Our RV Adventures

and your Russells…at least according to George Stoltz.

George is one of several RV’ers who aren’t happy when Nick and I are palling around together, because readers who follow both our blogs pretty much only get one version.

Sorry ‘bout that.

After coffee about 10, and leftover Da Boyz spaghetti and pizza at 11, about 12:15 we did our first two-way Skype call with Landon, Brandi, and Lowell. We had done a Skype call two weeks ago, but Landon couldn’t see us since we didn’t have our camera yet. But now we do.

And it was obvious he could see us now, as he kept laughing and reaching for the laptop screen when we talked to him.

And he’s sitting up pretty much on his own now. And at 7 months, he’s gotten so tall he’s wearing 12 month sizes now.

Day before yesterday, Brandi sent this really cute video of Landon waking up in the morning. I finally decided to set up a YouTube account to make it easier to post videos here.  Enjoy!

After our adventure in Skyping, I got back to work on pulling up the last of the carpet so I can finally start laying our new Allure laminate flooring. The only carpet left is what’s under the driver’s seat, so I removed the four bolts holding the seat to the mounting plate,

and then the single large bolt that holds the plate to the coach floor.

Work, work, work.

On another note, one of our favorite TV shows is “My Life is A Zoo” on NatGeo Wild. On DirecTV, it’s channel 283. On Dish or cable, your mileage may vary.  

It’s the story of Bud and Carrie, who own and operate the DeYoung Family Zoo in the Upper Peninsular of Michigan near the town of Wallace, which is only about a mile or so out of Wisconsin. And it’s a place we hope to visit later this year as we head back in that direction.

Anyway, in one of those weird coincidences, a 5’er had pulled in next to us earlier in the day, and then later I was outside talking to them.

When they said they were from the UP, I mentioned that we had heard the area was beautiful, and planned to visit there this year. I then commented that one of the places we wanted to visit was the DeYoung Family Zoo near Wallace.

The husband smiled and said he knew exactly where it was, because Carrie, was his son-in-law’s niece.

(Cue the Twilight Zone theme here)

Later, I went back to carefully pulling up the carpet. I say carefully, because I need to leave the carpet that rises up under the pedals, since the laminate won’t bend up like that.

Nick called around 4:30 to have us meet him, Terry, and his cousin Beverly. at eegee’s, a local chain that has great sandwiches and fruit drinks. Another really good choice by Nick and Terry.

With Luke’s Italian Beef, Lucky Wishbone, and now eegee’s, Nick’s batting a 1000. Great places to eat.

Coming home, we stopped by Wal-Mart for stuff and then were home by about 7.

Around 10:30 I went outside to get some photos of the Supermoon that occurs tonight. The Supermoon is just where the moon happens to be full when it’s also at the closest point to the Earth in its orbit. And this is the closest its been in 18 years.

Despite all the hype about earthquakes and other natural disasters because the moon is so close, it’s only 1/4000 of a percent closer than it was last year. So fat chance.

Tomorrow looks to be another “work around the rig” day. I want to keep working on the floor, and Nick and I both need to check the water level in our coach batteries.

More tomorrow from sunny Tucson . . .

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Thought for the Day:

I suffer from Aibohphobia – the fear of palindromes.

asdf

First off, I forgot to post this St. Patrick’s Day photo of Landon yesterday, and was chastised by our daughter Brandi.

Mea Culpa.

This morning was an early start, with absolutely no coffee to help.

About 10am, Nick and Terry Russell, and Jan and I headed north on I-10 about 55 miles to revisit the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, located near Picacho Peak.

Here’s a better photo of Picacho Peak from the Web.

We got there about 11:15 and waited a few minutes for our friend Jeanne Sparks to arrive from Casa Grande to visit with us.

Nick and Terry had been here before, and we were here in February 2008 on our way to Alaska.

After collecting our animal feed cups and lorikeet nectar, we entered the animal enclosure to first encounter the Fallow Deer area.

Jan was very popular, and it was funny to watch try to feed each one separately and be sure that everyone got their share.

Then it was on to the ostrich area to try and feed these hungry birds while retaining all our fingers. And it wasn’t easy, believe me. Sometimes it was like feeding a nest of snakes.

Is this a kind and gentle face, or what?

They had a photo of what a baby one looks like. They sell all their fertilized eggs overseas so they don’t have any babies at the ranch.

One treat was getting to meet Rooster himself.

Next it was on to the goats. Known as the Hole In The Wall Gang, the goats are a lot more fun (and safe) to feed than the ostriches.

The Sicilian Donkeys weren’t really hungry, but they did like to be petted, and were a big hit with the little kids.

Then finally, it was Jan’s favorite, the Lorikeets.

They give you little cups of nectar which the Lorikeets love, and will swarm all over you to get it.

Our friend Jeanne certainly has her hands full.

These are really beautiful, colorful birds, and much friendlier than the ostriches.

It was funny to watch them dive under the water in their bathing pond, then fluff up their feathers and fly up to the top of the cage in the sun to dry off.

All together now. “Awwwww”

Our next treat was the Monster Truck Tour around the ranch, something we had not done last time. The Tour is a combination of sightseeing and motocross jumping.

The 50 minute ride took us around the feeding and breeding areas of the ranch, interspersed with wild bumps and jumps across and over ditches and ravines.

We also got to see an ostrich nest in the wild, although they usually take the eggs from the next and incubate them as soon as possible because of local predators like javelinas and bobcats.

Our next adventure was Ostrich Fishing.

There is a bolt on the end of the string, and you stick it in quarter section of grapefruit, and let the fun began.

They said if you could land one on the platform, you could have it. I wanted to ask if I could just shoot one and reel it in, but Jan wouldn’t let me.

Bummer!

They’re supposed to be real tasty.

And lastly, here’s the Fantastic Four, caught in the act. We had a great time here, and it’s well worth your time if you’re in the area.

We left Rooster’s about 1pm and headed across the Interstate to the Bowlin’s gift shop, one of Jan’s favorites. She loves their earring selection, and found another pair she really likes.

Then we drove back into Tucson to have lunch at another of Nick’s favorite places, The Lucky Wishbone.

It’s kind of a fast food place, but serves things like steak fingers, and chicken livers and gizzards, along with chicken strips, shrimp, fish, and fried chicken.

Once again, Nick’s recommendation was right on target. Really good.

After stopping off to visit Nick’s cousin Beverly, we got home about 5:30, and it seemed like a good time for a short nap.

And of course, about 7:30 we drove over to the DQ in Vail.

Anything to just stop the sniveling!

That’s it for today. More tomorrow.

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Thought for the Day:

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt."—Bertrand Russell

asdf