The Spooner Resort

By Uncle Hans

In the summer (approximately 40 days here in Spooner Wisconsin), the nations entire supply of "sunny and 85" descends on us. And that brings a few sun-worshippers with. Like Rex and Mary in the winter, friends and family stop in for a visit. And, like Laughlin or Vegas in the winter, Spooner can be a fun destination.

This year, we were luck to have both of Renee's siblings. Laura is from Seattle and Matthew is from Phoenix. Laura is not used to all the sun and warm temps. Matthew is not used to the cold weather.........

Of course, that means tubing behind the boat!

............there were cousins by the dozens as many live in central Minnesota.........

....the pontoon got a workout............

......on the 23rd, we marked Renee's birthday and our anniversary by a visit to the bridge where we got married. No one was invited, so we like to take people there who should have been invited, when they happen by

.....we stopped by to visit Paul, Hannah's horse. He lives down the road apiece, and likes the apples from our tree.

......Yes, summer in Spooner brings lots of fun, but the temps are already dropping into the 50's at night.

And the first frost is not long off!

Uncle Hans

NO BLOG……

SORRY, NO BLOG TODAY, IT’S JUST TOO HOT !!!

HEAT EXHAUSTION

MARY HAS ALWAYS HANDLED THE HEAT BETTER THAN REX. UNTIL OUR FIRST SUMMER ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT 4 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE CAMPED UP BY OATMAN ON THE HOME CONSTRUCTION SIGHT.  IT WAS MARY’S GOAL TO HIKE THE TWO MILES UPHILL TO OATMAN FROM WHERE OUR TRAILER WAS PARKED.

SHE DID LOT’S OF CONDITIONING AND HIKES TO GET READY. ON THE DAY OF HER HIKE TO TOWN, IT WAS MY JOB TO GIVE HER A HEAD START AND MEET HER IN TOWN WITH THE CAR AT JUDY’S BAR.  INSTEAD OF WAITING THE FULL TIME IT WOULD TAKE HER TO HIKE TO TOWN, I DECIDED TO LEAVE EARLY OUT OF CONCERN FOR MARY? OR WAS IT TO ENJOY A COLD ONE AT JUDY’S BAR?

I FOUND MARY DOUBLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD A HALF MILE SHORT OF OATMAN SUFFERING FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION.  SHE WAS ABOUT TO SHIT HER PANTS AND PASS OUT.

WE RUSHED INTO OATMAN AND FOUND HER A BATHROOM AND BEGAN TO REHYDRATE HER. ONCE YOU’VE EXPERIENCED HEAT EXHAUSTION, YOU’RE MORE EASILY AFFECTED BY THE SUMMER HEAT.  A CONDITION MARY HATES TO THIS DAY AS IT KEEPS HER FROM WALKING DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS.

REX’S PROBLEMS

REX’S PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAT AREN’T REALLY MEDICAL. I JUST PERFER TO DRINK INSTEAD OF SWEAT!!! I HATE THE HEAT !!! I ALWAYS HAVE, AND ALWAYS WILL.

LIFE IN A CAMPER

LIVING IN A CAMPER ON THE DESERT IN THE SUMMER IS JUST PLAIN STUPID!!  IT’S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND EVEN DANGEROUS.  THREE YEARS AGO A MAN FROM IOWA ACTUALLY DIED SITTING IN HIS CAMPER HERE AT THIS RV PARK, AND AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT FULL TIME PARK RESIDENTS DIED DURING THE SUMMER, FROM OLD AGE, NOT IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME MY ADVICE ON THE SUBJECT, I’D RECOMMEND YOU WALK AWAY FROM YOUR CAMPER AND RENT A FURNISHED APARTMENT OR ROOM FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS.  WILL I LISTEN TO MY OWN ADVICE?

NOPE, INSTEAD I MAINTAIN TWO AIR CONDITIONERS AND COUNT ON ONLY SPENDING TWO MORE SUMMERS ON THE DESERT. AIR CONDITIONING A CAMPER IS LIKE TRYING TO AIR CONDITION A TIN CAN LAYING THE SUN.

CANARY IN A BIRD CAGE

LIKE THE MINERS OF THE OLD DAYS THAT USED TO KEEP A CANARY IN A CAGE UNDERGROUND WITH THEM, I HAVE SUSIE THE BLACK CAT.  IF SHE UPS AND DIES OF THE EXTREME HEAT, I’LL CHANGE MY MIND AND GET OUT QUICK. BUT SUSIE THE CAT HAS TAUGHT US A LOT.  LAY AROUND ALL DAY AND DO YOUR STUFF AT NIGHT.  RELAX, DO NOTHING, AND GET OUT AN EXTRA ICE PACK IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO AS SUSIE INSTRUCTS THERE MAYBE A FEW BLOGS MISSING AS WE BATTLE THE HEAT AND DO NOTHING.

30 DAYS

WE HAVE A COUNTDOWN METER ON OUR INTERNET HOMEPAGE.  IT COUNTS DOWN THE DAYS TO WHAT EVER DATE YOU ASSIGN TO IT. TODAY OUR COUNT DOWN SAYS 30 DAYS TO PINETOP!

THE WHITE MOUNTAINS WORK FOR US! THE MILEAGE IS 325 MILES FROM THE DESERT TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. THERE ARE OTHER HIGH PLACES IN ARIZONA, LIKE FLAGSTAFF AND WILLIAMS, BUT FROM INVESTIGATING ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND THEM TO BE PACKED WITH CITY PEOPLE FROM PHOENIX, AND MORE EXSPENSIVE.

“THIS IS THE PLACE” AS BRINGHAM YOUNG SAID, AND WE WILL BE USING THE WHITE MOUNTAINS TO ESCAPE THE SUMMER HEAT ON THE DESERT.

WE HAVE RENTED THE SAME CABIN AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURN TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.  ONE OF THE BROCHURES USES THE TAG LINE,”THE OTHER ARIZONA”.  THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP.

WE WILL BE RE-VISITING SOME OF THE RV PARKS WE VISITED AND IF NONE OF THE USED PARK MODELS HAVE SOLD IN THE FIVE WEEKS WE WERE GONE, THEN IT MUST BE A BUYERS MARKET, AND WE WILL BE SUBMITTING A LOW BALL OFFER AFTER LABOR DAY ON A TRAILER.

NEXT SUMMER WE PLAN TO SPEND A MONTH IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE CABIN RENT AND THE TRAILER PARK RENT ARE ABOUT THE SAME, SO IF IT’S A HELL OF A DEAL, WE WILL GO AHEAD INSTEAD OF WAITING A FEW MORE YEARS.

YUP, I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT PLAN “A” TRAVELLING IN A CLASS C RV WITH A BRIGHT YELLOW JEEP FOR A TOAD IS BACK ON THE, “WHEN WE WIN THE LOTTERY LIST”.

   “SUNNY & 109”

PLAN “B”

ONE OF THE REASONS WE WENT TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS LAST WEEK WAS TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON PLAN “B”.  SINCE MAKING OUR CAMPER PERMANENT BY ADDING THE NICE SCREEN PORCH, PLAN “A” HAS BEEN TO BUY A CLASS C RV AND RETURN TO TRAVELING IN THE SUMMER AND USE THE PRESENT CAMPER IN THE WINTER WHILE DOING CASINO WORK.

PLAN “B” IS TO BUY A USED PARK MODEL WITH AN ATTACHED PORCH SOMEWHERE IN THE MOUNTAINS TO USE IN THE SUMMER AND ENJOY THE COOLER MOUNTAIN SUMMER WEATHER.

SO WE VISITED SEVERAL RV PARKS AND LOOKED AT USED TRAILERS THAT RANGED IN PRICE FROM $9500. TO $35,500, AND RV PARKS THAT WERE TRAILER TRASH ALL THE WAY UP TO ALL CONCRETE ROADS WITH A CLUB HOUSE THAT INCLUDED A LIBRARY, TENNIS COURTS, SWIMMING POOL, BILLARDS ROOM, ETC.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THIS PARK MODEL IS LOCATED IN A MID-PRICED RV PARK IN SHOW LOW, AZ.  THE RENT FOR THE SIX MONTHS OF SUMMER IS $2550.  THE PRICE ON THIS 20 YEAR OLD WELL MAINTAINED PARK MODEL IS $25,500.  WE TOOK THE PICTURES BECAUSE IT WAS OUR FAVORITE UNIT OF THE DAY.

 

ON THE LEFT SIDE IS AN ENCLOSED PORCH THAT RUNS THE FULL LENGTH OF THE TRAILER.  THIS PARTICULAR PORCH IS SPLIT IN HALF WITH GLASS PATIO DOORS BETWEEN THE TWO ROOM. THE FRONT ROOM,

AND THE BACK ROOM.

 

THE KITCHEN, WHICH THE MAN SHOWING US THE TRAILER CALLED A “ONE BUTT KITCHEN”, REFERED TO THE FACT THAT THE KITCHEN IS SMALL AND NARROW.

 

THE OUTSIDE.

NOTICE THE GREEN CAGE IN THE PICTURE ABOVE?  WELL IT’S IT’S AN OUTDOOR CAT CAGE TO EXCERSIZE YOUR HOUSE CAT.

 

OF COURSE A REAR STORAGE SHED.

 

PLAN “A” OR PLAN “B”, BOTH ARE FUN TO DAY DREAM ABOUT.

WELCOME HOME…..

WELCOME HOME TO THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT, AND WHILE YOU WERE GONE THE AIR CONDITIONER DIED.

WELL IT SERVED US WELL FOR THREE AND HALF SUMMERS, SO I GUESS WE SHOULDN’T COMPLAIN TOO MUCH.  IT’S NOT A QUESTION OF TAKING THE UNIT OUT TO THE REPAIR SHOP HOWEVER, AT 115 DEGREES YOU NEED THE A/C FIVE MINUTES AFTER IT QUITS !!!

SO IT WAS OFF TO LOWES TO BUY A NEW AIR CONDITIONER FIVE MINUTES AFTER WE GOT HOME.

SHOW LOW

WE STARTED OFF OUR LAST DAY IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS WITH A HIKE AT WOODLAND LAKE PARK.  SINCE WE DID THE 4.5 MILE HITCHING POST LOOP YESTERDAY, WE SETTLED FOR THE HALF MILE PAVED TRAIL AROUND THE POND.



AFTER OUR HIKE WE TOOK OFF FOR SHOW LOW TO FIND THE SATURDAY MORNING FARMER’S MARKET.  THE MARKET WAS SET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN NEAR THE SHOW LOW STATUE.



THE PLAQUE AT THE BASE OF THE STATUE TELLS THE STORY OF HOW THE TWO RANCHERS CAME TO NAME THE TOWN.



DO YOU THINK THIS CHEESEHEAD BELONGS AT THIS POKER TABLE?

Love The Cabin

On vacation this week I decided to write down “Things I  Like About The Cabin”and blog about it.  So here is the list.

 

1.  I love, love, love the porch and the porch swing.  I grew up with both and used them lots!!   Great memories….

 

2.  Birch trees.  I know:  Birch trees???   But I saw them and had 2 thoughts- my mother-and-the Villa Louis.  Both make me think of birch bark canoes.  And to be quite honest, I have not seen a birch tree in ages.  There are stands of them here!!

3.  The wonderful view.  A stand of pines, a meadow, and a pine  forest.  How cool is that..we have seen (while sitting on the porch), the following, a pied horse, stellar blue jays, deer, and rabbits.  What a  nature show!!

 

4.  An entire afternoon of rain showers (some of which had small hail).  It smelled great afterward, and I got to feel cozy in sweats!!

I could not have ordered a better site for our July vacation!!

RELAXING VACATION

THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WE’VE JUST BEEN HANGING AROUND PINTOP AND ENJOYING OUR MOUNTAIN CABIN.

THE WEATHER HAS BEEN PERFECT, NICE AND COOL, NO A/C RUNNING, AND PULL UP A BLANKET AT NIGHT.  LATE IN THE AFTERNOON SOME BLACK CLOUDS APPEAR AND WE MAY GET AN HOUR OF GENTLE RAIN.

THERE IS A POND, CALLED WOODLAND LAKE ABOUT A HALF A MILE FROM THE CABIN THAT HAS A PAVED HIKING TAIL AROUND IT.

THIS MORNING I HAD MY MORNING COFFEE OUT ON THE PORCH WITH SIX DEER MUNCHING THROUGH THE PINE TREES RIGHT OUT FRONT OF THE CABIN.  BY THE TIME THEY GOT OUT INTO THE MEADOW THERE WERE 6 DOES AND 4 YOUNGSTERS IN THE HERD AND THEY TROTTED OFF INTO THE PINE TREES ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MEADOW.

MARY TOOK ME TO LUNCH ONE OF THE DAYS, AND WE’VE FOUND TWO NEIGHBORHOOD BARS WITHIN HIKING DISTANCE FOR “MILLER TIME” IN THE AFTERNOON.

I’LL LEAVE YOU TODAY WITH SOME ARTWORK I LIKED, DISPLAYED AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERECE IN SPRINGERVILLE.

 

 

 

 

 

UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS

 

WE THOUGHT 6500 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL WAS ABOUT IT FOR THESE WHITE MOUNTAINS, UNTIL WE REALIZED THAT SURPRISE SKI RESORT WAS JUST 30 MILES EAST, AT 8500 FEET.

COOL, OR MAYBE I SHOULD SAY “COOLER”.  THAT’S HOW IT IS HERE IN THE WEST, FOR EVERY 1000 FEET YOU GO UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS IT GETS ON THE AVERAGE 4 DEGREES COOLER.

WE FOUND SEVERAL LITTLE TOWNS ON THE EASTERN SLOPE, GREER, EAGAR, SPRINGERVILLE, AND ALPINE.  NO SUPER WALMARTS OVER HERE, BUT WE DID FIND A DAIRY QEEN AND A SAFEWAY STORE.

TO GET THERE WE HAD TO CROSS A SECTION OF THE APACHE INDIAN RESERVATION.

 

BESIDES THE INDIAN RESERVATION THERE IS ALSO THE APACHE-SITGREAVES NATIONAL FOREST, SO WE STOPPED TO TAKE A HIKE.

 

 

WHOA !!!! HOLD IT !!!! HIKING AT 8000 FEET?  OH MY GOD, I WAS PUFFING LIKE A STEAM ENGINE.  IT’S TRULY BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE WERE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

 

IT WAS A GREAT ROADTRIP WITH LOT’S OF BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN SCENERY, BUT AFTER OUR HIKE I WAS GLAD TO RETURN TO THE CABIN AND THROW BURGERS ON THE GRILL.

WELCOME TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

WE’RE ON VACATION THIS WEEK IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA.

 

WE ARE RENTING A  CABIN IN PINETOP, AZ.

 

THE WHITE MOUNTAINS ARE NOT THE SIERRA NEVADAS, AND SHOW LOW AND PINETOP ARE NOT SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AND INCLINE VILLAGE, BUT IT SURE FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK AT 6,000 FEET IN JULY!

THE TEMPERATURE HERE THIS AFTERNOON WAS 75 DEGREES, AND BACK IN THE MOHAVE VALLEY IT WAS 115 DEGREES.

WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE CABIN WE RENTED OFF THE INTERNET.  SOMETIMES THE PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS DON’T REALLY MATCH WITH THE REAL THING, THIS CABIN IS NICE.  IT’S ONE BEDROOM, BATH AND LIVING ROOM WITH A KITCHENETTE, AND CHECKOUT THE FRONT PORCH COMPLETE WITH A SWING.

 

THESE ARE THE VIEWS OFF THE PORCH.

OF COURSE “AZ” HAS BEEN BUSY CHECKING OUT EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY.

 

AND MARY STILL HAS TO TOUCH EVERYTHING SHE WALKS BY.

 

  “SUNNY & 75”

RAIN

RAIN ON THE DESERT IS AN EVENT, IT HAPPENS SO SELDOMLY.  TO MOST SNOWBIRDS A CLOUDY SUNSET IS AN EVENT, BUT AFTER YOU’VE BEEN HERE AWHILE IT’S JUST ANOTHER ARIZONA SUNSET.

 

A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WE HAD A RAIN, AND I WALKED UP TO THE GARBAGE DUMPSTER IN THE RAIN, JUST TO COOL OFF.  THE RAIN WAS CERTAINLY COOLER THAN THE AIR, AND IT ACTUALLY BROUGHT ON A CHILL. NICE !!!!

“AZ” WAS AMAZED AND A BUNDLE OF ENERGY ON THE PORCH.  THE ROOF IS WHITE METAL AND THE RAIN SEEMED TO POUND ON THE PORCH ROOF. HE RACED BACK AND FORTH INVESTIGATING THE NEW NOISES AND GATHERING PUDDLES.

INSTEAD OF BEAUTIFUL ARIZONA SUNSETS, HERE I AM HUNTING UP THE CAMERA TO TAKE PICTUES OF THE RAIN?

    “NOT-SUNNY & 81”

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY !!!!

THINGS HERE ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT ARE FINE.  THE JUNE HEAT WAS WORSE THAN LAST SUMMER, BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT SOMEHOW.  THE ELECTRIC BILL RAN OVER $30 A WEEK, AND WE ENJOYED MARTI AND SANDI'S POOL SEVERAL HOT AFTERNOONS.

LAST WEEK AT WORK, WE ACTUALLY GOT 47 HOURS AND OUR TOKES RAN A COUPLE OF DOLLARS ABOVE AVERAGE.  OF COURSE IT ALL AVERAGES OUT, AND WE'RE ONLY WORKING FOUR DAYS THIS WEEK.

WE'VE BEEN COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS TO OUR ROADTRIP INTO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS AND THE COUNT DOWN IS IN SINGLE DIGITS, FINALLY.  THE EXTENDED WEATHER FORCAST SHOWS HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70'S AND THE POSSIBILITY OF RAIN?  AFTER A MONTH OF TRIPLE DIGITS IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL, AND MAYBE A LITTLE CHILLY?

ENJOY THE 4TH OF JULY!!!

    "SUNNY & 110"