Days of Blue Skies, Warmth, & Calm

 Arizona has settled into a delightful pattern of weather perfection! 

So, we are cycling and walking the days away! 

Play while we may....

Yard Art at Rock Shadows RV Park, our winter home

Figures are 1-2 feet tall and the circle is about 8 feet in diameter

Thanksgiving is Windy

Local weather for Apache Junction, for Thanksgiving today, is blue skies, more NE winds from 25-40 kph (15-25mph), with temperatures expected to reach low 20s C (low 70s F).

Wind does a number on the palm fronds

Once again we have resisted a "big" Thanksgiving gathering at the Rock Shadows hall, or any gathering at all; we've had two small Thanksgiving meals with our kids - one in Toronto with Tyson & Veronica on Oct. 9 and one with Janine, Colin, Zach & Magnus in Calgary on Nov 12, just before we left.

Update to November 23 post:

More about the scent of creosote after rain in the desert of the southwest - it's called petrichor (just learned this scientific term today from reading the local paper, Arizona Republic): 

Petrichor is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Greek petra, "rock", or petros, "stone"; and īchōr, the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.

First Bike Ride in Arizona

 After several days of NE winds too high even for an e-bike, we set out this morning on a favourite route to Usery Pass.

Rose Lynn's bike experienced a software glitch and she was left without power assist! Luckily we were up hill from a Specialized dealer and she was able to cruise on down under her own pedal power. The controller was rebooted and she had an easy ride back to Apache Junction.

4 PM - Rain!!!!

Rain is always a unique occurrence in this part of the world,

 at this time of the year. 

We can already smell the scent of creosote bushes 

that is released during rain.

Jamming on Jamulus

 

Tonight, Bill enjoyed a virtual jam session on Jamulus software

 with his Calgary musicians.

It seems the highspeed internet installed on Saturday was up to to the job.

He's looking forward to his Weds afternoon meetup with one musician

 he met in Texas and two that he played with here in Apache Junction.

The Week that Was...

 Sunday Nov. 21

One week out on our adventure.

It was definitely the best weather we have ever experienced on our southerly escape route - other than wind in the early times, it was great driving on dry roads in warm weather (around freezing in AMs and reaching mid teens C/ 60s F in the afternoons). Amazing for this time of year we think.

We are settled in Apache Junction for the next 4 months! 

Here's what we did to get "settled":

• parked the trailer and leveled up, hooked up power, sewage, & water and were greeted by our neighbours from years past (including this tiny "bush" bunny (as we know them))

 

• got groceries

Really? And they don't have Jones Ginger Beer, Bill's fave!

• did laundry
• connected to highspeed internet 👍👍👍; in other years we have used our neighbours' service but that was not up for the challenge of Bill  continuing to jam remotely

Weds Nov. 17

After a pleasant, scenic day on the road we stopped in Page AZ for our last night on the road.

A well-timed morning communication with Rose Lynn's brother Ian led us to take a detour from plan A (Vegas); with the dry weather, we were finally able to drive Scenic Byways  east from Cedar City on 14, connecting with S 89 taking us into AZ.

Here's some of what we saw:

Losing elevation from 7000 ft on S 89

6% Grade/Next 4 Miles/Watch for Falling Rocks/

 Trucks & Vehicles Pulling Trailers Use Lower Gear

on S 89

Lava rubble on 14

Lunchtime meadow view on 14

Outdoor lunch in the sunshine!

11C/ ~50F and calm

It's all good!

Snow on roadsides near the summit of 

Scenic Byway 14

The red rock drama in the distance was a nice distraction

 that would continue throughout our day.

Tues Nov 16

Our morning started with wind warnings for south of Idaho Falls but, other than heavy gas consumption(!), they did not hold us up. We spent an early, quiet evening in the KOA at Fillmore Utah after another pleasant day of dry roads.

                             

Looking out the windshield through morning frost in Fillmore!

Monday Nov 15

Long day on the road out of Milk River....

First order of business was crossing into the US. That was easy except for the fog and wind we drove in for half an hour on either side of the border! At 6 am, there was one vehicle in front of us and inspection was short and sweet:

Passports please - no vaccination documentation

Where are you going/how long?

Firearms or ammunition?

Alcohol or tobacco?

Any citrus?

Roll down your back window. (was that to check for aliens ?)

Other than wind, it was a good, long, scenic day

 which ended in Idaho Falls, ID

Sunday Nov 14

Finished packing and drove to a prearranged campsite in Milk River AB, just north of the US border. We hoped to have a walk when we arrived but the Chinook winds kept us indoors and we turned in early to get an early start in the AM.

Under Eight Flags display blown by the westerly Chinook winds.

http://www.milkriver.ca/p/under-eight-flags 

(just scroll down beneath the photo to see the explanation)

A special "Thank You" to our magnificent neighbours, Dave & Barb, for all they do but especially for the send-off supper and game at their place last night. They even took some leftover kitchen things!

 

Leaving this morning from Calgary,

 driving south to Milk River,

 (near the southern Alberta bordercrossing of Coutts)

and will cross into the US on Monday 

(when our out-of-country insurance becomes valid)

It looks like we have a window of good travelling weather down the pike. Expect we'll go directly to  Apache Junction, near Phoenix, for our fourth winter in Arizona.

Things will definitely be different as we navigate the covid challenges but we are looking forward to the hiking and, especially, to biking, as we recently acquired e-bikes! Had to keep up, in more ways than one, with our cyling friends who made the switch over the past few years.