Author: Matt

(Excerpt from our forthcoming book Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3 – not yet available for sale.)

January 12, 2018 (Friday)
Somewhere Over Utah
From: Matt

Dear Bob and Sue,

We’re on the plane back to Seattle. Maybe it takes a week to get used to the RV lifestyle; last night we both slept like logs. It was a little sad cleaning out the RV this morning and packing our bags. Karen took a break for a moment and sat at the dining table rubbing her eyes with her hands.

I put my arm around her shoulder and asked, “Are you Ok, Sweetie?”

“I think so,” she said softly. “I’m just trying to figure out how much of my eyebrow I lost in the fire last night.”

Continue reading “Season 3: January 12, 2018”

(Excerpt from our forthcoming book Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3 – not yet available for sale.)

January 11, 2018 (Thursday)
Lost Dutchman State Park
From: Matt

Dear Bob and Sue,

Sometime in the middle of the night the wind stopped blowing, and we woke to a clear, sunny day. It was still brisk outside, so we stayed in the RV and had breakfast with the curtains pulled open.

Getting to the Tonto National Monument visitor center just as they were opening, we quickly learned that they give tours of the Upper Cliff Dwelling—the area of the park we most wanted to see—on Fridays through Mondays, not Mondays through Fridays like we thought. Karen was disappointed, but there was no way for us to come back tomorrow and still make our flight home to Seattle. Instead, we were able to hike to the Lower Cliff Dwelling, which was pretty impressive itself.

Continue reading “Season 3: January 11, 2018”

(Excerpt from our forthcoming book Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3 – not yet available for sale.)

January 10, 2018 (Wednesday)
Tonto National Forest
From: Karen

Dear Bob and Sue,

This morning, Matt was still feeling traumatized by his dump station fiasco. All he had for breakfast was a cup of coffee and the good luck Green Apple Jolly Rancher he’s had in his backpack for the last couple of years. He said he wasn’t quite ready to eat eggs or yogurt yet; I can’t say I blame him.

Before leaving, we secured everything in the RV, double-checking that we hadn’t left anything in the upper bunk area that could slide off the edge. On our drive here from Chiricahua, my iPad launched itself off the mattress and fortunately landed on the padded bench below. Our first order of business when we left the park was to buy Matt some new tennis shoes to replace the ones that he threw away yesterday. We found a Walmart close by. I went in search of sunscreen, and when I met Matt at the checkout line, he was juggling a shoe box, a couple of packages of underwear (I didn’t ask) and a bunch of little pies.

Continue reading “Season 3: January 10, 2018”

(Excerpt from our forthcoming book Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3 – not yet available for sale.)

January 9, 2018 (Tuesday)
Catalina State Park
From: Matt

The wind was brisk this morning when we woke; if we had been camping in a tent, we would have blown away in the middle of the night. As it was, we could feel cold air seeping into our RV. Last night we agreed to leave the furnace off; it was keeping Karen awake as well. Early this morning, before coffee, we cranked it back on; it felt so good, like a big warm hug.

The coyotes never howled again after their initial session last night. I wonder what they were hunting so close to the campground. Karen thinks that they hang out by the RVs with lights around their perimeters and wait for rodents to approach; when the rodents hesitate at the lights, the coyotes pounce. Could be, but I think it’s more likely they’re waiting for Muffy to come out and tinkle. It takes just one inattentive moment, and the next day there are lost dog signs all over the campground.

Continue reading “Season 3: January 9, 2018”

(Excerpt from our forthcoming book Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3 – not yet available for sale.)

January 8, 2018 (Monday)
Catalina State Park
From: Matt

Dear Bob and Sue,

Today, we traded the seclusion of Chiricahua on the eastern edge of the state for the convenience of camping just outside the suburbs of Tucson. Catalina State Park is a beautiful area, and the campsites have large, paved pads with full hookups. Karen and I are looking forward to hiking in the mountains here tomorrow; we can walk to the trailhead from our campsite. But first I need a full night’s sleep. The furnace woke me so often that I didn’t get a minute of REM sleep last night.

I told Karen that we’d have to try sleeping without the furnace tonight regardless of how cold it gets. She said, “Oh, Honey, I don’t think so. We’ll freeze. Once you get tired enough, you’ll pass out.”

Continue reading “Season 3: January 8, 2018”

(Excerpt from our forthcoming book Dear Bob and Sue: Season 3 – not yet available for sale.)

January 7, 2018 (Sunday)
Chiricahua National Monument
From: Matt

Dear Bob and Sue,

Last night we were tired from the excitement of becoming RVers, so we called it a day early—like 7:45—and figured out our sleeping arrangements. The dining area converted into a twin bed, and Karen had already claimed that spot, which was a good thing since it’s a little shorter than I am tall. My bed above the cab was a double with about three feet of headroom. I practiced how to climb down from my perch so that in the middle of the night I wouldn’t step on Karen’s face when I had to go to the bathroom. She propped up a couple of pillows against the back of her sleeping cubby and began reading a book on her iPad. After a few minutes, she asked, “Does it feel like the RV is listing to one side?”

Continue reading “Season 3: January 7, 2018”