Alabama to Gold Canyon Arizona
Trip Start
Oct 14, 2009
1
Trip End
Oct 30, 2009
Gold Canyon, Arizona
Saturday, October 31, 2009
October 16th-Friday—Back to Bay 19 at 7 am. But they had me drive right on through it into Bay 24 for paint. Around 10 Jim Green showed up to take me caching. We had a great day! 15 caches and I got to see more of Mississippi and Alabama. The parts we were in reminded me of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. We did drive to the highest point in Mississippi - Woodell Mt.-806 feet!!! We drove on and around the Natchez Trail and we visited the Coon Dog Cemetery! Only special and winning coon dogs are allowed to be buried here. I really had a good time, and was so good to get out of the RV park and see some of the area. Home after 4:30 and they had brought my coach back to my site for me. Went in and got it all set up. Then Andrea called to ask me to go the McDonalds for supper. This is their Friday night ritual – and I joined them, then back here so they could see the motorhome all set up. Last night it was rather crowded with none of the slides out. We will go towards Tupelo MS tomorrow. My internet is acting up and I have not been able to download my caches yet.
October 17th- a fun Saturday. Andrea and Jim were here around 9 and off we went for another day of caching. Now, they have done all these caches, and most around here so they did none they can log in all the time they took me out. But-we really had fun-They got to laugh at me floundering around at some while they knew I was off in the wrong direction! We saw lots of new trees and nuts and just lot of new to me stuff. Yesterday I saw my first cicada and a snake, can’t recall what kind but not a water moccasin. Saw one buzzard today. And—it was an entire day with no rain—cool-in the low fifties though! Anyway- we did 28 caches and I have just spent 3 hours logging 24 of them when computer decided I was done for the evening. I also have to log the 14 from Friday yet plus one from Thursday and I have one of Jim and Andreas ½ mile from here to walk to tomorrow. We had dinner in Tupelo at Taco Bell-I haven’t been in one for so long I couldn’t decide what to order. So all in all it was a great day. Really enjoy Jim and Andrea too. Too bad we didn’t get together earlier in the month, but he had had and operation and is just recouped enough to be out doing all this walking, and we did get in a fair amount of walked, and also driving on the Natchez trail. It was so nice to be away from the park here and out sightseeing – It would have been a shame to be here for a month and not see any of the country. We drove from Red Bay toward Tupelo on the road I will leave on this Tue. We also drove to the RV place where I am to go for the appraisal for the probate and met the guy who is doing it for us. I have a lot more confidence in the road and the directions now.
October 18th—I somehow slept in till 7:30—so nice! Now at 9:30 it is up to 47 degrees, up from the low of 37 when I got up! Frost on all the cars! But the sky is all blue, not a cloud in sight-something I have not seen since arriving here. I hope it warms up enough for me to walk to the one remaining cache here in town. I spent over 2 hours logging caches last night, and still have Fridays to do. My phone has taken to not ringing – I just open it and find messages on it!! So after 9 I checked it and had 3 messages—One from Andrea who said there was a new cache out and they were on their way to pick me up—don’t know how long since she called, but hopped in the shower and when I got out they were here! Drove about 20 miles and walked into a woods—and there it was- a co-first-to-find! One the way back they stopped at 5 more for me-I think I will have 50 for this area! Still have the one I can walk to from here-maybe this afternoon, maybe tomorrow. They seem to be really enjoying taking me and I’ve enjoyed their company very much. It finally got up to 52 degrees but with the blue sky and no wind it is really quite nice out. Back to the park about 1:30 and lots of caches to log. I got all but one logged tonight- have to find out the identity number for it- it was our first to find. I am still way behind in emails- I just get it to manageable and 30 more pop up! Tomorrow morning 7am I go back to bay 24 and hope they get me all done tomorrow so I can leave on Tue. Trying to get to bed early tonight, but that usually does not happen!
Oct 19th –Monday –Up early to 34 degree temperature!! Everyone keeps saying that all the rain and now this very cold temp is not normal for down here. I drove over to bay 19 this morning where they would complete the paint job. Andrea called and asked if I wanted to go out for a couple of caches with Jim, so he arrived here about an hour later. We stopped at the library to chat with Andrea then off caching. Well, a couple turned out to be all day and 14 caches! I also saw my first armadillo, even though it was dead – strange creatures! I had a fun time, and even thou temps in high 50s it was blue and no wind so not too bad. Back to visit her at library and then on home where I found my MH all set up in my site and waiting for me. Did the sewer and grey water without too much problem. Hose slipped off once but I was right there and pushed the plunger back down to stop the flow. Filled the fresh water, Richard helped put the ladder back on the rear, and the rear looks great-they did a perfect job! So I just have to settle up in the office tomorrow and be on my way. Another adventure in the new chapter of my life.
October 20, 2009 Tuesday- Up early and Jim showed up at seven, I was hoping he would come later cause I think checking out of here might take a while. I arrived at the office at 7am and it took till almost 11 before they got all the paperwork completed and somewhere around 11 I was on my way west with first stop in Sherman, with Jim following me as far as the freeway – 17 miles of 2 lane road that sure felt like 50 miles! Just west of Tupelo I stopped for the appraisal on the motorhome for probate. I had been here Sat and set up an appt for today. But Mark was out of town when I got there - they took down all the essentials for him and I hope we can take care of it this way. I was a tab bit upset at this since we were counting on him for the appraisal! On I went and through Memphis - lots of very narrow construction miles and lots of trucks--I think 15 trucks to every one car! I may not have breathed all the way through but I did it!! Now at 5pm I am at a rest area just east of Little Rock AR and eating, computing and maybe a nap till after rush hour a bit. Plan to take my time and no set date for arrival, but I am out of Alabama after 27 nights! 1150 miles to go!! And so far my first solo trip has been fine~~~~~
I tried to send this earlier and net had gone off, so here I am at 9pm in a Wal Mart in Hope Arkansas~ I pulled into 2 rest areas and they were FULL! so kept going - last 2 hours or more have been in the dark-I hate driving in the dark, anyway still doing fine and going to get some sleep and start all over again tomorrow! I had 67 new mails when I logged on and hardly made a dent in them—10:30 and I’m off to bed.
October 21, 2009-Up early but had a good night sleep! I left Hope Arkansas a bit after 7am – I was anxious to get going. Stopped for fuel at Mt Pleasant Tx ($146). When I pulled into the bay at the front of the Love’s, cause I could not see how the trucks got to the back, I pulled too far to the right and ended up right between two pumps, so no one else could use either of them! I tried to back up and straighten out but without a spotter decided just to park there. The hose reached but it was so taut that if I had let go of it would have pulled out of the motorhome! Then pulled forward and got out of the place with no mishaps. Stopped at the next rest stop for breakfast and shortly after that it started to rain. It was pouring, the kind that swirls up around the vehicles and make it hard to see, the white lines disappear into it! Nuvi took me right through downtown Dallas and Ft Worth! We have always gone around but I wasn’t paying attention. And downtown there was a wreck—1 ½ hours to go .6th of a mile! Two hours to go through Dallas! I had seen flooded areas as I crossed into Texas and I see why. This rain never stopped. I stopped at several rest areas-today my back hurts and I really could use an hour of back massage! On to Abilene TX for the night. Nuvi sorta failed me here-took me almost to WalMart then a new freeway screwed us up! But she found me a way to recover – you would have thought I was Charlie the way I was weaving that behemoth around the city streets – did I mention that it was also 5:15. Finally I was settled in, the only motorhome here tonight-maybe others are still trying to find this place!! In to shop and get my hair cut—a bit shorter than I had in mind, but it grows out fast! The rain water was up to the curbs all over town, and has poured ever since-hope I can get out of town in the morning. Right now I am going to take an Aleve and go to bed. Yesterday was 326 miles and today was 359—that wreck put me a couple hours behind. So I have gone 687.3 miles from Red Bay and have 682.2 till I arrive in Gold Canyon hopefully on Friday if I don’t stop to visit friends along the way – not sure who is in AZ yet—
Oct 22, I was up at 6 and on the road very shortly after and it is still very dark. Missed a freeway sign drove around a couple of blocks and then onto I-20 heading west. Stopped at a rest area but too cold to have breakfast here, but it did quit raining earlier this morning. Stopped for fuel at Colorado TX ($123.40). Later stopped for a nap but just can’t sleep –anxious to be in AZ! At the next rest stop I stopped to check on the map-Nuvi wanted me to leave I-20 and go north through Alamogordo-all secondary roads, I turned engine back on and did all I need to and it would not move! Tried several times but a bell kept screaming at me! Finally could see the air pressure was not coming on at all. Now what!! Got the book out and was going to call Freightliner but when I gave it one more try I could see the pressure come back up. Will have to keep an eye on that. At the next place I stopped it happened again and this time could not get it to air up, so called Freightliner in El Paso and talked with service manager Ted, who was very helpful. He talked me through starting it and suggested I stop by the Freightliner place on the east end of El Paso-which I did 5 hours later. He went through everything and all seems to be OK. He gave me some pointers on air brakes and then as it was after 4:30, he suggested I park out front of the place till about 6:30. I know from in the past that El Paso has horrible rush hour traffic! So am now parked and waiting – going to fix my dinner and by then maybe can leave and hope to get to Deming NM for this evening. After the sun went down I took off and accidently pulled into the Flying J drive instead of frontage road to freeway – but I wanted to fill up anyway and put what I think will get me the 329 miles to home tomorrow!! ($64.81 for 24.5 gallons). ¾ of the way there! Other RVs are parked here for the night so I joined than instead of driving on as when then sun went down it started getting dark and I’ve had enough night and rain driving. I certainly have learned a lot on this excursion, and have lots more confidence than when I left Red Bay! So far I have not run over any curbs – Charlie hit a minimum of 1 per day! I did some practice backing up here in the parking lot. I’m still tense and my back still aches but that will pass! 37 miles to the New Mexico border and then 6 more hours and I can park it! 8:30 and off to bed, hoping to be up early to go through town.
For you who asked—my address will be:
6601 E US HWY 60 Site 392
Gold Canyon AZ 85118
Same phone number – 480 287 0007
I am paid through Jan 5th, and do not know if I will continue here or move after that time.
Oct 23- Friday. Last night I could not sleep, my restless legs were really bad, so at 10PM I got back up, and in my pajamas drove on through El Paso. This is bad driving even at this hour-the road was full and they were all in a hurry to get somewhere! I drove 45 miles to Las Cruces Wal Mart and was finally able to settle down and get some sleep. Every clock in here is different so not sure what time I got up 5-6-or 7 but the sun was just ready to show itself. A shower and I was on my way again. As I neared the AZ border I realized that Nuvi wanted to take a secondary road and come into Superior, but I have done that narrow windy road several times in the past so re set it to take me on I-10 to Eloy and then secondary roads for a shorter time. I am stopped now just at edge of NM. This will be a bit longer trip then Nuvi's way but I think it will be faster and easier for me. Shortly after crossing into AZ my eyelids were getting heavy so I stopped at a fuel station, tipped my seat back for a short and refreshing nap - and I woke up almost 2 hours later!! Next stop was just east of Tucson to visit friends Brad and Dixie. On through Tucson with construction, narrow lanes and much traffic, then off freeway to head for Gold Canyon. The town of Coolidge was construction for about 2 miles, through town and very narrow – can’t believe I got through without hitting a cone or something. Finally I pulled into My park! Checked in 15 minutes before closing time and shortly at my new site. With a great spotter I even backed it in and it is very straight! I didn’t do anything with motorhome, no elec, no jacks, no slides out – that can all wait till tomorrow. Steve showed up – I can look down the street and see his house – and invited me to a ‘happy hour’ with he, Jayne and 3 other couples. Enjoyed it, but I have only snacked a bit today and I had 2 glasses of wine – that’s one more that I normally drink – and when I went home a bit after 7 I just walked in, straight through the house and went to bed! And was asleep immediately! But I woke up at 1 and could not get back to sleep, but sure feel better and will type here a bit and then go back and try to sleep. It was 1340 long and lonely miles but I did it and by the end I was driving much better-in fact at times I thought I was in my van! The back roads the last hour didn’t even bother me. I really feel good about what I accomplished and have confidence to drive it anywhere, well almost, now.
October 24 Sat—I finally got back to sleep for a couple of hours and up at 7. Got all my clocks on the same time now! Jacks down, slides out, elec, water and sewer hooked up, floor mopped and stuff all back in its places! Blue sky and already at 9am is 70 degrees! I had hooked up the water to city water, but did not throw the switch ‘up’ to change from onboard water to city water. About 2 hours later I went out for something and there was a lake, pouring down into the dry creek bed! It even cut a gully there! Well, I wanted to flush the holding tank out good and this should have done it!! I got the glass coffee table set up outside along with the palm tree and the big Mexican vase and a couple of chairs. Wayne and Ro came by later and he helped me get the jacks level—I had them down but not level. Then he got the glass top for the outside table from behind the couch for me. He suggested I not put it there again too! I rode back with them in the back of the Rubicon (they had bought Jayne and Steve when they bought a new 4 door one) into AJ to where Charlie and I lived last year to get my GMC van. Surprised that it started right up, but all the tires were low so I followed them to their house where Wayne aired them all up. I washed enough windshield to get me home and after talking some more I headed back. Nice to have it all level and the sun shield up in the front-the sun will be coming in my front window all winter. I am back to over a hundred emails to catch up on! Someday I will get caught up!
Oct 25th Sunday—Just figured out my fuel costs to get here and it was around $800, approximately 6.8 MPG and I drove carefully. Hung around the house this AM, a visit to Jayne and Steve and he tried to fix my mop with no luck. I cleaned a bit in the bay on the shady side, then started figuring out the bills for the repairs to send to Darlene. Jayne came by and I went to Walmart with her and took the mop to return – and the lady there was able to make it work!! Another stop for veggies and home. Not a real exciting day but it was relaxing—and warm!
October 26th-Up early, as usual. First was a stop to see Nancy at State Farm for van insurance, then to Wells Fargo to add some money to my account before tomorrows Visa credit card bill arrives, got the van washed, back to park here to pay my rent, which they had forgotten to collect Friday evening. Jayne dropped by while I was sorting stuff in the outside bays on the shady side-can do other side tomorrow morning. I was looking for my Halloween stuff but not found it yet. Tonight was a magnificent sunset—brilliant colors and lasted what seemed like a long time.
Oct 27 Wed – Up early again. When it warmed up went out to do some more sorting and looking for Biehn stuff that I should not have to send back to them. Not much here and a lot they prob don’t want either but will send it anyway. Jayne had asked me to dinner tonight, so showered and over there at 5. Ro and Wayne were coming too, but they had taken their cat in for a tooth cleaning and it had a heart attack under the sedation! They revived her and took her to the Animal Emergency hospital for monitoring over night! They did arrive much later, but no problem as we talked and drank wine and the dinner was Chile Soup so could just simmer on!! They finally arrived, a bit shaken by the ordeal but ready for eating. The soup was good- just spicy enough and the soup and the bread were just what this overcast day needed!! Since early afternoon the wind has been steady and strong, blowing up dust and reducing visibility. The temp was comfortable but the wind was not!
Oct 28th - up early again. The sky is blue and the wind in very mild today, but it picked up later and was very cold for here. Long pants, sweaters and jackets! I stayed in all morning and then to town for a bit of shopping – didn’t find stuff I wanted, BUT—got a pair of knee length pants in SIZE 8! Cannot remember when I was a size 8 last-I love it! Got an inexpensive phone from WalMart – this park has a phone system for residents – just dial 1 and the site number of anyone in the park. Then I realized I had just gotten rid of the phone line I had in Alabama cause I couldn’t think of any reason I would ever need it!! Isn’t that the way it goes! So back to store tomorrow. At 3:30 they had a Halloween social hour with a magician and food, enough to call it dinner, and I met several people including the other Phaeton that is 2 spaces from me, on the other side of a park model. Back home and shut all the windows and turned on the heat! And now am going to bed at 8:30 to read for a while. I cannot get the TV to even turn on, and yes it is plugged in, and the little red light that indicates it is getting power is on!!
Oct 29-thur-I was cold all night, even with the furnace in bedroom running. It was 42 this AM! And the high for the day was 59! I had planned to go to my storage shed and start weeding things out and cleaning to see if I can get it from 3 5x15 ft units (connected with walls removed) down to 2 units. I put my desk that I built on Craigs list last night and while there will see what else I can live without! I would like to get it down to one unit but think that may be impossible! So I stayed in all day and did stuff around here-I finished scanning some stuff Charlie had left in here for the Biehns and they will also get all the originals. I did find a phone cord and went out in the dark to try it, but no dial tone- will try again in the daylight to see if I overlooked something. Still cannot get the TV to come on, and it was on in Alabama-at least once when a neighbor fixed it for me. Nothing has changed, except there should be more channels here, so don’t know what the problem is. Everything appears to be plugged in. Am hoping for weather over 60 for tomorrow - one thing I want to get is my witch hat for the dance Sat night. I hate going over there alone but am going and hoping for some singles I can join. Male or female- I’m not choosy!!
October 30-Happy birthday to my niece Minda! Up early and did stuff around the house waiting for the temp to finally hit 60! At 58 I headed west stopping first at the Pinal County Fed Credit union where I am moving my banking. After many years with Well Fargo I am leaving them—they started a $25 per month fee on my checking account, without notification of any kind to me and refused to change it. This took longer than I would have liked but got checks ordered and am all signed up. Then on to my storage shed where I spent about 3 hours but did get everything moved into 2 of the 3 units I had. That cuts the costs down per month a bit. Jayne had suggested I look at Frys Super stores for dishes like I had gotten from them 4 years ago that Charlie broke all but the bowls when he pulled into fuel station in motorhome and hit a ditch at a slant and all the dishes flew out of the cupboard and broke!! They didn’t have my same ones—that would have been too easy, but I did find a set that I like almost as well so now have dishes. Since leaving Ohio all I have had are the 4 bowls left from that broken set! You can eat most anything in a bowl!! Then home and brought in all the stuff I had brought back with me (I did take a load down and leave it in the storage place). I wanted my southwest comforter and a blanket I liked, some books, the fans and stuff to use here. So again tonight I have stuff stacked here and there waiting for a place to put it. Now off to bed and my book!
Oct 31st Halloween—Happy birthday to my friend Sharon! I spent the day not doing much, still putting things away, in one place today and then change it to another, I did get my heat blanket and Southwest comforter on the bed and I like it. Lots of little stuff that takes time and every small chore turns into something larger! But early evening I showered and dress for the Halloween party. Black gauze skirt, black top, and witches hat—not much but did not find the box of seasonal stuff in the storage yesterday. I sat with a ‘younger’ couple. We couldn’t talk much cause the band was so loud. Very good, but loud! He has a GPS and is wanting to try geocaching so will get together with him later. The decorations were great and the music was great and since this is a younger crowd there were a lot of dancers. Unfortunately everyone was a couple – did not see any singles except me. I did have a good time though.
The bad news today was that Wayne and Ro's cat did not survive. They had 3 cats and lost one in 07, one in 08 and now one in 09. So sad for them.
So now--one to the month of November!!
