Friday, January 10
The crew and I return to Sidewinder Road, west of Yuma.
The Cargo Muchacho Mountains behind an ironwood tree at Sidewinder Road
We very much enjoyed camping at Kofa and spending time with our friends, Bill and Ann and their canines, Sammy, and Julie.
I have several reasons for moving camp.
Going to Quartzsite to take care of the usual errands is becoming less fun as more and more people descend upon that small town. I have things I want to get done and it’s easier to find items in Yuma, as it’s much larger than Quartzsite. The weather at Kofa is good, but Yuma’s weather is even better, as it’s about sixty miles to the south.
Also it’s time to dump.
When I hitch up to take care of that task, it’s hard for me to go back to the same camp. I get the urge to move on! Therefore, we say so long to our friends knowing that, with all likelihood, we will get back together again soon, probably before spring arrives.
The crew and I enjoy a leisurely drive southward across the desert.
Spike and Bridget are asleep as we go past the U.S. Army Proving Ground, on the very straight, two-lane Route 95.
In Yuma I fill up the tank of the Perfect Tow Vehicle at $3.25 a gallon. Leaving Yuma, going westward on Interstate 8, I take the Sidewinder Road exit at Pilot Knob and dump tanks ($6). While that’s in progress, a Class A pulls up behind the Best Little Trailer to wait its turn. A man and woman disembark.
Shortly thereafter I hear a voice.
“Excuse me? Do you have a ladder we could borrow? For some reason our door won’t open.”
I fetch the ladder from the back of the PTV and hand it to the gentleman. He sets it up and proceeds to climb up, into, and through a side window.
At one point only his legs from the knees down stick out of the window. Gee, what a great photo that would make. I decide against it as his wife is standing by the ladder and I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable.
Since the door situation may take a while to resolve, the lady calls someone who’s at their camp and gives instructions to bring their ladder down to the dump station.
Soon the crew and I are back on the interstate.
We motor past the Ogilby Road exit that we use to approach Sidewinder from its west end. We continue a few miles to the rest stop where there’s a spigot. The fresh water tank and a few jugs filled, we backtrack to Ogilby Road and Sidewinder to find our camp.
This time I drive further away from the road than our last camp here in hopes that we won’t be recognized and will maintain some privacy. I find a good spot next to a narrow wash and proceed to position the BLT and the PTV, and then to perform set-up tasks.
What a beautiful, warm day. I like this site. The only RV in view is that Class A over by the hills.
Our only “neighbor” is really much further away than this photo makes it appear.
I stop what I’m doing to gaze at it. Hmm. . . That reminds me of Nina and Paul’s rig. Oh, well, I can’t tell one Class A from another . . . .
Someone has camped here before us, as evidenced by the fire ring. Do you see Bridget?
Once everything is set up how I want, I settle into my chair to contemplate our situation. I read a bit of the Dick Francis mystery given to me by Bill and Ann. Supper is light… a green salad with tomatoes, radishes and big chunks of cheese. I cook up some turkey for the crew and we take a short walk when they’re done eating.
Bridget walks right next to me making it hard to include her in a photo. The ocotillo are greener than a few weeks ago.
At bedtime I’m happy to find that it’s warm enough for light bedclothes. Bridget, Spike and I are comfortable all night with the windows closed and only the roof vent open.
Saturday, January 11
Sunrise from our campsite
Most of the morning I work on the previous blog post and photos. Of course, I have to do some tidying of the Best Little Trailer’s interior before taking the pictures of the new curtains. My ambition fired up, I clean the bathroom, too.
Some time after lunch, as I sit at my laptap at my table, I see through the side window, a woman walking with her dog. Hey, that’s Nina!
I jump up and stick my head out the door.
“Nina! Come on over! I’ll be right with you!” I grab my hat and my camera. When I step out the door, Bridget and Spike are already with Nina. Usually they put up a barking commotion when anyone approaches our campsite. Not when Nina comes around. Oh, no . . .
They love her!
Polly graciously and patiently allows the crew to soak up some loving from her Nina.
Nina and I spend almost the entire remainder of the afternoon sitting in camp chairs talking. Our paths seem to cross and crisscross often. She and Paul plan on going to Washington state next summer, so we have a lot to discuss. Of course, we engage in some blog talk, too. Her blog, in case there is anyone in the RV world who still doesn’t know, is called Wheeling It.
That’s all for now! Bridget and Spike are asleep in their usual places on the bed. I’m going to slide in next to the Bridge and read my book. I think I might make myself some popcorn first. I shouldn’t, but I know I will.
rvsue
I LOVE RVSUE SHOPPERS!
I appreciate your thoughtfulness in ordering from Amazon through my blog.
“FLASHBACK”
February 9, 2013
Cow Plop Mountain near Ajo, southern Arizona. See people on top at left?
This is my lucky evening. I just posted my comment to your previous post and here you’re coming with a new one. Now I should read it.
Okay, R. . . . and I’ll go back and read what you wrote before doing what I said I would do — Make some popcorn and read my book!
*sneaks in before the rush*
🙂
Hi Sue! You’re reading one of my favorite authors, Dick Francis. I hope you enjoy! Beautiful site! We’re at Blue Springs SP in Orange City,FL watching the Manatee! But it is chilly, had two hot, muggy days then back to cool which I love. We follow Wheeling It also. $3.25 for gas? we’re at 3.40. Keep warm, pix as always, are GREAT!
K9Kids t0 the Crew: WOOF and a YAP!
Hi, Chuck,
You and Geri are reviving my memories of Florida. Sounds like you’re having a good time, but I still wish you were here!
Well, I think I can expect to get a good hearty laugh at least once during reading your blogs, Sue. This time, it was “Cow Plop Mountain”. I’m still laughing! Great fun! Did you name that mountain? It sure does look like it’s namesake! Unbelievable! I see the folks climbing too!
I’m mid-way through RTR in Quartzsite. I had to move to a quiet lot next to the camp though to maintain my equilibrium and be able to focus on my class prep. I’m thankful I can still be close to camp, but not feel claustrophic or disturbed by other campers noise, like sneezing and laughing loudly. Classes start this week, so, it’s back at it for me. Not that I ever really stopped working, but, I just took more days off than usual during my little over a month long holiday break.
Cheers to you all and your new camp! Sounds lovely and peaceful, which is challenging to find near Yuma, in my little experience looking for camps there. I typically opted to sleep at a Walmart parking lot for one night (twice I did that), shop till I dropped and then camped further out from the city.
Hi, Gloria,
“There once was a town and it had a hill and Cow Plop was its name-o.” (Remember the dog Bingo?) No, I didn’t name Cow Plop Mountain.
Gee, RTR lasts a long time. I would guess there are some strong friendships building among the group.
Sidewinder Road is “further out from the city,” too. I think it’s about 9 miles or so. The area is very spacious, enabling one to get off by oneself. I like that free drinking water from a spigot is available without going into town.
Good luck with your work. You must have a healthy measure of self-discipline to get any work done in proximity to a group of people.
I’m happy to see you here again!
Curious minds want to know–what is RTR?
Google didn’t help either… too many choices.
Rubber Tramp Rendevous . . . I think.
Yup… found them…
OK, now that I”ve read….
1. That bratty Bridget!
2. I’m really liking the way you can angle the PTV with that new cord and create yourself a spot sheltered from the wind.
3. Maybe I’m imagining it, but I seriously think Spike’s coat/coloring is looking better.
4. I’ve been wanting to go on some sort of road trip; due to iffy weather, that’ll have to wait until spring. One of my dream trips is to travel the entire length of Route 66. Can’t afford it right now, either financially or time off from work, but discovered that the Illinois Route 66 Association is having a fun run/rally on a June weekend. I’ve decided I’m going to attend! Now I’m spending hours researching St. Louis (the run’s starting point), Illinois Route 66, and Indiana (my route back home). So if you see anything ordered from Amazon related to Route 66, it’ll be me!
Hi, Ladybug,
It’s great to read the excitement in your comment! It’s fun to anticipate a trip or event, do the research and plan. Oh, yeah, and to buy stuff in preparation!
Thanks for shopping from here!
Cool! I’m 2 hours east of St. Louis. What is the event called, and is it open to anyone?
Crystal-
I don’t have a lot of info about this year’s, other than the date, but it’s the 25th year for the event. It’s put on by the Route 66 Association of Illinois. I found a link giving a bit of info about last year’s event: http://il66assoc.org/content/another-exciting-motor-tour I don’t know the cost or anything, but appears to be open to everyone. This year’s will be June 13-15, starting in St. Louis and headed toward Chicago.
And I happen to discover elsewhere that Edwardsville IL will be having a Route 66 festival that same weekend, so wouldn’t surprise me if the Motor Tour made some sort of appearance there. http://www.edwardsvilleroute66.com/
Wow, my son lives in Edwardsville. My kids attended SIU-Edwardsville, and I love that community. I haven’t checked out the links yet, but I will. I appreciate you posting them. I am disappointed to discover I have RSVP’d to an event the same dates. Maybe I can join them next year.
I thought spikes coat was looking better too.
Hi, Angie,
His coat has improved somewhat, not as much as I’d like. The texture is still rough.
I love your photos but do you have smoke coming out of the vent of the Casita? Maybe it is a cloud but even when I blow it up there is something dark just above the vent.
HA! I saw that too, but thought it was just a fingerprint smudge on my laptop screen! Maybe Sue was burning dinner??
Not a fingerprint… I NEVER touch the lens with my finger. . .
Well…unless you have a *really* long reach, I don’t think you can smudge my laptop screen with your finger. 😉
It may have been dust. I hope it isn’t condensation inside the camera. It disappeared and I hope it doesn’t reappear.
Might be a smudge on the lens. If you look at the picture above the BLT there’s a similar slightly darker spot in the same area.
Hi, Reine,
I don’t know what the cloudy area is. You’re right, Reine… It was something on the lens, not a fingerprint though. I cleaned the lens and it’s gone.
Hi, lindale,
I thought I could sneak those photos in. You really are observant! I’m hoping my lens cleaning took care of it. I think I took the BLT photo after the first photo that has no gray area. I hope it isn’t going to keep reappearing!
I read Wheeling it this morning and knew you’d run into them soon…it was sooner than I thought LOL. I heard dogs can sense a good person and Nina is probably a very gentle, kind, thoughtful person to people and animals. I do see an orb above the BLT vent but can’t see the one on the PTV…doesn’t look like a finger smudge. Like the way you have your camp set up.
Hi, Rita,
Let’s hope that gray spot doesn’t come back . . .
You’re right about Nina… She is very good with animals. When she first met Bridget and Spike, she showered them with attention and they’ve never forgotten. Bridget gets bouncy and silly around Nina.
Ha, Sue I would have taken the guy’s picture with his leg hanging out the window anyway. I remember when I got permission to enter my friends house to retreive one of my paintings. He told me where they key was but I couldn’t find it, so I entered and exited, painting in hand through a window…half way out I was approached by a policeman… DUHHH…can you imagine telling the story to him. As it turned out I had gone to high school with this officer…didn’t matter…Finally got him to call and verify with the homeowner friend. HA !
Love the desert shots and glad you were with your friends, enjoy.
Hi, Diane,
Cute story! Once again… It’s all about timing. 🙂 You, halfway out the window with painting in hand, a shocked look on your face, and a man in uniform watching… Now, that would make a great picture, very Norman Rockwell.
Hi Sue and crew, Your new curtains do look nice from the outside. It’s almost 1am. here in Rochester, NY. was going to turn in, But since you mentioned pop corn . I think that’s what I’ll do instead.. (the old fashioned way) on top of the stove popped in bacon grease (gives it a nice flavor) . Enjoy your book and popcorn . Sweet dreams. Ciao Dominick
At first I wondered how Sue made her popcorn, but then I figured it was the old fashioned on top of the stove way, like we used to when I was a kid.
I have a pot that I discovered makes popcorn the old fashioned way without burning it, and I don’t have to shake the pot.
Is this something on Amazon? After hearing about the poison in microwave popcorn, tried it stovetop and it popped all over the kitchen and burned on the bottom. How do you do it?
The scene you described made me chuckle… Sorry, I’m sure it wasn’t funny for you.
The pot I use is a large non-stick (not a thin pot). Directions are to put enough oil in the pot to cover the bottom. I try to use very little. Pour in the kernels to cover the bottom no more than one kernel deep.
Put the lid on (mine has an air-escape hole). Turn the heat to high (or medium if your pot is lightweight). You may have to shake the pot as the kernels pop to keep them from burning. I happen to have a pot in which they don’t burn easily.
Remove from heat as soon as the popping stops, no later!
Hi, Dominick,
I’ve never heard of making popcorn in bacon grease, and it’s a good thing I haven’t. I don’t need another reason to consume fat!
My weakness is salty snacks. I can turn down sweets easily. However, especially when I’m reading, I yearn for something salty to munch on. I think it’s time for me to start up the Dukan Diet again. It eliminates cravings.
Me in Arizona and you in New York and we’re having a popcorn party. 🙂 Hope you slept well.
I thought that was Paul and Nina’s rig way back by the mountain. You, then, confirmed it! Wonderful people!!
We stayed in that general area this time last year, too. After reading your blog and having met up with Paul and Nina, we thought it looked perfect.
Have fun!!
Hi, Pam,
I wouldn’t rate this area very high on the scenic scale. It is, however, a good place to slow down, take it easy, and enjoy the warmth and sunshine (hence the title of this post!). I feel like I’m storing energy for another spring-summer-fall of travel with the crew. One needs a break . . . .
Hard not to be “recognized” with so many pictures of the PTV and the BLT in every post. Its probably way too late to be able to hide from folks, especially when you post exactly where you are. Is it any wonder people want to talk to you, because of your warm and funny blog, we all feel we know you. Mixed blessing.
Hi, Sue,
You’ve touched on a catch-22 of my vagabond life. I love my blog and I enjoy hearing from readers. The success of my blog depends upon me showing my life and that includes photos of our camps. (I learned early on that there’s no use trying to hide my location… All it takes is one person playing the game of find-RVSue and posting my location. I still find it incredible that someone actually did that when I said not to!). And yes, the PTV and BLT combination with solar panel and antenna are unique.
Since I can’t always hide from view, I can only remind readers that I’m not a social type. When readers ask to meet me, how can I say no? When readers say, in all goodness toward me, “I’d love to meet you” or “I hope our paths cross someday,” I cringe. I can see the day may come when I’ll have to ditch my blog in order to live the way I want.
Enjoy your time back at Sidewinder road. Looks like we keep missing you. We went from Pilot Knob to the Hotsprings, Now in Quartzite with the crowds going to look for lotsa stuff we don’t need.
Have fun!
“Is that them over there, near that small pond?” “I see a white Casita with a antenna on the back and it looks like their Van with the solar panel, get a little closer and I’ll put the binoculars on them and I’ll be able to tell for sure.” “Not too close I don’t wanna stir up that dust….I see something in the edge of the pond….Oh Hell yes! It’s them….that’s Spike soaking.” “Ok land this thing over there a ways and I’ll infiltrate on foot.” “Renting your helicopter for a couple of days was worth it, Sue will be so happy to see me and and I’ll finally get to pet Spike and Bridget!”
MAJOR CRINGE!!!!! That’s my recurring nightmare, Jim. 🙂
Seriously . . . I enjoy immensely the people I’ve met on the road. They have become treasures in my life.
However, if over time I develop friendships with 20, 30, 40, 50… people who RV, everywhere I go I’ll feel obligated to socialize. Otherwise, my travels will amount to a series of snubbing good people. Not a pleasant scenario . . . .
The situation is hard for me to control. I don’t want to offend any of the really nice people who reach out to me, but acquiring too many real-life friends is the one thing that will destroy my peace and contentment on the road and signal the time to end my blog… wahhhh!!
Sue,
We would all wail in despair if you stopped blogging. You keep our dream alive of someday hitting the road full time, plus your writing is so entertaining and educational. Maybe you could wear a certain color shirt when you aren’t feeling social. “Hey, look, Sue’s wearing orange today. We should give her some space.” Or, run a flag up your antenna pole. Do you think people would honor a signal they could clearly see?
No, I don’t. Nice try. That wouldn’t work. Not everyone would know the signal and some would think they are the exception. (“Oh, we won’t stay long.”) Plus I don’t want my clothing choices determined by external forces. LOL!
Well, if you hung your brassiere from the antennae, that might keep people away….
Hmm . .. . That might send the opposite message . . . Besides, after wearing those devices of torture for 50 years, the day I retired I threw all of mine in the trash and haven’t worn one since! Ah, freedom!
When the day comes to end your blog so you can live the way you want, let me tell you about how I felt when thinking the same when my son turned 18.
“I can’t wait until he leaves home so I can live my life the way I want.” “I’m tired of all these kids around.” When he left, it was WAY TOO QUIET and suddenly I was ALONE. (I know you enjoy being alone, but the changeover is the challenging part.) I did not prepare for that day and for the transition, because I didn’t know that I should have. Maybe you can learn from my experience. Have some emotionally nurturing activities in place to distract you from the joy that you will leave behind. It’s way more complicated than “pulling the plug.” You deserve the best as reward for all you give us.
Thank you, Gayle.
I hope this doesn’t start a huge controversial discussion, but I’ve often wondered when you get the occasional “drop in” – what were they thinking, and more importantly why would someone go against another person’s wish for solitude?
Your sidebar clearly states, PLEASE, NO DROP IN VISITS. THANK YOU!
If you get tired of blogging, I would understand, but I would hate to see your blog go away for any other reason.
The drop-in visits have lessened a great deal. At this point I’m afraid I’ll get too many requests to meet. These are friendly invitations to come over or requests to stop by my camp, and I don’t see how I can refuse politely.
I hope none of this conversation offends the people whom I’ve already met and whose company I have enjoyed and hope to enjoy again.
It’s the potentially high number of people to whom I’ll feel socially connected over the years that I’m trying to control. It’s a matter of too much of a good thing.
I deleted your other comment, Marsha. (I understand. 🙂 )
For me, meeting others on my travels was always a happy experience.
It was NOT a necessary part of my life as I am also very comfortable alone.
At this point, after 30 years of FT RV’ng…. I am now living in a big 5th wheel that is
not going anywhere. I keep thinking of getting a Class C to do some
traveling once in awhile. However, doing all the hitch-em-up and settling in a new place is now more than I can do physically anymore. So I will just have to be
content reading about the RV travel’s of others!
Thanks to you Sue, and some other’s I have met over my years of travel, who also
do blogs, I s’pose I will get used to vicarious travel and making new friends on
the pages of blogs!
Quartzsite and out Sidewinder Road were good places to go for awhile in the
winter time. Out in the foothills, east of Yuma, one of the restaurants just off
the freeway, hosted a gathering of SKP members every Wednesday (?) if I recall
correctly…. I wonder if that is still happening? Also a group of Technics keyboard
players gathered at a private home in the foothills every week all winter…. That
was the best for me!
Keep on keeping on all you RV’ers….. Be All You Are and Enjoy All You Do!
Elizabeth aka E2/etwo……
Meeting other people on the road is a “happy experience” for me, too. (See reply to Jim, above.)
What a rich and varied life you have lived on the road, Elizabeth! Thirty years! Oh, I wish I had that much time on the road ahead of me . . . Not likely. 🙂
It must be very difficult to sit back and read about others who are enjoying the vagabond life. You seem like a very adaptable person and one who can find fun and happiness where others might not. That’s a priceless gift.
I don’t know if the Wednesday SKP gathering is still happening. Maybe a reader will let you know here.
Always good to hear from you, E2!
MESSAGE TO READERS:
Inexplicably, the previous post about curtains is still generating comments, almost 200 (including mine) as I type this.
Some of you have received responses or questions following the comment you posted. If you have the time and inclination, I encourage you to take a look back to the area where you commented. Also there are some interesting and informative “late” comments at the bottom.
I can imagine how you must have “cringed” when Chuck and I came knocking at your door in Elephant Butte! So sorry! I also read Nina’s log “Wheeling It” but I guess I am more of a lurker than a commenter there! I also like the way your new curtains look from the outside!
No, I didn’t cringe then, Geri. I’m glad you and Chuck entered my life. I was surprised though, as I believe you were the first “fans” I met!
LATER…. Oops! You weren’t the first. I met Paul and Reine the day I picked up the BLT from the Casita factory. They were and are readers of my blog.
I believe anyone I met between meeting them and meeting you and Chuck became readers after we met.
We were then, and still are, faithful readers of your blog!
And you are friends whom I treasure.
DITTO !!!!
Here’s the deal. I’ll be blunt. Sue is Sue. She knows what she wants and want’s us to know too. I think of her like a fella out in the boonies somewhere who has a visiting deer. He enjoys watching but he can ruin it for the friendly deer and himself if he decides to approach it. I love this blog. I don’t want to lose it because others cannot resist the temptation to visit with Sue just because you see her out there somewhere. Sue is far too polite, though direct, to say it but please honor her desire for privacy. I know the irony here. Most people who are out there on the road are very social. I remember my camping days. People migrating to a camp and all gathered around a campfire chatting, maybe singing and enjoying one anothers company. But just as one size really doesn’t fit all, all campers are not alike. Sue has her dreams and all she wants to share she shares here. Don’t ruin it for her or ourselves by driving her away.
Thank you, Jim, for expressing my situation so clearly. If I say it, I sound like an ungrateful snot.
Hi again Sue. Nice camp, I like your version of circling the wagons. I have a question. A few posts back you were piecing a piece of plastic back together with Gorilla glue. How did that turn out? I am asking as Gorilla glue is polyurethane based and is not particularly good on plastic, especially on the edges like that. The old model airplane glue is best for that kind of stuff as it literally melts the two pieces together.
Hi Alan,
So far it’s okay. I’m not putting anything heavy on it as I have it at the top of the door where only small things will fit. And when we moved to this camp, I made sure there wasn’t anything bound to fly into it. I should’ve purchased a new one from the store in Quartzsite but never got around to it.
Glad to hear it.
Cow plop……………..heh heh.
Nina looks like a love! We too tend to avoid crowds…less hassle! AZ Jim’s comments were spot on! Kind of like a household star who is trying to go about their everyday business without someone recognizing them. Its respecting one’s privacy no matter who they are.
Hmmm sounds like that Class A might have one of them recalled locks! The RV community always looks after one another!
Made it home tonight…..the reality of SA not greeting me was horribly sad. Hugs to you and the crew.
Your blog rocks!
Hi, Cindy,
I thought of you flying home by yourself — heartache on both coasts and no one in the seat next to you to comfort you.
Thanks for stopping by and letting us know you made it home.
I actually had a Golden Ret service dog that I couldn’t help but admire the entire way! It was a nice flight with no screaming kids!
My sister flew to Phoenix with my mom’s dog Bella….she’s now a desert dog!
In regards to your blog…. ” The please no drop in visits. Thank you” is straight forward to the point and very polite. I myself would love to cross paths but I know how you feel about visitors.
Think about this people..this is the internet…would you invite a stranger to your stick house that you REALLY don’t know? Your house is your sacred castle! Think of it like the “no solicitor” sign that many people have. Sue has a “no drop in visits” READ the sign…what part of “no” is getting missed?
Yes her lifestyle is an inspiration to others….but let her live her life like you live yours. It took every ounce of will power not to pet the service dog whose paw kept touching my foot…but I know the rules…when the harness is on….he’s working. No exceptions!
Thank you, Cindy. You never hesitate to come to my aid. 🙂
Bella has a new home in the desert. . . I wish her well.
Great analogy between me and a service dog!
Sue I so enjoy reading your blog and following not only your adventures but those of your commenters. I think of you as a dear friend, even though I seldom comment but I can’t wait to hear about your day.
You have a talent for not only writing and photography, but a kindness to your many commenters. I couldn’t imagine meeting the 220 commenters in person. That would be some party and you made it feel like it was a party. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Mary. I very much enjoy hearing from my readers. Thanks for the sweet message.
This is a comment to all the readers….ok what we need to do is we need to all get PTVs and Blts like RVSue. After a while there will be a revolution, there will be so many no one will recognize who the real RVsue is and she will be incognito in plain site. Who’s with me? Bahaaaa
Don’t forget the rat terriers!
Would a Jack Russell be close enough? I already have one!
Don’t forget the hat!
You guys are crazy!
The comments to this blog are just hilarious. True, about leaving Sue alone as nobody reading this wants to lose her blog. The idea of making her incognito with all of us having a like Casita & Chevy Van is a hoot.
Ok, this is bad, but I’ll confess…
Last summer I was driving to work (Nashville, TN) when I saw heading the opposite direction on the interstate a white cargo-type van hauling a fiberglass trailer (it may have been a Scamp instead of a Casita). My first thought was ‘OMG, it’s RVSue!’ My second thought was ‘Dummy, you just read where she’s camped out in Utah. You think she has a magic carpet or somethin’?’
True story. 😀
Oh my god that was funny!
I see the Express vans all the time and always think of Sue and wonder how much she is able to stuff in the back. I have never seen a Casita though, only in pictures.
I’m in Brentwood, TN. That is quite a coincidence as well.
Please oh please don’t even think of ditching your blog. Now readers listen here. Don’t bother RVSue and crew. Give her some privacy. WE all love you and we will behave. Now won’t we. I want you all to promise. 🙂
Thank you, Karen. No, I’m not going to stop blogging anytime soon.
Personally I think it is perfectly reasonable to restrict drop in visitors…just reverse this..think how you would feel if someone from this group of lovely people just dropped in on you..totally weird I would think!
And RV Sue is the most reasonable person around…her opinions count!
And on another note..my favorite toys were my cowboys and horse plastic toys..I made so many dirt mountains, so many corrals of twigs, made mud lakes..and Lincoln logs..oh wow…! my poor mother thought I was a lost cause. I never really did measure up to her expectations,but guess what? I love pink and roses and fine china! Aren’t we all a bundle of contradictions?
Lee . . . You’re the first person I’ve come across who played in the dirt like I did!
My siblings and I played in the dirt also. For some reason we thought it was great fun to dig giant holes in the field next to our house. It was a neighborhood project in the summers. We made elaborate forts out there! What fun memories!
I played in the dirt. My dad took an old tractor tire and filled it with sand for me. We even moved that old tire everytime we moved, which was a lot, an it would get filled back up with sand or dirt for me.
I made the best mud pies, they looked so real. Also use to pose my barbie next to mud puddles and pretend she was at a lake. haha
Dear Sue: I promise to never visit you in person!! In spirit we are already friends (like all the blog readers) and that, in itself, is wonderful! Hugs, Sheri
Thanks, Sheri.
Love all the comments…thats a great plus to a great blog. I would hope that it continues for as long as you can take us. Some people love to socialize and welcome visitors….announced and unannounced. We must remember that we are not all alike and should respect their wishes. I love reading your blog….but would never think of tracking you and the crew down or invite myself into your space. I love my personal space and unless someone is invited into it ….please dont enter. No drop ins please. All I can say is keep on blogging….we all love to read about your adventures and hope that the few that overstep the boundaries that are set, dont ruin it for the rest of us.
Thanks, Deb.
Thanks to all for your understanding and reassurances. It’s not a pleasant topic so let’s move on . . .
Hey, how ’bout them curtains! LOL!
So back to the curtains, I consider myself an inferior decorator and when I get my Class A and join all of you on the road, I will be inferiorly decorating the heck out of it..Logged cabin style….Can’t wait to see more inside pictures…When I am snug in my bed at night sometimes I think about you and the dogs snug someplace out under the stars and hope you are as warm as I am….Continued safe and solace travels.
Shirlene . . . Such a tender message: “When I am snug in my bed at night sometimes I think about you and the dogs snug someplace out under the stars and hope you are as warm as I am.”
There was a long period of my life when no one snug in their bed thought kindly of me nor wondered if I were warm. You put a catch in my throat when I read your comment. Thank you for the sweet sentiment.
Your rig won’t be inferior. It will be YOU!
I wouldn’t think of invading your privacy, or anyone else’s for that matter. In the RV world everyone has their own sense of privacy and why they live in RVs. However some day you may come home and find a can of Hubs peanuts, best in the world just ask Rusty, on your porch you’ll know I am around some where. No thanks required just want to let you know I care.
Thanks, Alan, for caring about me. I love peanuts!
I’m sorry, but I had to remove your link. Amazon’s robots might pick up the presence of a competitor’s link (Amazon only sells other brands of peanuts.).
Your comment warmed my morning.
Sue,
Some unsolicited advice:
Remove the “Where We Are Now” from your side bar. You go to great length to tell people where you are and then you say PLEASE, NO DROP IN VISITS. THANK YOU! this is a mixed message that you need not be sending.
Second, rather than quit blogging why not delay blogging. By that I mean you can continue to write your blog as you do now but you do not post them until you have moved to a new location. Google Search “Delay blog post in WordPress” to read the entire article but here is the general idea:
“WordPress has so many features, although this is like when you schedule your post, but you can do it by editing the date, and time for the coming days, month or even year.
Very helpful and useful for some busy people who are owning and having a wordpress blog, so that they create or write some articles, a few of them while they have time, can be in the weekend or somewhere in the evening, and then they can delay blog post to be published whenever they want.”
Rest assured I will NEVER approach you unless invited and I would then do so only after due consideration. Please do not feel offended if I were to say no, I may simply not be in the mood to visit.
Hi, Ed,
I tried to delay my posts so that they reported on activities at our previous camp. It doesn’t work for me for several reasons which I’ll try to explain.
An important feature of my blog and, I believe, a feature that contributes to its popularity, is the immediacy brought about by my interaction with readers and the interaction among readers that takes place in the comments section. When I tried delaying posts, I found myself having to pretend I was at the former camp. Readers would ask, “Well, where are you going next?”… It was awkward. And then personal friends who knew where we actually were through personal emails would “spill the beans” and thus lessen the surprise element of the next post.
I came to realize that immediate feedback from readers about my present camp and my present days is something I enjoy and find helpful. A delay in posts would damage the sense of community (people getting together online) and the illusion of real-time that is a source of fun and virtual companionship for many of my followers. It would take too long for me to clarify what I mean by that.
In the early weeks of my blog I tried to conceal my location. Readers started a guessing game of “Where is RVSue?” using google earth and analysis of photos. I asked that if anyone figured out where we were camped, that they not reveal it. One person went ahead anyway, gleefully describing where we were and how she found us. Because of that, I gave up trying to keep our location secret. All it takes is one.
Then, as the popularity of my blog grew, I was receiving several questions asking for directions in case they wanted to boondock there at a later date. Again, google earth searching was part of that. It got to the point where I felt all the commenting about our location was more likely to feed the obsession of some nut (stalker) than being open about our location from the get-go. That’s when I started being very explicit, even with a map.
I also realize, as you pointed out, that I’m sending a mixed message. That’s why it’s difficult to communicate how truly serious I am about limiting social contact. I write in a style that makes me seem accessible, like a warm and caring friend. That’s RVSue. Then there’s the woman who creates RVSue. She cares, but she also likes solitude.
I appreciate you taking the time to explain the delay feature, Ed, and to offer advice.
And we couldn’t find Osama Bin-Laden for years and years!
I love the curtains. My new-to-me RV has the nice day/night blinds. The bedroom has curtains as well as the blinds. I am going to change the decor in the bedroom. Your curtains look very nice. Did they come in other colors?
PS Please don’t go hide somewhere and stop blogging. I promise I will be good and not come knocking unless invited. Someday I hope to be out that way in the winter and enjoy the desert again.
Hi Jean,
Yes, the curtains do come in other colors — navy, red, and chocolate. Click this link to Amazon and scroll down to the photos:
Lorraine Home Fashions Jackson Tier Curtain
Good luck with your decorating!
I have to admit I feel super-privileged that I’m able to check-in with you every now and then on our travels. I totally respect your privacy and I actually felt bad about my last comment (in the last post) ‘coz right after I’d published it I suddenly thought “hmmm…maybe she didn’t want folks to know she was here”. I know what it’s like to have people “dropping in” and it can become overwhelming. We like to be hermits too 🙂
Nina
Hi, Nina,
No problem, girl! I posted our location shortly thereafter anyway. I’m glad I haven’t offended you (maybe I have and you’re too polite to let on) by all this privacy talk. It’s a tightrope!
I see you and Paul have another neighbor, but, fortunately, not too close. I expect some of the RVers around here will pull out soon to join the hullabaloo in Quartzsite.
Oh goodness no…no offense at all. I totally understand the whole privacy thing and get exactly what you mean. I’m more sociable than most, but Paul loves his privacy and prefers to be more solitary. When we’re boondocking we usually make friends, but keep it very casual and never “drop in” unless it’s clear folks are ok with it. that’s just good boondocking etiquette in general.
I think this discussion is a great one. You’re definitely a mix…so very open on the blog, so very friendly in person, but also a very private gal. It’s what makes you unique and why people loooove your blog and you as a person 🙂
Nina
Gee, Nina… Great characterization of ME! Wanna’ be my agent? 🙂 You’re a sweetie.
I’m looking forward to your upcoming post on this important topic of boondocking etiquette!
Hello Sue n crew, I started reading your blog from the beginning and am at the point where you switched in May 2013. I jumped ahead because I wanted to meet you internetedly. Is that a word? Anyway I hopefully head out RVing on March 1st.
I have a pickup self contained older camper. I tried to go last spring but only got as far as Kingsville Texas when I had to turn back due to health problems. I was driving my older Chevy diesel dually that I converted to run off used vegetable oil that I get from behind restaurants. Ran great but didn’t do good in the mountains so I now have a gas truck for this attempt. Oh I live in North Carolina. My traveling companion is Sadie Mae Monster a Pug and my healing blood pressure lowering dog. Your blog is very informative and inspiring. Thank you for all your hard work blogging.
By the way when you are towing and go down a steep grade you can use a poor mans jake brake to save your brakes. Just turn the ac on, the compressor will provide engine braking. If its winter just switch the heater control to defrost, this turns the ac compressor on to keep the freon mixed up without cooling you. Seriously this works! Goodnite, Bill
Hi, Bill,
Welcome to my blog and to the wacky world of commenting! I’m delighted to hear from you! Thanks for reading my old posts and for dropping in here.
I enjoy hearing from people such as yourself who are creative, inventive, and resourceful. It amazes me that someone could convert a vehicle to run on veggie oil and then take off across the country in it. Love that!
I hope you have your health situation under control. I’m sure Sadie Mae Pug is mostly responsible for that. Having her aboard will make your upcoming travels more fun. I don’t know what I would do without my crew.
Thanks for the “jake brake” advice. I didn’t know about that and I’m sure many of my readers will appreciate learning about it, too. Look how you’ve contributed to my blog already! Thanks for the compliment on my blog.
I hope you will write again. Don’t worry about messing up when trying to comment. Since there’s no way for readers to edit their own comment, I’m happy to fix ’em up when needed.
BTW, when you sign in, do me a favor. I have a lot of readers named Bill. I’d like to know who’s commenting. So sign as “Bill from NC” or some other words of your choice so I know which Bill you are.
Here’s to your happy and trouble-free launch come March!
An actual “jake brake” (Jacobs brake) is a device installed on diesel engines and because of the “backrap” when going down hills are illegal to use in parts of Idaho. The best bet to assist both tow vehicle and trailer brakes is simply shifting to low gear. On long grades “riding” the brakes really heats them up and can result in no brakes at all. It is always smart to remember where that emergency brake is too.
I use low gear going downhill all the time, even when on a two-laner and the drivers in little cars behind me can’t speed down the hill like they want. (Sorry. I’m ahead of you! Haha!)
Thanks Sue for the send off wish. I changed my name to Bill from NC. Off now toread more of your past travels.
You’re welcome!