Thursday,February 26 (continued)
Having crossed the Mojave Desert from Desert Center, California, to Parker, Arizona, Bridget and I are on the last leg of the day’s travel. We’re on Highway 95 tracing the east bank of the Colorado River, going north toward Lake Havasu City. The road curves around rock cliffs and the traffic is fast.
That’s when I see them for only a moment . . .
Seven bighorn sheep in single file, picking their way along the side of a cliff not far from the road!
Oh, I wish I could pull over for a photo. The road is only two lanes and I can’t even slow down to enjoy the sight. Wow! That’s not something you see every day!
Note: If interested in the historical waterhole projects for bighorn sheep, plus photos, click this link: “Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society.”
From the information Rusty sent me in an email, I know we’re approaching his camp.
I drive up a dirt road that might be the one I’m looking for. A jeep comes toward us. I ask about the condition of the road and the guy says it isn’t good all the way.
By now it’s 2:30 and Bridget and I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I park on the side of the road, go back to the Best Little Trailer and pull out the rotisserie chicken I bought at Wal-Mart. We enjoy a quick lunch and I email Rusty from my laptop while sitting in the Perfect Tow Vehicle.
“You’re close!” he responds.
Shortly thereafter I drive up Rusty’s road and he comes running down the road to greet us. We hug and then Rusty climbs into the passenger seat for the short ride back to his camp.
Timber trots excitedly on his tether at our arrival.
Rusty is anxious to show me his camper and I’m anxious to see it!
“See the fiberglass on the side?” Rusty asks. “I haven’t painted it yet.”
I notice his Wilson antenna for internet signal is on a pole attached behind the passenger door. It telescopes above the cab-over and swings flat against the camper’s side when retracted.
“That’s a hundred-watt solar panel on top,” Rusty points out proudly. “I have 173-watts altogether.”
Timber is going crazy at having visitors.
I greet him and try to stroke him, but he jumps and runs and barks at Bridget. Bridget stays at my side. She’s alarmed by this big dog jumping near me. She puts on her scariest face and bares her teeth. She snarls her fiercest snarl and barks her most intimidating barks.
Timber hardly notices.
I admire the work that Rusty has completed so far as he explains how he puts the fiberglass on with a brush and smooths it across with a cloth.
“See that? That’s the intake for the water tank.” (The white rectangle behind the driver’s window.)
The waste tank outflow will be on the driver’s side (below), once Rusty finishes installing his bathroom. (It’s not easy to see in this photo. I’ll be posting more photos of Rusty’s camper in an upcoming post.)
The back-end of the camper is almost completely painted to match the upper part of the truck.
Rusty is considering paint colors and has not made a final decision yet. He shows me how he can stand up inside his home without having to stoop.
“It’s six and a half feet tall and six and a half feet wide. I can lie down in my bed and stretch out.” He grins.
I set up camp in a turn-around nearby.
Our camp is next to a palo verde tree. When I’m finished setting up a basic camp, Rusty and Timber come over. We have a lot of catching up to do!
I become aware of the diminishing light.
“Just a minute, Rusty. I need to take some photos before dark.”
In the photo below, I haven’t put down the jacks or raised the antenna pole yet. There isn’t enough light on the door side for a good photo right now.
The “golden hour” arrives. I take this photo of the view from our front door.
Rusty and I watch the sunset together.
I hasten across the desert to include the tree below in a sunset scene.
We say goodnight early and go inside our respective campers.
I’m tired! It’s been a very full day and Bridget and I sleep well.
Friday, February 27
Friday is Rusty’s day to go into Lake Havasu City to replenish supplies.
He and Timber leave early in the morning.
Before leaving, Rusty puts the flag in the tree at his camp and sets out his chair and propane tank. He does this to hold claim on his campsite.
Rusty tells me about the time he left his camp and, when he returned, someone was occupying it. He’s glad Bridget and I are here to ward off a possible clinger to both our camps.
After breakfast, Bridget and I go for a walk.
Not far from our campsite, I stop and turn to take a photo. Bridget is in one of her obstinate moods. She turns also and heads back to camp.
“Bridget! Where are you going? C’mon! Let’s walk together!”
There she goes, ignoring my plea.
(She’s in the bottom right of the photo below.)
“Well, darnit, I’m going without you then.”
I know she will wait by the door of the BLT until I return.
Low hills lie behind our camps. I walk up one of them.
From the top of the hill, I take the next photo.
You can see the PTV and BLT on the right side. In the middle background is a sliver of blue. That’s the Colorado River on the other side of Highway 95.
Below are the Whipple Mountains in California, beyond the river.
And the Aubrey Hills to the northwest on the Arizona side of the river . . . .
Rusty and Timber return a few hours later.
“I bought some pistachio and almond ice cream,” Rusty announces with a big smile on his face as he hurries to our door. “Can you keep it in your freezer for me?”
rvsue
NOTE: From reader comments I’ve become aware of the interest in Rusty’s camper build. In the excitement of our reunion, I didn’t acquire details of the project and only took the few photos shown in this post. Bridget and I will stay here through the changing weather that is in the forecast. I’ll post more about the camper as time goes along and according to Rusty’s wishes.
THANKS, RVSUE SHOPPERS, FOR ORDERING FROM AMAZON HERE!
