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Hi ~ wow, can't believe it's a month since we left home (Agassiz, that is ). We drove 4 days in good weather, only a little rain and were just tootling along when -bang!! One of the tires on the trailer had blown out! It took the trailer skirting above it too. Luckily Malcolm stopped immediately so there was no damage to the wheel-well. We had had all the tires checked before we left home too! Anyway, we are fine , bought 4 new tires (upgrades from the ones we had) and getting a quote to get the trailer repaired (thank goodness for insurance as it will be about $2500!!).
Once we hit California and warmer weather we stopped to relax a bit. Drove up onto the high Mojave desert ~up,up,up out of the green countryside , past hundreds of wind-turbine farms and into cacti and Joshua trees and some very poor little towns. But also wealth ~ we had a few days in Desert Hot Springs , next to Palm Springs and Palm Desert, where millionaires and movie stars have homes. We went for a nice walk in a park which actually has a running creek and where they have made some ponds- hoped to see birds but not many around. We ended up on the Pacific Crest Trail, recently famous in the movie "Into the Wild" based on the book by Cheryl Strayed. We have been to this area before, one reason for going back is that there is one street lined with citrus trees and you can just help yourself so we now drink fresh squeezed grapefruit every morning.
From there we headed south through date-growing country where Elinor had to have her date shake (yummy!!) and we bought some absolutely delicious Medjool dates. We spent a few days at the Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort to visit with some friends from home then went a few hours south to Yuma. The farmland here is all irrigated (California's long drought is having devastating effects on the farmers) and we saw lots of lettuce and other crops being harvested. We stayed there only long enough to walk across the border into Mexico for Elinor to have some glasses made (and shucks, had to have a margarita while we waited ).The other attraction of Yuma is a huge "swap meet" where you can get anything RV-related so we picked up a few odds and ends. Yuma seems to be constantly windy and dusty so we were glad to leave.
We got a really nice welcome when we arrived here at Far Horizons ~ lots of people whom we met last year came by as we were setting up and said they were glad to see us (imagine that ) and we are enjoying getting back into activities we did last year. The glass fusion studio was open the day after we got here so off I (Elinor) went :) Have played Pickleball, been to exercise class and done one hike so far and the muscles are feeling it!! The hike was up into the local mountains and it was interesting to see how much grass there was ~ much more than in the past, due to the amount of rain they had this summer. Apparently Tucson is officially no longer in a drought.
One annoying thing is the number of people who say "oh Hi Tess" and we have no idea who they are!
Last week there was a "welcome back" party (no, not just for us ) ~ buffet lunch by the pool with a steel drum band, margaritas and pina coladas - tough life ! The park is quite full now but also quite a few people go home for Christmas so it will be early Jan before everyone is here.
The resort has a little bus that they supply to take us places (the little old folk going on an outing ) ~ anyway we went to a gallery which was built by an artist named named Degrazia who did a painting which is used as UNICEFs logo.The gallery is large and had some wondeful paintings and sculptures. It was the festival of Our Lady of Guadaloupe so there several Mexican handicraft booths.a group playing Spanish music and a group of Yaqui indians who did a "deer dance" where a guy wears a tall mask/headpiece with large antlers and the dance symbolises the deer moving through the forest, encountering coyotes - a struggle between good and evil. No photographs were allowed. At the end a group of schoolchildren carrying a replica of the Lady of Guadaloupe and singing. Fun afternoon.
Last Friday the bus took us out again ~ this time to the 4th Ave Fair! Malcolm didn't come so I spent a fun few hours with some friends checking out all the stalls - lots of handicrafts and food. I bought a little dress and had a great Mexican lunch
The weather changed suddenly from hot, pool time to pouring rain and cold enough for jeans and fleece :( Today is sunny but still not hot and it looks like that's what we'll have for the next few days. I know, not expecting a tiny bit of sympathy :)
There are lots of Christmas decorations here (including a few of ours) and we are going to a Christmas dinner here so starting to feel Christmassy.
Wishing you a wonderful time with family and friends and a happy, healthy 2016!!
with love,
Malcolm and Elinor
(and Tess, of course !)
- comments
Irene Hey Elinor! Lovely to hear of your travels. I will be sitting in for you at the hiking group dinner at Françoise's on Wednesday. It will be nice to see Karen again after all these years. Trust you and Malcom will have a great Christmas celebration in Tucson. Wishing you both the very best and many happy trails in 2016!
Liz Bell Sorry to hear of the tyre problem - expensive but at least you two are ok. Dave says he still doesn't know what pickleball is and neither do I!! We are busy planning what to eat and where to put people when they come for Christmas, Tory and family and Jamie and family are coming for a week. Bought a Christmas tree on Sunday and now need to get round to bringing it into the house and decorating it. At the moment the house is full of wrapped and unwrapped presents which must be transferred to Santa before Sunday when the Fordhams arrive! I've even had Dave wrapping presents, which is unheard of. Sounds like you are settling in for a good Christmas yourselves. Will be thinking of you, may even drink a toast to you on Christmas morning! Sending you both love and best wishes for a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Clint & Maria Hi, glad you didn't loose control when that tire blew, we had someone in front of on Hwy 99 coming out of Hope the windy part almost to Chilliwack and they blew the tire, wheel cover and part of the siding. They were a bit smaller than you, they really swerved, but they managed to pull over. It made a huge bang for us behind them, maybe it startled them. It is not fun breaking down for whatever reason. Except for the cost, we were really lucky when we blew the wheel bearing on the trailer when were just an hour away from my Sister's house and she took us and the cats in for the 3 days it took to get it fixed. Also very expensive but no insurance coverage. Although ICBC did cover the awning that broke in a huge hail storm in Drumheller at the beginning of the trip. Sounds like you have had a lovely trip down and your site looks nice. Nice to be welcomed back. I too remember a lot of the dogs names in our neighbour hood, but I am ashamed to say no the parents. Its just something about those canines, well most of them. And Tess is pretty special. We head down to Yuma on Thursday (weather permitting). We will email if we come near you in our travels. Enjoy the holidays and your winter in the sun. Maria & Clint
Brenda Cofield Hi Elinor, I will miss seeing you at the hiking dinner tonight! Irene is going to join us in your place. I hope you and Malcolm have a wonderful, safe time on your trip. It sounds like you are really enjoying yourselves! Merry Christmas!
annie & Jay Scholton Good to hear from you both.Sounds like you have settled into a lifestyle down there, great birding! We are off to Vietnam and Cambodia for 2 months.We are teaching in a university for a month then travelling.Will be an adventure! Have a lovely Christmas Annie & Jay
Big Bro (as the colonials say) When did you stop spelling "tyres" properly??? Have a great Christmas but PLEASE don't call it "the hilidays"> All the best to brothers and issis
Dave Should have been Brother and Missis - Oops!
Christine Have a great Christmas and a happy New Year from us kiwis in Wellington! Sounds like you are having a fabulous time as usual. All the best