Well I did it! I successfully drive the RV all by myself a little over 200 miles from Benson, AZ to Las Cruces, NM. This experience ranks right down there with working on the RV for me. But I love being able to simultaneously stay home and travel even when there is no pandemic. I can’t think of a better way to do it so I am trying to adjust.
Driving long distances with no one to share the experience is very lonely for me. The reward will be visiting friends as I travel further north. Can’t wait to see George and Michele in Durango and Keith and Punkin in Moab! Once I get to Wyoming, Matt and Sherry are going to join me as volunteers at the Prison Museum. Should be an awesome summer!
Til Next Year, My Friends
Before I leave Benson, I squeeze as much fun in with my many friends here as I possibly can. The pandemic sure gives me a chance to bond (from a distance) with some truly kind hearted, talented folks. We have all promised to return next year in hopes that we can hug, dance, sing and play freely. I love to sing and dance with abandon. I am actually allowed to do both here unlike some other states where I specifically am forbidden from those activities (something about terrifying the citizenry :-)) The photo gallery below is a limited reminder of a small sample of the friends and beauty I leave behind in Benson. I will miss you all!!
A Battery Maintenance Solution
When not playing outside over the past few months, I spend time making RV improvements. My latest cool RV accessory is a battery tender system that simplifies house battery maintenance for me. Leyman has this watering system on his rig and he encouraged me to add one to mine.
Dave at Lightning Fast RV Service here in Benson is able to order and install a Flow Rite Handy Pump System just before I am scheduled to leave. Now I merely pump distilled water from the bottle through the special hoses and caps. When the water in the battery cells reaches the correct level, no more water can be pumped. I am so relieved to have this daunting maintenance item simplified for me.
One Last Dirt Road Ride
My last week here is very busy, but I will always make time to follow Jane and Leyman in my Jeep. We climb through the Coronado National Forest near the Chiricahua National Monument. While not a difficult ride, it is a cool relief on this blistering Spring day. At the higher altitudes, flowers sip up the last of the ice melt and use it to splash the roadsides with splatters of color.
So glad you had a wonderful time in AZ and got to ride the Jeep roads! Really looking forward to spending time with you again in WY! Safe travels and tell Michelle hello.
We will see what the Jeep can do in the wild, west! Safe travels to you too. I will!
Love this post Deb!! (Except the driving alone part). Awesome AZ photos! I enjoyed them all. Battery maintenance. Hmmmm. I hate that chore. I actually took “Gypsy” for a ride toward Cedar Key, and filled my gasoline, added stabilizer, and got propane. It was an uneventful breakdown and setup. So relieved! I was worried sick to do it. Haha. Not sure when I’ll head to CT, but the later I go, the more likely it is the Bus will stay here. Enjoy your wonderful friends! Glad Sherry and Matt will be in WY with you!! Big hugs!! XX
You were on my mind today. I know what you mean about worried to death. I have to fight to remain calm the week before I move the rig (even to another space in the same park). Seems so overwhelming. Fortunately it does get easier each time. I miss having someone to do my old job which was to get up and check the things we forgot to do before we rolled. I wind up stopping at rest areas a lot to turn off (or on) the thing I forgot about the last time I stopped.
Giant hugs to you too!
Way to go girl!!!! Very proud of you, there is NOTHING YOU CAN’T DO if you put your mind to it. And stop worrying, The Lord will do that for you, just do what needs to be done and don’t worry about it. Remember learning to fly??? The more you worried about a task the better chance you had of screwing it up. don’t be afraid and don’t be reckless and you will be fine. Thanks for all the memories and the great pix and letter. I need to get one of those battery tender things. 😉 We are doing fine, and glad that you are too. GOD BLESS
JD/SD
Jim/Sandy
Thanks for the encouragement! I keep reminding myself that if I can fly a plane, I can surely drive this RV. Just wish I could reach everything that might need turning on or off from the driver’s seat. When I remember I forgot to turn something off (or on) after I get rolling another person would come in handy. I use an extensive checklist but it seems thqt something always sneaks by.
That battery thing is very good. It was not expensive and if I save a battery or prolong their use, it will be worth it. Glad to hear that you are fine – keep on doing the wonderful things that you both do!!
The long drive up to WY reminds me of long flights to Japan
Thank goodness I get to stop and rest every couple of hundred miles though.
About the battery, if it is lead acid-acid type, those beasts seem to have a finite life of 3 to 5 years.
http://knowhow.napaonline.com/average-car-battery-life-time-change/
In N15891 or N15246, had Mr Storm change it after 4 years.
Thanks for the info Rudy! I think I am in year 2 on these. Hope I can stretch out life a little with good care.
The next time I go west. I will stop by Benson.
I like trains
I go out west ever year.
Mike – so great to hear from you! Yes, you would love to see all the trains out here. Some times we take the Jeeps and ride along the tracks in the desert. We get passed by many trains. Look me up if you get out this way next winter. I should be back by mid-October.