From mountain man to full-time RVer to a home . . .
Those of you who have followed my blog over the years know Rusty. My original canine crew and I met him and his dog, Timber, in April 2012 when we all were boondocking in Kaibab National Forest, south of Ash Fork, Arizona.
Intrigued by Rusty’s self-made truck camper, I walked over with Spike and Bridget and we introduced ourselves.
1975 Ford truck camper equipped with solar panel and wood stove
Dogs and humans became friends, and subsequent blog posts and photos brought readers into our circle.
If you keep up with comments . . . .
You know that Rusty and his present canine companion, Lady Piper, left the vagabond lifestyle this past year, exchanging it for a regular home with family in Kentucky.
The green, green grass of a new home
Rusty emailed me these photos with permission to share them here.
This photo (below) includes his solar panels, a corner of his recently tilled garden, and the beginnings of an elaborate train set-up.
A porch for watching the vegetable plants grow and the train rolling on its track
Lady Piper loves her new home!
Rusty writes in comments how she enjoys her new canine friends. She also likes playing in the snow. That’s not a surprise. Piper was made for the cold!
Feel free to comment on the photos. I’m sure Rusty would be happy to “talk” with you.
Thanks, Rusty, for the update!
We wish you and Lady Piper continued blessings, now and in the years to come.
~ ~ ~
Tuesday, March 20
It’s a beautiful day in Benson, Arizona! The crew and I leave our boondock and head into town.
We stop at the thrift shop. I’m only inside a few minutes when I make a score!
“Hey, guys! Guess what? I got a pair of shorts for fifty cents!”
We pass by a busy restaurant on our way out of the parking lot.
I stop for a photo.
Roger jumps into position. Reggie stays relaxed on the bench seat.
“Reggie, come on and get in this shot, honey.”
Oh, well.
Next we roll up to the water vending machine (5 gallons for a dollar).
A nearby bunch of cacti tempts me to take another pic before putting our water jugs in the Perfect Tow Vehicle.
Next we pull up to Ace Hardware. I buy a 30-foot tether and rawhide bones (“Made in America”) for the crew.
“Yes, you can have your walk-around now. ”
“Okay, one last stop and we’ll go home.”
At Safeway supermarket I pick up fresh vegetables and two packages of tortillas (buy-one-get-one-free!) .
And on the way to the register I grab a cold rotisserie chicken for the crew.
rvsue
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“Boondocking outside Lake Havasu City, Arizona” – March 2015
~ ~ ~
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Ist?
YAY! CONGRATULATIONS, JIM! YOU’RE NUMBER ONE!
Can’t believe it!!!!!
Always love hearing from old friends.
Glad to know Rusty and Lady Piper are settled in.
Top 5!!
Ok now I can take my time typing hehe. Wonderful photos Rusty! I remember reading of that chance encounter and how enthralled I was with this man’s journey! The tears were a’flowin at he and Timber’s reunion and the dedication of strangers from around the country. Thank you, Sue and Rusty, for sharing your stories in such a way that I, along with countless others, can live as if we were right there with you. 🙂
Ok, enough of the mooshy-gooshy stuff, let’s talk rotisserie chicken! Yum! The boys will surely have smiles on during dinner.
Looks like gorgeous weather ahead here in central AZ, hope it’s warmth is reaching out towards Benson! Bye Sue!
Hey!
Wow! 3 for 3!
Make that 4! for 3!!
Neat post n’ photos Sue,,,,🐾👣👣
Wow 4 in at 3rd
Hi Rusty! I am so glad you are settled and doing well! Tilled up a garden huh? I am not quite that ambitious! But I have a bucket garden, using 5 gallon buckets. So far I have sage, oregano, cilantro, jalapeños, strawberries, petunias and sunflowers planted! Yay! I have ordered several plants to attract hummingbirds so I will get them planted when they arrive! Give Lady Piper a big hug from us!
Hi Geri, that’s Fantastic, I had some Veggies in 5 gal buckets when we lived in C.V., AZ, hope you draw them Hummingbirds, they are neat to watch, huh,,, 🐾👣👣
Hi Rusty,
As I type, my husband is outside laying out his own garden railroad! He had a small one at our last house and is finally getting it out and about here. He has quite a ways to go, but I think they are never really finished!🚂
Kitt
Hi Kitt, that’s cool on your hubbies plans for a Garden Railroad and I bet the the Weather up there like here will keep him busy working on great stuff inside and out, I used to know a fellow up in central Wa that made a “G” gauge Powered Rowtistery Snow Blower, ( that cost more than what I could afford), that would cut through the white and throw it up and over either side just like the real ones that cut the snow in front of the “Big Boys ” back in their day.
If he, your Hubby, saw my layout that I’m running 4.2 Radius curves and the Bachmann 4-6-0 just makes it around them + my grades are 3%, hope to get a Bachmann 36 ton 2 truck Shay or a Climax someday on eBay, I know and had a Shay before and know how it handles grades and small curves + I love the gearing, and watching those right side pistons working the crank shaft and drivetrain to the pinion gearing and ring gearing on them trucks.
My Grandmother had old photos of the Shays and the way they used to Log back in her day when there weren’t no Earthfirsters and the logs were huge, ,, I worked a long time ago with S.D.S out of Bingen, WA, up above Trout Lake and near Petersons Prairie setting Choke then as a Faller, I guess it runs in the Family blood, Jennings & Reed Logging Co. back in Grandma’s and Grandpa’s day,,, tell your Husband good luck from us and keep in touch,,,,, 🐾👣👣
Oh now I’m sick with envy, there’s a fellow up in Auburn Wa, that has a bunch of Beautiful Detailed 4 Truck Shay, Climax and Logging Steam Engines for sale on eBay and they look Fantastic, they are wow and he put a lot of hard work into them and research, someday I’ll get one, but not for a while,,,, LOL 👣
Your new home is coming right along. Glad you and Lady Piper are doing well.
Did you get snow last night?
Yes we did Barbara and it snowed here all day today and now it’s clear and real Cold, my finger tips are cold, I’m gonna warm em up Holden a warm cup of weak coffee and hot chocolate as soon as it stops brewing, ahh,, it’s done, mmm mmm good that’s better, Lol,, have a warm and dry evening Barbara,,,,, 🐾👣👣
Thank you for sharing those photos with us, Rusty. Piper is so fortunate to have that large an area for the long runs and four distinct seasons of each year that her breed enjoys. Gosh, it must be fun landscaping your garden railroad.It’s already gorgeous, I hope you show us another picture when you’ve done more of what you plan to with it. Your having that home is an answer to prayers of many of us that care a great deal for you. I’ll continue to pray for your health and happiness.
Rotisserie chicken! No wonder Reggie was licking his chops in his last photo!
We need RV Sue & Crew now more than ever since we’ve become full-timers. Your blog is entertaining as well as informative, and for that, we thank you! Plus the “Crew” are so entertaining.
Nivrapa aka Audrey posted the following at the end of the previous post’s comments. I didn’t want it to be overlooked so I copied it here.
“Howdy Everybody!
“I have very much enjoyed the last several posts. The talk about coffee, mesquite beans ground into flour, and now grannies all make for a fun read for me. And all this while Sue is camped in what I consider my backyard. The pictures do a good job of displaying the grasslands of the high desert in southern AZ. It’s not all cactus and thorns!
“This current post brings to mind the granny in my life. I met her while I was hiking the Appalachian Trail. She was a thru hiker and I was a section hiker. Granny was her trail name and I never knew any other name for her. At 68yo she was working on her third thru hike! Our paths crossed in Virginia one Apri in the ’80’s, but I remember her vividly. For the five weeks of my hike, our paths intertwined and she became the most memorable character I met while hiking the AT. She was full of wisdom, both of the trail and in life. Born in poverty in the wilds of Kentucky, she learned the way of the woods early in life and was the epitome of living simply. This was apparent in her hiking style and by her knowlege of the forest. It was Granny that taught me how to harvest fiddle head ferns, wild garlic and onions to enhance my boring camp meals. She knew her mushrooms, too, but I never mastered those. All the hikers knew about and loved Granny. She brought joy and warmth to many a dreary, damp day of hiking. Virginia was my favorite section of the AT but I’m not sure if it was for the beauty encountered there, or if it was because that is where I met Granny.
“Another boondock waiting in the wings–yay! Anxious to see where it is. I could offer you a few discreet camps but you don’t need any help from me. Your skills are pretty darn good as they are. Be mindful of snake activity tomorrow as the temperature climbs to ninety. Tread carefully. Only hot for one day and then forecast is for more seasonal stuff.
“Travel on, Sue! Thanks for your blog, all the work you put into it, and for sharing your adventures with all of us.—Audrey”
Blogorinos…. Feel free to continue the thread with your own stories.
I love that story Audrey shared. Granny sounds wonderful!
Sue, So glad you added that here.
Audrey, what a great story. Granny sounds like a true American Legend.
I’m glad Rusty and Piper are content in their current location. The pictures are nice, and it’s important to have things to do, but not so much that it wears a person out.
Benson looks like fun. I shop at thrifts for most of my clothes, and I’ve been both cutting back and changing what I wear lately.
So glad that rusty is settled in! I enjoyed the few times we got to post comments to each other as blogerinos! Enjoy yourself Rusty!
Dave
Looks like a nice home there for Rusty and Lady Piper, I can just imagine her romping in the snow 🙂
Nice note about Granny on the AT. I have met a couple of people who have thru-hiked the trail over the years and their tales are always amazing, both of the hike and the folks they meet along the way.
Hi Sue!
Loved seeing the update about Rusty and Lady Piper! It looks like their new home is wonderful and peaceful! Lots of room and nice grass for Lady Piper to run around in.
Loved the picture of the cactus. I don’t know why. Maybe it is because I can’t grow anything without killing it and cactus they say you can’t kill… I bet I could. lol
I love thrift shop shopping. I have always been a garage sale, flea market, thrift shop person. Yes, some things I buy brand new but on lots of things my feeling is why spend all that money when I have found brand new with tags at the places I mentioned.
Have a great day and give the crew and hug from me!
Jolene, yes you can kill a cactus. I have had several of those cactus bowl gardens and managed to kill every last one of them. Also the Jade plants.
My dad brother and sister had/have such a green thumbs, but mine is black. Can’t grow a dang thing.
So good to see the pictures of Rusty and Lady Pipers new home. I had hoped that all would be well with them now that they are off the road. Seeing pictures lets me know that they are in a beautiful place with everything that they need. I love the train. One of my sons saw a train display like Rusty is building when he was 10 and he built a small set. We still have it all in the attic.
The post from Nivrapa AKA Audrey is very interesting. There was a time about 25 years ago that I wanted to hike the AT. I may still get to hike a portion of it if my knees will let me. I have two brothers that live not far from part of the trail in North Carolina. We have been talking about doing two or three days on it. Retirement has so many possibilities it is going to be hard to decide what to do and when. I am so excited.
Love the pictures of the pups and the thrift store. I love thrift stores. I don’t always buy anything, but love to go looking. I am starting a quilt made from men’s old ties and thrift stores are a great place to find the ties. Hubby had a bunch in the closet, but not enough. I estimate it will take 100 ties to finish the king size quilt. Be safe sue and crew. Thanks for sharing today.
Rusty – your new home looks lovely. Peaceful and with some room to think. Big question I had is how is your health? Hope you are feeling good and at peace with your new lifestyle. Keep us posted on how you and Lady Piper are doing. All the best to you both.
Maybe the top 25?
Thanks for sharing the update on Rusty and Piper, I’m glad they’re doing well. It sounds like you need shorts there- 90 degrees tomorrow, wow!
Score on the shorts! I love a good find like that. Then, I brag to everyone about “how much” I paid for them. Thanks for the update on Rusty! I’ve been following his progress through the comments. It’s great to see pictures of his new homestead and train setup! I was so excited this past weekend, because my city was having bulky item pickup in my neighborhood. I planned weeks in advance, got a friend to come over to help, and just PURGED!!!! It was a great feeling to clear out a whole section of my spare bedroom. I still have inherited furniture that I am not certain what to do with, but I least I got some of the other junk out of my house! Whhooo Hoooo!!!! You know you are an adult when you get excited about bulky item pickup! LOL 😉
Hi Sue- I liked that thrift store in Benson! I found a few things there also. You can’t beat their prices! I love a deal!
Hello to Rusty and Lady Piper! She is a beautiful dog. Garden on Rusty and your train setup looks like fun.
As usual Sue, the crew charms and you entertain.
Have a great day!
Thanks for showing us the pictures of Rusty and Lady Piper’s new home. It looks like a great place for them.
Thanks for the update about Rusty. What happened to his previous dog?
His dog Timber lost his life when being attacked by a mountain lion in July,2015. Rusty was understandably very upset, and Sue advised us not to ask him questions about the incident as that would only upset him more. He adopted Piper soon afterwards.
Thank you.
Love seeing Rusty’s pics. Hope we see some later of his train setup. Happy that Rusty and Piper have such a nice home now. It is so cold and windy here in S.C.! We were spoiled with some beautiful days, so all the flowering trees, shrubs and bulbs are blooming away. Supposed to freeze tonight, which means we’ll be covering all that we can with old sheets and towels. Seems as if it’s windy all over the country. You and the boys enjoy that deli chicken; especially those two scamps!
So happy for Rusty and Piper! Thanks for the update!
Thanks for the update on Rusty! I hope he knows how big is “fan club” is. I know I’m not the only one who wishes him and Piper many long happy years together.
And…that’s one of the prettiest cactus clusters I’ve ever seen. It’s so healthy! Just imagine what it’s going to look like in full bloom!
What a nice home Rusty & Piper have. So happy for them.
Thanks for the trip to downtown Benson. Many years ago I got a metal slow cooker from the thrift store in town, the name escapes me but it was not this name. Still have it, still works great. Things change over time, the Farm House Bakery Restaurant was a different name as well. Ace Hardware was the go to place. They always had what you needed and were consistently friendly and helpful if you had questions about anything. Love the area where you are staying. Peaceful. I don’t have a bucket list but do have a “Things I want To Do” list and returning to Benson is on it. You may want to think about taking a trip to the Chiricahua National Monument before you depart. A pretty drive from Benson, interesting rock formations, a small campground. Also in that area are several Pistachio Farms but too early for them. Be Well.
I found out today, had to check I was right, our family friend spends the winter in Benson each year. At the Plato Blanco Lakes. She is our sister by choice, sweet lady .
Her papa owns the place. Small world isn’t it? She is still there as of now..but she concurs, benson is a wonderful place!
Thanks for the pictures Rusty! It’s great to see your new setting. Looks like a very cool railway!
Thanks for the memories Sue! It’s so good to see pics of my previous home.
Thanks for sharing the information on Rusty and Lady Piper. She’s a beautiful girl.
I don’t comment often, but have been following since the beginning. It was nice to read Rusty’s update and I love the train set up! My husband and I came through Benson late a few nights ago from Arkansas to Spring Training and I said RV Sue is out there somewhere. We love Arizona. Take care and thank you for your blog.
Hello Rusty and Piper, I follow RVSue and crew and also always enjoy your posts when you drop in. How nice that you have both that rolling lawn AND the woods. I’ll bet Piper enjoyed helping with the garden prep work and the track construction! I will also bet she was excited as you started to ‘play’ in the dirt! She looks pretty happy up there. Piper’s coat looks so nice. Please tell her hello from me next time she gets her pets! Nice to see you in RVSue’s post today!
Mary Batt from Louisiana
Thanks for sharing news about Rusty and his new life in the east! Can’t wait to see the railroad!
You did score in Benson, thrift shop shorts and 2 for 1 tortillas! Good for you! We get a lot of our glass from thrift shops! I like all the textures glass vases offer our mermaid tears!
Hug the zoom boys and you keep on your gypsy feet, I love where you take us.
Thanks Sue for the post, photos and update on Rusty. He is not very far from us here in Nashville, but they got all the snow the other day. We just got rain and cold here on the south side of Nashville. Hate to be so short but I have to get back to work. Filling in for my friend and cohort who is having some health issues as is her DH, who fell and broke his neck, and fell again a couple of days later. Thankfully he was not paralyzed. They are in their late 70’s.
Another fun and upbeat post. Thanks! 2 packages of Tortillas – get that griddle heated up!
Rusty, nice digs. It looks like you’ve settled into a great place.
Rusty. Have you written a book about yourself? If so, I’d like to read it. Glad to hear you are doing alright.
Rusty, thanks for allowing Sue to share your pictures and story. It is great to see you and Piper settled in and enjoying your home with your trains and garden.
Sue, thanks for taking the time to share Rusty’s story here and the tour of Benson. Do love the chop-lickin’ picture of Reggie and Roger!
Thanks for the update on Rusty and Piper. I had not seen any postings and was concerned about them. Glad he is happily settled and enjoying his hobbies.
Rusty and Lady Piper, what a beautiful home you have, I’m so happy for you both. Being near family is so wonderful. Cataract surgery is a piece of cake. I had both eyes done at age 59 and wish I had surgery sooner. It’s great you’re getting such good health care thru the VA. Keep on recuperating and enjoy life. Hugs to you and Piper.
Hi Rusty( and Hi Sue) – thank you for sharing the photos, what a great place you have Rusty, I love the train set-up. Hope that spring arrives soon so you and Lady Piper can spend lots of time having fun out there.
A 30-foot tether should make some walks with Reggie and Roger more manageable. I imagine the loops in the longer ones are awkward to hold when you want the boys to only walk closer to you. I get a kick out of getting clothes for a great price, too, Sue. Shorts for 50 cents is a great deal !
When I had just begun attending a church years ago I knew it wasn’t a jeans and scruffy boots kind of place. So I bought a few dresses at a thrift store. One Easter Sunday when the church service was over a few women were talking. They were admitting to having splurged on the outfits they had on. I said my dress only cost a few dollars, my splurge was my new leather covered bible. The lady bedside me exclaimed “Me, too!”. That was the beginning of our becoming such close friends, we still are and have been for 23 years.
Gosh, I love the photo of the camp where you and Rusty stayed near each other a couple of years ago. Actually, I love the whole story about how you met and all the parts and rewards of your friendship since then . Gee, both of you have had and now have such good looking and lovable dogs. Thank you for yet another feel good post, I’m all in my happy place again now 🙂
I enjoy the updates about the people you meet in your travels.
I think Kentucky just received more snow. Lady Piper must be loving it.
I wonder if Rusty is?
Hey Sue,
Jeannie and I have been reading your blog for several years now and have never had anything meaningful to contribute. About a year ago we began our own adventure, camping around the south-east in our 21′ Starcraft Launch with our boys Marcus and Auggie. Marcus is a Yorkie that thinks he’s running this show and Auggie is his ever faithful Min-Pin sidekick. The real boss though is Marbles the traveling cat. She joins us on every trip runs free and always returns to the trailer. She adopted us about ten years ago. I have no idea how old she is but I’ll guess about fifteen. We expect every trip to be her last but she just keeps on ticking.
Finally, we’re ready to try boondocking in the desert. As fate would have it we arrived in Benson the day of this post. currently parked at Red Barn. Of course, we’ll respect your privacy but I sure would love to shake your hand and thank you for all that I’ve learned reading your blog.
Here are my questions, you sometimes let your crew run free, do you worry about snakes and scorpions? Have you found them a problem? we have a folding corral for the boys but I would love to let them run. Just not sure though.
We’re leaving here Saturday morning working our way west. we still have to learn the ropes about using BLM land, how to find campsites, where to dump and so forth but that’s all part of the adventure.
Well now that we’re introduced and have broken the “comment ice” I’m sure that we’ll contribute more often. and I promise the next comment will be shorter.
Vaughn & Jeannie
Welcome, Vaughn and Jeannie!
Please do comment more often and don’t worry about length. You obviously have a lot to share that is of interest to me and my readers. All comments are contributions toward making this a fun place to visit. Thank you for introducing yourselves and for being longtime readers of my blog!
Happy and safe travels. May you discover many wonderful boondocks. The old saying applies, “the best things in life are free!” 🙂
It looks like Rusty has found a beautiful place to settle in and live the Good Life!
HI, EVERYBODY!
The conversations between blogorinos and Rusty are heart-warming and fun. Thank you for participating!
Welcome to all newcomers (you have gained blogorino status–congratulations!) and to those who haven’t been seen for a while. I probably missed giving you a personal reply. Even so, know that I read and appreciate every comment and the “new faces” are a special delight.
Next post is almost finished!
Bye for now,
Sue