Celebrations, holiday preparations, and garage sales.

The Grey Cup came home to Saskatchewan on Monday. There were some nail-biting moments in the game on Sunday but the green and white prevailed! My nephew joined the party at the Green Mile after the game and this photo (which I lifted from the internet) shows the fans who made their way from their homes, restaurants and bars, to the corner of Albert and Victoria streets for the celebration. The Grey Cup was on display at Mosaic Stadium on Monday afternoon, and a parade was held on Tuesday. This was the first win in 12 years for the team, and only the 5th in the history of the Riders.

Meanwhile my week started out quietly. I had done laundry Sunday afternoon and left it out overnight to dry, so just had to fold and put things away. I did some knitting too, working on another coffee mug sleeve. I'd finished the pickles the previous morning - they turned out pretty darn cute! (If I do say myself.) I have gold thread at home that I will add so they will hang from the Christmas tree. These are small gifts for my niece and nephew. It's become a bit of a tradition for me to make an ornament of some sort each year. 

We had more rain again overnight Monday, and Tuesday was overcast and cool. I'm having some electrical issues, potentially related to the rain. Every time we get rain, the outdoor fridge trips the breaker to the outlet. It doesn't affect anything in the trailer but is a nuisance. After some wrong assumptions, it was determined that pushing the button on the GFI re-set it. But when I woke on Tuesday morning (having plugged in the fridge overnight), not only was the outdoor plug impacted but the one next to the stove. And somehow or another, the dinette lights decided to give up the ghost too. Initially, J and I thought it was due to burnt out bulbs, but trying one that we knew was working proved that theory wrong. 

I've left the fridge unplugged, and won't use it until J's husband G arrives in December. He is an electrician by trade and knows this unit well as they lived in it for several years before they bought their park model. I won't be here when he arrives, as I'll be in Saskatchewan for Christmas, but will leave a set of keys with J. 

Wednesday J and I got together to play cribbage. Another couple who usually play, D&T had arrived Tuesday evening and were busy opening up their unit, buying groceries, etc. so weren't available to play. Beginner's luck, I won the first game but she, more than handily, won the next two. I learned a lot about the strategy of the game, as well as the how to count the points. That was something I never learned last winter. I likely won't be able to keep up with the regulars but at least I have a better idea now.

Pat (our 97 year old matriarch) and I were responsible for coffee hour on Thursday. We set up the hall after Happy Hour the day prior, readying coffee pots, tea kettle, toasters, etc. Earlier in the day, I had gone to the local Food City to order the pastries. Some people enjoy the goodies, while others make themselves toast with jam and peanut butter provided. In the morning, I went to Food City to pick up the pastries, then to the clubhouse to start the large urn of coffee.  We were expecting about 20 participants and ended up with just 13.

After coffee, three of us stayed behind to decorate the hall for Thanksgiving. There aren't a whole lot of decorations for the walls; most are meant to be put out on the tables. Since we'll be using the space for Happy Hour - it was too hot and now with the cooler and wet weather the mosquitos are out in force - we left the table decor to be put out on Thanksgiving morning. There were a whole pile of fake flowers and sprigs, so I put together a vase to display somewhere in the hall. 

Friday morning was another busy one, as J, L and I went to a nearby park for their garage sales. By the way I used my air fryer that I picked up at last weeks garage sales for the first time. It worked wonderfully, but I'll not use it indoors again. It heats up and gets quite hot to the touch. Hence it will have to wait until the electrical outlet is working properly. I have sufficient methods of cooking that it isn't necessary though I do like the way an air fryer cooks various types of meat. The BBQ will do for now.

It was raining off and on when we left and though the park with the sales had a lot of standing water, we managed okay until just after 9 a.m. At the last place we stopped, the rain came down in buckets and we, all three, were soaked by the time we made it across the street to the van. With that, we decided to head to the "Landing", a local restaurant for breakfast. The food was delicious and the prices very reasonable. Since it was quiet we sat for quite a while after we were done eating and simply visited. 

Our final stop before heading to the park was a placed called Green Trees Grocery Outlet. It has heavily discounted packaged items, generally the boxes and cans are slightly damaged and can't (or won't) be sold at a regular grocery store. They also bring in frozen meat and dairy, and fresh produce. The store even has some sundry items as well as beauty and health products. Just to give you an idea of pricing, L picked up a 10 pound bag of potatoes for $2.99. I found Twinings Earl Grey tea for $3 for 50 tea bags. J picked up a box full of stuff, as she found a couple of cockroaches in her park model and had to toss out her pantry items. 

So what did I find at the garage sales? My best buy was a small hand painted plate for 50 cents. In Canadian dollars it is worth about $40. I would have purchased it anyway, because it is so pretty. I found a couple more cushions for the couch, and a small drop leaf table. The latter needs to be sanded down and painted, and I'll use it in the gazebo to eat meals on occasion. That is, of course, if it ever stops raining! 

Today, I have nothing planned except to stay indoors, out of the continuing rain, to work on the coffee mug sleeves. D has added one more to the list, so I'll need to make seven more. Each one takes me about an afternoon. Since I'm leaving for home on the 4th of December, that leaves less than two weeks to finish these. I should know the pattern well by then. There will be college football to watch and if I'm lucky, I may be able to watch some of the Canadian Olympic curling trials. You-tube may have some streaming, but I'm not entirely sure.

Have a wonderful week ahead everyone! 

Friday Funny

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Getting in the groove

Another week just flew by me. I'm getting into a routine and it feels good. Up at 5:30 a.m. I make my bed, get my tea ready and then call my daughter. We chat for about a half hour about a variety of topics: Eli, the cats, the weather, the news, and family. This week was my nephew's 25th birthday. How the heck did that happen? It seems like yesterday we were meeting him in the hospital room. 

My parents had three sets of grandchildren. My oldest brother's son was born in 1970. My children were born in the 80's, and my brother's two were both born in the aughts. (2000's). R and P were both in their late 30's when K and L came along, while my older brother was only 20 when his son was born, and M is 12 years older than R. Since mom passed away in 2003 and dad in 2008, it means that the youngest grandchildren didn't get to know them. 

Back to the present. I've been doing outside work in the morning most days, sweeping the patio, running errands, and most recently spray painting three chairs I got from next door. I've now decided that the Adirondack chair, which is a faded green, needs a touch up too. Next time I'm in a hardware store I'll pick up a can of spray paint.

I also picked up a couple of items from Walmart to make my life a wee bit easier. One is a small shoe rack for the front closet, the other a three shelf bookcase. It tucks in beside the dinette, and as you'll see I've made the bottom shelf the recycling area. It gets those small containers out of my way and provides additional storage...for what is yet to be determined.

Afternoons, I generally spend inside the trailer, enjoying the a/c. It has been hot this week, though has cooled slightly into the high 80's (31C). Better than the 90's but still stinking hot to be outdoors in the sun. I've used the time to start knitting Christmas gifts. I didn't think to bring safety eyes for amigurumi ornaments I'm making for K and L, so had to place an Amazon order. I added in a couple of other items to get free shipping, useful items like a collapsible colander and a drying rack. The order isn't expected to arrive until today, so I moved on to knitting coffee cup sleeves for my brother, SIL, and Eli's many teachers and aides. 

I finished one, knitted flat, but I didn't like the way it looked when I sewed it together. So I switched to knitting in the round. The first one didn't work because I didn't read the pattern properly. I'm not sure when I'll get these done, but I'm glad Christmas isn't for another six weeks. I'm going to need the time!

Don't mind the clashing colours. I didn't have a travel mug and needed one to test the sizing on so picked up a cheapo one at the dollar store. I took it (the mug) to coffee hour to hold my tea, and what a useless piece of junk. Getting the top off was a struggle and putting it back on was worse. Now it just gets to be a model.

On Friday, I did a little grocery shopping, and went thrifting with L. I picked up two t-shirts at the Humane Society Thrift store for $3, a box fan, a document folder, and a pair of shorts for just over $20 at Goodwill. The fan is out in the gazebo and provides quite the breeze! 

I also stopped at Lowes and picked up a pot and a few succulents to plant. The container was on sale, the succulents were not and cost nearly as much! I did a wee bit of research, they like temps between 60F-80F, but can't be left in direct sunlight as they may sunburn. I foresee bringing them indoors in January when the weather is cold overnight. Next year I'll plant something else, more hardy and less expensive. 

Speaking of weather, the cooler temps are arriving this weekend. The forecast is suggesting we'll have rain starting this morning, with a high temp of 24C/76F. The rest of the week is even cooler with temps between 20-22C/68-72F. I'm looking forward to being able to leave the a/c off in the afternoons and early evenings.

To finish off my routine, everyday at 4 p.m. is Happy Hour where many of us meet up and enjoy some time visiting. On Friday, it was finally cool enough to sit out on the outdoor patio in the shade with the breeze. Back at the unit, I've been using the BBQ to cook up smokies or hamburgers for my dinner, which I enjoyed along with a pasta salad I made up earlier in the week. It's much cooler by then, and the bugs aren't bad so until it is too dark to read, I have my meal outdoors. On Friday, I cooked up taco meat in the morning for a salad that evening, and also made a crockpot of chili. There was enough for three servings which I froze. If it does in fact rain on Saturday, I'm thinking it will make a great meal - just re-heat in the microwave. 

Today, I've nothing major on the agenda. I'll likely knit and watch college football. The BIG game is on Sunday, with the Canadian Grey Cup on the line. One of the park members has purchased the channel we need to watch it on, and anyone who wants to watch will be set up in the clubhouse. It was agreed, we'd each bring our own "gameday" snacks and drinks. The teams playing for the honour of hoisting the Cup are the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. You know who I'll be cheering for, Go Riders!!!

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Wordless Wednesday

Photos courtesy of our cousin, C Collins, of Besnard Lake.

Fun, frustrations, and finally official

Another (mostly) busy week in the books is nearing an end. This week brought more folks to the park I met last winter (Jan/Feb) so it was a time of reconnecting and making new memories.

As you likely know, the Jays did not win the World Series. :( We still had a good turnout for the must go meal and game, though the majority of us left disappointed at the loss. There were nine of us; D had joined the group having purchased a unit last spring. He had about two weeks then to clear it out and is back to make it his own this winter. Like many others here he is from British Columbia.

The weekend also brought P, her daughter J and J's husband D.  Sorry, without their permission, I prefer to use initials for privacy reasons. P will be 97 this month and is the matriarch of the park. She started coming here in 1979! She also moved this year with her daughter to a new-to-them unit, and are almost directly across from me. J's husband D has been building steps and a bench, and J told me at Happy Hour on Monday, there is a list of things to be repaired or replaced. Meanwhile P was initially staying Yuma with another daughter until the space is safe for her. She's since moved into another unit here owned by the daughter of another resident. It's kitty corner from her own unit and I know J is happy to have mom closer.

Sunday was especially busy, as I needed a few groceries, had planned to assist with the clean-up at the clubhouse later in the morning, and it was laundry day. When I told S (of L&S), she insisted I use the machine at their previous unit rather than going to a laundromat. 

I was happy to take her up on the offer, and will tuck a few dollars in her hand/mailbox/front door each month to pay for the electricity. The local Food City opens at 6 a.m., not that I was ready to shop then, but I was in and out and back at the park by 7:50 a.m. Three of us cleaned up the clubhouse, wiping down tables and counters, putting away clean dishes, folding tables and stacking chairs so the floor could be swept and mopped.

L&S headed to Palm Springs to pick up another couple and their daughter (E&L, and A) mid-afternoon. They kindly let me use their a/c in the unit while I waited for the laundry to be complete.  It reached 91F/33C that afternoon so it did not take long for my clothing to dry!

I puttered around for the rest of the afternoon before H showed up at my door to remind me of Happy Hour. All that work of putting away chairs and tables was upended when ten of us arrived (N added to the list) for our visit. I left early as I was getting hungry and finally made a meal in my own place. Nothing special but delicious, especially when H dropped by with a loaf of banana bread for my dessert. Now that was special!

Unlike Sunday, Monday was a quiet day. I puttered around in the unit, spent time out in the gazebo reading or knitting in the morning, and the rest of the day was indoors as the heat is a bit much for me. The forecast says we'll see cooling by the middle of November. Indoors, I did more knitting, watched some Y-tube videos and started a jigsaw puzzle. I don't anticipate finishing it for a week or two. 

Tuesday, I was expecting the propane truck to fill the large tank. The stove/oven, hot water tank, and furnace run off propane. Everything else is on electricity. Since I was outdoors for most of the morning, I decided to wash the tile floor. After sweeping, I did the first wash and was about to empty the bucket to get fresh water for the second wash when I managed to tip the bucket and all that dirty water flowed all over the tile. ARRRGGGHHH! Back to square one. A job that ought to have taken about 20 minutes or so, stretched into a good 45 minutes. I'm not entirely sure why I bothered, as the dust will cover it again by morning. We haven't had a lot of wind, but things are just dusty.

The propane truck was scheduled to arrive by noon but I wasn't surprised that he didn't show up until 2:30 p.m. Close enough, right? I got a lesson in all things propane including: when the tank is overfilled the gas comes up as liquid rather than vapour. The owner told me that in Canada we measure propane by the pound or liters. In the States, most places just fill it up until it is entirely full. It is important not to do so, as heat will cause the liquid to expand and can result in an explosion (particularly when near a heat source like a BBq). I assume the high temperatures here in Arizona might have an impact too. In any event, I also now know where the o-rings and gaskets are in the connections, though ask me in six months and I probably won't remember.

Wednesday I went shopping, not for groceries but for a few items I need in the unit. An extra garbage can, some removable hooks, a calendar, screwdrivers, dish soap, etc. I stopped at our local Dollar Tree and got several items and then it was off to Best Buy to get a new charging cable for my cellphone. I had two but managed to break one since I've arrived. That's the first time I've done this and I'm not certain how it happened. One cable is kept inside while the other is in the SUV. While I was in the Yuma Palms mall at BB, I discovered they had a Hobby Lobby. You may not be, but I'm proud to say I walked out of there having spent less than $15. Doesn't mean I wasn't tempted by several other items though. :)

J dropped by in the afternoon with a few items that she thought I could use. One is a small electric heater that she used to warm the unit in cooler weather. As I learned last January, it can get very cool overnight, with temperatures dropping to around 5C/41F. The rental unit I was in last year did not have a working furnace, so the landlady had provided two electric space heaters. I would use one to warm up the bedroom (while I stayed under the covers), and the second to warm the living area. I expect I'll be doing something similar here as it will save on using the furnace.

That night there was a Beaver moon, a supermoon so called as it is close to the earth. I got a photo, not a great one as you'll see but it was pretty neat to see

We had our weekly coffee hour on Thursday morning. For $2 we get a cup of coffee (and refills), donuts/pastries, self served toast. The Board takes the opportunity to fill us in on the happenings in the park and there is lots of chatter too. That was the best part of the day, after that things got a wee bit frustrating.

I met with the board, the previous owner, and the wife of one of the board members (a former paralegal) to complete the paperwork. I won't go into the details but a process that ought to have taken 15 minutes or so stretched out for nearly 90 minutes. With the ADOT title in hand I headed to the insurance broker to arrange coverage. I left briefly to run over to Lowes to look for solar light motion detectors and came back to find that the ADOT had registered the previous owner's property in my name...not my unit! (I did tell her she might have to move, just kidding). So that put a kibosh on the insurance policy and we had to go back to the the licenser on Friday morning to straighten things out. I had successfully, in the morning, arranged to transfer the cable to my own account. Part of that meant I needed to return the current equipment and pick up a new box. Now, the cable is part of a bulk purchase of the park (we don't pay directly for it, it's part of our lease payment). When I arrived home, I went to turn on the television and discovered I'd been cut off...no cable for me until I pick up the equipment and install myself. :p

So Friday I was up at my now regular 5:30 a.m. First things first, I tried to uninstall the cable receiver. NOT happening, the cable was so tightly screwed in it was not budging. Faced with another round of AI screening to get through to a live agent on the telephone, I decided to try the chat with us feature on their app. Now the AI tried mightily but I insisted on speaking to a live agent, and within moments I was on the line with Raul in California. (I know this because the chat thingy told me so.) Second message in, he informed me he'd be sending out a technician. The first appointment he offered was when I was planning to be at ADOT so I asked for a later appointment, 4-5 p.m. was the answer. It will cut into Happy Hour but I'll be happy to get the cable reconnected, so I'll deal. Later, I got a text that the appointment was moved up to between 3-4 p.m. We'll see...

At 8 a.m. I met J and we headed over to the ADOT office. Once through the short line-up I explained that the wrong unit was now registered to me, and should be in J's name. And that I needed to register the other unit currently in her name in mine. Initially the clerk insisted it was our error but by the end of the 15-20 minutes or so she worked on the files, she agreed it was a clerical error on their part. However, she still charged us the $7 USD to revert the name to J's. I wasn't about to argue about it though if I hadn't stepped in and said I'd pay it, J might have. I was able to register my RV for 5 years so won't need to go back there at least that long.

The insurance broker who caught the mistake was our next stop. Another half hour and we were heading pack to the park. All told, with driving time, we were gone less than two hours. I dropped J off and headed to Home Depot where I picked up the extension rod for hanging my clothes in the bedroom area, a solar motion light, and two cans of spray paint. 

I'm not sure if I've mentioned that I "stole" three chairs from next door. The original owner passed away a couple of years ago and his until is uninhabitable. Outside there are a number of pieces of furniture including a stack of plastic chairs. I asked J (who is the Board President) if I could take a few. She told me CB's daughter had said they could do what they wanted with it. So I grabbed three, cleaned them up, and now I plan to spray paint them as there are stains that would not come out. I just need to find someone with cardboard...with the orders that come in from Amazon around here, I'm sure that won't be a problem. Here's the outdoor area set-up - I spend a few hours out there every mornings, and sometimes eat my dinner out there too.

Well, this turned into a lengthy post, so I'll end it on Friday, and post in the morning. I'm off early tomorrow anyway, as a group of us are heading to a garage sale at the Country Roads RV Village. Imagine if you will nearly 1300 RV/Park model spaces with garage sales dotted throughout. They hold this event the first Saturday of the each month. I'm not looking for anything in particular, but it will be a fun outing with friends.

Have a great week ahead everyone! 

P.S. Apparently this is my 1000th post. Never thought I'd see that number. 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Settling in

I predicted that the week would be busy and I was right, in more ways than one. I spent the first couple of days sorting through the interior of the RV, emptying cupboards, wiping them down, and sorting through the contents. Unpacking of the clothing and the few personal items I brought with me also happened. It was a disaster in here, but by Thursday afternoon, I was pretty much finished. I took out a couple of bags of broken or damaged items to the bin and put several tote bags of items to be donated to the park garage sale in the back of my vehicle. There were also a number of items I returned to J, the previous owner, as I believed they would have some sentimental value.

Wednesday morning, I took advantage of the cooler temperature early in the day and opened up the shed under the nose of the 5th wheel. It was chock block full of stuff! There was not only the BBQ and mini fridge which I expected, but a patio heater (not needed now!), brooms, mop and pails, boxes of parts for the RV, boxes of various household items, insect spray, mice deterrents, and the motherlode of all...two large containers of yarn. There didn't appear to be any bugs, but I've left them out in the sun for 24 hours, just in case. I did check with J - they are hers but she no longer wants them. So I'm set for yarn for at least 10 years, and that doesn't include the stash I have back at home. :) Actually I plan to go through it at some point and will keep some and donate the rest to a local charity shop. 

H has told me she wants a scarf knit with the purple yarn (top bag on the left). She won't need it here of course. But it does give me another project to work on.

Meanwhile, Jose, the handyman had been here to set up the gazebo for me. He also hooked up the propane so I could cook, though I hadn't had to as yet. The big tank was empty so we used the BBQ tank for the time being. I'm expecting the fuel company to be by next Tuesday to refill the 100 gallon tank. That should last for the entire season. Jose was back at the unit on Thursday as the hot water heater wasn't working properly. I've only just met him, but it appears he is jack of all trades. Good thing, 'cuz this woman has no clue about most of these things. I did, after some help from J, figure out what I needed to do to empty the black and gray tanks. I do tend to make things more complicated than they need to be.

Every evening that the Jays are playing, we have been meeting in the clubhouse. After pizza night, we had L's famous chili, and on Wednesday, L brought potato salad and deli meat. The rest of us brought buns or vegetables. Tuesday, I took advantage of L&S's offer to take some of the leftover chili. I can heat it up in the microwave...again, no cooking!

As promised here are a few photos of my set-up. The living area is cozy and comfortable. It took me a couple of days, but I figured out the television set-up . I may not use it much as I watch a lot of programming on Y-Tube on my laptop. On the other hand the cable subscription is paid for by the park so it is a nice to have. I can sit on the couch or turn the television to watch from the dinette, or even watch from my bed! 

I haven't made much use of the outdoor space as yet, but will do so as the weather cools from the 90's we've been experiencing. It is a perfect place for a morning cup of tea, as it is in the shade until around noon'ish. I hope to find a few more comfortable chairs so others can join me for a visit.

I w

Outside the gazebo is the mini-fridge. I did plug it in briefly and it works perfectly. However, it is very dirty and needs a good scrubbing. That had to wait until the hot water heater was working. I did some cleaning in cold water (though the water here is never really cold - at least not like it is at home). I envision using the stand beside it for my electric kettle and perhaps a slow cooker. It will keep the heat outdoors rather than in.

I got the fridge cleaned out on Thursday, then met J. We drove to the DOT office to switch the registration on the RV. The plate and title should be in the mail in 8-10 business days. Once I receive the title, I'll be able to arrange insurance for the unit. It was the hottest day thus far, 95F/35C so the rest of the afternoon and evening was spent indoors. I did a bit of finishing work on the scarf, took an afternoon nap, and as expected had the leftover chili and rice for my dinner.

Friday morning, the queen mattress in the bedroom (the nose of the 5th wheel) was swapped out with L&S for a twin that was in their new-to-them park model. I didn't need the box spring so that went to someone else in the park. There tends to be a whole lot of trading that happens here. They also gave me a small fold up stool, and have offered a small crockpot. Meanwhile I had sorted the yarn, and S took the remainder. She'll take what she wants and the rest will be kept until the garage sale. I should note, whatever doesn't sell at the garage sale is donated to a local charity shop.

I was able to fit in a three drawer (plastic) chest, as a well as the container on the left to hold my folded clothing. For hanging clothes I've currently got them in the closet by the door, but I use that for the broom and vacuum as well so would like to get them out of there. I'll look for an extension closet rod that I can fit in next to the window. I don't have much to hang so it doesn't need to be drilled into the walls.

That afternoon, H and I went out to lunch at In and Out burger, then over to Sam's Club. Memberships for new members were on sale for $15 for an annual card, regular $50. I was able to get a companion card for H. Recall she's the baker, and left with a cart full of sugar, oil, chocolate chips, etc. along with a massive jar of minced garlic. There will be no vampires around her place! :) I didn't bother picking anything up as we both had things to do back at the park. I needed to drop off the burgers, hotdogs, and smokies for the evening BBQ, and she was heading home to cook up onions for the burgers.

The watch party grew slightly larger with the addition of J and her friend P. I took care of the BBQ, while others laid out the spread of food. In addition to burgers, there was leftover potato salad from the other night, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, and the usual condiments. J brought a bean casserole made with corn and Rotel spicy tomatoes, and D made roasted potatoes in the air fryer. We never run out of food!

Since there will be a Game 7 of the World Series (go Jays) tonight, we'll be having a "must go" meal. Everything remaining in the fridge will be laid out and whatever remains at the end of the night either goes home with someone or into the bin. Hopefully, the Jays will pull through and win the final game. In any event, it has been a great series to watch and a good time to get together. 

Today, I've nothing on the agenda until evening. The unit is pretty much organized as I would like it, so I'll spend my morning out in the gazebo reading. I'm midway through a Michael Connelly book with Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch. I feel as though I've read it before and it may very well be one of the episodes of that I watched on one of the streaming networks. I can't recall though and am enjoying it very much. The afternoon will likely mean indoor time again and I hope to finish sewing in the ends on my scarf. 

Have a great week ahead everyone! Welcome to November.

Friday Funny

 

Laughlin, Nevada to Yuma, Arizona

This was my short travel day. I was up and out the door by 6:45 a.m. local time, arriving in Yuma at 12:30 p.m. This included a stop for a leisurely breakfast at the Crossroads Cafe in Parker, Arizona. The food was great, and the prices terrific too. 

Laughlin is a short distance from the California and Arizona borders, and at least twice I was "welcomed" by the GPS to one or the other states. Gas prices in Laughlin were stupidly high, at $4.20 a gallon. I'd checked online and found that I could get fuel at a Maverick station in Bullhead City (12 miles away) for $3.09. You can bet I took the short trip for less expensive fuel. 

A note about the Pioneer Hotel and Casino in Laughlin. At a cheap price, it gave me what I needed, a comfortable bed for the night. But, the tile floors were filthy, the telephone flashed as though it had messages constantly, and there was a constant stream of people outside my door until past midnight. It is more of a motel than hotel and I think next time I'll stay at a more conventional hotel. I ended up wearing socks in the room, unplugged the phone, and got up early and left. 

Now, I'm a little confused on exactly how I got to Yuma. My GPS kept telling me it had a shorter route and I kept taking its suggestions. I do know I went through Kingman on Highway 93, then onto I-40, and then eventually Highway 95 into Yuma. The scenery in places was amazing and I was excited to see various cacti as I got closer to Yuma. No photos as I couldn't find a decent pull-out. But I did get a shot from the car of the green desert. 

I was meeting with J about 1:30 p.m. to go through the RV (technically a fifth wheel but the generic term works for me). Since I was early, I stopped at the Walmart Supercenter to pick up a few groceries and drinking water. Another stop at a liquor store for a few beer for Happy Hour too. I had just parked my car near the clubhouse when another winter residents, H, came walking up. After a hug and a brief chat she was one her way.

Since I was early, I stopped in at S & L's new place for a visit. They purchased a park model in the park last winter and have started the move from their small trailer. It was so good to see them, and we had a great chat. I was informed that we'd be watching the Jays game that evening at the clubhouse, and would be ordering in pizza. Nice to know, as I hadn't bought a lot of groceries. 

When J arrived we walked over to the unit, and she ran through the various things I'll need to know. The power had been turned on, but I'm out of propane for the stove and hot water heater. We turned on the fridge and by this morning it was cool. The unit has an RV toilet, so I need to go out every so often to release the handle to empty it into the sewer line. She said once a week would be enough...I'm icked out enough that think I'll do it at least every other day. We also turned on the air conditioning - it was 88F in there, I set the thermostat to 74F and by bedtime it was 63F. Oops, I guess the thermostat isn't hooked up to the a/c. Great sleeping temperature.

There were eight of us at the clubhouse to watch the game. The pizza and company were great, and the game was exciting, though I didn't stay through to the end of it. After the Jays had their bat in the 11th inning, I headed home for sleep. I wasn't surprised to wake to the news that the Dodgers won this morning. It was a true pitcher's battle throughout the entire game.

Today, I'll be busy, as I need to buy groceries, have a interview with the board (a formality), I'm sorting through the cabinets and cupboards*, and we're have another watch party this evening. L is making his chili, M is making rice, I offered to buy shredded cheese and sour cream, and I expect H will show up with one of her homemade desserts. She actually has a outdoor kitchen set up in a shed, though she says her stove isn't working properly.

*When one purchases a unit here, it comes with whatever the former owner leaves behind. In my case, that includes various pots and pans, small appliances, dishes, utensils, containers, bedding, towels, a stick vacuum, an iron and board, and other decorative items. There is also a mini fridge for outdoor use, a barbeque, and the gazebo.  There's far more than I need, or want, and I need to do some reorganization so things are where I think they should be. It's going to be a busy few days. I'll share a few photos when things are tidier.

Have a great day everyone, and thanks for checking in.

Elko to Laughlin, Nevada

Today was a short day made longer by my mistake. However, the hotel at Elko was nice, clean, and quiet. Just what I needed for a good night's sleep. I'm fortunate, Jackie, that I can sleep pretty much anywhere. 

I was on my way back to Wells about 6:45 a.m. (local time). We had a bit of rain, not heavy, but enough to use my wipers until 10 minutes or so out of Wells. The GPS gave me a little grief, sometimes I need to listen to my guy, as it turned me in the wrong direction. Thankfully, Wells is a very small community and I was soon heading south on Highway 93. I took that highway to Ely (pronounced eelee). After a short drive on Highway 6, I turned off on the 318 south to the I-15. I stopped in Ely for fuel, as there is little to nothing on this highway for miles and miles and miles...you get the picture. There are signs just outside the community of Lund advising that "no gas for XXX miles". I'd hate to figure that out 100 or so miles down the road. Fuel was $3.29 at the Exxon and I grabbed a breakfast sandwich and coffee at the McDonalds across the street. There was a Carl's Jr. in the Exxon but I have no idea what they serve for breakfast so went with the familiar.

At the end of 318 (no town), I turned west on the I-15 which took me into Las Vegas. I followed signs for the 11, 93, and 95. Let me just say, I'm glad it was Sunday! The freeway was busy, and some drivers are less patient than others with vehicles with out of state plates. I did okay, only once needing to get into a left hand lane to avoid an exit. I arrived there at about 1:30 p.m. and was out the other side on Highway 95 about 2:15 p.m. Keep in mind, in my small town, a traffic jam is four cars arriving at the four way stop all heading to the school to drop off kids! Regina is a bit more congested, but I know the city having lived there for nearly 38 years.

Again there were some incredible views, but I only captured a few photos from the car. After Ely, I only made one stop at rest area about 20'ish miles for Laughlin. The drive out of Ely towards Vegas, and the drive into Laughlin from the highway were both spectacular. No real pull-offs though so you'll have to take my word for it. 

While at the rest area, I had arranged for a hotel in Laughlin. When I arrived about 3:45 p.m. or so,  I found the Pioneer Hotel and Casino along Casino Row. It's a dated property but sufficient for one night, and the price was right. 

When I left Elko in the morning, the temperature was 46F/9C; Laughlin was 92F/33C. As soon I got into the hotel room, I changed out of my jeans and put on a pair of capris. Once I was settled, laptop plugged in, toiletries on the counter, and a call to my daughter, I walked over to the Golden Nugget next door. There restaurant, Claim Jumper, had decent reviews. I concur, the food was plentiful, the one beer I had was cold, and it wasn't horribly busy for the time I was there. Here is a photo of the cheese bun I was served (separate from my meal) - I did NOT eat it all. You'll see no photo of my dinner, which were two fish tacos and a bowl of fruit. But the tacos were delicious and the fruit was refreshing. I needed the walk back to my hotel...and I could have used another three or four miles to wear off what I ate.

I'm settling in for the night, watching a bit of football or at least for background noise. No, my Jays did not win last night. :(  I expect I'll be in the clubhouse with the other Canadians watching the game Monday night.

The remaining drive is about 4 to 4 1/2 hours from Laughlin depending on whether I stop along the way. I'll pick up fuel in the morning before I head out, though the price looks daunting. The lowest I saw on the way in was about $4.25 a gallon. Oh well, needs must. 

I'll stop and pick up a few groceries items on my way to the park. The previous owner of the RV is aware of my ETA as well. I'm not how quickly I'll get the WiFI hooked up - there are other things more pressing like electricity, water, and propane. In any event I'll post as soon as I can, most likely on my phone as I have the data. Be prepared for multiple typos. :p

Thanks for following along!

Bozeman, Montana to Elko, Nevada

It was another long driving day, less than yesterday, and a conscious choice I made. Not only does it mean tomorrow and Monday will be shorter days, but I've ensured I'll miss the winter storm that are forecast for both Montana and Idaho. I had hoped the forecast from earlier in the week would be wrong, but I was told by several people in both States that they are expecting some snow. 

I got away from the hotel at 7:30 in the morning, and was checked in at the Comfort Inn in Elko at 5:30 p.m. (my time, it was 4:30 p.m. here).  I don't feel nearly as tired this evening as I did yesterday, so the plan is to stay awake and watch the Jays game. Watching the highlights of yesterday's game was fun, but not nearly as exciting as watching a game. Rather than go out for a meal, I picked up a sub sandwich on the way here and will enjoy that for my dinner.

Leaving Bozeman, I initially planned to take a shortcut to Dillon about Whitehall, but somehow I managed to miss the turn off. When I realized what I'd done, I keyed in Dillon and the GPS took me cross country  before connecting to Highway 41. The initial highway wasn't the best but thankfully it wasn't a long distance. The route was quite scenic, and I stopped at one point to take a few pictures. While I've been amazed by the scenery in Montana many times during the drive, this was the first time there was a pull-out I could drive into.

I don't recall exactly when I crossed into Idaho from Montana but I do recall thinking that Montana is a HUGE state. I did cross from the northeast corner to the southwest, so that likely has something to do with it. Idaho on the other hand took far less time to drive. I had joined Highway 15 at Dillon and took it as far as Dubois before turning west onto 22, which turned into 33, then 26 and finally 93 before I reached Twin Falls. I had stopped in Arco at a gas station - I've forgotten the name. It was around lunchtime and they had a small cafe there. I purchased a grilled cheese sandwich and a muffin - less than $6 USD! No fuel was needed at that point.

The scenery in Idaho certainly wasn't as exciting as Montana. I did see multiple magpies and several tumbleweeds. 

My next stop was Twin Falls for fuel. Darn GPS had me passing by several stations before landing me at the place with the most expensive fuel. I turned around in their lot and went back to a Shell station. The price was $3.39 per gallon. I'd noticed prices were higher in Idaho than Montana. It still took less than $30 USD to fill. It was early in the afternoon still, just after 2 p.m. so I decided to carry on to Nevada.

The drive was definitely scenic, with lots of traffic on the two lane 93 to Jackpot. There were several passing lanes, and the speed limit was 65. I kept it about that speed and was passed by semis and smaller vehicles alike. I discovered when that cell service is spotty, as I tried to call my son to wish him a Happy Birthday. 

As you can see, aside from the morning in Montana, it was a cloudy day. The morning temperatures were in the high 40's and low 50's (8-12C), and it wasn't until I reached Nevada that I saw a temperature of 67F (19C). Tonight it will be quite cool, but I expect I'll see warmer temperatures the further I go south. Meanwhile D tells me they reached 17C (63F) at home.  

I've just realized I messed up and will be heading back to Wells on the I-80 in the morning. Thankfully it is only about 50 miles. I should be taking the Highway 93 to Vegas before I hop on the I-95 which will take me to my overnight at Laughlin. Oops...I chose Elko based on the hotel, and didn't check my map. On the other hand there would be anywhere to overnight before Ely which is at least a two hour drive from Wells. I wouldn't have wanted to drive that far today...so as Patsy would say, the Jello jiggled. :)

I should have about an 8 hour drive tomorrow, depending on the traffic going around Vegas. As it is a Sunday, I'm hoping it will be an easy drive. Wish me luck! I'll give myself a little extra time in the morning, as I won't be able to check in to a hotel until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. No gambling for me!

Most of the information in these posts is meant to remind myself for the next trip. I hope you don't find them too boring. 

Regina to Bozeman, Montana

This will likely be a short post, as it was a long day of driving, I'm tired, and the Blue Jays are playing the Dodgers. They can't win if I'm not watching, right? Actually, early on the Dodgers are up 2-0. It's not that the Jays can't come back, but the Dodgers are a darned good team. Edited to add: I woke this morning to learn that our Jays beat up on the Dodgers 11-4! You can bet I'll be watching the highlights today.

In any event, I was up and out the door by 6:30 this morning. It was dark in the city, but within the 20 minutes it took to reach the south end, the sun was beginning to make itself know to the east. How pretty is that?

The border crossing was easy. I was the only vehicle there, she asked a few questions, checked my passport and looked inside the back of the vehicle and let me go. I don't know if an I-94 was issued, but will check when I get to Yuma. If not, I'll need to apply for another form, a something, something 325. I recall the number, just not the name. All visitors to the US over 30 days are required to apply for one or the other. When someone flies, the first is automatically issued, but not so at land crossings. I didn't bother to ask...she didn't seem all that friendly.

I took Highway 16 south to Glendive, then joined the I-94 through to Billings. There was a stop in Glendive for fuel ($2.99 for a gallon - I'm too tired to do the math to tell you what that works out to a liter), and a second stop in Billings for another top-up. In total I spent less than $60 for the fuel, and have a little over a half tank to start the day tomorrow. There were other pit stops for potty breaks and something to eat, as the one rest stop I wanted was closed. I won't stop and use a washroom without purchasing something, so picked up a couple of Sprite for later. I had water in the car to drink, and picked up a sandwich for lunch.

The route from Billings to Boseman on I-90 is incredibly scenic. Lots of hills, a mountain pass or two (not too high), trains, cattle, and often a view of Yellowstone River. I took a couple of photos on the highway - just above the steering wheel so I didn't have to let go of it. I saw two police cars, one entering Billings, and another 20-30 miles out of Bozeman on the other side of the divided highway. The latter was moving fast with the lights flashing. I certainly hope it wasn't an accident, rather a speeder.

Speaking of which, the speed limits here are NUTS! On both interstates the limit was 80 mph for smaller vehicles, and semis were limited to 75 mph. I stuck to the truck limit most of the time and sometimes slower. I also stayed in the right hand lane unless I was passing a slower vehicle, and would often slow to their speed to allow faster moving vehicles to pass us both. I did not feel comfortable taking some of these crazy curves at such high speeds! 

Note there are no photos from Billings to Bozeman. We were in the more mountainous area with lots of climbs, drops, and curves, so I wasn't taking a hand off the wheel.

I reached Bozeman about 5:15 p.m., checked into the hotel and walked down the block and across the street to Applebee's for dinner. Goodness, there portions are large! I think I ate half of it, knowing I want to be in bed early tonight and I want to avoid heartburn in the middle of the night.

I've got the game on the television and will crawl into bed. If I fall asleep, so be it, I'll turn it off at some point. My goal is to be out of here between 7-7:30 in the morning. Tomorrow's stop is planned for Twin Falls, Idaho, about about a 7 hour drive. I may go into Nevada depending on my mood (and level of exhaustion!) I won't do more than 8 hours of driving though.

Thanks for following along! 

On the road

Just a quick recap of the week - it was pretty quiet. Our weather was less than stellar and while I did start weeding the back yard on Sunday, I had to give it up as a "wintry" mix arrived on Monday. It was mostly rain and was quite cold for this time of year. Our high was only 5C/41F. I spent the day indoors doing very little.

My son's roommate B has been dealing with a cold for a few days and C woke up with it on Tuesday morning. B was working from home too so I decided to do a little browsing at the thrift stores. I told myself that I wouldn't buy anything unless I had an immediate use for it. Ha! It probably won't surprise you that some yarn jumped into my cart, along with a brand new photo album, a cute mug and a t-shirt. But.my best.purchase was a pair of slip-on walking shoes for $10.  They appear to be knockoff Skechers but are very comfortable.

As you learned in Wednesday's post, I've decided to try and avoid the potential cooler weather and head south at the end of the week. I needed to do a bit of banking that morning to transfer funds to the previous owner of the unit. I'm the afternoon I went to Stitch and Chat.

Thursday I got my laundry done including my bedding in the morning. In the afternoon I drove out to Moose Jaw to visit with friends from the RV park. They will be flying down in mid November so it was nice to see them ahead of their arrival. They provided lots of information about the trip down as they've been going there for over 10 years. I feel confident about the route I've chosen and have a few ideas for places to stay and even for meal stops.  Back at the house, I loaded the rest of my items in the SUV in preparation for my departure this morning. 

By the time you are reading this I'll be on the highway. It is about a two hour drive to the border. My destination for the day is Billings, Montana. If I find I'm not too tired I'll push on to Bozeman. That would be about a nine hour drive; Billings is a couple of hours less. I know I'll be excited to be in my way but I also know I have two and a half more days of driving ahead.

I'll try to update daily but it may be every second day.  I'm pretty certain there will be photos!

And I know I won't be missing waking to frost on the windshield.

Wordy Wednesday

No photos today as I've not done it seen anything particularly exciting or interesting. However I do have some news.

I've been keeping an eye on the weather for next week. It is starting to look a bit wintry, with potential for rain and/or snow mix. Not the weather I want to drive in for the first two days. 

However, the weekend weather looks terrific. So, rather than waiting until Tuesday, I'm planning to leave the city early Friday morning. I'm expecting a long travel day but have a plan B if need be. I'll post more about my route later.

I have a couple of tasks to deal with before I leave. As well I've got a visit with friends scheduled Thursday afternoon. When I return home from the visit I'll finish loading my vehicle.

Assuming all goes to plan, I expect to reach the park by Monday. The forecast is 30C/86F...no snow there!

Transitions

It was a busy start to the week, but has settled down as we're coming up on the weekend. Monday had me finishing up my packing and helping with a few household chores.

We had our flu vaccination booked for Tuesday morning . I was pleased to learn that we could get the Covid vaccine at the same time. That's definitely a benefit of a small town pharmacy. Im pretty certain in the city we would have been asked to make a second appointment. I dropped D and Eli back at the house with hugs for them and a quick cuddle with Saku. Then it was an uneventful drive to the city.

After dropping off my backpack and a couple of bags I headed for the mall. My first stop was Magicuts for a haircut! Much needed. The thrift store was next where I found an apron. There are regular potluck meals and coffee hours at the park. I recognize I tend to spill or splash water on myself.. Hopefully this will help keep my clothes a little cleaner. My final stop was the bank for some US cash. 

I had a good visit with my son and his roommate B in the evening. We ordered in pizza for dinner; a pepperoni pizza with red onion and charred corn. If you've never tried corn on a pizza do try it, it was so good as the sweetness of the corn offset the spicy pepperoni.

I slept in on Wednesday  until 7 a.m. It felt wonderful.  That morning I met with my friends, K and J to go over my potential driving route. They've made the drive south a number of times and were able to give me some pointers.

After lunch I went to Stitch and Chat. It was nice to see a few regulars as well as three or four new(er) attendees.  The latter thought I was new to the group...no, just rarely there. While we had a break due to the pandemic, I started attending the group six years ago.

I went out to get a few groceries on Thursday; some items i prefer including whole wheat bread, bananas, and old cheddar cheese. I also picked up a few items they were low on. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, working on Ancestry, and hanging out with  Kota, the cat. He looks a bit like my Saku but is quite a bit rounder.

I mistakenly made a trip to Costco on Friday morning.  Dumb idea...the lineup to the cashiers extended through the store. I took my time and found a relatively short line on my way out. While standing there a clerk asked if I would like to pre-checkout. Sure, as all I had to do at the till was show my membership card and make the payment.  

This week I've been watching the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners in the MLB playoffs. If you had asked me on Tuesday how the Jays would fare I wouldn't have had high hopes but watching the team rally and win both games in Seattle had me much more hopeful. Tonight they lost in the 8th inning when a relief pitcher gave up a grand slam. Game over! They will be back in Toronto on Sunday in a must win game.

Our Saskatchewan Roughriders played Friday night as well. Since they've clinched a playoff berth they weren't playing several of their starters. The game was a close one which they lost by a single point. Penalties likely cost them the gane as there would have been enough time left on the clock to make a play for the win. 

Today we are off to an appliance outlet to pick out a new refrigerator.  When we moved into the house in November 2023 I had called in a repairman as the freezer fan was making a loud noise. He checked it for a blockage and said it was failing. Parts were impossible to get and he said it could last for awhile. This week it started intermittingly making a very loud noise so it is time to get a new one.

I'll leave you with a photo of my son and his dog Sage. Miss Mooch is hoping there might be a crumb or two leftover.  (There wasn't).

Have a great week ahead everyone!