Friday, January 1
If all goes according to plan, today the crew and I will break camp and leave Midland LTVA near Blythe, California. Bridget, Reggie, and I enjoyed it here. We don’t usually camp in one spot for six weeks!
The peace and solitude through the holidays has been great. And contrary to my first impression of Blythe a few years ago, I do like the town.
“Yeah!” says Reggie and Bridget in unison. “Blythe has a Carl’s Jr. where they give you burgers!”
Well, they don’t really say that. I bet they would if they could.
I commence packing up.
It’s soon apparent how much we’ve settled into this camp. There’s a lot more than usual to pack up.
This first day of the new year is gorgeous! The sunshine lures me to the lounger several times. Besides there are hummingbirds to watch.
I start a task and then see something else I want to do and first thing ya’ know I’m not breaking camp. I have no focus today!
If I don’t get my act together soon, it will be too late in the day to go searching for a new camp.
I’m taking one last look at the blog when Reggie escapes out the door!
I hold my breath as I watch him run away across the desert. He stops and looks back at me. Then he takes off again.
That little rascal!
I step inside the Best Little Trailer and peek out the window. The next time he turns and looks, he’s not such a big shot anymore. Suddenly he realizes he’s alone. You never saw a dog run as fast as Reggie heading for home!
I give him (and Bridget) a treat, and, with a hope and a prayer, let him wander off again. Each time I call him home and give him a treat. After a while, Reggie calls it quits and happily hops inside the BLT for a snooze.
Gee, I’m hungry. I think I’ll cook up some stir-fried vegetables with fried rice . . . .
And that, dear reader, puts an end to breaking camp this day!
Saturday, January 2
We are definitely breaking camp today! The black tank is completely full! I pack up while hopping on one foot and wiggling around with an urgency that I lacked yesterday.
At the last moment I dump out the sugar water from the hummingbird feeder and pull up the pole.
I’m sorry, sweet friends, to do this. I hope you find another feeder.
I recall the many times the male hummingbird serenaded the desert from his perch in the ironwood tree. I’m heartsick for what I’ve done. I push aside my guilt and toss the feeder and pole inside the PTV.
“Okay, crew, we’re ready to go!”
The Perfect Tow Vehicle pulls the BLT over to Midland’s dump station. I hook up the hose, open the valve, and, rather than wait a moment more, race inside the BLT.
Whew! Made it! Talk about cutting it close! I really can stretch the time between dumps!
It’s good to be on the road again.
After driving through Blythe, the crew and I head south on Route 78, going past freshly tilled fields and through Ripley and Palo Verde. After that, we’re crossing empty, brown desert and numerous washes, rolling up and down past mounds of volcanic rock, and along stretches of tamarisk that hug the bank of the Colorado River.
We meet several RVs — at least twenty — going the opposite way, probably heading for Quartzsite.
I bear left onto Ogilby Road and stop to give the crew a walk-around.
We continue south and it isn’t long before we come to a familiar area.
A few RVs are scattered about. I drive us up two sandy, BLM roads searching for a secluded camp near the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.
Three times I let Bridget and Reggie out so the three of us can investigate possible camps together. All the secluded camps are taken and I don’t want to crowd next to anyone’s camp.
After about an hour of searching, I drive us back toward the main road.
Well, that looks like a possibility over there. It’s more exposed than I want, but we have to camp somewhere.
I drive the two-track lane over to the trees by a wash. Gosh, this looks familiar . . . .
I burst out laughing!
All this searching and we end up at the same campsite we had the last time we were here!
Our camp off Ogilby Road, Winterhaven, California, west of Yuma, Arizona
I set up camp and heat up left-over stir-fry with fried rice for a late lunch/early dinner. I pour kibble in the crew’s bowls. Together we eat outside and relax!
(Bridget sees the camera and scoots under the BLT.)
Nice and warm here . . . .
“C’mon! Let’s go for a walk!”
By this time the sun is low in the sky, hence the dark photos.
We cross two wide washes near our campsite.
On the return to camp I take this photo of our new home.
At sunset we take another short walk..
It’s good that we moved. Reggie is energized and Bridget isn’t shirking walks.
“You’re such good boondockers. You didn’t fuss one bit when we were on the road.”
I lean down and pat Bridget.
“And it’s so nice to have you walking with us, Bridge. We gals have to get our exercise.”
Back at camp, the crew beds down while I go online to read the latest comments to this blog.
Gosh, I love this life!
rvsue
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