ROUTE CHANGE....WE ARE HEADED FOR MOSCOW

SEDONA, ARIZONA

Sitting in quiet darkness this morning with the computer on my lap I couldn't help but feel how comfortable my recliner felt, how nice my ambient music sounded & how peaceful, serene & spacious my surroundings were.   And how nice my long hot shower was going to feel shortly.  In less than 24 hours this will all change as we shift our lifestyle into RV mode for the next 5 months.  We have a weeks worth of hard traveling ahead of us before the dust settles into any kind of relaxed & controlled routine again.  Long driving days, stressful traffic, questionable weather & the list goes on.  But, it’s all part of the RV lifestyle & that is what makes it all so exciting. 

        

HIKING THE AJO MOUNTAIN RANGE IN ORGAN PIPE NATIONAL MONUMENT SOUTH OF WHY, ARIZONA

Four out of the last 5 border crossings has been a problem for us because of agriculture checks.  Last year’s crossing was the exception.  Those ag checks are a total PITA!!  We have to exit the coach, dogs & all,  while the border guards go inside looking for horribly infectious food products like California grown oranges, etc.  We know enough now to dress warmly because it’s usually an icy freezing wind while we stand out in the cold hanging onto the dogs who of course are totally stressed because they don’t understand what is going on.   This is never a good experience & generally holds us up well over an hour!!  We’ll have our fingers crossed Saturday morning when we get to the Sarnia/Port Huron border crossing.  Hope we get a nice young fellow with a positively friendly attitude like we did last year.

  

OVERLOOKING BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA FROM THE CULP VALLEY.....'WE LOVE IT HERE:))'

Had to dodge cold rain showers all day long while making numerous trips to the coach & back.   Finally reached the ‘ready’ point  by late afternoon so all systems are go for the morning.  But, if your like me you do not feel comfortable with that ‘ready’ feeling.  Always the nagging doubt about forgetting something & even after supper tonight we were still loading last minute things.  Looks like we’re going to fill up a few of those empty bin spots anyway.   We will probably have the big wheels rolling about 7:30 A.M.  Saturday morning.

 

WILLIS CREEK SLOT CANYON, CANNONVILLE UTAH

We have made a last minute route change & have decided to head for Moscow Iowa just west of Davenport.  We have an appointment for 7 A.M. at the HWH factory Monday morning.  They are the company that manufactured the leveling system on our coach & we have decided to go right to their factory & have them repair the rear leveler that sticks sometimes & also find out why there is no power to the control box.  I’m hoping when they fix the power problem it will also solve the problem of why are rear view camera has stopped working.

           

TOURING THE RUINS OF OLD FORT BOWIE IN ARIZONA

 

APACHE INDIANS MAY VERY WELL HAVE LOOKED DOWN UPON THE ONCE MIGHTY FORT FROM THIS VERY VANTAGE POINT

We plan to spend Saturday night at a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  Kelly will probably have us connected to Verizon as soon as we get over the border so tomorrow night, if all goes well, it will be blogging as usual.  We will do the Chicago traffic mayhem Sunday morning.  We used this same route on our way to Moab Utah 3 years ago & didn’t find the Chicago traffic too bad.   We should make it to HWH near Moscow Sunday afternoon with lots of time to spare before Monday mornings early appointment.  No idea how long the repairs will take but as soon as we’re out of there it will be Westward-Ho for the ranch in Arizona.

 

SNACK BREAK ON THE COCHISE STRONGHOLD TRAIL IN ARIZONA

       

  

COCHISE IS BURIED OUT THERE SOMEWHERE

   

GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS, NEW MEXICO

Want to thank everyone for the comments, shouts & emails over the past few days wishing us well & a safe journey.  Much appreciated folks & keep an eye out for us on the road.....10-4:))

WE ARE READY TO HEAD OUT IN SEARCH OF NEW ADVENTURES:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((   Paddy was waiting at the bus stop with his mate when a truck rolled by loaded with of sod.  Paddy said, "I'm gonna do that when I win the lottery."  "What's dat," asked his friend.  "Send me lawn away to be cut."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

WE HAVEN'T TOLD THE FURRY GUYS YET:))

Tonight's photos are from our visit to Bryce Canyon, Utah.........November 13th 2008:))

A cold, damp, rainy & miserable morning stretched into afternoon as the pace quickened for our final 2 days of travel preps.  Nice feeling to see the clock ticking down the long waiting time to less than 40 hours now.  I'd say it's just about time to open the door & let a little excitement in:))

More check marks ticked off on the 'to do' lists today with the final check marks hitting the paper early Saturday morning as we head out the door.  Max, Checkers & the Motormouse....'check.'  Kelly & I....'check.'  Yep, that's the whole crew alright....'check!!'

  

(click pics to enlarge)

I was disappointed to find out today that our back up camera on the rig isn't working now.  I did manage to wedge myself between the driver's seat & the steering column to check out some fuses but they seemed fine so I have no idea what's going on.  The camera was working before we had the Workhorse brake recall work done a couple weeks ago & so were the levelers.  I have a feeling those two problems are connected somehow.  So disappointing!!  On the positive side, we did get the rig's toilet fixed so the bowl holds water again & we did get a recall part installed in our Dometic refrigerator.

We still haven't told the furry guys we'll be rolling out early Saturday morning & so far they don't suspect a thing, but that may change tomorrow.  They might clue in late tomorrow afternoon when I move & park the Motor Home on the road in front of the house....with the Jeep attached.  That's going to get some ears perked up & tails a-wagging for sure:))

With this damp, cold & rainy weather upon us I'm really looking forward to heading south into warmer air.  Talk of possible snow showers tomorrow so we just may be getting out of here in the nick of time.

     

And the Bayfield Bunch welcomes our newest blog supporter, Ed.  Thanks for taking an interest in the blog Ed & boosting our slow growing blog supports list.  Much appreciated by the whole gang here:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A large company, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. The new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers.  On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning on a wall. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business.  He walked up to the guy leaning against the wall and asked, "How much money do you make a week?"  A little surprised, the young man looked at him and replied, "I make $400 a week. Why?"
The CEO then handed the guy $1,600 in cash and screamed, "Here's four weeks' pay, now GET OUT and don't come back."  Feeling pretty good about himself, the CEO looked around the room and asked,  "Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-ball did here?"
From across the room came a voice, "Pizza delivery guy from Domino's."

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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

A $251 GAS FILL UP TODAY:((

TONIGHT'S PICS ARE FROM THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON (November 21/07)

Another cold night so I was out to the rig again about 1 in the morning checking to make sure the heaters were keeping the water pipes nice & toasty.  It was a clear crisp night & I was able to identify a few constellations through the towering pine trees.  In another week we will be camping under those very stars with views from horizon to horizon.  I am very much looking forward to spending time under the beautiful night sky for the next 5 months.  I am waaaaay overdue for a good night time star fix:))

 

   

A year ago right now we were at  RUSTY'S RV RANCH near Portal Arizona & I recall how nice it was to be sitting outside with my laptop, surrounded by mountains, under the big Arizona sky.  In fact, Doug & JoAnn from LIVING OUR DREAM are at Rusty's right now as I type this.    We met Doug & JoAnn in Yuma back in December of 09.

THE NORTH RIM LODGE

Hope everyone understood that my reference in yesterday's blog about joining the new Canadian International Astronaut Program was said in jest.  At 66, the only program I am well qualified for now is, 'Weight Watchers:(('  And, the Pink Store in Palomas is located 3 miles south of Columbus New Mexico which in turn is situated south of Demming NM.  And no, we will not be going to Mexico.  Walmart in Douglas Arizona will be about as close as we will get to the border......just a few blocks away.

FELLOW CANADIANS MIKE & MAUREEN BEAUNE WITH THEIR BELOVED DOG MOLLY (Molly just passed away a few days ago)

At $251, today's Motor Home gas fill up marked the most expensive fuel stop to date.  The onboard computer tells me that under ideal conditions that will take us about 450 miles, but of course nothing is ever really ideal so that number will fluctuate as we encounter headwinds, hills, heavy traffic, towns & cities.  And to think I was once able to fill up my Volkswagen Beetle for $3.50 & drive to Sarasota Florida for under $20.

 

THIS TRAIL MAKES IT'S WAY ALONG THE RIM OF THE CANYON

Spent time this morning re-installing a surge protector & trying to clean up & compact wires & plugs under the new computer station.  It's always such a garbled mess of wires behind televisions, computers, stereos etc.  Sure wished they would come up with some affordable technology to completely eliminate electrical wires.

THE FORESTRY DEPT WAS DOING A CONTROLLED BURN IN THE CANYON SO NOT THE BEST DAY FOR PICS WITH ALL THE SMOKE

Well, just 3 more hot morning showers & we will be on the road.  I am always a mixed bag of feelings right up until I pull that gearshift handle down into 'D' & get the big wheels rolling.  From that point on my attention is focused on the job at hand & we are off on another adventure.

I THINK KELLY WAS ENJOYING THE SUN'S WARMING RAYS........................   (Photo by Maureen Beaune)

GROANER'S CORNER:((   The wife and I were sitting around the breakfast table one lazy Sunday morning.  I said to her, “If I were to die suddenly, I want you to immediately sell all my stuff.”  “Now why would you want me to do something like that?” she asked.
“I figure that you would eventually remarry and I don’t want some stupid ass using my stuff.”  She looked at me and said: “What makes you think I’d marry another stupid ass?”

And remember......GOOD HEALTH IS MERELY THE SLOWEST POSSIBLE RATE AT WHICH ONE CAN DIE.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

Until one has loved an Animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened.

OUR BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

AL'S SMUG MUG PHOTO GALLERY http://stargeezer.smugmug.com/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.