GETTING OUT AND ABOUT BACK IN SURPRISE

On February 1 we drove back from Escondido the day before Super Bowl 49 which was in Phoenix and because of that, the traffic on I 10 was heavier than normal.  We made a quick stop in Palm Springs and then again in Blythe for lunch.  This time, we went to a Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen and had a couple of pieces of chicken served with a warm biscuit.  Stuart also had a side of Cajun rice that was very well spiced and tasty.  The weather was mostly sunny and then we drove through two big rain storms as we neared Phoenix.

WIND TURBINES WEST OF PALM SPRINGS

INTERSTATE 10 WEST OF PHOENIX

 It was nice to be “home” again and to get back into the routine.  Of course, we watched the Super Bowl on TV on Sunday and were pleased with the outcome in spite of the many Seahawks fans in the park.  Stuart was happy to get back to pickleball and billiards and I settled back into my routine.

The weather has been great now that January is past, with sunny and warm days (24 C) and warmer nights (9 or 10 C).  Spring has arrived for the birds and I can hear finches singing in the afternoons and have seen some birds collecting bits of straw for their nests.  It’s wonderful to hear the cheerful chirping and we don’t even mind the mournful calls of the mourning doves.  We have a rabbit that spends the night under a cactus plant on our lot and I watch him/her run around with 2 other rabbits early in the morning before the sun rises.  Nice to have critters around us.

Last week, we started looking at purchasing a used golf cart so that I would be able to get out and around the park without driving the truck everywhere.  Stuart got some information from the central bulletin board and then checked out 3 that were listed for sale.  He found one in good condition with new batteries for $700 which was a good deal.  Most carts have worn out batteries so you’d have to spend about $600 on top of the sale price which ranges from $250 to $350.  So he made an offer of $600 that was accepted and we now own a golf cart.

 CHARGER THAT WAS INCLUDED WITH THE CART

When he first drove it home, the batteries were worn down so it was very slow and one of the tires was going flat.  He charged it up that night and inflated the tire and it ran much better.  However, we had to get the stem replaced on the tire as it kept losing air but we were able to get it done at Sam’s Club for no charge.  And for the summer, we’ll be able to store it under cover at the back of the lot.

 We’ve used it a couple of times and plan to go out for a while this afternoon.  It’s so nice to be able to get around quietly and efficiently.