Sunday - Time flies when you're having fun

April 7, 2012
AND WE'RE OFF!!!!!!

I'm writing this post early (10 a.m.) because it will be a busy day. We're pulling up stakes this morning, dumping (fingers crossed we make it to the dump station), filling up with diesel and propane and heading north to a boondocking site near Cottonwood, Az. with friends Nina, Paul and Polly.   Cottonwood is near one of our favorite places, Sedona.

I mentioned that we were planning an Anniversary dinner tonight.  Its not our wedding anniversary - we will celebrate 43 years on August 1 - it is our One Year On The Road Anniversary.  We can hardly believe we hooked up and drove away from Geneseo a whole year ago today.   Time flies when you're having fun!

Pisco sours, steak on arugula with truffle oil, roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus and a new desert - thats what is waiting for  us at the end of our drive today and  that is why I'm writing this post early.  I have a feeling we'll be busy later.

Thanks for riding along with us for this wonderful year's adventure.

my beautiful Arizona wildflower Anniversary bouquet - Thanks Dave...

Saturday

I promised you another boring post, and here it is.

Yesterday I laid out today's chores for you.   Didn't quite accomplish all of them.

 Didn't dump the tanks, we decided to live dangerously and see just how long we can go without emptying them.  For those of you who travel in RV's, you'll be impressed that we've gone 10 days without moving.  We have no sewer hook-up here, so whatever goes into our holding tanks, stays there until we leave.   We use real plates and glasses, do dishes each night, take relatively frequent showers (albiet navy showers), don't use the campground facilities, and even risked doing a couple loads of laundry in our on-board washer - gasp.   Check in tomorrow and see if we made it until our check out in the morning....

Didn't clip Lewis - too hot and sticky to have that hair blowing around.  We'll wait a few days and try to schedule it again.

Dave did a bit of cleaning, I did a bit of grocery shopping for our Anniversary dinner tomorrow, and Dave hooked up our new communication devices.  He also hooked up, tried, removed and reboxed one of the new devices we had shipped to Dave and Linda.  It was supposed to boost our TV antenna, but it didn't.  Can't win em all I guess.

So that was our last day at McDowell Mtn. Park.  We'll miss it but know, with certainty, that we'll be back.

Friday - BCA

another interesting Arizona highway overpass

Boring day for you to read about, but it was a busy errand day for us.  We had just a few more things to take care of while we were near Phoenix, but it turned into a whole day of running around.   The highlight of the day was a lovely lunch at Zulu Cafe at the Scottsdale Airport.   Its always a pleasant place for us to sit and watch the private planes landing and taking off.  The food is pretty good too!

Dave noticed these beautiful Palo Verde blossoms

ocotillo blossom

the prickly pear cactus are beginning to bloom now, and the bees are very happy

It seems like all I take pictures of lately are birds, flowers and sunsets!

Look forward to another exciting blog post tomorrow....dump the tanks, do laundry and clip Lewis.  Woo Hoo!

Thursday

nice clean pool for this white crowned sparrow's bath

a very thorough cleaning was in order

Its late and I'm too tired to blog tonight.  Not much went on today, bird watching, picking up mail delivery, reading and taking Sasha to her vet appointment.   Nothing is wrong with her, but I figured that since we were at a place where I knew a vet, I'd get a professional opinion about her itchy, scratchy chin.

The verdict was the same as it always is, allergies.  No yeast or bacterial infection so we'll just keep treating it as usual.  The Dr. gave me some anti-itch cortisone spray to try so we'll see.  If she'd keep her face out of the dirt things might be better, but thats not going to happen!

We met friends, Linda and Dave, at a good restaurant in Scottsdale for dinner and to pick up some packages I had delivered to their house.  We ate HUGE burgers and drank delicious beer (Four Peaks Kilt Lifter).   We all talked nonstop and the evening seemed to fly by.    What lovely people they are, it was so good to see them again.

Nightie night.

Wednesday

After spending so  much time working here yesterday, we decided to pack a lunch and take the dogs to Pleasant Lake for a picnic and wade in the nice cool water.    Best laid plans.  We drove north on Scottsdale Road and, after stopping briefly at the Heard Museum North,  turned west on route 74.   We were looking forward to exploring the lake and watching the dogs enjoy themselves on the shore.   About 2 miles from our turn off, we came to dead stopped traffic.  The road was being paved ahead and one entire lane was closed.   We sat still for at least 25 minutes before we realized that Lake Pleasant wasn't going to be in the cards for us.   Even if we waited til our lane of vehicles was escorted through, we'd face the same situation when we wanted to return home.   No thanks!

Dave pulled a U turn and we started back towards home, very disappointed.   It was already 1:30 and we still hadn't eaten lunch!   We saw a sign telling us that Cave Creek Regional Park was just ahead, so we made a snap decision and turned in.  What a nice park.  I have to say that these County parks are fabulous.  Beautiful facilities, pristine picnic grounds, great camping sites.

view from our lunch spot

trail riders on the ridge behind our picnic table

Lewis didn't get to play in the lake, but a nice long session with his green ball made him a happy boy

an Ocotillo wearing her new spring outfit

Do you remember the pictures I took of these Ocotillo in the winter -  when they looked just like grey, thorny sticks?

blossoms just beginning to open 

look who joined us for lunch!

can't wait to see this little guy when he's all grown up

We got back to Beluga around 4:30.  Alfresco cocktail time, Rosati's pizza for dinner and a a bit of reading before bed.    Can't ask for more.

Tuesday

Another day spent monkeying around with the kitchen faucet.  Yesterday, after running back and forth between Camping World and Ace Hardware, we thought we had the answer to our dribbling dilema.  Dave turned off the water, took off our original lethargic faucet and replaced it with the brandy new one.  He turned the water back on and voila!  no more dribbles, a good, strong stream of water.  A stream strong enough to make the dish detergent bubble in the sink.  He was very very happy.

We went outside to enjoy a much deserved G&T and watch the sunset.  Alex and Ellen stopped over and we chatted until after dark.  As we started to clean up the mess around the sink and get dinner ready, I discovered that the sink cover would now not fit over the sink.   The new faucet was too big!

If you've ever tried to cook in a tiny RV kitchen, you'll know how important it is to be able to cover up one sink.....it provides you with your only counter space.   This new faucet couldn't stay.   What to do?

Go to bed, think about it in the morning.

Back and forth between Camping World and Ace Hardware, back and forth.....This time we bought every faucet we thought might work and took them home for a trial.

AT LAST!!!!  One of them worked perfectly.  Energetic stream of water, swivel head with a sprayer and low enough profile to allow the sink cover to do its important job.  We were both practically giddy.


That was our day, how was yours?

Monday

Today, another blogger wants to reply to a comment on yesterday's post.  I'll allow it this once.

Dear Cindy,

Here is a recent picture of me and my buddy, jeep, at McDowell Mtn. Regional Park.  Great sunset views from our site.   Only one problem here....darn Gila Woodpeckers try to peck me sometimes and I don't really like it.

I just want you to know that I'm well and enjoying a little rest in this nice warm climate.  I don't get "bleached" in the sun because my PCP keeps a nice thick coat of wax on my skin and he covers my tires to prevent sun damage.  He takes good care of me, don't worry.   He doesn't let me get too tired and he feeds me well.

I love to look at different things every few weeks, I get bored when I have to stay still too long. I'm not sure how I'm going to like sitting in Florida next winter but I'm willing to try.    I'm never alone, my jeep friend follows me closely wherever I  go.

I don't like being put in the Morton bldg. very much.   Its dark in there (even though there are plenty of skylights in the roof) and I can't SEE anything with the doors closed.  Mice run around in there and tickle me, something else I don't really like.

I do like sitting at the lake though.  Lots of birds to look at and fishermen and boats.  I like the way the moon shines on the water.   I like being the first one to see you when you guys pull in the driveway.   I like the fireworks in July.   Its a good place.

Love from
BELUGA