Finally Released & Two Crazy Weeks to Prepare for Alaska!!

Apache Junction, Arizona

Lost Dutchman State Park 

-- As of this writing, 5/29/24, we have been in British Columbia and Yukon Territory for just over a month.  Since we've been out of cell range most of this time, I am very behind in my blog postings.  Hopefully once we arrive in Alaska in a couple of days, I'll slowly catch up.--

We had another week before Steve's, hopefully, final eye check.  If he gets released, we'll head straight back home.  This will postpone our departure for our Alaska Trip about 2 weeks.  Otherwise, we'll still be here in Pheonix.

We went back to Lost Dutchman as it is closest to his doctor.

Still beautiful weather.  Strangely cool though.  

At least we got to cross paths with Ron & Rene once more this year.  We had some nice dinners and hiked a bit.

I think this is the same guy that flies around the campground each year.

Rene and Rufus on one last hike.

  

We then drove down to Eloy to spend a quick couple of days with Curt and Glenda.  We originally were going to have a week together, but that darn eye problem really cut our plans back.

We just visited and walked around looking at all the beautiful cactus that were blooming.  That's the bonus to being here later than we usually are in April.

Finally, Steve's eye had healed enough for us to leave. Woo-Hoo!  We visited with Bunny once more then headed back to Placerville.  It's been a couple of months that I have been driving so it was weird to have Steve back in the driver's seat.  He was happy about it!

We spent our first night boondocked out in Quartzite and had a great spot just off the highway.  The sliver of moon was just beautiful.

    

Lovely evening.

Then we drove to Wasco in California for an Elks Lodge overnight.  

Once closer to home the grasses were green, the cows were out and about and things were blooming.

We had a quick visit with all the kids but only got pictures with Kaylee.  We also checked in on her cats when she left for a vacation.

  

This crazy gal gave us a heart attack when she jumped up on a second story banister and then rolled around on it!

Our last visit was with my Mom and Uncle Danny.  Great to see him as it's been a year or so.  We only had 2 weeks to get everything done before leaving for Alaska so we had no time to visit with friends.

Those two weeks flew by as we worked all day and into each evening.  We had to clean out the trailer, pack out our Alaska clothes/stuff and clean it out.  We then parked it at a nice storage facility further up in the mountains so it wouldn't be sitting outside in 90s/100s.  It gets much cooler the further up "the hill" you go.  So we feel better that it'll be in the 80s.

We then had everything all over my Mom's garage as we finished up some little jobs in the camper and loaded it.  Thankfully we have great friends that came over to help remove the kayak rack and receiver.  Those are heavy tasks and Steve still wasn't supposed to lift much weight.  The truck box also had to come out and be stored.  Rick and Mike were a great help!  Mike also helped swap out the old generator with the new one.  No easy job!

We were exhausted each day but finally got it all done and headed out on April 25!  We were SO excited!  We'll meet up with Rick and Angie for the rest of the trip just over the border.  We will return in October once the snow pushes us out!!  So much to see and do!!