November 24 - November 28 Final Days in Tucson

After our walk and breakfast, Gene Kelley the RV mechanic came about 10:30 and got started on replacing our front legs. He had a terrible time getting them out due to the construction of the RV. At the end of the day he said he’d have to come back on Friday to finish. We were concerned about our bill going up but I guess he’s going to try and get more money from the service contract we have as he only charged what he originally told us he would charge.

Carole and Herb dropped off the valance. They picked it up when they picked up their chair. After they left and we had lunch we hung the valance but decided we wanted to secure it better than with only 3 screws into the ceiling paneling.

Airplane gravelard in Tucson on the
Davis Monathan Air Force Base

I did one load of wash and once that was drying we left. We visited 2 other RV parks so we’d have some idea of what else is available next time we’re in Tucson. We went to 2 used bookstores and Bill cleaned up. I think he found 11 books, so that should keep him for a while. I found 2 and a cookbook. We made a quick stop at Ace to get some panel nails to fix a piece of trim and paneling in the RV and L brackets to better secure the valance. When we got home I made risotto to take to dinner at Carole’s and did my trim and paneling repairs.

When we got to Carole’s, she and Janet were still out shopping. They ended up only being a few minutes behind us and the meatballs were in the crockpot and ready so dinner was quickly on the table. We all watched a sow Bill wanted to see and then we headed back to the RV where we watched a couple of shows, I cook my sweet potatoes for tomorrow then I read on my book for an hour.

November 25 – We slept in today and got a late start on our walk. I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast and we did some “chores” before getting started on my sweet potato casserole to take for lunch. We were eating at 2 so we had some time. We left the RV at about 12:45 for Carole and Herb’s. Everyone was there and bustling around in the kitchen. I stayed clear as there were too many cooks in the kitchen for my comfort level. Everyone had their assigned jobs.

Xena and her blanket at Carole's

We had quite a spread of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, rutabaga, 2 kinds of cranberries, gravy, rolls, olives, stuffed celery and green bean casserole. I think everyone was full to the gills when we left the table. We didn’t get into the pies until much later. After lunch some took naps, some watched TV and football and some went over the Black Friday ads before we made it back to the kitchen for pie. There was pumpkin, apple and razzleberry with your choice of ice cream or whipped topping. I can only vouch for the razzleberry and it was sooo good.

Bill and I went home at 6 to feed the girls and take Xena out. They each had special Thanksgiving food too. Xena always eats hers but Molly didn’t care for the turkey at all. She would only lick the broth off so I gave the turkey leftovers to Xena and gave Molly some salmon and rice and she chowed down on that. Not much on TV for specials and reruns. We both went to bed at 10 since I had to get up at 4:40 to go shopping.

November 26 – From 2 AM on I kept checking the clock to make sure it went off and I didn’t miss my 4:40 AM wake up call. I made it up, dressed, made a cup of tea to go, ate a banana and did a couple of emails before my ride arrived. First stop was El Con Mall to the JC Penney and Target. I did some great shopping at Penney’s and got some super deals and another 15% off with a coupon from Carole. Didn’t buy much at Target but sure enjoyed my Gingerbread Latte at the Starbucks there.

Then we stopped at Michaels and I only got a couple of stocking stuffers there too. Saw a saguaro cactus that lights up that I’d like but they didn’t have any more, only a display one that was made into a big floral arrangement thing. We will check again on Sunday to see if they get more in, but I think they won’t get another truck until next week.

The ladies met up with the guys at McDonald’s at about 9:30 so Carole and Herb could visit with their bus driver retiree friends. Since all I’d had was a banana and a latte I was ready for something more substantial. Carole had coupons so Bill and I got a buy one get one breakfast sandwich. We visited with everyone til almost 11 as the RV guy was to be back at 11 to replace the parts on the gas tanks and finish something on the level legs. He arrived right on time and in addition to completing his tasks, he gave us some good tips on RV products and suggestions on better ways to do things.

The latest family photo

After he was finished we headed over to Carole’s to visit and for dinner. Tera and JD had left about 15 minutes before we got there, so Xena got to go too. JD had to work on Saturday and they weren’t sure what traffic would be like. We had leftovers for dinner and that was fine as everyone was tired from the early start today. After dinner Bryan and Carole set up the living room for a family photo shoot. We haven’t all been together in probably 4 years so they wanted an updated photo of the 6 of us. We laughed and laughed at Carole trying to set her timer and Bryan trying to use his remote and of course generally harassing each other. We had our healthy dose of laughter, that’s for sure.

Then we left before 9 so we could see Blue Bloods at the Rv. Ended up being a repeat so we read instead.

November 27 – Bryan and Janet wanted to leave around 9:30 so we got up early enough to have our walk, breakfast, showers and get to Carole’s at about 9:15. They had their truck loaded and were pretty much ready to go when we arrived. We visited a few minutes before the good-byes. We invited them to come to Florida for a visit, told them what a good visit we had and had our good bye hugs. They were going to stop in Phoenix for a bit more shopping, then lunch before getting back to Camp Verde.

Once they left, Carole, Herb and us loaded in the truck and went out to Camping World. They were looking for an end table for their RV and we were looking for the parts to use our RV propane to fuel our grill and eliminate carrying the extra tank. We also got some new kind of stuff to use in our black water tank. Then we went to check out a couple of RV parks again. One was not an RV park but a park model place and the other was huge, about 1,000 spaces. Most were park models but they had 2 large sections for RV’s that were pet friendly also. A lot were pull thrus and Bill was pleased with that. At least now we have 3 places we’ve checked out for the next time we are here and we know more about what they all have and don’t have.

Xena and Kelly in the
recliner

We dropped Carole and Herb off, then we made a quick stop at the grocery for out trip home. Since we won’t be unhooking until we get to MS, it will be tough getting into a grocery store. We went home for lunch, took Xena for a walk, and visited with our neighbor who had a 2007 Cedar Creek. Bill cleaned what he could reach of the front of the RV and then I got on the roof and did down as far as I could reach and lubricated the antenna. We called Carole and told them we’d be over around 5:45 to go out to dinner. We decided to go to Texas Roadhouse. There was a 20-30 minute wait but a woman gave us her wait ticket as she gave up so we got in pretty much on time. Everyone was stuffed when we left. Those peanuts and rolls will do it.

We stayed a while and watched TV and then we headed home to take Xena out and ended up reading. Most of the shows over the holiday weekend are repeats so not much of interest on the TV.

November 28 – Sunday morning and our last day to sleep in for the next week! I finally got up at 8:30. Then we went for our morning walk and it was nice out. As the day progressed it got colder out. I made bacon, fruit, toast and eggs for Bill and fruit, bacon and a bagel for me. Then we finally got dressed and went over to pick up Carole and Herb. They went with us to Trader Joes. I wanted to get more orange chicken to take home and a few bottles of wine that I tried and liked. We dropped them off and went to fill our empty propane tank and fill up the truck for our getaway tomorrow.

When we got back to the RV is when it started getting colder. I made lunch while Bill started putting our outdoor things away. After lunch we put the stand in the back of the truck for Xena and Molly and I put some things away inside. It’s been nice to be in one spot for 2 weeks. I think we’ll start spending a minimum of 4-5 days at places on our next trip and most we’ll stay a week or more. We were concerned that a 5th wheel was going to park across from us, creating a bit of a problem for us to get hitched in the AM, but they ended up one space further over, so we were relieved. We left at 3:30 to go back to Carole’s so I could put a venison roast in the oven. A nice one pot meal will be easy to put on the table.

When we arrived in Tucson the weather was awesome. Capri daytime weather and chilly nights. Now it’s gotten cold during the day so you need long pants and jackets and in the high 30’s at night. Glad we got in for the good stuff!

My right knee gave out on me twice today and I was down. It happened going down our few little steps. I have felt some twinges the last few days but this was the first that it gave out on me and is hurting with any twist of my knee. Bill is worried I won’t be able to drive home.

While dinner cooked, Bill and Herb watched football and Carole read the paper and I caught up on my journal and talked with Carole. We ate at 6:30 and everyone was pleased with dinner. I made gravy too and we all filled up. There were enough leftovers for Bill and I to take home so we would have a ready made dinner tomorrow night on the road. We had a teary goodbye when we left at 8. We always have such a good time with Carole and Herb, whether it’s sitting and watching TV or being out and about during the day. It’s always hard to say goodbye.