Water, Water Everywhere

The ice is all gone but now there is water everywhere.  The lake is in the background of the top picture and you can see how the water from the rain around one of the cabins is making the cabin an island.  Its been raining for two days going on three and not supposed to stop for another two.  We have a river in the back of our rig.  We now have riverfront property.  Our boat is parked next to our rig and we might be able to launch it right from there if the rain doesn't stop.

Of course it had to start the deluge on our days off so we have not been out fishing yet.  One of our guests managed to catch some nice walleye and sauger off of a resort dock.  Our boat had a nice warm home for the winter up here at the resort.  It didn't bounce across the country for four thousand miles and wouldn't you know it something doesn't work.  The onboard charging system has gone out.

It's hard to believe its almost Memorial weekend and the weather still feels like April cold and rainy. 

Better but still COLD

There was no fishing opener this weekend up here.  In fact they were warning people that if they tried to get out to the ice and ice fish they would not be able to be rescued.  At least the snow is pretty much gone around the resort.   A few snow piles left but almost gone.  The lake is still half ice covered.  We are supposed to have guests this coming weekend.  Not sure if the ice will be out so that the docks can be put in to the water.  Jim and the manager had to get in the water with waders on and work on a boat lift.  The waders all leaked and the water so cold with ice still in it that they were both about frozen solid by the time they were done. 

Our boat was stored up here for the winter in a heated garage.  We haven't gotten a chance to look in every nook and cranny in the boat but it looks like it survived the winter fairly well.   We bought our fishing licenses and are getting anxious to get out on the water but it will be awhile before its warm enough for us.

Snow and Ice

We knew there was going to be snow on the ground and ice on the lake when we arrived but GeeWhiz.  The owner of the resort had a front end loader come in to clean the snow off the RV sites.  We got here on a nice warmish sunny day but that didn't last.  Its been cold, 40's during the day and high 20's at night which is as bad as it got in the dead of winter for us in Yuma.   At least we didn't get that snowstorm that dumped lots of snow to the south.   The owner of the resort has cancelled reservations for fishing opener because the lake won't be thawed in time. 

We did start working as soon as we got here.  There is always something to do to get the resort ready for guests.  We've been doing some painting, staining and cleaning inside the lodge.  We should be able to start cleaning cabins this week-- as soon as the water is on --- which the guys are working on but of course they have sprung a few leaks. 

Cowgirls and Cows

Still sharing pictures from New Mexico.  We got to watch a cowboy shoot.  The cowgirl was the fastest shooter there.  When we took a drive out through the desert we came across lots of cattle grazing.  Its hard to believe that they can graze on this dead looking desert grass and survive.  Desert grass is highly nutritious so even though it looks dead and worthless the cattle get a lot out of it. 

We got to see lots of cows coming across Kansas and Nebraska.  We spent three long days in Kansas waiting for the snow to be done and then the roads to be ice free.  We had about an inch of snow and ice on top of our slideouts that froze in place.  Jim had to get up on the roof and scrape it off so we could put in the slides so we could leave.  We don't own a ice scraper any more so I handed him a spatula and a broom and he was able to get it off pretty quickly.   We stopped in Sioux Falls, SD for two days and got new drivers licenses and picked up our mail.  We are now in Minnesota and with more weather on the way we are heading up to the resort a day earlier than planned so we don't have to worry about driving in rain possibly snow.   I'm sure the next pictures I post will be of snow and ice up at the resort. 

Chloride, NM

We ended up spending two weeks in Elephant Butte NM while waiting for our holding tank to be replaced.  We managed to do a few little drives while we were there.  One drive we took to Chloride which is an old ghost town.  There are a few people that live there and of those who do they have a family history in the town that goes back a few generations.  This old mining town was founded on silver mining.  The museum was packed with interesting stuff.  The most impressive was a pioneer woman's things.  Everything from clothing to furniture -- she made it all by hand.  She lived out of a covered wagon for many years and then when she settled in Chloride she made everything for her cabin.  The workmanship on the clothing and the furniture was remarkable.

We finally got our new holding tank installed and hit the road.  So far we have made it to Kinsley, KS which is just northeast of Dodge City.  We need to head to Sioux Falls but the weather doesn't want to cooperate.  We hope to be in Minnesota by Wednesday or Thursday -- maybe Friday.  All we hear about is snow and ice up at the resort but we are on our way! 

Elephant Butte

We are at an RV park in Elephant Butte, NM.  We planned on spending a week but have extended our stay.  We had some routine maintenance done on the RV.  The maintenance part was done quickly but then I asked the repair guy to check under the rig for any damage that a packrat might have done.  We had a packrat while at the refuge.  He got in under the undercarriage and could have chewed on wires, etc.  Well, no damage from the rat was seen but he did discover a crack in one of our holding tanks.  Its bad enough that we need the tank replaced immediately so here we sit in New Mexico.   We figure its a mixed blessing having to sit here for a few extra days.  Its a bummer that we have to have something fixed but its good to be staying where its warm for a few more days.

We stayed here in Elephant Butte our first winter.  Elephant Butte Lake had a lot more water in it the last time we were here and they tell us the water has come way up since October.  The mighty Rio Grande -- you can see the trickle of it on the left side of the dam- isn't looking so mighty.   Its still better than seeing white stuff on the ground and ice!      

Cute and Not so Cute

We went to the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson.  It is worth the time and money to go because you see everything the desert has to offer.  Birds, butterflies, lizards, snakes, prairie dogs, bobcats, mountain lions, Mexican wolf and the list goes on and on.  I enjoyed all of the cactus and flowers with many of them blooming. 

Our friends had a laundry list of restaurants they wanted to hit while there and I think we hit all but one.  We ate many great meals.

The weather was perfect the whole week we were there hitting the mid 80's during the day and low 60's at night.  We are now in Elephant Butte, NM visiting friends and the weather is equally nice.   We will be here for a week enjoying the warmth a little longer. 

We will be watching the weather this week because a snow storm is supposed to hit Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, etc.  We don't travel in snow or rain for that matter so hopefully it will be melted before the weekend.