I lower the solar panel which signals the crew.
We’re going somewhere! The last few days Bridget, Spike and I have stayed at the campsite, mainly due to the wind. Wind in the desert means airborne dust and sand, of course. Not good for taking photos. The places I go are determined by whether or not the crew can go there. And now I have to be able to take photos for my blog. If I can’t photograph what I see for the blog, I don’t want to go! The blog is taking over our lives!
This morning the wind dies down, so we leave camp to look around.
Henderson Canyon Road takes us past two groups of boondockers in the Peg Leg dispersed camping area near Borrego Springs, California.
One group of boondockers
Although these RVers are obviously happy with their campsites (or they would’ve moved), I wonder if all that bare ground provides dust and sand for the wind to play with. There’s something to be said for the humble creosote bush around a campsite, especially in large numbers.
Another group of boondockers
Henderson Canyon Road is a scenic drive through large groves of citrus trees.
The citrus groves and stands of palm trees remind me of my years living in Florida.
Although I don’t remember any mountains like those!
Hmm . . . what’s THAT over there?
An elephant runs across the desert!
I drive toward it. Dust swirls over the bare ground. The wind has moved over here! The elephant is one of the metal sculptures for which Borrego Springs is famous. More creatures come into view. Darn wind! We’ll have to come back another time to take photos for the blog.
We’re on Borrego Springs Road which leads into town.
I drive around the mall. Fudge. There are probably people in there eating fudge. Or maybe they’re buying a big chunk of it to take home. Sigh . . .
Once parked, I let out the crew. We walk along the oleander in bloom at the edge of the parking lot. Spike lifts his leg on the recycling bin. The walk done, back in the PTV they go so I can get the groceries.
On the way into the store, I notice a water dispenser.
Yes! Funny how a source of inexpensive water can brighten this boondocker’s day.
I rarely buy doggie treats for Spike and Bridget.
I’d rather let them have some of my food, like the rotisserie chicken I bring back to the PTV. Spike goes nuts, per usual, jumping up and down next to me, while Bridget sits expectantly on the bench seat like the little, well-mannered lady that she is.
We gobble down the chicken. I put the leftover chicken inside a small cooler, having learned my lesson not to leave Spike alone with any food he loves. Next I swing the PTV around to the water dispenser and fill up six one-gallon jugs ($1.50).
It’s a pretty day, this second day of December.
I walk around the mall looking in the shops. People gather to enter the Performing Arts Center. I come across The Frugal Coyote. That’s unusual. A thrift store in a mall. It’s closed on Sunday. I’ll come back sometime during the week.
On the drive across the desert toward home, I stop to take a photo during a lull in the wind.
I position the PTV so her rear end is close to the hitch in order to allow the solar power wire to be connected. I also make sure her solar panel is at the best angle toward the sun.
The first thing I do after letting out the crew is climb up my stepladder to put up the panel. The panel immediately starts to sing. I linger on the stepladder, listening and gazing out across the desert. I look over my home with its new Wilson antenna sticking up in the air which reminds me of a flag in a full force gale.
“Full Force Gale” by Van Morrison
Like a full force gale
I was lifted up again
I was lifted up again by the Lord
And no matter where I roam
I will find my way back home
I will always return to the Lord
Later, as night falls . . .
I capture this scene of our home beneath pink clouds.
rvsue
Canine Corner: “I can’t stop laughing” by Spike and Bridget
“What is so funny, Spike? You’ve had that silly grin on your face all morning.”
“I can’t help it! I keep thinkin’ about yesterday and you guys running around the desert like jackrabbits, looking for me. Ha-ha-ha.”
“That’s not funny, Spike. We were worried.”
“Aw, c’mon, Bridge. Not even a little funny?”
“You know, Spike? You can be very irritating.”
That last photo is lovely and would be a great one for your masthead.
How is the new antenna working? Noticeable improvement?
Chris H
The new antenna is working great! I love it! I’d say it’s “noticeable.” It’s so nice to post on my blog without THE SERVER CANNOT BE FOUND popping up every few minutes. It’s been a steady signal ever since the minute it was hooked up.
Masthead photos are tricky. They have to be the right dimensions, and that one is kind of dark… I should take a new photo for the header, with the new antenna and the solar panel up.
Love the pics….great as always!!!!!!!! Have been thru there but have never stayed or done any exploring.
Have any readers got suggestions to improve cell phone service? I’m not as lucky as Sue to have a guardian angel who knows electronics.
Pat at City of Rock
What cell phone service do you have?
I have Verizon. Can you help?
Check this site out: http://www.andybaird.com/Eureka/pages/phones.htm Also, Google “how to improve cell phone reception in an RV” and you will find a ton of info. Google is your best friend!
Need more information. Is this for an air card? What make / model? For just a hand held cell phone you can get a repeater … real expensive and not portable. If you want to copy the RvSue & Crew installation there may be help.
It is for HTC Thunderbolt, with hotspot for wireless service. Just want to boost the cell signal.
I looked at the specs for the Thunderbolt and an external antenna jack is not listed. I could not find the manual. There are some special “cradles” that allow the attachment of an external antenna but your Thunderbolt would have to be in this cradle. Not a good solution IMHO.
Thanks Mick, I guess I will have to be without or with slow service in some areas. Doesn’t really bother me too much, but I have friends who get frantic when they don’t hear from me for a few days. Sometimes it is nice to be off the grid for a while. Thanks again.
I too would advise Wilson for this situation as well: http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/store/index/category/39/building-solutions
Pat… For some reason I cannot fathom, some of the replies to your question went to the bottom of the comment section. . . I want to make sure you see them.
Thanks, I will check them out. I appreciate all the help from everyone. Your blog and the comments have helped me greatly in my journey. Newbies to rvs need all the help they can get…..LOL This is a lot different than camping in a tent.
Pat, hi, i use vel-cro n’ stic up my phone to get 5 bars while it’s up hi on th’ wall or ceiling and i use it on speaker. it works great, i can even go outside n’ still talk. ,,,,,,,,,nice pic’s n’ imfo Sue.
Sounds so wonderful. Going fulltime next year after reading your blog for many months. Thanks for putting adventure back into our lives.
I did that? However it happened, I’m glad for you . . . I wish you many exciting adventures… and lazy ones, too. I like those.
I love how the pink,blue and grey clouds reflect in the rear window of the Casita. Beautiful picture.
Thanks. I wondered if anyone would notice that.
I can’t wait to see the Elephant in the desert! Camels yes…but not Elephants…but then again the pic of the south sea island shouldn’t be there either, or the thrift shop in a mall. I think you have slipped into a time warp or another demention. Sue…oh…Sue come back where ever you are…just home in on your new antenna…oh Sue…come baaacck
It does look like a south sea island, now that you mention it.
Where did you find the water Sue. Last I heard the state park was the only place to get water??? Jack
The dispenser is at the entrance to the grocery store called ‘The Center’ which itself is hard to find. It’s behind the mall. BTW, I think the state park is closed. I read that somewhere on the web.
Love that side by side of Spike and Bridget next to each other…those looks match your words perfectly! I could just squeeze the two of them to death…not literally of course! :O)
The photos match their personalities, too.
Sue, you should go by and see The Palms at Indian Head, off Hoberg Rd., we’ve been there several times, it’s the old playground of the “old” movie stars, the pool is just beautiful, lots of history.
I can see me in my camp clothes and hat being given the bums rush off the property. LOL
I noticed the reflection in the window and thought how fantastic that looked!
I was struck by the pink on blue at that time of day.
Oh Sue I love your photo of your home against that lovely coloured sky. I don’t think it is too dark………the lighting you have has given the photo mood, sometimes very hard to capture. Your pics of the crew are so apt to their commentary…………..Spike so naughty and mischievious and Briget so righteous and and sensible…….love them and your blog !!
Thanks . . .love your comment!
Ooooh – new title photo. Love the one right before Canine Corner. Of course, the Canine Corner pics are priceless too!
Gee, so many have commented on that photo… didn’t expect that.
First thing I notice in Canine Corner…..looks like Spike is wearing a court jester’s hat with top of his head and ears in black and that smile is priceless LOL! Love Bridget’s photo too…so prim and proper 🙂
You’re right! It does look like a court jester’s hat. Too funny! It certainly fits the moment.
We’ve been interested in Borrego Springs for sometime but not been there yet. I’m going to have to figure out where Henderson Road is. Also, did you get cell signal for Verizon? AT&T in the site with all the RVs?
No figuring necessary. Henderson Road is right next to Peg Leg and it’s well marked. You pass it on the way in to Borrego Spings coming from the east.
I didn’t test the phone near the site with all the RVs. Where I’m camped by myself, my Straight Talk phone gets okay coverage. A call was dropped but that was in the middle of very strong winds (does that make a difference?) I don’t hardly ever use the cellphone so I don’t really know. Right now it needs to be charged.
Yes, Just Wanderin’. We get great Verizon cell and internet signals at Peg Leg (the site with all the RVs). It’s a great place to winter 🙂
Love the pictures………..
Glad your antenna is working!
Mr Spike has that same grin he had on yesterday! What a goof ball! Bridget has the look “geeze Spike…get with the program”.
Enjoy your night!
Bridget has an expression for a wide variety of emotions… contempt, disgust, sadness, self-pity, annoyance, disapproval.. etc. none of which Spike is capable of.
That’s because she’s a lady!
You’ve got a yin and a yang!
Hey Girl, you made a comment about the blog “taking over your life”. Even if that was tongue in cheek, don’t let it happen. Take a break. Forget us for a while if you have to. We’ll get along fine by ourselves for a few days!
Thanks, Bob. Oh, I was only pointing out how it influences my decisions on what to do. Nice of you to mention it. … I’m okay. I’m enjoying blogging with a steady internet signal.
Gee, I think one of my favorite photos of your rig is this one with the pink sky reflected in the window. Very pretty and dreamy.
I’m going to try to take another one from a distance so it’ll have the right dimensions for a new header. You know how that goes… When you TRY to get a certain look, it doesn’t happen… unless you’re a pro. We had a pink clouds on blue sky again today… couldn’t quite capture it.
Pretty darned good ametuer! I love your pictures Sue…
Unless you happen to be gathering with a group of friends I can’t understand why boondockers group up like that. I like your space so much better.
I know! I can’t understand it either. There is so much room out here. Maybe it’s a club or something and the people all know each other. That’s what it looked like when I stopped in at one of the “clusters” when I was looking for Spike the Runaway.
I live in my RV fulltime with a special needs adult child. I’m most comfortable and feel safest camping with other people close by in case something happens to one of us. We didn’t know any of the people here until we pulled up into Peg Leg for our first time last winter. Have made good friends with people here and enjoy their company. Some people have been wintering at Peg Leg for many years, others come and go.
That’s what I love about boondocking! You have the choice to park where you want and what’s best for you. . . all alone or with a group or somewhere in between.
Love this picture of the two vehiclesin the desert. Who wouldnt want to be there.So calming and peaceful.
I read about and heard about this part of the desert for years. Now that I’m actually here, I agree . . . It’s one of the most peaceful places we’ve camped.
I like the picture of the mountains with the palm trees in front of them. Also the picture of the reflection on the window of the blt. you take great pictures!!
Thank you, Ginger.
Spike is such a brat… and Bridget is such a priss. priceless banter. That landscape is breathtakingly austere, but its one which exists in so many subtle colours. You do it justice! G
Thanks. Spike and Bridget are so very different, yet they co-exist beautifully, especially considering our tight quarters.
Gosh selfish but what would you do from scratch. Fulltiming soon!