Back Home Again

Monday July 10th we did our weekly trip to Flagstaff for groceries and an environment with trees and cooler air. I also was doing some work at the library looking at fire maps in preparation for our trip home the following week. All of a sudden, John wasn't feeling too good. Dizzy, light headed. Taos all over again. His blood pressure had shot up. We don't know how much, because his monitor was not functioning properly. Anyone with blood pressure that high would be dead, but we did know there was no waiting another week. We got back and I went into action. Got everything packed up, stowed, uniforms washed, radio gear together to return and early Tuesday morning up the road we went to the Crater. We both felt bad leaving even a week earlier than we had planned, but there was no getting around it. We had to go. Amidst hugs and goodbyes we turned in our stuff and headed out.

Hwy 40 from Flagstaff to Albuquerque is the busiest interstate highway in the country. The scenery in the area between Flagstaff and Holbrook is stark desert. Amazing in that there simply isn't anything there. The grasses and cactus only grow maybe 12" tall and they are widely dispersed with red toned Moenkopi sandstone being the main feature. Heading East from Holbrook the landscape becomes hills and canyons and the area at the state line is beautiful. We made it as far as Tucumcari, N.M. where we stayed at the worst Passport America park we've ever seen. I was actually afraid to get out of the camper! $17 dollars for the night with full hook up. We wasted no time Wednesday morning getting the heck out of there. Tucumcari itself was a very sorry site. So much of it abandoned and in bad shape. Wednesday had John feeling a bit better. In fact, the lower we got in elevation, the better he felt. We took Hwy 54 out of Tucumcari up through the pan handle of Texas and Oklahoma and on into Kansas where we hopped on 283 outside Dodge City (I didn't know that was in Kansas!) and found a campground in WaKeeney at the intersection of interstate 70. We'd never stayed at a KOA campground before. EEEEE GADS, expensive! OK, we spent the money, we're using the pool, and oh my, the bathroom is soooo pretty and clean. The pool was wonderful. A bit of a walk. Seems they looked at our 5th wheel and decided we needed to be parked away from the expensive Motor Homes in our own little Travel Trailer/5th Wheel less than new district. Ah well, I don't buy into that attitude at all. Love my 5th wheel, and wouldn't have a motor home - no offense to all of you who do. I'm just simply happy with what I have. It's all I need.

Thursday took us on up 283. I was driving and we were watching some incredible storms off to the north. WOW! Only, wait a minute, the road is curving! No. ... Yep, well, let's see if we can beat it crossing the freeway. Wow, look at the lightning, and, hey, there's a little white tornado in there - see it, ground to clouds! This is going to be fun.  John, "Deb, do you want to pull over and let it go through?", Deb, " No, It'll take too long, besides, it doesn't look that bad."  So on we went. The wind was something, and we got through just as the front was crossing the hwy.  YEeeee Haaaa! Big smiles. That was exhilarating!  Just past the storm we came to Klines Corners, Kansas and pulled off for a potty stop :) and lunch.  Our main destination for Thursday was Cabela's in Kearney, Nebraska which we made around 2pm. John needed clothes and we had a mess of Cabela's points to use up. That was a fun stop. John got everything he needed, 3 pr shorts, 2 pr pants & a belt and I got a pair of walking shoes and some really nice sunglasses! Onward.  We found a nice little park on a knoll outside of Lincoln surrounded by corn fields and GREEN! The birds were singing and it was simply relaxing and wonderful!

Friday was a long drive, and though we could have made Colfax, WI and our friends house, we were just too exhausted and ended up staying east of Rochester at...... yup, another KOA. Friday night, all the state parks were full and traffic was heavy. Better to pay the price than get into an accident driving while exhausted. We made it to Colfax mid morning to hugs and smiles. Welcome back!

Although we had planned to stay at our friends place, we needed 30 amp as the air conditioner was needed, so Sunday the 14th we came up to Chetek to a little park we had found out on the web, and it turns out it's just what we were looking for. Not too far away from family, close to a little lake, and boats and bikes are provided by the campground owners who, by the way, are very nice. The campground is clean and small and quiet and out in the country. And our neighbors are fantastic. We have so much in common.

The next 3 weeks had us crazy busy taking care of family stuff (which we knew was waiting for us). Wonderful time with family and friends, and lots of work, but we're all here to help each other, and all is well. I spent 4 days with my daughter helping her and her boyfriend get moved into their new apt., John spent 4 days in Green Bay helping get his mom's house painted and ready to go on the market. We had a wonderful day at the "Ren. in the Glen" Renaissance fair in Glenwood City seeing all our old friends - so heartwarming. Then a day at Patrick's outside Eau Claire removing the fingerboard from my bowed dulcimer and preparing it for a new one and 4 strings! Will take a trip to St. Paul now to finish that project. Time with mom. Deciding to get another rig which would be permanent here in Wisconsin (our summer home) and the Rig shopping and finding that followed, then sorting our belongings between two rigs and list making of what goes where and another list of what we still needed. Moving day (actually, that was anti-climactic as I had everything ready to go, just exhausting) and a few days of heavy duty arranging. One afternoon of fishing - they were all too small, but it was wonderful being out in the boat. We took the campground Mystery Tour last Saturday. Stopped at a haunted cemetery, Wood Carving Museum in Shell Lake, Go Carts in Spooner where we also had lunch and shopping time, and got to meet our fellow campground campers. Fun Day! There was more going on, cause I seem to be missing a week. Oh, well, all's well that ends well, and we're HAPPY! The new rig is a 31' Travel Trailer - we don't have to haul it, so this is the way to go permanent. It's bright and airy and so very comfortable. Anyone for a campfire?

Arizona 2013

We arrived at our new job the 2nd of May. What an incredible operation, and the people are so friendly and helpful. The campground (5 miles from the Crater) is an oasis in the middle of the desert. Very well kept. I'd like to say quiet, but when the country's busiest highway is only 1/2 mile or so away, the sounds of traffic - particularly semi's is always there. We had a full hook up and our propane expenses were reimbursed. Electric was included - thankfully as the air conditioning was running constantly. It wasn't supposed to be this hot at 5700' above sea level. We're still high, but lower than Taos, so we thought we'd be ok.

Training was thorough, but fun. We worked in Admit, and the Gift and Rock Shops as cashiers. Four 10 hour days to start until Memorial Day when we went to Five 8 hour days. Wow, we're not used to working like this. Between the heat and the elevation, we were pooped by the time we got home, and meals were quick and simple. The work wasn't hard, we just weren't used to it! We also got a good discount at the Subway (onsite), gift shops, and company gas station. So Subway was usually lunch! I can't say enough for our supervisors, Management and co-workers. They were all really wonderful and the way Meteor Crater is run is outstanding.

A week after arriving, we got a phone call and learned that John's mom had passed on. Oh, Ursula, you are missed, but you lived a long and wonderful life. 98 years old! John flew out of Phoenix. OMG! Phoenix! Horrible, horrible, horrible.  Congestion and traffic can't even come close to describing it. And not only did we have to go there once, but Twice! Flying out, and flying back in. The desert was beautiful - wonderful seeing the saguaro cactus again, but too many people, and living in such a harsh environment. What a stupid place to build a city. There is no water, and it is piped in from far far away. Nough said. We didn't like Phoenix. Fitting name though - blazing hot!

After John got back we'd travel on our days off; first to Camp Verde the first weekend (our weekends were Monday and Tuesday) to get down lower in elevation. Stayed in a hotel for the first time in several years! It was nice. While there we went to Sedona (wow has that grown - way to many people and too much congestion for such a powerful place.  Also went to Jerome, but as it is up on a mountain top, John wasn't feeling too good, so we didn't stay and shop. Besides, what did we need? We're not much into shopping.( It was just after getting back from this trip that we got that phone call about John's mom.)  We also took a day and went up to the Grand Canyon. Along the way we stopped at The Little Grand Canyon wayside on Hwy 64 - Navajo owned. We had stopped here 23 years ago and bought some jewelry directly from the Navajo people. I had been looking forward to returning there  many years, and I wasn't disappointed. The workmanship was wonderful and I picked up my turquoise.  Another road trip took us east to Hwy 87 out of Winslow (we didn't like Winslow at all) down to  Natural Bridge State Park (really cool), Strawberry, and Payson. One road in, one road out, and drier than tinder dry forest all around. Yikes! Beautiful, but the whole area is so stressed. Trees are dieing. It was a beautiful day, but I sure wouldn't want to live there!  We also took a day and went up to Sunset Crater and Wupotki ruins. Thoroughly enjoyed that. Wukoki ruin (around the bend from Wupotki) wasn't open when we were here 20+ years ago, and it was wonderful! Found a great little restaurant on the North end of Flagstaff - Silver Saddle - great place. Also really enjoyed China Star on Route 66 in Flagstaff. Best Chinese food buffet we've ever had. As for good restaurants in Winslow - Don't go to PJ's or Denny's at the travel center! Pizza Hut was good though. The restaurant at the old depot is supposed to be very good, but pricy.

Evenings were nice. Actually, the sunsets were incredible, and the night sky.... so much of it! Chilly. No one was really into music out there. Poker was the topic of conversation and get togethers. John had fun with that. We also got 2 new tires on the truck thanks to the new Navajo casino a few miles down the road towards Flagstaff.

All in all, Arizona was an experience. Like going to hell and back again with some refreshing things on the side (like Meteor Crater). I'd always thought I'd end up living out there, and this was the trip to find out about that. The answer was very clear - beyond a shadow of a doubt clear. NO WAY!  and that is a good thing to know.

We had planned to be there until mid-Sept. but John's body had other thoughts and mid-July was all he could take. We felt bad bailing on our job, but health comes first., and, we were needed back home.