I had a restless night, and then my phone rang at 7 a.m. yesterday morning. That call took almost half an hour, and by then I was awake, so I got dressed and opened the window blinds to greet the morning. I know a lot of otherwise intelligent people who just love getting up early in the mornings, but I’ll never understand why. Mornings are way overrated!
What can you do that early in the morning, besides wrestle an early bird out of its worm? I’ll pass, if you don’t mind. I very much prefer Frosted Flakes, sometime after 10 a.m.
But since I was up, I answered a few e-mails, then checked the news to see who we’re at war with today, what new disease or natural disaster is going to end life as we know it, and what the conspiracy theory of the day was. There’s nothing like a little gloom and doom to set the mood for the day, right? 🙂
Eventually I had my bowl of Frosted Flakes, and Tony Tiger growled at me for shaking his box that early in the morning. Then I started getting things ready to hit the road. It was a very chilly morning, so I hustled and had us unhooked from utilities, our HWH leveling jacks pulled up, and our slide rooms retracted, in record time.
We pulled out of the Show Low Elks lodge campground and took State Route 77 north about 50 miles to Holbrook, with a long stop for road construction somewhere north of Snowflake. In Holbrook, we got onto Interstate 40 and drove east about 30 miles to Winslow, where we stopped at the Flying J for fuel and a little frustration.
Okay, a lot of frustration! The penny or two a gallon I save on diesel really isn’t worth the hassle, but I needed propane too. But, of course, first I had to wait behind as guy in a motorhome who had to take his very slow time getting out, trying to figure out how to activate the pump, then wait until he was finished pumping his fuel and putting the hose away before he decided to start washing his windshield. That chore done (slowly), then he had to walk back and inspect his toad, scratch whatever itched, and then he finally got in his rig, sat there for a while, and eventually pulled away, so I could get up to the pumps. Oh well, life on the road.
While I was filling our tank, Miss Terry was washing the windshield. (Note this ladies, you really can get out and help. A lot of women RVers we see don’t seem to be aware of that, for some reason.) The fellow beside us asked me how I trained Terry to do that (as his wife sat inside their pickup). I told him that it was really simple, all you have to do is break two or three expensive things early in your relationship, and wives start doing a lot of things to keep you out of trouble. He chuckled at that, and I told him “Hey, acting dumb isn’t all that bad! It saves me from a heck of a lot of work. Give it a try sometime. You’ve got the look, you can pull it off!” He did a double take on that one, but then he got a laugh out of it, and so did his wife.
With our fuel and propane tanks full, we decided it was time to fill our tummies, too. So we had lunch at the Denny’s restaurant at the Flying J, and then got back on the highway, headed west. A huge smoke cloud rose in the air as we neared Flagstaff, and roadside signs said there was a controlled burn going on. When we reached Flagstaff, the visibility was noticeably reduced. This picture Miss Terry took of country singer Kenny Chesney’s tour bus as it passed us will give you an idea of what I mean.
Fortunately, the smoke cleared just west of Flagstaff, and we had an easy run the rest of the way to Williams, where we stopped at Canyon Gateway RV Park, a Passport America affiliate where we stayed last year on a trip through the area. $19 a night got us a pull through full hookup RV site, with a great view.
Greg and Jan are right next to us, and on the other side of them, is a beautiful 2003 Winnebago Ultimate Advantage motorhome. The owner came out to say hello and ask us about our Ultimate Advantage, and Terry gave him a quick tour. Once I had our utilities hooked up, we went over to see their coach. Jerry and Glenda Shepherd (I hope I spelled their names right) are relatively new fulltimers and very nice folks, and it was fun to meet them.
A little after 5 p.m., we rode into town for dinner at the Pine Country Restaurant, and had huge slices of their delicious pies for dessert. I had the pecan, while Miss Terry opted for the double lemon pie. Wonderful!
I’m not sure what kind of pie Jan ordered, but doesn’t she look like as excited as a kid on Christmas morning?
We’ll be here for three days before we move on to our next stop. Today Greg and Jan are going to ride the Grand Canyon Railway to the Canyon, and Terry and I will drop off bundles of sample copies of the Gypsy Journal at the local RV parks. Friday we’re going to tour Bearizona, a drive-through wildlife park, and Saturday we’re headed to the Las Vegas Thousand Trails. That wasn’t in our original travel plans, I just suggested the idea Tuesday night, and everybody was quick to agree. That’s the great thing about being a fulltimer. We can make a quick decision, stir the Jello, and away we go!
It feels good to be back on the road!
Thought For The Day – There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and the people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So love the people who treat you right, and pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy.
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Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Nick
That wasn’t a Canadian in front of you taking his good owe time was it? Every time it happens to me it’s a Canadian snow bird. Apparently they seem to think the world will revolves around them. Now I don’t mean to dirt all Canadians just the thoughtless ones.
Love your thought for the day. There are always problems which people have. What I have discovered is most of them just want to complain and aren’t interested in you or your advice anyway. And heaven forbid if you get in the middle. Then it’s all your fault from both sides. With my family, I listen and then go on with my life. They are adults. They need to work out their own problems. Where I can, I help, but usually the best thing is for them to work on it and work it out.
And yes, go on with life and enjoy each day. Each of us has a limited supply of days. Love each day in your life. And enjoy your spouse and friends. Smile as much as possible. It sure beats gloom and doom. To both you and Terry, have a great day.
Smiles and hugs, Connie B.
Hey Nick, Have you heard the old sayin “Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse always gets the cheese”. Have a great Day.
Niles & Deb
Goodie, goodie….we will see you again. We are out at Boulder Beach on Lake Mead but come into TT to see Ron & Sharon Mead. We have been hitting the casino’s for the cheap meals, $4 movies and a friend gets us free tickets to shows.
Come up thru Laughlin to Vegas. [all new divided highway now to Searchlight] Unless you want to drive over the new Bridge, and then get into a big traffic jam just outside Boulder City. It will be years before Harry Reid gets the Boulder City Bypass built…. Welcome Back to Sin city.
Quote: “While I was filling our tank, Miss Terry was washing the windshield. (Note this ladies, you really can get out and help. A lot of women RVers we see don’t seem to be aware of that, for some reason.) ”
You sure you weren’t dreaming when you wrote this? Hey, the last time I looked the windshield washing takes place outside of the rig! That, dear Nick, is BLUE work. Everything inside is PINK work and hubby doesn’t lift a finger there. Oh yes, he says he knows how, but he just knows he wouldn’t do it right. 🙂 (Likewise, I know how to clean a windshield, but am positive I wouldn’t do it right)So… feel very fortunate you have a Miss Terry… you could have ended up with a Caroline! Safe travels.
Trust me, Caroline, there is not one moment that I don’t feel fortunate to have Miss Terry.
We took the Grand Canyon Railroad a few years back and loved it. That’s a great area of the Southwest. I’ll have to admit that there aren’t many areas in the Southwest US that actually attract me, other than in a “that’s not right” kind of way. But, the Grand Canyon Railroad was one of those things and area that I’ll agree is a great location and peaceful place to hang around. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Sorry….you kinda hit a nerve with me over that “women can get out and help” comment. This woman (me) does the driving, the diesel pumping, the windshield washing, AND the cooking. Not every RV driver is a man. You know that…right? I DO read your blog every day, but I’m not the only woman RV’er who thinks you sometimes show a little male chauvinism. And it’s not an age thing…I just may be older than you. 🙂 Your words have impact. There are many of us who would enjoy your blog even more if we didn’t feel slighted some of the time. I’m just saying….:))
Kenny’s bus passed us just east of Holbrook. We waved at you as we passed through Williams on our way to Lake Havasu for a couple of days. Saw your rig in the RV park from I-40. Have a safe one.
Barry & Joyce Crocker
Deanna,
I applaud women like yourself and my wife, who are not afraid to get out and do something. I wish every RVing woman would take a lesson from women like you. I am amazed at the number of women who have never driven their RV, and swear they never will.
My comments were not directed at you, but rather at the RVing women we have seen (and I am sure you have too) that play the helpless damsel who cannot lift a finger for fear of breaking a nail or getting their hands dirty. At one of my seminars, I had a woman tell me it wasn’t “ladylike” for women to help with anything outside of the RV, including even opening the awnings. I asked her what would happen if her husband became ill and she HAD to do something. Her comment was that she’d sit right there until he got better!
Nick
We own a Class B Roadtrek. “I” doing the driving, the dumping,etc. It was orginally purchased for me to do craft shows. I could carry my supplies and stay in it when unloaded. Therefore, I learned a lot more about it than my husband.
I no longer do shows, but when we go camping (frequently), I do the driving and most of the setting up. He doesn’t have a clue where to begin on leveling, setting on the frig, etc. He doesn’t even remember from time to time where I have most things stored! He does ususally plug in the electric for me :D.