Time to say goodbye to our Summer Trip...

We did have one last lovely camp-out with friends just before heading home.  Four days at Catalina State Park in Tucson.  Nice sunny days with cool breezes and lovely sunsets.  Another couple friends of theirs joined us, so we made new friends as well, which is always fun.  We even got in a couple of games.  Tried to play cards in spite of the wind, which was a challenge.  I think we laughed more about that than the game!  

It was pretty there with the Datura plants in bloom and mesquite trees everywhere...but the biting bugs...ugh!  I'm not sure what they were, gnats, or mosquitos, or flies (lots of those too) or ?  But I am still itching from those bites!  They had had quite a bit of rains prior to our visit because you could see the residual dried mud runoff, so maybe they were from that...or from the plants?  Don't know, but they sure liked us and made sitting outside a challenge.  ;-( 

All good things come to an end (so the saying goes)...and so does our "Summer Trip".  We rolled back into Surprise earlier this week and was greeted with lovely mild sunshine!  So nice to come home to low 80's instead of "triple digit" weather here in Arizona!  Wow, such a nice arrival and a great way to have to unload and do all the trudging of bringing everything back in plus cleaning up the 6 months of dirt on the outside of our little home!  

We did have wonderful neighbors who watched our little home while we were gone, watering our few potted plants (they even added some for us!) and ridding the weeds.  But our ground plants have grown out of control...so we have our work cut out for us...might even need an ax to get to them!  lol

Well, I think it's going to be awhile before we go out again, but you never know, so we keep our baby "ready" just in case an offer to good to pass up comes along....so I won't close up the year...just yet!  ;-)

Until then, we are home in Arizona,  Marie

So long 2018!

This was a short, fast, odd kind of year for us!  One, along with many, it seems,  that we are glad to be done with!  So much seemed to happen, and not happen for us...

The happen...was we changed our status!  From the beginning we have been "full timers" - on the road constantly, moving from one campground to another, without really having any home base except a long stop-over in Washington to renew our licenses and see family and doctors.  This year, however, we decided that after 6 years it was time to slow down a bit and get a "home base".  We are not ready to quit...just ready to stay put for a few months now instead of traveling all 12 months.  For us, that's a big change...and a fun one.  Another adventure, if you will.  That change took months to do, to buy, to move in, etc. and in truth, it's still taking us time to unpack!

Another thing that happened was that one of my sweet sisters passed away while we were in Texas.  It wasn't totally unexpected, just earlier than expected, and never news one wants to get, no matter when or where you are.  That news changed our direction and our summer.  The one thing that being RV'ers are good at.








We were also able to take our "vacation" this year.  Something we like to do, but can't always do.  This year we were able to take some friends with us, and show them "our favorite island", Maui!  They had never been, and it was such a joy to show them Hawaii and to celebrate Jack's 75th birthday in style.  After such a hectic time, this was a nice relief.  Especially knowing that we were coming back to a house full of boxes to unpack!

What didn't happen...was a lot less camping.  We only camped from June to October, which is a really short time for us.  We left late due to first the house buying, then because I broke a molar and had to have it fixed before hitting the road.  Then, we had to be back by October because of our reservations for Hawaii.  Oh well, like I said, a strange year...

Here are our stats...

We stayed in 22 campgrounds for a total of 70 nights  (we stayed with family all the other nights)

Total campground fees $2,030.67  (that averages about $29. a night, which is a little less than last year's)

Mileage for the RV:  6,254
Mileage for the Toad: 9,005

Gas for the RV:  $2,865
Gas for the Toad: $1,143

Propane: $82

Maintenance for the RV:  $7,958
Maintenance for the Toad: $1,161

Both vehicles reached their "over 100,000 mile" mark and needed the full work up, so got it from front to back...ouch!

Next year's plan?  ...to be on the road more than this year, that's for sure!  ;-)  But as to "where"?  That's a good question..one we keep asking ourselves...with what all the bad storms and fires did to this country, we just may head to Canada!  We shall just see...

...sitting back in Arizona,  Marie

It's a Matter of Perspective...

It's funny how under certain circumstances you can feel like an "expert", or at least "experienced" and then under other circumstances, with the same subject, you now feel like a "new-comer".  Such is the RV life!

We have been full-timing it for 18 months now, and compared to some of the folks we've met at campgrounds along the way, we are "rare and experienced" and are asked a lot of questions.  Then you come to a situation like we did this week...a "Rally", changes everything.

The Family Motor Coach Association celebrated their 50th anniversary with a big rally and reunion in Gillette Wyoming.  2639 motor coaches and around 6000 people attended a four day celebration filled with seminars, shopping, exhibits, historic motor coaches, new ones to tempt you, entertainment and fun.

The few days leading up to the rally found us in campgrounds in Cody and Buffalo on our way to Gillette - along with dozens of other fellow FMCA rally bound campers.  On one such night we had an opportunity to visit with several of them over an ice cream social given by one of the campground hosts.  We quickly learned how "new" we were at this life style!  We might be the rare "full-timer" but other folks have been RVing (and going to these rallies) for 10, 15, 20 years.  "New-comer" took on a whole new meaning!

The day of the check-in found us leaving our campground in Buffalo at the same time as many others - all headed where we were.  What a strange sight to be on an Interstate with nothing but RVs all heading to the same place.  The only other rally we have attended was the small one put on by the manufacturer of our rig.  That was in Florida last year, and we didn't see anyone on the road with us as we traveled to it!

For those of you not familiar with rallies (we sure weren't before we joined the RV world).  They are an organized gathering of like-interested (or like-coach) folks to come together for a few days to camp, socialize and learn.  Depending on who is hosting and how large the group is, vendors, RV dealers along with their latest rigs and entertainment, might be included.  Something like this, that draws people from all over the US and Canada, it's as big as a State Fair, with seminars going on throughout each day on just about every subject having to do with this life-style from maintaining your rig to cooking in it!

Here in Wyoming, each day brought on a different kind of weather too.  The day of check-in was thankfully, sunny, as hundreds upon hundreds of coaches arrived and were guided in by experienced and well staffed volunteers.  The Cam-Plex that this was being held at was a huge dirt & grass multi-event arena.  They had us parking in row after row, after row, around and around we went to what seemed like miles of coaches!  That night gave us a beautiful sunset to start our celebration off.

However, it was soon to change!  The sun quickly left us and the storm of wind and rain came in with full force adding a show of lightening and thunder to the next night.  Our rigs were rocking and rolling.  As we started out the following day, to mud and grass soaked fields, we didn't let it slow us down.  The rally organizers had school buses that ran shuttles all day and evening until everything was over so that we could easily get to and from the various areas with the least bit of trouble.  Good thing, because as the days continued, so did the weather worsen.  Day 3 brought more rain and then a heavy down poor of hail!  Inches of it!  We even got a tornado warning for a few hours!  Some of us were left stranded in the exhibit hall with the vendors and just had to go on shopping (me!).

They brought in some fun entertainment for us as well.  One night they sent us down memory lane with The Buckinghams as they sang songs from the 1960's with many of us singing right along with them!  

Friday evening they held a "Black Tie and Blue Jeans Dance" that we were just to tired to go to!  Dashing from seminar to seminar from 8am to 4pm every day just tuckered us out!  We haven't had to cram so much learning in, in a long time!  Just ask me how to clean a holding tank now, and I can tell you!

We made up for it Saturday tho and got to enjoy an evening with Marty Stuart and his band.  A great way to end the event.

But Sunday was another story...Sunday was "exit day"...sort of.  You see, that "weather" I mentioned earlier, well, it kept raining on & off, more on that off, really.  Most of us were parked on what started out to be dirt & grass...that quickly turned into mud and muck.  I finally renamed our street (each row had a street name) from 5th street to Lake Lane!  Pretty much everyone on our row had to be towed out.  6" of mud & water just doesn't make for easy drive-ability when you have a 26,000 lbs vehicle!  We had put wood under our tires, Jack thought that would help...nope, as soon as he drove off of them...we sank!  But, as RVer's do, one came to our rescue and tied his car to our RV and with a lot of tugging and willpower, he pulled us out!  I couldn't hardly believe it (I delivered a nice bottle of red wine and a hug afterward)!

A good washing getting all the mud splatters off, and the day was done...many, many things learned, enjoyed, and will be remembered for a long, long time, thank you FMCA!

 Rows of motorhomes, photo courtesy of Mike Wendland

First night sunset

Seminar photo courtesy of Mike Wendland 

 The Buckinghams Concert

 Exhibit Hall, photo courtesy of Mike Wendland

Sunday's swamp dilemma...

 "Lake views"

 Might as well enjoy the lake view! 

Here we are, propped up, but still 6" deep...

...on the road (again!) in Wyoming,  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/

A day in our life...

As I sit here, thinking about how far behind I am in getting my blogs written, what I want to write, and what I'd rather be doing now...I thought I would share with you, a what a "typical" travel day is like for us, first...

I don't think our bodies have totally adjusted to the different time zones. Not having to get up by a certain time to "go to work", we've slowly changed our routine to later dinners (or just two meals, making one around 4pm, then "dessert" around 8pm)and staying up late (11pm-midnight) and waking up late (8:30-10am). Most mornings are spent leisurely getting up and having a light breakfast, then when we are pulling out that day, we slowly get things "buttoned down" and usually pull out sometime between 10-11am. It's a rare day that we "rush" anything!

We mostly drive the "back roads" whenever we can, staying off the main interstates. The beauty & grandeur along these roads is what makes this country so mesmerizing. No billboards or advertising to distract you. These roads usually take a bit longer, but the traffic is much fewer. I also like that the speed limits along them are usually a bit lower, mostly around 45-55 mph, dropping down to 35 mph at each small town. This way, we can enjoy the scenery better.

These roads are usually filled with trees and wild flowers all along the edges. Meadows are filled with knee high grasses and wild flowers of every color. Tucked in here and there are simple homes, farmlands, small lakes, ponds and streams. The water level has been pretty low in most parts, but every once in awhile we cross over a fast-flowing river or stream that always brings a smile and an "oh look!" Of course there has been the "coastlines" where the views run the gambit of sandy beaches to cliffs overlooking gorgeous waterways. We pop in one of our Cd's of New Orleans jazz or Zydeco and just tootle down the road. Sometimes when we come over a rise, we are in awe of the vista we see out our large front window.

My only disappointment is the lack of seeing much wildlife. Occasionally we will see a deer or two, but not much else. (we have seen a couple of turtles trying to cross the road!) "Moose" is supposed to be abundant along the north-eastern states & Canada, but you couldn't tell by me! Other than seeing it on every t shirt and souvenir , you wouldn't know they were anywhere near here. I try to look through the trees and scour every meadow for moose, but not a one has been spotted (so far, I'm not giving up!).

When it comes to camping, we've been able to almost always get space at our first choice. Bad for the economy, but good for us. Campgrounds have not been very full - even in this height of summer. Rates have been very reasonable as well. Many of them have added extra entertainment to help keep more campers coming and staying. Everything from live music to games and cookouts. Our average stay is anywhere from 1-3 nights.

The more north we travel, the more attention we get from people seeing our Washington licence plates. We've met some really nice folks that come over to chat. When we share what we are doing, they often ask where we are heading next; they are always very helpful in giving us tips & suggestions of where & what "to be sure and see". Taking their advise has led us to some wonderful places and adventures.

Since it's not always easy for a 35' motorhome + tow to just pull over and stop, we often see "fun"things that I haven't been able to "shoot". There have been great old barns, fences or walls covered in everything from lobster buoys to multi-colored tractor seats. It's as if the people who live along side of these roads decorate for our joy and entertainment! Most are well maintained with beautiful flower beds all around their very mowed lawns (everyone seems to have one of those riding mowers!). Many have added "yard art" as well. It's always fun to see what "other people" do to their homes & yards.

We try and limit the number of driving hours to 4 or less, so that Jack can get a break from driving, and we can still enjoy the rest of the day at the campground before dark. We feel so lucky to be doing what we are doing, and enjoying every minute of it. There is so very much to see in this beautiful country of ours, that we decided awhile back that "one year" just wasn't going to cut it, we will have to add at least one more to our plans! We plan on staying out of that cold, wet stuff called snow, so we will be back on the west coast by the end of this year, and take plenty of time to stay and visit with all of our family & friends. It does get a bit lonely & quiet "out here", which has made us appreciate our family & friends that much more. I am often asked "how it's going with being together 24-7?" ...and I will share that it's a good thing we like each other so much, or it could be a frustrating & aggravating way to spend your life with someone! ;-)

So, you can see why, sometimes I am 2 to 3 stops behind in some of my blogs...I am just spending what would be my "writing time", having fun! Life is good...
























































































...on the road in New England and Canada, Marie

Goodbye gray gravel, Hello green trees!

After almost two weeks, parked on that large gray gravel parking lot of a campground at Tiffin, we were finally able to leave! It thundered, lightening & rained all the day & night before, but on the day we chose to leave, the sun came out, bright and shining!

We had decided rather than dash straight to Atlanta GA, our next "big stop", we would get a much needed "green fix" and just go to a nearby forest. Just an hour away, is the William Bankhead National Forest. It has two large (50+ campsites each) campgrounds and one beautiful, large lake - Lewis Smith Lake. It was great being able to "sleep in" and take our time pulling out, then getting to the campsite, checking in, setting up and still be there in time for me to make lunch!
Now that's camping!

From this...














To this...



























...on the road in Alabama, Marie

What do you call a "forest"?

What's your idea of a "forest"? Mine, having grown up in southern California, has always been "mountains with pine trees", along with their heavenly scent, and various pine cones. Sure, Scrub Oaks too, but you get the picture. Florida has pines - but they are called "Sand Pines". They also have plenty of Cypress, Live Oak, & Palm Trees, all hanging with beautiful moss (& not on mountains). Their forest smells clean vs pine...that I so looked forward to...that always meant "camping" or "picnic" to me.

I must admit tho, that the Florida forest is lush & green with it's own unique beauty to enjoy. It's also been a joy to listen and see to the different birds (including the beautiful Northern Cardinal!) they have here.

We (finally) had the opportunity to camp overnight in one of their national parks, the Ocala National Park, and it was wonderful. We stayed at their Salt Springs Campground where they have a natural spring rising from vertical fissures (cracks) from deep within the earth. The presence of potassium, magnesium and sodium salts give the waters in the spring a slight salinity. Hence the name Salt Springs. The place was quiet, peaceful and truly beautiful. I only wish we could have stayed longer. We seem to find these "beauties" when we have "appointments" we are trying to get to! Oh well, one day of bliss is better than none! Here's a small sample...





































































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/

...on the road in Florida, Marie