A Home for the Holidays

All packed up and prepared to leave Cochise Terrace RV Park in Benson, Arizona on Saturday

   
   George and I left Benson, Arizona Saturday in the cold, wind and rain.  We had a short drive north through Tucson and Phoenix to Meridian RV Resort in the East Valley.  We discovered this small RVs only over 55 park when George had accepted a work camping position back in 2010.  

Nearby Superstition Mountains in Phoenix's East Valley

   We spent our first winter as full timers in Central Florida working at the Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square at Walt Disney World.  Our second winter we spent in South Texas.  And we decided to try Arizona the third year.  We do enjoy the dry climate here, but more importantly, we have established doctors in the area and made connections with some really nice friends who spend their winters in Apache Junction.  

One of the two larger dog runs at Meridian RV Park

Excellent cooks prepared dishes to share

   Pulling into the park we were greeted by many friends and escorted to our old 'neighborhood,' which is commonly referred to as 'the ditch.'  It's a distance to walk the dogs to either end of the park or to the clubhouse, and we look forward to the exercise.  The recent rains have created some large puddles, but it also serves to clean the dust, and the sun will dry them quickly.  I've found my lip balm to use until my skin adjusts to the dry air. 


   Our arrival came a day or two earlier than anticipated and our friends, Cathy and Mike Lamothe, invited us to join a biscuit and gravy pot luck breakfast they planned to host this morning.  Cathy got my picture but I didn't get hers, (at least not this time), but I envy her outstanding leadership skills among other things.  And I don't believe I've ever seen Mike without a smile!  

Michael serving up the gravy

   George says he had never eaten biscuits and gravy until he met me, but it has become one of his favorites.  We made the familiar drive to the local Walmart store to get some needed supplies and I decided to get the fixings for the delicious potato recipe Diane Carson had shared while we were in Livingston, Texas together.  

   Diane calls her dish "Church Potatoes." I got up early to prepare it and it turned out great!  The recipe goes as follows:  Melt 1/2 stick of butter and mix with 2 C crushed potato chips or corn flakes (I used the potato chips).  Melt the other 1/2 stick of butter and combine with 2 lbs. frozen potato cubes (I believe it said Southern style hash-browns on the package), 1/4 C chopped onion (I used a little more just because I wanted to use up what I had), 1 can condensed cream of celery soup (I used cream of potato), 16 oz. sour cream OR 8 oz. sour cream plus 8 oz. milk.  Top with 2 C shredded cheese and then the potato chip or corn flake mixture and bake in a greased 9 x 13 pan at 350 degrees for one hour.  Thank you, Diane!

Diane Carson's Church Potatoes

   After breakfast we attended mass at St. George Catholic Church. We like the family mass at 11:30 because of Father Stan and the children's choir.  The kids do a great job with the readings.  Our altar servers appeared to be brothers, one much taller and older than the very young one.  I was pleased to see the respectful attitude and dress of all the kids, but especially the servers, who were wearing black pants and  shoes.  The bare legs and brightly colored shoes we often see just seem out of place.  Our favorite vocalist, Bobbie, sang a solo, "Above All," by Lenny LeBlanc.

Mesa Swap Meet 

   Following mass we drove the short distance to the Mesa Swap Meet, which is only open weekends -- Friday through Sunday.  It's actually a huge tented marketplace where you can find almost anything you are seeking at a decent price.  George and I agreed to meet after an hour.  I walked a great distance looking to replace our lighted patio ornament which has deteriorated in the weather.  The vendor had several from which to choose, but none that caught my eye.  George was looking for other things which he apparently did not find either, so we came home empty handed.  

   The dogs are thankful for the cooler weather and the space to get a good run.  George and I are busy recovering from several days on the road and our colds.  And I am preparing with great excitement for a visit from my daughter, Lindsay, who will be flying in Wednesday to spend the holiday with us and our Meridian family.  I'll begin preparing my mother's hot roll recipe to share with our table for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.  

Looking forward to some poolside time

   I have to admit that it's still sometimes difficult to really get into the holiday spirit wearing short pants and with palm trees swaying in the breeze after living so many years and growing up with memories inspired by "Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go"...  Snowbirds -- it's what we've become and what we enjoy.  Life is short, and we're extremely thankful for so many blessings, but especially the people with whom we've had the opportunity and privilege to share it!
  

What the Heck is "The Thing?"

   We awoke to a cold breeze and had a short drive of roughly 170 miles today from Deming, New Mexico to Benson, Arizona.  We left Walmart in Deming and headed west on I-10 with a plan to stop at Flying J in Lordsburg, NM for a shower and breakfast at Denny's.  


   The Denny's had Christmas music playing in the background and the wind had really kicked up by mid-morning.  This stretch of I-10 has posted signs indicating to use extreme caution due to potential dust storms which can restrict visibility to zero percent.  



   A sign above warned "Caution - Storm.  High winds and rain.  Drive with care."  It had rained on us off and on, but we fought the wind mostly.  Our next stop was lunch at the rest area about 10 miles east of Benson, which is surrounded by some beautiful rock formations.    As we approached Benson, I began to hear the rattling of the front air conditioner George had worked on just yesterday.



   Once again, we drove past the far too frequent billboards advertising "The Thing?".  I have often wondered what "the thing" could possibly be.  But my curiosity is outweighed by my gut feeling I'm going to be disappointed to find it's some kind of hoax or something less incredible.






   Don and Sharon Del Rosario greeted us in the rain upon our arrival at Cochise Terrace RV Park.  Sharon is the RV Driving School's first female instructor.  We so enjoy their company! George went back onto the roof to assess the a/c cover situation.  We enjoyed a gorgeous view from their friend's site followed by an interesting sunset.  The evening ended with a great dinner at Pablo's in town.




   We are hopeful the storms will pass over the course of the evening as we have plans to arrive at Meridian RV Resort in Apache Junction tomorrow.  We look forward to catching up with friends and taking a needed break for the next couple of months.  The dogs will surely be happy to get on their regular play and rest schedule.  We'll look forward to seeing Don and Sharon again!

     And maybe -- just maybe, curiosity will prevail and we'll stop next time we pass this way and check out "The Thing?".

Whoa! New Mexico!

    

Finally out of Texas!

   We enjoyed breakfast at the KOA Kafe in Van Horn, Texas this morning.  I had mentioned to George the day before that the front air conditioner seemed to be rattling a lot on the roof.  Thinking it was due to the wind, I walked to the back of the coach and did not hear the same noise coming from the rear unit.  So George climbed up onto the roof and indeed found some loose screws which he replaced to get us to Phoenix without losing the plastic cover in the wind.

Nice breakfast and nice conversation with fellow travelers to start the day

   I walked the dogs to prepare to depart the KOA and the next issue developed which slowed us down somewhat -- one appeared to have an upset tummy.  This made for frequent stops, and we needed to fuel today as well.  I looked at the clock and realized that I needed to notify our friends we were most surely going to arrive a day later than expected.  

Amusing sign!

   Our CD player has been on the fritz, (and it has apparently digested the cleaning disk we fed it in good faith), so we looked forward to finishing the audiobook we had listened to on George's iPhone yesterday.  Well, it seems I had asked him to load our next book so it would be ready once we completed this one and apparently iTunes did not like his methodology.  Consequently, I spent 45 minutes trying my best to play either audiobook with zero success and a rising frustration level.

   Meanwhile, George had asked me to find a good deal on fuel about 200 miles out.  I checked my resources and had a plan in place -- no problem, I thought.  That was until he informed me we were driving into a head wind and we would therefore need to stop about 100 miles sooner.  I check my resources while fighting the audio equipment and determine this would place us roughly in El Paso, Texas -- not my favorite place -- never-ending road construction, traffic, dirt and grime.

   I first checked the Gas Buddy application and found two Murphy stations had the best deal on diesel. My next step was to set the via point in the GPS so that I could relax and return to my mission of finishing that audiobook.  Well, the El Paso Walmart addresses on GPS were not the same as the ones found with fuel pumps in Gas Buddy.  So, I dig out another resource -- my iPhone which I now have to remove from the audio connection since we have given up on George's and decided to play some music on mine.  My Allstays application shows a map with approximately 15 Walmart stores, again none of which are those I am seeking with fuel pumps.

High roads and low roads!

   Before I can get the GPS plugged back into its receptacle, again reaching over George's head and shoulders as he drives, he exits because he believes he hears me ask him to take that exit, which I probably had only mentioned as an exit with a Flying J.  We decide to give up the hunt for the bargain and go with that in front of our face.  I set out to walk the sick dog first and fight to keep her nose out of fire ants and her paws out of the broken glass embedded in the only available surface -- sand and rocks.  The second dog goes next although he really dislikes stepping on rocks and getting his feet dirty.

   We fuel and return to the interstate, making our way through cones and slow-downs and stop at the rest area and welcome center just across the state line in New Mexico.  George takes a long nap.  I walk the dogs, return phone calls and emails, and grab a sandwich.  My head is congested and throbbing.  My nose is dripping.  My eyes are watering.  George wakes up and we decide to move on up the road.  

El Paso!

   A quick Walmart overnight seemed appropriate since we had full hook ups last night and will have just a short hop to our destination in Benson, Arizona on Friday.  My choices are nearby Las Cruces or Deming which is about an hour out.  I decided since George is rested and it's not going to be dark (thanks to the time change), and neither of us is feeling well, we should shoot for Deming.  

Low-lying smog seems to surround this city

   We arrive at Deming Walmart to find lots of truckers and RVers also made that decision.  We found a spot to park for the evening, although I was not all that excited about its position in the parking lot.  I leave the coach while George goes in to get manager approval and return with the walked dogs (we finally found a small patch of grass), only to find a very LARGE sewing needle, at least three inches in length, right in the path of our rear tire on the passenger side.  I had read in the reviews about security, but my worrying mind wondered if it was an indication there might be a problem with malicious mischief.

   The Mandalay needs a bath big time, and it's embarrassing like this. But it really makes no sense whatsoever to wash it until we get to Phoenix where we can get a good wash on site.

Popular stopping place at Walmart in Deming, New Mexico

   I received some great news at the end of the day -- my daughter will be joining us for Thanksgiving in Phoenix -- excitement!  My grandson reminded me on the phone that it's only 27 days until I get to see his smiling face.  And it occurred to me that our DVD player just might play the audiobook CDs for us.  We tried it and it worked!  Tomorrow we'll see friends and enjoy the ride, but right now, the trash bag is quickly filling with used Kleenex and we're just too sick and too tired to worry further about the rig or where we sleep.  Some days just don't go as planned.  I'll take my cold meds now and join George and the kids in bed.  Our bodies are trying to tell us something important -- it's time to slow the pace!

Westward Ho!...

   The parking lot at the Walmart in Boerne, Texas has several separate parking areas, and we had parked for the night near the Visitor's Center, far from the store entrances, (where we have actually parked overnight on another trip), leaving the handicapped parking space in front of us and a few spots behind the car we tow behind our motor home.  

So many empty sites even before nightfall last evening...

But an oddball wanted to park really close...

   With the parking lots almost empty when I went to bed, I was more than a little surprised when I looked out the bedroom window to see a car pulled only partially into the spot directly behind our car several feet short of pulling up to the curb.  George took the dogs out about 20 minutes later and confirmed that the parking areas were mostly empty and there was a lady inside using her computer.  I was taught to respect people's personal space whenever possible.  Apparently many people were not provided that information.  

    We packed things up and moved around the lot to the fuel pumps, where we felt we got a fairly good deal on diesel at $3.50.  I walked across the parking lot to Walmart where I ordered breakfast in McDonalds and went to purchase more cough drops.  I went back to pick up our order and returned to the coach with much needed coffee and food just as George finished filling the Mandalay, and we returned to I-10 Westbound.  

The fog is creeping in!

   Driving in foggy conditions is not something we recommend, and although it did not start out that way, we slowed when we began to encounter first light fog and then a fine mist rain.  Texas Hill Country was beautiful, with lots of bright orange sumac.  There were numerous deer carcasses along the highway to remind us of that threat.

Colorful contrast to the foggy grey morning

   We stopped for lunch and I took the wheel while George napped after carrying the dogs individually to the one green spot at the rest area surrounded by millions of goat's-head thorns.  An ounce of prevention in this regard, I've learned is worth a world of cure.  They will need to again adapt over the next few days to going potty in the rocks.

Less green and more and more rock

   Time and miles passed quickly as we listened intently to Glenn Beck's thriller, The Overton Window, on audiobook.  At some point the skies cleared and we realized we had left the foliage and entered the desert.  

   After 400 miles we decided to stop at the KOA campground in Van Horn, Texas.  We have a long pull thru site with a view of the mountains outside the window at my desk.  There's a grassy off-leash area for the dogs and they serve meals.  As KOA's go, it's not real expensive with our discount at $34 per night.

The view from my desk window at the KOA in Van Horn, Texas is just gorgeous!

   We are taking full advantage of full hook ups tonight with long showers and a load of laundry.  The Sleep Number bed has over-inflated as we've climbed to around 4500 feet elevation.  The harvest moon is spectacular and the stars are brilliant.  We're looking forward to trying out the park's breakfast and hitting the road for another 400 miles tomorrow if all goes as planned.  

Livingston Accomplished!

   After weeks of preparation and planning, the 12 days spent in Livingston, Texas for two Escapee Boot Camps ended in success!  We're eternally grateful to instructors Glyn Carson and Art Jacobson and their wives for helping us out with a tremendous number of private lessons, many of which were doubles.  These guys worked super hard with very few breaks in their schedules and did a phenomenal job!  We actually left Glyn behind with several lessons to complete.  Our students are awesome, too!

It looks to me like Teresa and Kris have heard Mark's Boot Camp opening joke before!

Jim Koca fielding questions at the "Full Timer's Forum" following dinner Saturday night

   Following George's final seminar, he came down with an awful cold.  We had hoped to replace the lettering on the front of the coach which has deteriorated over the past two years, but the weather was so unpredictable we had to cancel and think about having it done at a later date.

Diane and Glyn Carson at Florida's Kitchen

   We were able to enjoy dinner with the staff at Mark Nemeth, the Boot Camp Director's place, and dinner with the instructors and their wives as well as with the former owners of the school -- Dennis and Carol Hill.

   Mac the Fire Guy (Mac McCoy), was the missing link due to unexpected surgery, but the local fire department was able to put on a demonstration for the participants and Mark does have a videotaped presentation of Mac's seminar.

Really, Art and Karen, do you want to leave us?

   The back roads between Livingston and our next stop in Georgetown, Texas showed us a lot of wilderness on Monday.  I enjoy photographing barns out the motor home window.  Occasionally I actually get a fairly good shot.  We finally found a place to stop to give the dogs a potty break, but they got goat-head burrs which I got to remove from their paws, the floor, and my shoes instead.

Reminders everywhere that we've entered the Bible Belt

The best darned barn Valerie's camera could capture from the window today

Those pesky goat-head thorns attacked our dogs

   Our Austin, Texas instructor, Bruce Scoggins, had suggested that we stay near him at the Jim Hogg Army Corps of Engineers Park on Georgetown Lake since the first choice of Idyll Glen Park was unable to accommodate our rig on Monday.  We enjoyed a beautiful lake view with 50 amps and water for $12/night (half price) with our senior parks passport.

Sunset at Lake Georgetown

Instructor Bruce Scoggins and George

   We enjoyed a nice breakfast meeting with Bruce on Tuesday at the Monument Cafe, which was just delightful, and then returned to the rig to prepare for check out before the 2 p.m. check-out time.  As we left the park two baby deer very near the road slowed us a great deal.  

   Only very briefly did we entertain the idea of going to Phoenix via the northern route across I-40, but a check of the weather quickly put the freeze on that plan.  We did experience a couple of frosty nights in Livingston -- just enough to remind us how much we dislike the cold.

Monument Cafe in Georgetown was a really nice place with good food, too!

   George drove a short day as I seem to be catching his cold and we'd been up early with a sick dog.  We found a Walmart just outside San Antonio in Boerne, Texas, where we obtained permission to stay the night and will fuel before we leave for a full day of I-10 tomorrow.

Maybe you can see the baby deer -- one beside the road and one in the shadows in front of the tree.

   I am reminded that patriotism runs deep in Central Texas, with flags flying each direction you look.  We saw lots of gigantic American flags and lots of Texas Lone Star flags as well.  The weather has been mostly sunny in the 70's and, at least so far, a very pleasant trip.  There have been many signs that we're in the Bible Belt, and many species of cactus are cropping up everywhere.

It was difficult to leave such a pretty site at a good price today.

   We're looking forward to a quick visit with friends, Don and instructor Sharon Del Rosario in Benson, Arizona in the next few days before heading up to Apache Junction for two months of relaxation and time to prepare for our 2014 season.

Home at Walmart Supercenter in front of the Visitor Center in Boerne, Texas for the night

Ready to roll!

   But before we took off this morning, George and I posed in front of the lake for a "selfie", which I understand has just been named the word of the year!  Aren't we just a stylin' old pair with my bad hair, George's very little hair, and our red eyes and noses?

Howdy, East Texas!

   Extra-sensory perception -- I believe there's something to it!  On several occasions a few years ago, we had experienced problems with leaks in the air locking system on the door of the Mandalay.  For some reason, it crossed my mind that it had been a long time since we'd experienced problems with it.  As I closed the door and locked it and took my seat to leave the Pioneer Acadia RV Park in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, George put the coach in gear and there it was, that awful whooshing sound coming from the door next to me!

   George checked the gauges and assured me that the air pressure was okay and that we could drive ahead (as we have in the past) since we were needed in Livingston, Texas the following day.  As we approached the entrance ramp to I-10 Westbound, the noise increased to an unfamiliar level.  George again checked the gauges and assured me, with a little less certainty, that all would be okay.  I checked the GPS for RV service in the area and made the first call, although I could scarcely hear for the air leak.  I looked up and saw a TA Travel Center sign and begged George to pull in, so that I could attempt more calls since the first person was unable to help us.

The back road to Livingston following the rain...

   Fortunately, the TA service technicians had the needed tools and worked us in, so that the ruptured air line could be replaced and we were on our way -- now only an hour or an hour and a half behind schedule.  When I shared my intuition with George, he shared that he had recently held the same thought -- that the door problem had apparently disappeared... NOT!

   In an effort to save time, I re-set the preferences on the Rand McNally GPS so that we could avoid Houston during rush hour and located a Flying J just outside Beaumont where we could fuel before heading out into the back country.  George diligently washed the bugs from the windshield as he fueled, and just as we crested the next hill, the black storm clouds were upon us.

All set up at Rainbow's End RV Park in Livingston, Texas

Carol enjoying dessert...

   We arrived Wednesday, November 6, as planned, at Rainbow's End RV Park, which is the headquarters of the Escapees RV Club, a great organization!  By now the rain had subsided and we parked, set up and had time to relax.  On Thursday George taught a mini-lesson and we caught up with instructor Glyn Carson and his delightful wife, Diane.  I began to prepare a dish to share at the pre-Boot Camp party hosted by former owners of the RV Driving School, Dennis and Carol Hill.  Dennis made some scrumptious pulled pork, beans and cole slaw.  I prepared my niece, Wendy's, chocolate pudding dessert (that's what we call it when the kids are around), that is otherwise referred to 'better than sex,' among other names.  This recipe is sure to be a hit, and Carol Hill really likes it a lot!

The dessert I like to prepare for Carol Hill

   Wendy's recipe is this:  First layer, you may use either graham cracker or nut crust.  If you use the graham cracker crust, just follow directions on the box.  If you use the nut crust, mix 1 C flour, 1/2 C melted oleo, 1 C chopped pecans, mix and spread in large 9 x 13 cake pan and bake at 350 degrees 15 minutes and allow to cool.  Second layer 1 8 oz cream cheese (room temperature), 1 C powdered sugar, and 1 C Cool Whip.  Whip and spread over first layer and cool.  Third layer mix 2 packages instant pudding (not the large boxes).  She uses 1 box French vanilla and one box chocolate mixed up with a blender to limit lumping.  Spread over second layer and allow to set.  Fourth layer spread remaining cool whip and top with chocolate or colored sprinkles.  

Dennis Hill putting a wrap on his pulled pork

   Meanwhile, instructor Arthur Jacobson and his wife, Karen, arrived, and George and I enjoyed a good meeting with the two of them following our busy Boot Camp schedule over dinner at Pueblo Viejo Mexican Restaurant.

   

Instructor Art Jacobson and wife Karen

  This year, the esteemed Escapees Boot Camp in Livingston normally scheduled for early November, sold out early and the organization decided to hold a second session, November 15-17.  

Instructor Glyn Carson and wife Diane

   The schedule is aggressive with eight seminars and two optional seminars in addition to lots of social time.  Students learn RV driving safety, RV basic systems, hitches, weight and load management, personal safety, and fire safety.  There are optional discussions on buying an RV and full time RVing.  There are also opportunities for an additional cost to have your RV weighed by Smart Weigh here on the premises, and of course, we have instructors available for private mini-lessons with one of our professional instructors.  Instructors Glyn Carson and Arthur Jacobson are working hard around the clock to ensure everyone who wants a lessons can be accommodated.

Boot Camp attendees are happy campers despite the light rain before Saturday night's dinner.

   The enthusiasm of the new RVers who attend the Boot Camp program is contagious!  We always enjoy the nice friends we meet who remind us of our own early days on the road!  Participants in the first session have 'graduated' and we've said our good-byes.  It was a fun group!  Tables and chairs have been arranged, re-arranged, supplies have been put in the appropriate places, and although we are tired, we look forward to doing it all again next weekend.

Fireside chat at the end of the day...