In the previous post, the crew and I cross the grasslands of Cochise County, Arizona, until the sound of gunshots and the force of wind gusts send us scurrying to the Perfect Tow Vehicle and our camp.
I posted photos taken during that little outing. Readers commented on the clouds, that they looked like a painting. This post follows up on the drama in the sky that same day.
~ ~ ~
I sit at the head of the bed with my laptop open in front of me.
The crew is tucked in under the comforter, Reggie in his usual place between me and the wall and Roger snug in the doggie bed at my feet. Frequently I pause reading to gaze out the window at clouds floating above the grass-and-mesquite-covered landscape.
After today’s walk across grassland in strong, gusty wind, the sunset hour is a peaceful contrast of quiet stillness.
Oh, there’s the pink!
I slip out of bed and hurry out the door with my camera.
No doubt you’ve seen many pictures of Arizona sunsets.
We all have. I’ve taken many of them myself and posted them on this blog.
Usually one records the sequence of changes starting with the sun descending toward the horizon, pinking the sky, continuing with the vivid red, orange, and gold stage of the actual sunset, more shots showing the glowing and spectacular aftermath, and, finally, ending with the dying of the light.
From the first photo to the last could represent several minutes.
This series of photos takes a different approach.
And that’s what makes them inspiring to me. The photos aren’t sequential.
They’re simultaneous.
Yeah, all that you see in these photos occurs almost simultaneously!
I say “almost” simultaneously because it takes me a second or two to change my position and the angle of the lens. The first photos are looking east, away from the sunset. From there I circle the BLT, viewing outward.
Rather than a sequence of photos confined to the usual view facing west, I wanted to show what it is like to stand in the middle of an Arizona sunset light show.
Returning to the first photo . . . .
As you look from one shot to the next, you’re seeing what I saw as I moved — no, ran — from one spot to another around the Best Little Trailer. In other words, as close in sequence as I could manage, these photos show what the sky was like all around our camp,
All at once.
(or at least close to it!)
Three-hundred-sixty degrees of color, light, texture, movement, and . . .
Glory with a capital G!
Imagine having all this wrapped around you.
No royal vestments on earth can come close to the richness and splendor given to us for free.
The next photo intrigues me.
I almost didn’t include it here. It’s different from the others because the camera is pointing up toward the heavens. I look at it and think. . . . hmm, this pic lacks something. There’s that big, empty place in the middle.
Other times I look at it and see mighty, passionate brushstrokes. Not only is the photo full, there’s more there than what’s within the frame.
More than I have the ability to fathom.
~ ~ ~
“Uh . . . Earth to RVSue! Earth to RVSue! . . . .
“Get your head out of the dang clouds and tell us how to hitch up! Where to dump waste tanks! Show us your boondocks, baby! Is this an RV blog or not? And, while we’re on the subject, where the heck are the dog antics?”
“Okay, OKAY. I’ll lay off the sunset photos for a while.”
Sheesh. This IS Arizona, after all!
rvsue
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Love the shot from the corner of your trailer. Needs to be on an RVing magazine.
Thank you, Kristi. CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING FIRST TODAY!
I wish our Casita was out there in that gorgeous sunset too!
Love it ❤️ Nothing like Arizona sunsets
You enjoy your surroundings and I’ll enjoy you enjoying your surroundings!
Beautiful Pictures Love the Arizona Skies!!!
Thanks
Dave
Stunning photos, thanks for sharing.
Top ten!
Wow!
First?
No matter how many sunset photos I see, I always enjoy them all. Such beauty! Thank you. The 360 deg. view was a different approach and very spectacular!
So beautiful – you really have given me a greater appreciation of the beauty of a desert landscape, both on the ground and high above.
That’s a pretty good accomplishment in photography, at least to me. The picture that includes the BLT could make a permanent “cover picture” or some use like that.
Breathing beauty, divine sky painting!
I think sunsets are like snowflakes – no two are exactly alike. You did an excellent job of capturing the magnificence of the entire sky at sunset. C.S. Lewis said there is a “God-sized” hole in every human heart. Maybe that was a God-sized hole in your next-to-last photo 🙂
Oh I can imagine being in the middle of all that. I’ve had a similar experience running like a crazy person from place to place trying to capture what was happening all around me. Squealing with glee. I was on the shore of Lake Michigan one winter evening when the sky blew up in gold and pink and apricot and purple. Unforgetable. Thank you for sharing yours.
WOW… Your photos are wonderful. I’ve given up try to capture such views. I just watch it happen.lol.
35+ winds here in the western side of AZ or southern NV…. To continue to 8pm… Yuck. Hunkered down inside… Corkys ears blown back this morning on a very short visit outside.
Thanks for a great show…
Every now and then the splendor of God’s creation overpowers us. And the RV lifestyle is what allows you to be in the middle of it. Hitching up and doggie antics can wait. Sometimes we just need to stop in awe and reverence. Thanks,
Hi Sue, I have never seen such a spectacular display of sunset colors in 360 degrees. Your commentary does it justice as always.
I cannot find a reply that one of your blogorinos left a few days ago regarding the use of vinegar water to clean dishes along with a paper towel. Well today I noticed that my brown nylon down coat was filthy up and down the front from leaning over my Dusty truck to get in the bed. Always having vinegar to solve any skunk spray situations with Ellie, I mixed a little up with water and rubbed it over the front of my coat and it came out as clean as a whistle. My thanks to whoever posted that!
Hi Sue,
I will never ask you to lay off the sunset photos! These are beautiful and still can’t quite capture the beauty of an Arizona sunset. There is just something about the sunsets here that make the heart almost pause for a second. And you did include the boys – snuggled up with you on the bed.
Hello?
Ooops! Operator problems. Another post chucked full of great pics Missy.
Spectacular photos.
You’re living a dream.
How awe inspiring!!! In order to better imagine being there I increased the zoom on my laptop to 300% and slowly scrolled down through all of the photos. I see what you meant about mighty, passionate brush strokes… As I often am, I find myself amazed by what a magnificent mind God has, picturing breathtaking things like this to create.
Gah! Not the reality check! I felt that one, haha!
Yes, a RV blog needs RV facts, but posts that fuel the soul bring the blog to life. Why learn how to dump tanks if not made aware of the benefits (freedom, quiteness of mind, life-affecting appreciation for nature) that come from that knowledge? I was swept away to your 360° sunset, floated serenely in the colors and textures, settled into your wistful words, then, BAM, oh, hello real world, didn’t see you standing there, please, come on in…
I like sunset posts 🙂
Ahmen! Does anyone know why the sunsets are so regularly spectacular in Arizona. Is it because there is more dust in the air? And thank you, Sue, for that beautiful little walk/run around.
Beautiful!
Doesn’t matter what your post is about Sue, as long as it includes your travels and life, the Boys and the photos you take and the folks you meet,, it’s all Fantastically Great to me,,,,🐾👣👣
Hi ya Rusty, and Lady,
A few posts back, you made mention of working near Trout Lake, and beyond at Peterson Prairie, and also Bingen during the railroad days. Hey, that’s close to my neck of the woods! I spend a lot of time in those parts, hiking through the countryside, seeing what I can see. God’s country!! I love living here in the Columbia River Gorge, just for the fact that there’s never a bad day scenery wise. How fortunate you spent time in these parts back when. It was probably much less crowded then too. Lucky! There’s a ton of traffic through here now, as it’s been discovered. In Troutlake there is a little diner, and they specialize in things made with huckleberries. When you were working out there, did you gorge on huckleberries in the late summer? OMGoodness, we love that diner and their fresh “Huck-shakes” we call them. So full of berries that the shake is dark purple, and so thick, you can surely stand up your spoon. It’s a must-have during berry season. Cheers Rusty, and cheers to the Lady too. I love your new digs!
SuziCruzi,, Yep, that little Cafe was a part of the Chevron gas Station which back then was Bonnies Cafe, Home of the Vulture Burger, it even had a carved Vulture eating a Burger on the right top corner of the roof, back then it was the locals morning hang out before the work of the day and I have a lot of memories of Trout Lake, it was near our home from the mid 80s to 95, I miss the area, but not the Weather,, I can imagine the times have changed, some of the locals back then even had bumper stickers that read ” Native- Now you’ve seen it, Go Home!” Found out later that some of the sticker owners were from Southern California or Hippies from the 60s,, LOL,, thanks for the memories Suzi,,,, 🐾 👣👣
I love all the photos but the 4th one down is the BEST!
Just order the 3fer Benchmark’s (Az, CO, and Utah) from your Amazon affiliate. Please let me know if you see them on your list tomorrow or the next day.
I got the Renogy 100watt solar panel the other day…order it one day before you put it on your list that we could click directly to Amazon…rats. Now I need a drip coffee pot, small slow cooker/crockpot, 6 slice toaster/oven…need these to run on the solar. If you can find it on Amazon and I like it, I’ll be sure to order it through your affiliate.
Hugs to the boys. Continued safe travels, Sue.
Thank you, Cat Lady.
I don’t know what you mean by “order it one day before you put it on your list that we could click directly to Amazon…rats.”
From your Amazon clicky, I put items in my cart. As I get the money, I then proceed to the checkout. That way you get the credit…right? I can’t get everything I want at one time. Retirement from state limits my buying power.
I think that’s okay. I’m not really sure.
Thank you for ordering the Benchmarks and solar panel from Amazon through my blog. I see all those items! As for the rest that you mention, I’m sure Amazon sells those. Just use any link on my blog to enter Amazon and then use Amazon’s search box to find exactly what you want.
Thanks again, Cat Lady! I appreciate your support very much.
Aloha Sue and Crew, and all!
Back a few posts; “Cozy or crazy” on March 19th, I was especially touched by photo #6. The boys… I can’t get over the two of them, and how they are a matched pair right down to the feet and stance. Their ears.. their little bodies. What a lucky and special find, to have this pair of boys in your life. They seem to suit your lifestyle so well (or you theirs, ha ha) – and are just so well adapted. I remember when you got Reggie, and you never let him off leash, even though you could trust Bridget forever and back. Reg was the new “rascal”, and rascal he was. (Still kind of is, isn’t he?) The rascal in him is what attracts me to him, I think. I love a dog with spirit and spunk. Not to say Roger doesn’t have that, but I think Reg shows it more. I love that your life, and your camping does seem to revolve around your little men, and not the other way around. I love the doggie mom in you Sue. I love the “chunks of chicken for breakfast”… I love how you might choose a site so that they can be “fully dog”. I love your adventures, and now your Granny stories too. I especially like how many of your followers also have special Granny stories to share too. It’s been a good week, or so of blog posts! Thank you, and everyone, for sharing and making these posts and comments so much fun to read. What a great group!
A comment about this one; “WOW!” Just wow! I love the shots you got of the sky!! Especially nice are the ones with the cute little BLT silhouetted against that amazing backdrop of colors. Very nice job! I too like that you don’t enhance your photos. I see too many of those and I’m not fond of them. I prefer a’natural.
Benson sounds intriguing. Maybe we’ll have to noodle on through there one day. I’m curious about how windy AZ seems to be this time of year, though. Seems windy-windy! I guess that’s the part of the desert I’m going to have to make peace with. LOL…
Cheers to you!
Suzi
Thank you for the spectacular sunsets.
Something I’ve always loved about AZ-the gorgeous sunsets! Keep posting your sunset photos. They are wonderful!
No complaints here from me…I love sky photos…especially those of open skies with no buildings!
Sue ‘ “Okay, OKAY. I’ll lay off the sunset photos for a while.” Sheesh. This IS Arizona, after all!” ‘ Who are you talking to?! This is us remember. We love the photos and the annotations about them! For a brief moment…I was there…in the photo…seeing what you saw…Thank you.
Hey Sue and all blogarinos, I’ve been out here driving the back roads of the Buenos Aires NWR and I noticed a heavy bunch of smoke over to my East and North. I was lost for quite a while but when I got back to my campsite I looked up whether there was a wild fire right now and this is what I found:
http://m.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/12498929/fraguita-fire-burning-near-arivaca
So be careful if you’re going to that area.
RVSue,
I just love the Arizona sunsets.
Can’s wait to get back out west to take my own shots again.
Looove these pix! It’s a nice break from the desert (which isn’t my fave place). But must say your desert pix have shown me the beauty I never saw. Still like these sky pix best. You are talented!
Love the sunset pics. They really are spectacular!
Hi, Blogorinos!
What fun to read your reactions to the sunset photos! I’m pleased that you enjoyed them. Thank you for the compliments.
Today the crew and I traveled to a new camp. Right now I’m a happy mix of tired and excited and I think Reggie and Roger are feeling the same. They want to go to sleep, having had a good, long walk and a bowl of kibble, but they can’t quite settle down. Maybe when darkness falls over our camp they will nod off.
I hope your day was a fine one.
Bye for now,
Sue
P.S. Remember the three babies in your prayers!
Thank you, Sue. 🙂
Beautiful! Our Creator is awesome! Thanks you for sharing, safe travels RV Sue, Reggie & Roger!
Love the sunset photos. Having not been witness to any AZ sunsets, I particularly loved them. Including the BLT was great. I still think the Casita is the cutest rv trailer. Looking forward to seeing your next campsite.
Amen
Hi, Sue,
Thank you for sharing your Arizona sunset light show – absolutely spectacular!! 🙂
You can never share too many sunset or sunrise pictures! 🙂
Sending you, Reggie, and Roger love and hugs from me and super sleuth Gracie pup!
Gracie is so smart. All week, she has been obsessed with something…sniff sniff, maybe something in the kitchen, maybe it is in the hall, bathroom, den, or bedroom. Sniff sniff, back and forth she would run, stop, nose in the air, sniff sniff , repeat. I could not figure out what was wrong and was beginning to think I might have a mouse in the house. After taking the recycling bin down the driveway late tonight, I came back into the house and smelled something really awful. After a few minutes, I found 2 sweet potatoes that had gone bad. They were in a crock on my kitchen counter. The past week I cooked curry chicken, corned beef hash, and a very savory beef dish. All of that good cooking must have masked the odor for me…not for poor Gracie! N’nite. xo
I never tire of sunsets or reading clouds. Tonight I was in the back yard looking up at the few brilliant stars even though we have moon light. Orion was brightly shinning. Also saw a satellite buzzing real fast across the sky high up. Looking east, the city lights totally blocks out any light from stars. I miss the milky way. It always amazes me to see the zillions of stars….probably long dead but it’s awesome anyway.
GOD is good…..
I just love your pics of the sunset! Your ability with your camera is amazing….you have to be really on your toes to show a sequential series of the sun setting. I’ve lived here since the late 1970’s, moved from smoggy S. California, to help my allergies, and the spectacular sunsets, clear sky’s and just the wide open spaces of land made me fall in love with Arizona. Now the summers are another thing!
Sue, I seem to have been dropped from receiving notices of your blog in my e-mail. Would you reinstate me please? I’ve really missed traveling along with you and your amazing crew on your many adventures!
Thank you, Barbara, for your comment on my photos.
In order to receive email notifications, please sign up again using the box in the sidebar. I’m not sure why you stopped receiving the notices as there are a number of reasons that could’ve caused that, either on your end or mine. I do have it set so an email address is dropped if the notification isn’t “used” in a long while because that helps keep out the bots (spam).
I’m glad you checked to see if I’m still posting!
Stupendous Surround Sunset‼️
Sometimes in life we need to just pause, breathe and enjoy what life is showing us. Take care you three.
Wow, what a sky. Great way to start my morning.
Hi!
Never worry about posting too many sunsets and sunrises! They are all beautiful! Great post, as usual.
It sounds like cat lady thinks she can only order the one item off the list you post. Cat lady – all you have to do is click on any item in the list and it will take you to amazon where you can purchase anything and Sue will get credit. I apologize if I am being too nosy or am incorrect in my assessment.
Wow, Sue! What gorgeous sunsets! As an artist, I’ve painted a beautiful cloud formation and have won an award in a juried exhibition. May I download your 2nd and 3rd photos to use as a painting reference?
Oh!, my bathroom paint is titled “Arizona Sunset”. It’s a pink blush, very, very, faint, but picks up any other pinks in the room.
Sure, Renee. Go ahead. My photos are for sharing. 🙂
Thank you so much Sue!
Love your sunset photos! And they gave me a chuckle-after a month of seeing and photographing terrific Baja sunsets, we return home traveling through Arizona. We stay at Ironwood National Monument, boondocking bear Ragged Mountain and I am just sure I will see a spectaular sunset around those peaks. Nope, nada, zilch, but the evening itself was peaceful, quiet, and truly awesome. No sunset necessary.
how beautiful!! and how thoughtful of you to share this natural wonder with us. a stroke of genius on photo taking process you took. thank you
Oh oh oh oh oh! Oh my! If I HAD to pick a favorite it would be the photo looking straight up into the sky and the clouds. And, what’s lacking in that photo? Not a thing. What’s actually there is all of life that we don’t understand, all about the universe that we don’t understand, all about love and each other that we don’t understand. It’s all right there. And you are absolutely correct … it’s more than any of us can fathom. Beautiful photos and wonderful post, Sue. Thank you so much.
Hi Sue,
Beautiful Photos. Okay now that that’s over with ” Sue can you get your head out of the dang clouds so we can talk some Rving stuff!” just kidding, calm down everybody.
Getting close Sue and have most every gadget I think I’ll need. Please let me know if you think the following items are worthwhile. Also what gadgets do you use every week or day that you think are essential. Blogorinos please chime in.
1) Water pressure regulator.
2) 50′ of water hose or is 25′ enough.
3) 30amp surge protector.
4) Water filter.
5) Dedicated black tank water hose.
6) Water Bandit ( A rubber type funnel to hook up to a spicket with no threads.)
7) 50′ of power cord or is 25′ enough.
8) Electric dogbone adapter 15 amp to 30 amp.
9) Electric dogbone adapter 50 amp to 30 amp.
We will most likely be in campgrounds with hookups most of the time and boondock one week a month or so. Luv your blog as usual and thank you for letting me ride along all these years.
FloridaScott
Hi, Scott,
The frequency of use of most of the items in your list is dependent upon RVing style and the rig. For example, I boondock a lot or I’m in no hook-up campgrounds. I don’t use any of the items on your list. I had #1 and #6. I don’t use a water pressure regulator because I don’t hook up the BLT to water spigots in campgrounds. I used a water bandit one time, it blew apart, I never replaced it because I never encountered a need for it.
Going on 7 years and I’ve used #9 once, maybe twice.
That’s me. With a bigger rig and more than one person (requiring more water) and staying with hookups in RV parks and resorts… in other words, a different RV lifestyle than mine… your essential items would be different. I expect there are several of my readers who use most, maybe all, the items on your list.
What do I use every week that I think are essential?
A hammer– to knock in or out the cotter pins in the anti-sway bar (hands not strong enough), to drive stakes around mat
A shovel–to dig a hole for a wheel to rest in when leveling, to bury dog poop, to remove a rock that I’m sure to trip over if I don’t, to clean out a fire ring
A rake–to clean a campsite of glass, cigarette butts, etc., to remove small,sharp stones before putting mat down
An outdoor mat– to keep dirt and mud to a minimum inside, to provide a pleasant sitting area and a place for pups to lie down without getting dirty
A tire gauge–for the obvious reason
As you can see, the items I mention lean toward the needs of a boondocker.
I don’t know if many readers will see your question since it’s at the end of the initial wave of comments. If you want to ask again under a new post, feel free to do so.
BLOGORINOS: What do you think of Scott’s list? What would you list as essential items?
The only item on Scott’s list that I used every day was the Surge Protector – until it quit working. Since then I have stayed plugged in ‘naked’. If I encounter low voltage I can hear my converter making strange noises and unplug, high voltage will trip the circuit breaker. I may get another Surge Protector and then I may not.
As for a water hose go I think 25′ is plenty, same for an extension cord. He does not mention sewer hose where 10′ is enough IF you are willing to move your RV while in some Parks. Twenty feet of sewer hose might be worthwhile although I have only had 10′ for the past 7+ years.
Thank you Ed,
Very helpful information. By the way I follow & have enjoyed your blog. Just never commented over there.
Thank you again.
Thank you Sue,
Your comments were very helpful. Yes our RVing style will be different and sometimes the same. Our first summer & fall we are going to follow in your footsteps to N.M. State parks. I have the matt & hammer, now I need to get the rake & shovel. Had not thought of that. Thanks Again Sue!
His list plus what others have chimed in is good. In addition, we carry a water pump so that when we need to, we can pump water from a bucket into our tank.
I do that, too, only I use a funnel purchased at an auto supply store. Either way works!
Hi Scott,
#1 – yes, good idea to use if connected to water supply
#2 – I would go with the 50 ft. I’ve had occasion to need it. Some parks put their connections at the back of the site, so if your inlet is towards the front of your rig you may need the extra. I camped at a fairgrounds in Oregon that had the electric box at the front of the site and the water all the way at the back! I just was able to reach with my hoses.
#3 – yes, I would recommend it. There are some really funky electrical pedestals out there. I have a Progressive Industries EMS which was installed when I had my solar installed.
#4 – yes, it does help take out the chlorine taste, etc. When the filter needs to be changed, you will know 😀 The only water I’ve had that it didn’t work on was in Quartzsite. That is the nastiest water!
#5 – I carry one but have only used it a couple times. Most places have a hose, but not all.
#6 – I’ve thought of getting one but have heard the same comments as Sue’s about them failing. I’ve never really been in a situation where I needed it though.
#7 – I’m not sure if this is just a regular extension cord or an extension for your 30 amp (or 50) service. But I would think 25’ would be good. The only time I needed a long cord was when I parked at my sisters house in FL. I needed a 75’ cord to reach my trailer. I was able to borrow a 14 gauge heavy duty cord from my brother.
#8 & #9 – I would definitely carry those for staying in RV Parks. I had to use the 50 to 30 the first month I had my trailer before I got my solar. I had set up in a site and unhitched. When I plugged into the 30 amp there was no electric. I happened to think to try the 50 to 30 and it worked. This park was pretty sketchy! Now if I am in a site with electric service the first thing I do after pulling in is plug into the pedestal to make sure everything is kosher.
The 15 to 30 is handy if you park at a relative or friend, etc and want to plug into their service.
Hi Debra,
Great information. Thank you for taking the time.
I like your blog too!
FloridaScott
On cords and hoses I would get 2- 25 ft rather than 1-50 ft. Usually one will work, but as Debra said, there are exceptions. And rather drag and coil the whole long one
“most” of the time , the other half can be kept stored and in case of hose dry.
You can have a installed water filter or use a Berkey stainless steel table top gravity type. We carry our Berkey on every trip because it’s capable of turning pond water safe and drinkable!
Husband suggested a small tarp to throw on ground if you have to get on wet ground to work on something. A set of common fuses for your rig. A volt meter. Set of socket wrenches ( be sure to check if your rug uses metric or standard). Adjustable wrench (ESP handy if you find a stuck water hose or valve). Common screw drivers- look at your rig. We learned our Mercedes van with Canadian conversion uses Square Robertson screw driver and our Phillips were all but useless! Pliers. Duct tape! Roll electrical tape.
Hi Velda,
Some really good tips. Thank you for taking the time. Sue has a Great community of Blogorinos here. Very helpful.
FloridaScott
Beautiful! And a great view from your campsite!
These pictures were awesome, the kind that bring tears of gratitude to my eyes. God’s artwork is amazing!
🙂