Monday, November 7
The Perfect Tow Vehicle carries Reggie and me out of our camp at Poverty Flats, south of Overton, Nevada.
Valley of Fire State Park is only six miles south on Route 168.
“We won’t do the park today,” I explain to Reggie. “It’s too hot for hiking around red rocks.”
Instead we turn left.
The paved road takes us toward Stewart’s Point at the the upper reach of Lake Mead. The road becomes dirt and dust. We pass modest houses, several of them vacant and boarded up.
When we reach the dispersed camping area (free, 15-day limit, vault toilet), I park the PTV.
“C’mon, little guy. We’ll walk to the water and back.”
Not many campers here . . . only a few. Maybe there were more over the weekend . . . .
The ground surface is gravel in some places and white, hard-packed clay (?) in others.
At the edge of the higher level I look down and see that someone is camped below. Right by the water’s edge . . . . nice.
It’s very pretty here but, dang! It is hot! No breeze at all.
Reggie’s tongue is hanging out and he’s panting. We return to the PTV, refresh ourselves with a long drink of water, and return to our camp on the mesa where the air is cooler and there’s a touch of breeze.
I check the water in the jugs I set in the sun this morning.
Good. Warm enough.
I gather up my bathing supplies and fill a basin with water at the wash station table. Changing into a loose, cotton nightie, I take a sponge bath.
(The PTV is parked to block the view of our neighbor!).
It may seem silly, but bathing outside in the desert air is one of the many, simple things I love about my life!
Later, when the sun is low in the sky, Reg and I motor into town.
I stop at NAPA Auto Parts and buy two bulbs. One of the front directional lights is about to burn out (as evidenced by the rapid click-click-click when I turn it on) and needs to be replaced.
I buy two turn-signal bulbs because the other one will probably fail soon, too.
After supper is the time to sit in the lounger with Reg on my lap.
We watch the light change the rocks. The badlands below the mesa, which are a dull tan during the day, begin to glow.
The mesa beyond Muddy River (who names things around here? Sometimes the river is brilliant blue) darkens while the distant mountains turn from grey to violet.
An invisible hand pulls a ribbon of Canada geese up from the river. I watch it float across the sky . . . .
Reggie jumps off my lap, turns around, and gives me his “okay-show’s over-I-want-to-go-to-bed-now” look.
Tuesday, November 8
After breakfast and morning walk, I remove the orange cover of the front turn-signal, pull out the old bulb, and insert the new bulb.
Unsuccessfully. It doesn’t fit.
Why am I not surprised? This always happens when I try to do anything related to auto mechanics . . . .
I wait until late afternoon for us to go to town.
I show the NAPA guy the old bulb and also the new bulbs that aren’t the same. He looks at the computer, goes in the back, and returns with two different bulbs.
“I know why that happened,” he reports. “The wrong bag of bulbs was put in the drawer.”
“I should’ve checked the bulbs before I left the store,” I add. “Oh well, these look right. Thank you!”
Next stop: ACE Hardware.
I buy stain/varnish, a throw-away brush, and sandpaper. My little wooden side table needs some attention!
“Okay, Reg! We’re off to McDonald’s!”
Armed with a #5 meal and an all-beef patty, we toodle over to the green grass of Overton Park.
I find a bench in the shade for our picnic.
Speaking of bench, are you on the edge of your seat? Hang on! There’s more excitement coming up . . . . .
After our picnic a young man with a chihuahua appears across the park!
I immediately call out, boldly, “Hello! May my dog play with your dog?”
The man is a bit hesitant. “She’s not always very nice around other dogs.”
“That’s okay. Reggie will turn on the charm.”
Here’s Reggie responding to a snarl from Francesca.
Francesca tries to nip Reggie, but he’s too fast for her! The ever-cheerful Reggie figures this is a game and runs with glee with Francesca in pursuit.
Francesca gives up while the Reginator keeps on running! That boy loves to run!
Playtime’s over . . .
I thank the young man for coming over so our dogs can play.
At the PTV I pour Reggie a drink and speak my thoughts out loud, as I often do.
“I’m glad we brought our picnic to the park. Now you’ll sleep well tonight.”
It’s almost dark by the time we return to Poverty Flats.
The PTV climbs to the top of the mesa and our little house comes into view.
“Oh, we’re just in time for the violet mountains!”
rvsue
THANK YOU, RVSUE SHOPPERS!
Follow any of the links or ads you see on my blog and your Amazon purchases will send a commission which defrays the cost of presenting “RVSue and her canine crew.” Here are a few of the items recently ordered from Amazon by readers:
Electric Tool Drill/Driver
Heated Mattress Pad, Full
Hiking Pack with 2 water bottles
Patella Knee Strap for Knee Pain Relief
Hop on Pop (I Can Read It All By Myself)
Panasonic LUMIX 30X Travel Zoom with Eye Viewfinder (Silver)
