Happy Trails

We are traveling now from southwestern Arizona to middle New Mexico. We left Blythe, California, four days ago and are now in Deming, NM. That's about 400 miles total. Now those of you who aren't fulltime rvers are thinking, "Why so slow?" While those of you who are vagabonds like us are perhaps proclaiming, "What's the hurry?" It's all relative, and isn't that the interesting part of it.

Our destination on this particular jaunt is the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, NM. We haven't had the chance to revisit this beautiful spot where we kicked off our rving lifestyle with our first volunteer positions a few years ago. And since it's on the way to visit an old friend further north in somewhat colder climate, we've decided to offer our services for a couple of weeks. I'll let you know how this develops in the next few days.

Meanwhile, I also wanted to mention that I came across a great website today. It's called The Happiness Project, where author Gretchen Rubin blogs about her latest research for a book she is writing on this same topic. She says: "I’m testing every principle, tip, rule, theory, and scientific study about happiness that I can find, to report on what works." For example, here are a few topics from her Wednesday Tips section: "13 tips fro dealing with a really lousy day" -- "21 phrases to help you fight right with your sweetheart" -- "Eleven internet tools to boost your happiness."

Well there are a lot of positive vibes going on here! If you are interested go take a look at www.happiness-project.com.


In the spirit of this post, I came across this photo that is connected with some happy memories from a few years ago. Here's Jerry and Krissy taking a ride on Cherry.


Hope everyone had a nice Easter and that spring has sprung in your life.

Relating, Communicating and RVing

The two of us were enjoying a few hours late yesterday afternoon sitting in our "lawn" chairs out here in the desert, looking at the scenery and discussing life. (Maybe we should call them "dirt" chairs!) Anyway, one of our stimulating topics of conversation was how we benefit from our communication with everyone in our lives. We thought about the remarkable number of interesting and likable people we count as our friends since we have started the RV lifestyle. After just talking on the phone with our friends Mike and Suzanne and our children, we reminded ourselves of how we value carrying our relationships from our life in the suburbs with us as we go down the road. It's so nice to have the internet , email and cell phones to keep in touch - relating and communicating in varied ways and on many topics.

I can talk by email with my old friend Mary Jo in New Mexico almost the way we did on our weekly lunch dates when we both worked a 40-60 hour week in a downtown Indianapolis office.

We go back way too far to lose touch now. These were good times.....




Jerry and I read several rver friends' blogs that share exciting trips around the world and other great experiences. We use email to schedule visits with friends as we cross paths along the road. We grab the cell phone to say hi to loved ones whenever we want. The RVing lifestyle is one that offers freedom and choices. And it is definitely enhanced by making friends and family a piece of that. What could be more treasured than speaking to these two grandchildren???














Thanks everyone for adding some spice and warm fuzzies to our lives.

So much for the philosophical stuff. For those of you who are wondering about the world travelers' blogs, here are a couple of those that currently include fascinating reports from Hong Kong and South Africa:
http://www.rvescapade.blogspot.com/
http://cannellane.blogspot.com/

Also, these are just a few of the other great rver blogs we appreciate:

Lori's gives us history, makes an earth oven and shares recipes- http://www.laurieandodel.blogspot.com/

Here's Sharon and Ron's bus conversion extraordinare -http://ourbusandus.blogspot.com/

Sean and Louise list each of their many great stopping places -
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/

There are many more sites that entertain us, educate us or simply keep us updated about people on the move. And I may mention them another day. But, my point is, isn't it super to have the means and the motivation to talk to one another, no matter where we are and who we are.
Thanks for being out there, guys!!!

Exploring Some More

With "hitch-itch" setting in again we hooked up Ole Yeller, fired up Ferd and took our seats to ride north from Yuma. This time we traveled about 90 miles to one of our favorite spots when we are in this neck of the woods, a wide open boondocking area just outside Blythe, California. Since we heard from our friends Chuck and Jan that they were passing that way, we thought: "Why not pause to visit for a while?" Yesterday the four of us jumped in their truck armed with our topo maps, gps, geocache locations, pb&j lunches and four open minds ready for exploring. And that we did!

First stop -- The old U. S. Gypsum Company town of Midland, just a few miles west of our site. It's interesting to see the remains and learn some of the history of this company town of 1,000 that operated from 1925 to the 1960s. Mostly foundations of a few buildings are left to actually see but a couple of other things are going on that grab you.

A former citizen of Midland has produced a history that is available in a unique type of library. In the aluminum container situated here next to the log seats are these books containing the handwritten stories, photos, news clippings and other types of information that tell the story of the people, their everyday life, and their company work. You can read updates that are added by the former residents who visit occasionally, adding some memories or an obituary to the history.

The other bit of interesting activity out here in this old town site in the desert are the current "lotholders" . Using the remains of the foundations around the town, several rvers use this as a temporary home, bringing back a bit of the life of the community. Thought we'd share a peek at the local directions to the town's activities.

Our route for the day took us about 100 miles round trip, venturing to four or five geocaches, enjoying the vast open spaces with overwhelming quiet and Big Maria Mountains around us. One of our geocaches was in the same vicinity as the Blythe Intaglios, a group of gigantic figures that are best viewed from the air -- but wait, they are between 450 and 2,000 years old. The earth is ground away such that these outlines remain. The local Indian tribes say they represent the creator of all life and animals who helped in creation. The biggest mystery is how the people who made them could imagine the view from the air - or whatever!! Here you can see behind us an arm and leg of one intaglio.

Winding our way back to our homestead through the fertile Palo Verde valley we identified wheat and alfalfa fields surrounding us.

On our way we passed a farmer using a bale retriever to load and stack hay bales. This looks like fun - driving through the field with a scooper that picks up the bale and flips it on a stack behind the cab. And then when the stack is the appropriate height the bed moves up and pushes the entire stack into the trailer until it's full of stacked bales. Then he unloads the entire truck mechanically, neatly aligning all the bales.Since Chuck and Jan are Iowa farmers who were generous enough to share their expertise, we pulled over for a while to watch how this process takes place. And look at the view this farmer has out in his field. What a nice workplace!

Algodones-For-A-Day

Yesterday we joined the herd of Americans strolling across the border into Algodones, Mexico, from Yuma, Arizona, as if it’s from a parking spot at Wal-Mart. A few take the option of driving over but it seems most park their cars along the highway or in the parking lot on the Indian reservation at the border for the $5.00 fee. Our purpose for this visit was a dentist appointment. Our teeth, our eyes and our drug needs motivate a high percentage of us visitors. This ritual of migration of Americans back and forth each day during the winter provides a livelihood for scores of Mexican people who also travel from their homes in various towns in their own country and some from their homes in the U. S. as well. Although mere curiosity drives a few of the gringos, most everyone participating in this parade has an economic reason, selling or buying a service or a product. And, without any scientific survey, it seems to be working out.

On other trips we’ve acquired various goods, such as, inexpensive prescription medicine, good tequila or silver jewelry. On this particular day we had a positive experience at the dentist. It helps to have some kind of referral as the dental offices seem to be every ten feet. We chose Dr. Roberto Arce on the recommendation of our rver friends, Julie and John Black.


It turns out he also commutes from his home in Mexicali 50 miles away because of the clientele this town attracts. At our first appointment he explained very specifically the options for Nancy’s broken front tooth and then put in a temporary filling. This gave us time to think about whether to do some cosmetic corrections by getting crowns or to have the broken tooth fixed with a filling. Let’s see, prettier teeth at a super great price --- we chose the crowns. Now fast forward past the temporary crowns to today’s final visit.


Roberto is very professional, articulate and takes care of the concerns of his patients. He’s working very hard to build his own practice after four years with a group of dentists. Our visit ended with smiles all around!!

The last step in this adventure of “Algodones-For-A-Day” is to get into the line to pass back over the border into the U. S. After completing whatever goals one has for the trip, the focus turns to how long the wait will be this time. As you walk down the passageway of racks and shelves of blankets, purses, necklaces and ceramics, with merchants tempting you all the way with their bargaining skills, your eyes gaze ahead to find the end of the line of mostly over-55s, mostly carrying plastic bags holding their purchases. Are we going to be at least at the point on the sidewalk where the awning is overhead or will we have a lengthier wait in the sun today??? As we approached this day we were somewhat early, around 11:30 a.m., since we hadn’t stopped at the popular fish tacos stand for lunch or to do any bargain shopping. Great! The line is just half way down the road, maybe only a 30-40 minute wait. Speaking of that, Jerry actually heard a report on the local news in Yuma the other day of the length of the wait in line in Algodones. Just like the traffic reports at rush hour in your major city.

Of course, as we shuffle our way forward we can’t help but observe the creeping line of those who drove their vehicles over the border, slowly coasting along next to us. And since most of us on foot become acquainted with the strangers ahead and behind who are sharing this common experience, these drivers become a favorite topic of conversation. Do they get insurance for a day? Where do they park anyway? Is it safe? Have you ever tried it? And the most important question – Is that a faster method? Some of us have measured a particular vehicle from our vantage point to the vehicle crossing, but how do you know how long they were in that line that stretches around the bend behind us? No one has the real answer. So we are back to our task, inching our way to the border. And then there are always the people who have various reasons to try to cut into the line or go ahead around us all. For instance, what happened the other day, “I need to pass to get help for a sick lady back there.” Before we knew it, with all the interesting happenings surrounding this phenomena, it 's our turn to pass the gauntlet. There we were, standing perched at the entrance to the small temporary building with three customs agents at desks inside, waiting for one of the officials to raise his/her eyes toward us and say “Next.” It happens and we each advance separately and show our passport. It’s time to be ready with the answer to “What are you bringing across today?” Don't exceed the limitation per person on certain products, such as, 60 days of any one drug, one liter bottle of liquor or two Gucci purses or pairs of sunglasses. Don't want to have to go back into the city to return the overage. Some seasoned veterans of this rodeo have been known to bring "mules" along who help out with the extra load. But on this trip we weren't even packing, so we were immediately cleared. So much for another "Algodones-For-A-Day” escapade. Good luck to all of tomorrow’s participants.

Life happens while we are making plans

A few days ago we had a surprise as I flossed my teeth -- a chunk broke off of my front tooth. Well what's to be done? Perhaps this is the time to try the dentist in Mexico that some friends recommended highly. After all, we've heard several stories of the fine work and extremely good prices. So we put our plans on hold for now and headed back to Yuma so that we could check out the dentist in Algodones. Long story short---- the consultation visit went well and I return this Tuesday to have the work done.

But occasionally detours can lead us to good places. It turns out that we crossed paths with some friends, Jan and Chuck Moore, who are parked with us at Sidewinder Road. They share our genealogy interest so we are enjoying those conversations that make most of you yawn or roll your eyes. Of course we find many opportunities to share stories of travels while we watch those gorgeous blue, purple and orange sunsets all around us.

Yesterday Jan and Chuck asked us to join them for some geocaching. Before we knew it we were all heading out on our searches with GPS's in hand. One of our geocaches was a tiny box sitting within the branches of this tree. Take a look at the dense masses of mistletoe hanging on the tree's branches. It's a site that's common in the desert. As you can see, the mistletoe is draining this tree of its life. Instead of producing its own food, mistletoe feeds on trees and may kill its tree host. The seeds are carried by birds. Interesting to see what a plant we associate with "love" does to survive.

On to another geocache -- Here's Jan and Chuck uncovering our cache buried in an old ammo box that was near the American Girl Mine. We considered the afternoon successful as we uncovered two out of the three caches and had some challenges on the way. It's a great way to spend a sunny afternoon in the desert with some nice people.