TOUR AMERICA, 2020: CONGRESS, ARIZONA – THE GRAND CANYON STATE

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

Home Is Where We Park It – Escapees North Ranch, Congress, Arizona

March 21, 2020

Temperature 66 Degrees

Our New Neighborhood

Reorganizing and Doing Laundry For The First Time

A Different World We Now Live In

We are definitely in the high country.  The day time temperatures are only in the mid 60’s and nights are in the mid to low 40’s.  What will it be like by May and June?  We’ll let you know.  As of now it is quite comfortable.

These are the mountains that surround us.  Impressive and rugged.  Can you imagine what early pioneers felt when they first saw mountain ranges like this.  Unfortunately, they didn’t have a diesel engine to push them up and over

This is the view down our block looking toward the laundry building.

This the view down our block toward the mountains.  I took a walk around this morning and it is amazing how many spots are open.  There has to be at least a dozen or more sites that are open just in our loop.

Here we are.  We are in a nice spot with, of course, a train back behind us in the distance.  It doesn’t run that frequently and you can’t really hear it.  I happened to spot it this morning when I was out. We are,  as of now,  an island onto ourselves.  Our neighbors on either side are gone.  The ones on our passenger side have left for their home in New Hampshire.  The other on our driver’s side have left for their home in Surprise, Arizona.

We started reorganizing cabinets today.

Contrary to what we first thought we have a ton of storage.  We have cabinets in the hall and in the bathroom we haven’t even used yet.  It is just a matter of thinking creatively and deciding what really needs to go where.

Barbara also started doing laundry today.  She is indeed happy that she doesn’t have to load up the little blue wagon and go to the laundromat anymore.  Life is good.

Sitting and thinking about life in general I’ve come to the conclusion that the world today is definitely a different place than just a month ago.  I don’t believe I’ve ever lived in such a challenging time.  I want to believe that in a month, maybe two everything will be back to normal.  But I don’t think that we’re going to get back to normal for at least a year.  And it is going to be a normal like nothing we’ve ever known.

As I’ve said before now is the time to decide what is really important and to put that first in your heart.  For us it is each other, our family and our friends.  We can still continue to travel, maybe not this year but there are still years to come.  I’ll say it again and again we are two of the most fortunate and blessed people on the face of the earth.

So let’s pull together, put aside our differences and do our part to defeat an enemy that doesn’t wear a uniform and that we can’t even see.  Let’s pray for those who have lost loved ones, those who have lost their jobs, those who are struggling to survive and make ends meet.  Let us now and always walk not by sight but by faith.

On the lighter side I came across this recently in another blog post:  In Sterling, Colorado, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office issued a plea for help from its traditional nemeses, local criminals: “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its contagious nature, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office is asking all criminal activities/nefarious conduct to cease until further notice. We appreciate your anticipated cooperation in halting crime and thank criminals in advance. We will update you when you can return to your normal criminal behavior.”

Then there was this bumper sticker:  I’m retired. I was tired yesterday, and I’m tired again today.

Another day has ended on The Road of Retirement.  We did a little bit of this and that.  We enjoyed the day.  We enjoyed just being together and being healthy.  God is good all the time.

Thanks again for joining us again today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  Catch you tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and it’s two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!