It was a depressing day, it was an exhilarating day. Some of you will recall that on our last big Western states loop DR woke up at Lake Tahoe with a “right third cranial nerve palsy” that paralysed his right eyeball. Well, this morning Laura woke up with a “right seventh cranial nerve palsy”, better known as Bell’s palsy that caused the whole right side of her face to sag and go numb. We went to the ER in Yuma and they confirmed our diagnosis and eliminated any other possibilities. They put her on anti-inflammatory and anti-viral medications. They told her, like they did DR, that they don’t know why these palsys happen and that it should resolve in a few days to a few months, but usually in a week or two.
Laura was not deterred from her wanderlust however. So we traveled on through desert all day passing through Gila Bend, Ajo and Why enroute to the “Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument” where we are camped for the night just a few miles from the Mexican border. This is some seriously beautiful desert. Laura’s napping and I am sitting here caressed by the most perfect breeze, admiring the exhilarating landscape, surrounded by an army of stately saguaro cactus sentinels, framed by rugged purple mountains in the distance, with the setting sun setting the sky on fire.
Life is good!
DR & Laura
VanGo.blog 
Really sorry to hear of Laura’s situation! The proper & best antidote is probably doing exactly what you are doing . . . R&R while casually enjoying the American great outdoors “on the road”. My best wishes for a quick & complete recovery.
There is a wonderful “circle drive” in Organ Pipe NM. While it is (or at least was) unpaved, it is very passable in a regular passenger car. (Not to be a chronic pain in the ass, but as long as you are there, don’t forget your NP Passport stamp).
P.S. – Your Johnnie Walker “blue label” really tastes good, but is starting to run a bit low. Perhaps I need to cut back a little, or not!
Dave
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You stay out of that Johnny Walker Blue Label. I am saving that for when you and I set foot on our last continent or your funeral or mine whichever comes first.
DR
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I can’t wait that long!!!
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