Monday, September 22
“Oh, Bridget? We have a situation out here . . . ”
“There’s a cow in our campsite, honey. Uh, make that cows. You’d better get out here.”
“Bridget? I see you peeking out the door. Come help me shoo these cows.”
“Don’t be nervous. All you have to do is look ’em in the eye and bark really loud like you mean business. Aww, come out from under there, sweetheart. You can do it.”
“No? Well, okay. Never mind, I’ll take care of them. . . . All right, ladies. Move it, move it. Nothing to see here. And no pooping on your way out.”
Later we move the Best Little Trailer to a neighboring campsite.
Kathy and Gil from Washington state arrive tomorrow. I want them to have the best campsite on the peninsula which is the one Bridget and I have occupied for about a week.
I keep watch for potential intruders of the bovine kind.
“No! You can’t come over and poop on this campsite! Go away!”
“Don’t look at me like that. You have plenty of places to graze. You don’t need to come over here.”
“Scram!”
Tuesday, September 23
Shortly past noon, Kathy and Gil drive up!
Their Chevy Trailblazer V6 pulls a Casita Spirit Deluxe. Last winter Kathy and Gil took their Casita 600 miles down the Baja Peninsula and camped on the beach. They enjoy winters in Mexico.
We hug hello, happy to see each other again.
I step back with Bridget in my arms and let Kathy and Gil discuss the advantages and disadvantages of several possible ways to place the Casita. As soon as they have their trailer positioned and leveled, Gil pulls out their flexible solar panels, opens them up like a giant menu, and places them on the hood of the Trailblazer.
“Each panel is 100 watts, so we have 300 watts altogether. And we have two AGM batteries inside the SUV,” Gil proudly explains.
“Gee, 300 watts is great! And it’s so easy to store,” I remark, looking at the thin, lightweight panels.
Gil secures the solar panels with bungee cords. That’s a flannel-backed vinyl tablecloth underneath the panels. In only a few minutes and with little effort, the solar is all set up!
Both Kathy and Gil are avid and accomplished gardeners at their home near Yakima, Washington.
“You want some zucchini?” Gil asks with a big smile. “We’ve got plenty!”
“Sure!”
“We also brought some butternut for you,” Kathy adds as they stack the squash on top of the propane tank cover.
“Gee, I love butternut squash, but I don’t have an oven,” I respond.
Kathy pipes up with a solution.
“Peel it like an apple, cut it up in small chunks, put about an inch of water in the bottom of a pot, and steam ’em. You can mash them with some butter. They’re so good!”
“Yeah, and I have brown sugar to put on top,” I add with a grin.
Squash talk over, Gil and Kathy pull out camp chairs and a mat and we continue talking while Gil brings out the awning over our heads. It’s a bright, sunny day and warm. The awning makes a big difference.
After an enjoyable visit . . .
“We need to go so you can finish setting up! C’mon, Bridget. Time to go home.”
“Gil might make a campfire later, so if you want, come back and sit with us.”
Later, when the sun is low, Bridget and I go on our second walk of the day.
I want to go up one of the hills to take a photo of our two camps. At the base of the hill Bridget sits down in the familiar my-rear-is-glued-to-the-ground position.
I know what her problem is.
The second walk of the day is supposed to be an easy walk. Climbing a hill isn’t part of the program. Bridget is boss of the exercise program.
“Okay. I’ll only walk part-way up the hill and take a few pictures. Then we’ll go straight home.”
I take a pic of Gil’s and Kathy’s camp . . .
Notice how they’ve positioned their Casita. I put the big back window of the Best Little Trailer (a Liberty Deluxe) facing The Rock. With their Spirit Deluxe the side window over the dinette is the best window for views.
Friends and neighbors . . . not too close, not too far . . .
I put the lens cap on the camera and walk down the hill.
“See? That didn’t take long. We can go home now.”
Bridget, happy that the program is back on track, leads the way, stopping frequently to make sure I don’t wander off on any detours.
Kathy brings over an assortment of fruits and vegetables.
I eat the Honey Crisp apple right away. Boy, is it good!
Some time passes and Gil shows up with a bowl of Kathy’s salad and a bottle of raspberry dressing. The salad is the best I’ve ever eaten! Let’s see . . . chicken, walnuts previously sauteed in honey, lettuce, shredded Pecorino Romano cheese, and some other good stuff, all chopped in small pieces so the raspberry dressing coats it all . . . Oh, gosh, I knew there is a heaven and this salad proves it!
Both Kathy and Gil are excellent, inventive cooks. Gil invites me to breakfast tomorrow to try his newest recipe.
“I’ll be there!”
Right before dark Bridget and I walk over to Gil’s and Kathy’s campsite.
Gil prepares a campfire and we gather our camp chairs around. Can you guess what we do?
Well, talk, of course. But guess what else . . .
We eat ECLAIRS!
rvsue
THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AMAZON FROM MY BLOG!
Here are a few recent purchases made by RVSue shoppers:
Mr. Herzher’s Smart Ramp
Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
Bright Starts Clack and Slide Activity Ball
Camco Zero Gravity Padded Recliner
RoadPro 10′ Universal ThermoElectric 12V Power Cord
Char-Broil TRU Infrared Electric Patio Bistro 180 Grill
