROPANE AT NORTH RANCH THIS MORNING 

We are not big Birthday or Anniversary people here but somebody had a Birthday today & it was not me, Pheebs or Motormouse.  Putting this in the blog tonight may land me in some very big trouble.

HOPE OUR TEMPORARY CACTUS GARDEN SURVIVES THE SUMMER

It was very sad earlier this evening as I walked through the house taking many photos for our records. I was sad, the house was sad & it just seemed like the few pieces of furniture we had managed to gather together were all sad as well.  But, I have a head full of great memories from this past month & I know from experience that once we turn the key Saturday morning & get the big wheels rolling, my mood will change & I will once again be up for the challenge of the journey.

LAST PHOTO TONIGHT TAKEN FROM OUR YARD LOOKING WEST:))  

GROANER’S CORNER:((   Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of little old ladies running around with tattoos?

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- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.

- Home is where your pet is:))

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

HOUSE RENOVATIONS ARE COMPLETE UNTIL OCTOBER…AND, A PROBLEM WITH THE RIG:((

One of those up at 3 a.m. mornings had me on the ropes 12 hours later at 3 p.m.  I succumbed to a couple nasty swarms of zzzzzzzz’s.  The first swarm laid me low for about 20 minutes while sitting in our newly delivered recliner.  Second swarm got me in the Motor Home later when I sat down to check our email.

PALS:))

Dobie & the crew were on the job early & finished up the last coat of house paint.  They were next on on the roof tarring all the cracks, crevices, joints & holes.  After that came the rolling on of white elastomeric paint.  That took them into the early afternoon. 

  

DOBIE SURVEYS THE ROOF & PATCHES SOME HOLES AS THE BOYS BEGIN ROLLING ON THE WHITE ELASTOMERIC PAINT & SEALER

In the meantime, Kelly & I zip-a-de-do-dawed ourselves up the winding mountain road to Yarnell.  Kelly wanted to hit that Bakery before we headed home.  I like it when she thinks like that.  If your in the area you just have to stop at the Cornerstone Bakery & load yourself up with a belly full of pastries.  Everything is made from scratch & sells out fast so get there early.  We split a Breakfast Burrito & washed that down with a couple yummy doughnuts…10-4.

 

CORNER STONE BAKERY…..YUM:))

I had spotted something in the Rosewind collectables store a few days ago that I thought would be useful for the house so we stopped in & grabbed it.  Needed something to hang my Cowboy Hats on & this heavy wrought iron thingy-ma-boo seemed to fit the bill.  It’s in the photo below with a couple of my hats on it just inside our front door.

 

WROUGHT IRON HAT RACK FROM THE COLORFUL ROSEWIND IN YARNELL…CABINET BELOW FROM WICKENBURG’S CONSIGNMENT STORE

AJ from the newly opened Wickenburg Consignment store rolled in about noon with a trailer & some goodies for us.  Helped him unload a few things we had purchased on Wednesday.  A recliner, love seat, a wooden stool, a tall vase & an old table with some drawers in it.  All used & all in reasonably good condition.  Cowboy furniture I guess you could call it.  The joint is slowly beginning to look a little more like ‘home sweet home’ now:))

NEVER MIND THE PICTURES…JUST GET OVER HERE & HELP ME WITH THIS LOVESEAT!!

 

Friends of MIKE & PAT’S, Larry & Geri dropped in this afternoon for a few minutes to wish us well & have a look at the digs.  We had met them over at Pat & Mikes a couple weeks ago.  They are an energetic couple & if you read MIKE’S post you will see why.

We are still slugging it out with a poor phone & internet connection so that problem will have to addressed for sure when we return.  Had a ‘Wilson Sleek’ antennae & power booster device shipped to us in hopes that would improve our signal but ‘nada ’………didn’t help.

 

Adding to our final hectic days we have a perplexing problem with the rig as of this morning.  Had the generator running for a few minutes this morning while Kelly was brewing coffee.  It was a bit nippy so I clicked on our little electric heater figuring it would be fine with the generator running.  Ten minutes later all our power shut down.  Our solar batteries had dropped to 16%.  Turned off the heater but left the generator going to build the batteries back up.  Turned the genny off later but noticed we had no power whatsoever to your coach lights, bathroom fan, fridge & water heater igniters.  No power to run the water pump either.  Also no power to the slides…..unless we turned the generator on.  Checked all breakers, fuses & the GFI switch in the bathroom but to no avail.   Plugged into shore power for the rest of the day to put a full charge on our 4 Solar batteries & that didn’t work either.  Hate to have to drive all the way home with our gas generator running to keep the fridge cold, the water running & hot water in our water tank.  That would probably take us down to about 3 miles per gallon  So, not being too wise in the ways of all things smart, we do have us a little problem here in LaLa land…………Oh Dear:(((((( 

 

THESE 2 MEXICAN FELLAS WERE HARD WORKERS    

IVAN has taken some nice photos around Sedona Arizona & I particularly like the one from Sedona’s Airport showing the surrounding landscape just after a snowfall early last week.  I think the big red rocks & many green forested trees around SEDONA make it one of the most scenic areas in the State.  We stayed at Dead Horse State Park near Cottonwood back in 07 & totally enjoyed that whole area.  Nice thing now is…..our winter base here in CONGRESS is only a short & scenic 3 hour drive from Sedona.  Easy to slip over there with the rig for a couple nice boondocking weeks anytime we are here during the winter.  As stated in an earlier post, our new Arizona digs are centrally located to all of the Southwest now.

For all you do-it-yourselfer RV folks out there you might want to keep Karen & Steve’s SMALL HOUSE-BIG BACKYARD site handy.  This is an extremely talented fellow when it comes to RV repairs & renovations.  Seems like there isn’t anything he can’t do.  And, Karen documents everything so their Archives are full of fix-its & Renos.   They are currently preparing their lovely ‘in the woods’ Wisconsin home for sale & will soon be on the road full time in their older restored & renovated 38ft Safari Serengeti diesel Motorhome.  Although we haven’t met Karen & Steve yet, we have been RV blogging friends for a long time now.

OUR ROOF WENT FROM A PALE GREEN TO WHITE IN A MATTER OF HOURS

Although sad about having to leave our Arizona house soon & having to endure the long drive home I do look forward to parts of the traveling aspect again.  We’ll be seeing some new territory & traveling on some roads we have never traveled before.  Always enjoy the excitement of the open road.  Especially here on the west side of the continent where the manic traffic chaos isn’t so totally nuts!!

 

STAYING WARM IN A PAIR OF DAD’S OLD PJ’S

We welcome a couple new Blog Followers today.  Sherry & David from, IN THE DIRECTION OF OUR DREAMS joins the Bunch just in time for a long 2200 mile drive back to our home in Bayfield  Ontario.  Terry from, RANTINGS, RAMBLINGS, & REDISCOVERY also just made it aboard in time for the long trip.  Welcome to our blog folks:))

GROANER’S CORNER:))  A man decides to take the opportunity while his wife is away to paint the toilet seat.
The wife comes home sooner than expected, sits, and gets the seat stuck to her rear.
She is understandably distraught about this and asks her husband to drive her to the doctor. She puts on a large overcoat so as to cover the stuck seat, and off they go.
When they get to the doctor's, the man lifts his wife's coat to show their predicament. The man asks, "Doctor, have you ever seen anything like this before?"
"Well, yes," the doctor replies, "but not framed like that."

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- Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.

- Home is where your pet is:))

- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right  now...AL.
stargeezerguy@gmail.com