QUARANTINED IN BC

After making a fast for us trip north from Arizona, we are now sitting in limbo in our friend Karen’s driveway in Penticton.  We made it in four days, three nights, avoiding RV parks and people.  We stayed in an abandoned gas station north of Alamo the first night then in a quiet little rest area along Hwy 30 west of Buhl, ID the second night.  Our last night was at the Wildhorse Casino east of Pendleton, OR which was pretty quiet since the casino was closed.  There were quite a number of RVs though doing the same as us.

We are able to go for walks and even drives if we want but we can’t go where other people are.  Getting groceries will be a challenge as the only friend able to help us is handicapped by a broken ankle and depending on her friends to drive her about.

On our walk after supper last night I was able to find three geocaches.  So that is something we can do to get us out of the motor home to help us getting some exercise.  It will be a long 14 days although in theory our four days on the road should be part of it.  I don’t think we want to be very socially active when it is done either so we don’t contact someone who is carrying the virus.

Our last AZ sunset

On the north side of Greater Phoenix there were miles of this

Nevada 318

For those so adamant that we come north, wish you were here!

Nearing Wells, Nevada on 93

Nearing Wells, Nevada on 93

Heading north from Wells on 93 and yes soon we were in another snow squall

Male Scaups

Canada Goose

There were lots of different waterfowl at the Hagerman Rest Stop

Canada Geese

Meadowlark on our evening stroll near the rest stop

DECISION MADE - NORTHBOUND IN THE MORNING

We decided this morning that even though we would like to stay until the end of the month to enjoy what is going to be a great year for wildflowers and to do several things still on our list, it was time to head home.   We've had heavy rain this afternoon which the desert will appreciate.  We are all packed and ready to depart in the morning.  Just have to hook the car up after pulling out of our spot.  Everything else is stored in the sheds or carport for the summer.

Owl Clover

Owl Clover

Firecracker Penstemon

Gila River

Owl Clover

These two are of South Butte

Symbolic?  The deceased being supported by his arm.

Desert Globe Mallow

Red-tailed Hawk feeding young

Click on the image to enlarge and you will see a piece of meat too large for the baby

By enlarging this image, you will be able to see the chick's tongue on the right

WHAT TO DO?

Well, with all this uncertainty and lots of misinformation floating around, it becomes difficult to sort out the truth.  Lots of our Canadian friends have left or are about to leave for home.  Some people have had calls from their travel insurance agents telling them to get back home.  Others have contacted their agent and been told they don’t need to head home yet.  Since we haven’t had any communication from our agent, we will stay here for a while longer.  No use heading north to freeze any longer than we have to.  It’s not like we have a warm house to go to and it isn’t easy keeping warm in the motor home when it’s cold outside.  Looking at the road cams this morning, there were some nasty spots in the high passes.  The longer we can wait the better.

We continue to have a mixed bag of weather, beautiful warm sunny days with some rainy days mixed in.  Aileen and I went down to Tucson on Friday for a change of scenery.  The flowers along Highway 79 were pretty nice close to the pavement.  I think the extra water they get from the drainage off the road and perhaps the heat from the pavement encourages extra growth.  With the wet weather, there were some nice little waterfalls on Mt Lemmon.  We drove up to the 7,000 foot level where it was 6C mid-afternoon, then turned around.  Neither of us felt like going further to get into the snow.

Poppies

Red-tailed Hawk on a nest in a Saguaro

Desert Evening Primrose in the desert behind our park

Parry's Beard Tongue and Prickly Pear Cactus

Poppy and Lupine

Desert Globe Mallow come in many different colours

Desert Globe Mallow

Desert  Marigolds

Poppies and Lupine

Deformed Desert Marigold

Mexican Vervain

Butterfly on Mexican Vervain

Collapsed Agave

Looking similar to Salsify, this is called Silver Puffs

This waterfall beside the road up Mt Lemmon encouraged me to stop

Then I heard another waterfall that turned out to be hidden from the road

It was tucked in behind the rock on the right shielding it from view until you were right close to it

Sycamore Trees along the Mt Lemmon Rd once we gained sufficient altitude

Lots of interesting rocks along the Mt Lemmon  Rd

Some had people

What's holding that rock in place?

Some of our road

Baby balancing rock

This is called a Feather Dalea