Chris and Deb joined us for a week on March 11. Beth Monroe O’Brian came over on the 15th and visited with us for a while. She lived by Deb growing up, and they had fun talking about old neighbors and friends. Beth has been a full-time RV’er for eight years. Tim and I love getting information and advice from her! She is a wealth of knowledge!

We had a small reunion with some Rooney cousins on March 15 and 16. John and Canda Rooney and Mike and Gail Urbanski helped us celebrate an early St. Patrick’s Day! I made my annual batch of Irish stew and beer bread. We had a great time catching up! Since our little RV isn’t large enough for entertaining, the resort let us use a meeting room for four hours, so we had a comfortable place to eat and visit. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a group picture!

We have been spending lots of time on the shuffleboard and bocce ball courts. Tim plays cornhole with a group as well. I’m not big on cornhole, so I’m just sticking to shuffleboard and bocce. Tim joined the hiking club here, so he has been out on some pretty incredible trails.

The last time we were here, I met this lovely lady, Bert Harris. She always had a big smile and a laugh that was infectious! Jonna and I went with her to the movies and would always look for her at the pool for water aerobics. I would see her somewhere almost every day. This year, I didn’t run into her and started asking around to see if anyone knew where she was or if something had happened to her. No one knew.

On Wednesday, I was walking through the laundry, and I heard that wonderful laugh—there she was! I scared the heck out of her when I screamed her name and ran up to give her a big hug! I am so thankful she is well and still here. She was heading out this week and won’t return until after I’m gone, so we only had a chance to grab lunch, but I was so happy to see her!

The resort is starting to clear out. Most folks are leaving before it gets too hot. Our wonderful friends from Canada left on the 26th. They both had BIG motorhomes, and when they left, the street looked deserted! We had so much fun getting to know them!

Today, Tim—aka Curmudgeon (his trail name)—hit the AZ Trail again. Last year, he had to stop halfway through because of a hernia. Today, I drove him three hours north of here to the place he had to get off last year. After struggling with his map app, we finally found the trail. Now, as long as he stays healthy and safe, he will get the last 425-ish miles in. I will pick him up in Utah, hopefully in a month. He was excited to be hiking again!

I am hopeful he can complete this hike! I remember when he was 60 and hiking the AT, he was so impressed with this “OLD GUY” hiking all 2,200 miles of the AT. The OLD GUY was 73 years old! Well, now Tim is 73 and a half, hiking in the desert and mountains. I pray he can finish this goal—without incident!

Fountain Hills, AZ, was 30 miles before I dropped him off, so I returned to look up an old friend! Chris Dysinger and I were best friends for many years back in the day! We met for lunch and had a great time. It had been two years since Tim and I met her and her sister, Jane, when passing through the area. So fun to see her.

I got back to our site just before sunset and was able to get the RV hooked back up. I will be staying at the resort until April 22. I feel safe being here alone. I’ve made some great friends who aren’t heading out until May 1. I am also able to leave the camper here for a week when I fly out to HH to join my son, Sean, and his family for a week. I return on the 20th, then head to Sun City on the 22nd to visit with family for a couple of days before heading to Prescott Valley and Sedona to visit more family and wait for the call to pick up the Curmudgeon!

I found Bert! But, Curmudgeon is gone (hiking).

Curmudgeon and The Little Frenchman

Two Months on the Road