Sunday, March 10, 2013

REJUVENATED BY THE WARM ARIZONA SUN:))

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Sooooo happy to see a big bright sunny day shape up this morning.  Two days of sitting in the house was not good, physically or mentally.  Yes, we here at the Bayfield Bunch are definitely warm sunny day people for sure:))

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So nice to get back out for our quiet & sweeping panoramic desert walk again this morning.   

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Some readers have suggested we leave the Sunseeker here in the States & save ourselves a pile of money in sales tax by not taking it across the border.  Definitely a good idea from a financial point of view for sure.  A storage facility in Michigan or Kelly’s Mother’s place in Spencerport NY.  Briefly thought about that of course, but one of the reasons for going with a smaller RV is for shorter trips in Canada this summer.  With Kelly’s retirement, or maybe I should say ‘semi-retirement’, we are hoping to get a little Canadian travel time in for a change.  Kelly can also use it to visit her kids over in Cambridge.  Idea was to have something comfortable enough for her to drive & stay in while visiting.  Also, do not like the idea of a vehicle just sitting for 6 months at a time & especially not a motor vehicle.  Our rig is also our guest house if someone comes to visit for any length of time.  And, our Jeep is not nearly big enough to carry Kelly, Pheebs & I with all our stuff between Bayfield & Congress or wherever the rig would be stored.  No, we just have to bite the bullet & pay the taxes.  We have already allowed for that.  And besides, we much prefer to have the RV on our own property at all times as opposed to an inconvenient & far away storage facility somewhere.  That was an important factor when we were looking for a house & property here in the southwest the past few years.  Gotta be enough room for our rig or we were not interested.  Our RV is part of the family & we like to keep it close by………10-4:))

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Had ourselves a mighty fine weather day so Kelly busied herself cleaning the rig & loading some stuff for next month’s trip home.  I did the same except for the cleaning part.  After today our shed is looking a little less confused & cluttered.

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A former neighbor gave us a big bucket of sunflower seeds before departing the area a couple months ago so I spent some time planting handfuls of Sunflowers.  Only hope of them growing is if Arizona happens to have a wet summer, which of course is probably not going to happen.  Even if some of the Sunflowers make it, we won’t know if they did until we get back in the Fall.

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Browsing a few Blogs this morning I see some of the northwest Bloggers are already on the road home.  Also noticed some of the fellas I know are beginning to feel the early inklings of ‘Hitch-Itch’.  And, I’m one of them.  It always stirs whenever the winds of travel begin to gather.  I generally like to be out on the road going somewhere.  Problem is, whenever I get to where ever it is I’m going I’m never content for very long to be where I’m at & I’m itching to get going somewhere else again.  This winter was an exception with the house.  Because it was something so different for a change, I managed to keep busy & content myself for months on end.  Really did enjoy that but already know next year will be different again.  We still have a lot of ‘new places’ to see & go.  After all, that’s been our whole idea behind having a comfortable southwest home base & a smaller rig.  Still very much looking forward to more boondocking, hiking & exploring, but just for shorter periods of time.  Weeks not months anymore:))

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By the very nature of their design I’ve always thought 5th wheels have some of the nicest layouts I’ve ever seen.  Recently retired & only a month away from traveling full time, Tammy & Art with their dogs Effie & Cooper will soon be on the road with their big Avalanche 5th wheel.  Drop on over & check out their gorgeous new 5’ver digs.  "IT'S GOOD TO BE US".  You can feel the excitement:))

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I was moved by a paragraph in Sue’s recent post at THE MOHO AND OTHER TRAVELING TALES.  Her feelings about a dear friend who recently passed away made me once again think about why some of us keep our blogs going day after day or week after week.  In part, I left Sue the following comment that may explain why some of us do….. “I have always written my blog as more of a journal although it did start out as a travel blog. I think this is a fine place to get one’s feelings out whether they be happy, sad, glad, or mad. When we lost our dogs I could have maybe made a passing comment about it but they were an important part of our life & my heart wrote about their passing & the emptiness after. I think writing from the heart with honesty is a healthy way to express feelings & emotions with readers & friends.   Maybe you should just sit down & simply write a story about Bel. As hard as it may seem, you will feel better in the end for doing that. And your story may help someone else out here through a difficult time in their lives as well. We Blogger folks have a great opportunity to help others through our writings. And I may add, our photos as well. You have some nice one's again. Like the Joshua Tree header photo for sure plus the Swans & the Horses. Keep your feelings in your writing & keep your photographer's eye on the beauty surrounding you. Your writings & photography will help people more than you know”.

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GROANER’S CORNER:((  I was with a friend in a cafe' when a noisy car alarm interrupted our conversation.  "What good are car alarms when no one pays any attention to them?" I wondered aloud.
"Some are quite effective," my friend corrected me. "Last summer, my teenager spent a lot of time at the neighbors'. Whenever I wanted him home, I'd go out to the driveway and kick his car."

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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

14 comments:


  1. Had a feeling you would want the new Sundance close to home ..... Glad that's cleared up.... How true that thoughts spelled out on paper can do a world of good all the way around especially when grieving ...... Dealing with loss related to death is a path that goes in many directions over time ......
    I can tell you are ready to hit the road ....sounds like Spring is calling ....preparations under way !!!

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  2. As hard as it is to get her in and out, we like having the Alfa where we can see her. Makes our work have meaning.

    I had a dream last night that I was lost in the hills in Arizona. Then I looked down into a valley and saw your Congress house. I knew I was safe. Pheebs came to meet me.

    Does this mean we will vist someday? Or just that your pictures are so vivid they show up in my dreams!

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  3. Hi Al, I saw where you had joined my blog and so I came over to thank you for visiting. Then I "read" your blog, and wow thank you that was so very sweet of you to mention us and our fifth wheel, and Effie and Cooper. Made me/us feel real special that you would do that, thank you!!! I wanted to add to what you said about writing the blogs everyday and for what reason. I have read some blogs where people, including yourselves, that have lost a beloved pet, or where someone is hurting physically and I am amazed at the out pouring of love and support from fellow bloggers. This is a special community, and I am happy and excited to be part of it.

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  4. It sure was nice to be able to get out and hike again after a terrible two days. We still had snow along the trail in Utah but lots of sun.

    Your photos are especially cool today. I love the close ups!

    Your thought for Sue on blogging were very touching. Perfectly worded.

    Ohtheplacestheygo.wordpress.com

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  5. Is there some reason you don't register the Sunseeker in Arizona (or North Dakota like a lot of RV'rs). I can drive an RV to Canada without getting it registered there, can't I, as long as I am a tourist. Maybe because you are a Canadian citizen.

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  6. Sometimes I feel like I "let it all out" in my blog but I think ti does help. I've found a wealth of support and friends through blogging and just through writing about some of the tough times. Good comment you made to Sue.

    Love the photo of Pheebs and her toy. What a great dog.

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  7. Pheebs with her toy, close ups of beautiful birds, Al your pictures are incredibly beautiful. I went through five years of multiple losses of my own while managing the funeral home, and facilitating a grief support group. During that time, I was visiting one day with a counselor friend of mine and I asked "when will all the pain quit hurting"? The reply.... no set time. But Talk, Time and Tears helps alot" I think Blogging is a great help in that area. You words to Sue were so kind and thoughtful and full of compassion. I hope you keep on blogging for a very long time.

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  8. A motorhome was made to be driven, no point in parking for six months at a time, glad you are taking it with you. Can get out and about this summer.

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  9. Al, sorry you are leaving the desert soon. I'll miss your desert adventures! But, don't worry...I'll keep reading your blog. And, please read mine in the summer. The Arizona desert in summer, during the monsoon season, can be quite exciting. HOT and humid, though...sometimes hubby and I drive over to Arizona to see the thunderheads and storms.
    ~~Cheryl Ann~~

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  10. As our blog grows I have been so heartened in the out-pouring of support and kindness. When we finally get to take off in a few months full-timing, I'm so excited for meeting up with new found friends...and offer back my thankfulness. With that a big huge shout out to you, for sharing all your knowledge and compassion to those who surround you!

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  11. You comment was spot on, Al. I feel the same way about blogging... that it should have more purpose than being a "we went here and there" travelog. Thanks for keeping the Bayfield Bunch going... since I suspect there are times when you are tempted to let it go quietly into the night.
    Box Canyon Mark

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  12. Originally I kept the blog for my kids to follow us on our trips...Now I'm not sure they even read it :-)..I get hitch itch after one month...I like things "changed up"...That's why I move furniture about every month in the house..Keeps McGyver on his toes..

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  13. I wouldn't want to leave my Sunseeker behind either.

    Thought I'd let you know we are heading out to Hawaii in a couple of days. We arrive in Honolulu Thursday morning to be exact. I've set up a separate Blog called Hawaii 2013 which you can find here http://matarangigirl.blogspot.co.nz/ should you want to follow this New Zealand couple abroad. Most of our time in Hawaii will be on Big Island including a few days on a coffee plantation.

    Blessings

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  14. Love the Pheebs pics! Adorable...

    We like having our RV right in the yard by us too.
    Easy to get things
    or put in things
    or measure things
    or fix things!

    or sneak out on impromptu trips!

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    The USA Is Our Big Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com

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