The Start of a New Year

Coming into Verde Valley, Arizona

Well, happy new year to everyone! I know...January is nearly over. Already it seems like time is flying by. (Must be all the fun I'm having.) 

We left California on the 15th, after a little more than a week at Palm Springs RV Park. 

Our first stop was Quartzsite, Arizona. There was no official Alfa Roadrunner rally this year, but some of our fellow members stopped by the club's desert site anyway to connect and get in some personal time with one another. We hung out for three days before saying goodbye and heading east. 

Sunset in the Quartzsite AZ desert

Currently we're in the Verde Valley Thousand Trails RV Park in Cottonwood, Arizona. We really like this park because of its centrality to many of the scenic towns and locations in the Sedona area. The sites are fairly roomy and easy to get in and out of with a big RV, but... (seems like there's always a "but!")... but to get a 50 amp site, you have to reserve it ahead and pay a $5/day premium. We did, even though we probably don't really need 50 amps in the winter.  The pool is open, but they've turned off the heater for the season and neither Mark nor I are polar bears. Thousand Trails is following all the Covid rules, and Spa occupancy is reduced to four persons at a time. We haven't checked it out yet, but might on the next mostly nice day. 

Yesterday we popped over to the nearby Alcantara Vineyard for a wine tasting. It's a very nice vineyard/winery, and they do have good wine (except nothing sweet enough for Mark). Like most wineries, their prices are a bit steep for our budget-- ranging from $30 to $46 a bottle. I can't imagine that they can sell their products in local markets and wine shops for those prices, but what do I know? 

Mark has a niece who lives here in Cottonwood now-- Becky Grahn and her husband, Ty. We'll be visiting with them once or twice while we're here. That will help break up the boredom. Our last visit to  Cottonwood was in the fall. Winter is not quite the same. It rained the day before yesterday--all day--and beginning tomorrow, there is rain in the forecast for most of the week. Of course the desert needs its rain. And, frankly, I enjoy the rainy days as long as there aren't too many of them in a row. But realistically, it's not much fun to go sight-seeing in the rain, so we probably won't do too much of it while we're here this time. Last year we had a chance to tour the area a bit, and we'll no doubt be back again to resume our sight-seeing activities in better weather.

There's not too much else to talk about at the moment. I'm thankful for the mostly peaceful political transition, as I'm sure you all are too. We had some concerns about traveling in a volatile political environment, but none of our fears came to pass, thank God. 

Until next time, prayers and best wishes to you all for good health and safe travels!
 

Our site at Palm Springs. I love all the 
palm trees, but they do make it challenging
to park a 40-foot RV.

What a Year!

Ready for Christmas

Here we are at the end of 2020. We made it! But what a year it's been. 

We've been parked in Southern California since the end of October. Most of our time has been spent in Acton, which is in the hills (some call them "mountains") between Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley, or the "High Desert," as it is often referred to. We like this park primarily because it is just about half way between my son, in the Santa Clarita Valley, and my daughter, in Lancaster (Antelope Valley). The park itself (Soledad Canyon RV Park) is unremarkable. Much of it is closed down pending repairs--repairs that never seem to get done. We've been coming here three years now, and not much has changed.

The joy of our visit is the kids and our delightful granddaughter, Sophie. Most of our time this year has been with Sophie (and her parents). The children grow up so fast that every single moment we have with them is of immeasurable value. This year we were able to enjoy Halloween and Thanksgiving with Sophie, and we'll be sharing Christmas with her too. I feel incredibly blessed.

A Halloween mermaid

Little Pilgrim

Still, the only visiting time we really have, when our kids are fortunate enough to still be among the working, is the weekends. So two and half months condenses down to a dozen or so visits, and those visits will be coming to an end very soon. On January 2, we'll be heading east again for another spin around the country (God willing).

There hasn't been too much to talk about lately given the fact that we, like the rest of you, have been stuck mostly at home, waiting for Covid to go away. I have always loved New Year's because it feels so much like a fresh start. The possibilities are endless. We make new goals and resolutions, and our hopes are high. 

So, take a deep breath and say a prayer for a better year to come. God is still God. His plan is still on track. And there's nothing in all the universe that can happen to change that.

God bless & have a Very Merry Christmas!

More pics...

First family get-together upon arrival in California

Lunch with my good friend, Donna (before the ban on
outdoor dining)

Visit to Joshua Tree National Park

Cat-proof Christmas Tree. Sophie decorated
it all by herself!

Building a gingerbread house for Christmas