Merry Christmas....from Arizona

Season Greetings, Dear Family & Friends,
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Although we miss you all, we are enjoying the Arizona temps (although, they will be dropping into the upper 50's this coming week!!) and have been busy with gold metal detecting and touring the desert that surrounds North Ranch.

Mickey and Brad came to visit and show us the places to metal detect (hopefully for gold) and Darrel was so lucky to have found a 1998 nickel (5 cents) and a couple dozen gun shells.  Of course, Mickey found some small pieces of gold as we dug and dry washed in her little banjo gold pan in one of the washes she selected!  Brad had about the same luck as Darrel but no nickel!

On Friday and Saturday, Bob and his dog, Ruger, took us to see the Indian Rock and explore the "Spanish Mines" northwest from the town of Congress.  The trails are endless and Bob & Ruger are great guides.  Indian rock (Mother rock) has some hieroglyphics you can still see if you are looking carefully.

The guy on the right is Darrel, he is about 6 foot so you can see the size of Mother Rock!

Here's Ruger!

There terrain is very different that what we see behind North Ranch

Susan, Bob and Ruger, looking for a well.

You can find flowers in the desert if you look for them!

On Saturday, we headed out the back gate (without Ruger) with Bob as our guide.  We headed toward Stanton, AZ, a mining town and around the Weaver Mountains.

There are lots of "mines" dug out and you can see the tailing piles from the excavation.

Posted Mine claims show the active mines in the area!

Cactus, Cactus, everywhere you look!

Some with really unique growth patterns.

Darrel caught Susan below the trail waving hello!

Again, more flowers among the dried bushes.

Traveling in the "desert" in a 4 x 4 Ranger is really a bumpy ride.  You hang on as you are climbing up and down sheer rock and/or washed out paths.  It is really funny that Darrel has an aversion to amusement parks especially roller coasters, well, let me tell you, I've been on tamer roller coasters compared to a few of the trails -- one is called suicide hill --- yeah, much easier coming down than going up!!!

We come home, tired, dusty/dirty but just inspired by the landscape....it can change in a heartbeat and you see something completely different just around the bend!  There is so much more to see for another day!

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season and wish you all the best in 2019.

Stay Tuned to the Traveling Gypsies,

Love,

Susan & Darrel

Desert Sightseeing

Hello Readers,
We had an absolute beautiful weekend and was able to go with people from the park to visit some pretty cool sights.  We have learned that there is Arizona State Trust land -- you need an annual permit (which we purchased) to drive/hike/explore, etc.  There are usually signs posted but some of the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) laps over -- BLM land is free and usually has "dry" camping opportunities too.

The pictures below are from just NW of Congress on AZ State Trust land -- there is so much topography changes with outcrops of rocks and then typical "desert" looking land.

Darrel is picking is way up the rocks to Jim, who was in the traveling group.

Darrel always picks out the tiny rock (just in in the middle of pic) and says,

"what keeps it there from rolling down the cliff?"  I always reply, not today!

Pretty cool Indian rock where they lived

You can see the holes where they ground their grain.

On to BLM land which is located behind North Ranch out the back gate -- the travel is definitely by Side x Side, 4 wheelers and the gentleman one street over, Bob and his dog, Ruger, offered to take Darrel and me out to see the trails that go out further than we could probably hike!  

We were in search of the Crested Saguaro cactus and we saw so much more.

Deep ravine with Darrel (in coveralls) and Bob exploring the options.

It just kept going with lots of deep drop offs

You could slide a long way down, if you started down!

Beautiful scenery across the acquifur

Vulture Mine Peak in the center of the pic

Ah ha, the Crested Saguaro -- they have this "crown" the looks like a Fleur de Leis (sp)

Right next to it was the traditional Saguaro, framing the Weaver Mountains

Just amazing!

Closer up to the Crested top

Susan next to this tall giant -- puts the size into perspective!

So we had a really great couple of days seeing the sights in the desert, just around the corner. We just find more new things to see as people share their knowledge and willingness to share with us.

Until next time ---

Happy Travels,

Susan & Darrel

Where do the days go?

Hello Readers,
Well, I can tell you the days fly by and I am not really sure just what all we do!  The weather has been beautiful with plenty of sunshine and warm days --- the nights are cooling off to upper 40's maybe a couple of upper 30's on the way.  We seem to find plenty to do outside and enjoy our walks and bicycle rides (I love our garage sale bikes we picked up for little dollars).

The neighbor behind our lot is just settling into their lot from moving onto it this spring.  They are from Oregon and travel back for family and business.  Sandy and I manage to take a bicycle spin around the park a few times each week.

We washed the truck on Friday and I told Darrel, you now what this means "it will rain" since the truck is clean.  Little did I know that that meant within about 45 mins -- the skies just blackened over the mountains, the temps dropped and down came the rain for about an hour.  So the next morning we dried off the truck and it is still fairly clean!

And of course, I am still playing pickle ball through the week.  We did take a motorcycle ride on Sunday but traffic was busy and we didn't go out for too long.  It was nice to get them out and take a quick spin.

I haven't taken any new pictures lately but I have some "winter pics" my sister texted me of the campground where we stayed at Lake Perry when back in Topeka.  Yikes, I am so glad we aren't trying to stay there now!!  I remember the 100 degree temps the two weeks we were there so....

Aren't these awesome?  I really enjoyed seeing the icy sculptures from home.  I don't get to see snow in Arizona where we are (yet) but snow has fallen in Flagstaff, Payson, Show Low and down the mountain range. I am living the snow scene vicariously between family members in Kansas and Colorado!  Go family go!

Better close for now, finishing up dinner, dishes and putting on the comfy clothes to relax before bedtime. 

Sending love to all,
Susan & Darrel

Survival Tips for Illness in an RV

Yes, it has happened, and guess who?  It was SUSAN, not Darrel (well, we both had the stomach upset) but mine went much more haywire and lasted longer.  I guess it is true, Darrel has an ironclad stomach!

I remember asking a couple when we were staying at Left Tailrace in Chamberlain, SD, how you deal with being sick while full time RVing.  They had been full timing for 2 years and we had been full timing for 2 weeks, so seemed a good thing to ask??

They kindly told me that it was the same, you felt lousy, tossed your cookies (or the other end stuff) and then you felt better ..... all in different locations! 😃 Seems so simple, right?  Well, I would add a few things to that sage advice.

So I've developed some Survival tips (in case I might forget or you want to pass them on)

1. Stock a big bowl, or designate a trash can for the tossing of your cookies
2. Be thankful for the 2nd bathroom so we didn't have to share (or be ready to schedule bathroom use)
3. Add an electric throw (we find these are easier on space taking) to your linen cabinet -- this was very useful when needing the warming comfort to snuggle in
4. Pack a thermometer in your medicine cabinet -- a 100.9 temperature IS a temperature 😷
5. Keep Chicken Noodle soup and saltines stocked at all times.
6. Remember, this too will pass....and take care of each other!

So no pics of this experience as I really didn't want to share any of those moments.  We are both much better and just a little tired which I am sure will be gone by tomorrow.

I hope you are all well and taking care of yourselves.

Back on the healthy road,

Susan & Darrel

PS -- Just has to put a pic in --- the previous post had the drawer catches, well, Darrel added this hidey hole that we store our wrap supplies (saran, foil, wax, etc. and the occasional roll of paper towels).  He just finds all ways to add storage to our home!