This and That

We are in the waiting to leave phase now.  We have done everything we can think of in the Phoenix area, and have eaten at many of the good restaurants, and a few stinkers too.

Last night we went to the Sea Food Restaurant, on Val Vista and Baseline.  This is Loyce’s favorite meal, as she enjoys almost every selection available on the menu.  She had Mahi Mahi.  Now I was boring as usual in the seafood restaurant, and ordered coconut encrusted shrimp.  They were quite good but a little too sweet for the sugar restricted diet.

We came home stuffed, and were not overly hungry for breakfast this morning. 

In fact we hung around the trailer this morning, and sat out under the awning and attached sun canopy.  The sun canopy was purchased from the folks at the DonWes flea market down in Texas last year.  Our door and awning are on the East side, and the morning sun is low on the horizon, and make sitting out in the morning a sunny (hot) experience.

Our new neighbor, with the big semi tractor class C motor home came over, and we enjoyed his many stories about North Texas.  Thanks Rob.  He’s in the auto industry and has unlimited tales to relate.

By early afternoon we were off looking for some lunch and a notary. Seems that we still needed more forms to transfer the Corolla title to the insurance company.  Will it ever end?

We did look at some interesting double wide park model homes in the Park across the street from Mesa Spirit.  If we were not into RVing, the rest of the year, and did not have the expenses of the lake home, this would be a good alternative for the winter.

Kind of a worthless day, but the insurance adjusters are happier. Loyce is working on some new little doll quilts, and having fun.  So all is well.

Retired Rod

Awning parts, and batteries for the neighbor

What a busy day! We were up early, and had breakfast, as Loyce had to go to the quilter’s meeting at 8. She has many new ideas from the association with the ladies.

I was off to the RV dealer to see what was to become of our repair. I wish I hadn’t gone. The folks at Jayco said our broken bracket was because I had hit something, and I was being less than truthful with them, so they would not warranty it. End of story.

Well I did no such thing, and would have told if I had, and got it fixed and paid proudly. So, so much for our relationship with Jayco. No more of their products, ever.

I went over and grabbed the bracket and the necessary parts off of the wall, paid for them and left the dealership. I spent the morning, installing the parts on the awning.

I am no awning repairman, but after installing the pieces and adjusting back and forth on the brackets for several attempts, it appears that the awning has been installed crooked from the factory. This is why the parts ended up broken, and they will break again over time, since it is crooked and is stressed each time it is deployed.

Perhaps my dealer in Missouri can help me when we get home, but I will have to pay him, as Jayco is not about to.

We had the largest motorhome I have ever seen pull in next to us several days ago. It is built on an extended semi tractor truck frame. It is all steel and fiberglass, and weighs 40K. It has both rear axles of the semi, and they are tandem rear ends. Meaning that the 500 hp engine drives all eight tires, when they are locked together. A gigantic class C.

This rig is a toy hauler, that has a Mini Cooper in the back. The floor of the toy hauler lowers to the ground, and you drive right out of the rig. Above the garage, is the master bedroom. Like a fifth wheel built backwards, with the semi driver cab on the front end. Maybe I can steal a picture when Rob isn’t looking.

He is pulling a matching trailer, that has a 32 Ford hot rod inside. It has a small block chevy V8, and a four speed. Of course the entire car is custom, and nothing about it was made in 1932. The entire car is new parts, and modern day technology. It does have a load of attitude.

But today, he was having battery problems with his four semi truck batteries. They are 2002 year stamped, and it was amazing they lasted so long. But they were gone. Done. He wasn’t going anywhere. He had checked all around, and the price of having someone come here and replace them was quite high.

I told him to pull the batteries, and we would go get him some with the pickup. So he did and we did. Sam’s club had the exact number he needed, and at $82 each. This particular Sam’s was over West of Scottsdale in Phoenix, and we spent about 2 hours picking them up. I saw 90 degrees on the dash of the truck while we were in route.

He installed them when we got home, and the diesel roared to life. He was quite happy to have this little job behind him, and the Mini Cooper did not have to haul the dirty truck batteries on the nice clean interior carpet. It would have taken two trips as well.

Perhaps I have a new friend. I know they are from North Texas, and collect cars, but have not found out her name yet. He is Rob. More on this later.

We reached 88 today, officially, which will be the highest temperature we will see while we remain here in Arizona. At least if the forecast is correct, we are to begin to cool down starting tomorrow. It was really warm, as we snaked our way through traffic to get to the distant Sam’s Club this afternoon. All of this while the rest of the country has snow.

It is not lost on me, our good fortune to be here in the desert.

Retired Rod

A down day!

We just hung out today, not doing much all day.  I put the awning back down this morning, as the wind from yesterday has gone away.  Then the sun screen was installed to block the morning sun so I could sit outside.

Loyce was working on her many craft projects inside, and the day warmed up nicely.  So nice in fact that I dozed off in the recliner lawn chair.  Well the sun was out and all, you know.

So when noon came and went, we finally decided that it was necessary to go back to the swap meet.  For some T shirts.  Loyce thought she knew where the booth was that she couldn’t find Friday.  So we went out there again today.

Amazing how much time one can spend walking around all these booths.  We separated and stayed in communication with our cell phones.  She found the T shirt shop, and we met back there.  My ankle was hurting, so I went on to the car, but Loyce braved on to more shops.

Tonight we have been hanging around home, but have been talking to the neighbors that are leaving in the morning, wishing them all the See Ya Laters, as we all are promising to return next year.  Plans in Jello, LOL.  But who knows we may be pining to be back here, well before next winter.

The desert is beginning to have a very pleasant smell to it, that is quite noticeable when you are outside.  Like flower blossoms, a sweet almost light perfume odor.  This must be from the many blooms beginning to come on the cactus.  We are new to the desert this year as we have never been here, for more than a week at a time.  This is a new experience for us.

As of tomorrow, we will have one week left here.

Retired Rod

Parade!

How about a RV park parade? Mesa Spirit Style.

These folks are called the note blenders…… Maybe benders would be more like it.

OK what is this supposed to be?

Is he supposed to be a bird? Chicken?

Not much bigger than a large dog.

But somebody needs to clean up after all those horses. He had candy in the bucket and he threw it to the kids, old and young.

I was worried that this person might fall off of the bike. The weaving back and forth was not in their repitour.

This golf car would backfire every now and then. Scared the daylights out of us, but not the tin man.

The witch and the scarecrow. Dorothy must be behind the witch, she has red shoes.

Is he supposed to be the cowardly lion man looking for courage? Ray Bolger would be proud.

Emergency Medical here in the park.

Pink Ladies.

Nurses!

Red hat lady on a moped.

Oh Canada!

F and G street decorated a cart.

These red hat ladies show up all over the place.

The North Dakota folks had the biggest group, and won first place in the big group entry. Golf cart in the snow, see the guy with the shovel.

These ladies represent SNOW!

And then the North Dakota folks that are in Arizona, celebrate SUN!!!!!

They all look sunny in their yellow shirts now don’t they

These guys were singing on the karaoke Speakers on top of the Golf Cart. The sign on the cart says All Star Entertainment. Perhaps they were professional, as they sounded fairly good even though they were hoofing it down the road while singing.

1947 Chevy The year I was born! She looks a tad better than me though.

I would guess 1955 ford pickup. (Several days later, I spotted this truck and asked what year it was, and it is a 1956. Seems that it has a wrap around windshield which was a new thing for 56.)

1966 or so Malibu, we would have killed in High School for one of these. Especially with the 396 engine.

It went on for a while longer, but my presser finger was becoming tired.

What we won’t do for Saturday entertainment here in the RV Park.

Sunday March 1st, is grandson Caden's 7th birthday!!!!! Wow, how can Caden be 7? Loyce told me, ya your getting old grandpa. Well if I'm old, what does that make her?

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CADEN!!!!!!!!!!

Retired Rod