September 22 - October 12, 2025
Tombstone, Arizona
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| Fall fiery skies. |
It's always something. Most times it's good something. Sometimes it's not. And occasionally it's a weird, maybe something that could go either way. And timing is always relevant.
So when the government "shuts down" two weeks before my travels that include visiting six national monuments it's "something". We're advised to check each location closer to planned arrival.
Neither phones nor websites are staffed - because, hello? they're shut down. Check with who? Turns out the RV parks in close proximity have more information. As of a couple days from launch only Canyon de Chelly "may" be closed by the time I'm due to arrive.
Although I'm on a tight agenda, I prepare Plans B and C and relax. I'll be on the road. It will be great.
A few before-I-leave errands are completed. Jeff and I knock down the waist-high weeds in the RV lot while PJ is at the shop for a couple quickies. New tv mounted in the bedroom and a temporary modification so I can more easily get to the towing plug (appointment for permanent fix made). I finally get a shingles shot. Arm hurts for a couple days, but with both parents getting them I know it's important I have the vaccine.
The wonderful Gathering Vintage Market is such a visual treat for every season. I miss the Halloween vignettes (included in the September market), but enjoy the pretty Fall offerings on a warm and rainy Thursday morning. Arriving early I learn they have a tradition to hand out raffle tickets for a gift certificate before the doors open. Lots of regulars who all know each other, it feels very small town in the city of Tucson. I use the time to capture some highlights of the old factory building before enjoying the many treats inside.
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| New this year, the scale is incredible. |
Our desert skies continue to give us a gallery of colors and textures, always a gift.
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| October 6 Moon-Saturn Conjunction from the front yard - wow! |
PJ is all packed and ready for Tessa and I to head out on Monday morning. The road beckons, a new adventure awaits!
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| Pretty Penelope celebrates her birthday! |
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| Big and Little M head into the wilds with their troop. |
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| Oliver embraces Disney Halloween |
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| Cassidy shares her treats. |
Gather is such a wonderful happening! I'm acquainted with the gentlemen that put it together, so much creative talent! Hope you have a great trip.
ReplyDeleteHey Lisa! How fun to see you :-))) Well those guys have a masterful talent for creating space! So far, so good on this adventure.
DeleteWhen I first started reading this, I was going to say that first picture of yours is absolutely fantastic and it is, but as I kept reading there are others including the Saturn Moon conjunction. Wow!
ReplyDeleteLove the new mural with the gringo, the Mexican and the Native American even though I in fact don't like rodeos. I hadn't even thought that the shutdown could affect your trip. I laughed out loud at their advice that you contact each spot to see if they are open. Duh!! Your attitude as always is so great and I must take a course with you to learn to be like that. But I am very nervous gir you. I really want you to go to Canyon de Chelly and post pictures of one of my very favorite places ever. I know you're going to have a wonderful trip and I wish you safe safe travels.
When I go back a read earlier posts I'm always amazed just how beautiful our view are. The conjunction was a very lucky capture that I'm so, so happy with. I think you handle all your bumps and dings along the way - your roof almost peeled off and you didn't just stop and go home!! Canyon de Chelly is still a go as of today.
DeleteWishing you and Tessa a wonderful trip and hoping the places you want to see are open in spite of our government! Loved your sky photos--I miss our views from Cochise county! Several things in your post made me nostalgic for our former home--but especially Gather and Cafe A La Carte! Again, here's hoping for a fun and uneventful trip for you and Tessa!
ReplyDeleteThanks Janna, we're taking it slow and easy and enjoying it all. Cochise County really does have some wonderful natural beauty. And Tucson has those special spots too :-)
DeleteGood morning Jodee! I also hope for you to have a fun and safe trip and that the parks are open for your visit. Your skies are gorgeous and you know I love Gather and lunch “in the city”. I have seen the reflection mural and will be on the look out for the rodeo mural. It is amazing to me the details in these gigantic paintings. There is a HUGE mural being painted on Alvernon. We saw it on the way to the dermatologist, but have not stopped yet.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to catch a mural being painted! That new rodeo one is so huge and vibrant and I wish I could remember where it was :-))
DeleteHaving a Plan B (or C or even D) is necessary these days. I dare say it's a comfort to be able to pivot easily when "something" steps in your way. We're operating on Plan C as we move through the high elevations near June Lake. Snow, strong winds and heavy rain made us change plans on the fly. All is good now.
ReplyDeleteWe wish you safe and fun travels with minimal use of Plan B! I look forward to the next blog post!
Some of the best trips (as you know) are Bs and Cs! I'm envious that you're back on Hwy 395, but bummed you're hitting ugly weather in such a pretty place. It will always be the route we met up with you two and Pam and John and Laurel and Eric in 2015!
DeleteWe hope you and Fluffalove have fun on your trip, Jodee! We were in Pictured Rocks earlier this month and the Friends group was keeping the restrooms open and stocked. I was rearranging shelves in the barn the other day and saw our Plan B…a 3 man pup tent I’ve had since high school!
ReplyDeleteLove Pictured Rocks and that the locals are keeping things open and safe. We saw that in Big Bend during a shutdown. Not sure I'll ever see the inside of a tent of any size again - but look forward to hearing if you two make that plan :-)
DeleteWell, I am SO far behind in blog reading that you have now been on the road for a week! Sure hope all is working out for trip. Fingers crossed you can visit most of your planned parks. Have a wonderful, safe journey!! You go girl! Beautiful changing sky in your area. Love the grands.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I look at the roll and see I have a lot of catching up to do too! The trip went too fast as they often do, but I am blessed to have the opportunity to take them.
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