Saturday, December 20th, '08

Nice weather is back here in Casa Grande.After a few days of strong wind and rain showers.We spent the day at the Pima air museum which is adjacent to the Davis-Monathan AFB.D-M is where some 10,000+ military aircraft are stored.The museum currently has some 270+ aircraft on display.Most are outdoors.I've included a few of the pictures I took for my aviator friends.A great place we hadn't been to in a lot of years.The best thing is Daisy was allowed to go in with us.We were there almost four hours!She was bored on occasion but we were glad we brought her since we were 75 miles from the "house" and didn't want her to spend a whole day alone with an occasional dog sitter visit.After the museum, we drove onboard the AFB to visit the BX and commisary.Lindy did all her christmas food shopping at the commisary.Daisy was glad by that time to get some rest in her bed in the truck cab.So we were able to get dinner and shop without guilt.You "dog" people know what I mean.we got back to the hacienda on wheels about 9 pm.Yesterday the weather was really good so we took a ride to Marana airport.

We wanted to look at a "light sport" aircraft we are interested in.We had met with a nice guy who flight instructed in it and arranged for a demo flight.Lindy & Daisy waited while I flew for nearly an hour!Some demo.He had said 20 minutes.But we were having such a good time exploring the aircraft (and spectacular views) that it turned into a lot longer.The instructor basically never touched the controls so I got a good idea how I would enjoy the machine.He was a retired newspaper reporter/photographer.Very interesting gent.We will consider this aircraft if and when I stop lusting over my beautiful Bell 47.I'll try to put a picture of each on the blog for you.

Hard to believe we have a few days left 'til christmas.We really miss being home in NH for that.'Though they are having horrible weather back east.Next year we are tentatively planning staying in NH 'til after New Years eve.Don't have a destination picked just yet, but would like a warm spot.Arizona has been colder than expected so hopefully, Palm Springs will be warmer.And Nevada by march should improve.We've been happy that there have been no big problems with the equipment.I have gotten to clean/wax the coach so that it'll only need a good washing back in NH before storing at "the landing".So for now , I will crank up my favorite ZZtop

CD and sign off.

Saturday, December 13th

Well folks, now that we spend a lot of time in one spot, the blog slows.We're having to good a time here in Casa Grande, Arizona.Right

between Phoenix and Tucson it's a nice spot.Weather is dry with day temps in the 60-75 range.At night it's in the 40's.Usually low 50's by 6am.I've been getting away with a blast of heat from the overhead A/C heat exchangers.They'll raise the temp 15+ degrees.This precludes burning diesel fuel in the main heat system.We use that for serious cold.We've been to Tucson to visit some neighbors from Wolfeboro who have a winter home out here.We'll spend christmas with them.Also visited the Army western training site that I spent three weeks at in early 90's for a tactical "cobra" traing course.Another field had a bunch of old airliners and fighters.Got a good walk among the old dogs.Most are being restored for wealthy aviators.DC-6's & A-4 jets were common.We will visit the Pima Air museum that we haven't seen in years.We are surrounded in our motorhome by canadians.A lot from BC.A real nice bunch that we've had several happy hours with.It didn't turn into a "drunk in"!Florida was a little different in that respect.One of their "mates " was an american from Texas.Since there are at least five of us "Bobs" in the group, he was already called "air Bob".Rightly so.He and I hit it off quickly.You see, Bob, a retired American Airlines Captain started out his career as a fighter pilot in the US Air Force.Surviving being shot down by north vietnamese gunners in his F-4 Phantom, he was a "guest" at the Hanoi Hilton for Five years!Now 68 years old and in remarkable shape, he flies air races and trains pilots to fly a bunch of "civillianized" fighter aircraft.He has some interesting tales.Unfortunately he had a short airline career being hired in his mid-forties.We meet the most interesting people out on the road.Maybe that's why Willie loves it so much and wrote that great song.Lindy and Daisy have enjoyed the road probably more than me.I do love it, but it would improve if I could tow along my Bell 47.Heck, with the truck attached we'd trail about 90+ feet of gear!For those interested, regular gas out here is as low as $1.49/gal.Diesel at $1.99.The RV park is enormous.Surrounding a beautiful golf course, it has all the amenities such as pools, hot tubs, activities etc.We will be here 'til New Years Day.At that time we will travel about three hundred miles to Palm Springs for our two month stay there.A good day to travel usually since people are trying to recover from the "eve" partys and the rest watch football.We'll try to get a weekly report out in the future.We don't want to bore you too much.So, everyone have a safe and pleasant Christmas and New Year.'Til the next blog write.....

Hi folks.My name is Daisy.Normally my "dad" writes this blog thing.He's a little tired from todays 245 mile drive.So he asked me to write this update.Personally, I don't know why he has no energy.I got some good sleep up on the dash and also in the euro cliner chair.Mom even let me sleep in her lap a bit too!I dig this motor home thing but what do I know, I like flying in helicopters and chewing on rawhide.The weather was great from Al-B-quirki to Las cruces.Is that how you spell Al-b- oh whatever.How many dacshunds you know that can spell.It's one of our weak areas

along with frizby catching.Anyhow, we're only here for the night.So not much to report.They left me in the coach about thirty minutes to go in a hot tub.I barked the first five minutes after they left and began again as I saw them thru the windshield about a quarter mile away!It worked, they cuddled me and felt bad for leaving me.Oh yeah- we got 100 gallons of diesel here and the price was $2.23 a gallon.Glad it won't come out of my biscuit funds!So, I think I'll hit the folks up for a "chew" and end this thing here.Hope you'll all follow my adventures and don't forget to click the pixtures to supersize them.That's me in my flying clothes above.'Til next time ......Daisy

November 24 thru November 29
We spent the last six days in Albuquerque.Terrific resort park.They had three boxes of mail we had forwarded.Our mail will get forwarded every week once we stay in one spot for a while.We simply call our small town post office, in Wolfeboro, and give them an address.The first day here we drove over to Kirtland Air Force Base.Lindy emptied out the commissary(supermarket) and then we did damage at the BX.This base dates back to before WW2 I think.Lots of bombardier training was conducted on a large scale.The next day our friends from Colorado arrived in Albuquerque after a 400+ mile drive to spend Thanksgiving with us.We had a great time with them and talked a lot about the "motorhome" life style.They are very interested in doing it and naturally had lots of questions.We were happy to help since we went thru a similar investigation prior to buying our motorhome.I hope they enjoy it as much as we do.We meet lots of nice ,interesting people.The day before Thanksgiving the four of us drove to Santa Fe.About a sixty mile ride and climb to almost 7000 feet above sea level.It was hard to breath walking uphill and trying to talk!Lots of neat shops and an inordinant amount of "artist" displays.Mostly sculptures and some paintings.At least fifty or more shops!Lindy & I were treated to a great lunch by our friends.We drove back to our motorhome later on to enjoy some macaroni and cheese Lindy had prepared.We got a good nights sleep and awoke early to see the Macy's parade on TV.Always good to see NY after all these years away from it.When our friends, Karen & Bruce arrived in the morning, the girls prepared the side dishes we would provide for the Thanksgiving dinner.
In the afternoon, we went over to the "clubhouse".About twenty five to thirty other RV'ers were there to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.There were many great dishes provided by the guests and four turkeys provide by the park.It was a feast!What great food!We met many nice folks and enjoyed another couple that we got together with later on to see their coach.They hope to visit us in Palm Springs on their way west.Unfortunately, right after desert, a huge thunderstorm blew in with strong winds, hail & snow.Bruce and I beat feet back to the motorhome to comfort their dog,Brandy.We had to leave Brandy and Daisy there while we were at the clubhouse.Brandy is terrified of thunderstorms.So that was an early end to the day.Lots of unsettled weather to the north was responsible for our friends to depart early next morning as they had a long drive to make.We had a great time with them and hope we will see them in their very own coach in the future.To finish off the week, Lindy and I returned to "old town" to re-visit a store Lindy found some interest in.We got her an early xmas present of a beautiful silver inlaid stone bracelet made by a local american indian.We finished the day by preparing for a morning launch to Las Cruces New Mexico.We'll spend saturday night there and sunday night in Tuscon(at Davis-Monathan AFB) before arriving for our one month stay in Casa Grande, Arizona.We are enjoying the hell out of this.Stay tuned.

Sunday, November 22

Amarillo by mornin'.Good song by George Strait.Two nights here a welcome rest.So far the worst roads we encountered were I-40 in Arkansas & Oklahoma.Genuine wash boards.In any case we heard about this state park 25 miles south of Amarillo.We drove down in the Tacoma.What a surprise!Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the U.S.It's 120 miles long and 800 feet deep.Sort of a small scale Grand Canyon.We drove around and into the canyon for the afternoon.Daisy liked walking it, however we had to keep her from going into the brush as snakes are fairly common out here.We in fact did have a mountain cat of some sort cross in front of our slow moving truck.After leaving the park we stopped at a Texas steak house to get a good dose of red meat.Lindy enjoyed her cut.I think my request for well done dried my steak out a little to much.It was just OK.We arrived back at the coach with about two hours of sunlight left.We decided to get the "road grime" off the bus, so Lindy and I gave it a quick soap-wash-rinse.It was amazing how much dirt came off.A little TV, and early lights out.We did our usual disconnect of sewer/water hoses after the wash to make for a quick get away in the morning.Besides, it pays to keep some water on board to not have a worry about a frozen supply hose.The coach "heat protects" its' own water system.With a fresh water tank quantity of up to 109 gallons, we have an ample supply for several days of self contained.Next stop, Albuquerque, NM.In the 285 mile ride there, we'll be climbing to their elevation of over 5000 feet!

Friday, November 21st

This morning we awoke to the coldest temperature of the trip.Right at freezing, I had the heat set to keep us warm and comfortable.It worked well.I also set the engine preheater on to work about 2 hours before departure.It to worked great.It simply circulates warm water around the engine.This was the coldest I have ever cranked the engine.It started quickly and smoothly.We sucked in all four slides, pulled shore power(electric) and moved out.We had to move right next door to a large parking lot to "hitch" the Tacoma up.It avoids blocking the RV park and keeps the base fire marshall happy.Don't cringe now, I topped off the Toyota the night before at the base station for $1.65 a gallon!Thank you Tinker Air Force Base!On the road by 0845, we covered the 285 miles to Amarillo in six hours including a lunch stop.Topping off the rig in western Oklahoma at $2.49 a gallon.

We've been averaging 8 miles per gallon this year as we passed 19000 miles on the odometer.Catepillar literature says to expect a one mile per gallon increase at break-in on their engines.Get this, they claim break in occurs at approximately 30,000 miles!Entering Texas, a nice Texas welcome sign provided a good setting for a picture so hopefully I will be able to stick it in here.We'll stay here two nights.It's the best "transient" stop ever.Just south of I-40, it opened only last year.With Texas big parking spots, we hooked up, set up and Lindy prepared a great meal.They also have a adult only(no kids) hot tub.Yeah- me too.I thought it meant a "no clothes allowed" hot tub.Who knew?Adult only?Well we'll check it out tomorrow.Oasis RV Resort is struggling in the current economic environment and I do hope they make it.They're are trying very hard.The wind was blowing in Texas at a steady 20 knots today.The rig required a little crosswind correction at times on I-40, but I was surprised when we opened the door in Amarillo to find it blowing a lot harder than I expected.Temperature in the high 40's will dip into the 20's tonight.After a week coming up in Alburquerque starting sunday, we look forward to the warm temperatures of Arizona for december and Palm Springs January & February.Daisy, had a nice walk here after she slept most of the ride.Like most dogs she doesn't like the neighborhood changing so often.Being territorial, she'll like when we stay planted a month or two.By December 1st she will get her wish at Casa Grande.We will too.