It has gotten too hot, too soon here in southeastern Arizona. It’s going to be 101 today, with 90’s for the next week, at least. And it’s just too warm for us. But we are here, waiting, sheltering in place, until our next volunteering gig happens.
And then I realized we have other choices. We could still go up to Oregon and PAY for a campsite.
I looked online to see what might be open and available, since all of the state parks and forest service campgrounds are closed. I found a great place, on a lake, for $550 the month of June, and there was one spot left.
Marika was out shopping, but I called her and asked her to consider this new idea. I studied the picture of the camp site, envisioning us there, and got excited about putting my kayak in the lake.
When Marika got home we unpacked the groceries, she had lunch, and finally, we discussed things. We can afford to pay for camping. We don’t need to wait until our gig opens up. It’ll be so much cooler for all of us. And Cody’s favorite acupuncturist was just up the road. Yes, it was happening fast, and we’d be leaving in two weeks, but we both agreed we were ready.
I went back online to reserve, and the spot was gone. I called the office and the woman said it was a mistake, there was no availability. I was bummed, but inspired. I called a few more private RV parks and found one, very close to the first place, that had room for us. I explained our situation and the woman was so accommodating. We have a spot for the month of June, and can stay the summer if things don’t open.
The RV park is just south of Florence, in the Oregon Dunes. The dunes and the beaches are still closed, so there won’t be much ATV activity. And if/when they do open, we’ll be able to head down to our gig. There’s laundry, and cable tv, and wifi, and I even know someone who lives there, that I met when I lived at the RV park in Cayucos.
The rent is a little pricey, $800/month plus electricity, but then, we volunteer for so many months with free rent, that a little higher priced monthly rent is in the budget. Marika is saying that the government is paying for it, with our stimulus checks.
So boom, just like that, we have a plan to head north. We’ll pull out on the 14th, so next week will be our last time with the donkeys. Many of them will also be leaving mid-month, heading to Colorado, for a cooler summer.
We have a few more camp hosting shifts, and then our exit interview, and we’ll be on the road. We’ll spend a few days in Phoenix for a quick check on my Dad, then head to California on the 10, then north on the 5, taking the freeways that we usually avoid because there is always so much traffic. It will be interesting this time, with so few cars on the road.
So after almost six months here in the desert, the longest we’ve ever stayed in one place, we are finally heading to cooler, moister, cloudier places. And we are ready!
