Saturday, December 31, 2016

Ahhhhhhhhhh Hole

Here’s where we spent last night.  It was quiet and uneventful.   Just what we like.DSC_0003

But earlier this morning here’s what we woke to.DSC_0001

When the fog cleared and dried a little bit it was time to get on the roof.  Yesterday evening the sat dish got stuck in an award position and we decided not to move unless it came down.  I went up on the roof and started taking it apart, at least what I could so we could move on without tearing it up.  So now it looks like this…DSC_0004I will work on it later at Frank & Marlene’s.

We hit the road on route 85 south to Ajo.  DSC_0007DSC_0009DSC_0010

About 45 miles later we arrive in Ajo.DSC_0011

Since the J is usually silent I pronounce it A hole.  It’s really pronounced Ah Ho.

Here’s Frank & Marlene’s place.  This all of their place – both buildings.DSC_0012

Here’s Frank coming out to greet and park us.DSC_0013

He tells us what area to park in and here is where we wound up.  Great spot.DSC_0015

If we ever come in the camper here’s where our spot will be.  It’s a small site.  It even has a cement pad.DSC_0016DSC_0017DSC_0018

This is Marlene’s room in the building on the right.  This is where she has her line dance classes just about everyday.  Real nice….DSC_0019DSC_0017

Here’s our view out the front window.DSC_0020

Low and behold…Frank & Marlene.DSC_0021

Frank cooked some very extra large hamburger patties and some tater patties on the grill for brunch.  It was good and filling.

Now it’s New Year’s Eve.  The Elks Lodge was closed.  So we tagged along with Frank & Marlene to a party just down the road.  We met about 20-30 people of all ages.  Everyone brought finger food and booze.  There was plenty to eat or drink if you so wanted.  I snacked a little and drank water.  Carol & Marlene had some Wicked Apple Ale.  Frank drank his favorite beverage – coffee.  We had some interesting conversations about how these local people come to Ajo to live.

About 10 PM (12 PM Eastern time of course) everybody celebrated the New Year coming in.  Then everybody packed up and left including us.

Frank & Marlene dropped us off at our rig and went onto a favorite special local club.  It was way past our bed time so we passed.

Now it’s 7 AM New Year’s morning and it’s pouring down rain and windy. 

I looked up the Wingard sat dish on line.  It appears to be a manual way to lower the dish down.  Oh well.  Later today I will put it back together and then lower it manually.  The on line manual for trouble shooting said to call them for our problem and that’s why I want to put it back together.  There’s a big sat dish place in Quartzsite.  I will take it to them Tuesday if I can’t get it to work  via a phone call with them on Monday.

Retirement is not having to go out in the rain if you don’t want to.

See ya….

Friday, December 30, 2016

12 Miles Per Gallon–No FW

We left Sharon & Don’s about 11:00 AM head for Tucson about 40 miles away.  We got an appointment with La Mesa for a Winnebago recall on an engine filter part recall.  I don’t know why Winnebago is doing it vice Cummins the diesel manufacture doing it.  I guess its Winnebago parts just before the big expensive Cummins air filter. 

Anyhow I found on Gas Buddy a gas station that had diesel for $2.35 a gallon.  It’s located about 2 miles off the Interstate near Tucson.  I went for it.  I had to do several special turn arounds and go into a back of a shopping center to get to it but I did.   I was like a dog smelling a fire hydrant.  I got in and to the pump.  I filled that baby up again.  Diesel is running about $2.65 and up around Tucson. 

We arrived at La Mesa Tucson about a half hour early.  The service department jumped on us like a salesman seeing a newbie.  They gave us coupons for their lunch and took the RV.  We had hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and soda for free.  I went around back to the service area and saw the guy working on our rig.  He had a bunch of water (gal+) coming out of the air filter system on the bottom.  I was friggin amazed how much water came out.  Our clean air entry to the air filter starts near the top edge of the side rear of the rig.  Pretty normal.  I guess the water couldn’t escape like it’s suppose to down near the bottom.  It can now for sure.

We are on our way.  My fuel indicators were reading near 12 mpg.  Now that ain’t true for sure.  Later my fuel tank gauge said I was not using very much fuel either.  Hmmmmm.  I might be getting near 9 mpg.  That’s a lot better than 6-7 mpg it got so far coming out here.  Time will tell.

Many years we’ve gone by Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch outside of Tucson.  Every time we would say someday we would stop.  Today wasn’t it either.  Just kidding.  We stopped.  It was $13 bucks each and you got a big cup of food, some nectar and seed sticks.  Here are some pics…

Looks like a girl I use to know.  She probably really looks like this now.DSC_0013DSC_0007DSC_0051DSC_0004DSC_0009DSC_0010DSC_0019DSC_0022DSC_0023DSC_0030

These guys actually took the lid off a 1 oz cupDSC_0033DSC_0034DSC_0036DSC_0041DSC_0044DSC_0046

I think we both enjoyed the Lorikeets the most.  It was fun. 

Then back on the road and not real sure where we are spending the night.  We are headed towards Frank & Marlene’s down in Ajo.DSC_0055

We made it to Gila Bend within 40 miles of Ajo but I decided I wasn’t gonna go any further, I was tired.  We stopped at a lot next to a pizza place that we have stayed at before.  I forgot about it until I saw it.  It was a done deal.  Hey pizza tonight.  We did have a problem.  The friggin sat dish stopped working and stuck in the up position.  It actually said the motor was broke.  Well, I was too tired to go up on the roof and check it out plus the pizza was hot.  We watch a dumb movie and called it a night.  It was very quiet and it even rained some.

Retirement is doing the things that you said you would do some day when you retired.

See ya..

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Can Don Come Out & Play

We spent Wednesday night at a closed down Kmart in Demining, NM. Yes just down the road from the Escapees Park.  Just couldn’t see paying $6 and half bucks to park/sleep on their lot.  We don’t use their facilities at all except to take up space.  The Walmart next to the closed Kmart was jammed pack with RVs and big trucks overnight.  Why?  There was one other RV with us.  No interruptions at all.  We paid $2.45 for diesel over by Denny’s. 

It was a peaceful night and damn cold.  Turn off the freezer.DSC_0001

Back on the Interstate heading West by about 7:30 AM.  No rush that’s what time we were ready to go.DSC_0002DSC_0005DSC_0011DSC_0015DSC_0016

If you are missing your Thing, they got it!  I wonder if I can trade them?DSC_0019DSC_0022

170 miles later we were at Sharon & Don’s place.  They got it outfitted (Navy talk) real nice as all the lots are here in their park here in Benson.  “Outfitted” - I have to talk that Navy talk around here.  Anchor’s away and all that stuff.  Oh, Don was on a submarine so I have to griggle ever so often like I’m under water.  DSC_0024

Here we are at our little borrowed space of Frank & Gloria King’s place.  We just hooked up the electric.  Our black water tank doesn’t leak that bad.  I wonder where all this TP came from.  Thanks guys…DSC_0025

Sharon brought over their doggie.  She looks mean at the moment but only because I caught her yawning.DSC_0026

Here she is looking at our kitty cat.  The cat didn’t really mind the dog being there at all.  She gets along with dogs but not other cats.  Strange….DSC_0027

The important stuff.  Don came back home from the hospital earlier today.  Hey Don, your getting that saying, “Keep coming back” mixed up with the hospital people.  It’s not their saying.  Don’t keep trying to go back to them.

Don lost a bunch of his excess ballast and looks like a young seaman.  I think that’s sailor talk for a young slender sailor.  Getting those barnacles off your ass I mean anchor will happen.  Your in dry dock for now getting your pipes refitted.  They are old and rusty evidently.  Too much sea water?

Don wanted some fried liver and chicken for dinner.  Now that’s my kind of dinner except there isn’t a Popeye's around.   We settled for Chester’s and KFC to go and brought it to Don. 

We spent some quality time with Don & Sharon poking fun at Don who was laughing at himself.  Of course if he looks in the mirror he can get a real good laugh as always.  He has more doctors than we’ve had RVs and that’s a lot.  He knows he was really really sick before.  Maybe he don’t.  He slept thru some of it.  smile Don…It will take more time to get your sea legs back.  He wishes it was a lot sooner as we all do.  Hang in their guy.  Time fixes a lot of things (except our looks).

Don, don’t worry, I won’t give out your email (don80444@gmail.com) so people can wish you well.  Everybody – send him a chicken or something.

It was a very quite night.

Retirement is finding out how good your medical plan really is.

See ya……..

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Broke Our New Policy–600 miles

Last night in Abilene, TXDSC_0011

Woke up to this (not snow) andDSC_0010

this.  Parked a little close.  Their car was disconnected so why did they park it that way.  Never mind…….DSC_0009DSC_0017DSC_0021DSC_0030DSC_0031DSC_0035

We decided to turn right and go North thru Hobb, New Mexico.DSC_0047DSC_0054DSC_0055DSC_0057DSC_0065

Here’s the other side of El Paso.  In El Paso we got the oil changed in the RV at SpeedCo.DSC_0067DSC_0077

In New Mexico again.DSC_0080

We ended up in Deming, New Mexico at the closed down K-Mart.  Here it is….over 600 miles today with a layover in El Paso for an oil change.  The northern route was real nice for a change.  El Paso traffic at 4 PM wasn’t bad at all.

Diesel was $2.25 in Merkel, TX and $2.45 in El Paso and Deming. 

Retirement is going further out of choice rather than a need too.

See ya….