Friday Feb 25

 It doesn’t t feel right to be speaking about our vacation when all the world is in such an upheaval. It doesn’t feel right at all. Our hearts, our thoughts, and our prayers are focused on the victims of the recent ‘aggression’ launched by Russia. We can only hope the collective strength of all who are opposed will slow and finally stop this threat to our world as we know it. Until then we must all stay strong and committed to what is good and help those in need where and when we can.

That being said, we did promise to keep friends and family apprised of our roamings. After two days enjoying the beautiful desert scenery of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument  -Twin Peaks campground, we moved on to yet another beautiful location.  The moving on part was not all that pleasant this time.  The drive eastbound was blessed with the worst crosswind and blinding walls of driving dust (rendering vision past the front of the truck momentarily impossible at one point) than we have ever experienced. When we stopped for gas, Kathy was almost swept out of the front seat when she opened the passenger door and had to hang on tight to the door to ensure it didn t crash back into her. It is likely some might have decided to sit tight right there and wait for the wind storm to abate but the facts the driving dust didn’t taste all that good, and the trailers were towing well behind our trucks, pushed us back on to the highway.  Fifteen minutes later the wind had calmed down and the dust was mostly gone. We’ve no idea how long it lambasted that poor gas station.

As I write this I’m sitting in my camp chair beside TT Lucy and enjoying the sun and the view. The sites are very nice, the view of the surrounding mountains is fantastic and we’re glad we are here for several days. It’s time to kick back, relax and catch up on some hiking and reading.

Our next stop will be the Lost Dutchman State Park. There are several fascinating stories about the Superstition Mountains and the lost gold mine (which hasn’t been found yet) and we enjoy visiting and hiking in this SP very much. We will be heading there on March 1st. Until then we shall lounge about right here, walk or hike each day, and enjoy all we can as the temperature creeps slowly up (it s still hitting 0 overnight  and not very warm during the day). But, both day and nighttime temps are creeping up.

So, for now it’s adios along with sincere hopes you are all well and safe. Until next time TTFN.  CJ

As promised… the show.

 For you flying buffs… the Blue Angels soar.  Best turn up you volume 😊

PS After a short but great visit with friends in Yuma, we have moved our base of operations to Organ Pipe Cactus Monument Twinpeaks Campground. It’s beautiful here (a little windy and chilly) and it provides us with a little practice dry camping 🥶 We’re only here for a couple of days and then we move into our tour of several State Parks.      Don’t forget to turn up your volume for the videos below. Adios for now.    CJ

What a show it was - the Blue Angels rock… and ROAR!

It’s 8 o’clock in the morning (well, actually 5 minutes after - the bugles blew Reveille at the top of the hour) and I’m standing on the tailgate of my truck with my smart phone camera in hand. Note: I’m still learning my smart phone (smarter than me by far) having recently switched from my trusty flip phone (which I secretly miss).  Anyway, I’m on the tailgate so as to have a better view. 

 We’re parked on a dirt berm, in a farmer’s field, outside the security fence at the end of the runway the Blue Angels apparently use. There are at least a dozen trucks and cars parked just like us and we’re all waiting to see if the rumours are true and the Angels, the real team, are about to take off and practice their skills for the upcoming show. Kathy and Sue are all set up in their folding camp chairs with cameras in hand. John’s not with us for this run. It is indeed early but the sun is starting to warm us and the sky is a brilliant blue. There isn’t a cloud to be seen.

Right on cue, the show begins with the jets all rolling out to the far end of the runway and, without any hesitation, the first four scream down the runway aiming right for my truck! Seems the space I had squeezed into between two other trucks in line was the premium spot, right in line with the runway. 

 Yup, one after another the jets thundered (and I mean thundered…so loud the vibrations came right through my whole body and shook the very ground we were parked on) over my head - so close my carefully styled hairdo was in danger (just kidding my ‘do’ didn’t change much - never has 😀). And then they carried on over the fields, up into the sky, working in groups and as singles, dispensing trails that blended together and/or fell apart, creating circles and other works of art while they entertained us with their skills for over an hour.

 It’s fascinating how the ‘loud enough to endanger your hearing’ sound of the jets follows them and you actually don’t hear them coming until they’ve passed and the thunder of their engines then blows you out of your shoes.

I mentioned I had my camera ready. Andy, I did try to follow them and click stills but I missed them almost every time.  What I did do was click the video button on my camera and a few of those turned out. We’ve included some still shots here and will share the videos with you in the next post. Stay tuned!

I’m really glad we went out to the field and saw the show. I expect we saw more than we would have if we’d spent a lot of money and had to sit in the stands watching from afar. They say the Angels really appreciate us locals coming out to the fields and they make a point of parting our hair and working over top of and around us. Many of the folks there are professional photographers and the coverage provided is good for promoting the actual shows. So that was a big TICK on our tudu list.

The rest of our days since I last wrote have been great. The temperatures are warming up (still very cold at night). We seem to be much busier than we had expected to be what with golf (still getting our moneys worth…more exercise than real golfers), dog walking, shopping, reading, and good intentions to play pickle ball (hopefully we get to the courts before it’s time to leave).

Like all of you, we’re following the news; so much going on in the world, not much of it good. This is one of those times you just have to fasten your seat belt, keep your head down and your hands clean, and wait for those that can to sort it out. I believe the human race is still basically good - the small percentage that have run amok…well, their time will come. For now we must do our best and support each other as best we can.

As I write these posts I think of each of you I know, and those of you I haven’t met yet, and I thank you for taking the time to read my words.  I wish you all a warm and loving day.  TTFN (tata for now). ❤️ CJ

All in a day…

…some RVs are a little more rustic than others

It’s early; 0630… and I was about to get up when the ship’s puppy flopped over, landing across my legs like an anchor.  It’s kind of cool anyway so this seemed like a good time to share some pics and stories.

Each day is different here at Rio Bend.  The past two days have been not only cool but also filled with wind (too windy to golf) and wind blown dust (in your eyes, up your nose…you know the kind). Yesterday was warmer and the skies were clear so the four of us headed off on an adventure. We wanted to show off Anzo Borrego Springs State Park.  It’s one of our favourites in these parts and we’d heard the desert had recovered from a (not sure what you call a forest fire in the desert) let’s call it a palm fire. The fire had destroyed the lovely hike up to a palm tree oasis a couple years ago but reports were it was on the mend. We stopped at the Visitor Centre and then drove through the campsite to show our friends the serviced campsites and the dry campsites - which we think are quite wonderful. Each is fairly large and most have their own palapa but, as described, they do not have full services for RVs. I’m also rather smitten with a particular feature set up for the use of folks in the dry campsites. I’ll let you guess what that service might be. Here is the first clue.

Today’s adventure is a trip to the end of the runway. Yup, apparently you can get to the end of the runway used by the Blue Angels and, if they notice a small crowd they put on quite a show. We’re going to give it a try. They’ve been very busy roaring overhead in formation (too fast to photograph) at all hours of the day.  And, without much warning, their roar will become thunderingly (not a word I think but it’s perfect for the description) loud and they’ll flash by overhead before disappearing into the ‘blue yonder’. Anyway, we’re going to take a drive and see what happens. Will report back later.

For now, I must pry this puppy off my ankles and get going. The doves are cooing outside the window and the sun has risen.  It’s also time to move my garden into the warmth.

Oh yes, the answer to the question above. Voila!!  The most comfortable seat in the desert…and with a clear view of the sky (no roof).

As for my misadventures re packing… I’ m still working on it.

Must go now. Hope each of you are well and have a great day.  Without naming names (you know who you are)…. Stay strong…love you.   CJ