Update.

Much has happened in the last 2 weeks.

On Monday the 18^th Clyda had her left knee replaced. The surgeon also found that the Medial Collateral Ligament had been stretched at some point. He had to take 2 sutures in it and form some sort of a sheath around it. Also her knee cap was very worn. This complicated and lengthened the surgery.

However, she was released on Wednesday morning and has continued her recovery at home with the help of a Visiting Nurse Physical Therapist. She is up frequently and even takes walks down the street using her stroller of course. Progress is somewhat hampered by the very heavy knee brace she must wear to keep the knee stable until the ligament has a chance to heal.

Of course this means I am again the Chief Cook and Bottle washer as well as the Head Nurse. Actually things are progressing quit well. It's not as if we haven't been through this several times already.

Other than that, I have done very little around the house.

I have puttered around with my list of to-do's for the RV but it still has items to be attended to.

Clyda has an appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday so that may give us an indication of where things stand.

Update time.

Time for an update.

My 10 days at Rancheros Visitadores passed rather quickly. There were no significant problems and thanks to my co-workers who have both been there many years, we sailed through the encampment.

 

Our campsite.

 

Looking out the gate.

Looking up the road toward camp from the gate.

The first several days were very warm and nice but then the wind came up the last 4 days and we spent much of each day in heavy jackets. On Thursday night, the last night, it rained. This caused the road to become very slippery and big trailers full of horses couldn't climb the hills Friday morning to get out of camp. An alternate route was used but it too became impassable. By then the wind had dried the road somewhat so vehicles began leaving.

I didn't finish packing until almost noon which allowed my stuff to dry out. I finally left about 12:30 after closing the gates.

I drove to Pismo Beach and checked in at Pismo Beach Resort where Budd and Brenda had invited us to spend Mothers Day weekend again this year. Our neighbors Paul and Kathy arrived shortly also and Clyda had ridden up with them. Another couple we like, Joanne and Tony joined us later in the day.

The weather was sunny but the wind was cold so we spent much time between the RV's talking and playing games. We all took turns preparing and sharing meals and at night we played games in the club house. It was a great 5 days.

On Wednesday we drove to Lompoc and camped at the Elks Club while we visited our friends Larri and John. They live next to the parking lot so it is very convenient to stay there.

On Thursday morning we drove home and only unloaded a few things from the truck as it had started to rain and I also had a Company picnic to go to.

We managed to get the picnic in between rain showers. Lots of old fellow workers to chat with and lots missing who have passed on. The crew that put man on the moon is rapidly disappearing.

Today I unloaded more of the RV and put things away for another year.

Getting ready for the annual Ranchero Visitadores ride.

The yard is looking much better after lots of weed pulling, pruning, and general cleanup.

My large to-do list for the RV is also looking better. All of the major items have been taken care of but that still leaves 15 items or half of the list remaining to be done. These remaining items will need to wait until I am done with Rancheros which starts on Tuesday for me. After all, I will have all summer to work on them while Clyda rehabs from her knee replacement in May.

The biggest item on the RV was getting the peeling wax on the front and back caps removed. This is just elbow grease and time. All of it from the top of a ladder. I then waited for a cloudy day to put the new wax on.

The peeling is caused by the suns ultraviolet rays and could be taken care of by a cover. I can't use a real RV cover as it is too heavy for me to haul up the rear ladder. I may try something else as a cover.

Tomorrow morning I will go over the mountain and mow all the grass in the area we park our RV's and which will be our home for 10 days. I do this because of the “fox tails” which get into everything if they aren't mowed. I also remove all the “cow pies” or at least as much as I can remove from the cattle who for some reason like to spend lots of time right where we need to park our RV's. I guess they like the large oak trees in the area for the shade.

On Tuesday afternoon I will drive over the hill and start setting up the camp. There are a few days of not much activity before everyone arrives and we are then going full tilt for a week.

I took a few photos of some flowers Clyda had as a bouquet on the kitchen island.

 

 

 

Spending time on my knees.

Hard to believe we have been home for two weeks already.

The most pressing thing was getting our yard back in shape. Even with the small amount of rain here in the last 3 months the weeds were tall and thick in the garden. I have spent part of every day on my knees pulling weeds. I have filled nine or ten trash cans with them.

I finished the farthest back part of the yard today so now just need to spot check a few places more where some weeds are hiding. I had mowed the garden when we first got home but that has left stumps from the largest weeds. I need to keep an eye on those and hope they don't grow again. I also had a gopher.

 

 We did have about four tenths of an inch of rain the other day but it didn't help much. We need lots more. With the drought we are on water rationing. Of course, with us gone we had very little usage for 3 months. However, now, that will go up as I needed to water all the trees. I fertilized all of them, soaked them, and added mulch out to the drip lines to help hold the moisture in. I do not intend to lose any of my fruit trees.

I also worked on the sprinklers in the flower beds and the lawn. It is the usual job that needs to be done every spring. I know some of them need to be replaced as they are old.

I also started on my to-do list for the RV. It is a full page long, 30 items to be done.

I removed two of the window cranks the other day, both need to be replaced. I found replacements on-line and have them on order. They should be here in a few days.

Whenever we drive in the rain we get a wet carpet about where the wheels are located.

Today I added a wide rubber stripe under the large slideout. I removed some vinyl trim and then unscrewed the metal strip under it. I slid the new rubber under the metal strip and then replaced all the screws. The worst part of the job was working under the slideout in a very awkward position. By taking a break now and then to let my muscles relax I got it done. Hopefully this should solve the problem but we won't know until we drive in the rain again.

Rubber stip ready to be installed.

Strip installed behind the white trim.

I need to get some of these things done before the 28^th which is the day I report for duty at Rancheros. This will be my 18^th year gate guarding for them.

We are Home.

Thursday was a kick-back day in Bouse.

We were waiting for Budd and Brenda to stop on their way from Mesa to Needles to drop off some rubber strip for me. I want to use it to try and stop water from getting on our carpet while driving in the rain.

We did meet them later and exchanged goods.

Karen made home made noodles and chicken for lunch. Scrumptious!

On Friday morning we left Bouse and headed for Boron, our destination for the day. By the time we got to Boron the temperature had risen to around 90 degrees so putting the AC on made it comfortable in the RV.

This morning we left Boron and headed for home arriving here about 12:45 PM.

The trip totaled 65 days from the time we left Quartzsite on Jan 23 until today, March 28^th. I left home on the 4^th of January so my trip lasted 84 days.

During that time, the truck traveled 7, 171 miles. I have yet to figure how many miles for the trailer (which will be less as the truck was driven without the trailer attached) or MPG, etc. That will come as I have time. I have taxes to prepare for next week.

What a great trip! It is what Clyda and I had planned to do so many times in the last 5 years but just couldn't put it all together because of one thing or another.

We also want to thank our friends Budd and Brenda for making this trip with us. For all the driving when we stopped, for Brenda's trip planning, and for all the places we might not have visited on our own.

Most of all, we thank them for being our friends.

Wildflowers.

Today we went in search of wildflowers.

We arrived outside Bouse, AZ at Bill and Karen’s compound yesterday afternoon. I managed to get the rig parked without running over anything in the yard.

We talked about the year we drove to Alamo Lake to see the wildflowers so it was suggested we do that again.

Bill knocked on the door this morning and said “pack up, we are going to breakfast on our way to Alamo Lake.”

We stopped at a cafe outside of Salome for breakfast and then drove to Alamo Lake. The lake is down but people are catching fish. We drove through the campground and then to Wayside, another camping area. No wildflowers. At least none like we saw in this area last time.

Alamo Lake in the background.

Bill decided to take the back road toward Wickenburg which is a “Primitive” road. It had been recently graded so it was in good shape. After several miles we saw wildflowers and Occitillo in bloom. Here are some photos.

 

 Occitillo in bloom.

 Poppies.

Beavertail cactus.

 

We reached the blacktop and drove to Congress, AZ before driving back home.

Casa Grande, AZ

We arrived in Casa Grande on Friday early afternoon and parked at the Elks Club. We have been here many times before but they raised the price to $10 per night from $5. Still no water and no electricity however. We are “Boon-docking” but will make do unless the temp gets too high. Has been in the low 80's so far.

We are visiting Clyda's cousin Rod and wife Claralynn. Also had breakfast today with our friend George who we last saw in Port Townsend, WA last summer. Good visit with all.

Today Clyda and Claralynn visited a Greek Orthodox Monastery near Coolidge, AZ. For the visit they had to wear a long skirt, dark socks, closed toed shoes, a long sleeved blouse and a head scarf.

The monastery was started in 1995 by sending several monks from Greece to Casa Grande and having them start construction on the Main Church, living quarters for monks, a dining hall and guest facilities.

 

 

 

There are now 5 or 6 chapels as well as gardens, vineyards, courtyards, fountains, etc. Visitors are welcome to take a self guided tour.

It is quite an achievement in such a short time. About 40 monks now live here.