First Snowbird adventure
I know, to many of you this sort of stuff is mundane, but to us first timers, everything is new and exciting! This is actually why we became interested in the first place. We left east central Ind...
Forum Discussion
Good morning, Pilgrims! I have the good and the hard to report. We try to steer clear of describing things that happen to us as "bad". We would rather use "hard". Because even the most catastrophic things can teach us and bring us to a better understanding, if we accept the test for what it is and be grateful.
The good is a wonder filled time at Saguaro National Park! Very near to where we are camping, I was glad to find my senior pass I bought last year for national parks, got us in free! Woopie! Free is always good. (Well, you know, I paid for the pass, but....) I am amazed at some of the facts associated with this part of creation. Saguaro cactus can draw in up to 200 gallons of water, per rain incident, through root fibers that only swell and activate when exposed to moisture. This lasts them until the next rain. Must work pretty well, they can leave from 175-200 years!
We were also amazed at the diversity of vegetation in the park. There are probably a dozen or more species of cacti as well as iron wood and mesquite trees, and some other bushes. You wouldn't think many animals could live here, but there are many, mostly nocturnal, find their place in the sun (or moon, as it were). Very nice walk, but we had a well established trail. One obscure fact about me is my love of Louis L'mour novels. This area is the setting for many of his books, and I have learned many useful facts about the desert terrain from him. I came away from this jaunt with a sincere gratitude for the Ford dually I drive. Had it been 100 years ago and us on horses, well, you can just imagine, a whole different ball game! I have wished myself back in that time more than once, but that is from a place of a cozy room with all the comforts this culture affords.
Now for the hard part, we are still struggling with our refrigerator. From a phone call to my friend back home, I tried a different diagnostic task, and this morning woke up to a warm fridge, again. The result indicates a sealed system problem. This is terminal, so now we're shopping for a new fridge! I'm still waiting for the blessing from this test! Thanks to the previous poster, with whom I agree. Something is always going to break. Just the nature of stuff, especially when bouncing down the road. Even if you buy new, that doesn't mean nothing will go wrong.
We continue to enjoy how we're living and plan to take a couple local trails, here at this park, today. Be safe, Campers, and watch out for snakes!
The good is a wonder filled time at Saguaro National Park! Very near to where we are camping, I was glad to find my senior pass I bought last year for national parks, got us in free! Woopie! Free is always good. (Well, you know, I paid for the pass, but....) I am amazed at some of the facts associated with this part of creation. Saguaro cactus can draw in up to 200 gallons of water, per rain incident, through root fibers that only swell and activate when exposed to moisture. This lasts them until the next rain. Must work pretty well, they can leave from 175-200 years!
We were also amazed at the diversity of vegetation in the park. There are probably a dozen or more species of cacti as well as iron wood and mesquite trees, and some other bushes. You wouldn't think many animals could live here, but there are many, mostly nocturnal, find their place in the sun (or moon, as it were). Very nice walk, but we had a well established trail. One obscure fact about me is my love of Louis L'mour novels. This area is the setting for many of his books, and I have learned many useful facts about the desert terrain from him. I came away from this jaunt with a sincere gratitude for the Ford dually I drive. Had it been 100 years ago and us on horses, well, you can just imagine, a whole different ball game! I have wished myself back in that time more than once, but that is from a place of a cozy room with all the comforts this culture affords.
Now for the hard part, we are still struggling with our refrigerator. From a phone call to my friend back home, I tried a different diagnostic task, and this morning woke up to a warm fridge, again. The result indicates a sealed system problem. This is terminal, so now we're shopping for a new fridge! I'm still waiting for the blessing from this test! Thanks to the previous poster, with whom I agree. Something is always going to break. Just the nature of stuff, especially when bouncing down the road. Even if you buy new, that doesn't mean nothing will go wrong.
We continue to enjoy how we're living and plan to take a couple local trails, here at this park, today. Be safe, Campers, and watch out for snakes!
