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

April 5, 2020

Temperature 70 Degrees

Always a Train

Never, Ever, Let Me Pick Up A Caulking Gun

Air Conditioner Maintenance

No More Shaky Ladder

Ah, another wonderful day.  I so look forward to the sun streaming in the living room window each morning.  I will never tire of it.

You may not hear it, but

if you lay real still in bed in the morning you’ll feel it.  It’s our train.  We both chuckle because it seems no matter where we go there is always a train somewhere in the vicinity.

Please, if anyone ever sees me pick up a caulking gun again in the future, tackle me and rip it from my hands!  This was supposed to be the fool proof way of caulking a window without making a mess of things.  You put painters tape around the window, caulk, and then remove the tape.  Well, even this didn’t work.  I guess some can caulk and then there are those like me.  I’m going to have to step back from this for a day or two and rethink the whole process.

I figured it was high time I took a look at my Air Conditioners.  They both work but how well they will work during the heat of summer I’m not sure.  They’re both the original units and I’m sure no one has looked at them for years.

I popped the shroud on the back unit and based on what I discovered sure enough I believe both units are going to need some attention.  I’ll need to replace all of the foam tape.  The units will need to be cleaned.  Finally, I’ll have to clean the condensers and straighten the fins.  Eventually, both units will need to be replaced.  Actually, I’m going to try and keep the back one going as long as possible but sometime in the future I’ll upgrade the front unit to a 15,000 BTU unit.

Going up and down the back ladder I noticed today it was a bit shaky.  Time to investigate.  Sure enough there were several bracket screws loose.  What else is new.  So I backed them all out a bit more, re-caulked (yea I got this right!) and then re-tightened all the screws on the ladder.  It is now solid as a rock.

Our plan for now is to hunker down here through the month of April and most of May.  Hopefully, by May 30th we’ll be back on the road.  We’ll try to complete as much of our summer plans as we were originally going to do, with shortened stays at several locations.  That’s the plan for now.  However, who knows if we’ll actually be able to go.  It will all be contingent on what happens nation wide during the next couple of months.  If we have to stay here for the summer, oh well, that’s what we’ll do.

Another day on The Road of Retirement has come to an end.  It’s been a great day in so many ways.  We were able to attend our home church this morning through a virtual connection.  It’s great to feel connected again to our home congregation.  We relaxed, napped, had a wonderful afternoon meal and watched one of our favorite Christian movies.  I also had a wonderful phone conversation with Dennis, a really good friend of mine. Like I said, a great day in so many ways.  We are so thankful for each and every precious minute of every day that God gives us.

On the lighter side.

Thanks for checking in with us again.  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!