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We left Gallup NM this morning at 7 a.m.
Once again we saw the sun rise – not a usual thing for us! We had a great day – not heavy traffic, good weather. Our GPS brings us a different route every time!
We arrived here at 11:30 – 10:30 AZ time. I was a little tired after driving for four and a half without a stop! We have the SUV emptied but no tubs emptied! That can wait! All I did inside was wash out the fridge well before we started it.
We have nothing for supper, other than bread and peanut butter! But I can make tea, even if I have no milk for it. Tomorrow we will shop for groceries , unpack and work on other things.
Thanks for traveling with us. Hope you enjoyed the trip!
This is the last night to stay in a motel! This morning we left Elk City Oklahoma at 7:30, left Oklahoma, crossed the Texas Panhandle, and are now almost out of New Mexico – 917.3 km.
We are in Gallup N.M. at another Red Roof Inn with about 4 1/2 hours to go. The last lap is my least favourite of all. Going down those steep mountain roads was bad enough when Lloyd drove. I just closed my eyes! But you can’t do that when you are the driver! Oh well, I’ll just wait for the first Saguaro with its arms open wide welcoming us back for the winter!
We saw cotton fields, lots of cattle but no oil well! The biggest crop was windmills – thousands of them! But we did see (smell!) stockyards stretching out for about a mile along the highway!
This morning when we started out it was still dark. Watching the sunrise in my rear review mirrors was beautiful. Once the sun got higher and was shining in my eyes through those same mirrors I wasn’t as pleased.
We started out, just us and the transports! Then there was one more car, a green cadillac. The two of us must have had our cruise controls set exactly the same because I followed him and we passed transports, pulled back in to the right lane right in tandem. The HE CAME !! You know the one, passed us on the fly, then soon we caught up to him, passed him, then the same thing again – several times. It was so annoying! Then all of a sudden he passed a line of transports and took off! I could see him way ahead of us, topping a hill. About ten minutes later we topped a hill (there are lots of them on this road) and saw police lights ahead, so everyone went to the left lane, and as we passed, guess who was pulled over! This never happens! You never see someone ,who passed you, get caught later on. We were just roaring with laughter. He got his! (and we got our laugh of the day!)
Sunday is a great day to drive -no one going to work, or working at road construction. We made great time. As my granddaughter, Annie, will tell you, I often talk to people when standing in line. At noon, while in line for my lunch, the man ahead of us started to talk about coffee! He was a truck driver and I mentioned the terrible cup of coffee I bought this morning. He said he knows where there is some great coffee, and where there is some that is awful ! I told him I brought a winter’s worth of tea bags every year. He said “People down here don’t know how to make tea” I agreed. I said it is because they pour hot water on a tea bag in a cup. It must be boiling water on tea bags in a tea pot! I guess I’m showing my country roots, or maybe it’s my Canadian roots!
Well next blog should be from our little nest in LaHacienda Resort in Apache Junction!
We started the day early, leaving at 7 a.m. I couldn’t figure out why we were ready to go so soon, then realized our body clock said it was 8! By tomorrow night it will be another hour’s difference! We started out in fog, but shortly were driving in sunny weather – a first!
We left Fenton, Missouri, crossed the rest of Missouri, and are in Elk City, Oklahoma, which is just about a half hour’s drive from the Texas Panhandle. We are in the best motel yet -Bedford Inn, and is perfect, as well as the least expensive yet, even with the $15 for Samson.
Samson is still hiding when we get ready in the morning, but after we ‘find’ him he is perfect. When we get to a new room he has to explore every inch, then he rolls on the carpet then eats!
It was 7’C this morning, and 28’C tonight! Cindy just sent me a picture of the snow at home! Oh dear! (ha ha)
We have seen vineyards, beef cattle- mostly Angus but some Charlais, dairy, hay which had just been baled, as well as cotton fields. Yesterday we saw oil wells but none today. I expect we’ll see lots tomorrow.
Of course there were places where the roads were reduced by one lane, but no hold ups until we came to a motorcylcle accident. An ambulance was there but we really don’t know anything, other than it took quite a while to get going again.
Another day and a half should get us to LaHa our winter home!
Well, another day of the trip over. We left Medina, Ohio at 7:30, drove across it, Indiana, a corner of Illinois and are now in Fenton Missouri at 4 pm (5 at home). Yesterday we went 796.5 km (about 478 miles) Today 881.9 km (529 mi.) We had to do 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. over when we got to Indiana and the time changed!
Over half of the day was spent on highways with one lane blocked off. The funny part was the sign ‘ narrow lanes’. They weren’t kidding. I watched a transport ahead of me with each back wheel on a line! It rained almost all day – at least it wasn’t snow.
I am doing most of the driving because I don’t want anything to make Lloyd’s eyes worse. I drove 2 1/2 hrs this morning, Lloyd 1 1/2. Then we had lunch while Samson had time out of his cage. Then I drove 3 1/2 hours and Lloyd about 1 1/2. I don’t mind the driving, and Lloyd can watch the GPS screen and look for signs. When he drives, I actually also look at maps! Every time we come, the GPS makes little changes, depending on traffic and road conditions. We just blindly follow ! We have never gone the same way twice! What an adventure!
We are using high test gasoline for the trip, and will change to lower price once we get to AZ. We spent about $100 U.S. We are actually getting very good mileage for the size of our vehicle which is loaded with a lot of tubs.
Samson is so funny. He knows what is going on because in the morning he hides! But once he is in the cage, no complaining. Honestly by the time he gets to AZ he will have slept almost constantly. Right now he is sleeping on the corner of the bed!
Back on 1-44 W tomorrow!
Well, we’re on our way. For the first time we were ready ahead of time. Usually we leave right after Thanksgiving, but because of my shoulder surgery and the physical therapy, we left almost three weeks later. The nice thing was that I had time to look after lifting my plants and preparing Thanksgiving dinner, and THEN start packing. Of course we have already thought of things we forgot. They weren’t on my list.
I probably have OCD to a certain degree. I make a list of everything in each tub, each of which is numbered. Then I use the list to pack when we return, as well to guide me next year. To me, this is like the sayings – why reinvent the wheel and 2) If it’s not broken why fix it! I also have pages 1) Things to bring next year which I haven’t other years 2) Things NOT to bring another year 3) Things left in Arizona.
I always have concerns when we leave for the winter. Will someone get sick, and need me? What if one of us gets sick ? The family will remember what it was like when Mom got sick in Florida. Of course I worry about my sister Virginia who is not well. Let’s face it, I am a worrier!
I also will really miss the family, especially my four granddaughters. I have so much fun with them. They have so many hugs. They are so funny. They each have a unique sense of humour. They also ask me from time to time questions about serious things and really want to understand how I look at issues. There is so much love in their eyes when they see me, I just melt inside!
But I know I need this time to unwind, and restore. Because of my shoulder surgery, my past seven months have been really strange, and wearing. I am not used to not bouncing back quickly and have taken it as a personal insult! I hope to get back on track this next five months. Besides there is such a thing as FaceTime!
We got away at 8 this morning. When we got to U.S. customs, we were through in about two minutes. …. “Where are you going? When will you come back? Any fruit and vegetables? Any alcohol or tobacco? Have a good day! ” This was sure better than my nightmare of them taking the SUV apart, opening every tub, refusing to check the list and leaving everything on the ground! When I woke up I was tempted not to go!
It was cloudy when we left, and we went thrrough cloud, rain and sun! We drove south on #81 and then west on I-90 across New york State Pennsylvania and entered Ohio, and then # 271 which rings around Cleveland then south on I-71. We have stopped at a Red Roof Inn in Medina. They don’t charge for pets!
Samson is amazing – once we got him in the pet carrier! He must have sensed something was up. This morning when Lloyd called him, he wouldn’t come -not even for treats! Usually he comes the minute he is called. So Lloyd had to go pick him up! But once he was in the cage, not a single peep. We stopped for lunch around noon, and let him free to roam around inside while we were eating . He eats a bit of hard food, uses the litter box and is ready to go back in. He will be well rested when we get to AZ.
Driving was pretty good today. Only a couple of little issues. We stopped shortly after 4. I drove for most of the time, but Lloyd drove a bit in the middle.
Wonder where we will end up by Friday night?
To SHARE used to always have sharing as a positive connotation. It was always something you did for someone to make them feel better.
There was the Sharing Song by Sharon, Lois and Bram that I used to sing with my kindergarten children:
It’s mine, but you can have some
With you I’d like to share it
‘Cause if I share it with you
You’ll have some too.
Since the advent of Facebook, it has become something different altogether. I swear some people have the fastest SHARE button in the world, and it often makes me feel bad that people that I know can be so mean when they are not face-to-face.
It is not as if I don’t share. I love to share funny things – usually aimed at my height, weight or age. I like to share teasing ones. I always share the ones about the one sister that is different aimed at my middle sister, Sally, although there is a family disagreement about which one of us is the ‘most’ different. We have all agreed that Dorothy is the closest to normal! Any that describe my wonderful , kind daughter and granddaughters I hit that SHARE button. I love to share inspirational posts. I shared one yesterday about the power of a smile. I do my honest best to not offend anyone. I used to post some that made fun of Donald Trump until I realized some of my friends were supporters. Then I stopped, because it wouldn’t be funny to them.
My problem with so many that are shared is that they are so mean, and only half (if that) truths.
I think there are three (four for me) things that should be done before hitting that ‘SHARE – in other words – taking off the ‘safety’ !
1)Read the whole thing – not just the titillating heading. Does it really live up to the title
2)Check the facts – there are places to do that
3) Check when it was originally posted – Is it old news?
4) For me -does it demonstrate my Christian faith? I believe “They will know I’m a Christian by my words” If I share a post, they become MY words.
As well my fellow Canadians often share messages written by Americans about American issues and they don’t realize it isn’t Canadian. We have enough problems of our own without taking on those of our neighbour !
I enjoy a debate when it is based on facts and not emotions and insulting words. If that happens on FB, it is someone posting an opinion, and someone else agreeing or disagreeing civilly without putting down anuone with a different view.
I have wanted to say these things for a while, especially the last few days . There have been so many mean, controversial posts lately aimed at our Prime Minister in Canada and at those who don’t agree with the President. I didn’t want to post it on FB because I might rile someone’s feathers. But this is MY blog, and I can say what I think and feel!
The world would be better if everyone was a little kinder.
Nothing special today – just observations
Looking at pictures and posts from home, I am so glad to be here at La Hacienda Resort in Apache Junction, Arizona. It is very comfortable, sitting here with the door open, wearing short sleeve tops and capris, no shoes or shorts. If I need a book I get on my three wheeler, ride up to the library and get a book, and can sit outside to read. I can go swimming, sit in the hot tub, get involved in as much, or as little of resort events as I wish.
Today was one such day. Every year there is a special week in February. This week is “La Hacienda Celebration 2018” We had a Luau Buffet at noon on Tuesday, paid for by the owner. That night there was a free Hawaiian show. Then on Thursday afternoon was the start of our Beach Volleyball Tournament. It has been amazing for me to see the difference in Lloyd since his surgery, January 2017, but there are no words to express how I felt seeing him playing volleyball !
I was disappointed when the national anthems were played at the start of the day. First was the American anthem, everyone standing, Americans, hands over their heart, Canadians standing with hands at their side, and for the most part singing the words. BUT when the Canadians anthem was played, I understood them not knowing the words, but could not understand why several on the floor were standing – not straight, and arms crossed. I may wrong, but to me it felt our country was not being given the respect we gave their country. I hope I was just being too sensitive.
Next we went to get groceries, and one of the specials was milk 99 cents for a half gallon! I know that was about half the normal price, but still at full price, how do the farmers survive? Because we farmed most of the time and our son-in-law still does, I am aware of how much it costs to run a dairy farm. I know it is more expensive in Canada because or regulations and restrictions, as well as we have to pay more for equipment, etc., but I just don’t understand. It sure explains why they have to use hormones and steroids to increase production. I suspect there are few successful family farms.
I am really missing all the Olympic coverage we get in Canada. As far as I can tell there is just taped coverage in the evening through the week, and coverage on 1:00 on Saturday afternoon – some live, some taped. I do keep track on the Canadian team site on FB.
Well that’s the observations or today,
The last day of one of the most amazing excursion one could hope for.
We had gone to bed early the night before, and were up and on the road before 7 am, 3’C. It was so dark, and very challenging because we were driving in the canyon areas of Utah. I am sure the locals who were following me as I gingerly went around hills would have loved to be in front of me! The problem was there were absolutely no places to pull off- no shoulder, no gateways.
As always the visual experience was awesome as first the sky started to lighten, with the morning star bright in the sky. Then as the sun came up behind the mountains – there are no words. I will admit once the sun came up, I had over a half hour of blinding sun. It didn’t seem to help no matter where we put the visors. I actually drove with my left hand, holding my right hand up to block the sun. There was a break every once in a while when a mountain blocked it. If you have ever seen the rocks in the Utah canyons, you will understand why I have no description to do it justice. We experienced Bryce Canyon with its amazing rock formations – unbelievable colours and shapes.
Eventually we were in Arizona, and the beauty was the same. Finally we reached #17, and started the final lap. At the ‘rim’ of the valley where you find Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, etc., and of course Apache Junction, the temperature was 18″C, by the time we got to our place, it was 31! The total descent from the rim to the bottom of the valley is 18 miles, almost continuously going down – good brakes are essential!
We came around a corner, and there it was – a Saguaro cactus with its arms out welcoming us back! Then there were lots more as we proceeded. Finally we saw that beautiful sign “LaHacienda” welcoming us back! Nothing like a LaHa welcome!
We carried everything into our place, but that was mostly it for the day. We had stopped at the local Walgreen’s and bought milk, bread and canned soup. I had tea bags , so we were set for the night.
I cannot begin to explain what these last eleven days have been like. I thanked God each day that He gave us this opportunity to see some more of our beautiful Canada, even if it was just brief glimpses. We also saw two new states- Montana and Idaho, and saw another part of Utah. Each area was different, but gripping in its own way.
We will probably never do it again, but the 6336.5 km. we traveled in the last two weeks were a dream come true.
Thanks for making the trip with us.
The end is in sight! We are in southern Utah and should be in our LaHa home some time tomorrow afternoon. It has been quite an experience.
We left about 7:30 and stopped about 4:30. When we started out the sun wasn’t up, but the sky was light. The part of Idaho we started from is quite flat. What a sight with the eastern sky a beautiful colour as the sun was coming up, and you could see for a long distance both ways, with just a few hills afar off. It felt like I was driving at the top of the world! This beautiful driving did not last long – mountains from there into Utah. Then we drove for close to an hour through solid traffic – up to six lanes- I don’t know how many places we drove through, and where one ended and the next started. Salt Lake City was the biggy!
I must admit I was tired and a bit stressed! But as we got down to three lanes, there was a sign – Cracker Barrel !! Every time we travel we always see a Cracker Barrel Restaurant either too early, or two late for lunch. Today it was just right! We were there for about 45 minutes which gave me a chance to unwind. I also bought a sweat shirt for $20 – purple with glittery flowers! I never remember clothes for Arizona in December!
We got back on the highway, buzzing along, and all of a sudden traffic stopped and two lanes of solid traffic crept along for miles and miles. Then we saw construction ahead signs. Later a sign said the right lane was closed, so we all squeezed in, came to the top of the hill, and…..nothing! There were no more signs, no construction – nothing! I suspect there were hundreds of very annoyed drivers, as we all sped up to the proper speed!
The navigation system says we have about eight more hours of driving. I think we will just have enough energy to pull the lawn furniture from our back door so we can get in, and probably the rest of the stuff will come in the next day.
Early up tomorrow I expect.
When we got up this morning all the news from both the TV and people in the breakfast room was all about the high winds yesterday. There were emergency announcements all evening on the TV . Many fires had started, and were quickly out of control. Some from grass fires, some from electrical episodes due to wind damage. One woman told me this morning that when they were coming from Edmonton, rocks were flying across the road, and one hit the car. They also saw one of the trailers from a transport which was parked out in a field with advertising on it actually blew over! It was so quiet today, we decided the wind had no breath left!
The highlight of last night was FaceTime with Cindy and her gang. The girls are just so much fun, and their parents aren’t too bad either!
After an hour of driving we crossed the border going into Montana. Talk about variety! It started out flat, just like the southern part of Alberta where we drove. There was lots of granaries, and a lot of oil well pumps in action. Then we hit the mountains!! Oh, my, around one way, back the other, up and down, with a speed limit of 80 m.p.h. !! The mountain tops were covered with snow. Later on, it leveled off a bit where we saw huge herds of cattle, mostly Angus.
The biggest problems were to find places to get gas, and especially to find a restaurant. We ended up eating in a place part bar, part food and with about 20 slot machines! Then to find a spot to spend the night. We came to a place with lots of motels. but it was only 2:30. Lloyd wanted to stop, but RubyAnn wanted to drive another hour. OOPS We finally found a little place at 5 p.m. in a tiny little area called Dubois IDAHO !! We definitely did not plan on driving the length of Montana!We are in a tiny room, but it’s clean and the bed feels comfortable. The owner is a very interesting lady, I think late thirties. She has five children, home schools them, volunteer emergency care person, part time 911 operator! Her husband and she bought an old house with a ten room motel, apparently in bad shape two years ago. Her friends couldn’t figure out why she bought “that dump”. First she painted all the rooms and put in new beds, etc, and started renting the rooms. Now each winter completely, she attacks one or two rooms, completely gutting them and modernizing them. Her house was built in 1919, and very little was done to it. So it is all original. She’s pretty gung ho! I very carefully said nothing about the home schooling, since I have a few problems with it. There must be some reason why I went to Teachers’College, then took summer and winter courses, to learn how to teach, identify potential difficulties, and assist the level at which they are working. I guess everyone is an expert in education since they went to school! I know many swear by it, so I just rant on my blog. It’s MY blog, I can rant if I want to!
The best thing of all is the price of gas – averaging $2.60 a gal. WE appreciate it!
Two more days I think to get to our winter home – either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.
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