Our two-week stay in New England connected us with family members in wonderful ways. Wally and his mother enjoyed quality time together as they worked through mountains of accumulated paper work, eliminating and simplifying for June’s future needs. They enjoyed meals and Bridge games in the evenings with Wally’s sister April. Brother Jason and family hosted them for lunch and a lovely afternoon at their new cottage on our beloved Bottle Lake after a substantial snow fall.
As my Aunt Venessa experienced a once-in-a -lifetime South African safari trip, I assisted my Aunt Chesla as she prepared to return to her home. For 3 months, she has been recuperating from a heart attack with special care from her sister. I especially enjoyed our talks about her “growing up and off to work” years. During this time, Chesla and my mother Carolyn made a train trip from Maine to California together; very daring for those days. Chesla is now home and active in her everyday life.
How many RV’s do we need? Just one more. Ever since Wally earned his Commercial Drivers License in Dec. 2005, he has been looking for the perfect truck on which to build a new motor home. While we were in the New Orleans, LA area in Dec. 2006, we noticed an ad in a trucking magazine describing a 45 foot motor coach shell built on a Peterbilt Cab-Over truck chassis. We discovered that this custom-built Genesis was in nearby Gulf Port, MS. It had been constructed in a RI boatyard of balsa core and fiberglass to meld exactly to Peterbilt’s most aerodynamic truck cab. Crisscrossing the country as an Entertainer’s Coach in the 1990’s, it had received high acclaim for comfort and dependability. After carefully looking it over, we decided that this futuristic beauty would serve our needs well for many years to come. Once we spend time with our new granddaughter and family, we’ll be bringing it back to Maine with us.
Love, Darcy and Wally
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
January Journal
Br-r-r-! I know we have it good compared to some parts of the country, but southern Arizona’s January has been noticeably colder and damper than usual. We woke many mornings to find the water line coming into our rig frozen. Here in the SW desert, the day’s lowest temperature occurs at sunrise, about 7:30a.m. The highest temperature is not until late afternoon, about 4:00p.m.; then it plummets when the sun sets.
Despite the weather, we have been able to put 1,000 miles on our Harley. We cruise the winding back roads, enjoying the eroded mountains staked with mining claims, valley vistas stretching on for miles and washes and draws waiting for the rains of the monsoons of July to arrive. We love the range of greens of the mesquite trees, creosote bushes, pinion oaks and alligator juniper. Cactus of all kinds are beginning to display their colorful blooms. The distinctive call of thousands of sand hill cranes native to Alaska and the NW Territories can be heard as they “winter over” on the nearby Wilcox Playa. While we were at the Quartzsite Rally, we cycled north to Lake Havasu City to see the London Bridge and south to Yuma where date shakes are so good!
We are about to fly back to New England for a few weeks. Our beloved Victor died on New Years’ Eve at 92 years young. Wally will spend some time with his mother in the Augusta, Me area as she moves into the next steps of her life. My Aunt Venessa is about to join a group touring South Africa, so will be spending time with my Aunt Chesla, who has been with her sister in the Springfield , MA area recuperating from various health issues. We are both looking forward to these impromptu visits with family. When we return on Feb. 27, we’ll have 11 days to prepare for our driving trip to the East Coast. Baby Girl Ellis is due March 25 and we want to be close by to earn our wings as Grandparent Helpers. Can’t wait!
Love, Darcy and Wally
Despite the weather, we have been able to put 1,000 miles on our Harley. We cruise the winding back roads, enjoying the eroded mountains staked with mining claims, valley vistas stretching on for miles and washes and draws waiting for the rains of the monsoons of July to arrive. We love the range of greens of the mesquite trees, creosote bushes, pinion oaks and alligator juniper. Cactus of all kinds are beginning to display their colorful blooms. The distinctive call of thousands of sand hill cranes native to Alaska and the NW Territories can be heard as they “winter over” on the nearby Wilcox Playa. While we were at the Quartzsite Rally, we cycled north to Lake Havasu City to see the London Bridge and south to Yuma where date shakes are so good!
We are about to fly back to New England for a few weeks. Our beloved Victor died on New Years’ Eve at 92 years young. Wally will spend some time with his mother in the Augusta, Me area as she moves into the next steps of her life. My Aunt Venessa is about to join a group touring South Africa, so will be spending time with my Aunt Chesla, who has been with her sister in the Springfield , MA area recuperating from various health issues. We are both looking forward to these impromptu visits with family. When we return on Feb. 27, we’ll have 11 days to prepare for our driving trip to the East Coast. Baby Girl Ellis is due March 25 and we want to be close by to earn our wings as Grandparent Helpers. Can’t wait!
Love, Darcy and Wally
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Another Adventure-----2007
For all of you who follow our paths the following is our Holiday letter...The year has been busy but you all don't want to hear it all,so this is a summary
2006 Darcy and Wally’s “We can’t be almost 60!?! Year
Jan. Returned to Lot 280 at our SKP Co-op Park in Benson, AZ in our 1958 bus conversion. Smooth trip keeping as far south as possible. Warm welcomes greeted us …activities abound.
Feb. Traveled 6 hours west to join the Quartzsite Gathering of 100,000 rigs dry-parked in SW Arizona’s Mojave Desert. Flea Market heaven. Back in Benson, made forays into the SE Arizona’s Sonoran Desert with 4WD Club. Hiked the Dragoon and Chiricahua Mtns.
Mar. Discovered a smaller rig-let for sale in our park; just right for Mexico and U.S. National Park campgrounds. How many rigs do we need? Just one more.
Apr. As Co-op members, Wally set up a new woodworking shop; Darcy worked on landscaping improvements, enjoying the desert plants as they began to bloom.
May Grand Canyon, South to North Rim…here we come! Then on to Utah’s Bryce Canyon and Zion Nat’l Parks. Our 24 year old nephew joined us from Maine, leading the way on long hikes.
June Warm weather allowed us to return to Maine on the northern route. We enjoyed reunions with friends in CO,WY, SD,IA and OH. We were smitten with the beauty of the SD Black Hills and Badlands.
July Began building workshop with studio/storage space on Maine lake property next to Darcy’s parents cottage. Looked forward to evening card games on Oric and Lois’s front porch.
Aug. Construction project progressing well. Rejoiced at news that our first grandbaby was on the way!
Sept. A surprise invitation found us flying into Anchorage for a 12-day RVing adventure with four friends. The magnificence of Alaska’s wilderness is indescribable.
Oct. Loved being back at the NC Home for Children as volunteers. Four couples from our Heifer Ranch days joined us for a month of “home improvements” and kid care.
Nov. Kicked off the holidays with parents-to-be Erin and Brett getting their baby act together.
Dec. By day we cruised the back roads from NC to AZ on our new Harley motorcycle. Our pick-up truck served as support vehicle as we tented and enjoyed outdoor cooking many nights.
Best wishes for 2007. May the journey for you and yours be memorable. Much love, Darcy and Wally

2006 Darcy and Wally’s “We can’t be almost 60!?! Year
Jan. Returned to Lot 280 at our SKP Co-op Park in Benson, AZ in our 1958 bus conversion. Smooth trip keeping as far south as possible. Warm welcomes greeted us …activities abound.
Feb. Traveled 6 hours west to join the Quartzsite Gathering of 100,000 rigs dry-parked in SW Arizona’s Mojave Desert. Flea Market heaven. Back in Benson, made forays into the SE Arizona’s Sonoran Desert with 4WD Club. Hiked the Dragoon and Chiricahua Mtns.
Mar. Discovered a smaller rig-let for sale in our park; just right for Mexico and U.S. National Park campgrounds. How many rigs do we need? Just one more.
Apr. As Co-op members, Wally set up a new woodworking shop; Darcy worked on landscaping improvements, enjoying the desert plants as they began to bloom.
May Grand Canyon, South to North Rim…here we come! Then on to Utah’s Bryce Canyon and Zion Nat’l Parks. Our 24 year old nephew joined us from Maine, leading the way on long hikes.
June Warm weather allowed us to return to Maine on the northern route. We enjoyed reunions with friends in CO,WY, SD,IA and OH. We were smitten with the beauty of the SD Black Hills and Badlands.
July Began building workshop with studio/storage space on Maine lake property next to Darcy’s parents cottage. Looked forward to evening card games on Oric and Lois’s front porch.
Aug. Construction project progressing well. Rejoiced at news that our first grandbaby was on the way!
Sept. A surprise invitation found us flying into Anchorage for a 12-day RVing adventure with four friends. The magnificence of Alaska’s wilderness is indescribable.
Oct. Loved being back at the NC Home for Children as volunteers. Four couples from our Heifer Ranch days joined us for a month of “home improvements” and kid care.
Nov. Kicked off the holidays with parents-to-be Erin and Brett getting their baby act together.
Dec. By day we cruised the back roads from NC to AZ on our new Harley motorcycle. Our pick-up truck served as support vehicle as we tented and enjoyed outdoor cooking many nights.
Best wishes for 2007. May the journey for you and yours be memorable. Much love, Darcy and Wally

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