January (1)

Well, January 5, 2007, was the last work day for me, although I was still the elected Clerk until January 7 when the new clerk was sworn in. I took my staff to breakfast and they gave me lots of retirement cards and gifts. I really enjoyed my years as the Gem County clerk.

The bus garage had a really nice dinner for Terry. They presented him with lots of “gag” gifts and some really nice things. They assured him that he will be missed a lot. The fun things kept happening for several days until he finished his last workday on January 12.
B & W Fuels, about two blocks from our home and owned by the School Bus Shop Superintendent, left fun signs for us and the whole community to read.
They were a great bunch of people to work with.
We can’t believe it; we are finally on our way at about 9:00 a.m. on January 13. We started out really good. About three hours later we were parked in at Les Schwab in Twin Falls putting two new tires in the pickup. We stopped at a rest stop outside of Twin Falls and Terry spotted a tire that was separating. It is a good thing he spotted it because it could have blown really easily. What a way to start our retirement!!

January (2)

My Uncle Bud Imlay had passed away, so our first stop was in Ogden, UT, to park our trailer (the Condo) at my Aunt and Uncle’s Place, Terry & Nancy Imlay. We left it there on Saturday and spend the next two nights with our Daughter Sarah and her family at Dugway Proving Grounds where they live on Base. As for most of the West, this was record breaking cold. It was at least -10 every night and didn’t get up past 20 in the daytime. This was not our idea of warm-climate retirement! Sarah and the kids came back with us and spent the night in the Condo parked in Terry & Nancy’s driveway. Surprisingly, we all kept cozy and warm and went through two bottles of propane (the four days we were parked there)! The next day we attended Uncle Bud’s funeral. It was sad, but we did get to see a lot of relatives.











On January 17, we left Ogden and headed to St. George. The cold weather followed us, but warmed up a little. I actually used my internet air card and downloaded Travis’s medical dictation that I transcribe for him (my part-time job), and worked on it all the way to the RV park in St. George.
The St. George RV Park had most of the water frozen, but we squeezed in next to an RV that had water and shared their spicket. They said it was the coldest weather St. George had seen in 91 years.







We met a school chum of mine, Ruth Wynn Lunt, and her husband. They took us through Zions Park. It was beautiful, even with the unaccustomed snow and icicles. They took us on a drive around St. George. The Temple is beautiful. We were going to go through a session, but it was closed that week for cleaning.
We also got to see one of my Mom’s cousins, Joe and Ilyn Pitts. We took some old photos of our family and Joe scanned some of them. He is really into genealogy.
The last day at the park, we had to listen to a presentation from Western Horizons camping program. It is similar to the one we belong to. They were nice when we told them “no thank you” and they gave us the three nights free camping and a coupon for homemade cinnamon rolls the next morning. We are looking forward to warmer weather!











Saturday, January 20, 2007
We made to Wikieup! We did stop on the Way in Beaver Dam to see Uncle Dan and Joyce Fisher. Used to have a winter home (trailer) on our property in Wikieup, but since my Mom died in November, 2004, they would rather be closer to their grandson in Mesquite, NV, they bought a winter home there. It is really nice. We were anxious to get going, so we only stayed for a little while and went on.
Hoover Dam made us nervous, not knowing if they allowed large RV’s over it, so we took the long way around through Laughlin and Bullhead City. What a hill coming out of Bullhead City--we thought we would never reach the top! We got to Wikieup, with a balmy temperature of 45 degrees and warming. We parked the first two nights at Dazzo’s Restaurant & RV Park. The best thing about it was it has wireless internet and we only had to pay $10/night because it was a Passport America park.


That evening, we got settled and then went out to “Nettie’s Place.” It was so good to see it, especially knowing that it would be our home for the winter (and hopefully many winters to come.) We opened up the house and everything looked fine, only a few signs of mice and, of course, the usual packrat in the outhouse. Dutch Odekirk, our friend and neighbor, has been here since the last of November. We visited with him and then went back to the Condo. The next day, Sunday, we went to Church at the Wikieup Branch. It happened to be their Branch Conference. They thought we were just some of the Stake visitors until they realized who we were. They seemed excited that we will be here until the end of March. They had a potluck at the church after the conference was over. They talked us into staying, even though we hadn’t brought any food.






After church we went back out to the place and got everything turned on. Everything was fine, except, of course, no water. We even cooked a spaghetti dinner before we left to go to Terry and Monte Burches to see if we could park the Condo at their house. They said it would be fine. The road getting into the place is very rough and has to cross Sycamore Wash, which has so much sand in it this year that the Condo would probably get stuck. Our place is pretty much land-locked when it rains and water comes down Sycamore Wash. So, now our big job is to try to get water and to get the old road opened back up. Good luck! Oh, we saw two havalina (sp) pigs on the way out—the first we have ever seen.

January (3)

Today, Monday, we move the Condo to Terry and Monte’s and moved into Mom’s house. We found a 55-gal barrel, filled it from one of the wells, and borrowed a spicket for the barrel from Dutch.

We have running (?) water? Dutch drinks the artesian water, but we can’t handle drinking it. It is quite warm, probably about 95 degrees.
I talked to Larry Turner, a partner in AZ Big Sandy, who owns the land with the wells. I have been corresponding with him for the last several months. I asked him if they had considered whether they would let us hook back up to their well. They had disconnected the water that Mom had when she was alive, because the property had changes hands and they didn’t want there to be any type of water rights with the sale. He said they had discussed it and decided it would be no problem if we would sign a letter stating that it is not permanent and could be disconnected at any time. HURRAY!

Tuesday—we have water to the house and a hose going to Dutch’s. But, for some reason, we can’t get water into the house. Hope we can figure it out, but if we can’t, at least we have it this far. Terry has been working on getting the “RV spaces” cleaned up. He moved Uncle Dan’s little trailer over to my cousin’s 5-acres. Now he is working on getting the old camper and car over there.

It has warmed up to 70 degrees and the lizards are out!

Wednesday we spent all day digging up water lines, unhooking them, and blowing them out. But it paid off and we now have running water in the house.

There is a little roadrunner that hangs out around the place and is getting pretty friendly. This is the first time we have seen a roadrunner. I hope he stays all winter.










It is great to have running water. It is warm, but still a little chilly for a shower, as I found out Thursday morning. Afterwards, Terry lit the propane hot water heater for his shower! I have been going into Wikieup to download Travis’s dictation at Dazzo’s using their wireless internet and then take it home to transcribe. Today it took me about an hour to get the finished dictation into his files and sent to him. During that time, Terry learned how to do laundry at a Laundromat (also at Dazzo’s). I think he will become quite proficient, in time.
We spent all day Friday in Kingman. We got groceries, a new toilet seat for the outhouse, pipe to repair the water line, and a toilet plunger to wash clothes. (I learned from an RV magazine how you can use a 5-gal bucket and a toilet plunger to wash clothes. I remember Mom washing diapers that way many yeas ago.)

We also met with the BLM and ADOT about letting us put a gate in where they fenced off the road we had used to get into the place for fifteen years. They fenced off the road several years ago when they said the gate had been left open too many times and cattle might get out on the State highway. Since then, they have made the highway a two-lane/divided highway and are now saying that the access is unsafe. We have discussed this problem with them for the past two years, and they still say “no.” Finally, BLM said we could use the road if ADOT would give their permission to put a gate in, which they doubted they would do. We went to ADOT and they said they would set up a meeting with all parties and let us know when the meeting will be. We will keep our fingers crossed, but aren’t counting on it happening.

Terry had put up a feeder and a hummingbird came today.

January (4)

We helped Burches move into their new modular home on Saturday. Afterwards they took us to the local Gem Cannon (sp) and bought us a hamburger. This is kind of a rodeo only they only to barrels and bend poles and a couple of other events. It was fun. We got to watch Chelsie Burch do the barrels on her horse.
Sunday we went to Church (no potluck today). That afternoon, we were cleaning up the porch. When we moved the wood box, a mouse or rat ran out from under it. The front porch is looking really nice.

Monday, January29, 2007
We worked outside all day today. We finished cleaning the porch and found a big rat under a cupboard! I had cleaned under it the day before, but hadn’t lifted it up all the way. The rat almost ran in the open door into the house! Then Terry said there is also a rat living in the outhouse. I told him if it popped its head out while I was sitting in there, it would NOT be a petty site! I planted peas today. We should be eating peas by the end of March.
The man we have been talking to at ADOT called today and said he had talked to his boss and they see no reason we have a temporary access to the old road!!! I can’t believe it! He at first said we would have to put in a cattle guard (very expensive), but when I told him there were only three parties that would access the road (he thought there were more people living up here), he said we may only have to put in a swinging gate, but we would be responsible if the gate were left open and then the permit would be taken away. He said to call him back on Wednesday to find out for sure what will be required. We are trying not to get too excited until then, but it would be so nice to be able to pull our Condo in and have a good road for our friends and family to use when they come to visit.
We had a big bonfire on Tuesday to burn all of the weeds, trees, and other things we have gathered to get rid of. We planted a Joshua tree at the front step and I planted pansies. We pulled all of the dead flowers out and pruned the rose bushes.
Larry Turner from AZ Big Sandy came by with a paper for me to sign stating that the water hook-up is not a permanent situation and could be turned off at any time. He said it was just a formality and is looking forward to working with us. We hope it stays that way because it is sure nice to have running water! He also said that he is going to develop his property next us and that within the next four months he will have a roughed-in road where the new County road will be. (We will wait and see!) We told him that we may be getting a temporary permit to open the old road and he offered his help wherever needed.

Our Home on Wheels

Here is our new home, beginning the middle of January. Yes, we have decided to change our lifestyle and become full-time RVer's for a while. We will be headed to Wikieup, AZ, where our family owns property. We will keep a journal on this blog so our friends and family can keep up with our adventures.