Meeting Old Friends

We arrived above Phoenix at Lake Pleasant where friends are hosting. We were just in time. Pam was flying to Connecticut for a family visit with her husband holding the fort where they are hosting. The weather turned cold and grapple (slushy sleet) covered the ground. In the mountains it snowed and north of here in the high elevations they have a foot of snow or better. We like the sleet!! It melts quick. We are staying here through the weekend and then we head north to the I-40 and our volunteering at Petrified Forest National Park.

RV Dreams Rally, Quartzsite

We arrived north of Quartzsite on BLM land for the boondocking rally Friday 2/15. We missed the first week of the two week RV Dreamsrally but we were not the only rigs coming in mid-rally. Others arrived after us. We have toured a few other rigs and had campfires every night for talking over the days events. Today we had a swap table with things people were giving up, an electrical seminar and a pot luck. I had hoped for more info gleaning but we apparently really know more about boondocking than I thought. On Sunday they had a pumper truck empty black tanks and a fresh water truck come. Arriving like we did we did not need either truck. The desert is quiet and sunny right now. Quartzsite itself is crazy in January but it has quieted for the February RV'ers. It is sure the Arizona capital of RVing!!!!!!!!!!! We walked some flea markets and bought some trinkets but we do not need anything. We really have it all. Meeting the rally leaders and new people were the object of camping in the desert.

Arrival In Arizona

Traveling west on the I-20 was horrible. In Mississippi the road was Motorhome unfriendly, jarring us all the way. The radio stopped working because of the jarring (no Sirius)and my back did not take it well. After 3 Walmart or rest stop nights we stopped in Louisana at Lake Bistineau State Park. I saw a beautiful sunset on the lake which was really a filled cyprus swamp. Before the Louisanna next day rain off we traveled again. It took us 3 days to travel across Texas. We stopped in New Mexico for another Walmart night arriving in Arizona February 12th. We woke to New Mexico ice then traveling through the desert into Arizona we saw snow on the sides of the road. John and I traveled into Texas Canyon on I-10 feeling we finally arrived! Stopping at Lazydays in Tuscon for a few days to rest, the cold is still with us but the snow is gone. We had our radio fixed, bought LED lights for the MH and washed our filthy car, clothes, etc. I Emailed RV Dreams Quartzsite Boondocking Rally and we are off to Quartzsite on Friday. We have missed most of the weather coming across country. After we left Woodstock, Connecticut had 3 feet of snow crippling the state. We picked the only window to leave the cold and snow so I feel very lucky. Now on to our western adventures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Takeoff - West

Ruby and Emma with their slaves, John and Edgar! We were in South Carolina visiting friends before we turned west to travel on to Arizona. Huntington Beach State Park, SC is right on the coast. John and our friend, Edgar, are holding the dogs. Ruby is Emma sized but she is now an old lady and really did not appreciate Emma in her territory. I loved Ruby's size when she was living in CT so Emma size appealed to me. They are both spoiled dogs and we love them.

We left Thurs January 31st and stopped for the night in PA just over the line from NY. The weather was cold, snow and heavy wind ahead and we did not want to travel after dark. The next day we sailed(we have a very high motor home)over the mountain near Scranton, PA and down I-81. In Virginia we headed thru Richmond to I-95 arriving in Myrtle Beach area on Saturday night. After visiting friends and de-winterizing the MH, off we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caribbean Gift

For my 68th birthday my nurse daughter, Pam, gave me a gift of a cruise with her. Both of us needed time away after the last months. I have never been in the Caribbean or cruised before. Hubby does not cruise. We left the January cold and flew to Puerto Rico and then sailed to 5 ports in the eastern Caribbean and back to Puerto Rico. We snorkled with turtles and fish seeing shipwrecks, sailed on a schooner & sailboat, climbed British fort steps, and walked in a rainforest. We learned some history of the Caribbean. I had a great time with a precious daughter......Now on to packing for life on the road in our own beautiful country!

We met wonderful people.

We watched sunsets from our cabin and enjoyed the amenities.

We saw lots of brilliant green islands and the azure blue sea.

Dad's Celebration

On December 4, 2012 my father died at home with us.  I want him remembered as the 91 year old who could still win at Nickel Me (a card game) and get around by sheer will instead of being waited on.  He prided himself as independent.  He had been with John and I since the end of July.  Hospice was a blessing to all of us.  My children, especially my youngest who is a nurse, helped me keep him at home the last weeks.  She stayed here for days leaving hubby and teens at home to help me and her grandfather.  So that journey is ended and others are waiting.  The day after my dad's death we were offered a volunteer position at Petrified Forest National Park March - May.  What timing and if you believe, there were plans at work for us we do not control.  So our journey will continue and in February we leave again for another adventure.  Bryce Canyon National Park will take us back in July 2013 and I think we will mark a "bucket list" park by visiting Yosemite and surrounding parks in middle California between the two volunteer positions.  You never know what is around the next corner of life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hospice Celebration

After 5 weeks of doctors, nurses, PT's, etc. and in and out of hospitals, rehab and nursing facilities, my dad is finally here set up on hospice.  He is quite happy to be here and John and I and family are working out all the kinks that come with closing someone's apartment, moving, setting up a handicapped living space and getting rid of stuff.  We are done.  Yesterday we were officially admitted to the hospice program and he talked about when he dies he hopes the family will have a BIG celebration, celebrating his time with us.  What a happy thought in a somber topic.  So we are starting afresh.  Life goes on.  I can see the motor home across the pond and dream of adventures awaiting.  Kimberly, our granddaughter is getting married at our pond September 15th and the preparations are ongoing.  Life is sure a roller coaster with steep ups and downs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!