RV Adventures

As I write this, we are sitting in line at a Speedco (think Jiffy Lube only for BIG trucks) just south of Indianapolis.  We’ll get our oil changed, get the RV washed at the Blue Beacon Truck Wash next door, and take the RV to storage in Ohio for winterizing.  We should be home in time for the weekend.

“Welcome to Speedco. Can we change your oil for you?”

We didn’t waste our last few weeks on the road.  After the excitement of the Balloon Fiesta, we headed to Rusty’s RV Ranch in Rodeo, New Mexico.  This was our third visit to Rusty’s and we knew just what to expect.  Nothing but peace and quiet!  The highlight of the week was getting up at 5:00 a.m. (we were used early hours after the Balloon Fiesta) to view the Orionid Meteor Shower from the hot tub.  The downpoint of the week was the gentleman in the RV next to us having a stroke.  He was airlifted out but didn’t survive.  It is a reminder to do things while you can…you never know what tomorrow brings.

Rusty’s RV Ranch. It quiet, has a view, was full of astronomers and their telescopes, and never gets old to us.

Next it was off to Green Valley, Arizona for a week with my Dad. It was a busy week, taking care of administrative odds and ends.  Honestly, the only pictures of Green Valley that I have involve food!  I think we were busy!

When in Green Valley / Tucson, we ALWAYS find a reason to visit In-N-Out Burger.

Next we were off to Phoenix.  We had been given a gift certificate at the Spring FMCA Rally to spend 3 free nights at a Cal-Am RV Resort.  We chose the resort in Gold Canyon, east of Phoenix.  Again, it was quiet time after a week of hustle and bustle at my Dad’s.  The resort has a wonderful sewing room there, so I made some new friends, got the scoop on some quilt shops, and finished up two quilt tops!

This quilt was bought as a kit in Kerr, Texas last spring. I got a lot of work done on it in Taylor, Texas, some in my sewing room at home this past summer, and I finished it up in Gold Canyon, Arizona this fall.  Alas, I haven’t found a couple of tall bodies to hold it up for me yet so I can get a full picture of it.

This wall hanging was a Jinny Beyer mystery quilt. It was started last spring and finished up just this month. It was my first time doing hand applique and working with border prints. Is it perfect? No. But I’m happy with it!

Finally, it was off the Yuma, Arizona for two quick nights.  We needed a solar panel looked at, warranty work done on our awning, and again, we had a favorite place to stay, The Palms RV Resort.

Poolside and sunset at The Palms in Yuma.

Getting our solar panels checked out by the place that installed them. If you need solar panels, Starlight Solar is the place to go.

Last but not least, getting the arms on our 6 month old awing replaced. It’s nice to have those squeaks gone!  I get the impression our service guy does a lot of work in the Walmart parking lot!

After the final bit of warranty work, we finally started heading east five days ago.  We have had four long days of driving with one day off to spend at our favorite RV park on the Mississippi River. 

All in all, It’s been another great trip.  Let’s total up the numbers:

Number of states: 16 (plus 2 more when I visited Callie in Oregon)
Number of miles on the RV – 6833 (2250 of those just since we left Yuma 6 days ago
Number of miles on the Jeep – 3330
Number of days gone:  101
Number of days dry camping (some free, some not): 32 – Getting good at this!
Number of days free camping (most in Wisconsin): 30
High Points:  It’s a tie – the Solar Eclipse and the Balloon Fiesta

Fall 2017… where we wandered. We did a lot of long driving days in the beginning and at the end. But in the middle, there was lots of meandering!

And that’s a wrap.  The Blue Flame is going into storage and we are heading home.  And as I predicted, it’s is going to snow the day we get home.  Grrrr.

What a way to be welcomed home…with snow!