October 30, 2009 – November 6, 2009 – Time in Pahrump and Death Valley

This blog will be different – to get you and me caught up…

Elliot

I had a special posting for Elliot.  He rallied on Thursday and Friday and then went down hill over the weekend.  We had a great vet in Pahrump who helped us and Elliot but there was nothing else we could do.  I was able to be with him as he passed and it was hard to let go.   And in the days following, we have had a difficult time adjusting – especially to the daily routines.

We have decided to get him cremated and take him with us.   We do have a “Hitzel Animal Cemetery” back in PA and may bury him there when we get back next summer.  I just could not leave his body.  I had heard that it may go in the garbage dump or if we choose to find a place and bury him in the desert, the coyotes would dig him up so cremation was my choice.

We gave his prescription food to the vet who told us they would pass on to people who could not afford the food for their animals.  The store bought food we gave to two of our neighbors who have cats (and one is a Ragdoll – oh my).  His toys, his harness/leash, his scratching post, and his sleeping pad will be staying with us for now.

Will we get another??  I will not even think about it until we get home next summer.  Unless God places a stray in our path.

And I want to thank all of you who sent condolences and wishes – I am so blessed to have all of you in my life.   We all know how a pet weaves his/her way into every aspect of our lives.  And how hard it is to let go.

WE REALLY MISS HIM!!

Escapees – New Friends

Since  we have been here, we have met so many great people.   We have gone to lunches and suppers and of course “Happy Hour”.  Last week, we met Judy and Luke and Jan and Chuck and had dinner with them.  Luke is from PA so he and Andy had long conversations.  They are Escapee Boomers and we may stay with them in Quartzsite.

Our neighbors, Michelle and Keith, we met our first day here and have spent a lot of time chatting and getting to know each other.  And I know we will be staying in touch.  They helped us so much when everything was going on with Elliot – Thank you, Michelle and Keith.

Our other neighbors, Diane and Frank, are from Mount Carmel and Reading (very close to our home) and they also helped us during that difficult time – Thank you.

Larry and Peggy, who we met in Alaska, came in this week and it was good to see them again and get caught up with them.  Larry showed Andy some of his radio controlled helicopters.  (Andy had been interested in radio controlled flying craft for years so look out – that may be one of his new hobbies.)  We are hoping to meet up again this season and spend more time together.  Thanks, Peg and Larry.

Did I say that I love Escapees?  We have been so blessed with the good people in our lives – at home and on the road.

Odd’s n Ends

We did put in for a lot here.  It is a 3-4 year wait list but that is okay with us.  We have also put in for a lot in Casa Grande and hope to spend more time there this season.

Here is where we spent the time here;

 

And, of course, the usual, cleaning, laundry, shopping, etc.   We did one sightseeing trip (see below) but to be honest with you, it was late Wednesday before I started feeling semi-human again.  For those who know me, know that I try hard not to cry cause I get physically ill for a few days.  Well, I couldn’t stop the crying so I was physically ill for a few days……  (Yes, I know, I may seem like a hard a—, but darn, when I do break down, I have flu-like symptoms for a few days!!  And I can’t function!!)   Enough!!

More Odds n Ends

We saw this one morning:

Doesn’t that look exciting!!!!

Sightseeing

Death Valley is very close to Pahrump and one day we took a ride to the park – oh my – more WOW scenery. We went from 3000’ feet above sea level to –282’ below sea level and back up again.

Our first stop was Zabriskie Point Overlook – the Badlands:

 

Our next stop was the Old Harmony Borax Works – remember the 20 mule team advertising Borax, well, this is where it started.  And we found out that it was actually 19 mules and 2 horses.

This is where they dug the Borax:

This is where they lived:

 

And the famous:

 

This area is the lowest spot in the lower 48.  Did you know that the highest and lowest spots in the lower 48 are only 100 miles apart?

 

We spent some time at the Salt Flats.  If you look at the above picture, the flats are beyond the pool:

 

From the flats, looking toward the road:

 

One last look at the Valley:

In this area, 20,000 years ago, was Lake Manly.  It was 90 miles long, 6-11 miles wide, and 600’ deep.  Just imagine!

 

Coming out of the park – the road goes on and on:

We saw these things near Shoshone, NV and hope to explore them in the future.  We are not sure what they are:

Weather

The weather, oh my!!   Beautiful days, in the 70’s and 80’s and beautiful nights, 40’s.  It is amazing how fast it gets hot when the sun rises and how fast it gets cool when the sun set – PERFECT!!!   Life doesn’t get any better than this!

Future

We will be heading to Las Vegas on Friday, 6th, to spend some time with Dave and Nina, friends I have know since I was small and then onto Congress, AZ for Andy’s doctor’s appointment.

Until then.