Merriment then Madness
So this is how March started in the desert! Brrrrr!
Meet Ranger, our mascot who you may find in photos from time to time 😉
We continued on our work list, but March also marks our Nomad-a-versary, this time year #4 of being nomads. As a break from Alaska prep, we returned to our roots of finding fun things to do. Our first event was to go to Mescal Movie set nearby, which had just reopened and was being used again as a set for movies and commercials. It was fun to learn about all the classic western movies and TV shows that had been filmed here as well as imagine some of the iconic actors who walked these streets. Our guides re-enacted some scenes and were true western movie history buffs (talking about you here, Lt. Dan). Highly recommend!
Our second fun event was to take the Ladder Tour at Colossal Cave. There were eleven ladders, some narrow walkways and tight squeezes.
Four fingers for the fourth nomad-a-versary!
This photo was taken with a black light to show that some of the rocks glowed.
Our wonderful friends Marvin and Dee from Granbury Texas swung by in their travels to help us celebrate and I think they had more fun exploring the Benson area this winter than we did! Lingering over a great breakfast is a favorite morning ritual when we are together and they find the best spots.
Benson is a cute little town with fun murals on many of the buildings.
Ah, back to work, time is ticking! We went through the Jeep and RV, deep cleaned the interiors and moved out items we’d need for Alaska. Larry made orders and more orders as he prepared for the solar, battery and electric upgrade mid-March. I made ferry reservations, bought Canada Parks passes, booked tours in Fairbanks and Homer as well as continuing plans for hikes, camping and boondock spots and classic Alaska eats. The documents for the Ram registration in Florida finally came in, and we eventually did get our Florida plates after sending, returning and resending paperwork to make sure both our names were on the registration. Just a note here to say that we’ve found Pirate Ship is a great way to send packages and mail with a decent discount. Their customer service and general attitude is top notch as well.
Larry spent a week on the high desert plateau east of St Johns, Arizona with our friends the Gloneks. Eddie is a wizard on solar and electrical upgrades who has helped us in the past with our Coachman, and he lives totally off grid with his wife and daughter. The weather was unhelpful, with sleet, snow, fierce winds and tons of Juniper pollen to top things off! However, he and Larry worked diligently to get us ready to be off grid in Alaska.
The batteries that came with the Ute were ok, but…
These two Big Beard batteries are 560 amp hrs /6.7 kWh of Lithium power!
Upgraded the two solar panels to four with 800 watts total.
More electrical outlets in convenient spots—this one is for our dc heated mattress pad which we love.
3000w inverter – install is beauty and elegant simplicity with very little space to work with! They did more, of course, than was on their list and that I could mention here.
When Larry got back we took a short jaunt together to visit our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. It is so much fun to watch their future unfold knowing their faith in God and love for each other.
The last bit of March was true madness finishing up the must-do’s on the list, especially for getting the RV and Jeep ready for storage.
RV differential fluid change, but also battery disconnect and trickle charger on the Jeep, wash and wax both vehicles…see February’s list. It got done.
And finally we were finishing up the last packing and dropping off our home of four years at the NIRVC in Surprise.
Larry even figured out how to store the bikes inside the RV.
They’re both in there, somewhere! (Actually at the back of the first row to the left)
One last hug goodbye!
March is over and here we are in Congress, Arizona on the 31st.
The adventures continue and the journey to Alaska begins!
“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough”
-Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
24th president of Liberia, first female head of state in Africa
Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
March is Women’s History Month.