If This is Tuesday, This Must Be...

If we were drawing a diagram of our current travels, it would be most confusing.

We left Texas, traveled across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The plan was to drive across the Florida panhandle as far as St. Augustine. We tried to have some repairs done in Gulf Breeze. When that didn't work out, we thought we'd continue on; but there was smoke in the air. If you look at a map of northern Florida, you'll see that Gulf Breeze is a considerable distance from Lake City, where wildfires are still burning. I checked the Internet--parts of I-75 and I-10 were closed for low visibility. Southeastern Georgia is afire as well. It seems a fire started in the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, spread across the state line to Florida, and has now crossed back into Georgia--payback!

So we checked the map and all of our discounted camping plans. It was back to Alabama for the night, then into Georgia from the west this morning. The air was still smoky but has since cleared.

Tomorrow we'll head through the northeastern part of South Carolina and into North Carolina, where we'll stay in Salisbury. That is, if the plans don't change again.

By the way, we're staying on Lake Oconee tonight, full hookups, 50 amp service, for two bucks. All those discount books come in handy. We have neighbors from Canada and Australia. We can see the lake through the trees. After all, home is where we park it.

Bad Coach! Bad!

Yesterday we stopped in Livingston, Texas to have the coach inspected. Coming out of the lot, paved with potholes, the back of the coach bottomed out. As we were driving through Louisiana, a kind semi driver with an air horn let us know something was wrong. Herb discovered the mud flap had come loose and taken some fiberglass with it. He creatively tied it up with all sorts of cables and cords. This morning we removed the mud flap.

In preparation to leave Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, we discovered the big slide on the driver's side would not close. Instead, it made a sound I believe I heard in the movie "Alien." Of course, the cell phone only worked outside in full sunlight. Coachnet called a road service company from Lafayette--they showed up two hours later and used the wrecker to push the slide in, accompanied by a most unpleasant grinding sound. The mechanic was of the opinion that the gears were stripped and two motors, at $700 each, would need replacing.

On the road again, I called several RV service centers along our route. The best we could do was in Gulf Breeze, Florida in five days.

We ended the day in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in a miniscule campground. We parked in a site, put down levelers, extended the slide that still works, connected to water and 50 amp electric, and then discovered the 50 amp electric wasn't working. So we undid everything and moved to another site where we couldn't level the coach unless one wheel was off the ground and there's a long step down from the door. Oh, well.

He's Riding!

This Gambrel's Quail, perched on the back of Herb's ATV, probably felt like he was going somewhere! That little topknot thing usually dangles down in the front. High winds were causing it to stand straight up! He was supervising two other quail that were scratching in the gravel under the bird feeder just like chickens. A Gila Woodpecker was dangling upside down from the suet feeder, taking a bite here and there, while the feeder swung in great arcs in the wind gusts.

Spring Blooms

The desert is blooming. Not hyacinths, iris or lilies for Easter, but exotic cactus flowers looking out-of-place amid snarly-looking spines. The pink flowers give grace to a beavertail cactus while the green are attached to an untidy spreading heap of (I assume) some variety of cholla--the kind with barbs that like to reach out and touch someone. This mess, in a circle of stones, was planted in one of the campsites by someone who has since regretted it, I'm sure. But even in such a patch, God shows us beauty. The tall stalks, appearing dead, are part of an ocotillo. But there are lipstick red flowers at the end of each. In the desert we are ready for the Easter celebration of Christ's resurrection.

Desert Beauty

For those who might think that the two words in the title are an oxymoron, here's a photo Herb took yesterday while exploring by ATV. We continue to see that God's creation is superior to anything that man has devised.

Desert Bird

I spied this dude (or dudette) hanging upside down from our feeder yesterday to grab a choice morsel. According to our bird books, it's a red-shafted flicker of the woodpecker family. It's a large bird and apparently likes peanut butter suet blocks. Well, who wouldn't. The birds seem dusty (and thirsty fershure!) so a birdbath is planned for the Benjey campsite.

What's Next

It's another blog coming to you from Jane Benjey, Freelance Writer. For my friends at New Bethel, it's an expansion of information you find in the Wellness Corner of the monthly newsletter. For all others, it's health and prevention information, generally on a specific subject each month.

I believe health education is essential for all of us. Often our physician is too busy to address some of the things we need to know. I am using well-accepted information from reliable sources for my new blog. No advice on your personal health problems--your doctor knows you best and is the source for that.

The blog is to be found at http://healthwords.blogspot.com

If your organization needs a health newsletter or health-related articles for a newsletter, contact me for suggestions and prices.