JANUARY TRIP to OHIO and back to ARIZONA

Beginning at Christmas time, the nurses at Essex 3 where Gary's sister, Janet, was living kept calling to give us updates on her condition.  She had appeared to be going downhill, much of this caused by not eating and refusing many of her meds. She had also seemed more despondent when she had to give up her apartment because of being absent from it for so many months.
When they called on January 5th, we decided that it was time to make a trip to Ohio. We began packing immediately, clearing out the fridge and making arrangements to store the motorhome in the back lot at the Calvary Baptist Church where we attended. Surprisingly, we were ready to leave the following morning. It took us five days of driving but had good weather every day except rain on the second day. Of course, it was our longest day!!
Arriving on Wednesday the 10th, we settled into our apartment condo with Victor for the duration. He has been using the condo since selling his home in December. So this is a stop-gap for him until he finds something to buy. We also got to visit with our son, Richard, and his family in their new home. It was good to see the inside of this house as we had already checked out the exterior.  His wife is having a ball thinking that she is living in a palace after their little house for so many years.  It is an ordinary farm house, but so nice and roomy!!
We also spent time with Janet, though she did not talk much, we were glad to have the time with her before her passing on Saturday. One never knows what is in store for us at any age!!
We had this reaffirmed to us twice while home when Audrey's friend lost a 56 year old sister after a very short known illness; and we lost a friend who was our age. This was very unexpected as he appeared to be very healthy.
Our trip though very tiring, was good. We just had to keep the days of driving a reasonable length of time. We began early, but try to end by 2 pm to rest for the next day. We also trade off driving every two hours with Gary driving through the cities.
Most of our picture taking was on our return trip to Arizona in February.

St..Louis Arch

Much of our I-40 trip was also Historic Route 66

While in Ohio, we did not get to avoid their snow.  We awoke to some new snow while we were there!!

 Our son, Ben, did arrive in Ohio but not without sideswiping a road sign and doing damage to the right side of his truck because of black ice. He probably should have turned around and gone back to his home in Minnesota.  After his twelve hour trip he got to visit at Richard's for the duration of the week.
Gary's nephew and his wife also went off the road in northern Alabama because of snow just two miles from their home and had to be pulled out!! So they did the smart thing and turned around to return to their home and gave up the trip.
We know that funerals do not always happen in good weather. So we understand.
On our trip back west we hit an area of winds and saw the effects of three semi accidents. Just reminds us to always stop when in high winds with the motorhome!!
The wife of our friend who passed away, also had to drive back from Florida in bad weather and witnessed eleven accidents between NC and WV. She was fortunate to stay safe!!
Friends of ours from First Friends Church in Ohio are here in Phoenix and a couple friends from a church we attended in Oregon will be here in our park for four days the first of March. We are looking forward to all of this visiting!!
By the way, we did not return to Mesa Regal Resort when we got back to AZ on Friday, February 8th, Instead we set up home in SunLife Resort in the same block here in Mesa.  It is a much smaller resort though owned by the same corporation and is also very nice.
You all take care now and we should be back with more pictures in a few days.