As we start preparations to leave here early next week, we realize we have lots to do. Jerry needs to work on the coach but the ground around us is still so muddy it will be difficult. Just changing the air filter will cover him in mud. We will do what we have to do. We must leave. We have had two groups of birds to migrate through here headed south for winter. If they had sense enough to do that, we must move south also.
As the starlings migrated through here first and then the robins we realized that those dreadful Russian olive trees I detest so much actually do serve a purpose. The olives are food for the migrating birds. What a shock to watch them eat the funny looking little green olives. However, Arizona is still making everybody dig up any Russian olives they have in their yards and destroy them. That's because of the huge amount of water they absorb. There are two right here by the coach and by the irrigation ditch. They are pulling water out of that ditch that should go to keeping the grass in the field green. However, they are technically on the neighbor's property so nothing can be done.
We kept Hannah all day on Thursday from before sun-up to that night. I will repeat that I now know why old people don't have babies!! But she had such a terrific day that we did not care how tired we were. Her giggle is a joy to hear. And that smile warms our hearts. She slept well that night, too. We are really going to miss her and we suspect she will miss us, too. Sometimes life is hard but we all do what we must.
As for the flooding, the water is down a bit but in some areas the rivers are not back to their normal flow pattern. The Big Thompson river cut new channels and destroyed 85% of the bridges and roads in the Big Thompson Canyon. Some officials said they will have a temporary road in place by December 1st. I personally think that is not possible but I certainly am not an engineer. When that same road was destroyed in 1976 it took 4 years to build the road back. They told us then the road was built to withstand a 500 year flood. That turned out not to be true at all. Man is not in control here. At least the number of missing is down to 80. That's wonderful. We all still think they are people that left and went out of state for safety. We do not think that many people were killed in the flood. That number is at 7 for now. So, that is all good news.
I think I have brought you up to date. Stay tuned as we get back on the road sometime next week. That would only change if we got more rain. In a small way, though very small, we are looking forward to moving about again. That's why we bought this coach.
I wish for all of you to have a good weekend and an especially blessed Sunday. Stay safe.
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