Places We Have Called Home In 2020

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

March 25, 2020

Temperature 57 Degrees

Getting Out and Walking

You Know You Are Going Stir Crazy When

When we awoke this morning it was decidedly chilly.  And it is only going to get worse they say.  Like in the thirties Thursday and Friday night.  Daytime it will not get out of the fifties.  Not to our liking but it is what it is.

This is our first weapon in the war against the big chill.

And this is the second weapon.  They may look small but they do the job.  How and where to deploy them has been a matter of trial and error so far.  In our old rig we had it down to a science but we’re still experimenting where to put them in Elvira.  The heat pumps do a so-so job.  The propane furnace is first rate.  But since we are on thirty amps we need to operate our hot water heater on propane instead of electric.  Thus, we need to conserve our propane.  I’m sure by tomorrow night we’ll have it down pat.

We went for a small walk today.

We spotted a bunny which for some reason we have always considered a sign of good luck.

An interesting rock garden decoration.

The unofficial greeter in front of one house.

Run, road runner, run!

We dubbed this the hot dog cactus.

Tempting, just for a second.  Then reality took hold.

One of our neighbor’s front yards.  So far we haven’t found any turtles.  Nor the elaborate decorations like what we discovered in Yuma.

This is our neighbor’s rig.  Shelia and her little pup GiGi live here full time.  They were in Colorado at her son’s house but had enough of the cold and snow so came down here.  They have a workcamp position in Florida the end of this year but at this point in time don’t know if the park will be open.

Are we going stir crazy yet?

Well, we sat and watched and got all excited over a YouTube Video of marbles racing down a hillside course.

I tried my hand at a bit of art.  I also found all our old refrigerator magnets and put them back up.  What do you think?

We played some more Mexican Train.  

The highlight of the day was putting a new smoke and carbon monoxide detector  up.  This one is really neat.  If it detects smoke it goes off and starts yelling fire, fire, evacuate now.  The same if it detects carbon monoxide it goes off and starts yelling carbon monoxide detected, evacuate now.  I thought it was so neat I kept setting it off, until that is Barbara had enough and told me if you do that one more time…..!

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  It was a day filled with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  We’re sitting in our recliners now watching TV.  Oh, one more thing our hearts dropped this morning when we received a call from the park office We want to talk you about your site and your stay with us.  Long story short, they reassured us that we could stay were we where for as long as we needed to.  OK, so we can stay till June if we have to.  That takes a big load off our minds.  All too many full timers are scrambling to find a place to call home what with all the state parks and private parks closing in so many states.  Which makes no sense.  In an RV you are by nature in self imposed isolation.

Thanks for taking a walk with us today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  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

March 24, 2020

Temperature 69 Degrees

Flamingo Park

Today we decided to get out and about again.  One can only sit in a recliner for so long. Our destination was another local attraction, a special little park within the park itself.

This is where we ended up.  Come walk with us as we explore this delightful little park created by one of the full-time residents of North Ranch.  Take a moment or two to look carefully at the many little neat things created and put here.

This little delightful place in the sun is the creation of Ron and Cathy who

purchased this beautiful rig in 1998 and have been on the road full time ever since.

Yes, they like flamingo’s.  You see them coming

and going as they roll down the road.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We hope you enjoyed the park as much as we did.  We also had a chance to spend some time in conversation with Ron and Cathy – yes we stood six feet apart -and absolutely enjoyed our time with them.  They are two fascinating people with a wealth of wisdom about full time RV’ing to share.  We hope to spend some time with them in the future.

Thanks 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!

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

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

March 23, 2020

Temperature 57 Degrees

We’re Still Here – But Going Crazy

Thanks one and all who have asked about how we’re doing.  We’re healthy, we’re going stir crazy, we’re still here.  Here being Escapees North Ranch.  But we’re good overall.

How different is the world we’re living in today?  Well, someone new pulled in next to us today.  Usually I would be the first one out the door to greet them.  Barbara calls me Mr. Mayor.  Today, I didn’t budge out of an abundance of caution.  I don’t know where they have been, who they’ve come in contact with, or if they themselves have been sick in the past.  I hate being like this but for the time being I guess this is the way it is going to have to be.

We passed the time today playing Mexican Train.  My guess is we’ll be doing this a lot in the coming days and weeks.

Some more pictures of the mountains around us.  I always find them so breathtaking.

Barbara also did some research and found a few places we can go hiking away from crowds.  Like out in the middle of nowhere.  When it warms up we’ll probably go explore them.

I also started putting together alternate travel plans for the summer.  I know they’ll probably change a hundred times over in the next several weeks based on what’s happening today but so be it.  I love to dream and I love to plan.  So I’ll noodle away and change and adapt as events unfold during the month of April.

A real exciting day, hey?  My guess is there are going to be many more like this in the coming weeks.

So we’re at the end of another day on The Road of Retirement.  We’re doing good, thank you. And we intend to stay that way.

Thanks for checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company and your comments.  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

March 22, 2020

Temperature 64 Degrees

Cabin Fever Got To Us – We Had To Get Out

The Joy of a New Washer/Dryer

Another chilly morning but as I’ve discovered that is the new norm for the time being.  A few minutes with the furnace running, then switch over to our little electric heater and all is good.  Provided we keep the door between the front and back closed.  We don’t need to run the heat in the bedroom, we have enough blankets to keep us roasty, toasty warm.

Cabin fever got hold of us today.  I know, I know it’s to early for that.  Sorry, we had to get out.  So how do you get out, get some fresh air and still avoid crowds?

You go someplace local, like on the other side of our loop.

Where you discover this Memorial Park.

Come walk with us as we enjoy this beautiful park.

Pancake Prickly Pear

 

Brown Spined Prickly Pear

 

Here since the late 1800’s

Providing a home to that little guy on the top.

We’re through the first section.  Hope you enjoyed the beauty of this part of the Memorial Park.  Tomorrow or the day after or maybe – well sometime in the future – we’ll go back and visit the second section.  It’s not like we’re going anywhere soon.

I never in a million years though that I could get so excited about such a mundane item as a washing machine.  But both of us agree, it is an absolute treat to be able to do laundry here in Elvira.  Laundromats are now a thing of the past.  Which during these trying times is a blessing indeed.  Our laundry is all done and we are absolutely thrilled that we never left home to do it.

Another day on The Road of Retirement is at an end.  It has been a great day in every way.  We’ve gotten outside for some fresh air.  We found an unexpected treat right here in the Park.  Our laundry is done and we didn’t have to go anywhere to do it.  Yes, another great day given to us to live and enjoy by God Himself.

Thanks 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!