Our Extended Texas Stay

 We are scheduled to have our motorhome looked at to find out if AC in front can be serviced or needs to be replaced (really hoping for serviced). We decided to park in their parking lot overnight so we would be there first thing in the morning. I even called to see if they had space for us and I was told “yes, we even have poles with electric and water”. Sweet, that would be awesome. 

Well, in the real world that didn’t happen. It seems whomever I talked to was not at this location (they have 4 locations) because when we got there they not only didn’t have poles with electric and water, the parking lot had locked gates. But wait, It gets better. The service drive was on a side street and the motorhome had no place to back up or turn around. I’m already to crash for the night but that’s not going to happen, at least not for awhile. We need to find someplace to park this behemoth. It turns out that at the bend in the road we were on was the location of one of the cities Water stations with a hard packed driveway long enough for Rob to back the motorhome on, after he maneuvered it between the two ditches on each side (with water in them). Having complete faith in Robs ability to get it where it needs to be, I assist in being eyes to make sure we stay on course.

We are now settled in for the night, sort of. Not too long after we got set up we heard a train coming….right next to us. And it was loud! Why didn’t we notice the train tracks when we were backing in. Want to know how often they come through?  Almost every hour, all night! Needless to say, sleep was not in abundance that night.

We were there when they opened, car packed for the days adventure since “our house” was going to be worked on. I called and got a campground reserved for the night. We took a ride and found this very nice city park just down the road from us. As we were leaving the park we got a call to come get the motorhome. Turns our the AC had to be replaced along with control modules on both units. But....yep, always a but, the AC and modules had to be ordered but they would not be there until Wednesday, possibly Thursday. Not much we could do except go back to the campground and see if we could stay for 2 more days.

With a few extra days on our hands we did some exploring and shopping. Come Thursday we got a phone call that the parts wouldn’t be in until Friday morn. Repeat of Friday....get an extension at the campground. Luckily they had room.

We get a call on Friday all parts are in and they are ready for us. We are packed up and ready for another day of exploring while they fix the MH. We arrive, Rob drives it into the bay and talks with the mechanics for a few minutes. He calls me from the car to come inside. Oh oh, this isn’t good. It seems when they opened up the AC box, it is broken in several places!! They are not comfortable using it not knowing the extent of damage. Best they can do is to have one shipped to them Monday morning. There are no options since the AC units have been disconnected and so far, weather has been cool. Guess you know what came next....call the campground to see if we can stay for 3 more nights. So here we are a week later waiting (almost) patiently for Monday morning.

We took a ride to Waco (Magnolia)one day, really big rainstorm yesterday, and went antiquing today. Two more days and we should be headed to MI. We just never know what is in store for us. No reason to get upset. We just figured there must be some reason why we were meant to still be here. That’s what retirement is all about.....no schedule and flexible.

Be sure to stay tuned for the final outcome. Details to follow. In the meantime, get outdoors, breath some fresh air and find something to make you smile. And while out there, look up, it’s amazing out there.

Time On Our Hands

 We all occasionally want a day where we have no plans and no time frame, right? That is until you have it and don’t know what to do.  Last Tuesday we had our RV in for some maintenance work (remember, this is our house) and had no idea how long it would take. The day was ours to do whatever we wanted. Hmmm, let’s go for a ride and see where it takes us.

We have explored so much of the area and we had Baxter with us so we were limited as to what and where we could go. After stopping in one of our favorite eateries we headed back down the road and happened upon the Empire Ranch. 

We have tried for sometime to visit this historic place but didn’t want to travel a long distance on dirt roads. To our surprise the road was paved….all the way.

 

It was quite an interesting place and is in remarkable condition considering it was built in the 1870’s. The reservation has been meticulously done and left for us all to admire and learn about.

Here is a little history on it and a few pictures.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Ranch

 

We hope you are finding exciting things around you to explore. Sometimes they are right in front of us and don’t even know it. Stay healthy, happy and remember to be kind to one another. And while outdoors, don’t forget to look up. It’s amazing out there.

              

  

 

     

                          

   

                           

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One Last Adventure (for now)

Spring has sprung and our time here is running short. If we are are going to do any more exploring, now is the time. One more place that peaks our interest is Fort Bowie so we grab our hiking supplies and make our way to see just what this is all about…..and Baxter decides to go too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bowie

 

We are getting pretty familiar with the route. It seems most of our exploring this winter has been in this area. So with that said, you probably already know what I am going to tell you….yep, we had to travel another dirt road. At the end of the dust cloud is a large parking lot with a lot of cars. The 3 mile (1 ½  miles each way) trails lies ahead. It says it is a relatively easy hike. We’ll see!  Thank goodness they were right because the cool, breezy forecasted day is quickly turning into a warm one instead.  Baxter has turned into quite an avid hiker and is leading the way.

 

Along the trail there are self explanatory placards explaining the historic facts and time frame.  We take several water breaks, give our old bodies a few minutes to “refuel” and then continue on to the final destination. Or so we thought! As we are enjoying the view and trying to imagine just what actually took place here many years ago,  we happen to see off in the distance more ruins. But we don’t think these tired bodies have what it will take to venture over there. I’m sure it is further than it looks. Besides, Baxter is ready to head back. We decide this will be the end of our excitement for the day. There is always another day, another time.  The path ahead of us looks long but, as usual, it doesn’t take us as long to get back as we had planned. Luckily, it was mostly downhill.

Back at the parking lot, bodies tired and thirsty, we talk with some fellow hikers and learn that there is a turn back down the road that will continue on around to the Visitors center and the rest of the ruins. Hmmm, how did we miss that important bit of information? So at least, if and when when we return, we can drive most of the way there.

 

Our country is filled with more history than we could ever imagine. Times were tough, brutal, heartbreaking and deadly.  I am so thankful for the life we are able to live and hope I never take our lifestyle for granted.

 

We travel home exhausted, refreshed and enjoy the beautiful sights as we travel back to our rig. I hope you are able to find that place of interest that calls you into the history of where you are. It’s out there, you just have to look for it sometimes. So put on your shoes or boots, grab a map, a bottle of water and snack, and go find an adventure! You won’t regret it. And while you are out there don’t forget to look up, it’s an amazing world out there. 

 

Covid19 Affects Us All

All day today I have been having thoughts of this past year and how it has changed our lives and the world as we knew it. Covid19 entered this country, and because of it, brought things to a halt! It was topped off with a disastrous election, dividing so many friends, families neighbors. We should never have let this happen. Our country is based on faith, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Too many people will find the pursuit of happiness is something they may never be able to achieve again. They are the ones who know too well the effects of Covid19 on a body that is compromised.

I don’t think there is one person who has not been touched by this nasty virus! Whether a loved one, a close friend, a good neighbor, a co-worker or just a casual acquaintance, you can’t help but be affected by it. I know I have been. The first one was someone I worked with years ago. He fought a good fight for months but he finally succumbed to it after a lengthy hospitalization. There were several of our friends who tested positive but were able to self medicate at home and recovered just fine. A good friend and fellow “workamper” tested positive,  sought out medical attention, and ended up being treated with an infusion similar to the one President Trump received. He recovered very quickly. And now a very dear friend of mine has been hospitalized and I am not sure of the severity of it yet. He has diabetes, which we all know, diabetics seem to be very susceptible to Covid, as is obesity.

 

No one knows for sure why some get Covid and others don’t. I guess it’s just like so many of the other illnesses and diseases. All these examples makes me question what we really know about this virus after all this time and if it is really being handled correctly. It has been proven that most people, regardless of age, can overcome this virus if they are in good health! We know that those with compromised health need to take extra precautions. We also know that there are preventative procedures that actually work! We also know that many will have a natural immunity!

 

Rob and I talked about what we should do and what our plan of action should be. Being a full time RVer does have its advantages. First we told to social distance…no big deal, we’re used to social-distancing. We did it before it became “mandatory “, it’s just what we do. Then we were told if you can’t social distance, then we need to wear a mask. Then we were told to social distance and wear a mask, regardless! Ok, now listen y’all, this is my opinion. Whoever made up these “rules” had no idea how to handle this. They changed their minds so many times that I gave up trying to follow them. We all have our own opinions, beliefs, attitudes. We always have and always will. So why are so many people being shamed, ridiculed, bullied, and losing friends over what they believe? That’s not who we are.

 

We do what we are comfortable with….social distance, only wear masks when mandatory, and respect everyone else’s choices. But even more importantly, we know that a healthy body has a much better chance of fighting the virus should we become infected. Since so many places were closed down and we had time on our hands, we set a plan in place. We eat very healthy, are losing weight, exercising and providing our body with additional supplements that have been “proven” to help the body fight off infection. So far, so good. The one thing I feel really bad about is the fact that we are not taught this in our early years or told to us by doctors.  Just think how many lives may have been saved. Now so much of this information has either been blocked, people refuse to believe in it or they think it’s it’s too late!

 

Well, its never too late to change your ways. Don’t wait for a doctor to tell you you’re sick. Take your health seriously and be your own advocate, do your own research and look for helpful information. Don’t count on others. We have no idea when this madness will end. So be prepared and be healthy and give yourself a fighting chance.

 

Thanks for listening and I pray to God that each and everyone of you remain healthy and happy....and informed.

Another Wild West Adventure

 

About 3 weeks ago we decided to try a different location for the remainder of our time here in Arizona. We traveled a short distance of about 30 miles to an Escapees Co-op park. We are very impressed with what we have experienced so far. We will be here until mid April. 

With that being said, we gotta make the most of the time we have left. We woke up to another beautiful day of sunshine and no wind to speak of. It’s time for us to go explore the area a bit. Let’s go see what the Dragoon Springs is about. We had heard a lot about it and love the history that lies in the mountains here. A little bit of info about it. https://azoffroad.net/dragoon-springs

 

We knew it wasn’t far away but had no idea what to expect. With anticipation, we approach the (oh no!)“dirt” road that leads us to the Springs. Well that is, to the gate that leads to the Springs. Big letters posted: STATE TRUST LAND, PERMIT NEEDED. Bummer! We didn’t come 3 miles down this awful dirt road to not be able to get there.  What could happen if we went in? After all, there was a chain on the gate but no lock! Guess if they really didn’t want us in there it would be locked, right?

 

Cautiously, Rob gets out of the car and let’s us in and then secures it after we enter.  Hoping the last leg of this trip is easier than the last 3 miles, we make the turn to our destination. Whoa! You’ve got to be kidding….Another mile yet to get to get to the Springs. We thought the last 3 miles were bad?? This so called road doesn’t hold a candle to it. Now everyone knows we don’t have rough, dirt road, worthy car. We have a car of convenience and it (and us) didn’t like hitting all the holes, rocks and gullies in the road. This certainly was not a place to get stuck. So we did what seemed to be the only logical solution….we parked the car and walked the rest of the way, stepping aside as other cars passed us by. We definitely hadn’t expected to see others here.

 

Once at the sight, we found the ruins of the Mail Station and a short distance away, the graves of the soldiers that were massacred there. As I stood among the ruins and glanced around the area it’s hard to imagine the difficulties and hardships they endured back then. Off in the distance we could see what appeared to be the entrance to the Springs. Having read about the Springs, I knew that it would require a hike up the mountain a bit because it was at about 5100 feet. Since it was already 3:30 in the afternoon, common sense told us we could not see it all in one day and it would require a return trip, and hopefully with someone with a 4 wheel drive vehicle!  We now had to hike it back to the car so we could take the slow drive down the 3 mile dirt road back to civilization.

                                            The Springs is 3/4 up the top of photo

 

It was a fun day. What day isn’t fun when you can get outdoors, smell the fresh air, feel the sun on your back and hear the sounds of nature. We’ve never been on a hike we didn’t enjoy or wished we hadn’t taken. This is part of our “stay healthy” regimen. I hope you all are able to find something in nature that makes you happy, puts your mind at ease and brings peace to your soul! And while you are out there, don’t forget to look around, it’s amazing out there.

 

**Rob says what don’t kill you, makes you stronger!