We've got choices

We have been without satellite TV since July and after having only two choices (CBS and Fox) with our TV antenna here in Tucson, we threw in the towel and ordered a Winegard Carryout satellite.  The satellite arrived last Wednesday and when we went to start up our DirecTv receiver, we discovered that the receiver was locked on record.  Told John, I don't think this is a good thing.  Nothing we could do on our own or with DirecTv's technical support could get the receiver to work.  A replacement receiver would be sent out.  Gave the tech all our address information and was told that it would be here in 2 days.  

What with the Thanksgiving holiday, we figured the receiver wouldn't arrive until Monday.  We learned that the receiver was suppose to be delivered on Saturday; woo hoo.  Well, not so woo hoo.  We waited around all day for Fed Ex and saw that there was a "delivery exception" related to our order stating the driver couldn't find the address.  Really?????  This is a delivery service and they 1) couldn't call me as my phone number was listed on the address label, 2) check a map or 3) use a GPS.  We were incredulous as Fed Ex deliveries are made almost daily in the RV park.  Frustrated and not trusting that Fed Ex's delivery person could find our address; I asked that the package be held at a local Fed Ex office.  Couldn't pick up the package until Tuesday because 2-day deliveries only happen Tuesday to Saturday (go figure).  Yesterday, the pick-up went seamlessly.  I'm happy to report that once we got the new receiver hooked-up and initiated, the receiver and satellite were talking to one another.  Yahoo, we can watch our favorite TV shows now.  Choices . . . so many choices LOL.

Today, we discovered one of those desert creepy crawlers on the underside of our awning that we put out this afternoon.

We are pretty sure it isn't a tarantula but what kind of spider, we have no idea.  All we know is that it was the largest spider we have seen outside of a zoo.  So that the awning rails wouldn't cut him in half, John gently encouraged him to move with the broom.  Non-plussed, the spider lowered himself to the ground on a web string and went in to the rocks under the rig.  Guess, we will be seeing him around for a while.

Pleasant view

Early yesterday morning, when we raised our blinds, we were treated to this view outside our rig.  

What a great way to start off the day.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE

This will be the first year since we began full-timing that we have not spent the holiday with our family in Sacramento.  This year, we will be spending it with our extended RV family here at the RV park in Tucson.  

We have so much to be thankful for as our lives have been blessed with each other, a wonderful daughter, family, friends, this life on the road, and so many other daily blessings. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives.  May you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Sabino Canyon

We headed out on Friday to Sabino Canyon.  John and I had visited back in 2009 and wanted to go back.  We thought Rick and Y would enjoy the area also so off we went.  Besides, we really hadn't got out and about exploring any since we arrived almost two weeks ago so we were due.

Sabino Canyon is "a natural desert oasis" that sits in the foothills of Tucson and is part of the Coronado National Forest.  For $8 per person, you can take a narrated 45 minute tour on a tram that has nine stops and covers 3.8 miles.  We took the tram up to the last stop and walked the 3.8 miles back down to the entrance.  For being in the desert, this area has water which means they have abundant wildlife.  There were warnings out about mountain lions and what to do if you come across one when hiking in the back country.  Not a problem, won't be doing any of that!  

Here are some pictures of the area (highly recommend a visit if you are in the Tucson area):

We so enjoyed the beauty of the canyon.  The ranger told us to come back in the spring to get pictures of their blooms.  I think we will most definitely have to do that.

Back home, one of my all-time favorite birds has discovered our feeders and is returning many times daily to help himself to the goodies.  Always brings a smile to my face when I see him visiting.

For the first time last night, I got to see the elusive Javalena's; click here for more information.  We were settling down in bed when I heard crunch, crunch on the rocks and looked out and saw about six of them walking along the rig (two of which were babies as they were much smaller).  We have been made aware of their presence these past two weeks as they have knocked over our bird bath and left muddy snout prints on the truck's running boards and on our step into the rig.  

Last but not least, today is Y's birthday.  Shhh I'm not going to spill the beans on how old she is.  Hope you have/had a HAPPY BIRTHDAY Y.

Fall weather

We've been here a week now and have certainly seen fall weather come through the area; wind and rain.  Quite a difference from years past when November has been dry.  Spring blooms should be something if the wet weather continues.

Nothing too much to write about as we have pretty much settled in for the winter.  We have our bird feeders out and have seen quite a bit of action from the normal players: house finch, lesser goldfinch, cactus wren, hummingbirds, curve-bill thrasher, Gambles quail, Gila woodpeckers, and bunnies.  The other morning, as I was getting ready to go outside, I spotted this fella sitting on the electrical box of the site next to us.  Thankfully, he/she hung out until I could get the camera and put the long lense on to get this shot.

Guess he/she was wanting to do some window shopping but all the birds had flown away as they are apt to do in a hurry when a raptor is close by.  Great picture though (Coopers Hawk, we believe) .

We stopped at a bike shop to get some spare tubes for John's bike and picked up a nice map of the bike trails in Tucson.  If the weather cooperates this week, we will venture out to do some riding; should be fun.

Safely in Tucson, AZ

We arrived after a long day's travel of 60 miles LOL yesterday.  After getting all set up, the four of us (Rick, Y, John, and myself) headed out to get a bite to eat.  Low and behold we saw Jerry and Darlene had pulled up to check in.  John had just wondered when we would be seeing these fine folks again.

Later in the evening, we got a chance to chat a bit with Jerry and Darlene and then went over to Rick and Y's play cards.  We got a welcome serenade by a coyote.  At bedtime, we head several yipping and carrying on.  Ah, love the sounds of the desert.  

Got up this morning to raindrops and rainbows - AWESOME.

Hint of a double rainbow:

Raining like heck right now but as the forecast for the winter is below normal moisture, can't forsake the area the rain.  Beside rain now possibly means the desert will be beautiful with blooms in the spring.

Hope you are having a great day.

What we've been doing while in Benson, AZ

Basically, we have been pretty laid back and enjoying the weather.

Tuesday evening, we played Bingo and I won a game.  Whoo Hoo!  First time ever winning ($24) and we've played maybe 10 times in almost four years on the road.  

Thursday, we headed out to find some geocaches and at the second location, Rick and John noticed the Jeep was leaking a fluid.  It was speculated that it was the water pump and we headed back to home.  Rick called a Jeep dealer in Tucson and was able to get it in.  Road Trip!  John and I followed Rick and Y and they made it safely to the dealer.  Since we were in Tucson, we decided to give friends Ralph and Cheryl a call to see if they were home at Justin's Diamond J RV Park.  Ralph and Cheryl had recently returned from an African Safari lead by Doc Justin (owner of Justin's Diamond J) and we were anxious to hear some of their tales.  After getting a sneak preview of some of their photos (spectacular) and hearing a bit of their experiences, it was time for dinner.  We all headed to Tiny's and had Steerburgers. After that, we loaded up and headed back to Benson.  

Friday, we went into town to pick up some groceries and a stop at the local lumber yard, Benson Lumber, where service was terrific.  We wanted to get some 2 x 10 pieces of lumber to park the trailer tires on while at Justin's as the rocks are big and chunky.  We had been forewarned that a weather front was going to pass thru along with strong wind gusts (50 mph), possible dust storms, and rain.  Boy, were they right.  It was rock n' roll all night long with the power going out around 4 a.m. for a period of time and then intermittently in the morning.  John did get a bit more sleep than I during the storm.  I don't think I really was able to "sleep" until after 5 a.m. and didn't get up until 9:40 a.m.  The angle of the rig to the wind was worse than we experienced at Elephant Butte Lake in New Mexico where we experienced 70+ mph wind gusts.  

We will be picking up and heading to Tucson on Sunday.  Hopefully, the wind dies down a bit so that the traveling is easy (a whole 60 miles :-))  Until then . . .