Holland is getting me out to see more of what's in our immediate area before we pull stakes and leave here - and I appreciate that.
Today, we drove through Old Town Yuma - I like the vintage buildings ;-)
Plan overhaul …
PNW Coastline seems to be the next consideration.
Original stone wall of Yuma-AZ Old West Prison; the fortress-like structure that housed some of the West's most notorious outlaws, was built with the labor of the prisoners themselves.
Original adobe prison cells section.
Old Yuma Prison:
(https://azstateparks.com/yuma-territorial)
Best shot I could get given where it was parked …
Southern Pacific Railroad~Yuma-AZ Station:
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuma_station_(Southern_Pacific_Railroad)#:~:text=The%20Southern%20Pacific%20Railroad%20Depot,Golden%20State%2C%20and%20the%20Imperial.&text=Arguello%2C%20A.L.%3B%20Wakefield%2C%20Ceril%20H.)
Cruising Old Town Yuma-AZ
Old Yuma-AZ:
(https://www.yumaaz.gov/visitors/about-yuma#:~:text=Through%20the%20early%20years%20of,airports%20in%20Arizona%20and%20in)
Beautiful vintage architecture; Old Town Yuma-AZ
Almost got clipped again by a sightless driver, who obviously cannot see a cherry red truck! WTH
Old Greyhound Building; vintage Yuma-AZ
Bus & Train Station's used to combine Hotel arrangements.
Yuma has always depended on the Colorado River - main water source-AZ
Yuma & The Colorado River:
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River)
Holland's done righteous by me; even if we skated on thin ice once in a while.
I've seen, lived in, enjoyed, and learned things about the portions of America I would never have been able to experience if Elohim had not caused our paths to meet - or our Lives to merge (anyone who has dealt with merging lanes knows it's never a smooth, or calm, course of action). But, on the whole, this wild ride really has been an enjoyable adventure and a learning experience with plenty of fun moments.
We have both seen, explored, lived in, and made memorable memories in 24 States … several of those Sates new to both of us (we passed around those - coming & going - in our previous lives) ;-)
When we drove from WA to WV to purchase Independence, Holland saw parts if the country he'd never seen before.
When Holland took me to CA to meet his Harris relatives, I met real cowboys and their families. My hope of experiencing a real rodeo, though, did not happen because I was already having several asthma episodes and we felt it would be too risky to attend. Also, with Holland's back and knee pain, walking-standing-climbing bleachers and sitting for hours on end … was not an appealing thought. So, we skipped it.
We skipped a lot of attractions and events that included too much walking - and that bothered Holland. But, I told him that I was perfectly happy doing drive-by's where I could get good pictures: most of the highlighted attractions were extremely busy tourist traps … and located in high wind, & high dust storm areas. PLUS … I wanted to DO these things WITH my husband. Drive-by's were more workable.
We experienced a lot of fun, exciting, and interesting activities - that we discovered on our own; and we both agreed that our alternatives were {way better} than the things these states highlighted as "must see!" ;-)
Over the past 21 months of our Road Gypsy America Tour, Holland has spent many hours pouring over maps and internet searches to find {surprise!} adventures for me to enjoy - most of the southern adventures he had already done; but he did them again, for my sake. The majority of them (re-visitations or otherwise) were long drives (some over very rough roads) that challenged his pain level; he did these without complaint - partly because curiosity drove him forward … but basically because he knew I'd really enjoy the explorations. He truly has done righteous by me.
I am thankful.
I am grateful.
I am appreciative.
And I am in full agreement that going north is the best choice for the lifestyle we have chosen: we need to be able to breathe easy if we want to live fully and enjoy our retiring days. Feeling the burn of weak lungs fighting inflammation, and feeling drained of energy because of lack of oxygen is not enjoying life. Struggling to stay alive is no fun.
We both feel that if Elohim allows, somewhere along the OR Coast will best suit us lungs - so, that is where we are focusing our 2025 Goals.
A good majority of both our Bucket Lists have been checked off.
OneRepublic - 'I Lived' Lyrics:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMKOume1hNQ)
Paying attention to the weather patterns, we don't know when or if we will get to visit and explore the rest of the mainland states - they sound interesting, and seeing them would be fun … but in all truth, they are not worth dying for. We've already experienced being chased by tornadoes (hunkered down, and Elohim protected us, in a few); weathered hail storms in various states; and went through a blinding sheet lightening event.
Southern border invasions, terrorist activities, and cataclysmic weather upheavals across the lower States we have not yet been to, does not pull us in those directions: we can forgo them, and give our energies to staying alive, staying on our own lane, and staying the course.
We want to be able to breathe easy.
We do not want to be caught up in a border war situation.
Going back to the northwest, we can both honestly state, "we lived"; and we did … and we will continue to enjoy a free and easy lifestyle, no matter where we end up.
Because Elohim has already prepared the path forward.
He already has a place waiting for us.
We just have to lean into it.
Without reservation ;-)
**1-3-25: Blog Post - CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY ROAD TRIP~#PT 4 (cont.); DEMING, NM & FORTUNA-AZ (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/01/christmas-holiday-road-trippt-4-cont.html)
