Places We Have Called Home In 2020

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

April 19, 2020

Temperature 72 Degrees

Worship At Colts Neck Reformed

Projects, Air Conditioner Maintenance

Computer Issues

Sunday and time to go to church.  Once again we were able to worship at our home church in Colts Neck, New Jersey.  Since they first began streaming the worship service you can see a steady progression in the quality of the broadcast.  One thing I’ve always said about Colts Neck Reformed, they never, ever do things half way.  Once they decide to do something they go all in.

Once again the service was uplifting and inspirational.  Pastor’s message was most appropriate for these challenging times.  He reminded us, again, that in the midst of all the turmoil God was ever present.  Sure, we might have questions, we might have doubts but that is to be expected.  Yet, now more than ever is the time to walk not by sight but by faith.  We definitely appreciated his words of assurance and hope.

Today’s project was Air Conditioner Maintenance.

I needed to clean the evaporators (under the metal cover at the far end of the picture) on both units

and replace the foam that directs the flow of air in each unit.  It wasn’t a hard job it just took a little bit of time on a rather hot roof.

This is an upgrade I’ll need to make to one if not both of the units.  As it stands now when either one of the units first starts it consumes over 30 amps.  Not good at all when all you have is a 30 amp hookup!  The soft start is an electronic device that is designed to reduce the starting current of the compressor by actively controlling the current in both the run and start windings.  Meaning, you can run both air conditioner units on 30 amps.

On another front, I’m once again having computer issues.  As it stands now I have to import pictures one by one.  That’s Ok when you have only a few but when I have a bunch like I normally do it is going to get time consuming.  This all began after the computer decided to do an upgrade.  I’ve tried all kinds of fixes and nothing has worked so far.  I wonder if I can roll the upgrade back?

While I was puttering around outside Barbara was inside cooking up a big pot of stew and attending to other kitchen issues.  She also received our daily check up call from our son Adam, and our daughter Amanda.  She also spent some time talking with my sister, Cindy.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  Sunrise to sunset it was good in every way.  A great worship experience.  Another project completed.  Time with family, if only on the phone.  Time together sitting side by side holding hands just enjoying each others company.  It doesn’t get much better than that.  Thank you Lord for another day full of blessings small and large.

Food for thought.

Thanks for joining us again today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  Till tomorrow, sleep tight.

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!

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!

 

 

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

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

April 17, 2020

Temperature 78 Degrees

Dress Up Friday

Downtown Wickenburg

Candle Light Supper

Oh boy today was the day I’d been looking forward to all week.

We declared today Dress Up Friday.  Away with ordinary shorts and T-shirts.  It was time to do something different.  We decided to bring out the Sunday go to church clothes.  You think maybe we’re starting to get bored?

All dressed up, and yes with somewhere to go.

First stop was the post office in Congress for a package.  It was the new city water valve for Elvira which I’ll probably install either tomorrow or the next day.

Next stop was  Wickenburg.  We needed water and toilet paper and eggs.  We got the first and that was all.  It really freaks us out when we have to go shopping at any store in Wickenburg.  No one in this town seems to believe that there is a virus loose in our country.  Go in any store and you’ll only find maybe one or two people wearing a mask.  Social distancing is never practiced.

I needed to pick up the bolts, lock washers and nuts to repair the bedroom slide motor mount.  I also needed a few other machine screws to remount a strut rod mount and a couple of L brackets to reinforce another slide motor mount.  I was never so glad as when I got out of here since people in this store also do not seem to believe that there is a virus loose in our country.

The stores are one thing, the town in general is another.  It is empty and so

with the whole town to ourselves we went sightseeing.  This is

Locomotive NO. 761 built in 1900 by Baldwin Locomotive Works.  It was considered a large, mainline freight line locomotive.  It was eventually replaced with a larger engine and ended its life as a switch engine in Las Vegas, New Mexico.  In 1955 it was donated to the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and found a home here

adjacent to what was the Historic Train Depot.  There’s a museum in there but alas it is closed.  Who knows maybe before we leave it will be open again.

This is in front of the depot.  I wish I could find out more about it.

I do believe she is going to have a long wait for the next passenger train.

Across the street on one corner we found.

While on the other corner I found this guy

Time to head for home, but we had one more stop to make inorder to pick up supper.

They say this is the home of the best ribs, pulled pork and brisket.  We ordered a little of each and we’ll soon find out how good the food really is.

Finally, back home time for a

candle light dinner.  Oh yes ,the table was groaning under the weight of the food we brought home.  How good was it?  Absolutely delicious!  We would definitely recommend it and we’ll be going back again in the future.

That was our decidedly different day on The Road of Retirement.  We had a wonderful time from sunrise to sunset.  Now we have to figure out what to do for an encore.  Give us time and we’ll come up with something.  Oh, we also just heard on the news tonight that Arizona might not open up until sometime in the middle of June.  If that’s the case so much for leaving here the end of May we’ll have to go with Plan B.  Such is life.

On the lighter side.

Thanks for sharing our day with us today.  We always enjoy your company and sure do 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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

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

April 16, 2020

Temperature 74 Degrees

Projects, A Little Bit of  This and That

The Well Masked Escapee 

Well, what can I say.  We awoke to another beautiful day of clear blue skies and abundant sunshine.  Today was supposed to be the warmest one yet this year down in the area of Surprise and Phoenix.  Up here in Congress it was pleasantly warm but with a cool breeze blowing all day.

What to have for breakfast.  We finally settled on a muffin and a cup of coffee to start off.  A bit later we had waffles, a glass of juice and another cup of coffee.  A delightful way to begin another day in paradise.

The receiving department was open again today.  I got what I needed to service the two A/C’s but I’m not going to do that until probably next week.  I also received two prop rods for two locker doors but discovered that I had ordered the wrong ones.  Oh well, back to the drawing board or in this case back to Amazon.

The other day when I tried to put the door awning out it hung up.  Today, therefore, I got my trusty can of silicone lube and went to work.  I lubed all the pivot points as well the rollers and the slide track.  Works like a charm now.

I discovered that I can’t really put the patio awning out all the way due to the wind.  One minute it is absolutely calm, the next minute it is howling up a storm.  However, I can keep it out just far enough to keep the sun off the the passenger side of Elvira without an issue.  The one thing I don’t like about it is that I can’t tip it down on one end should it rain.  Meaning, it can’t be left out if it rains.  Bummer.

While I had the patio awning out and my can of silicone lube in hand I went to work on all the pivot points, rollers and the arms that slide one into the other.  One more project I can cross off my list.  I’m amazed that both the patio and door awning are still in such good condition given their age.

I also took a picture of the model number of our current converter/inverter which is the original one that came with the rig.  This is the next item on the list to be upgraded.  I don’t feel comfortable with something this old, especially since we now have a residential refrigerator.  Hopefully, this will be done late May or early June.

Come early afternoon we went over to the Activity Center to receive a free mask.  A group of women in the park have been diligently making masks for health care workers, store employees and anyone in the park who wanted one.  Not once have they asked for any reimbursement.

We both have custom made and comfortable masks when we go out again.  I can’t imagine walking into a bank like this, but I guess it’s OK.

This is another neighbor we met – at a safe distance.  Her name is Donna and she is a solo full timer.  She’s been on the road since October of last year.  She currently owns a Class C but is already talking about upgrading to a Class A .

One more day done on The Road of Retirement.  I keep looking at the calendar and thinking we should be leaving in another week and a half.  But that is simply not going to happen and sometimes it gets me down in the dumps.  However, I quickly think to myself that we are healthy, meeting our bills, have food on the table and have a great home that is all our own.  Yes, I’ve said it more than once but I’ll say it again we are two of the most blessed and fortunate people on the face of the earth.  Thank you Lord for taking care of us.

On the lighter side.

Thanks for checking in with us again today.  We always appreciate your company and of course you comments and suggestions.  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!