Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 77

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico.

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Finally…some change is in the wind…

Last Wednesday Mary made her flight reservations to rejoin me. On Thursday she found out she needs carotid artery surgery asap. So, cancel reservations…she’ll be delayed rejoining me. We discussed the possibility of me driving the about 1,075 miles to be with her. We decided that I’m in no physical condition at the moment to do that. In addition, the surgery is not complicated and she has lots of family and friends to assist her. Recovery time is about one week. I’m hoping to get her back by mid-October.

Now that the Labor Day weekend has passed. the days are starting to grow shorter, the temperatures are starting to fall and my current allowable three week stay in the state park is nearing…I’m forced to move on. I’m currently at 7,200 elevation and over the next 4-6 weeks will slowly zig-zag the about 150 miles south to Albuquerque at 5,000 foot elevation. I’m planning to depart here this coming Thursday and drive the about 92 miles to Taos, NM at 7,000 foot elevation. I’ll stay there for several days until I continue moving south. 

Between Heron Lake and El Vado Lake State Parks, by time I’ll leave here on Thursday I’ll have been here 87 days. It’s been a beautiful and tranquil place to recover from my injuries. I want to thank the Head Ranger Anthony Marquez and Camp Hosts Rusty and Libby for their considerations and kindness extended to me.

If you missed the Blog entry about the accident, click this link… http://wp.me/pDCku-4Eh

To fully understand this tragic accident, you’ll need to read the several subsequent Blog entries.

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Now back to today’s Blog…

I’ve been here for several weeks now and have photographed everything worth seeing within a 30 mile radius. I’m still not feeling that well that I care to drive lots of miles in search of photographs. The doctors told rest should be my #1 function.

Lake Heron has an amazing number of widely varied sunrises, sunsets and cloud formations. I’ve got some really neat photos to share. I’ve already taken them and will portion them out over the next several days.

 While they are similar because of the momentary setting…they are all very different and unique. I hope you will open each one and enjoy their uniqueness. I particularly like to enjoy the colors and the shapes. Just like staring at a fire from moment to moment…you never see quite the same thing…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful cloud formations is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 73

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico.

I’ve been here for several weeks now and have photographed everything worth seeing within a 30 mile radius. I’m still not feeling that well that I care to drive lots of miles in search of photographs. The doctors told rest should be my #1 function.

Lake Heron has an amazing number of widely varied sunrises, sunsets and cloud formations. I’ve got some really neat photos to share. I’ve already taken them and will portion them out over the next several days.

 While they are similar because of the momentary setting…they are all very different and unique. I hope you will open each one and enjoy their uniqueness. I particularly like to enjoy the colors and the shapes. Just like staring at a fire from moment to moment…you never see quite the same thing…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful sunsets is another joy of the full-time RVing lifestyle!

I am recovering from my May 27th accident. To read about my recovery status, click this link… http://otrwjam.wordpress.com/recovery-status-page/

While I’m recovering, Mary remains at her home in California tending to doctor’s appointments, her rentals and other miscellaneous business.

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 60

Yesterday I drove the motorhome back to Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico.

Normally, I just take the views as they come. Because this lake has an abundance of unusual sunsets, I took the time to maneuver sideways into this camping site…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

So I could look out of the dinette window and see those sunsets…

But now, I need to finish up my El Vado Lake photos. How about some more dramatic sunset photos?

Enjoying dramatic sunsets over lakes is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

To read about my recovery status, click this link… http://otrwjam.wordpress.com/recovery-status-page/

While I’m recovering, Mary remains at her home in California tending to doctor’s appointments, her rentals and other miscellaneous business.

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 58

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico while I am recovering from my May 27th accident. To read about my recovery status, click this link… http://otrwjam.wordpress.com/recovery-status-page/

While I’m recovering, Mary remains at her home in California tending to doctor’s appointments, her rentals and other miscellaneous business.

I’ve been here for several weeks now and have photographed everything worth seeing within a 30 mile radius. One thing I do not seem to run out of is more beautiful sunsets. Today I present some quasi-abstracts of the sun reflecting off of the lake…

Here are some photos that I took recently…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful sunsets is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

if you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 57

Note: This is Blog entry #2,000 on our site.

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico while I am recovering from my May 27th accident. To read about my recovery status, click this link… http://otrwjam.wordpress.com/recovery-status-page/

While I’m recovering, Mary remains at her home in California tending to doctor’s appointments, her rentals and other miscellaneous business.

I’ve been here for several weeks now and have photographed everything worth seeing within a 30 mile radius. One thing I do not seem to run out of is more beautiful sunsets…

Here are some photos that I took recently…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful sunsets is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

if you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 55

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico while I am recovering from my May 27th accident. To read about my recovery status, click this link… http://otrwjam.wordpress.com/recovery-status-page/

I’ve been here for several weeks now and have photographed everything worth seeing within a 30 mile radius. One thing I do not seem to run out of is more beautiful sunsets…

Here are some photos that I took recently…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful sunsets is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

if you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 38

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico while I am recovering from my May 27th accident.

The poppings, with the associated pains, in my chest have finally stopped! My right ribcage area remains slightly swollen and tender to the touch. The mild, constant burning chest muscle remains. I recently started my morning walks once again. Every day a vigorous two-miles with moderate up and down hills. I believe it’s causing a slight increase in my chest muscle pain, but I also believe that it is more benefiting my general overall recovery. It feels good to be out walking again.

I continue taking Ibuprofen, icing my ribcage area 2-3 times a day and wearing an elastic bandage abound my chest. The doctors told me to expect 6-12 weeks for recovery. The accident occurred two months ago today. Can you tell I’m ready for the recovery to be finished and be back on the road again?

The view out of the dinette window of the motorhome remains the same day after day…that is the symmetry of the land, water and sky. However the patterns of the clouds and the surface patterns of the lake are constantly changing. The same is true with the colors of the land, water and sky…constantly changing. I can look out of the window one minute and then five minutes later and it’s all changed and different. This is especially true during sunsets. It’s an intriguing view…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying the constantly changing patterns and colors of nature is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

Yesterday a real good friend sent me an Email that said…”Recovering from a near fatal accident is one of the joys of the full-time RVing lifestyle!”

If you missed the Blog entry about the accident, you can click this link…
http://wp.me/pDCku-4Eh

To understand the full scope of this tragic accident, you need to read the several subsequent Bog entries.

Mary is still at her home in California. I hope to get her back by mid-August.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 36

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico while I am recovering from my May 27th accident.

I’m pleased to report some additional progress. The poppings, with the associated pains, in my chest have finally stopped! I am now in my third day with no poppings! My right ribcage area remains slightly swollen and tender to the touch. The mild, constant burning chest muscle remains. I continue taking Ibuprofen, icing my ribcage area 2-3 times a day and wearing an elastic bandage abound my chest. The doctors told me to expect 6-12 weeks for recovery. The accident occurred eight weeks and three days ago today. Can you tell I’m ready for the recovery to be finished and be back on the road again?

It was a real beautiful subdued kind of sunset last night. Here are some of the photos that I took…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful sunsets is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

CHANGING GEARS AGAIN.

Arriving in Yuma yesterday was exciting because it’s  the start of a new adventure. We spent a lazy kind of morning, reading and staying warm. The desert gets cold at night and nips in the early morning. The time change was only an hour but I’m disoriented in my second kitchen and it takes a day to change gears.

In the afternoon, it was shorts and T-shirt weather. Jim moved the bikes down, put air in the tires, oiled the chains and painted out the name of my “new” bike. It belonged to my son-in-law and I couldn’t wait to ride it. I did six laps of the park and remembered I shouldn’t over-do things, as is my habit. Decided to cut it short and ride a bit farther each day.

It was like an old friend. I also reminded myself it was in Yuma where  my bike was stolen in 2011.  We affixed a brand new kryptonite lock and cable on it as well.

After dinner we set out for a  walk just in time to see the sun setting behind a  bush.

As we walked the park,  the colors deepen and become more luscious.

We turned a corner. The power poles could not diminish the beauty though I wished they were not there.

I’m back to using a Cannon which I think has truer colors than the Sonys we purchased. So part of this picture scene is a curiosity to see the difference between Jim’s colors and mine. But, HE is the better photographer and takes more time with his shots.

Even with the sun setting, turning East, Pilot Knob was distinctive in the Eastern sky.

We chuckled at the campers boondocking on BLM land just across the fence from the park.  They are parking free while inside the fence it costs $40 a night. Normally we would be boondocking but we got a special deal- free! The fence seems confining in the wide open spaces of the desert.

Near the pool was a lone palm tree saying goodnight to the sun and…

…reflected in the pool.

A candy striped sky just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

THE GREAT STATE OF LOUISIANA

I’ve always enjoyed watching the political conventions when the speaker would introduce the state representative, and he would identify himself as being from “…the Great State of Louisiana.” Or the great state of Iowa, with that fun bit of fanfare and pride.
As I get ready to leave for home tomorrow to take care of business, that voice is speaking in my head and reminding me of what I now know from “…the Great State of Louisiana.”

Folks along the way have asked me, what was your favorite place? What did you like most? Some places we visited are more or less interesting than others, but it is the whole experience, of slipping through small towns that seem to move you back in time about 40 years, or dallying along the many River Roads lined with bowers of giant oaks and stately mansions, or quaint subsistence shacks and  rusty swamp water. The hundreds of bridges and canals and waterways and  boats you can’t get away from if you wanted to. Watching the season change in the swamps from no leaves, to feathery greens. Pulling into town and seeing another Washington St., another Main St., another Iberia St. Enjoying the background sounds of Cajun music from a nearby campsite as people play with their kids and roast marshmallows. The many unbelievably beautiful sunsets that traveling in a motor home allows you. From parish to parish, the difference in how they care for their roads. Do they recycle, do they  keep things neat an clean? The signage is slightly different.  The cities tout their own special appeal, their food, and attractions. Each unique. Its been an educational and fun ramble.

Then I thought to find a picture from each town we went through. Too difficult, too many to choose from.  Suffice it to say I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to spend almost 8 weeks in one state and do and see whatever popped into view . I now know why each speaker says with such pride, “I’m from the Great State of Louisiana!” Its real!