One week ago, I decided that I was finished with my tent camping trip. I was on the Oregon Coast and had vowed to stay there until the heat wave and wildfires tapered off. Then, I began to feel bored. Then, I started missing my little house, which was in storage, in Deming, NM.

It didn’t take much to convince myself that I could travel quickly back to Deming. I was perfectly situated, not far from Interstate 5, which would take me all the way south to the LA area. From there, I could pick up Interstate 10 and knock off the last bit.  We hit some of the horrendous wildfire smoke in southern Oregon and northern California but passed through there before it became much worse. The best part: visiting friends in the Sacramento area whom I have not seen in 4 years. I waylaid there for 2 wonderful nights.

The biggest story was the immense heat. Most areas were 100 plus degrees most days. Then we hit the high temp jackpot in Blythe, CA, at 114 degrees. It is impossible to describe 114 degrees other than to say it is mighty hot. I did not stay outside for long!  I pulled over at around 3 PM and had to carry Tango from the room to a grassy area where he could do his business. I was so tired from arising at 4 AM the night before and driving over 600 miles, that I fell asleep around 4 PM and was up and out the door by 2 AM. I got through Phoenix at 4 AM and Tucson at 6 AM. From there, another 4 hours across the sparsely populated desert, and I hit Deming at 10 AM on Saturday. Another 1600 miles, for a grand total of 13,000 miles since April.

I had arranged for the maintenance man at the RV Ranch to pull my RV out of storage and remove the cover/tire covers. I pulled right in and there she was, sitting pretty. What a joy! I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t everything to be just as I left it. 

Daytime temps are in the high 90s, but the AC works and with a fan to move the air around more, we are reasonably comfortable. RV AC units are not super powerful, but it works just enough. I opened up the windows and the door last night, This morning,  closed everything up around 7 AM. It is monsoon season and, although I have yet to see any rain, tonight clouds moved in and the wind started, all of which cooled things off wonderfully.

So what do I love the most about being back in the RV? My bed, first. Then, electrical outlets, appliances, running water! I showered and washed my hair both nights just because I can and also to cool me off in the evening. I looked around the bathroom for a coin box the first time and was happy to see no one installed one in my absence. I set up an outdoor cooking area with my camping stove and my Instant Pot! One thing I especially enjoyed while camping was cooking outdoors and it still works great because it is just too hot inside to cook much.

Life is good. I plan to stay in Deming for one month and then return with the RV to Washington. I made a commitment to babysit my grandson for a few weeks before he starts daycare after turning 1 year old. Also during that time, we have a cabin rented in St. Maries, Idaho and will have a fun family weekend. Even grandpa will be there! In early October, I officiate at a wonderful outdoor wedding in Idaho (Spokane, WA is right next to the Idaho border).

Taking the RV to Washington? That leads me to my next adventure, a grand experiment. The goal is to expand the amount of time that I am near the g-baby and his parents. I can stretch out the amount of time in the Spokane area (arriving early in the spring, leaving late in the fall) but also try to stay closer in the winter months.

When I was in Oregon, I discovered that cities along the Interstate 5 corridor, from north of Seattle to Redding, CA are actually warmer in the winter than Deming (actually all of I-5 areas are warmer, but I am only interested in the northernmost part of California and north from there). Areas to the east have mountains and snowy winters, but the corridor I mentioned is moderated by the ocean. Rainfall is around 40 inches vs. 80 plus inches right on the coast. So, there is a long, narrow band running north-south that might be good for the winter, and this year I will travel slowly through there checking it out. With my little home in tow! However, if I feel the need to hit the desert, there will still be places to go that are substantially closer to Spokane than Deming. Some of my new winter friends travel those areas as well. Then, come early spring, back to the Spokane area.

I-5 goes north/south through Washington, Oregon, and California

Sites and cities along I-5

After burning gas like a crazy woman this summer, another goal is to reduce the number of miles I travel each year by tightening my annual travel zone. Truthfully, after Alaska, I don’t have any more long-distance bucket list trips and there is so much to see in the west and northwest. I want to narrow in, now.

What is the downside to that northwest area? Some of the sections in that narrow band of warmer weather are heavily populated. I guess it is so nice, everyone wants to live there! Seattle, Tacoma (WA) Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Eugene, Medford (OR), and Redding (CA) lie from north to south along that corridor. There are still lots of rural areas, especially in Oregon, but I have already noticed from my research that prices are higher, overall. The other downside, the rain! I don’t know if I will find that too depressing. I may end up back in Deming the following winter, but I will have fun carrying out my experiment this winter. 

Lots of cool mountains and volcanoes visible from I-5