We arrived back in Glendale mid-afternoon Friday, March 7. At long last, children and grandchildren have seen first hand the extravagance of their elders!
To summarize our travel we left Glendale February 16. and reunited with our "home on wheels" Monday, the 17th. After a 90 minute drive to Gila Bend, Arizona, we visited briefly with our niece, Joy at work. From Gila Bend we drove to Yuma and checked into a RV park that could merit our friend Gwelda's approval. As we have become more oriented to RV travel and the available accommodations from which to choose, we have concluded that the RV lifestyle is big busines. Curious, during boring travel periods we have surveyed the ratio of cars to recreational vehicles (motor homes, fifth wheels, travel trailers etc.) and found that the ratio of cars to RVs is approximately 10 to 1 during peak RV travel time i.e., 10A-4P. Inasmuch as commerical trucks pay "boookoo" dollars in taxes, one can only suspect that the politicians will soon eye the opportunity to sock it to the "RVers" for additional revenues for their coffers. .
On Tuesday, we were out and about in the "swinging" farm country of Yuma as well as we took time to pay a call on what remains of the Territorial Prison there. Heady stuff, Yuma! We found that what Yuma missed in entertainment and cultural enlightment, it made up for in beautiful weather. It was unseasonably warm, the air crystal clear and the natives friendly. What more does one need?
Although most people are generally aware of the "snowbird" impact on the economy of States that provide a "winter friendly" climeate, we have been astonished by this reality. A recent article in Coast to Coast, a RV magazine, states that the population of Yuma varies from 79,000 during the summer months to 125,000 in peak winter months. Further the "snowbird" influx provides 22% of the areas economy with 26% contributed by the military and the rest is agriculture based. Although to date, we have spent more time in Arizona than in any other State as RV wanderers, it is evident that these statistics are relevant throughout that State. One only has to travel the highways and by ways to recognize this phenomenon. We found that Arizona recognizes the great "boost" that the snowbirds give to their economy in a positive way by not only welcoming the "snow birds" but from what we observed, seem genuinely pleased to see them. There are definitely "up sides" to this "economy on wheels". They spend money, are quiet, less prone to criminal activities and are limited in their ability to add additional burdens to the "educational" budget. Such a deal!
On Wednesday Joy took a well earned day off and joined us for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel -- for you Californians who may be wondering what the Cracker Barrel is, it is a chain of restaurants with a connecting country store. It is definitely "Southern" in motif and food preparation. The food is not "healthy" (as in diet conscious) but it tastes good and not suprisingly, many of its patrons give the impression that they have not missed many meals of late. Inasmuch as I not only have a tendency to look at those people with sympathy and compassion, I identify with them . After a good "down home" breakfast complimented with their standard grits and biscuits, we drove out along the Colorado River to check out the fishing and the countryside. We capped off our outing in the desert wilderness with a date shake and made our way back into sprightly Yuma where we visited a mall, had dinner and with great regret said goodbye to Joy who had to return home for work the next day. It was a wonderful visit, a pleasure that is too infrequent.
On Thursday morning we moved to a Colorado River Resort which is a member park in a club to which we belong. It was further out but in spite of its country atmosphere and quiet solitude, it was most pleasant. We enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi where we visited with several "old hands" at rving. One meets all kinds at these "gathering places". Conversations tend to start with motor home experiences and can sometimes approach the boundaries of politics or news.. These brief excursions into the thought processes of these modern day gypsies might not be considered scintilating by the "eletists" among us but I find them revealing as to the strength of the "political" mindset. .As I listen to various ideas and conversations, I have become more and more convinced that few people have formed their own personal judgmenets and few are willing to debate the merits of their position. They have already adopted the political mindset of a particular party and have no interest in broadening their horizons or expanding their knowledge. My observations suggest that this attitude is equally applicable to Republicans and Democrats alike and thus, I do not feel that I am accusing one over another. Admittedly, I have been known to refuse to listen to an expounder of ideas that lack accord with my own positions. Independence is a difficult commodity to acquire and an open mind even less applicable. For the most part, however, the average RVer has achieved retirement and now enjoys the rewards of their labor in a vastly different lifestyle than that of their parents. Perhaps we are a generation of "yuppie" retirees? Perhaps we are latent yuppies who are finding ourselves and our true self is now emerging?
Friday was a "laid back" day devoted to pool, jacuzzi and a long walk. On Saturday we drove to the nearby military base for an air show. Neither Ken nor I had ever attended an air show. Are we deprived or what? There were some aerobatics that were interesting, a demonstration of a stealth plane, skillful manuevers of a F16 that Ken found extraordinary and a fly over of the Blue Angels, billed as a training mission as opposed to a full scale demonstration. The air show was interesting but I am not sure that it was outstanding in comparison to some stories that we have heard but what do we know? Nevertheless, it was a great way to spend a day in Yuma, where watching the grass grow can be the excitement of the day.
Sunday was another laid back day spent in the pool and jacuzzi and in preparation for travel the next day. Monday morning, we joined the early risers for brekfast at the club house before 'breaking camp" and preparing for our four hour trip to Camp Verde. Our breakfast companions were a couple from Nebraska who are just getting into the RV lifestyle. Their commitment seemed somewhat tenative but they are searching for the right 'mesh". We had the impression that they found the amenities at the Yuma resort lacking but they did not specifically say so. Sometimes one has to acknowledge the fact that the RV premise is upscale camping and although the creature comforts provided by the modern day rv are limited only by the size of our bank accounts, all parks do not measure up. Like a motel or hotel, there is a star ranking. We enjoyed our visit with our breakfast companions, said our goodbyes and slipped away down the Highway traveled by RVs of distinction as well as RVs of less flaboyance. Ken loves the purr of his diesel and the call of the open road. I am just a fellow traveler.
We were unable to get into our club site at Camp Verde until later in the week. We had dined with Don and Linda (Kens brother and wife) at a restaurant on Oak Creek at Page Springs and noted an adjacent RV Park that looked inviting. Ken called ahead and reserved a site for three nights. We arrived Page Springs late afternoon on Monday and once established in our "abode", called Don and Linda to tell them we were "in the area". We were anxious to get a tour of their recently acquired home so we agreed upon a mid morning rendezvous at their house. No satellite or television reception left us to our own devices for entertainment. Scrabble, our old standby, was selected to provide our "entertainment of last resort". I am always humiliated when Ken beats me because he has a reputation for poor spelling (so do I but I attribute my errors to not proof reading and typing faster than my mind works). Our game was less than impressive but it helped us get through the evening without formalized entertainment. After the game, we put on a dvd and watched a movie loaned to us by our dear buddy and friend, Phil Levine. After 52 years, conversation between Ken and I can be somewhat one sided. I say something and Ken says "What did you say?" He says something and I respond with "what did yo say?" We've learned to say nothing and just periodically throw out a comment of "what did you say?" It seems to have a 50/50 ratio of success. Besides, we've already discussed almost everything that was worthy of discussion.
Tuesday morning we awakened to the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof as promised by ye old weatherman of Northern Arizona.
After our RV breakfast (juice, cereal and pills du jour) we were ready to approach the day with all of the vim, vigor and vitality of two lively old farts who have had three hours of wake up adjustments for the aches and pains of old age. I detest that four letter word and the suggestions conjured up by its implicit use but as time goes on, it seems to fit more and more. Further, I've come to care less and less whether what I say is either socially or literally correct. Ahem -- my four letter word isn't as bad as some four letter words, though I recognize that is not an acceptable excuse.
After a tour of Don and Linda's new home in which a spirit of welcome permeated the air, we accompanied Don to the "farm" where he delivered a trailer, tractor and several pipe for a weekend project that he was to undertake. On our way back, we stopped for lunch at a nearby restaurant called Casey's Corner and barely got back in time for Don to do his school bus route. We had anticipated the possible time squeeze and left our car in town so after Linda dropped Don off at the school, she dropped us off at our car and we headed back to the "river' for dinner and another game of Scrabble. . The rain continued throughout the night and the next morning the creek was up a few inches. We learned that on Valentines day the park had flooded as a result of heavy rain in Flagstaff. Normally at this time of the year Flagstaff gets snow but this year, the rain had created a temporary emergency for runoff down the mountain.
Wednesday morning we drove into Sedona. Ken seemed to have the idea that we would be able to get up the mountain via Oak Creek but within a few miles it was evident that this was not a trip that we should engage in on this day. We then turned around and tried to manuever the Black Canyon Highway to Flagstaff but similarly at the 6000+ elevation, road conditions were not conducive to further adventure. Once again we turned around and made our way down the hill, through the community of Oak Creek and into Sedona where we found an outstanding Thai restaurant for lunch. If all else fails, we EAT! Wednesday evening we joined Don and Linda for dinner at a Mexican restaurant and Don spent the evening trying to resolve some problems that I was experiencing with the Laptops Outlook Express program. For those of you who may not be familiar with that particular program, it is an e mail program that facilitates off line composition and permits speedy transmission and receipt of e mail messages a necessity when telephone line usage is limited to mere minutes.
Don has a class on Thursday so we invited them to visit us at our "site" for lunch. It wasn't very fancy and certainly not "star" caliber but my heart was right and we enjoyed their company for a brief respite from their usual schedule. The rain continued with enthusiasm throughout the day and convinced that any lull would be of insufficient time to permit "touristing", we stayed close by our "home site". That evening we enjoyed dinner at the adjacent restaurant where we had eaten before and found it to be both economically sound and pleasing to the palate. As you will note, I have not accepted the title of "galley slave" that Ken has indicated is my plight. We are presently engaged in a "battle of wills" as to how this newly acclaimed role might be allocated. In the interim, Ken is most gracious at providing his good will and generosity to my rebellion. Scrabble was deplorable that evening. As the rain came down, I drew lousey letters and Ken was on a "roll". He won! Duh!
Friday morning we lowered our levelors, kicked the tires and stowed the potential "runaways" for our modest trek to our club site at Camp Verde. The rain had slowed to a light drizzle though frequent showers created extra attention. Once secured at our site, Ken busied himself with the end of the month bills (or first of the month whichever seems fair while I "cased" the available amenities and concluded that the "public" showers were suitable for one of my obssessive long, hot and self absorbing showers that give no heed to any considerations of eco-management. Although the shower facilities in our RV are quite adequate, I really miss the luxury of not having to worry about how much water I use or waste and simply long for the the luxury of unlimited extravagance. I am careful not to over extend this tendency at home and on the road and certainly, never in the RV. But my surveillance had indicated that no one was using the showers and one was mine to grab. So it was that I ended up becoming most pertubed with my husband who locked me out of the coach during one of the heaviest showers of the day. I was not a happy camper as those of you who read my earlier comments may have surmised.
Saturday was a relatively clear day and Ken helped Don at the farm while Linda and I visited and I did laundry, worked on the computer and generally just took it easy. Linda prepared a fine dinner and after dinner, we took our leave because Ken had used a muscle or two that had not been used recently. He was tired and ready for bed.
Sunday Ken and I drove to Sedona where we committed to photographic memory the awesome beauty of the snow covered red rocks of Sedona. In my recent summary of our visit to the Guadalupe Mountains and McKittrick's Canyon, I commented that the area was indeed beautiful and inviting for its soolitude. However, I expressed the thought that McKittrocl was extravagant in his assessment that the beautiful canyon was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. As I stared at the beauty of Sedona amid its newly acquired cape of fresh snow I reminded Ken of McKittrick's assessment of his own special "heaven on earth" and added, "I don't believe that he ever visited Sedona. Sedona is surely one of the most beautiful places that I have visited. It is, unquestionably, in the good company of spectacular Arizona sights including he awesome grandeur of the Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley. I might add that the beauty and value of the Sedona experience is not lost on the "natives" who not only appreciate their "pot of gold" but know how to protect it by assessing its value on the beauty stricken tourists who visit. One must even have a "red rock" permit in order to park beside the road to view the awesome sights that surround its majestic sights. I couldn't help but wonder if that might not be a bit of "overzealous capitalism" on the part of the State but I will not venture that question aloud.
PICTURESQUE SEDONA
BREW WITH A VIEW
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RED
BEAUTY IS AS BEAUTY DOES
ROCK OF AGES?
DOWNTOWN SEDONA
After our picture taking spree and an early dinner with Don and Linda, we returned to our abode and another game of scrabble which was more kindly to me but not by much. Monday we did some shopping with Don and prepared for our Colorado river experience the next day.
Tuesday we drove from Camp Verde to Parker where we checked into the Emerald Cove RV Resort on the Colorado River. As in Yuma, I was prepared to be disappointed with the amenities and I had presumed that the resort would be rather "sparse". I was wrong, the resort was clean, the views beautiful and the accommodations outstanding. Ken is looking forward to returning for a "fishing" event that he plans to hold for himself. Our two days went by swiftly and on Thursday we moved on into Indian Wells in Indio for an overnight before making our way into Glendale and home mid-afternoon on Friday. All in all, it was another pleasant experience though I must work on myself and avoid drawing premature conclusions about the quality of a resort based solely on its location. I be bad about that. Ken, however, makes up for my shortcomings. He loves the drive down the road, the check in process, setting up camp and exploring the premises. The man is a gypsy no doubt about it!
<
BIRDS OF A FEATHER?
WESTING?
AN OVERVIEW OF THE RV PARK
For the benefit of those who may be appalled at the many misspellings that fill this dissertation, please know that they have been placed there to check your spelling skills, not mine! I admit there are spelling errors but I don't want to strain my eyes trying to find them when all of you are so capable.
