Just a short update. We arrived in Colorado Springs on Feb 25th and found an apartment today. We will move in tomorrow. It is a 2 bedroom with a balcony overlooking the branch library - prefect location as far as I'm concerned. LOL. It is on the 3rd floor - high enough for a nice view but not too high that you can't climb the stairs. Great eastern view of the plains.
More later.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Truth or Consequences
Saguaro Sunset acrylic painting by Kae Elliott of Kae1CraftsFeb 23 - Monday (Tucson, AZ to Truth or Consequences, NM) We were greeted with sunshine again today as we drove the route through Tucson that Kae used to take to work and past the rail repair yard where we parked our trailer for many winters. Some things had changed in the last 8 years but many things looked much the same. We headed east on I-10 towards New Mexico and enjoyed the openness, our final look at saguaros for this trip and watched for interesting yucca plants, rock formations and just enjoyed the wide open spaces. We lunched in Deming, NM at Rancher’s Grill where we enjoyed a delicious meal and a relaxing lunch.
We took Highway 26 from Deming to Hatch – known for growing chili peppers and soft shelled pecans. At Hatch we turned north and took I-25 to Truth or Consequences. We have stayed in T or C a number of times and enjoyed it each time. The town has grown from a few restaurants, one grocery store and a couple of motels to a sizeable town with a Denny’s, McDonald’s, Walmart Superstore and small shopping center.
Truth or Consequences used to be known as Hot Springs until the Ralph Edwards TV show in the 1950s wanted to name a town after the show. Hot Springs agreed and has profited from the experience. For many years Ralph Edwards returned every year for Ralph Edwards Day and parade.
The hot springs here also have a rich history. They were a favorite healing place for many Indian tribes and the springs were neutral territory or safe zone. Members of different tribes who had been fighting to the death days before would soak side by side in the healing waters of the springs. It was a favorite place for Geronimo (Apache Chief) to come.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Moving Travel Journal
Feb 17th (Tuesday) – our trailer was picked up and taken to Gib’s RV about 1pm today and we headed down Highway 101 to Brookings, OR (right on the California border) and stayed the night in a motel on the beach. It felt good to actually get started even tho it was later in the day and a short drive. I had a lovely walk on the beach and collected a few more stones and shells to wire-wrap once we get settled. All my supplies are tightly packed in our van at the moment. We are much like a turtle waddling down the road with all of our stuff securely packed under our shell.
Feb18th (Wednesday) – headed south down Hwy 101 – beautiful clear morning with sun and a few scattered clouds. I love this part of the coast drive with breathtaking ocean views and then forested roadsides with moss-covered logs and trees and lovely large redwoods. We took highway 20 east past Clearlake and arrived in Williams, CA.
The van is loaded but still getting fairly good mileage and the new tires handle beautifully. We've only had one luggage upset when Kae stepped on the brakes too hard and a couple of suitcases shifted forward. We got stopped safely and the suitcases were restored to their proper location. Next time I'll just run that yellow light!!!
Feb 19th (Thursday) We left Williams about 8am and headed down I-5 thru Sacramento and then across to Hwy 99. This is an interesting drive past many towns and lots of orchards and vineyards. The almonds and plum trees were in bloom from just before Williams all the way to Bakersfield where we turned east on Highway 58 and over Tehachapi Pass on to Mohave where we spent the night.
Feb 20th (Friday) We headed east past Edwards Air Force Base and Boron and then turned south at Kramer’s Corners onto Hwy 395. We worked our way through the Lucerne Valley down to the Morango Valley and on to Palm Springs where we took I 10 and then the cutoff down past the Salton Sea to El Centro where we headed east on I-8 to Yuma. We enjoy I-8 as there is less traffic than I-10 and it is a fairly good road surface. It takes us past a large sand dune area just west of Yuma where the sand buggies and people are having a great time.
Feb 21 (Saturday) We head east to Tucson and will spend a couple of nights visiting Bud & Jerri Finley (Clarence's sister & brother-in-law) who are wintering there. We have spent many winters in Tucson while RVing and so it feels much like coming home every time we pass through this area. We drove out to Agua Caliente Park and walked around for a while. The lack of extra water in the area has reduced the size of the ponds and lowered the water level but it is still a much loved park filled with people and a wide variety of ducks.
Feb18th (Wednesday) – headed south down Hwy 101 – beautiful clear morning with sun and a few scattered clouds. I love this part of the coast drive with breathtaking ocean views and then forested roadsides with moss-covered logs and trees and lovely large redwoods. We took highway 20 east past Clearlake and arrived in Williams, CA.
The van is loaded but still getting fairly good mileage and the new tires handle beautifully. We've only had one luggage upset when Kae stepped on the brakes too hard and a couple of suitcases shifted forward. We got stopped safely and the suitcases were restored to their proper location. Next time I'll just run that yellow light!!!
Feb 19th (Thursday) We left Williams about 8am and headed down I-5 thru Sacramento and then across to Hwy 99. This is an interesting drive past many towns and lots of orchards and vineyards. The almonds and plum trees were in bloom from just before Williams all the way to Bakersfield where we turned east on Highway 58 and over Tehachapi Pass on to Mohave where we spent the night.
Feb 20th (Friday) We headed east past Edwards Air Force Base and Boron and then turned south at Kramer’s Corners onto Hwy 395. We worked our way through the Lucerne Valley down to the Morango Valley and on to Palm Springs where we took I 10 and then the cutoff down past the Salton Sea to El Centro where we headed east on I-8 to Yuma. We enjoy I-8 as there is less traffic than I-10 and it is a fairly good road surface. It takes us past a large sand dune area just west of Yuma where the sand buggies and people are having a great time.
Feb 21 (Saturday) We head east to Tucson and will spend a couple of nights visiting Bud & Jerri Finley (Clarence's sister & brother-in-law) who are wintering there. We have spent many winters in Tucson while RVing and so it feels much like coming home every time we pass through this area. We drove out to Agua Caliente Park and walked around for a while. The lack of extra water in the area has reduced the size of the ponds and lowered the water level but it is still a much loved park filled with people and a wide variety of ducks.
This beautiful painting of a desert scene can be found in my VAST team mate CeeVeeArts store:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19473830 It is so much like what we are seeing in Tucson that I asked her permission to use it to illustrate this section of my blog and she graciously said yes. Hope you will take a moment and check out her other wonderful art.
Feb 22 (Sunday) We are staying in a Comfort Inn on Tanque Verde in Tucson and they have a beautiful interior courtyard with fountains, birds, pools and a wonderful hot breakfast. I’m ready to just move in and let them feed me and do the housework but guess I’ll save this pampering for special occasions. We played tourist today and took a drive over Gates Pass to Saguaro National Park West and then back to the hotel. We used to stay in an RV park in that area so it was fun to see all the changes and what remained the same. More good food and visiting planned for this evening and then we are off again tomorrow.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
February 17th is THE DAY!!!
We have decided to put our trailer on consignment at Gib's RV in Coos Bay, Oregon - they will set the purchase price - and we will start our new adventure. We will be taking the scenic route from Southwestern Oregon thru the California Redwoods then over Tehatchpi Pass and on to Tucson. After a few days visiting in Tucson we will then head to New Mexico and up I-25 over Raton Pass and on to Colorado Springs. We are looking at this trip as part vacation plus the adventure of moving.
Once we arrive in Colorado we will be searching for an apartment and changing our lifestyle from one on wheels to one a little more stationery. In setting up our new household, we will be using thrift stores, moving sales, freecycle and Craigslist in an effort to do this as economically and eco-friendly as possible. Watch this blog to see how we progress.
Any posts in the next few weeks will be sporatic and dependant on time and computer connection availability. Pictures are dependant on my camera arriving from the repair shop before we leave - have my fingers crossed!!!
I've also started writing on Squidoo and hope to have that linked here soon.
See you on down the road.
Once we arrive in Colorado we will be searching for an apartment and changing our lifestyle from one on wheels to one a little more stationery. In setting up our new household, we will be using thrift stores, moving sales, freecycle and Craigslist in an effort to do this as economically and eco-friendly as possible. Watch this blog to see how we progress.
Any posts in the next few weeks will be sporatic and dependant on time and computer connection availability. Pictures are dependant on my camera arriving from the repair shop before we leave - have my fingers crossed!!!
I've also started writing on Squidoo and hope to have that linked here soon.
See you on down the road.
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