We are still around!

We spent Friday night at the Econolodge in Tucumcari. The window had blown into the room when we first opened the door! The owner got it fixed, then had to come back and fiddle with the TV till it worked. I had a hard time with the internet access, but it finally cooperated too. It was a place to stay and the bed was comfy.

Last night (Monday) we spent here at the Clarion in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Very luxurious, just $5 more than the motel in Tucumcari--we had a coupon from one of the little booklets you can pick up at rest stops or the welcome center. Free hot breakfast, internet worked, TV worked well (although I didn't care), comfortable bed, cookies in the lobby...very nice.

Between Friday and Monday, we went to Wichita to see our friend Pam. Sunday morning we attempted to see the Garden of Eden in a town about two hours away. Near Newton the tire on her car separated. Ugh.

 She called for a tow truck...

and because it was Sunday, service departments weren't open ! The driver took all of us (I saw on Cary's lap) to the Walmart because they do sell tires.

However, a second tow truck was called because Walmart does not sell the tires her hybrid requires! She discovered the sales department at the Ford dealer was open, so that driver hauled us over there where Pam got out and did the required paperwork, left her car and we all got a ride to her house. Exciting day. I have ridden in more tow trucks than I want to, but the day was saved.

We had cheese, crackers, grapes and wine at her house, then tried out a new pizza place in town for supper. Great way to end the day, regardless of the setback.

I think we are now up to date...no, wait, here is a picture of Scout, her wonderful cat.

The first thing he did was jump into Cary's lap. Very friendly, had been her bookstore cat back in Peabody.

On the Road Again! Edited with some more captions

      Our trip this year will be very different. Instead of taking the trailer, we are packing the Subaru and heading to Wisconsin by way of Winslow, Tucumcari and Wichita. A friend at the gym reminded me that each of those cities are mentioned in songs! Even Sheboygan has a song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyw0UC17QNg and I just discovered the Manhattan Transfer singing The Duke of Dubuque, another town we plan to see!


Two days into the trip before I could get online!

 Loading the car was just a little easier than getting everything into the trailer. As a side note, I wish I had packed a coat!

We had a 20-minute wait for a pilot car just south of Winkleman. Most of the saguaros for a good stretch of highway were straight. Even the arms stood up straight. This guy was an oddball.

Smoke from a fire near Globe

Rest at the Salt River Canyon. A whole lot easier than in the days my folks would take us to Hawley Lake, often waiting an hour or more for access to the road. Dirt, I think, but I could be wrong.

Outside La Posada in Winslow. What a beautiful place.

I have more pictures to add, will explain later. I am bent over my laptop so that I can reach the only available outlet and my back is sore. Great trip so far.

Our room

The shower curtain was so luxurious! (I don't get out much, I guess.)

Lots of creativity in the construction, furnishings, etc.

Lots of books around the hotel, loved having our own library in the room!

Ventilation achieved by opening the doors here.

Each room was named after a personality who stayed at the motel: presidents, movie stars and other prominent personalities.

At the top of the stairs was this hand painted desk. One of many throughout.

We went out to watch the trains behind the resort.

In Winslow, here is the famous flat-bed Ford from the song...

And Cary is takin' it easy!

My turn for a photo

I have now updated the first leg of our journey.

Back in Tucson

It was a long drive, but uneventful. Great to be home. 

Laundry. 
Discovering things I bought way back in late June or early July and being pleasantly surprised! 
More to do. Getting ready for bed now!

taken at the Twentynine Palms RV Resort early a.m.

We were surprised by the number of hills in town!

Yesterday's picture of the thrift store 

Twentynine Palms

I probably took a few pictures, but my camera is in the trailer and I am in the RV Park office--no wifi on the individual sites--and this is billed as a resort!

We got here in time for lunch, only one mix up on where we were supposed to go. Blame the driver! Ate lunch, then checked the town for possible restaurants, even visited a thrift store. Speaking of which, there was an acre long yard sale in Apple Valley--Roy Rogers Country (missed taking the pic of Happy Trails Highway)--but we couldn't stop!

We ate supper at Denny's, didn't want to risk eating Mexican or Chinese and possibly having gastric repercussions! It is hot here, but we are not surprised. Thank goodness for AC.

This town is home to a Marine Corps Air Combat Center. Lots of Marine Haircut barbershops!

Our second night on the hide-a-bed was as restful as the first.
It is about seven hours from our front door...eager to get there.

Most people would not even think about sharing this picture. It is in front of one of the barber shops advertising Marine haircuts This was the last picture I was able to take before the batteries completely conked out. I took it Sunday on our way home.å

Catching up! too much to tell now, but sharing pictures!

We have had quite the adventures since I last wrote. I may never fill in all the details, but wanted to share the pictures of our journey from Eureka to Ukiah to Dunnigan to Lodi to where we are tonight--Bakersfield!

 I have seen two of these cute rentals during our trip.

 We got a very early jump on the day, so I made pictures of the changes in scenery we saw before going to bed Thursday night.

Murals are big here and in Crescent City.

And--surprise--more fog!

Reminds me something that could be in a Stephen King novel--or an episode of Twilight Zone--so eerie!

Quite the change! Now we are seeing rolling hills and very different vegetation.

Blue sky, my favorite!

When we stopped on the highway to use the bathroom in the trailer, I took these pictures. Then Cary noticed the water puddle under the truck!

The next decent sized town was Ukiah. They have had a Dodge dealer only since December! They had time to diagnose the problem, send for a water pump, and do the work. Four or five hours and nearly $900, we were on our way. I had already imagined sleeping in the parking lot!

Pretty hillsides

The drive around these lakes (Clear Lake, Blue Lake...) is not that much fun ever. With the holiday traffic starting early, it was less so!

This is the first sunset we have seen in two months!

Our plan was to stay in Dunnigan, but there was no room. I called Lodi ad they had spots open. We got there about 8:30--the place is not clearly marked (the sites) so we drove around and around, stopping every so often to get out with a flashlight to see what was what. Then to top it all off, the bedroom slideout would not come out all the way....a problem we thought was fixed last spring! We spent several minutes getting it to go out 3 or 4 inches, back in, out, in...ugh. We slept on the hideabed. I was able to slip through the narrow opening to get out some bedding, changes of clothes, and Cary's battery charger for his implant device. We slept very well!

The next morning we walked down to the RV repair place, but they had no time till next week. Called a mobile RV repair person who came out and he and Cary were able to get it pushed in all the way so we could travel. This was after two calls to the manufacturer were unproductive.

It was another long drive to Bakersfield, but I knew we had a spot saved.

Lunch at a rest stop.

We are taking no chances with the slideout, will spend the next two nights on the hideabed.