Monday, January 23, 2017

Not Ready to Give Up a Good Thing Just Yet


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We are still at McDowell Mountain Park near Fountain Hills, AZ. Our departure date was to be January 20, when we planned to meet up with the Lazy Daze group in Quartzsite. As the time was drawing nearer we weren’t really feeling ready to move on, and it just so happened some friends here had to leave early due to family issues, and were planning to cancel their reservations. Since they had sites reserved until March 10, we decided to go ahead and grab their sites as they cancelled them, which is what we did.

So now we can spend more time biking, hiking, and volunteering at Fearless Kitty. The first two and a half months here have flown by, so I’m sure our next six weeks will, also.
Jim, Ellen, and Alex, resting up before we continue our bike ride. The old cover over the picnic table collapsed during one of the several rain/wind storms we’ve experienced.

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Since my last post we’ve met some more Lazy Daze owners, Rebecca from Washington traveling with her kids Joshua and Matthew (thanks for the movie tickets!), and Steve and Adele from Colorado.

Last week we were happy to see none other than Box Canyon Mark and Bobbie show up on their way to the Tucson area. They arrived on a beautiful sunny and warm day, the only nice day of their stay. We were able to do one fun bike ride with them, and the rest of the time had to resort to cold hikes under cloudy skies. 

Biker Bobbie.

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Cowboys Mark and Jim taking a break from the saddle.

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I led Mark and Bobbie on an 8.5 mile “death march” through a wash on a very windy day. Mark was a bit concerned I got us lost as the sun went down behind the McDowell Mountains. Since we have felt the same way on many of the hikes they’ve taken us on, it was fun to have the tables turned for a change.

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Lots of rain over the weekend meant lots of snow for the surrounding mountains.

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On another cold and rainy day Mark and Bobbie joined us at the movies in Scottsdale where we met up with Alex and Ellen. We all really liked Hidden Figures, the story of the African-American women mathematicians who worked for NASA in the 60s. Conveniently, McFate Brewery was just up the road, so we had pizza and beer after. The Gingerbread Stout and Orange Brownsicle on nitro were really good.

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Other than that we’ve had a few more doctor appointments. Jim had a crown fall off and can attest that it’s not easy finding a dentist office open on a Friday afternoon, but finally found one in Mesa who cemented it back on. He also saw an ophthalmologist in Mesa who specializes in corneal transplants, which Jim may need one day due to his hereditary Fuch’s dystrophy. He was having some blurred vision in one eye, and Dr. McKee thought it wasn’t due to the Fuch’s but to dry eyes. Since he is already using hot compresses and Restasis drops daily, which have helped, he suggested trying punctal plugs, tiny plugs that block the tears from draining down into the tear ducts. They seem to be making a big difference, but they dissolve within three to six months and have to be replaced. When he goes back in March he will ask about permanent plugs so he won’t have to find an eye doctor to put them in again after we leave here.

We filled in for quite a few extra shifts at Fearless Kitty over the past month. With the move to the new larger building there are extra rooms to care for, and they didn’t have time to train new volunteers during the move. Things have settled down now and we worked yesterday morning for the first time in a week.

Jim the cat whisperer.

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I’m sure there have been other noteworthy things we’ve done lately but since I haven’t been taking many photos I can’t remember what they are. Clearly I need to go back to carrying the camera and blogging more often.

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Hope our friends in Quartzite are having a good time, and that the weather there is better than what it’s been here. We’re ready for some sun and 70s!

Addendum: Six hours later and I remembered something else that happened last week. I had my 62nd birthday, one I was actually excited about for a change since I am now eligible for Social Security and the Senior Pass, which is still $10. Have to get one soon before the price increase.

25 comments:

  1. Revenge on revenge is even sweeter. Beware, my rv pals :) Besides, I think you were lost and got lucky getting us back to camp before someone died!!!

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  2. Can we blame unnamed folks from Colorado for all this cold weather we're experiencing?

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    1. Yes, they said they were afraid they brought it with them! Needless to say they are not happy, either.

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  3. Just left Dome Rock.....the weather was cold, rainy and the wind almost blew us away. Seven nights was 5 nights too many!

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    1. I must say, we are happy we decided to skip Q this year.

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  4. I'm amazed you are able to find such excellent eye care wherever you are. My father has AMD and I'm always looking in vain for a good opthamologist. Any advice on how to find one would be appreciated. Very nice to be able to pick up those extra days from your friends and just stay put in a place you enjoy. Extra nice of Mark and Bobbie to come on by. Glad no one died. LOL

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    1. Hi Sherry, Jim is a member of an online forum called Fuch's Friends. They discuss doctors and have a list of recommended ones. This was the fourth ophthalmologist who does the specialized transplants that Jim's been to since we've been on the road, in Indianapolis, San Diego, Portland, and now Mesa. He is doing his homework for when and if he ever needs a transplant.
      I'm sure if you Google it there are support groups for AMD that would give you similar information and might offer some suggestions for doctors in your father's area.

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  5. How fun to grab some more time in a place you love. The lavender mountains under the moon and the magical clouds are stunning - definitely a wonderful place to be. Looks like a sweet new kitty space!

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  6. Happy birthday! We missed you when we stayed a couple of days in McDowell and don't blame you for staying. I love skiing but had a hard time leaving the trails after our short stay.

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    1. Thanks, sorry we didn't get to see you when you were here.
      Mike's ski accident sounded scary. Glad there were no serious injuries.

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  7. It worked out great being able to grab that reservation and be able to stay put. Sounds like you are having lots of fun right there. Beautiful pictures and a great biking with friends!!
    Happy Birthday!!!

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  8. You crack me up...“death march”
    Oh my gosh, I love that photo with the moon in it. Outstanding.

    We sure hope the weather gods do something about AZ weather. We want dry, warm days and nights when we get there. Although, on the upside, someone commented to about how gorgeous the desert will look in the Spring.

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    1. We've yet to see the desert during a really good wildflower year. This might just be the one!

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  9. Great to be able to stay longer and volunteer where you are having funa nd not really ready to leave. Beautiful sunset pic.
    wwww.freedom2roll.blogspot.com

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  10. Some fabulous photos there! Love that you could take Mark and Bobbie on a Death March!

    Those tear duct plugs sound bizarre...I can't even picture it!

    Happy Milestone Birthday!

    We'll be heading into AZ in Feb...hoping all over the place: Yuma, Ajo, Tucson, Cottonwood...perhaps our paths will cross sometime in Feb/March.

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  11. Gayle & Jim, Great to see a new post and learn more about your long stay in McDowell. Gary and I hope to get up there sometime. We are planning to hit the road in May; missing Tucson summers is always our goal! Don't miss out on the $10 Senior Pass - one of the best bargains ever.

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  12. It's good to see you are "back in the saddle" after your blogging sabbatical! Looks like your stay there has been good despite the weather in southern Arizona.

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  13. Love that moon shot! And so oddly beautiful to see snow on those mountains.

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  14. I love enjoying a place so much you end up extending your time. I am finding we really enjoy longer and longer stays in certain places. We are really looking forward to settling in Tucson for a long stay after our quick trip west.

    Happy Birthday!!! Yes, get that pass quickly!

    Love your snowy mountain and moon rise photos:)

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  15. Gayle, is that collapsed shelter the one at the intersection of Pemberton and Delsie? Sure looks like it. Great mackerel sky sunset photo, well done! :)

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  16. I think you chose right to stay where you are and not head to Quartzsite. We know many who went and said it was cold and rainy. Love your photos, particularly the snow on the mountains. Is there a kitty in your future I wonder?

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  17. Happy belated Birthday!! Go get that pass before they disappear entirely, or the lands do. Seems McDowell is a great place. Not too far from Mesa? I planned to stay in Casino AZ for free a couple days to catch up with some high school friends staying in Mesa. You haven't missed anything in Q except crowds, and chill wind.

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  18. Love that last sunset picture, outstanding. Its a good thing you stayed at McDowell instead of Q. It was cold and windy last week.

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  19. Love that last sunset picture, outstanding. Its a good thing you stayed at McDowell instead of Q. It was cold and windy last week.

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