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

May 9, 2020

Temperature 95 Degrees

The Countdown Has Begun

Another great day where we are living.  The sun is shining, the sky is clear, but the heat is still on.  Wish I could send some of this heat to all those in the Northeast who have frigid temperatures and snow on the ground.  Then again, I’ll take the heat any day to the snow that you have.  I’m, hopefully, done with snow if not forever at least for a good long time.

Simple breakfast this morning of cheese potatoes, juice and a big tall glass of ice coffee.  Oh, of course there was the early morning muffin.  You can’t begin a day without a muffin.

The perfect place for a swim on a hot day.  This, of course, is Watson Lake which unfortunately is over an hour away.  No swimming for us.  Not even an opportunity to dip one’s toes in its nice cool waters.

The countdown has begun.  We have five days before we are on the road again.  I’m going through my punch list and making sure I’ve got all my bases covered.  I still have the reinforcement of the slide shelf to finish and that’s about it for me.

I’m having the Victron Battery Monitoring Gauge installed this Tuesday.  This will allow me to get an accurate idea of the actual amps that the residential refrigerator uses.  Plus, when we do boondock I can monitor the time to empty of my batteries.  This way I’ll know when I have to run the generator and for how long.  Or if I can get away with running off the batteries for at least one full night with no generator.

I’m also going over my departure check list and making sure it is accurate.  Believe it or not though in some sense the breakdown procedure we’ll use is similar to our last rig yet in another sense it is very different.  This is one area were I need to be very thorough or I could end up doing something stupid or leaving something behind.  Both of which I’ve done in the past!

I’ll be honest I really look forward to being back on the road again.  Yet, leaving the safety and security of the known for the unknown that stretches out in front of us is a bit daunting.  It’s been like this forever.  The issue is compounded by the fact that I just don’t have enough seat time with Elvira.  The jitters, however,  usually go away after the first thirty minutes or so of being behind the wheel.  Also, as the days, weeks, months and miles add up I’ll be a lot more relaxed.  It just takes time.  But I wouldn’t trade this lifestyle for anything else right now.  The freedom to travel, the lure of the unknown, the excitement of new discoveries is what motivates and moves us.

Yes, we played some more Mexican Train.  I can’t honestly say who won today.  We’ve played so many games we’ve both lost count of who is ahead.

That’s about it for our day on The Road of Retirement.  We’re counting the days.  We’re looking forward to discovering yet another new part of this great country of ours.  We’re giving thanks for the untold blessings that are ours.  We’re healthy, definitely not wealthy, and the jury is out on wise!

On the lighter side.

Thanks again for joining us today.  Hope your day was as great as ours.  Keep those comments and suggestions coming.  Keep safe.  Wear your mask – if not for yourself then for someone else.  Remember, six feet. Wash your hands often.  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!