Tuesday, March 4
Beautiful bougainvillea welcome worshipers at the door of this tiny church.
The crew and I stay one full day (two nights) at our camp west of Yuma. Other than the ocotillo in bloom, there isn’t much that interests me to photograph. I want to camp where it’s warm, and also where there are plenty of photo opportunities.
Before getting on Highway 95 to head north out of Yuma, I fill up the PTV’s tank ($3.39 a gal.), grab a rotisserie chicken at Wal-Mart, fill up water jugs, and dump trash. It’s a good feeling to set out for a new camp with everything taken care of: a full, fresh water tank, empty waste tanks, full drinking water jugs, full gas tank, and a very well-stocked pantry.
The only thing not full is one of my propane tanks. We have plenty of propane, however, for the fridge, for heating water, and for the little bit of cooking I do.
Located north of Yuma, the picturesque church is surrounded by plowed fields.
We stop along the road for a PTV picnic. After gobbling up rottiserie chicken, the crew settles down for naps as I drive us northward.
Brittlebush growing along Highway 95 between Yuma and Stone Cabin, Arizona
Our destination is BLM land on King of Kofa Road.
We’re still in a holding pattern waiting for temperatures to climb in other places before setting out on our journey for 2014. The Kofa area is so darn pretty, it calls us back!
I find a nice campsite far from the road.
At this time of year in the desert, I’m not looking for a cozy campsite. I usually like to nestle the Best Little Trailer among bushes and trees, but not now, not here. This campsite is in the middle of a flat area with “open” vegetation.
In other words, Spike doesn’t have much to hide behind.
It’s good to have the BLT waxed. She’s ready for the upcoming months of travel! Maybe I’ll wax the PTV, too.
More importantly, it makes it hard for a coyote to sneak up on our campsite. Same with snakes. This site is very clear and clean. Several open paths lead away from the site for the crew and I to walk. The ground is softer for paws here than at our Sidewinder or Palm Canyon Road camps.
The different textures of King Valley, from the barbs of the ocotillo to soft waves of grass.
The photo above may look like a contradiction to what I just wrote, but Bridget and I pass by in an open area when I see this shot.
A pretty camp, quiet and peaceful with no neighbors!
Spike doesn’t come with Bridget and me on this little photo excursion. When we first arrive, he wears himself out excitedly exploring around camp. When we leave in search of photos, he chooses to lie in his doggie bed on the mat, guarding our home with sleepy eyes while waiting for our return and, of course, for suppertime.
Look who’s in the arms of an ocotillo now!
About my Amazon income . . .
I was beginning to think the heydey of my Amazon earnings was over as sales began to drop. Then the comments feature breaks on this blog, blocking anyone from commenting. On the very same day I’m happily surprised to receive the highest total of commissions in one day ever! Wow!
Hmm . . . Does that mean when my readers can’t chat, they shop?
rvsue
I APPRECIATE YOU SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
Thank you very much for thinking of me and my crew. Here are a few of the items recently purchased:
Optima Batteries BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery
Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale, White
Mozaic Twin Size 6-Inch Futon Mattress, Black
1000 Dog Pet Poop Bags (Black)
Kindle Fire HD 8.9″, Wi-Fi, 16 GB – Includes Special Offers
Fridge Freezer- 50 Quart
Very nice. Have you dogeared your Benchmark maps yet? Time seems to be moving so slowly, yet we are still selling stuff on Craigslist and eBay. Whenever we get a warm weekend we will have the first garage sale. We have decided on the Oliver Elite IITB trailer. We will make a trip to the factory and place the order. Takes them about 2 months to build.
Oh and I just ordered all my Benchmark maps for the western US through your shopping link. Already had CO and WY.
Very nice trailer, John. I’m sure you will be very happy with it. It’s an exciting time for you, isn’t it. The dream is becoming real!
I took wide, clear, plastic tape and completely covered all my Benchmark maps. They were taking some hard wear! Thank you for ordering yours through my blog.
Hi Sue, Have you tried clear contact paper for book covers? Love your photos. Read you everyday, Linda
Yes, and it works great. I happened to have the tape on hand and not the contact paper . . .
Thanks, Linda May, for visiting my blog every day!
Glad to. I also added a brake controller and cable.
Great!
I’m glad we can comment now! I wondered what happened. It’s still bitterly cold and snowy here in Michigan. Don’t head northeast on your travels…at least for a little while!
Hi, Casitagirl,
No, I’m not moving out of this warm and sunny zone until it’s safe to do so. Good heavens, I can’t imagine spending an entire winter in Michigan. You must be made of strong stuff.
It has been brutal. We heat with an outdoor wood furnace, which is great because it doesn’t cost is anything to heat our house, but is a bit tough when there is a couple of feet of snow on the ground and it is 19 degrees below 0.
We finally said “enough is enough” this winter and are in the process of buying a house in Florida. We will use that as our winter base and travel in our RV all summer.
I wonder how many other folks will decide to move to warmer climate after this winter, or at least wish they could. You are very fortunate to be able to relocate!
Really like your evening posts… It allows me to read while Clyde and I have our
evening meal! I do not see that “comments” place where it has been or anywhere
at the end of your amazon purchases list….. Just the “Leave a Reply” place! Either
this is the new way of doing things or….. I am #1 on your list! Hey….I like the sound
of that! That I may be the first commenter….not really so special in my mind…..
It is so delightful to see all the colorful blossoms in your lovely pictures….and your
cute little furkids too…..
Hi, Elizabeth,
It’s fun imagining you and your Clyde reading my blog while you have your evening meal. 🙂
I don’t know what the deal is with my comments/reply feature. It’s acting crazy. The important thing is you’re here! And I’m always glad to see you! Have a good evening . . .
Just to implant the correct picture….. Clyde has his evening meal from his dinner
bowl on the floor….He does not sit at the table in front of the computer with
me, and on my lap! However, when he is through eating, he curls up on my
lap to groom himself for awhile….. Wish I had a picture of my beautiful boy
to share with you…. You have a good evening also…..with your two beautiful kidz…. Elizabeth…..
What breed is Clyde? You probably told us but I don’t remember. I’m imagining bulldog or pug. Don’t think that’s right . . .
Sue, I believe Clyde is a cat.
No Sue, Clyde is not a “Pug or a Bulldog”!!!! My 13 -14 lb. GORGEOUS orange with
white bow-tie & belly….is the most beautiful long, thick haired kitty cat on the planet!
He came from the boondocks around Roswell, NM. He was adopted and named by
a couple who returned him to the SPCPA there because, he was too “friendly” for them. He was 7 months old when I adopted him…7 or 8 years ago just about this time of year. I love it that he enjoys attention! Of course some would say he is very
spoiled…..Everyone who knows him ALWAYS says how beautiful and sweet he is!
My Clydie is NOT a dog!!!!
Oh, I’m so SORRY! I knew that Clyde was a cat. I don’t know why I turned him into a measly, lowlife dog. My apologies to Clyde. What an insult!
NO NO NO DOUBLE X 2 NO! Dogs are great! I love them too! I have shared a great
many years with a variety of dogs as companions! However, when I became a FT RV’r, I decided that my life would be without any animal companion….. A totally solo life for me!
While at the SKP park, “North Ranch”, near Wickenburg, AZ… A lady asked me if
I would like to have a cat? I had already decided that if I did have a cat, she would be
a beautiful blue-eyed Himalayan, (half Siamese, half Persian). I asked the lady if her
cat was the above described kitty? “Yes”, she said…… She had a name, which I no
longer remember…. One of our first nights together, in a dream, she and I made
eye contact as I held her….. She told me, “I am CHI, LIFE FORCE.” So…that was
her new name….. Chi kitty was with me for 11 years…. She rests under a tree at the farm home of her Artesia, NM vet, with other pets of other residents of “The Original Ranch” here in Lakewood, NM…… So the vet told me….
After 2 years “petless”, Clyde became my “Significant Other.” (Keep in mind that I
am a VERY happily single 82+ year old….)
The first day I saw there were no comments I was soooo disappointed. I went to the internet and typed in your address and when the blog came up the comments were there. Happy Camper!! I will a happier camper when I finally get on the road next Monday….yeah. Going to be -20 tonight here in Vermont.
Next Monday’s the day? HOORAY FOR YOU! I wish you clear, dry roads as you leave Vermont.
Vermont is a lovely place . . . I grew up just over the border in New York. . . and it looks gorgeous in photo books and on post cards . . . but the winters are so darn harsh!
I don’t know where you’re going but I’m guessing somewhere warmer. Hope you continue to keep in touch with us . . .
I know exactly what you mean about “the call of Kofa.” I have wanted to go back ever since we left. Besides being beautiful, there are plenty of campsite options (aka open space) and you don’t have to be near “the clusters.” It’s funny how you can go to bed with nobody around and wake up the next morning with somebody right next to you in a wide open desert or even a large empty campground.
Are you going to tell us where your next adventure will take you when you leave the desert or is it a surprise?
Hi, Chris,
The only thing I can find wrong with this campsite is there are two spots nearby that are also very nice sites. At least they can’t be seen from the road. Hoping no one shows up right next to us. . .
Our next adventure will be a surprise to us, too, the way my indecision is carrying the day . . . 🙂
Do you have any reviews or Amazon buyers who have purchased small clothes washers and spin dryers meant for small fulltiming rigs? We’re interested in eliminating the laundry except for comforters, etc. Thanks! Love your blog…happy trails 🙂
Hi, Bob n Nanci,
I don’t have any experience with them so I’ll restate your question in big letters:
READERS:
ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WASHERS AND SPIN DRYERS FOR FULL-TIMING RIGS?
The Splindide washer/dryer combo is the norm. It is both a washer and a dryer in one unit.
http://www.amazon.com/LG-2-7-COMBO-WASHER-DRYER-WHITE/dp/B003NDS2EM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394032161&sr=8-3&keywords=splendide+washer+dryer+combo
They are expensive and have a small capacity. Some folks try and use stack-able washer/dryer but space is at a premium in RV’s. The Splindide was in my 40′ rv when I bought it, but I haven’t used it yet. If you plan on boondocking remember that is precious water you are using and have to dump, so if you plan on washing you will make more trips for water and dumps
Hi Sue –
Regarding your Amazon sales, I ALMOST bought a dishwasher the other day thru your sight. ALMOST. But we decided that such a large purchase online might not be the best idea (what if we had to send it BACK?!). I’ll just continue to shop here and there and before you know it, I’ll have bought enough to equal a new dishwasher! Well, it might take a little longer………
AAAAaaaarrrrrgggghhh!!! 😉
hahahahaha………DANG!
Hi RvSue&Crew … This from my new Kindle toy, but not the exact model on your list; I have 32Gb. I’m glad Spike took a rest…poor guy works so hard defending the campsite.
Hi, MickonFire,
Wow! You really are on fire! That new Kindle toy sounds HOT!
Thanks for sending some moolah my way.
Sue
When I saw the comments disabled I had a visual of you hair standing on end holding your hat up, shaking the fire out of your lap top. Sorry but I fell out laughing thinking about it.
Ron
PS I know I have a weird sense of humor
Hi, Ron,
I came close to throwing my hat on the ground and stomping on it… like in the old-time cartoons.
Wow that is a tiny church! It almost looks like a dollhouse dwarfed by the mountains
What a lovely pic of Bridget…..her side sit is adorable.
Rotisserie chicken……oh my Spike must have loved that!
Enjoy your night.
Hi, cinandjules,
It’s the next morning as I type this. Is the nightlight still working with the new pup?
Not a peep! Shhhhh ……and we’ve mastered our ninja like skills during “our” late night potty runs.
And how is Mr Spike doing?
Spike is doing fine with me carrying his sleepy body outside three times every night.
I think it’s the Cetyl-M. He’s drinking a lot. One day Spike didn’t want to eat the tablets, so Bridget ran over and snatched them away. That day Bridget drank a lot of water and Spike didn’t.
Yesterday I tried giving him the Cetyl-M after supper instead of after breakfast. He still urinated all three times I carried him out.
If I don’t see marked improvement in another week or so, I’m going to discontinue the Cetyl-M. I’ll be very disappointed as I’ve been very hopeful it would relieve his arthritis.
I don’t want to worry you, but when I was doing my research on the internet about Cetyl M because I thought it may work for my Harvey, one vet made a side note saying not to give it to any dogs with kidney concerns because it could cause damage (and described what kidney problems to watch for). Since my vet noticed that Harvey is older and had higher creatine levels on his blood test I decided not to use it. As many know it is an awesome product but this is just something to watch for.
Should have added, that this was the reason I went with the Glyco-Flex III.
Spike’s urine output remains high. I will discontinue it if he doesn’t show marked improvement soon.
The little church you saw is listed as one of the the tiny churches of the U.S. A farmer built it for his wife.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/2426
Interesting, Larry. Thanks for the link!
Love your blog, love all the comments. Being a pet owner thought you might enjoy this tale from a fellow blogger, LOL allowed: http://retiredrod.blogspot.com/2014/03/roomba.html#comment-form
Hilarious!
OMG that was funny. And so well written to really appreciate the ahh errr mess.
Time to invent a “sniffing device” option for the Roomba and make a fortune.
Hi Sue,
Ignore my earlier comment on yesterday’s post asking about your solar set-up–I just checked out the link at the top. It’s raining buckets here this morning–wish we could send some of it to our neighbors to the south. Word is that even Oregon may have a drought this year.
Open ground around your trailer–two thumbs up! Enjoy your day–ear skritches to the crew!
Hi, Dawn,
Seems like most of the country is getting weather they don’t need.
This open-ground campsite is great. I let Spike out first thing this morning and could watch him through the back window.
bougainvillea-is that not one of the prettiest words to pronounce?Some grew in my San Diego yard when I lived there and I took every opportunity to point it out,yes it was beautiful,but really I just loved saying the word .Sounds can be as pleasant as sights sometimes,like wind – in the trees or whistling through the cracks.Or the sound of my dogs barking when they’ve wandered long and far away enough to make me anxious,love that yours are always present and accounted for by photo or story.Glad for you getting stocked up,tanks done,etc.,being all set and ready is a great feeling.Such days always make me so grateful for provision,thanks again for great photos and updates making me a smiling reader
Hi, weather,
You got me wondering about the origin of the word, bougainvillea. It sounds French and then again, no, it sounds Spanish. Here’s what I found on wickipedia…
Admiral Louis de Bougainville, a French explorer, discovered Bougainvillea in Brazil between 1767 and 1768 while on a journey around the world. The flowering plant, or Bougainvillea spectabilis, was named after the explorer.
You’re right about the pleasantness of certain sounds. I love the whoosh sound of wind through palo verde. The sound of desert birds, first thing in the morning, is like the delicate tinkling of tiny chimes.
The only bad thing about being stocked up is I have all this food calling my name!
Nice to hear from you again . .. Keep smiling!
You just *think* Spike can’t hide in that open desert! This is Spike, after all….(heheh as he would say)
I think he’s resorting to desert camouflage.
I’ll lie in the sand and rocks and be very still . . . heh heh.
Everybody better quit pickin’ on our buddy Spikey! Growls from Doogie and Radar.
How’s it goin’ at Myakka SP?
Oh I just love that church and the reason he built it. Thanks Larry for putting up the link. I was wondering about it and why it was there out in an open field surrounded by open fields. What a wonderful tribute to his wife. I would love to visit it…..gotta put it on the list!
So….I guess you are out waxing the PTV??? I was wondering about the gas mileage that the PTV is giving you while you are towing the BLT.
When I am ready to go FT I am thinking that I want to go with a travel trailer and a vehicle to tow it with. That way I will only have to deal with one operating vehicle with all the things that could go wrong with it instead of having 2 vehicles (a motorhome and a toad) that the water pump, transmission and all those other mechanical things that could fail. Well thats my thinking right now anyway.
I can’t tell you how much entertainment I receive from your blog…..I learn and laugh about so much.
As usual, your photos are wonderful.
Enjoy your day!
Deb, that was my thinking as well as to why I was leaning towards a travel trailer. Also, I’m thinking it would be safer in a wreck, in that if I was in a motor home, I could be hit by flying objects including cabinets, appliances, etc. I just think a truck’s construction would be safer.
Hi, Ladybug,
I hadn’t thought of that. One thing I like about the PTV is it has the steel mesh behind the seats to protect people from flying cargo in an accident.
Hi, Deb,
Your reasoning for going with a travel trailer is excellent. Maintenance, repairs, and tire replacement are reduced considerably. There are other important reasons…
You don’t have to break camp every time you want to go somewhere. Think about it. You’ve set up camp with your mat staked at all four corners and your chairs out, maybe a little side table. You’re out of bread and you can’t stand to be out of bread. If you don’t have a travel trailer, you have to take up the stakes, fold up the mat, store it, take up the chairs, pull up the levelers, put the BBQ grill away, etc. and possibly lose your campsite to some other RVer while you’re gone. Or you can leave everything looking like it’s been abandoned for someone to take. You also have to clear your countertop, secure every loose item, close up the windows, etc. in order to take your home down the road . . . for a loaf of bread. And then you have to set everything up again when you get back to your campsite if it hasn’t been taken by someone else or find a new campsite.
In your tow vehicle you don’t have to squeeze a big honkin’ RV into a tight space in the crowded parking lot to go shopping. You don’t have to think about all the gas your RV is using when you make that run to the store. You’ve also reduced the chances of your home being damaged on the road because you don’t take it into town very often.
I could go on and on. . .
I know there are many reasons why people prefer RVs other than travel trailers. This is my blog and I’m obviously biased toward travel trailers!
Sue, you are spot on regarding the difference between having a motorhome and a travel trailer. I have had both. After I sold my motorhome and bought my first travel trailer I was liberated from all of the problems you posted. It’s the only way to go in my opinion. I’m sure there are those who for whatever reason prefer the motorcoach and that is as it should be. I think Spike is getting whiter, am I seeing things?
I appreciate your voice of experience, Jim. In the little browsing of other blogs that I do, I don’t think I’ve ever read it clearly written why one would buy a travel trailer. All I ever read is get a motorhome so you can make a quick get-away if somebody looks at you the wrong way. Huh? Where is that guy? I haven’t come across him yet. LOL!
No, Spike is still my sweet and very dingy guy.
Well thanks for all the input! I will continue to process all the information I can from your site and your readers! Thanks Ladybug and AZ Jim.
Might I add my two cents?
We had a 24 ft class c. We bought it because of the layout but we didn’t look at the entire picture from outside the box.
Traveling across th USofA was a delight but we ran into all the instances that Sue mentioned above.
It was a PITA to go shopping..basically driving your home around. Would have been so much easier if we had a toad. But a toad is an extra expense ie mpg decrease to pull it, maintenance, registration fees and insurance.
We couldn’t sightsee either. Kind of felt strapped to the RV per se.
AND what happens if your rig needs work? Where are you going to stay?
Having BTDT….we would without hesitation go for a trailer the next time around.
Again just my humbled opinion.
The rig you choose greatly influences how you live and travel in it!
“AND what happens if your rig needs work? Where are you going to stay? ”
I live in a Class C fulltime and have had work done on it two(?) times that required an overnight stay. I stayed in my Class C – no problem.
“The rig you choose greatly influences how you live and travel in it!”
The obverse of that – how you live and travel greatly influences your choice of rig. I think it is most important that you know how you live before you pick a rig.
I agree with you, Ed. However, one would HOPE that “how you live and travel greatly influences your choice of rig.”
My concern is for those buying their first rig who have no experience (such as myself when making my choice) and don’t really know how they will live and travel. I’m talking about day-to-day activities and where they will camp. I made sure I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to do with my rig. Some folks buy a rig and then they realize it’s the wrong type for them. That can be an expensive error.
In other words, my statement “The rig you choose greatly influences how you live and travel in it” was written as a warning for those who don’t consider all the ramifications before choosing a type of rig. As cinandjules pointed out, for example, their sightseeing was limited by their choice of rig.
A little selection memory. Just a few weeks ago you did a whole blog about the nut in Yuma that said you couldn’t camp in the place where you got stuck.
And your point is . . .? Do you mean the guy at Wellton is someone from whom I should make a quick get-away? I didn’t feel threatened by him at all. He was an annoyance. I never called him a “nut.”
I was referring to the reason I often read and hear for not getting a travel trailer which is usually expressed by women planning to travel alone. They cite the need to leave somewhere without having to go outside. In other words, in a Class A, B, or C, you can get up from your living area and slide behind the wheel and drive off.
My point is this . . . That situation has not come up ONCE in all the many, many places I’ve parked. IMHO that is the absolute worst reason for buying a Class A, B, or C. If it makes a person feel comfortable, if it assuages their imaginary fears, well, fine. However, being able to move a rig without going outside shouldn’t be the deciding factor when making a decision what rig to buy.
I agree that that is not a reason to buy any type of RV. In fact if you are camped, then you can’t just jump in the drivers seat and drive off. There are things you need to do first. Quite frankly if you are afraid that some crazy will come along and do something bad to you then you have other issues that no RV or Stick home will solve. I personally don’t believe that anyone is safe from the crazies of the world. Did the people in the WTC in New York feel safe, Did the Boston marathoners feel safe. I am positive that they did, but still… Enough said, end of discussion.
You get whatever RV suits your needs, If it doesn’t you sell it and get something that will. People up-size and downsize all the time
You’re absolutely correct.
All the above is why you have a gas thrifty toad.
Definitely. If you ‘re going to have a toad, it’s best to have one that gets good gas mileage.
I think Deb made an important point about having two vehicles to maintain. At least it’s important for those of us on a modest budget to realize that.
If a person has plenty of money to buy, maintain, and repair two engines, transmissions, tires, etc, then that’s great. Many of us, however, need to consider carefully what we are getting ourselves into re: expenses “down the road.”
I guess it all depends on how you plan on full time rving. If it is your intention to be always moving around then you are right, you need a lot of money. But if you intend on staying in a place for several months at a time, i.e. campgrounds, then no you don’t, My plan is less than 2000 miles a year on the RV, That’s 3-4 months at a campground with a 500-750 mile drive to the next, with maybe a couple weeks in between for boondocking. I have been following you around on your journeys and finding campgrounds everywhere that are reasonable. They are everywhere. In fact there isn’t a place out west that they don’t exist.
And I think you’ll agree that the crew and I move around quite a bit in the warmer months, seeing what we want to see, doing what we want to do, and we do it without a lot of money. It can be done!
Most definitely, I never disagreed. It is all about each person needs and desires.
The little church picture reminded me of one we visited when camping with our children MANY years ago (they are now 51,53, 54, 56).
http://www.bigthings.ca/alberta/drumhel3.html
Didn’t know whether to laugh or gag when reading the Roomba episode. 🙂
Hi, Alice,
Good to see you here again! That church looks very similar to the one north of Yuma. Thanks for the link.
Just to tell you …I Read you 2 -3 times a week… and I am dreaming to return in the yuma area. receive my most pleasant salutations….
PS:yesterday I saw on tv a documentory film on slab city… you surely know.
Hi, Andre,
I’m pleased to see you here. Thank you for reading my blog.
Yes, I have camped at Slab City. Not my cup o’ tea. It’s dear to the hearts of many though, people who return every year.
Hi Sue and the Crew.
I am still reading every blog you write even though I have not commented in quite a while. I ordered from Amazon for Christmas Gifts but I never saw it listed on your site. Hope you got it. I just ordered 3 items on Amazon Monday night for my great grandaughers 1 st birthday. Keep an eye out. I hope you get it for credit. I did go into your site to order both time.
Take care and enjoy the upcoming spring.
Sharon from Florida
Hi, Sharon,
I remember you and I’m glad you dropped in here! I probably did receive credit for the purchases you made. The links I post at the bottom of an entry are only a small percentage of the total purchases.
Any time you want, feel free to tell me an item from a recent order and I’ll be glad to check to confirm I received credit for it.
Thanks a bunch for ordering through my blog!
NEXT DAY: Looking at today’s report from Amazon, I see several items appropriate for a one-year-old child. 🙂 Happy Birthday to your great-granddaughter!
Monday must have been the ordering day. It was snowy and I stayed home all day. I ordered Reflectix, the aluminum tape, and those solar lights Elizabeth suggested to keep the rats away on Monday also.
Phyllis in Oklahoma
Hi, Phyllis,
Thank you! I see those items!
Oh, Sue,
What a private and wide-open space you guys found! I’ll bet you are just having so much fun exploring the many paths and trails. Great wisdom in parking in a place you can see a coyote coming on, forty paces away! HAH! Watch those midnight potty runs, girl! Do you ever hear them chatting and crying out in the hills?
I especially enjoyed the picture of the little church. The Montana plains and valleys are replete with tiny white-steepled mission churches from the early 20th century. Families on whose land they were built still lovingly care for them. It’s amazing to be driving down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, and there up ahead is a beautiful little church, complete with a cemetery! That’s a quintessential part of the mountain West.
Love to hear you are well-stocked for the time being.
Diann
Hi , Diann,
Yes, I do hear coyotes. I heard them over on Palm Canyon Road. Not here on Kofa Road . . . yet.
I walked through one of those old Montana cemeteries. It was near where the crew and I floated the Madison River. Those old cemeteries tell stories of pain… many babies and children, young mothers. We have it pretty good these days.
Awww..such a gorgeous camp and never ever wonder…we love RvSue and her canine crew! ! Enjoy the peace of your beautiful new camp!!!
Well, aren’t you sweet, Betty-Shea! And I love my readers!
Very quiet here today. The crew and I didn’t do much. Hey, who’s keeping track, right?
Hi Sue. I was distracted by company last night and didn’t realize the comments went away. I always miss the drama. lol
Spike definitely looks whiter to me also, although I know you said he is still dingy. He looks a lot whiter in the pics. Especially the picture in the previous post with the beds.
Thank you for the last few posts and comments regarding sway bars, dumping etc. really appreciate your posts and all of the additional info from the readers.
You’re welcome, Edie. It’s good to know what topics are appreciated.
Maybe Spike is whiter. You know how it is when you see someone every day, you don’t always notice gradual changes. We spend so much time by ourselves that I don’t think much about appearances. (Hence the hat?)
Sue, I just ordered the Hamilton Beach 49983 2-Way FlexBrew Coffeemaker from Amazon from your site. I want to make sure you get the credit for the sale.
Kisses and hugs to the kids.
Cat Lady
Hi, Cat Lady,
I’ve looked at orders and do not see the coffeemaker you ordered. Your use of the word “just” suggests to me that it is too soon and it will probably show up in tomorrow’s report. I’ll try to remember to let you know when I see it. If I forget, feel free to ask again.
Thanks very much for thinking of me and my crew when shopping!
A 50quart fridge freezer ordered on your Amazon? I don’t feel so bad anymore! 😉
Hi, Lacy,
Yes, it was quite a happy moment when I saw the commission on that item!
Oh, I love the little church surrounded by plowed fields. And the bougainvillea is gorgeous! What a lovely setting.
Hi, Paula,
I passed that little church a few times previously. Each time there was traffic behind me and it was difficult to pull over to take a photo. Glad you liked it!
Hi Sue, (and S&B)
First time commenter, long time reader, just wanted to say what an inspiration you are to us all. I’ve started building a hightop camper van, I was glad to see that you got the commission on the 50qt. ARB fridge/freezer and Optima battery I ordered. Still a few years (10 years, 1 month, 5 days…but who’s counting, LOL!) till I go fulltime, but I’m living vicariously through your blog in the meantime.
Take care, hugs to Spike and Bridget.
Dear, dear Glen! How very nice to hear from you!
I appreciate you ordering those items from Amazon through my blog. Thank you! I hope the fridge and the battery serve your well. I’m extremely happy with my Optimas.
You’re building a “hightop camper van.” Good for you! Great maneuverability, good gas mileage, simple living… and you have a little over 10 years to work on it, try it out, make adjustments, and have a lot of fun with it. I wish you the best of luck. It’s good that you have this time for planning and preparations before full-timing.
Thanks also for being a “longtime reader” of my blog. I’m always pleased to hear from readers who helped my blog grow from the beginning.
How do we go back and see how you got started, what made you decide on what you finally bought, etc? I tried to go back to you old blog but didn’t have much luck.
Also, did you make up your own spreadsheet for your expenses/income? I’m not having any luck with the older Quicken on my iMac. Basically, I’m computer illiterate {sigh}. I wouldn’t mind an Apple spreadsheet if it’s super easy.
Thanks, Sue.
Well, Cat Lady, I’m not sure why you can’t go back and see how I got started or how I decided what I finally bought. I don’t have that categorized. You can go to the first post on rvsueandcrew.com and read forward. Maybe I didn’t write about that enough. Maybe I should write a post about that.
Here’s a link to my first post.
I don’t use a spreadsheet. I made the list of categories you see on the Money pages and I fill them in with the figures I tally up on my calculator from receipts stashed in my purse. Very old school.
Thirty years ago when my FT RV Life began, and money was less than scarce…. I got
a columnar pad to keep track of EVERY PENNY I earned and spent and just what I
spent it on. From that I learned how I spent, what areas of life I spent money on, and
how much I really needed to be comfortable and happy. My income was just what I could earn as I traveled as I had NO REGULAR INCOME otherwise! That was my first nine years…. before I was eligible to apply for my EARNED Social Security Benefits.
After my Mom was convinced that I was serious about FT RV’ng, she sent
a check now and then….Now her banker sends a deposit to my account every month!
Mom does not need it and neither do I so it goes into a savings account…. Be frugal and save for your retirement! If you do not have the money…. do not purchase! Credit buying is NOT productive for you! It is for the lender only!
This hand done record of income and outflow is still my choice. Not one of the on-line programs works as well for me…. they dictate how and what the categories are…
IMO not worth the hassle….
Maybe you will agree, maybe you won’t….. Your choice…. If you want more information on my method, just ask. I am always willing to share!
Very wise advice, Elizabeth. It’s amazing how keeping a record of every bit you spend makes you more careful with your money. I don’t like budget software either.
You were very brave to go full-timing without a guaranteed, steady income.
My “inner knowing” that I knew I could, gave me the confidence to succeed in my venture, long before I knew that we each create our own reality! Family members
were first and loudest to call me “crazy”, which they quit doing only a few years ago,
the ones who are left, that is!
Sue – Off topic (and possibly already discussed). Suggest you and others living, visiting in Southwest read article released 20 January 2014 by The New Yorker on the growing valley fever problem now being called: Death Dust. The number of fatalities grows. Those are the lucky ones. Far greater numbers limp along for decades with baffling, debilitating, untreatable symptoms. https://www.vfce.arizona.edu/resources/inthenews/DeathDust-THENEWYORKER.pdf or use this shortened link: http://tinyurl.com/lbhbvt4
If this grows, as the lack of water and changing weather patterns continue and exacerbate it, the beloved regions we RVers cherish may become too dangerous to use.
Yes, we have discussed Valley Fever here. I don’t intend to minimize what it’s like to suffer with Valley Fever. It can be quite terrible.
I usually figure “news” articles, although possibly based on facts, often ramp up the fear factor. Sensationalism draws attention. I’m not an expert, of course. I can say this — I’m not worried about the desert become too dangerous to use.
Hi Sue,
Just wondered if you went into the small Chapel. We were there a few years ago and found that it was built by a farmer in memory of his wife. Nice little place. Did you also notice the Cross up on the mountain?