BORREGO SPRINGS CALIFORNIA TO PARKER ARIZONA: YES, WE ARE ON THE MOVE AGAIN

WE ARE ON THE MOVE AGAIN

There often comes a time in our southwest winter travels where we reach a point farthest away from our Bayfield home and everything after that theoretically becomes a homeward journey.  Maybe a direct route home maybe not but the homeward journey nevertheless still begins.  Borrego Springs has been that point on the map a number of times and so it was again this morning as we pulled out of our Legion spot to begin our journey home.  We did the same thing a year ago only we came home via Florida.  And yes it is always very sad to leave Borrego Springs, California.  

A LAST MORNING WALK IN BORREGO SPRINGS

BACK TO THE RIG IT WAS TIME TO LOAD UP AND HEAD OUT

WITH GRAY AND BLACK TANKS DUMPED, FRESH WATER TANK FILLED, AND THE JEEP HOOKED UP WE  ROLLED OUT FROM THE LEGIONS DUMP STATION AT  8:45 A.M. ARIZONA TIME

Been watching weather patterns between the southwestern United States and southwest Ontario Canada this past while.  I have a number of cities along 3 routes that I have been monitoring to see which one might present the most favorable weather over the next 3 weeks.  I didn't make a decision on which route to take until late Tuesday afternoon.  The southern route looked too hot already and the northern route is still way too cold.  But in between lies a compromise and it is that route we have chosen to go.  If it gets too cold we can easily slip further south and if by some miracle we have a warming trend to the North we can easily slip further north.  In Parker Arizona this afternoon it was pushing 80F.  Too hot for us guys and we certainly do not want to get stuck sitting around in an air conditioning situation so we'll probably push a little further north on Thursday.  We hate oppressive heat as much as we hate bone numbing cold.  Our Jello plan is to pick up I-40 and head east watching the weather closely keeping in mind we may have to hole up somewhere about half way and wait for warmer weather ahead of us.  

HEADING EAST THROUGH THE IMPERIAL SAND DUNES

NORTH END OF THE CARGO MUCHACHO MOUNTAINS ON THE RIGHT

OUR LAST CROSSING OF THE COLORADO RIVER THIS WINTER FROM CALIFORNIA TO ARIZONA.....EAST BOUND ON I-10 AT EHRENBERG

No, we are not making a bee-line for home.  They are still under full blown winter conditions there.  We still have lots of majestically scenic southwest miles ahead of us to leisurely enjoy.

Had ourselves a nice morning drive from Borrego Springs to Parker via Ocotillo Wells, Westmoreland, around the north end of Brawley through the Imperial Sand Dunes past the Cibola Wildlife Refuge, Blyth, Ehrenburg and Poston.  Even grabbed a gas fill-up at our favorite '76' gas station alongside I-10 in Ehrenburg.

OUR FAVORITE GAS STATION

We rolled into Parker somewhere around 2 p.m. Arizona time, squeezed ourselves into a crowded Walmart parking lot and grabbed a few groceries.

A CROWDED WALMART PARKING LOT IN PARKER ARIZONA

HEY WANDERING WILLY THESE PICS ARE FOR YOU

"WHERE'S MY BUNS!!" "WHADDYA MEAN THEY ARE STILL IN THE OVEN"  "I DON'T CARE IF THE STORE ISN'T OPEN YET, I WANT MY BUNS!!!!"

We knew of a large gravely parking lot near the BlueWater Resort & Casino so with lots of room there for us we headed up the road and pulled in for the night. I wasn't long in plugging in my little green fan.  Kelly was Okay but with this darn oily skin of mine beginning to stick to itself I had to get my fan going.  Looking forward to cooler weather along the way.  Too bad one has to have hot days to get warm nights.  I do like warm nights and that is where we're at right now.

NOT TOO CROWDED HERE AND THAT WORKS FOR US

MY PERSONAL LIFE SAVER

SUN'S GOING DOWN

PARKER THROUGH OUR WINDSHILED TONIGHT

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A burglar decided to rob the safe in a store. On the safe door he was very pleased to find a note reading, “Please don't use dynamite. The safe is not locked. Just turn the knob.” He did so. Instantly, a heavy sandbag fell on him, the entire premises was floodlighted, and alarms started clanging. As the police carried him out on a stretcher, he was heard moaning, “My confidence in human nature has been rudely shaken.”

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A few more aging signs:: 

- You don't hold in your stomach when someone young and attractive enters the room.

- You are proud of your lawn mower.

- Your friend is dating someone half his age, but not breaking the law.

- You can sing along with elevator music. - -Someone calls your house at 9 pm, and asks, 'Did I wake you up?' 

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