It's Good to Be Back Amongst the Living

Being sick at home is bad enough, but being sick away from home is worse. I have to say, though, if it had to be, this was the place for it to be. This is the first time I've parked in a Casino Parking lot, but it's clean, well manicured, and having full hookups was a blessing. I think besides a head cold and other issues, this hasn't helped me.

Harvested Hay--that's why I'm sneezing so much!

I'm happy to say my fridge is working without crossing my fingers. The big test will be the ride down to Albuquerque on Saturday. I'm feeling confident.

I hate the noise of the air condition in the trailer so I found this for a good price. I can barely hear it when it's running and it keeps fresh air moving through the trailer. Hmmm...now where is it going to ride. It collapses so I'm going to put it way up at the top the bed and buffer it with pillows. We'll see how it works out.

Now for the ride, I didn't want to drive 200 miles over the mountains. I'll be doing a lot of driving to pick Susan up and when I'm with her, but I love to drive on dirt roads. There is so much to see. I've decided that the mountains are beautiful to look at, but the valleys are really prettier. Miles of green fields and streams and lakes abound.

Wonder where this goes

So, I decided to take a ride back over to Bayfield. There were still some back roads that I had missed while I was there. I went to Valencia Lake and Lemon Reservoir. I wanted to thank the people at Pura Vida Cafe for helping me look for my purse. I sat on their deck overlooking the lake and had lunch--no yellow jackets, today.

Such a beautiful place to have lunch

This is Lemon Reservoir. I think the one that Pura Vida overlooks is Valencia. I hope I have that right, now.

I also wanted to go and see the spot where Lizzie beat Jack to a stick in the water when Rich threw it. I wanted to take a picture and video to send to Susan because she was with us. I also wanted to take a picture of the log I was sitting on when Jack shook himself all over my lunch. What a dope I am. Here's the log.

Wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't gone on in the video to Susan, in great detail, that I was sure this was the log. LOL

It was such a pleasant day, riding with all the windows open. I even found the actual little town of Bayfield. As many roads as I had driven on in the area, I somehow missed the town. I didn't stop, but it's a cute little place. I thought this was a cute house--one I'd like to live in.

I took pictures of horses and cows, and then I came across some sheep. Made me think of the old westerns where the cattle and sheep ranchers were always fighting one another. The simple things that amused our minds in those days. I wouldn't be surprised if President Reagan was in a couple of them.

I called him, but he wouldn't come.

There was a herd, but he was closest.

I couldn't get great pictures because as you can see, this is cattle country and privately owned land that is protected by fences.

I also love the Aspens and have always wanted to see them in fall colors. I may just come back up for a week after I drop Susan off. I think that's the peak time. I was talking to an old rancher, today, and I told him how everyone local was saying it was going to be an early winter and how I wondered how they knew. He said in a slow drawl, "Well, there's a lot of things that I can tell by, but the birds left earlier than usual this year." He didn't mention any other reasons.

I returned back to the casino about three o'clock and decided to stop and try to lose the rest of my $20 allowance. It took me half an hour. I'm not a gambler, it bores me, but I tried the slot machines. I was up to almost $50 the first night I was here. I was actually playing only because I thought I got a lot for my money being able to stay here, and wanted to give back a little. I finally did it in. :) I've always hesitated about parking at casinos, but I've changed my mind since being here because they are usually along main routes and easy pull ins. I don't know if they are all as affordable and as nice as this one, but I'll check one out on the way home.

Well that sums it up for the day. Tomorrow, I want to check tires, etc., to prepare for the trip down to the big "A" of the west. After Susan leaves, I need to find a place to have my oil changed. That concludes this report; you can now return to scheduled programming. :)