Saturday, March 13, 2010

Countdown Begins

Jim 006 I’ll get to that shortly.  But I’ve received some questions from readers recently and will try to answer those first.  Fred wanted to know about the noise.  In my last blog I mentioned Janna and Mike moved a little to see if they could avoid hearing the noise at night.  Yes, we are close enough to a train track and highway to hear the noise at night. I think we’re about a mile away. With our windows closed, we really don’t hear much. However, I have been awakened by the train a few times.  Depends on which way the wind is blowing as to how well we hear it.

Cindy asked about “critters” like snakes and scorpions.  Yes, indeed, we watch out for them!  During the coldest part of the year, those creatures are not very active and aren’t seen so often.  But as the weather warms, we can expect more chances of encounters.  When I’m out walking, I keep the dogs on leashes and try to keep them from sticking their little noses into the many critter holes around.  I wear long pants and hiking shoes.  I make noise and watch where I’m walking.

And Penny asked if we ever thought we’d be boondocking for more than just a few days.  No, we really didn’t think we’d be here this long.   We’ve learned a lot – about boondocking and about ourselves since we’ve been out here.  We know that we will be incorporating this form of “camping” into our lifestyle from now on.  But, we will also still want to be in those full-hookup places too.  We’re not cut out to be without the everyday convenience of running water, sewer and electric all the time.  I have a new respect for conserving our resources though, and a realization I can live perfectly well without so much!

We’re starting to make preparations to return to civilization.  Oh no.  Oh, yes. Jim and I have discussed our choices and have made the decision to go to Phoenix for the next few weeks.  A full-out RV Resort.  I have a feeling we’ll be experiencing some re-entry shock for awhile.  It’s one of those places where there are rows and rows of park models with RV’s scattered throughout.  It’s near an interstate highway and lots of businesses.  It’s just the sort of place all the hard-core boondockers we know avoid like the plague.  But we’re still going.  I’ll be flying out of Sky Harbor Airport in a few weeks, leaving Jim with the dogs for a week.  We can wash the Castle there, which is a big plus.  On Monday morning, we’ll pull up our jacks and roll the Castle out of the desert and back to the pavement.  Not without looking back at our hills and rocks with some wistfulness at leaving though.

We have loved our desert experience, most especially since we’ve enjoyed it with good friends, Janna and Mike and now Gina and Rollie.  Yesterday was Gina and Rollie’s 28th wedding anniversary so we celebrated with burgers and hot dogs and a chocolate cake at our place last evening.  We wish them many, many more years of loving life together.

For today, I plan to soak up some of this wonderful desert sun and warmth!

5 comments:

All Because Two People Fell In Love said...

Ellie,

Thank you for the meal and cake for our special day yesterday. Gina and I have been truly blessed by you and Jim's friendship. Travel safe and can't wait until our paths cross again. We're going to miss y'all....

Rollie & Gina

Sam&Donna Weibel said...

I have read your blog, and also Rollie and Gina's, and Mike and Janna's with great interest, so far all of our RVing has been at campgrounds or parks with service's,when I brought up the subject of maybe trying some boondocking in the deasert like you guys are doing, Donna said I don't think so I'd rather be arround people and stores. So for right now until we have spread our wings on our own I will have to wait. Loo's like you all are having fun so things could change. Sam & Donna.

Margie M. said...

Sounds like an overall great experience for you guys in the boondocking world. I'm not so sure about all the snakes and scorpions that may be in my yard if I stayed out in the desert boonies. Of course, I know they can make their way into city neighborhoods in AZ also.

Have fun! Enjoy your blog so much.

Tumbleweed Dee said...

I can't wait to get out in the desert and just be with nature. I like both the people and the solitude. That's what full timing is all about, a little of each. Have fun back in civilization!

squawmama said...

I bet you are going to miss that a lot but like you said once in a while it is nice being in civilization.... You won't be to far from us... we are up in Cottonwood about 70 miles from Phoenix. We are staying at the Valley Verde Thousand Trails park... Have a safe trip and thanks again for all the information!!!
Donna