Yuma is Home

Monday, March 30, 2015

Yuma is adjusting to his new home and family.  I can tell he has become spoiled being with just me and living in the small area of the motorhome. 

The first time we left him alone to go to the store, Yuma ransacked the kitchen.  He knocked over Dolly’s rocking chair in the kitchen and knocked over several plants and just in general made a mess of things.  Nothing serious, but we could tell he did not like being left alone.  We now put him in an empty bedroom and shut the door when we go somewhere and that seems to work okay.

We have three older cats and Yuma has been cordial around them.  He has been home for a little over a week now and gets along with them okay.  Pretty much, he leaves them alone and they stay out of his way.

As for Fergie, she still wishes he would just go away, but she is slowly adjusting to the fact that Yuma is permanent.  She still barks at Yuma from the safety of Dolly’s lap and she will not get on the floor yet.  But, she is used to being carried everywhere anyway.

He thinks he is a small dog like Fergie.  He always wants to climb in my easy chair with me and sleep in my lap rather than on the floor.

Yuma and I have been taking walks up the road along the empty farm fields several times a day.  I still keep him on a leash during our walks.  The weather since I have been home has been horrible.  Today finally feels like spring.

I took Yuma to the back yard and let him play with his favorite toy today, and he had a wonderful time running at a hundred miles an hour and throwing the toy all around the yard.  He just loves being off his leash.  He certainly didn’t need me to throw it for him.

There are two dogs behind an electric invisible fence to the south of us and those two dogs bark at Yuma.   He met them the first day we got home.  He just looks at them, but does not bark or try to run after them.  He is a very smart dog and knows I don’t want him to chase after them. 

Yuma has become very attached to me and I am certain he will not run off.  Still nervous about the first rabbit he sees when off leash,but I feel certain he will return.  Yuma and I are the best of friends.

See you later.

Home at Last

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Yuma and I slept in this morning and had a leisurely breakfast before heading out around 9 am.  Only have a four hour drive till we are home. 

Yuma has been very good.  He just sleeps on the floor between the two seats.  For some reason, he does not want to sit in the passenger seat of either the motorhome or the jeep which is fine with me.

Soon, we were passing through our last big city of St. Louis, Missouri.

Passing through our capital of Springfield with its huge smokestacks dominating the skies coming into the city from the south.

The scene outside soon becomes Illinois farms and farmland. 

Then we are home in Bloomington, Illinois and Yuma meets Dolly and Fergie, his new family.

I left home on November 24, 2014 and returned home on March 21, 2015 for a total of 118 days.  I traveled 4,011 miles in the motorhome during that time and my total costs for the journey was $4,822.  That averages to $40.86 a day or $1,205.50 a month for four months.

I have enjoyed doing this blog and I hope I have brought some enjoyment to those that read my blog over the past four months.  I will not be doing a daily blog while at home, but I hope to travel to Glacier National Park later this summer and I will again provide a blog of my journey.

Until then, see you later.
           

 

 

Another Long Day–Sullivan, Missouri

Friday, March 20, 2015 – First day of Spring

Another long and uneventful day.  Always glad to say that when I drive for hours on end.  Today, I drove 500 miles from Weatherford, Oklahoma to Sullivan, Missouri.  I am now at the Walmart for the night.

I left very early at 6:30 am this morning so I could get through Oklahoma City as soon as possible.  Last year, I remember there was a lot  of road construction going on all the way through the west side of the city on I-40.  Fortunately, it is all done and I had no problems maneuvering through the many turns in that city.

Had breakfast at a truck stop on the east side of Oklahoma City on I-40 and then continued on until stopping for lunch at a truck stop outside Springfield, Missouri. 

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Missouri.  I graduated from high school and college in Missouri.  I also spent six weeks of boot camp in the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood in southern Missouri.  Not that it was the best time of my life, but it was memorable.  The Ozark hills of southern Missouri always look nice

The weather is very nice.   Cool but comfortable.  We had a gorgeous orange sunset with the light clouds over head.

See you later.

Long Days Drive to Weatherford, Oklahoma

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Luckily, today was uneventful.  Left the Walmart in Albuquerque, New Mexico early around 6:30 am.  Figured we would stop down the road and have breakfast.  Drove about an hour to get out of the early morning traffic and we stopped at a Park and Drive place east of Albuquerque and had breakfast and coffee.

It was overcast, but the sun was peeking through, but that did not last long.  For the remainder of the day there were low clouds and mist that at times turned to rain.  It was not a fun day to drive 475 miles.  We arrived at the Weatherford, Oklahoma Walmart around 7 pm CDT.

I did get a glimpse of the line of Cadillacs buried face down in the ground just outside Amarillo, Texas, but with the rain, I didn’t stop.  I also didn’t get a photo, because I just caught a glimpse of them as I drove past.

My home for the night at Walmart in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

That was my day.

See you later.

Canyon de Chelly–Day 3

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

This morning after breakfast, we packed everything and headed for the north rim to see the canyon.  Reason we are taking the motorhome is the north rim has only three viewing areas and the road to I-40 can be reached by going around the east end of the canyon.

It was about 10:30 when we pulled into the first viewing area.

Antelope House Overlook

Mummy Cave Overlook

Massacre Cave Overlook

We then continued on the North Rim Drive until we hit a horse jam.

 

After a short wait, we were on our way toward hwy 12 and then took that south through the mountains right along the Arizona and New Mexico border.   Saw snow for the first time in awhile.

Went through towns like Navajo, N.M. and Window Rock until we came out in Gallup, N.M. and jumped on I-40.

It rained lightly all the way to the Walmart in Albuquerque, N.M.  Got here around 6 pm and we are in for the night.

See you later.

Hike Down the Canyon de Chelly–Day 2

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 – St. Patrick’s Day

This morning after breakfast, I left poor Yuma in the motorhome and headed up the south rim to the Whitehouse Overlook.  The trail to the bottom of the canyon starts here.

The sign says it is a 1 1/2 mile hike to the bottom where the Whitehouse ruins are located.  As I hike down, I take photos of what I see.

I can tell soon into the hike that it is not for those who are squeamish around high places with no guard rails.  This trail goes down along the canyon wall and there is nothing to stop you from just going over the edge if you do not pay attention to where you walk.

The trail turns to the right at the small rocks you see, but where I am walking looks the same except a little flatter and a little wider.  The photo on the right shows you my trail.

As I reach the bottom of the canyon, it goes through a tunnel and you come out on the canyon floor.  There is a small cabin just beyond the tunnel entrance.

That is the canyon wall I came down.

As I walked along the bottom of the canyon, I crossed over the Rio de Chelly and the ruins were just ahead.

Made it to the Whitehouse ruins.  This is as close as you get.  There is a fence protecting the ruins.

While sitting at the bottom of the canyon listening to the wind quietly whistle through the cottonwood trees, I looked high up the side of the canyon above the ruins and watched an eagle soar along the rim.

See you later.