On our way to Silver City, New Mexico, from our previous camp near Safford, Arizona, the crew and I come upon a country RV park.
“Let’s see what this place is like!”
Ridgepark RV is approximately 12 miles south of Silver City, NM, on Route 90
The first thing I notice is the park is clean and tidy, including the occupied campsites.
The owner/manager isn’t available so another camper welcomes me and gives me the basic information about the park.
Ridgepark RV offers gravel sites with electric, water, and sewer for $20 a night. This grabs my attention right away.
As I type this, the weekly rate is $85 plus utilities and the monthly rate is $250 plus utilities. In a small building there is a lending library and exercise machine. Another building houses the restroom, laundry, and shower facilities. I see a handy air pump and there are trash bins, of course.
The man helps me choose a site and fetches a pay envelope for me.
I write a check for $20 for one night.
A picnic table in the shade of a tree is on the door side of the Best Little Trailer
I connect the BLT’s power cord to the 30 amp service pole. I don’t bother running the sewer hose or water hose (Our water hose leaks anyway!).
I’ll fill up our water jugs and dump the tanks before we leave for Big O Tires in the morning . . . .
For the remainder of the day, Bridget, Reggie, and I roam around the quiet park and relax inside the Best Little Trailer.
The only noise is the occasional barking of dogs. Hmm . . . . It looks like we’re the only overnight campers.
I turn on the air conditioner for about twenty minutes to remove the built-up heat of the interior and then turn it off, opening windows.
The shower is coin operated (5 quarters for 5 minutes). Pressure is good and water is hot!
At bedtime I anticipate a pleasant sleep.
Not so! Bridget has a restless night. She wakes us up for visits to the water dish and to go outside. After several rounds of this, she wakes up again, whimpering, probably with leg pain. I give her Tramadol and eventually she falls asleep.
Reggie has us up early, as usual, and he’s rarin’ to start his day!
As for me, I feel awful! If I don’t get good rest, I always feel it in the morning. But this is worse. Much worse.
Uh-oh. I’m sick. Muscle aches. Back pain. Feverish. No energy. Well, there’s no going for tires today.
Of all the challenges of solo RVing, sickness or injury are among the most formidable. It’s not like you can say, “Honey, you’re gonna’ have to dump the tanks and do the driving today. Oh, and before you walk the dog, would you fix me a cup o’ tea?”
Obtaining medical care can be an ordeal for the solo RVer.
What I face is nothing compared to the health problems of others. However, when you’re not strong and you feel awful, every step is climbing a mountain.
Find the location of a medical clinic. Pull oneself together to look presentable. Drive oneself to the location, navigating unfamiliar streets. Leave the crew in the PTV. Sit in a waiting room full of sick people. Sit in an exam room and wait some more. Ugh!
The thought of all that strengthens my resolve.
I must do everything I can to fight this!
Fortunately I have a weapon on hand . . . a bottle of 100% cranberry juice.
I fast all day except for sips of cranberry juice and water.
I conserve as much energy as possible while seeing that Energizer Reggie gets his walk-abouts. The three of us go together to pay for another night and to dump trash. I sit at a picnic table under a shelter while the crew wanders around. We walk to a shade tree where I sit on a bench.
I’m a mess.
I’m glad no one is around to see me. I walk ten feet and have to stop and rest.
This will give me more compassion for Bridget when she can’t keep up on walks . . . .
Bridget, after her restless night, is content to sleep most of the day. I try to do the same. Reggie, bless his heart, senses something is wrong and does his best to occupy himself next to me on the bed, chewing a rawhide bone and tearing the squeaker and stuffing out of poor ol’ sock monkey, may he rest in peace.
At one point I’m beside myself with the ache in my legs and a head hot with fever.
As I’m moaning and rubbing my legs, I hear a tap at the window above our bed. I pull back the curtain. Sitting on the handle of the water spigot only a few feet from my face is a sparrow. The little brown bird tilts its head, we exchange a look, and away it goes.
Ha! I’m am going to get through this! Yes, I am!
Later, in order to secure a good night’s sleep, I make sure Reggie is well exercised before bedtime.
With Reg on his tether and Bridget in her car, we mosey down the park’s lane to the main road and back.
All three of us go to bed at 6:30, the crew’s usual bedtime.
The next morning I feel improvement!
Back pain and muscle aches are almost gone. I’d like to rest another day but today is Friday and I don’t want to be at this park into next week.
I have no stamina so every task is followed by a brief rest. I fill up the water jugs, dump the tanks, pack up Bridget’s car, secure the interior, and we take off for Big O Tires!
We drive past Tyrone open pit copper mine. ( Follow link for minerals list.)
I wish I had photos of what one sees when Silver City first comes into view.
One rolls up and down small hills and then — there it is! Spread out below with mountains as a backdrop. Of course, I’m not in a condition to fully appreciate it. I’m happy just to be moving!
We will buy the tires for the BLT and go to our next camp where I can rest until I’m strong again.
rvsue
NOTE: Obviously I didn’t take many photos during this time. This post does not show Ridgepark RV to be as nice as it is, set on a slope and bordered by fields. Also, there’s no need for writing get well wishes. I’m typing this a few days later and I’m fine.
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Flashback!
Williard Springs camp, Coconino National Forest south of Flagstaff, Arizona, April 2012
You can read about Williard Springs and watch a slideshow at “So lovely it makes me cry.”
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