Beautiful RIDE to Carlsbad Caverns

That's right... we RODE to the Caverns... and Yes... we have been here over a month, but just now got around to visiting the Carlsbad Caverns.

Our friend, Mike, loaned us his bike for the day!

It was great fun to be in the wind again, and the ride was beautiful!

We arrived at the Caverns at 2:30 in the afternoon.  At that hour, they allow entrance only via the elevator to the Big Room.  The small elevator takes us 750 feet down inside the cavern.  Once down into the Big Room, there is a 1.3 mile loop that winds through this part of the Cavern.

 We didn't take the time to study all the Stalactites and Stalagmites and Helictites.  We simply enjoyed our walk through this amazing cavern, and stopped briefly to take a few pictures.

We're so glad we finally made the trip to the Caverns. 

 And what an added treat it was to be able to ride there.  Thank you Mike.

After a stop at Apache Junction, we  made our way back to Carlsbad,

where we picked up Chinese and took it home.

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Fire Burn by Night... Sun Burn by Day

Sheryl caught fire last night! 

but on the ball Jeff managed to get her put out before she was consumed.

DON'T WEAR YOUR NIGHT LOUNGE WEAR TO THE CAMP FIRE!!

This took off like we had never seen.  All of a sudden there were flames shooting up Sheryl's leg!  Both of us slapped at it while dancing around the fire.  Ruined lounge pants but just a singed leg.  That was last night.

Today it was SO warm... a very hot sun.  a little time in it and our skin is a slight burn.  It will turn to tan, we hope.  So nothing alarming with either really... just thought it made for a good title!

We dont have alot more to tell right now...

For Valentines Day we drove North 30 miles to Artesia, NM and had Italian for Valentines Day.  We thought we were going out for an early dinner, but the popular Italian Restaurant we had heard about turned  out to be a diner style Italian restaurant.  So the atmosphere wasnt what we were expecting, but they did have very good food.  We planned to see the town and do our grocery shopping, but we both felt so tired, we bought a few groceries to get us by for a few more days and came home.  From what we saw, there wasn't much to see... but we got out!

Jeff had a Valentines day card for me and a box of chocolates so we started the morning by sitting in bed eating chocolates and being romantic.  He had gone to town a few days before to get propane so he had a chance to get this for me.  I had no such chance.  But I made it up to him in other ways!

We will be out of here one week from today, and I think we are ready to move on... but where... which way will we turn when we get to the highway?  Isnt this fun?

ONE YEAR??

Yep!  We have been Full-Timers for One Year!

February 10 is the official date.  Feb.4 was our last day at our jobs.  Feb.8 we moved ourselves into our Prowler trailer.  Feb.10 we moved our trailer from our house to our friends property.  Feb.20 we passed the house keys on to renters.  Feb.28 we left for a 2 week stay at the Oregon Coast before heading South. 

We had some dilemna on what day to use for the "official date", but a Full-Time RVer is one who lives in their RV full-time... and we were doing that on Feb.10!  So there you have it... One Year!  We've lived 6 months in our Prowler travel trailer and 6 months in our new Big Country fifth wheel.

I want to put together a blog post looking back at our first year, but that will take some time. 

We're able to make another reservation now, so we have reserved our site through Feb.22nd.  At that point, want to or not, we probably better move on if we are to visit all the other areas we plan to before going back to Oregon in April for all our camp host commitments.


This little guy... well disguised, sat near us for over an hour



Jeff and neighbor friend Mike



6 months?  maybe we should do some cleaning!


We're looking forward to a good day in the warm sun.  Its suppose to be 80 or close to it.  Better get to it!

Moving Day... or Not?

Last night was 22 days at this site, and the limit is 21.  Even though nobody has reserved this site and the park only has a few of us here... after talking to the park host and one of the park rangers, it looked like we would either need to move to a site in the "first come" area, or move on.  So after much dilemna, we decided that we would get busy "breaking down camp".

 Jeff got to work outside... he got the chairs and the bikes loaded, packed up our new firepit, disconnected the barbeque... while I put things away inside and moved the furniture into their travel location.  I had everything in its place (perhaps in record time) when the Park Superintendant pulled up.  He apologized that he had been unavailable earlier, but told us that we could stay here at our site on a night by night basis, as long as no one reserved it.  SO... we didn't move!  We put everything back, then went into town for our semi-weekly grocery shopping.

The last few days have been alot warmer and sunny, but this afternoon a strong wind hit and is blowing in that cold front that you may be hearing about.  But its not suppose to be anything like we were hit with last week.  It should be back into the 60s and 70s by Friday.

Last Friday it warmed up... and the pipes and tanks thawed out... No breaks!!
Our friends, James and Laura showed up with little Callie and spent the day. 

Callie found a bone

the Sunshine felt so good, we enjoyed a fire

Jeff and Sheryl with little Callie

 

Awaiting the THAW...

Friday February 4

Today... we are anxiously awaiting for things to thaw. 

I've never been so excited for the temperature to reach 34 degrees!

Yesterday (Thur)... Tired of sitting inside the wheel house, staring at the snow and ice,

we decided to drive into town, and accomplish something. 

See that temperature?

kinda cool...

We have put off Laundry long enough... there isn't anything else to do in this cold,

so we might as well go wash clothes!

bored and cold

Now Jeff is happy.... he gets to wear clean underwear tomorrow!

Laundry is done!  Now if we can just get the pipes to thaw out so we can have a shower!!

My husband is the Breakfast King!


This has felt more like Winter in Canada!

Cant wait until its warm enough to really do some walking.  This is just too cold...
and its so much work to get bundled up for such a short walk.

James and Laura (and Callie) may be coming for a visit in a couple hours.  Sure wish I could get a shower before they get here... but it doesnt look like the thaw will happen that soon.

More Snow!!

This was the view out the back window this morning!

That view was beautiful, but also a bit deceiving;  Really, it didnt snow that much, much of that must have come from our roof.  But there is over an inch on the ground!

I can't wait for our morning walk!  But we will need to layer up... it is 9 degrees, with a "feels like" of MINUS 8!!

Snow and 18 degrees!

Yikes! It's Cold!  We knew it was coming, and we did our best to be prepared... but it's another learning experience.

We had the hose disconnected, and we thought we could use the fresh water tank with the internal pump, but it froze solid.  So we hooked the water hose back up for a few minutes to wash dishes today.

We watched the clouds roll in yesterday afternoon.

Early this evening it started to snow a little harder, and the forecast is Snow tonight and tomorrow.

With a Lo of 8 tonight and 5 tomorrow night... the Hi only 20!

How's your weather?