HAPPY JEEPERS.....We rode with this couple on the Borrego Badlands tour
Today's blog photos are of 2 Jeep tours we were on while in Borrego Springs California the last couple of years. Check out 4 WHEELING IN GRAPEVINE CANYON & the PALO VERDE & BORREGO BADLANDS Jeep tour. On both those rides we were totally squished into the tiny back seats of Jeeps. Figured the only way to overcome this was to someday get our own Jeep!!!! That day just might be close at hand:))
ENDLESS MILES OF OFF ROADING IN THE DESERTS, MOUNTAINS, & CANYONS NEAR BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
I am finding it increasingly hard to read blogs lately & especially in the mornings. The past few weeks I have reverted to using the magnifying glass because my reading vision is becoming increasingly blurry & it seems mornings are the most difficult. Last October my Optometrist guy told me I had the start of cataracts in both eyes but not to the point where any medical procedures were required yet. Said to come back in a year. Noticed my long range vision is not up to par anymore either but not nearly as bad as the shorter vision. Am beginning to wonder if maybe I will have to go back to the eye guy sooner than that.
NOT MUCH ROOM IN THE BACK OF A JEEP FOR SURE
I have a second reason for finding it hard reading some blogs as well & it doesn't have anything to do with vision. I guess it has more to do with envy. As much as I enjoy seeing where fellow RVers are & what they are doing it also brings home the fact they are out there enjoying & experiencing the physically & mentally active RV lifestyle traveling from one interesting destination to another..... and we are not!! FROGGI DONNA & STU are wandering around up in Oregon while both MOTTY & PATTI and BRUCE & MARGIE are in Moab Utah. I am really envious of JUDY & EMMA heading out on their maiden voyage to Custer South Dakota with their newer rig. The LITTLE HOUSE ON WHEELS ladies are enjoying themselves driving through Nebraska while LAURIE & ODEL continue their long sweep into Ohio on a great circle tour of the United States.
THE JEEP TOUR GROUP CHECKS OUT THE BORREGO BADLANDS IN CALIFORNIA (our desert friend Butch is second from right)
Yes, I know I shouldn't be envious & all that stuff, & yes, I know I should be more grateful to even have the opportunity to travel in the winter. And yes, I know I shouldn't complain about all this but it is quite simply, the reality of how I feel......period!! And that's enough out of old Grumble Guts for today so let's get on with some positive stuff!!
Some of you might remember the caption I had under the picture of that red Jeep in last night's blog. It read, 'Awwww nuts, here we go looking at Jeeps again!!' I was informed first thing this morning by the CEO here that the caption would make people think it was just Kelly's idea to get a Jeep & not mine!! Well, for heaven's sakes we wouldn't want people thinking that now would we, so I quickly went in & changed the caption. Whewwww, close call for Al there. But yes, it is a joint decision & all major decisions we make are always done together. Always!!
THE BORREGO BADLANDS ARE A REALLY ROUGH PLACE
Now, about the Jeep. I went up to Goderich this morning & took that red Jeep for a run. Very nice & I liked how it shifted & handled. Found me a bumpy gravel road & some train track crossings & there were no rattles. It is a 4 cylinder engine with a 6 speed transmission & was bought new by a lady in Goderich back in 2005. She traded it in for a bigger pick-up standard shift truck. The Jeep has not been abused or driven off any cliffs or over any mountains. Has a trailer hitch plus both soft & hard tops.
THIS IS THE 2005 JEEP TJ WE ARE NEGOTIATING ABOUT
The young sales fellow made me an offer on our 99 Dodge Caravan which of course was low so we will have to talk a little more about that. But, I have decided to trade something else in on the Jeep as well. Something I actually tried to sell last summer for a short period of time & something I have not been using a lot this past couple of years. The Motorcycle. It just does not make any practical sense for me to hang on to something I am not using. I really enjoyed my early motorcycling days years ago but the excitement has gone out of it for me & it's not something we can take south with us anyway. It just makes sense to take this opportunity & trade it in on the Jeep. I will be taking the bike to Goderich Wednesday afternoon for the fellow to have a look at & we will see how we make out from there.
Had a great working & driving day with the mobility van through the countryside this afternoon & tomorrow morning I am off early again. I am a happy guy these days being kept so busy......"jeep jeep:))"
THE GROUP IS OUT OF THEIR JEEPS & ON THE MOVE...Kelly is the third one from the end & I think she just stepped in some Coyote poop!!
GROANER'S CORNER:(( Did you know Tom Sawyer was the first novel to ever be written on a typewriter & it is impossible to lick your elbow. And by the way, despite what you first may think, you will actually be able to read the following..........."I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?" See, told ya so, & stop trying to lick your elbow!!!!:))
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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
and
"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.
jeep jeep Al..we just bought a 2010 jeep wrangler 4 door..long story but we traded our truck and trailer in for this great vehicle..we love it already and it's not even been a month..will be our 'toad' in the future!!..you won't be sorry buying a jeep!!
ReplyDeleteIf you and Kelly buy that red Jeep I will be the one with envy!
ReplyDeleteIt may take a year for cataracts to get to where they can be operated on, but every now and then cover one eye completely and see how your vision and focus is with the other. Then wait a few minutes and do it with the other eye. You will see right away which one is worse, and you will know when you can barely see out of one, it is time to go back to the doctor. Good luck. It really is an easy operation, and my problems this second time are no doubt very unlikely.
Oh no! Not the motorcycle!!! Tears!!!!
ReplyDeleteYa gota do what ya gota do!!!
Its not getting used, and it needs to go, so why not move it along?
But Al that Jeep in some of those photos was a Toyota FJ, and the Jeep purists think that's blasphemy........
Al, definitely time to get your eyes checked!! If you don't you just might think that beautiful red Jeep is actually the yellow one! I sure hope you're able to make a deal on the Jeep as it sounds like it's in pretty good shape. Trading in, or selling, the the motorcycle is a good idea too, I think.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the Jeep purchase...its a beauty. We love ours.
ReplyDeleteMike & Gerri (happytrails)
Good luck on the Jeep purchase...its a beauty. We love ours.
ReplyDeleteMike & Gerri (happytrails)
Did the same things a few years back except I traded my last Harley in on 5500 sq feet of 3 in blacktop.My 5h wheel sits on some of it. With the grading I had about $9000 worth of work done and it is till looking good. Do miss the bike just a little. Be safe out there.
ReplyDeleteAl, just humor me a moment. If you have a blood sugar meter, take a reading over a week's time whenever you are experiencing the blurring and difficulty reading small print. If you haven't got a meter, you should be able to get one free from Accuscan or Lifescan. They make their money selling you test strips. While Gypsy's advice is excellent, your vague symptoms description could also be that of someone with fluctuating blood sugar levels. Regardless, yes, it is time to call and schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. Sight is too precious to ignore those symptoms. Blind photographers don't derive much pleasure looking through the camera lens, y'know? It's a mite difficult driving without good eye sight, too. Just ask Gypsy about that particular joy.
ReplyDeleteI really like that jeep, it will be a good buy for sure! You will get alot of enjoyment out of that.
ReplyDeleteGo get your eyes checked, my dad's friend had issues and never went in, and now is legally blind because he waited too long and was over the stage where he could get eye surgery to get it fixed.
Sad about the bike, we are taking the scooter when we hit the road (on a mototote), but it won't work well if you are towing so something needs to go.
I do like the motorcycle though, too bad you live so far away!
Cheers!
Al, all you have to do is say you're putting in several tomato plants and I will envy you! It's the only thing I really miss about a sticks and bricks. I haven't had much luck trying to haul a tomato plant around with me in a bucket. :)
ReplyDeleteAl, what was that vehicle that was leading the jeeps? A what??? A Toyota FJ Cruiser??? Yup, it is. Do you remember a blue one that would show up at photo group meetings?? Yes, mine. Jeeps are okay but if you want comfort and a great four-wheeler that can climb rocks, ford streams and take the mountain trails, look at the FJ's. And NO, these were not on Toyota's recall list.
ReplyDeleteAl,
ReplyDeleteI’ve had a jeep wrangler for years. My daughter has one. My son is in between owning one now. I know a lot of people that have them. Everybody avoids the 4 cylinders (that’s the reason you can usually get what seems to be a good deal on one). They don’t have enough power for the hills and mountains. My advice is to make sure you get a 6 cylinder. You’re going to love owning one. You’ll have a blast. You have a great blog.
Chris
Al,
ReplyDeleteGo get your eyes checked. Cataract surgery is so easy, and your long range vision will be top notch. You might need a pair of readers after that, but that's nothing. Just put a pair in every room in your house and carry a pair with you.
As for the jeep, you won't regret it. Sorry about the bike, though.