A Little Mix Up at Fort Huachuca, AZ

We had a short drive (less than 200 miles) yesterday from Casa Grande to Fort Huachuca (pronounced Wa-chu-ka) in southeastern Arizona.  It is an old (1877) Army post about 25 miles from Bisbee (mining boom town in the 1880s) and Tombstone (of OK Corral and Wyatt Earp fame).  It is a National Historic Site and Landmark.   It sits at the base of the Huachuca Mountains in Cochise County and overlooks a huge valley.  At an elevation of 5,000 ft. it has quite a view.   We heard about the campground from other RVers and it has a very high rating in the Military Campground Directory.  It is one of the better maintained military places we've stayed and has 50 sites.  We are supposed to be here for one week.

We pulled in mid afternoon yesterday to find that we had no reservations.  The woman who runs the campground (for the last 10 years) had forgotten to put our name in the schedule. She had been "out and about with nothing to write on" when I had called and then spaced the conversation.  "It's the first time anything like this has happened.  I feel so stupid."  The place is full.  Apparently it always is - all year. It's a very popular place. We ended up on a gravel patch at the end of a row but we do have electric and water.  We are facing the opposite direction of everyone else so we can reach the utilities and it has Roger all weirded out - he likes things lined up properly :-)   The plan as of yesterday is to move us to a real site (paved, picnic tables, sewer connection, etc.) tomorrow (Sunday). In the meantime, someone has pulled in this afternoon and parked in the site that we are supposed to get tomorrow.  It had been reserved for tonight and that's why we have to wait for it. These folks weren't the ones who reserved it, though, so this could get interesting when the ones that do show up.  We would like to stay and not get messed over on this reservation issue as there are things to see and do here and we really don't want to move on yet.  Watch this space to find out our fate!

As I said earlier, we gained a lot altitude yesterday and the temperatures definitely reflect it. (It's about the same altitude as home.) We are back to long pants, long sleeves, and sweatshirts.  It was in the mid 40s last night and won't make 70 today but the sun is shining.  Later this week we are supposed to get into the mid 70s, but who knows.  We brought the wind with us, unfortunately.  This afternoon TWC says it is blowing at 25mph but we could swear it is higher.  The gusts have got to be in the 50mph range.  The RV is shaking when the gusts hit broadside.  Not enough yet for dramamine, but it is a bit disconcerting.  Maggie's walks are short ones with her ears flapping in the breeze looking like Dumbo.  She hurries  and when she is finished with her business she heads home.  She doesn't like it either.  Hopefully it will ease up during the night and be tolerable tomorrow.  

Despite the reservation issues, we are pleased with the base.  It is historic and has some cool looking old buildings, a museum, and I noticed a little park area dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers. We want to go exploring later in the week.  Photos another day - I didn't want to get out in the wind today.  We expected a little dumpy army post out in the middle of nowhere (kind of like the Navy Base at El Centro). It is a pretty large post, well maintained and landscaped, and is the home of the 111th Army Military Intelligence Command.  (I know - oxymoron there).  The Army NCO school is also here, as well as some other commands that didn't sound quite so impressive so I don't remember the names. There is a large commissary and exchange as well as other facilities (chapel, bowling alley, etc.), for the troops including one of the largest day-care facilities I've seen. Overall it wouldn't be a bad place to be stationed.  There are several active duty folk here in the RV park - probably here for a school or short assignment.  

Nothing else really going on right now.  We stocked up on groceries again this afternoon.  That is the issue with a small fridge and pantry - we are always going to the grocery store! The weather is calling for hot soup for dinner so will be making my pesto/bean/potato soup.  It's pretty yummy!

Will let you know what happens to us tomorrow.

  

Yuma to Casa Grande

Today's road trip was an easy one - not too far, interstate all the way, no traffic issues, and no adventures!  Maggie did well today with only half of her anti anxiety pill.  

We saw lots of desert - the cholla and ocotillo cacti were in bloom, we started seeing saguaro cactus about half way here. That's the good part.  We also saw (and smelled) three major beef feed lots, ugh.  Once we started getting near Casa Grande we also saw some agricultural fields.  We climbed to about 2,000 feet at one point and as we were coming down into the valley here you could see the air - as in you couldn't see the mountains in the distance.  Not sure what the pollution was from but it was ugly.  

Our RV park is OK.  We are in a pull-thru site in the transient area and the sites are really close together but doable for one night.  There's a doggie park not far where Maggie can be off leash.  There is lots of traffic noise.  No grass - just gravel like all of Arizona RV parks.  But, for $25 a night, it is OK.  

We met up with our friends from Lake Tahoe and went out for dinner.  It was nice catching up as we haven't seen them since last October before they left for warmer climate.  We will see them again when we get back home.

On the road again tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Did I Mention That It Is Windy Here?

The wind is relentless and kept us awake last night. Both of us are running at half steam this morning. I had my headache yesterday. Roger's taking a turn today. Good thing we have nothing planned but last minute laundry.  Rog has to pack up the truck with the ladder and chairs but that's it. 

Even Maggie doesn't want to be outside. Rog had her at the dog park off leash and when she was finished she high-tailed it home leaving Roger in her dust. 

Gonna be a long day! 

We Are Ready to Continue Our Journey Eastward

The wind is back.  We are beginning to think that it is a pretty constant thing here.  It does me no good to dust - in half an hour there is a thin layer of dirt everywhere.  When you drive past the unplanted open fields you can see the dirt getting blown away. I’ll wait until we get to our next stop and hope it is better.  My allergies are acting up and I’m sure it is from all the stuff in the air.  I've had enough wind and dust these last two weeks to last me a very long time.

We planned on a nice lunch out today as tomorrow we will be busy with getting ready to leave chores.  We went back to that garden restaurant I mentioned in an earlier entry.  We got spiffed up and everything knowing we were going to a nice place.  We discovered, to our dismay, that if you didn’t have reservations you got to wait an hour before being seated.  So, disappointed, we went off in search of food.   We remembered seeing an Italian place in the downtown area so headed back there.  It turned out to be a very nice lunch - best pizza we’ve had since Steph’s homemade pizza!!  We ate outside (the wind was blocked by the building) and decided we were glad we didn’t get in the other place.  It turns out there was a farmer’s market/craft thing going on in that block so we people-watched while we ate and then checked it out ourselves afterward.  There were many more vendors than the one we tried out on Sunday - but no pie.  Picked up a few veggies and I bought myself a shirt that is handmade in Nepal (Rising International).  Bright, bold colors and pattern and not my usual style but, hey, one has to break out of one’s rut once in a while.  

Stopped at the Wal-Mart again for some fruit to carry us through till we get to Fort Huachuca (pronounced Wa-chu-ka)on Friday and a military commissary.  We brought our own bags, as we always do when grocery shopping, but the cashier got all frustrated and confused because she didn’t know where to put them.  She couldn’t figure out how to load them on her carousel so she tried putting them on the conveyor belt which really threw her into a tizzy - she was working backwards.  So, we had her put the stuff on the top of the carousel after she scanned it and we bagged it ourselves.  She said she always gets confused when people bring their own bags.  Very sad state of affairs.

Roger finished washing the RV after we got back as the dirty side was now in the shade. He drenched himself with the water blowback from the wind, but what a difference some soap and water and elbow grease makes!  It looks so nice and clean and shiny!  We rarely stay at a place he can do it as most RV parks (including Santee Lakes) have rules against it.  You can usually hire someone to come in and power wash it, but you can’t do it yourself.  Supposedly it’s to save water.  Can you spell “kickback?”  

We are fueled up, the outside of the RV is clean, and we are ready to move on.  Tomorrow I’ll do some laundry to use up the money on the card we had to use in the machines (no quarters here - a debit type card).  Most people buy the card for $3 and have it forever, but they did have loaners for $2 which we’ll get back.  We want to give it back with a zero balance.  

Wind, wind, go away until we get out of here.  Next stop is Casa Grande, AZ to visit with our Lake Tahoe friends.  We will pick up I-10 there and stay on it until we reach Pensacola.  Less than three weeks and we see our kids and kidlets again.  Can't wait! 

Signs, Gnomes, and Great Danes

We picked up our new sign yesterday.  Now we will be able to find our RV!!!!  Also, we will now fit in with the rest of the RV crowd!   These types of signs - usually in wood - are pretty prevalent in RV parks including on park models - names of the people with the pets' names added.  One park model across from us has a slightly different take on the usual sign. The writing on the dog house says "Hoover's House" and the dangling small sign lists his "people." It is quite clever.  Hoover is a black and white Great Dane that doesn't even phase Maggie when they meet at the park.  I couldn't get a picture of the two of them together - every time I tried Hoover lumbered away.  I will continue to try because it is a hoot to see the two of them together!

I've mentioned before that it is hard to take photos of RVs and park models and their landscaping without being caught.  Well, I got snagged today taking the following photo of the "Gnome Yard."  I was doing some fast talking about how I was taking photos of "interesting" landscaping ideas and how I was a gnome fan, etc. etc.  I was starting to trip over my tongue I was talking so fast.   I was told that everyone loves this yard - especially at Christmas because they dress up the gnomes like elves and "it is just so cute."  I wonder how they dress the flamingo and the owl?   

Yesterday was still very windy but we got out - picked up our sign, checked out the Marine base exchange, and went to a local farmer's market that was well advertised.   There were 4 stands;  one with local organic vegetables, one with vegetables but obviously not local produce, one that sold sandstone signs, and one that sold goat soap.  So much for the farmer's market. But....there was a small little pie shop in the area that had wonderful homemade pies!!!!

I have to admit that Roger's idea of getting our own hotspot was a good one.  It works better than the park WIFI!!!  Maybe I'll get to the park photo downloads tomorrow.  

After dinner last night I took Maggs to the park and got to talking with two women who are here for a couple of days.  One of them mentioned they had been in Tucson for a few months and her daughter, who was on boot camp leave for Christmas from the Army, was staying with them.  They had tried to stay in another park but the daughter was not allowed for the two weeks so they had to move to the one they ended up in.  I mentioned that "a hundred years ago when I was in the service I had a similar problem.  I had to get notarized permission from my parents to get married and I was 20."  The second woman asked what branch of service and the conversation continued with a very small world feel.  She was in the Navy at the same time as Roger and I, she was a photo mate and had gone to school in Pensacola, she was then stationed at the other big photo lab in the DC area, lived on the base where Roger's barracks was, and had married a photo mate (although her marriage "didn't work out.").  So we talked about the whole coincidence thing and started to walk out of the park with the dogs.  They were getting in their car - which had Nevada plates. I asked where they lived figuring like most of the Nevadans we meet they were from Las Vegas.  They live in Gardnerville (about 40 miles south of us).  It was all too surreal.  We ran into them again this afternoon and steered them towards staying at Santee Lakes as they were headed to San Diego from here and were going to go sto a KOA.  We plan on getting together with them once we have all returned home.  Small, small world.  

Roger washed the shaded half of the RV today while I did some housework inside.  Otherwise, a quiet day on the farm.  

We found these two characters at one end of the dog park:

Wind, wind, and even more wind!

We woke VERY early yesterday to the awnings flapping up and down. Rog secured them and then came back to bed.  It continued to blow all day and all night.  Today it's bad enough that Maggie doesn't even want to be outside.  The dust is blowing off the fields and it's just yucky out there. We are closed up with the A/C running. 

We had a nice salmon dinner at the golf club restaurant last night.  That was our excitement for yesterday.   We never left the park. Today we are going to venture out and see a matinee at the theater we saw downtown.  Although we are going to see the same film (Gravity)  I'm going to watch  George Clooney and Roger's going to watch a sci-fi movie!!

Hopefully the wind will die down and we can get out and about tomorrow. 

Grab your beverage of choice and have a seat. This is a long one.

Bear with us, here.  This is long and rambling and not necessarily in chronological order. I'm just jotting my thoughts as they occur.  I think I finally have a connection  this afternoon that I can use and I hope to upload some photos.  We've been taking them every day but have been unable to share.  We have still been having issues uploading photos so the long photo essay on the park is still on stand-by. Sorry. We do hope to get our act together soon.   

We are learning to speak Canadian, Eh!!  We have met more Canadians here - and in the stores - than we have US citizens.  They are here I’m sure, but don’t seem to be as outgoing and friendly as our northern visitors.  There’s a guy from Carson City three spaces down and we’ve seen license plates from northern climates, but mostly it’s the Canadians who will approach and say hello when we are walking or in the dog park or even in the Wal-Mart!  So, what is this an indication of?  We haven’t figured that part out yet. 

We had to go “make groceries” on Sunday.  Nearest place we found was about 9 miles away - a Super Wal-Mart.  Between here and there we drove through very poor neighborhoods once we got out of the farm land (about five miles) and into town.  Run down homes, dirt  yards, junk cars, etc.  Very depressing.  On this part of the Cocopah reservation there are no dwellings other than this RV park. The reservation has three distinct areas that are spread out over many miles.  There’s this place at the northwest part of Yuma and then there is the casino due south and the museum near there.  Not sure yet where the homes are if there are any. Nor are we sure if there is a nice part of Yuma.  We haven’t seen it yet if there is.  All we know is that this is not a place we would stay again unless it’s an over night on our way to Florida, let alone stay for the winter.  We've been here a week now and have a week to go.  We do have a couple of places we want to see before we leave as we probably won't ever be back! 

When we went out on Sunday we also tried to find a place for lunch before we went grocery shopping.  With our vegetarian and calorie restricted lifestyle that is not an easy task in any town, but here……  almost impossible.  (We know - it's self imposed but we do splurge once in a while on the calorie side! Honest!) We ended up at a Coco’s where we split a veggie burger and fries.  (I’m not sure I’m a fan of listing the calorie content on the menu as it takes the fun out of eating out when you see those huge numbers.” ) 

Monday we went looking for a place with WIFI so I could do a backup to my phone.  I keep getting the “you haven’t backed up your phone” nag.  Well, we found a Starbucks near the Wal-Mart and tried, but it was going to take way too long (12 hours!) to sit there so my phone is not backed up.   

I have decided that I would rather be at a place where there is no WIFI instead of a place that is supposed to have it but is intermittent and dial-up speed when it does connect.  That seems to be more frustrating to me than not having any. (Kinda like a maintenance diet - don’t tell me I can have only two cookies.  It’s either none or all, thank you.) Anyway, I digress. I get my shorts in a knot when I start out doing something on the computer or phone (like paying bills or doing my journal) and right in the middle the signal drops.  OK, enough whining.   

Last night (Wed) Roger finally convinced me to change our cell plan so we could enable our phones as hot spots.  I had to give up my unlimited data plan, but with any luck this will work for us when we can't get WIFI from the RV parks.  

Full

Earlier today I tried sitting at a table in the dog park near the WIFI antenna while Roger and Maggie played ball.  The park WIFI seems to be running fairly fast but it is mid day and probably there is no one else using it - or at least just a few people. 

We are now letting the Maggster off the leash at the dog park.  She is having such a good time playing with other dogs and chasing her ball.   Yesterday a big black boxer stole her ball and wouldn't give it back.  Her owner told me that I'd be lucky if I ever got it back because his dog wasn't going to give it up and he didn't even attempt to get it away from the dog. Maggs and I couldn't believe it.  We just stood there and stared them down but to no avail.  Finally a big chocolate lab came and stole the ball from the boxer and his owner retrieved it for me.  I wasn't about to go try and do it myself.  What a rude guy! Maggie has met and played with some big dogs here - something she wouldn't do before.  Maybe she is getting over her fear of big dogs.  

Monday she chased a bird named George around. He is the resident curlew and has a gimpy leg.  He would fly away when she got near and she would run like crazy after it.  She got quite a workout. The bird played with her for a long time before he took off for the golf course.  Maggie has not tried leaving and going home again when she is off leash.  She has, however, started deciding when it is time to go home from a walk or from the park.  She turns around toward the way we came, gets to the end of the leash, and then sits down and turns and looks at us.  “Ok, I’m done.  Let’s go home,” is the look we get.  

Rub a dub dub, a dog in a tub!

There is a “Pet Wash” with a big galvanized tub at waist height next to the shower building near the dog park.  It has warm water and a hand held shower head.  After three months of taking her naps in the Santee dirt under the RV Miss Maggie needed a bath desperately!  She did well once she got settled into the tub and didn’t try to climb out. We have a clean dog for a change!!!  Her hair is curlier, too.  She could use some anti-frizz dog hair product!!!  

Please brush my hair - it's sticking up all over!!

Yesterday we drove into Old Town Yuma.  Oh, my.  Again, how sad.  There were a couple art galleries, a pottery gallery, several antique stores, and a few bars and restaurants along with lots of empty store fronts.  We did discover, however, tucked back behind a store, a garden restaurant which was a bit more upscale and inviting  and was doing a good business for lunch.  We checked the menu and there are a couple of things we could eat so we are planning a nice lunch out there one day before we leave.  It was really a pleasant setting with outdoor seating.  

Today has been spent writing this journal entry, uploading photos, and messing about trying to figure out how to use the phones as WIFI hotspots!!  We think we are tech literate until we try to do something new.  That, and change, always gets us flummoxed!!  

Tomorrow our outing will be a trip to see the Territorial Prison made famous by the movies “3:10 to Yuma.”   

We have been thinking about a friend for Maggie to keep her company and finally settled on Barney!

Barney gets a kiss!

I want to play with Maggie's toys
but she's not good at sharing yet.