Learning to "Snow Bird"

As we settled in, and over the next few days we started to slow down, for a number of reasons. Firstly it was warm, 30 degrees Celsius with about 5% humidity so the days were just perfect, we even had our two air conditioners on! Two weeks ago we were regularly getting below zero at night now it didn't go below 10 c. The warm weather allowed us to finally be able to sit outside, relax and use the 'man cave'! Secondly Andy and Jackie, as full timers, are in no rush to get any place soon - other than back to Canada within their 6 month time frame. As crazy as it may sound - the days just seemed to fly by.

Andy and Jackie have taught us a card game called Skip Bo (Beryl, Neil and Janice be prepared for a few card nights when we get back!) which we are totally addicted to. Most afternoons we tend to spend many hours in the sun with a beer or wine, and of course the occasional water, challenging each other to a few games.

Our community dinner and card playing table



When not playing cards we sit and chat and chat and chat. Amazingly we never seem to run out of something to talk about.

Prior to coming to the States we had purchased a Rand McNally GPS. The selling point of this particular GPS is that it is made specifically for 5th wheelers and motor homes with a feature which allows you to record the length, height and weight of your rig. When the GPS calculates a route this information is taken into consideration making sure that we don't come across any low bridges etc. Mr Gadget Man, Andy, was so impressed with the features he just had to have one for his motorhome. As luck would have it there was a Camping World store in Tucson so the next day we went to spend some of Andy's money and of course have a look ourselves - there is always something to buy in a Camping World Store!

One 'tip' that Andy passed on to us was the usefulness of a 'Californian Mop'. In the desert your truck does not get dirty it just gets covered in dust so the Californian mop is great for keeping it clean. I must admit I did laugh the first time I saw Andy 'dusting' off his motorhome but I soon learned that this mop is very practical as water is scarce so it makes good sense.

Yep I am really "dusting" the truck!



As we had booked to stay in Tucson for the week we had plenty of days to do nothing, apparently this is what snow birding is all about!

Rose had read about the Sabino Canyon National Park and, as we had been idle for a few days, we thought it would be a great place to visit. We arrived to find that a lot of people must also have read the same article - the car park was full! There is always a fee payable when entering a National or State Park in the USA. We used our National Parks pass (which we had purchased before we arrived in the USA as we knew we would be visiting a large number of parks during our 12 month holiday) saving us the $20 entry fee.

The canyon is 3.2 miles deep and visitors have the option of either walking into it or paying $8 to ride the trolly bus which makes 5 stops along the way. We opted to ride the trolly bus up to the end of the canyon and walk back. It was a very warm day so we made sure we had adequate water - we are constantly amazed at the number of people we have passed on many of the hikes we have done who don't carry water!

The journey included a commentary about the canyon and the desert fauna. There is a watercourse that's runs down the canyon which comes from the melting snow further up the mountain. It is a true oasis in the desert.

Ready for the walk down the Canyon



It was an easy downhill walk but still hot. Halfway down there was a waterhole where people were swimming so we stopped for a break and a paddle in the water. The water was freezing due to the fact it came from melted snow, but people were swimming in it. As we paddled in the water Jackie remarked on my swollen ankle, it was like a balloon and a spot above my knee was very sore, so sore it hurt each and every time my shorts touched it.

The water was freezing


Andy and Jackie



Shoes back on we continued on out of the canyon - a bit of trivia - The Little House on the Prairie was filmed in the canyon (for those old enough to remember it). We were fascinated how the Segonia cactus could grow in the places it did, ie in the cracks of rocks.

View of the canyon


One of the first trees we have seen with leaves on it!



Walk completed we headed home for a well earned beer and some dinner. Jackie (a retired nurse) had a proper look at my now swollen leg which was now very painful. Confirming what she thought she recommended that I started a course of antibiotics. Prior to travelling anywhere overseas we visit our local GP and get prescriptions for general medications which of course includes antibiotics. So I started a course that night.

In our travels we had noticed that a number of people had a stick on map of the USA on their rigs. The idea is that you peel off and stick each state that you have visited onto the map. We saw one at Camping World so thought we were justified in purchasing one given the number of states we have, and will visit. As we travel we will continue to add or colour in the states we have visited.

Our "been there done that" map


Posted by RnR on their IPad

Location:Tucson Arizona