It started off like any year. It was January 2023 and we were in the middle of the desert, like any other year. It was cold at night but warm and sunny during the day, just as before. Oh, there were a few variations, but too few to mention.

Yup, it was a new year for the Currin's, Hugh and Denise and the kids dogs Ruby and Cooper.

The remaindure of the winter was spent pleasantly off roading near our winter camp in Brenda, AZ. We transitioned to Prescott Valley the end of March as it was getting too hot in Brenda. More not doing much till mid-May. Oh, Hugh built a pool cue, well just the handle. He figured he could build the handle and buy a nice shaft, thus save some moola. Ya, that worked out well after buying materials and some tooling. But he has a new hobby!

It stared to go off the rails in mid-May. We had an all summer trip planned, reservations, things to do, places to be, etc. The first leg was up to South Dakota. Since it's our home we need to touch base every few years. The trip north was pleasant but cold and rainy. Twice we were stymied, once due to a major road washout and second by a snow storm. After re-routing we stayed on schedule though. Nice drive through Colorado.

Rapid City, in South Dakota, was as marvelous as we remember it. As in prior trips it was very stormy, rain and hail, probably six major storms in the month we were there. As we did remember what Rapid City is like we scheduled two weeks of vacation at Sullivan Lake in the Black Hills. Very nice National Forest CG and this early in the season not too crowded.

We left South Dakota towards the end of June which was a great relief. We spent a week at Lakeside CG in the Bighorn Mountains. The Bighorns are very nice but were still cool and wet. It was great to be away from South Dakota. Then to Parkside CG at the base of Beartooth Pass near Red Lodge. We'd not been in this area before and the campground was very nice. Spent time walking the campground and a few short local trails. We tried to drive Beartooth Pass making a loop out of it. However, Parkside is 8000' and Beartooth 11,000'. Denise's altitude sickness kicked in making her sick on the first set of switchbacks outside the CG. Hugh drove it another day and reported it being very scenic.

The next week was at Jo Bonner CG which has no redeeming value. We'd have left after one night but it was paid for and leaving would have really messed up our schedule. OK, OK, there was a lake and we felt safe, but no place to walk or let the dogs run free. We're finding this a problem with making reservations for an extended trip.

We shot out of Jo Bonner like a streaking bullet, a slow streaking bullet, to the next stop. That was Powell CG on the west side of LoLo Pass in Idaho. This is a nice area we've been to before, not the CG but the area. Being the end of June, peak season, the area was very crowded. We did a few short hikes and enjoyed ourselves. However, setting up we noticed the front axle on the trailer is bent up in the middle. This is as it should be but way more than normal. It was bent. We also noticed Larry had some stuttering on acceleration climbing the pass. These two problems convinced us to abandon the trip and head south for PV. (spoiler: the stutter must have been bad fuel and it cleared up eventually, but Sassy did really need a new axle.) Another problem with reservations, it prevents taking a few days or a week for repairs, or medical, or ? without throwing the whole trip out of whack.

We spent August through October in Prescott Valley. Denise did some hiking with the dogs and Hugh built a couple of cues. Hugh finally saw the doctor about his knee (been bothering him all year). Finally talked them into doing an MRI which showed a meniscus tear. Hugh's scheduled for physical therapy in Quartzsite starting in late December. Our dentist wanted Hugh to see the Perodontist for some repair work. He did and is now recovering from nasty oral surgery. (He is not having fun) He's also scheduled for a Mohs Surgery on his temple (skin cancer) mid December. It happens to him every so often and this one looks minor. Denise took Ruby in to the vet as she wasn't feeling well. They did an emergency surgery for a twisted stomach. Good Denise caught it as it could have easily killed her. She's recovering now and hating us for forcing the "cone of shame" and a "recovery vest" on her. Otherwise, they tell us, we're healthier than we should expect. Hard to believe, but we stumble along. Living the dream.

The trip north convinced us we do not like to travel with reservations. It restricts us too much and takes a lot of the adventure out of a trip. We'll likely travel some in the spring and fall to avoid the crazy summer crowds and need for reservations. The way it is going the weather is better then anyway. So future trips will likely be a month or two long, rather than 4-5 months. We must be slowing down.

We did hear, while in South Dakota, that the state is coming down on full time travelers. Rumblings about only allowing them to vote for President, not state or local races. This did not pass but the intent is clear. They are also forcing full time travelers to come back to South Dakota for jury duty. Travel back to SD, possibly in the winter, to stay in a motel for a month. We've also heard that Wells Fargo is closing bank accounts for travelers who do not have a "brick and mortar" home, i.e. full time travelers. I guess they just don't want us anymore. Taking the hint we've now officially moved everything to Arizona. It is good to be out of South Dakota.

It really wasn't as bad a year as it sounds. I suppose we're just ready to wrap up our full time travel adventure and are transiting to a more "normal" life. But stay tuned, there may be a few more wild hair adventures before we're done. Stay tuned.

We hope you and all yours are well and ready for a great 2024. Best wishes from the Currin's.