I hear rain on the roof for the second night in a row.
I guess I need to eat the words I wrote recently in a reply to a comment, something like “I don’t expect it to rain soon, here in the desert.” The rain is a surprise.
The raindrops are like sparrow feet dancing on our roof. I listen for maybe an hour before falling back to sleep.
I know I’m at peace when the days run together.
One afternoon — I don’t remember which day — the rain appears like a timid guest lightly tapping hello, then with a sudden personality change, becomes bitter cold and determined, pelting the desert sand and rocks, and rapping on the roof above us.
What a change after such warm and sunny days!
I prop myself up with pillows to watch out the window. Bridget and Spike crawl under the quilt alongside me, my snuggly-warm, little heaters.
Outside, to the west, dark clouds shroud the sharp peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Shadows creep over the steep, grey, granite slopes. As I’m thinking what a strange and fascinating place this is, it starts to hail! A little larger than pea-sized, the hail bounces off the boulders onto our blue patio mat, and dots the sand all around.
The next morning all is calm again.
The crew and I step out to soak up the sunshine and observe the world around us, our daily ritual. The dark clouds are gone from the mountain peaks, replaced by a drape of fluffy cumuli.
Bridget and Spike commence their rounds from bush to boulder to bush, etc. while I fire up the percolator. Shortly I join them with coffee mug in hand. I wander around the BLT and look to the west. The clouds have lifted, revealing a dazzling luminescence from the mountains — snow!
The crew and I walk down the sandy lane from our campsite.
We follow the road as it winds through massive piles of boulders until we reach a popular spot for viewing the unique landscape of the Alabama Hills. No one is here this early, except a raptor way above us at the top of the rocks. He briefly arcs his neck to eye us down below and then resumes facing east into the warmth of the morning sun.
rvsue
Oh, the photos I could have taken! I hope the camera arrives today at the Lone Pine P.O.!
Sure do miss your photos, but your descriptive words seem to take me to where you are and I can imagine the scenery.
I miss the photos, too. I know each one I would have shot and where I would have placed them in this post.
Sue, just found your blog and love it. I enjoy everything about it, especially pics and stories of the pups. They make Rving even better.
Having a canine crew along does make RVing better!
The peace. I’ve been on fall break and the weather has been perfect–30’s-40’s at night; 70’s during the day. Alas, as I sit here writing lesson plans I am smacked with reality as I must go back to work on Monday. I’m with you in spirit, Sue! (and Roxie, too)
I’m glad you had good weather for your fall break. Oh, lesson plans… I remember doing those at home, too.
I could see it in my mind’s eye!
Hi, Cynthia!
You are in a great area. I enjoy your descriptions of the scenery and weather. I was going to head east this winter, but all the crowds are depressing. So I am going to stay in the west, love the open spaces. Now I need to figure out where to spend the winter…lol
Didn’t you say you are at Padre Island? Southern TX is a winter home for a lot of RVers, probably some who read this blog. I like southern AZ for the winter months. Of course, I don’t know TX very well.
I am at South Padre for 2 more weeks and it is nice. I lived in AZ for years and want a change this winter. Does any readers have suggestions for this area? Places not so crowded or windy….lol
Hmm… winter homes… sounds like a good idea for a blog entry . . .
Hi Pat, check out the Rockport area its not real crowded. Its a nice little town with friendly folks.
Thanks, Penny. I will check it out.
Pat… Penny reminded me of Rockport. Look at the “Old Fat Man” blog. That’s Barney and he winters in Rockport. He takes great photos of the area, when he’s not showing how he’s fixing stuff.
Thanks, I will check it out.
Everyday I wait for a new blog entry…I’m hooked! I love the sound of rain falling on roof … it lolls me to a deep sleep. I’ve been reading ‘Wheeling It’s blog. There were at Susan Lake and moving down to Lone Pine soon. They mentioned they missed you along the route somewhere. I live in west phoenix…black birds (don’t know what they are) and hummingbirds migrate though our area & I see them out the widow looking for the feeder & bird bath. Today, I’m buying a new feeder for hummers and seeds for others. I worry they will stick around all winter if I feed them but they congregate in the back yard and feel guilty I don’t have a feeder.
Hi, Rita . . . I expect that Wheeling It will be wheeling into Alabama Hills soon. Enjoy your birds!
Such a beautiful post… didn’t need photos, you writing evokes the scenery so well!
Thanks for telling me that, Alison.
A thunderstorm hit us around 2 a.m. for roughly 90 minutes and I woke up and said “Thank You Sue”, pretended the thundering sound was on the roof of Eggie, smiled, rolled over and went back to sleep. Your descriptive narrative is so vivid that I can picture where you are from my couple of trips to the area many eons ago.
I remember lying in my bed in my house in GA, pretending I was in my fiberglass egg home I hadn’t bought or even seen yet. I’m glad you get mental pictures from my post, especially since I can’t include any actual photos right now.
Wow! You’re words and the way you describe your adventure is awesome.
You’re better than any author I’ve every read.
When I read your blog, I’m there.
Thank you for this adventure.
You’re welcome, Dedra. That’s a wonderful compliment!
The stupid weather widget in the sidebar above says it’s 48 degrees in Lone Pine right now. I just came inside from sitting in the lounge chair reading, in shorts, short sleeves and sandals!
If you’re like me right about now, the shorts, short sleeves and sandals feel good even in 48 degree weather.
Ditto to all those previous comments !!
Thanks, Glenda.
This is a beautiful post Sue. The pictures it paints need nothing to enhance them. You make me want to be there.
Thanks, Sherry.
Like everyone else, I enjoyed your description of your surroundings. You are an excellent writer always but I know you miss that camera. It will be fun to see it all just as you described it. Especially loved the part about the rain and how it sounded on the roof. Now that’s something that a camera can’t enhance.
It’ll be fun to see if the real thing is anything close to the picture I put in your mind. Glad you heard the rain on the roof!
Recently found your blog and I love it!! Took me awhile to read from the beginning but it was a real ‘page turner’. 🙂 Plan on retiring the RV way in a few years and you are truly an inspiration. I am thrilled at finding out I can indeed take my pups along. I love reading about Spike and Bridget’s adventures. I am hooked for sure.
Hello, Becky, and welcome! I hope my blog helps you envision and plan for a new life on wheels. Sure, you can take your pups along. I think you’d agree that my first year on the road wouldn’t have been has much fun without Spike and Bridget . . . for me or my readers! Thanks for writing.
I’ve been very interested in seeing your comments on Alabama Hills. I’ve heard about it but never been there. I live on the west side of the Sierra’s just north of Yosemite. I don’t get to the east side very often but have been planning a trip over that way either in the spring or fall. I have a cousin just south of you over the Walker Pass. I’m trying to get them to meet me somewhere along highway 395. I’d had it in mind that I’d go south as far as Lone Pine. So maybe we should plan our meeting at Alabama Hills. Long drive for me but short one for them. I’d also like to check out all the county campgrounds from Lone Pine north as well as a couple of the BLM campgrounds.
Glad you are enjoying the less hectic part of State.
If you and your cousin have any interest in the old time Western movies and television shows, you’d enjoy touring the movie sites and visiting the museum. Lone Pine is a tiny town with character. People seem to enjoy hiking and climbing around and up these piles of boulders. I stick to the roads with the crew. I’ll be posting pics of the Hills soon. Hwy 395 is a glorious drive. Be sure to bring a working camera!
Sue,
You made the Alabama Hills sound so interesting,so I took a trip there on my computer. That is some interesting scenery. I found a cabin for rent and the people had some very interesting photos
and lots of them, some with snow. It’s looks unlike anywhere I have been. Have a good time.
Thanks, Darlene. I hope to add my own photos soon.
Your posts are so descriptive that the photos aren’t needed! Really enjoying a trip down memory lane reading about this area!
It’s a challenge for me, trying to show my new camp and the Alabama Hills with words and a few “borrowed” photos. I now know how very much I enjoy photography. This morning at first light I look out the window and the Sierra mountains are coral pink! A few minutes later I look again and they’re bright silver!
I guess you forgot what I told you on October 9th:
Sue,
You may be in for some weather starting tomorrow Wednesday the 10th through Friday the 12th. Probably no snow in the Antelope Hills but you will see it on the Sierra as the storm moves through. It will be much colder so you might have your Wave 6 ready to go to work.
Hunker down and enjoy!
You gave me a laugh this morning, Ed! No, I didn’t forget your prediction. In fact, when the dark clouds moved in over the mountains, I thought, “Well, Ed was right.” I should have given you credit in my blog entry! Nonetheless, even with your forecast, I was surprised by the sudden cold, dark clouds, wind, rain, hail and snow on the desert and mountains. My unreliable weather widget on this blog says more cold is coming by Wed. This blog needs an Ed widget!
Sue–do you ever email any of your crazy bloggers? I would love to ask you a couple of questions that may not be of interest to everyone. If you will, I’m dmurphy146@aol.com
DeAnne
You have a talent for expressive writting. The hell with the photos. God speed.
Ha-ha! Hello, Jack. Love the comment.
Opps…that was me…sorry for the jinx.
I’m out in Calee visiting my folks, eating some REAL Chinese food and enjoying the 85 degree weather. Jules said there are traces of snow on the doppler radar back home.
Today, Octobe 15th is RVSue’s birthday. I hope she is having a wonderful day. I love you Susan!!!!
Happy B’day and hope you enjoy many more traveling this wonderful country.
Happy birthday, Sue! I hope your day was special.
Oh …….your sistah just “gave you up”! heh heh…..Happy Birthday RvSue! Hope you enjoyed your day!