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 18, 2020

Temperature 74 Degrees

Drive By Birthday for Betty

Projects: Water Valve, Filter, Strut Mount

We Scored Big Time – Toilet Paper, Paper Towels And A Case of Water

It’s funny, at least I think so, of what can wake you up in the middle of the night.  For instance, yesterday I picked up the new city water valve for Elvira.  Well, about two in the morning I woke up wondering Did I get the right one?  Crazy, I know.  So was it the right one?  More about that later.

While I was up I noticed that a red, then blue, then red repeating light was shining through the kitchen window.  Now what was this?  Want to take a guess?  It turned out that two sites down they have a WiFi Repeater on a pole about twenty feet up in the air.  On top of that a blinking red and blue light.  I guess it works since I didn’t see any low flying aircraft while I was up.

Up and about this morning we had a mission to fulfill.

Today was Betty Gannon’s 80th Birthday and we were all asked to drive by and wish her a Happy Birthday.

Mid morning everyone began to gather.  They came on foot, by golf cart, ATV and by car and truck.  The people here are really something else.  They care for one another.  They look out for one another.  This is truly a special place like no other that we’ve visited over the course of the last three years.

Projects for the day.

Yesterday I purchased the bolts, lock washers and nuts for the bedroom slide motor.  I reamed the original hole out to accept the new bolt.  Satisfied that the bolt would fit I coated it with blue Locktite and installed it.  All the other lag bolts are super tight but perhaps in the future I will replace all of them with bolts and nuts.  One thing is for sure,  this motor is not going to move.

About that city water valve.

This is the old one.  Just a cheap piece of plastic.  How do you know when it is going bad?  First clue is the sound you hear when the water is running.  Outside, by the valve it sounds like a sick cow moaning in distress.  And I might add, quite loudly as well.

Now, was the city water valve I obtained from Amazon the right one?  Nope.  Off to Ace for a few adapters and I turned a disaster into a winner.

Next on the list was the onboard water filer.  Try as hard as I might I could not get the canister off to change the filer.  Only one thing left to do, remove it and go at it while it was off and on the ground.  Which worked.

We now have double filtered water.  First filter, right off the water spigot.  Second filter, onboad and permanently mounted.

I also cleaned and repainted the removable water closet floor that mounts to the right in the closet.

It goes like I said to the right in the picture above.  So, let’s see, I’ve replaced the city water valve, changed the filter in the onboard water filter canister, and cleaned and pained the floor.  OK, we’re done on this side.

Moving to the other side, I remounted this prop rod mount.  It had been installed previously with wood screws which long ago let loose.  I drilled the holes out and remounted the mount with machine screws and nuts.  Its not going anywhere now.  In time I will probably have to do the other one on the other side but for now it is good.  The key is to keep the original screws tight because once they come loose that’s when they pull out.

While in town today we stopped again at the Dollar General and scored big time.  We were able to purchase a case of water, a six pack of paper towels, and a twelve pack of toilet paper.  So my thanks to my son, Paul, who was ready to send us some TP, we’re good for now.

That’s it for our day on The Road of Retirement.  I have such mixed feelings as this day comes to an end.  Yesterday, and every day we have an abundance of food on our table. We’ve healthy and enjoying life.  Not much has changed for us except we can’t move about as freely as we used to.  Then this morning on the news was the story of the woman who waited sixteen hours in line to obtain food for her family.  Also, new statistics regarding the number of deaths in Arizona from the virus.  That world, the world of food shortage, unemployment, sickness and death seems at times so far removed from our life here in the park.  Yet, all I have to do is turn the news on and the reality of what is happening in our country today comes crashing in.  How am I supposed to feel?   Embarrassed that we have it so good? Grateful that we are so blessed?  Overwhelmed with sadness for those who are struggling like no other time in their life?  All of these emotions sometimes just wash over me, often all within the same moment.  It’s a new world we are living in.

Something to think about.

Thanks again for checking in with us today.  We’re glad to have to you along with us on our journey.  We also always appreciate your comments and suggestions.  Till 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!