Friday, December 12 – Sunday, December 14
Friday, Bridget and I climb aboard the Imperfect Tow Vehicle and motor northeast to Globe, Arizona. I’m antsy to leave Oak Flat after a two-week, forced camp awaiting the conclusion of the Crunched Door Saga.
The weather is sunny and pleasant. Somewhere near Top of the World, I respond to Bridget’s nervous whimpers and pull over. Poop time. Then we’re back on the road.
We stop at Cobre Valley Motors Body Shop in Globe for an update on the door.
The shop had emailed me, letting me know that a door was picked up from a Phoenix salvage yard.
After a blue door and a red door were found to be unacceptable, this black door passes inspection!
Duane tells me the outside of the replacement door has been sanded and is being painted today.
Then, of course, we have another weekend to wait.
“Monday or Tuesday, the inside will be painted. We’ll let you know when to bring the van in. If you don’t hear from us by Tuesday noon, get in touch with us.”
*sigh.*
Next we toodle over to Wally World.
I leave Bridget (displaying her usual dramatic protest) in the Imperfect Tow Vehicle. Inside the store, I zip over to the men’s clothing department and find a rack of Wrangler, button-up-the-front, long-sleeved shirts, the kind I usually buy. A closer look reveals that these are flannel-lined!
Most of my shirts are a subdued shade of tan or loden green. In the spirit of the season, I go bold and pick out a cranberry shirt with a cranberry-and-black plaid lining.
This is a timely purchase. Cold and rain are on the way!
While in the men’s department, I look at thermal underwear.
Just the tops, of course! I pick out a dark green thermal shirt in an extra-large size. Extra-large will cover me all the way down to mid-thigh and be roomy, perfect for cozy sleeping and lounging, worn with fleece pants and socks.
I’m on my way to the grocery area when I remember Bridget.
“The bed!” I say out loud to myself. I roll my cart over to the pet department and choose, not one, but TWO doggie beds. I hope she likes these because that old, ratty, threadbare bed of hers is going bye-bye.
One bed is the typical kind with a bolster around the perimeter (shown below); the other is a fake sheep’s wool rectangle for the floor of the canine condo.
Notice the rips in Bridget’s old bed.
(Later… Bridget doesn’t like either of the new beds, of course. Too bad. First sighting of a trash bin and the old one is gone!)
I toss some fresh fruits and vegetables and a carton of milk into my cart and soon Bridget and I are on the return trip to Oak Flat.
Yes, the cold and rain arrive.
As I’m making myself a cup of yerba tea, the campground host lady knocks on our door. “Just want to tell you we’re gonna’ get a lot of rain.” We chat for a bit. She tells me about free camps in Nevada. I ask her how long her commitment is as host of Oak Flat and she repies, “Until May.”
I restrain myself from groaning in her presence.
The rain starts very lightly that evening.
Except for a few, short downpours, we don’t get anywhere near the amount of rain that was anticipated. I check the wash that runs behind the Best Little Trailer. The water only fills half-way up the banks of the wash and quickly soaks into the sand.
Whenever there’s a break — when the sun shines brightly in the afternoon and there isn’t any wind — Bridget and I walk the campground roads for exercise and diversion.
Sunday, December 14th, is the coldest morning we’ve experienced this winter.
It drops to 30 degrees, maybe lower, although the town of Superior, which is only about four miles from here, experiences a low in the mid-30s. Oak Flat is much higher than Superior and elevation makes a difference in air temperature.
Neighbors arrive!
This group (below) pulls in about five days ago, all men. The first morning they’re up at six splitting wood, making a campfire, playing loud music, and having a grand time, yelling and laughing with abandon.
I go outside and take this photo. The men make a racket until about 8 a.m. when they leave, probably to go to work, God bless ’em.
Fortunately the newness wears off, I guess, and after that first morning, they aren’t outside partying at dawn.
Okay. Get ready for a warp-speed transition coming up . . . .
Remember Janie?
Janie is the dog I gave to my friend, Lynn, before leaving Georgia to pick up the Best Little Trailer at the Casita factory in Texas. Recently Lynn emailed me this photo from her iPhone. That’s Janie in the middle of her two housemates.
Notice the body contact. Janie always was a snuggler!
Monday, December 15
Sunshine and clear skies!
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