Lake Havasu City and The Outdoor Resort, Cathedral City...

We had a smooth drive to Lake Havasu City and booked into the Crazy Horse RV Park. We had a terrific visit with friends (Rx2)... shared a couple of good meals and did some major catching up... Great fun. Then, on Friday the 25th, we hit the road again and headed for Cathedral City (Palm Springs).

As lovely as ever!! We're here, settled in, and loving it. This time our site backs on to the 10th hole of the golf course...it's like having front row seats at a perpetual golf tournament :-) With any luck, Miss Sophie will get used to the people tromping through her front yard (as she calls it) and stop barking at them. Thankfully she's pretty deaf and misses half of them :-) Also, as the weather warms up, many residents are heading home and the golfer numbers are dwindling rapidly. By 1530 hrs. there's no one on the course and we have an unobstructed view of green, green grass, beautiful flowers, and palm trees.

Kathy flies home to Ladysmith tomorrow.... Mom (Marg) is celebrating her 90th birthday on the 30th. She's an amazing woman and we're glad that at least one of us will be there for the party. Sophie and I will hold down the fort here... and catch up on the celebration when we get home.

We, like most of you, continue to monitor the fascinating adventure/thriller/reality TV show of American politics. Enough said.

All is well here... And we hope all is well with you and yours. Take good care... Adios for now.





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Buckskin Mountain State Park...

We love this place! Came to it almost by accident, having thought we'd stay somewhere else...and then changing our minds.

After a terrific visit with friends in Yuma, we pressed on... continuing our meandering journey home (still determined to remain below the frostline until it's time to cross the 49th :-) Yuma was hot... and part of our search for the next resting place was elevation (hoping to find cooler temperatures). While Buckskin Mountain State Park isn't a lot higher than Yuma, it is nestled within a curve of the snaking Colorado River. As well as beautiful scenery, there is a fairly constant breeze which makes the heat more bearable. It's also on our route and lies approximately 30 miles south of Lake Havasu City.

We arrived here on Sunday the 20th and have enjoyed our stay. Just as the website says, the Park is well managed by very friendly Rangers and is nicely set out with (mostly) good sized sites. We stayed in Site 59 the first night and had a large grassy field with a clear view of the river as our backyard. For Monday and Tuesday we had to move to Site 1and it's fine too; not as near the river but nicely located for walks.

We've had some experiences during our short stay here... coyotes wander through at dusk and into the night (we've seen several and they're quite bold); there are several nice hikes in the surrounding hills and mountains (even Miss Sophie managed the hike up the nearby hill, with a little assistance up the stairs, to a viewpoint over looking the Park); dogs are allowed on the north beach and we spent one afternoon on our camp chairs snuggled into the beach with our toes in the water; and finally we've had a chance to connect with a group from RVing Women (the Arizona Chapter) a great bunch of gals enjoying road trips and camping together.

We move on today (Wed the 23rd) to Crazy Horse RV Park in Lake Havasu City where we will visit with friends before heading to Cathedral City and The Outdoor Resort.

We're doing well...Miss Sophie is still recovering from a little set back with bleeding ulcers (caused by the meds required during her previous 'incident'). What a spirit she has... just doesn't want to miss anything and still loves to play in the water and go for hikes. Lucy and Ricki are still getting along and seem to be a good fit. We know spring is coming. The desert flowers are starting to bloom and they're quite beautiful after all the dry sand. And, we know spring must be showing her face around home as well (really looking forward to being home for the spring gardens).

That's about all my news for now... We hope all is going well with you and yours. Take good care of each other and enjoy every day. Adios for now. CJ


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Monday, March 14th update

Hi out there...Just a quick update to let you know that...Kathy had a wonderful time in Kauai with her mom and returned to our little camp all in one piece; we spent a nice week at Canyon Lake seeing friends and enjoying the desert lake surroundings; and then we moved on.

We are now in Yuma, settled into our friends Lane and Kathy's winter home.... They have a great spot for Lucy and we re having a good visit and rest. We'll be here for a few days and then moving out to the Imperial Dam Proving Grounds to join friends who are dry camping there...

After that, we'll be heading to Lake Havasu City...

All is well with us... It's nice to be back on the Internet and able to send and receive messages. Hope all is well with all of you..... Talk again soon. CJ


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Mission accomplished...

1125hrs. and all is well. We managed to pack up the trailer (not as well as Kathy does but, hey, I'm learning :-) And after much tooing and froing... we managed to line up Rikki's hitch ball with Lucy's receiver (hmmm, that sounded kind of mischievous didn't it?). Anyway we were finally ready to go and, even though it was way too early to arrive at Canyon Lake, we headed there anyway. There really wasn t anywhere else to go...

Site A (the only one available) is larger and more open than I had realized... But the size gives us the opportunity for a back porch AND a viewing patio :-). Very glad we had a second awning added to the table and window side of the trailer. Sophie and I are sitting in a coolish light breeze in the viewing area. We have a good view of the lake, a green space with picnic tables (glad the weekend is almost over even though they're empty at the moment) and, except for one cigarette hulled boat (with the obligatory throaty, revving engines) things are quiet and peaceful here. There are several folks fishing in the lake; some with boats and some on tubes. And there are numerous canoes and kayaks floating about. There are also three small planes buzzing us at the moment. One is an old bi-plane, another is fairly ordinary looking, and the third resembles a fighter jet/glider combination. They re models of course :-) and kind of cool to watch.

Know we are well, and content to have changed our neighborhood. We even saw a coyote during our drive on the mountainous winding road to get here.

Know also our thoughts are with the family of Officer Ashley Guindon and the members of the Prince William County Police Department. Ashley graduated from police training on Friday. She was killed yesterday, on her first patrol duty shift, attending a Domestic Dispute call. Two other Officers were shot and wounded. They are recovering in hospital. Such a tragic ending to the dreams of a young police officer.

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Things I've learned this week.....

I started this posting a couple days ago... Best get it on the wires before it's totally redundant :-)

In case you missed it...Kathy is in Kauai with her mom this week and all reports are they're having a great time. They've driven as far as they could go in each direction and saw some of the huge breakers coming in as a result of the huge bit of weather just north of them. On Monday they're going on a River Boat Tour and a Luau. Boy, do those two pack a lot in! Hopefully Kathy's taking pics and will be able to share them.

Me? I' m here, in an Apache Junction RV Park that shall go un-named. Don't get me wrong... it's great. They were kind enough to take us in during a time when there were pretty much no vacancies... and the residents are very nice... and so is the staff. The staff are so great that, when I explained why I wanted out of our contract (stuff like... too busy, too noisy, can't sleep and can't write) they very kindly found a way for me to extricate our little trailer and move on this weekend. I shall be forever grateful.

Having said that, Sophie and I have been doing pretty well living here. Our site is the smallest one and the hardest to get into (according to the park host who signed us in). It's also on a corner... the corner most doggies at this end of the parking lot (er park) use, because the site is usually empty. But the neighbours have been great and folks passing by on their orbit, either with a dog or on a bicycle... (people do laps of this place for exercise) all go by our corner during their circuits.

Living solo with Sophie is somewhat complicated as her need for 'not being left alone' has become stronger since the attack last year. I can tell you that Kathy has become quite skilled at replacing screening in the lower portion of the trailer screen door... Not that it was damaged mind you... just skillfully removed by one three-legged poodle rather unhappy at having been left alone from time to time. And further... I should say... It isn't like we're abandoning her.... but, oh for an hour or two of shopping, restaurant visits, sports like activities.... So very difficult in 80 degrees... with a lovable and charming little critter to care for. When I have had to shop I have taken to leaving the truck in whatever shade I can find, with the windows half down, and then jogging to the store, through the aisles, out the door and back to the truck before she either cooks, someone breaks into the truck, or the AZ puppy police nail me. Thank goodness it hasn't been often and usually I shop in the early morning when it's much cooler.

Let me move on by saying... Living in an Apache Junction RV Park, and in the business of the Phoenix AZ area, has been an education. This week I have learned that...

... The GPS doesn't always take you where you think you're going... (one hour too late I realized I was going in the wrong direction :-(. I think you can figure out how long I had to drive to undo my wrong-doing.

... Trying to find a nice, quiet campground - suitable for the peace of mind required for inspired word smithing - is not usually something you should do during the 3-4 weeks of American Spring Break.

... Persevering, however, may lead you to a suitable solution (have to let you know on this one).

... As long as you have email (and the ability for a little Internet research) life is OK. When you think you've lost it (and know you don't have the ability to get it back)... It's NOT.

... It is possible to trick the Princess. If you leave her comfortably ensconced in her favorite trailer seat (the camp chair is still #1) and go outside, closing the door behind you.... about three times; on the fourth 'exit & door closing' you can keep going... to the laundry, or shower, or where ever. And, if you're lucky when you return.... she'll just be glad to see you instead of screaming holy terror. She'll think you've just been outside working on the patio.

... Letting the Princess sit in her #2 favorite seat, inside the trailer, while you eat dinner... isn't a great idea... Cuz when she burps after having a big drink of water...and your books are on the table.... Well... Let's just say, most of the upcoming water wiped up and the rest soaked in :-) She now waits on the floor while I eat my dinner.

... When I was little we'd get messages from my grand parents (the ones who must have been pioneer RVers). And the one I liked the best was a photo of Grandma Daley pedaling her three-wheeler around the RV park (picture this... It was in the 1950's).. In this case... "delivering pies". I loved that photo. I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that women (some my age... but acting much older)... are still riding those three-wheelers around.

...and, lastly, I learned that if you put out your hummingbird feeder, cleverly hung from the street corner sign that graces our site (and is the only possible place one could be hung)... that no hummingbirds would visit... BUT. Take it down and wait a day... And one just about hit me while I was standing at the back of the truck. Then it checked out Rikki's hub caps and my rosemary shrub... And then didn't it just fly right into Lucy, hovered a bit in front of Sophie... and then flew out and was gone.... Cheeky bugger. The Princess slept through the whole thing :-)

Sunday, that's today now, we head out... away from the congestion of town and into the hills and surrounding desert. Canyon Lake Marina and Campground have agreed to take us in for the next eleven days. I am anticipating clear skies and brilliant stars, morning and afternoon three-legged walks, great views of a desert lake reputed to have the largest Bass fishery... ever... And well, just some good old peace and quiet (except for the coyotes at night of course :-)

We've had the great pleasure of reconnecting with old friends who winter down here and will be seeing more of them over the next couple of weeks. Kathy returns next Thursday (March 3rd).

Know we are well.... And we wish the best for you and yours... (and fingers crossed this crazy US election settles down into some realistic outcomes). I will try to post some photos in the next few days... provided we have Internet connection at the lake.

Ttfn. CJ





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Transitions

As I sit here in an Arizona RV Park, sipping coffee and browsing the world news... my mind wanders back to life a mere 13 days ago. How far it seems we've come. Not two weeks ago we were totally involved with the "putting to bed" of the good ship SSpirit. Turns out Shannon's Spirit was a great name to call our new ride. It pays good homage to our wonderful little ship Shannon, the Mexicans and cruisers alike remember us (we were "the girls from Shannon"), it shortens up nicely to SSpirit for abbreviated radio talk... and the name SSpirit itself is pretty cool for a boat.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, about this life we're currently living. As a result of deciding this would not be a sailing season (you already know why) we decided to change directions and make good use of the last two months and wander our way through Arizona and California. We have friends in both States who have from time to time suggested we drop by. Well, there we were (here we are) with time on our hands and a little trailer to travel in. So, as I think back over these past two weeks... it is like a transition... from water cruising (worrying about weather, our intended course and where we will anchor... and what will be our back up anchorage plan... and what we will eat and where we will find that food); to land cruising with almost identical concerns. The main difference may be the safety factor. On land, if the weather and road conditions become too dangerous, we can pull over. At sea we just have to keep going. For that little extra watery thrill... we get to see far away places with a rugged beauty that would make your breath catch in your throat. Not a bad trade off.

So, here we are transitioning from ocean cruisers to land cruisers, at least for these couple of months. It's a great chance to visit friends and family and it's also giving us some insight into what winter life might look like after we bring SSpirit home in a few years.

The photos above represent some of the stages we are undergoing. The first is, of course, dear SSpirit on her way from the marina to the work yard and dry storage. Please note the results of our labour... all wrapped up to protect her from Mother Nature. The second photo speaks for itself... three gals having a farewell lunch at their favorite beach palapa. Then we leap ahead to an Arizonian desert scene, resplendent in it's own kind of beauty. The trailer in the next photo is not Lucy, she's much bigger :-) but it is a good shot of a Gilbert Ray County Park camp site and the location we chose to begin our transition.

Kathy's photo shows she and Sophie engaged in the desert activity of hiking/walking/hopping and wildlife watching, and then there's the heart shaped cactus (wish we'd found that before Valentine's day :-), and finally, one last desert scene to firm up our resolution to become RVers for the rest of this season.

While it is true that we dearly miss the sparkling blue waters of the Sea of Cortez, they were not ours to enjoy this year...  instead, we shall become experienced desert dwellers of one sort or another and will arrive home, as planned, in late April. Our goal?  To stay below the frost line of course!

Best of the day to all of you from all of us.  TTFN (ta ta for now).    Carolyn

The things you learn in the desert....

Who knew... Pack rats like to nest in your engines... but only if they're dark?  The answer: leave your hood open at night so there is too much ambient light for them; or better yet (if you don't mind the "Coney Island effect"), lay a string of lights along the ground underneath your trailer... and your truck.

Who knew... a certain type of cactus, known as Teddy Bear cactus by the locals, is loaded with small spiney round bits that not only stick to you like Velcro but also jump (sort of) from place to place on your body when you try to brush them off?  The answer: carry a fork (yup, a kitchen fork) when you hike and use it to flick the little devils off.

Who knew... (and, by the way, we have not experienced anything to do with these...yet). That "Africanized" bees (thanks so much Dr. W. E. Kerr) head butt you first to warn you away from their nest and, if you don't take heed and leave quickly, will then start to sting and attack?  The answer: take heed the next time a bee head butts you... And get the h__ out of Dodge!  Who knew...that if you do get attacked by one of these devils... you ought not to wave your arms at them, cuz that just makes them angrier....  That they aim for your face (eyes, ears, nose), so cover your head quickly with a t-shirt or jacket and leave only a small hole to peek through as you run like h__ away; and that if you get covered up and run away and they pursue you, they may actually tire and let you go after about a kilometer. That if you do get stung, you shouldn't use your finger nails or a tweezer to try to get the stinger out cuz you will just squirt more venom into you. You should, instead, scrape the stinger off with a credit card or something like it. And finally, who knew... you shouldn't actually try to kill one of these guys because they will scream bloody murder and reinforcements will arrive in a big way...

Who indeed knew??  We didn't, but we do now.