Having a BLAST at Lake Havasu!

There are two things that really bring out the "little kid" in me, and that is Christmas lights and Fireworks!  I never get tired of seeing either one of them (just ask my family!)  So, when I read a flyer that Lake Havasu was having their annual "Winter Blast Pyro Party" I knew I had to go!  We belong to our resort's RV Club and they like to put rallies together for interesting places and things, so I thought I would give it a try and sign up to be a "Wagon Master" and see who all would be interested in joining me for a few days.  The Winter Blast was for a whole week, but I had commitments so could only go for 4 days.  I thought maybe I would get 5 or 6 rigs interested...it turned out I'm not the only one who loves fireworks!  15 other couples do too!  Actually, we would even have had more, but quite a few said their dogs didn't...so, had to pass it up.

What fun we all had!  We lucked out with great weather (clear, and in the mid 70's) with beautiful sun rises and sun sets every day.  We started out with a welcome pot luck and of course had a ton of wonderful food, and a nice wood fire to sit and chat around before we wandered off to see the fireworks.  

During the daytime many enjoyed going into town to see the London Bridge and or hike the various area.  We, along with others checked out the local History Museum.  It was fun seeing how Lake Havasu got it's start.  Quite a marketing plan...flying people in from snow-filled states in the middle of winter to show them "sunny & warm" Arizona! 

 Each night we were treated to a different live band, then followed by hours of fun-filled fireworks.  You could see them from anywhere, but the best seats were in the bleachers (we camped at the rodeo grounds).  

Our final night dwindled down to half the group as many had to leave early due to various commitments, but that didn't stop the rest of us from enjoying one last dinner together and a nice campfire that we all decided to stay around and watch the last fireworks from there...all comfy together.  

 

A simple rally, only 3 hours away, but packed with loads of fun and friendship!  What a BLAST!

...sitting back in Arizona,  Marie

Did 2022 even happen? ...and now it's 2023!

 Transitioning from "Full-Time" (12 months traveling on the road) to "Part-Time" (6 months on the road) was one thing...and that took an adjustment, but this last year was what?  "Part-Part-Time" (once in awhile on the road)?  We put more miles in the air than we did in the RV!  I'm not complaining, it's just hard to write a "year-end blog" about a year that hardly happened!  I kept putting it off because I didn't really know what to say, even though I wanted to say something! 

Do I like it?  I don't know, I'm still adjusting to it...like my age.  Inside I feel like I can and want to do so much more...but when I go to do it, funny how my body doesn't seem to cooperate like it used to!  I'm also finding myself being pulled in a lot of different directions now that we are here in the Resort more.  I'm on the Board of Directors now, liaison to a couple of committees and in several clubs - all of which take time and commitment...and makes it harder to get away for any length of time.  

Belonging to the RV Club has been a wonderful blessing because they really help get us out and about without us having to do much of the pre-planning and work.  They've also introduced us to places that we hadn't heard of before and might not have ever explored.  We hope to do even more with them in 2023.  

Even with barely traveling in the RV this year, we still managed to put over 1000 miles on it with another 6100 miles on our Toyota.  Enough to keep the engine running and serviced and the tags kept up to date anyway!  ;-)  

We have reservations for March on the books (to go to Tucson for the Escapee's 64th Escapades) for a rally and then I will be looking into little jaunts for us here and there to keep us more active this year...so stay tuned!  

Until then we will just be...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

Seasonal fun in Sedona...

We may not have been "traveling" much, but that doesn't mean life hasn't been full!  Being on the HOA Board at our "home-base" Resort keeps me hopping, especially as the snow birds start returning!  Between that, and the start of the new production of Happy Trails Theater Variety Show for 2024, and then being asked to plan the annual Theater Christmas Party...I was stretched to the max.  Solution?  Take a break!!

So, we did, off to Sedona for a week to relax and "do nothing"!  Sedona is less than two hours from our place, so it's an easy and pretty drive for us.  We have a timeshare there and have gone a number of times, so don't feel the need to do any of the tourist things, yet know the restaurants we like and the places we like to take walks to.  We stay a Los Abrigados Resort which is right in the heart of town so it's easy to walk around or a short drive to places we like. 

Being Thanksgiving week, fall was in full form.  All the oak trees were showing off their colors and dropping their leaves everywhere making wonderful piles to play with and kick as you walked through them!  So fun.  It was such a lovely week, the sun shone each day through clear, crisp air.  Enough to wear sweat shirts or sweaters, but not so cold that you could see your breath.  Some brave soles even went swimming! (not me!!)

Shopping at Tlaquepaque is always a favorite with us, and this time was no exception.  It's such a beautiful place to walk around as well as a great place to eat and find special treasures...of which (of course) we did.  

Thanksgiving dinner at The Hudson was a wonderful treat.  We love that restaurant anyway, but being able to have reservations for that evening was extra special - and they sure made it that way too.  I have been used to very large family gatherings most of my life, so now with just the two of us, it's a difficult adjustment.  Having a place treat us special, preparing a meal wonderfully, serving us like friends, helps.  We left there with full tummies and big smiles...and yummy leftovers! 

That week of no meetings, no calls, or "important e mails" was just what I needed.  I read a good book, watched a couple of Hallmark movies, slept in, took long walks, soaked in a hot tub and...relaxed. 

Then...back to the real world (but ready for it!)...

...in Arizona,  Marie

Camping in Cottonwood AZ

 We decided not to make the "big trip" this year, and instead, just stay close to home and maybe do a few short trips - with the RV Club and on our own during the summer.  Last year's long trip was quite a strain and Jack, the RV and even I needed a little break.  So, we shall see how it goes...this "staying put" thing!

Our first trip out was with our RV Club, to a campground called Dead Horse State Ranch in Cottonwood AZ.  It's only about a couple of hours from our resort, which was a nice drive, and a change of scenery.  There were about a dozen coaches, so a nice size group of us - not to small or big.  

 Being in a "group" is still kind of new for us, as for the last seven plus years, we've pretty much traveled and camped alone.  There a pluses and minus to that kind of camping.  I enjoy both.  

The coordinator was "on top" of everything for this trip.  She had each evening planned with campfires scheduled and hosted at different sites, people signed up to go to local entertainment (an Escape Room and a BBQ with entertainment) along with various hikes during the day if you wanted.  Two potlucks were also scheduled.  

 

 I, personally love potlucks, it makes cooking and eating so much more easy and fun.  You get to try new foods along with the opportunity to chat with so many people.  We are still getting to know most of the people in the club, so this gave us the chance to mingle and learn about some of the members.

 

 

We pretty much stayed around the park, only going into town one day.  Decided not to do the two evening outings, but joined the other few couples around our campfire and enjoy the glorious sunsets we were greeted with instead.  

All in all, it was a lovely four days.  The weather was cool in the mornings and evenings and warm, sunshine during the daylight.  The group was super friendly and fun and the trip was short and sweet!  It would be fun to do this more often, but as the season is drawing to a close...people are getting ready to "head back home" for the summer, so this will be it for the group until fall I'm afraid.  So, we will be on our own to come up with camp outings!  

Kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

 

 

Christmas with family, Texas style!

Two and half years without seeing "my grand babies" is just to long, COVID or not!  I just had to fly to Texas this year and be with those two little guys for Christmas before they forgot who their grandma was!  Being only 6 and 3, it doesn't take long for them to forget all the fun times we've had in the past and wonder who this person is that Dad just talks to on the phone!  Besides, I was really missing those wonderful, squishy hugs and mushy kisses and sweet giggles that only little ones can give you!  So, off to Dallas I went...mask and all.  

I sure lucked out with the weather!  Sunshine all the way!  So, wonderful visits to the park to play, lots of fun times outside to break up our "hide-and-seek" games, baking Santa cookies and computer times inside.  While we were outside, we met some new neighbors visiting from China, including a 4 year old boy to play with!  My daughter-in-law made us a delightful picnic one afternoon and we all exchanged American and Chinese food together, what fun that was!  

I actually woke up before the family on Christmas morning (excited, I guess!). Watched the sunrise over the lake, so beautiful, and so peaceful...especially before all the "excitement" that was to follow any minute!  

As you can imagine, Christmas with two small boys was full of chaos and noise...just as it should be!  Lots of "Oh my golly!"  and "wow!"  and "just what I wanted!" was heard...along with the noises of the rat-a-tat-tats of the toys and rumbles of the trucks!  Ahhh...boys' toys!  Memories of my own boys' at that age...

I found out that my son's favorite Christmas movie is Swiss Family Robinson...so, we had a wonderful fire going in the fireplace and rented the movie and sat back and watched, as he explained it to his sons.  We laughed at the various animals and antic that they "discovered" on their island and would my grandsons like to ever live on an island like that (no thanks!).  Afterward, all settled down though for afternoon naps by the warm fire...even the dogs took a break...

Before I knew it the week was over and it was time to fly back to Arizona, though...

I was lucky with the trip, not to crowded coming or going, treated like "royalty" by my family and by the airline staff, can't ask for anything better!  So glad I came!  Wonderful way to end the year and look forward to a much better year ahead...

...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

Show Time!

Wow, here it IS already the second week of March!  They say "time flies when your having fun", and they are right!

For the past three months I've been in rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals!  When the Theater Group said that being in the show was work, what they really should have said was that it was a full-time commitment!  It wasn't work (that's what I did for most my life) this was FUN, but it sure is a commitment of time (and energy!).  With four single numbers, plus three group numbers, I was in rehearsals every day, many back-to-back.  It sure was great exorcise too!

Finally, it was time to perform!  Four nights, to sold out audiences!  My sister and her granddaughter surprised me and came down from Washington and Las Vegas for the weekend to see it, what a delight that was!

Out the door for "Hey Big Spender"; "Shout"; "Hey Big Spender"; Bye Bye Blackbird"; "Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend"; "9 to 5"

 Each night the audience was so fun to watch and see their reaction to our performances.  I was told that Thursday night's (first night) were usually the quietest, and Saturday's (last night) the rowdiest.  Well, Thursday's was WILD!!  They were great!  My first number was Big Spender, where we are dressed in saloon girl outfits and try to get the attention of the "gentlemen spender".  After he has made his "selection" and walks away with two gals, I walk to the edge of the stage and eye someone nearby and have a line "How 'bout it palsey?"  Well, that first night, the man that I picked, dropped his jaw and then burst out laughing...it was great!  Made my night!

We ended each night with the song Up Town Funk and get everyone up and dancing with us.  It was a lot of fun, some nights people really got into it and even outdid us!!  Who said "old people act old"??  Not this group, I'll tell you!!

"Uptown Funk"

After the last show, we all brought food & drinks and partied and "let our hair down"!  That's when I really had fun...both the director and choreographer came up to me and told me what a gem I was and how much they enjoyed having me in the group!  They can't wait to have me solo next year, etc, etc.  Sure made me smile a lot!! 

Two days later, I hopped a plane to New York to be with my son.  Brrrr...  What a change going from 70 degree sunshine to 19 degrees and snow!!  I had dug out every bit of warm cloths I own (which isn't much) and layered!   ;-)  I sure was pretty to look at...but not something you wanted to stay outside in for longer than you had to!!

These guys came for breakfast and dinner each day at my son's back yard!

On Saturday, my oldest granddaughter had her "Sweet 16 Birthday Party" with her best friend.  It was cute.  About 20 girls and one (brave) boy, all dressed up.  Her mom rented a local place and decorated it with balloons, streamers, etc.  They played music and games and had pizza, hot wings and had a lovely cake.  They took funny pictures of each other and giggled.  Us three grandmas sat and reminisced about how different "today's kids are".  ;-)  It was sweet. 

Two days later, my son and his wife and I headed to Boston for his court hearing.  One that has been postponed several times regarding him bringing in his licensed gun from NY to MA.  Massachusetts doesn't have a reciprocal gun law.  It's more complicated than that...but that's the simple version.

After getting there bright and early, as we were told, the judge tells us to come back the next day, as he has an appointment that day.  We do.  Then, once again, the judge tells us, that he is going to postpone the case, as another one has take precedence - an officer involved shooting from 2013.  Ours will take place - April 1st.  Ugh.

We've paid for an apartment for the week, flown me in, taken time off from work, etc.  but the court doesn't care...  So, I flew back to Arizona!

...Just in time for another party!  Theater "Thank You Party" -  fully catered by Dave's BBQ, with a DJ for dancing!  I was so happy to be able to make this!  I had heard about it, and was told that it was "the party of the year!"  Well, they weren't exaggerating!  So much fun!!  The DJ played most of our numbers and we sang/acted them out - but made fun of them!  It was a hoot!  Then, and in between, we danced and danced and danced!  I haven't danced that much in years!  It didn't matter if, or who your partner was, that's one of the reasons I love this group!  ;-)  Everyone is so very friendly, and happy!  Best party ever!

Now, it's time to settle down and get some more things down around here...then before you know it, it will be time to hit the road again!  Yea!

...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

If you wish to view the rest of the photos from this trip, you can at my Flickr account at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74905158@N04/

Catching Up...

Well, they say "after three days fish and family begin to smell"...I wonder what one says about two weeks?  We camped alongside my niece's home in "exchange" for cooking a few meals...pretty good deal, and the company was nice too!  ;-)  Being Tacoma, the weather wasn't half bad either (most of the time).  The rain pretty much kept to the evenings, and gave us mild sun during the days.  We spent most of our time seeing doctors, catching up with family and helping out my nieces finish up my sister's place.  They are all still struggling with her passing last month and I was here to see if I could help in any way.  I mostly listened...and hugged.  Loosing a sister is tough, but loosing a mom is tougher...no matter what age you are.

It was finally time to go, and head on back to Arizona.  Our plan was to spend a couple of days camping at Mt. Rainer...if the weather cooperated, that is.  We've never been able to do it before because we've always been here in the dead of winter, but since it was only September, there was a slight chance it might not be raining (at least for a couple of days), we thought we would chance it, so off we went!

Well, the gods weren't with us...the sun was out when we left, but the closer we got, the worse it got, and by the time we got to the mountain, ugh.  Rain, rain, rain!  So, we kept right on going...until we ended up in Baker City OR.  It turned out to be quite a cute little town with some interesting things to see...so we extended our stay!

Baker City has a great historical downtown with some wonderful old buildings (they even have a visitor's brochure for you), but my favorite was their 1940 theater.

Everyone there kept telling us about their Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, and what a "must see" it was to visit...so, we did!  They were right...a super great museum, and outside even had an actual piece of the ruts left from the trail itself.  Very cool.

We have all heard so much about the Oregon Trail, with so many movies, art, and our travels, etc. but a lot of it wasn't like that.  For instance...

*  They didn't travel in a long line like we've seen in pictures & in the movies, they traveled across from each other or bunched up because they didn't want to breath each other's dust (makes sense)
*  They didn't all ride in the wagons, the women and children, etc walked the whole way.  The only ones "riding" were the ones driving the wagon.  The wagons were full of provisions, and very uncomfortable too
*  Horses didn't pull the wagons, they were mostly pulled by oxen or mules because of the weight
*  The wagons didn't have springs in them, they were special built prairie schoone wagons
*  Not all Indian situations were bad.  Early emigrants were grateful for the cooperation and generosity of the Indians they met on the Trail.  They were guides and were strong swimmers who herded frightened cattle and horses across rivers and were willing to trade salmon, vegetables and fruit for stock, clothing, tools and utensils.  Many more emigrants would have died on the Trail if not for the Tribe's help

I often wondered "why?" and "what possessed these people to travel almost 2000 miles to a place they had never really seen?"  The museum answered it for me...

"Oregon fever" struck in hundreds of ways - emigrants moved away from home and hearth for different reasons.  A national depression, falling crop prices, and disease-ridden city environment encouraged some.  Others, running from debt, or from the local sheriff.  Still others hoped for good farming, or as one character put it, "Just to get where I ain't".  Most who came West were farmers, with them came merchants, preachers, and eventually the military.  Women and children followed ambitious men, waving farewells to families and friends left behind.    Many imagined Oregon as rich, well-watered paradise, with good soil, few bugs and fewer people. 

All I can say, is that these were some strong, brave folks.  To endure what they did, for six long months, is far more than most of us do in a life time.  Pretty amazing...

The Oregon Trail rut

The Oregon Trail is more than just an old dirt road.  It represents the hopes and dreams of a growing nation, individuals and groups, heartache and hardship, lasting friendships and new homes.  It symbolizes a tradition of movement and change, the willingness to start over, and the search for opportunity.  It also represents less heroic elements of the emigrant movement, such as the irreversible cultural and social changes brought as Native peoples were pushed off their homelands.

Baker City is also surrounded by historic ghost towns, so we took an afternoon drive out to the country to see "what we could see"!  The only one that had much left was the
mining town of Sumpter.

As you drive into the Sumpter Valley, you see piles & piles of gravel...everywhere!  We later found out they are called "tailings" - refuse left behind by people's quest for gold....and one of the tools used to dig up the valley floor is the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Park's centerpiece - a monument to human ingenuity surrounded by the restorative wonders of nature.  The tool used to plow up most of what was once pasture and open meadows along the Powder River is a five-story vessel known as the Sumpter Valley Dredge.  Wider than a large riverboat, the dredge is now grounded where it stopped operating in 1954.  It is one of the nation's oldest surviving gold-digging dredge, weighing 1240 tons with a 52' wide hull.

It managed to navigate the Sumpter Valley in a pond of its own creation, scooping up its 72 buckets (each weighing one ton) at the rate of 280,000 cubic yards per month.  In 41 years, Sumpter Valley Dredge works extracted $4.5 million in gold.

The town was kind of cute too, with it's old buildings and history.  We even got a great glimpse of an eagle as we drove out of town on our way home!  All in all, it was a fun visit!

Well, we are back "home" again in Arizona.  Trying to get things unpacked and turn this tiny house into a home...weeding through boxes and figuring out what treasures we keep and what we can part with...oh the joys of "downsizing" once again!  But, turning white walls into pretty blue ones, and seeing all our favorite art work once again displayed has it's upside!  It's nice to see our friends again and to be in the sunshine too!  We are looking forward to the activities here, and settling in a bit before our next "big trip" in the spring.

Until then, we have one "vacation" planned to Hawaii, then it will be quiet on the travel front for us for awhile...

...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

If you wish to view the rest of the photos from this trip, you can at my Flickr account at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74905158@N04/

Parties, parties, parties...

Our winter stay here at Happy Trails is slowly coming to an end.  Looking back over the last three months, it seems like it’s been “one party after another”!  Here I thought I would have an opportunity to loose a couple of pounds…ha!  With all the potlucks, I’m lucky to still fit in my cloths! 

The friendliness of everyone here is one of the reasons I like this place so much.  It only takes an evening’s chatting with someone to get to know them well enough to get an invite to the next party!  Next thing you know, your headed down the street to another happy hour, or game night and meeting even more people! 

We’ve had Birthday Parties, Holiday Parties, Fish Fries, Mardi Gras, Happy Hours, Game Nights, Jazz Bash Block Parties, Rib Fest and Ice Cream Socials.  All this on top of what the Happy Trails Social Clubs offer…Bingo Nights and the best yet, the Theater Group’s Musical Show!

Throughout all that, I did manage to get a couple of crafts done, phew!  I joined the Stained Glass Class and made my son a kaleidoscope.  It turned out pretty good, and a whole lot of fun too.  I’ll do another one next year for one of my grandsons.  Jack and I did a dual project of making hand mirrors for all of my granddaughters.  He cut the wood out for me, and I painted them and lacquered them.  My painting wasn’t perfect, but all in all, I’m happy with them.  They will make nice Christmas presents I think.  That was a fun project too, for both of us.  We also managed to read a ton of books…our favorite thing!  ;-)

One of the big things I did this year…was to commit to the Theater Group for next year!  Yep, I’m going to “go on stage”!  After seeing how much fun they were having, and “lip-singing” all my favorite songs, the ones I sing to all the time anyway, I thought I just had to join them!  So, I did!  What a great group!  When my daughter was growing up, she went to the school of performing arts and we always had a house full of kids singing and dancing.  I loved it and miss that wonderful energy.  “These are my kind of people!”  I’m really looking forward to spending time with them, getting to know them, rehearsing together, and partying together!  They keep reminding me it’s also “hard work”, but, it’s also my kind of work, so, I’m looking forward to it…

I’ve also been looking at a few churches.  I’ve been in Science of Mind for many years, so that’s where I started.  There is one about 40 minutes from here.  We also went to a Unity of Surprise that is only about 15 minutes from here that I really liked.  The minister looked (and her name sounded) very familiar.  She said the same thing to me when we met…but neither of us could place each other…odd, huh?  Anyway, it was nice to “be back in church”, it’s been a long time.  Being on the road full time hasn’t lent itself to making it easy for that.  Nice people, nice place.  They had a wonderful Easter Service that included a 15 piece jazz orchestra that really added to the service too!  That, and a full pot luck buffet afterward, what more can a person want?  ;-) 

The temperatures are still hovering around the mid 80's for the most part, so it's still lovely here, while many states are still suffering cold, rain and snow, so the folks are slow to exit this year.  Many that normally leave by the first of April and now pushing it back to almost May...so, a "few more parties yet"?  We shall see...

...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

Fun Visits!

We are "wintering" at Happy Trails RV Resort in Surprise Arizona again this year for about three months.  I say "about", because we haven't quite decided if we are staying an extra month not just quite yet or not...we shall see.

In the mean time, as we sit back and relax, we've done a few (very few, actually) fun visits!

The first was to a wonderful Art Fair in Scottsdale.  The artists there put on a great show, displaying some very creative works.  We had a nice long chat with metal artists Jackie and Charles Nipper who make some really incredible statues and wall art from found pieces and weld them together to make flowers, horse heads, hearts, crosses, just all kinds of wondrous things.

Another fun artist was a lady who gathers together candy wrappers along with clock works and other bits and makes super-fun art works!  I was mesmerized by them!  So clever.  Don't you just love it when people come up with new ideas?  It was such a fun-filled day.

We always take a few days and travel to San Diego to have our annual dental check-ups and Jack's heart doc. appointment, along with the Toyota's checked.  We have dear friends who have a lovely guest house at their home in Escondido that often offer it to us, as they did this time as well.  It's pure luxury, especially after living in our RV all the time!

On the day that Jack took the Toyota in for it's check-up, it was going to be an "all-day affair".  He offered me the option of going with him and sitting in the service waiting area & joining him and his friends for lunch, or staying at the Guest House.  I told him I had a better idea...he could drop me off at the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park for the day!  When he was done, just come back and pick me up; me and my camera would have a wonderful time just wandering around.  I still have a couple of friends who work there and if I play my cards right, I just might have a lunch date too!  ;-)  

The day was wonderful!  Being on my own at the Park was just lovely.  No one to please or or show something to, I could just wander willy-nilly wherever my feet just led me to.  No agenda, no time restraints.  Nice.  The weather couldn't have been better.  I did manage to meet up with my friends (I worked for the Zoo for over 20 years) and it was great spending a little time with them.  I even got to see a rare "duel" cheetah run that they decided to try, very cool.  Being in the middle of the week, the Park wasn't very busy, so that was nice for me as well, and made picture taking easy.   We ended our day by having a wonderful dinner with some friends at a nearby restaurant.

The following day, we met up with Jack's blacksmith buddy,  They have expanded the Wheelwright shop so they can make more than just wagon wheels.  They completed a full-on 1800's wagon, now they were finishing up an early buggy.   After a nice lunch, and a big bag of fresh oranges, we said our "good-byes" and headed back to pack up to head back to Arizona.

The rest of our time here has been attending wonderful dinners and spending time with friends.  We both caught colds, mine has lasted longer than Jack's, but I'm letting the sun "cook it out of me" while I read one book after another!  I'm not getting done all the projects I had on my "to do" list, but I'm still enjoying myself, and I guess that's what it's really all about anyway!

...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

If you wish to view the rest of the photos from this trip, you can at my Flickr account at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74905158@N04/

That's a Wrap!

Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018!  When you camp in an area that doesn't have any WiFi service (or cable) the two pretty much merge together!  ;-)  So this "end of year blog" is a little late getting out...

Looking over our "goals" for 2017, which was pretty much to "complete our US map" and to take things a bit slower, spending more time during our travels, exploring...I think we were successful.  We checked off our last state, which was Ohio! by thoroughly enjoying that state.  We visited 6 cities/towns in Ohio, sampling their food (chili!), their attractions, and their beauty.  We never guessed Ohio could be so much fun!  We ended up spending 19 days there.

After 5 years on the road, and always visiting Texas (because it's there, and because it's where one of my son's lives) it's always a fun challenge to find a new place and/or a new route to take.  This year we managed to do both.  We also checked off another National Park to boot!  Visiting Big Bend in Texas was quite an experience, and like all of Texas, you can only get a taste of it because it's so very large!  Then later, after visiting my son, going through the Piney Woods area of Texas was such a lovely surprise.

Another state we were able to enjoy and spend some time exploring this year was Colorado.  In the past, it has only been for a few days, and only to visit our friends around the Denver area.  This time they met us in Colorado Springs for a week, but we camped several weeks before and after throughout the state as well and really got a great sense of what a beautiful state it is.  Having the opportunity to visit it in August was ideal for us, since their mountains are so high, most of the time one takes a chance of getting hit with snow or ice or road closures...but not so in August!  Yea!

I was also able to knock off a long time item off my "bucket list" this year, and that was to walk into and photograph a slot canyon in Utah.  What a wonderful experience that was!  Oftentimes something you've wished for, for years, doesn't always live up to your expectations, but this time, it exceeded it.  We ended up with a private tour because no one else had signed up for it that day, and the guide knowing my feelings, stayed longer, and took extra time showing me photo shots to take.  It was the highlight of our summer and one I will never forget!

With all that, we still managed to be at the birth of my last grandson, to get in (very) quick trips back east with family, and then the fast trip back to the west for a friend's wedding (phew!).  So no "vacation" out of the RV this year.  A longer than usual family visit in Washington...then to Arizona to "dry out".

Looking over our stats, they aren't to much different than last year actually...

We stayed at 62 campgrounds, for a total of 295 nights
Total campground fees: $10,758.63
(That averages about $36.47 a night, which is a little less than last year...maybe because we didn't stay in California very long this time)

Mileage for the RV: 12,945
Mileage for the toad: 11,823
Gasoline for the RV: $4,800
Gasoline for the toad: $1,130
Propane: $143
Maintenance & Repairs RV: 5,800(4 tires on toad, 6 tires on RV, generator exhaust, etc)

When you have a 10 year old RV, she needs a little TLC once a decade, then she's "good to go" again for awhile.  Now that that is done, we can relax a bit and see what 2018 brings us!

...kicking back in sunny Arizona,  Marie

If you wish to view the rest of the photos from this trip, you can at my Flickr account at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/74905158@N04/