NICE TO GO AWAY BUT IT’S EVEN NICER COMING HOME:))

DUE TO A HAZY CLOUD COVER CHRISTMAS EVE I DIDN’T GET A ‘FULL MOON’ PHOTO BUT HERE’S A THREE QUARTERS MOON I TOOK IN BORREGO SPRINGS A FEW NIGHT’S AGO

Several factors contributed to our decision to leave Borrego Springs Thursday morning & here's one of them as expressed by Jodee over at On The Road Abode. "A very Merry Christmas to you and Kelly and Pheebs. You were smart to head out yesterday. Last night was the worst wind yet! Bill is out searching for our rug and tire cover, and a few other campers' BBQ covers are decorating the flora"........Kelly & I have toughed out Borrego winds before & after 2 nights of not sleeping well due to wind gusts we decided a good night's sleep on Christmas Eve back in Congress was priorty.  Also, with a brisk wind blowing out of the South-west  Thursday morningI knew that strong tail wind would blow us all the way home. And it did.  Also it's quite likely we will be back in the rig & on the road off to somewhere again in 3 to4 weeks.

TONIGHT’S PHOTOS ARE FROM AN ARTSY LITTLE PLACE IN WENDEN ARIZONA

Stopped at the big Arco Auto/RV/Truck Center in Salton City & dumped a couple tanks & from there we headed North on highway 86.   For a change of pace we decided not to take our normal side trip through Box Canyon & slipped up to Indio catching I-10 East. This was the second time we had headed East out of Indio on I-10. Last time was with our little Class C Chevy Sunseeker. I hadn’t remembered the long steady climb out of the Coachella Valley but the rig handled the grades just fine. A Chevron fuel stop at Chiriaco Summit had us in a line-up for fuel at what was a very busy stop alongside I-10. The General Patton Memorial Museum is located here as well.

As expected there was a fair bit of I-10 traffic Thursday morning & I saw kids in some of the cars going by on their way to Grammas house for Christmas. With a clear sunny day & a steady wind behind us I almost had to throw an anchor out to hold our speed down. I was sure glad we were not going the other way heading into those winds.

 

A welcome leg stretch at Quartzsite's McDonalds netted us a coffee & some eats. I like this dusty little western town in it's off season but not so much in January when hordes of RV'ers descend turning the streets into traffic jams. Reminds me of our own Grand Bend during the summer months back in Ontario when all the young folks descend on the town. If I had my choice I would much sooner mix it up with Quartzsite's older RV crowds as opposed to Grand Bend's ram-jam teen-agers though.

I REALLY LIKED THESE WELL MADE CREATIVE $35 BIRD HOUSES

Just east of Quartzsite we turn off I-10 & pick up highway 60 heading towards Congress. This quiet stretch of road is one of my favorite drives & along the way there are a few slow downs for half a dozen little tumbleweed towns.  One of these slow downs is a little place called Wenden & we have often noticed an artsy kind of complex along the highway but never bothered to take the time to stop & have a look around. Well Thursday morning was finally the time to stop & have us that look around. Friends Bev & Jim from Idaho had talked of this place & said how nice it was to drop in & do a bit of browsing. Once the old Sunset Motel back in it’s heyday it is now the home of local artisans who have turned it into a number of artsy little shops. Just one lady there while we walked around.

Courtyard On 60

For me these types of places hold more of a photographic interest than walking around looking for something to buy. Colors, shapes, & creative creations always catch my eye so I enjoyed my time there taking a few photos while Kelly turned her interest to browsing many of the arts & crafts. She did find a nice ceramic bluebird she liked. And here's the best part, Pheebe was allowed to walk all around as well.  I think we were close to half an hour before heading on.

It was exactly 3 p.m. when we pulled into Congress & minutes later we rolled through our south gate & parked in front of the house. It always feels so good to be home whether it be here in Congress or Bayfield Ontario. Always nice to head out somewhere but boy oh boy it's even nicer to come home. Our first 6 years Snow Birding were the exact reverse of that but now in these latter 4 years since we've had our Arizona house our feelings have changed. We are so glad we didn't sell it & this past week pretty much confirmed that we would prefer not to spend 5 & 6 months in the rig each winter again like we did in earlier years.

REFLECTIONS THROUGH A REG GLASS VASE

Definitely colder here in Congress than Borrego Springs but we knew that before leaving Borrego. A nice sunny day today but an icy cold North wind kept us mainly indoors. A much different Christmas morning from years ago I thought to myself as I did 2 loads of laundry & then hung everything outside to dry. Probably like a lot of folks my favorite Christmas mornings & memories are of many years ago when I as a kid. I treasure those memories & hold them close.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner,"What are you charged with?" "Doing my Christmas shopping early", replied the defendant.
"That's no offense", said the judge. "How early were you doing this shopping?" "Before the store opened."

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What do you call a kid who doesn't believe in Santa?
A rebel without a Claus.

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What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?
Tinselitis!

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What do you call a cat on the beach at Christmas time?
Sandy Claws!

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Why is Christmas just like a day at the office ?
You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.

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Why did Frosty the Snowman want a divorce?
Because he thought his wife was a flake.

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What do get if you cross a duck and Santa?
A Christmas Quacker.

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