Trading in One Park for Another in a Different State

Friday morning, we didn’t rush, we only had a 4-hour drive today so had decided to do our showers and pack up in the morning. This was a mistake.  Mostly because the rain showers and thunderstorms overnight and in the morning meant Bill had to put the Weber Q, satellite dish and lawn chairs away in the rain. It doesn’t take long as a rule, but when you are getting soaking wet at the same time, it does slow you down.

I packed up and closed things inside the Suite and we had warm oatmeal for breakfast instead of bacon and eggs, our usual. That seemed to help take the chill off the damp morning. We pulled out of this beautiful park at 10:25 am and it was a cool 53F. 

Clemson checking out someone's face of stones

Great stone lined paths to follow

Park entrance

Because it is such a lovely park, we had driven around on Thursday and chose an area where we would like to stay another year. I’ve taken many pictures of our trek around; down to the marina and close enough to test the water temp at the lake. Not too bad!

Here are some of our pictures:

Driving into Truth or Consequences

Down by the lake

Overnight site - $10/night

Original sign into town

Beautiful variety of cacti

The drive to Huachuca City, AZ was another smooth one, the rain stopped almost immediately after leaving Elephant Butte, NM and even though there were dark clouds hovering over the mountains, they moved off to our north and back to where we came from. It looks like Albuquerque got dumped on again. We were driving into beautiful blue skies with white fluffy clouds highlighting the views.

Wind turbines against the mountains

My first tumbleweed! Yay!

                                                       

If you look closely, someone has named this
"Fraggle Rock" after the tv show

Desert winery, thirsty?

This type of cactus (?) is everywhere. This is one of the largest
and I can't imagine how long it has been growing. Eventually,
they get so top heavy that they topple over

We stopped at a rest area to stretch our legs while on I10 shortly before crossing the Continental Divide, 51 miles from Arizona. The rest areas are well kept and some are quite unique with their adobe shelters and this one was no different, with one exception. I decided to check out the hard-packed asphalt up close and personal while heading to the ladies’ room.

This is where Pat meets asphalt, lol, and the nice man
in the background walking the  area

My goodness did I go down. I’m not clumsy as a rule, at least not without being in a booze-induced state, but there was a slight rise in the pavement that was not visible to the mind’s eye and I found it. Sprawling in a very unlady-like fashion, I went down. Luckily, my hands came out to save my face and I landed on my left side. Bill heard me go down and came to my aid as did a nice fellow who was parked behind us. Boy did the palms of my hands sting for about 15 min. after! Yes, I know how to stop traffic, as a passerby stopped as well to see if I was alright. Yes, just a bruised pride. Bill informed me that this was the first and last ‘incident’ we were going to have all winter. I agreed!

WE DID IT!! We made it  to ARIZONA!!
After 3 plus years of talkiing about coming.

Rest area in Arizona, 19 miles from our destination

We arrived at our destination, Quail 

Ridge, Huachaca City, AZ  at 4:30 pm in beautiful sunshine and a warm 75F, got set up in a site not far from the entrance and across from the camp host, Leroy, who introduced himself to Bill, making us feel welcome. This is one of our AOR parks at $9/night plus hydro so we plan on using our solar panels as much as possible.

The park doesn’t seem to have much going on as far as amenities but we will settle in and enjoy the relaxing time here for two weeks. There are many things to see in this area and we are sure to take some of them in while we are here.

Morning reflections on the park and the view

A seasonal site with nice decor on their car shelter

Another cactus in some form of flower

Looking out to the entrance, we are up there in the middle.

Our Site #35 not far from the entrance/office/clubhouse

After dinner, leftover dressing and hamburger goulash, we cleaned up and just settled for the evening. I will get my morning fix of sun until noon hour and we will be shaded from the 80F temps in the afternoon. It is a nice spot. We didn’t get our satellite dish set up last night as it was very dark early so we popped in a Jag dvd and watched a few episodes. We love our dvd season collections.

Nice clubhouse kitchen

Sitting area and book library

By 10:30 we were all three in bed and I slept soundly until Bill got up with Clemson for his first deposit and then dropped off until 7:40! It was a great sleep. First, doing my usual morning stretches, I confirmed that other than a couple of tender areas on my elbow and left arm, thumb and left thigh, I suffered no major repercussions from yesterday’s ballet flop, I tiptoed out and got in a short walk around the park vicinity, oohing and aahing over the views from here. Gorgeous!

Morning sunrise

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the pictures.

A Sale and A Toss and A Donation

Well, it sure doesn't take much to get into the mode of selling and tossing. I don't have to tell you that this process is a fun one, well I guess we all have different opinions on that matter! We are enjoying it.

With full time rv'ing beginning and this gem of a hot spot waiting for us, it is exciting that our adventure is just around the corner,
down the street and over the bridge on April 15th.  Bill and I are like a couple of Whirling Dervishes or Tasmanian devils at the very least!

When I can go from 2 full closets of clothes, 2 dressers, 2 coat closets to what you see here in the picture,                                                                                                                                                    

       

 I deserve the "Good job, dear, I'm proud of you" that my soul mate bestowed upon me last weekend. 

I can look at a lovely dress from my wardrobe, try it on if there is doubt and honestly decide that it isn't necessary. I call that progress especially when just mere weeks ago I looked at that dress and thought "I can't part with that one, it looks so nice on me". 

                                             Progress.

I will be participating in another friend's Clothing Swap on Apr. 3. Kim is hosting this time and I only hope that she won't be overwhelmed when I bring in my 6? 7? garbage bags full of clothing/shoes/accessories.

At least when all is said and done on that Sunday, we know she will be donating the remaining articles to a worthwhile shelter or church. I can't believe that I can see empty hangers and empty space!

 The drop place in Bill's airplane room looked like this when we were readying the house for sale. 

In February everything we decided  that we were keeping went into that room.

 Last weekend, we decided it was time to re-weed and re-sort so together we did a quick inventory. Results below.

Except for the boat, destination Mobile Suite

Destination: Ridge cabins

Destination: The Ridge this weekend

 It doesn't take us long since we both have the same goal in mind.  Now we have 3 piles. One to go in the Mobile Suite, one to go up to The Ridge soon (our summer location) and one to go to The Ridge NOW (meaning this weekend). Now it isn't so overwhelming.



With just a month to go before having to make the final decision of keeps or no keeps, close the door on the house and drive away, I was able to attack my 2 jewellery drawers. I have costume jewellery only, the only expensive pieces of bling are on my finger and around my neck. This meant my decision was made easy, I wasn't throwing hard earned money away. The need little containers I found at Avon hold a lot of jewellery and will store easily in our walk-in closet in the Suite. Two full drawers down to one. Again I say Progress!

It was a tiresome job, but when I realized that I could still carry many special pieces in the rv without taking up too much space or adding weight, I chose more freely. 

Again, a lot of donations to my friends are inevitable.

                                                    Progress.
When I started seeing Bill go through his clothes and adding to the Goodwill pile, I was impressed with his ruthlessness too. 

Bill's closet thinning out

Clemson has allowed me to purge some of his 'stuff' too, how many balls does a wee dog need? If you closely at the picture to the right you'll see him hiding with his stuffed husky, Sergei, trying not to get shoved into a bag!
The bottom line is that our excitement for this new adventure has taken control and we are able to sell or toss accordingly.
                                 

Most of our furniture has sold and been picked up, our living room sofa bed

and 5 pc. bedroom suite is spoken for with a pick up on April 10.
We have 3 family heirlooms to be delivered to daughters in West Lorne and Tavistock and my sister, Wendy in Owen Sound is getting my brother's antique metal bed.

. 

The china dishes from this cabinet that have been passed down from generations will go to Krystal, a daughter in Milverton. 

The dollhouse I made from a kit will go to another daughter, Charlotte in London for her girls.

And my parent's beautiful library table that Bill refinished is going to my daughter, Bridgette.

        We hope to have one more garage sale like our fall one

but because it will be April 2, it will be an indoor sale in the hope that we can reap a few more dollars or at the very least give it to someone who wants it.  That makes it nice and easy for me, we can put all the remaining items in the dining room and entertain walk-ins. Maybe I'll bake cookies!

Thank you for joining us in this adventure. It is because a lot of you that we are taking these steps. A little bit of an idea is becoming a reality very quickly and we'll be into our 'new' digs on April 20th and couldn't be happier.