Wednesday, February 19
The crew and I are up early. The three of us wander around outside our campsite on Palm Canyon Road in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Arizona. The air is crisp and cool, the sky is blue, and, when we turn toward the sun, the warmth on our faces is a delight.
Early morning at our house
I put the crew’s individual plates on the floor of the Best Little Trailer.
Bridget and Spike chow down on ground turkey. I get out my camp toaster and make two slices for myself to accompany a cup of hot coffee.
Outside we go! I love to eat outside. I have on my hat, a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of jeans, and my Bear Paw boots.
You may think that’s weird.
To wear boots on days that reach temperatures in the eighties, I mean. That’s the way it is in the desert. Warm days, cold nights. The cozy boots give my feet a good start on the day.
Bridget, Spike, and I take a short walk in a wash near our campsite.
Do you know this desert flower?
We see a jack rabbit, our first at this camp.
Little tracks with a line in between give evidence of a rodent, the line in the sand caused by a dragging tail. Apparently several frequent this wash.
By 10 a.m., back at camp, I’m putting on short pants and my new Keen sandals. By noon the crew and I will keep to the shady side of the BLT.
The morning slips by.
I alternate between responding to blog comments inside at my laptop table and reading outside in my lounge chair on the outdoor rug. The crew follow me, in and out, wherever I go.
Time for lunch!
Lunch is a salad of leaf lettuce, grape tomatoes, and sliced, hard-boiled egg. Especially yummy are the tomatoes grown on the poop of Mexicans! Bridget and Spike share a hard-boiled egg for a mid-day snack.
“Hey, guys. How ’bout we take a little ride over to King Canyon Road?”
“Yippee!” they exclaim in unison.
Well, not really. But that’s what they’d say if they could.
To get to King Canyon Road, we go south on Highway 95.
King Canyon Road
The road is the next one south of Palm Canyon Road, across from Stone Cabin. It takes you to a beautiful section of Kofa Wildlife Refuge.
And to think I once thought the desert was all brown . . .
We pass through BLM public land before reaching the boundary of Kofa. You can camp in both areas.
Someone has settled into a primo campsite!
Rigs of all sizes will fit here. There are several large, flat areas to choose from and the ground is firm.
Wide open, empty spaces are between campsites. Wonderful!
Once inside the refuge, the rules are posted on a sign at the entrance.
Several of you may have seen these peaks already. They remind me of Valley of the Gods in Utah, only a different color.
Camping is limited to 14 days and to established sites within 100 feet of the road.
I’m curious how these conical hills were formed. Do you know?
At the time of our visit, campfires are also allowed. Dogs must be kept on-leash. If you have pets with you, it’s best to camp and hike away from cholla.
“Ack!! Run! The cholla are coming!”
I find a very pretty, empty campsite and park the Perfect Tow Vehicle.
“C’mon, you little devils. Out you go!” Bridget and Spike scramble to the ground.
What a beautiful campsite. I’d love to camp here.
This is one side of the campsite. Someone forgot their hummingbird feeder. The sky is that glorious shade of blue shown here (no photo enhancement).
The only negative I know to camping on King Canyon Road is the distance to grocery stores in Quartzsite. You know, we’re all about food these days, now that the crew eats raw meat and bones. Sheesh. Hmm . . . Maybe I should stock up and move us over here for a few days.
The desert ground is rocky.
For that reason, we like to take our walks in sandy washes which are easier on the paws. It makes it easy to find interesting plants, too.
The crew likes to follow a path, rather than wandering around.
I let go of the crew’s leashes. We usually follow the rules, but, hey, they’re not bothering anyone (and no one’s around anyway!).
Shady lady
The crew having fun
Our exploring time is cut short due to the increasing heat of afternoon.
Only a little bit further, my sweet desert dog
A cool drink awaits each of us back at the PTV.
Isn’t this a super campsite? And this photo shows only one of the great views.
I have lots of photos I’d love to share with you. I’ve probably included too many already and this post is getting very long!
However, there is one last thing I want to say . . .
Holey Moley!
Did you see the comments under the last post? Did you read them all? If you did, you deserve a medal because there are over 210 comments as I type this. What a fabulous group of readers!
You may think I bring this up in order to brag.
A volunteer ranger? Gee . . . I know funding is tight, but a cactus? “Um, excuse me, sir. Your fly is open.”
Well, maybe just a little bit.
The other reason is to encourage you to go back and look at those comments again.
Why? Because there’s a heckuva lot of information on a wide range of topics and some very entertaining reading . . .
Just a few: What you can and can’t bring into Canada, a video about a neat-o 12-volt cooler/freezer, Arizona rules regarding cacti, true stories about rude campers and dealing with finicky eaters, suggestions for dry skin, air compressors, Native American natural remedies, big rigs, small rigs, travel and full-timing plans . . .
Even some poetry, for crying out loud!
Love it!
Another reason to go back to those comments . . .
Your comment may have received more responses that you haven’t seen, so go back and check.
Thanks to all the readers who participate in our “comment community.” If you haven’t joined us yet, please do!
King Canyon Road going home
rvsue
I LOVE RVSUE SHOPPERS!
My sincere thanks to those of you who continue to shop Amazon from my blog.
Hmmmm……am I first….am I first. I read todays blog. Lets see!
YYYeeesssss! I think I am first! LOL….not that I was even trying!
Cant believe how warm it is there. If this continues you will have to get to higher elevation soon. Love the pictures and the fact that the crew loves a new place like they do. Soon they will need the lake/stream to cool off. Have a great day!
Hi, Deb,
Congratulations! You did it!
It’s cooler today and, according to the weather widget in the sidebar, tomorrow will be cooler, too.
Second?? *spy*
And second place goes to . . . Ladybug!
I came to post more information about border crossing and here is a new report. What a great surprise. The yellow wildflowers look like Angelita Daisies, Thickseed or Encelia. How large are flowers? Can you also take a picture of leaves? It looks like leaves are at the base of the plant, right?
Now I need to get back to reading your another fascinating report.
Hi, R,
You can continue the border crossing conversation here, if you wish. The yellow flower is much larger than the flowers on a brittlebush, for instance. About two inches across and on a stem holding each flower about 8 inches or more off the ground (if I remember correctly).
I bet someone will let us know what it is, for sure. In the meantime I’m going to dig out my desert flower guide.
I consider being 4th quite an accomplishment! I so want to be there where the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Hopefully we’ll be there next winter after our Alaska trip.
Juley
I hope you make it here, too, Juley. It will make a great contrast to Alaska!
Desert sunflower? http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/feb/papr/desunflower.html
Yes! I do believe it is Geraea canescens, commonly known as desert sunflower. Thanks for the research and the link, Ladybug.
I’m here….don’t care where I fall into place.
Well then…….nice walk and love the scenery. Ummm…technically the dogs were on a leash. You ought to teach each one to hold on to each other’s leash.
210 is grand! I’ve asked before if there was some type of notification to new posts after you read the original. Something like …updated since your last visit….and it’s in a bolder print. Do you know what I’m talking about? Forums have them.
I usually look at the number of posts…then scroll thru and see if I can spot the updates.
Cheers
I found a little check box (2 boxes) under the ‘Reply’ box where you can check 2 different boxes to be notified of new posts and follow-up comments! Just check both of them, and you can see everything that’s written afterwards from your email !! Before you hit “Post Comment”, look underneath and check both little boxes to get the rest of it coming into your ‘Inbox’! Becky in TX
Hi, Cinandjules,
I had a dog when I was a kid. She liked to take other dogs for walks, holding the end of the leash in her mouth.
Fortunately, B Beck answered your question because I don’t have any idea.
My Boston terrier, Peggy, walks herself on her leash. She grabs it with about 4-6 inches hanging out of her mouth while I hold the “handle.” She’s teething and I think she chews while she walks. Very cute!
She sounds like an alpha puppy! I bet she is adorable.
“Your Honor, the dogs (technically) were on a leash.” Cinandjules, if you aren’t an attorney, you should be! Did you spot my update to your post or get otherwise notified?
Yes thanks!
Sue, I am so glad I found your blog while you are in AZ. I was there in 2007 for a short time and have been trying to get back ever since. I plan to make AZ my winter base as I have a piece of the desert near Salome. I am heading there next month; weather permitting. I have two large dogs that travel with me when I go camping (mostly along the coast of OR and WA). It has been a long time coming (I am 72) but look forward to doing the simple life once I sell the home I now live in.
Hi, Wickedlady,
I’m glad you found my blog, too!
Curious about Salome so I did a little research. Here’s what I found (for the benefit of all readers):
“Salome, Arizona lies in the beautiful McMullen Valley, situated between the Harquahala and Harcuvar Mountain Ranges, on Hwy 60 between Wickenburg and Quartzsite. The fertile valley is rich in agriculture and booming with growth. The hills are full of old gold mines, history, peace, quiet, beautiful views, and wildlife.”
Best wishes to you as you transition from your present to future home.
Great post with great photos as always. It amazes me how much open space you have when you camp. It is surely better than camping on top of each other. I love to read the comments! By the time I get finished, I sometimes realize it has all been said…what more could I add. You have some wonderful followers!!!! I have saved recipes, helpful hints, have learned a lot about the western part of our country and have been very entertained.
Love you
Hi, Pauline,
Yeah, isn’t all this open space grand? I love it.
Never did I ever guess that my blog would generate all this varied information and entertainment. There’s something new all the time. What more could you add? Well, a hello from my elder sister is something no one else can add.
Love you, too!
Bear Paw, Keen, Merrell …… having just one great pair of shoes is better than having 30+ of anything else! When I travel, I try to not wear the same pair all day, or two days in a row, per a foot surgeon’s advice, so after a boot, a tennie, and one regular leather shoe, everything else is just fluff!! Obviously you have great taste!
How’d you know the tomatoes were grown on Mexican poop? LOL I decided on a burger instead of a BLT today! I now think I’d prefer hydroponic stuff! ……but never turn down guacamole!
I’m glad you aren’t politically inclined on this blog, because with your ‘followers’, there would be an internet war, and since I receive all the ‘follow-up’ comments, my email would over-flow!
I loved getting this next post from you today! Figured you needed a nap after the flood of responses yesterday! Obviously some of your readers are night-owls! Your readers are getting spoiled! Have a great weekend!! Becky
Boy, do you speak the truth in your opening statement! I’ve walked in cheap shoes all my life. My new, quality footwear is a pleasure!
BTW, if someone reading this wants some Bear Paw boots or KEEN hiking shoes or sandals and the price is too high, check Amazon ever so often. If I catch any on sale, I’ll let readers know.
I can’t stand political bickering. With the warped news reporting these days, one can’t have a decent political conversation anyway.
I can’t imagine how you keep up with all the email notifications for comments! But I can understand why you wouldn’t want to miss any of them . . . 🙂
Oh, about posting today . . . I nap best when my blog is up-to-date. You have a great weekend, too, Becky!
I am loving the desert pics! Just one question….Mexican poop tomatoes?? 😉
Hi, Sputnik,
Under a recent post someone pointed out that produce grown in Mexico may be fertilized with human waste. I noticed the label on the container of grape tomatoes I brought home says “Product of Mexico.” Hence, Mexican poop tomatoes! Yum-yum!
Sue, Love the photo’s as always. Here we are under yet another winter storm advisory. The prediction is for 12-14 inches of snow. I don’t worry about it though, when it is over a nice person in a big truck will plow us out. Until then I will sit back, enjoy life, pet the critters and read a book – granted not under warm sunshine, but still nice. 🙂
There ya’ go, Mary. No sense railing against that which you cannot change. Enjoy your relaxation and reading.
AHA! Just 1 4-letter word and the world whirls again!! “PooP” How funny! Nice to be able to change the lives, perspectives, diets, and buying habits of dozens of people with one word. Gotta LOVE IT!
Becky in TX
Funny!! It’s pretty darn difficult to completely avoid produce from Mexico . . .
Makes me wonder about my Whole Foods “organic tomatoes grown in Mexico.” Does that mean the farmers eat organic foods and therefore, well never mind.
Organic Mexicans – you made me laugh out loud Gayle.
Not to be a kill-joy, but the same thing goes on here in the states:
http://chiotsrun.com/2009/08/06/anotherreason-to-grow-your-own/
Sue, again I thank you for introducing me to the desert, I am fasinated with the terrain, flora & fauna. Did you pick up the humming bird feeder? HA, I bet you come back to it to camp.
I try to read the comments but admit sometimes don’t seem to get to all of them. Agreed you can learn a lot through them and some are funny. You had a great posting on your last Blog I am not surprised the number of comments. By the way, Bag Balm is the best for cracked and chaffed skin, just ask any milk cow, MOOO. Sometimes you can let it get a bit warm and seems to go into the skin better. Also meant to tell you I used to have a Irish Setter that was crazy about chasing bird shadows on the beach…she would actually wear her pads out. Had to get Doggie Booties for her.
Thanks for sharing the desert.
Hi, Diane,
I was tempted to take the hummingbird feeder since I gave mine to Les back at Ogilby/Sidewinder Road, Yuma. I saw that it was half-full of hummingbird food which told me two things…. 1) Whoever left it hasn’t been gone long and might come back for it and 2) I don’t have the heart to take away a food supply for the hummers around there. So I left it.
The Bag Balm has done wonders for Spike’s pads. They’re soft again with no cracks. Massaging the balm into the pads seems to warm it up enough to soak in.
I’m fascinated with the desert, too, and learning a lot, using my field guides, asking friends, Bill and Ann, and reading comments here. The longer I stay in one spot, the richer the experience. Well, of course!
Go for it. Why leave a lonely feeder to tease the birds!
Hi
Is there a time limit to camp on the Blm land next to Kofa? As always, enjoying your posts!
Hi, Terri,
The time limit is 14 days in most free spots. A lot of people camping on BLM land ignore the limit since there are only 2 or 3 BLM rangers for the entire state of Arizona (I’m told that, but haven’t verified).
Fourteen days is a good length for one camp. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been bopping around southwest Arizona.
sue, the rule says that the dogs have to be on leashes, doesn’t say leashes have to be in your hand. lol
Excellent point, Jeff! 🙂
Since my friends are Kofa volunteers, I try not to make life difficult for them by flagrantly breaking Kofa rules. (I try to be extra sneaky about it.) One of the bad things about roaming dogs is the poop they leave behind.
RVSue, today I bought 2 bamboo poles for a garden project. On the way to my minivan, I tried them out as if they were Leki hiking poles. Well, heck, I couldn’t get a rhythm going and couldn’t get opposite foot opposite pole coordinated. (Of course, the irony of HIKING to my VEHICLE was noted.) I wondered if you had to practice this a while before you got the rhythm, and I thought — how does she do it with a dog leash in each hand? Got the answer to [PART 2 OF] THAT today, you scofflaw! (Always look for an excuse to use that old word.)
Add a camera, too! 🙂
Let the planning begin. My wife informed me that she will retire this year and is interested in full timing! I nearly fainted. So. Now it begins. I will have to start the process of paring down our possessions, getting the house ready for sale, deciding where to establish our domicile and buy an RV. We are currently looking at an Oliver 22′ bumper pull. It is like a Casita on steroids. So, I will have to go back to the RVSue early days and follow her footsteps! Wish me luck. I am so excited, it is hard to sit still. Our target date is 9/1/14. There is so much to do, but I will gladly do it. Thanks Sue for the inspiration!
John, Congratulations. I can feel your excitment. Lots of work but with such a goal it will be easy to make it fun too. 🙂
I feel your excitement, too, John. Isn’t it energizing to take hold of your life and shake it up? I’m very happy that both you and your wife share the same vision for retirement.
You have a lot of work and planning to do. It will be worth it!
The Oliver fiberglass travel trailers are very nice. I hear the new model they have out is 22 feet. They’ve been showing them off in Quartzsite.
I’m curious. How do you see yourself full-timing? Will you start out in RV parks or state parks? Do you want solar for boondocking? Whatever you choose, I wish you both great adventures in wondrous places.
Please keep in touch during this transition period. It’s fun for all of us!
FOR THOSE WISHING TO TAKE A LOOK AT OLIVER TRAVEL TRAILERS, CLICK HERE.
Solar for sure. We are most interested in boondocking. We would not be suited for RV parks for the most part. We will get the 22. I will keep in touch as we go through this process. It will be an experience for sure. One I am looking forward to as the reward will be so sweet!
Thanks for answering, John. If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to ask here. Overall, my readers are a very helpful, experienced, and knowledgeable group of good-hearted people.
I will Sue, this place is a treasure trove of info. I’ll also need to add to my Benchmark Atlas collection!
You know how to make me smile. Heh-heh.
I love my little carousel of Benchmarks at the bottom. 🙂
Hi John K. My wife and I had a 17′ Oliver and I loved it, she not as much. The 22′ shud be great for boondocking, I feel the right size. the 17 was a little too small for the 2 of us, 3 dogs and a cat but I still miss it. We have a 32 ft 5th wheel which is nice but doesn’t get into those great little sites at state parks and boondocking! Tell ‘Buffalo Bob’ at Oliver Chuck n Geri said HI! Feel free to PM us.
Hi Chuck. Nice to hear from an Ollie owner. We are going to head up to the factory for the tour. I really like the layout on the 22. We were thinking Airstream until I saw the Oliver.
I will be sure to pass your regards on, we are looking forward to seeing them.
John
We are looking at Airsteams, John K. What about the Oliver changed your mind and do you plan to full full-time with no homebase?
Several things. In the Airstream we would have wanted a 25 ft with the front bedroom. In order to pull that would have meant selling out current TV and getting a 3/4 ton truck. Secondly, airstreams have wood floors and seem to have an issue with leaks and the floors rotting out. The 22′ Oliver weighs 3000 lbs less than the maximum tow weight of our current 1/3 ton Dodge Ram, so we can use this truck. The Olivers have no wood in the floors to rot. The floorplan in the 22 is exactly what we would want. Our only decision would be do we want twin beds or the king.
We plan to fulltime just as Sue does. We plan to follow her wherever she goes! Just kidding, Sue!!! We will have no home base. Selling everything and will set up our domicile in one of several states. SD, TX or FL. Florida would be easy for us as we are 45 minutes from Pensacola. Hope that helps.
Good grief. This keyboard cannot spell!
selling out current TV
should be
selling our current TV
our current 1/3 ton Dodge Ram
should be
our current 1/2 ton Dodge Ram
Another thing too is cost. I can get a new Oliver 22 with factory warranty for just a little bit more or the same as an equivalent Airstream.
John… Don’t have to go to state to set up residency and licenses. Americas Mailbox took care of mine in SD when I picked up BLT in TX.
Hi Sue,
Hey the only comparing of other blogs should be the comment numbers! 210+ wins for me.
Don’t forget the support you had in Quartzsite.
I do have to say I’m comparing your site to my up coming blog. Didn’t think it would be this complicated to get it together.
Also working on ridding myself of the accumulated junk that has filter in over 25 years in a house. With luck I hope to be fulltime late this year.
Geordie says “Hi” to the crew.
Love that area you found this post. Just another mark on my map of great spots you find!
Robert
Hi, Robert,
Is your blog WordPress or Blogger? You probably told me, but I forget stuff. A lot. 🙂 Blogging seems difficult in the beginning, setting it up and all. Once you hit your stride, it rolls right along. Until you say something that makes people mad at you. Then you want to lie down in traffic . . . Be that as it may, good luck!
What do you mean “Don’t forget the support you had in Quartzsite?” You mean when I got depressed and readers pulled me out of it?
Hi to Geordie. Hoo-boy, getting rid of possessions. It can seem overwhelming. Keep at it. Therein lies freedom.
I just decided to blog last week. Spur-of-the-moment.
I went to WordPress. Found a Kindle free book that coached me the way through. I found a fun theme and now it’s just learning how to add widgets.
I’m not sure I have the thick skin for the bad comments, but it’s my blog and my life. They can live theirs as they wish.
“Q” was the down period you had.
I admit I’ve felt a lot lighter when I’ve been on the road with little to worry about. The junk gone will free me up.
If there’s anything I can help you with, just ask.
Want to buy a house? (laughter!!) Couldn’t help myself.
Did think of another tech issue. Have you change out your Anode Rod on the hot water tank?
Next trip through Quartzsite you should get a new one installed. Remember to open the faucet when you do. The pressure is pretty strong.
I still worry about your original tires. Don’t want to read a blog on Sue and the crew on the side of the road with a blowout.
New anode rod? Why? I never use my hot water tank.
Are you sure the Marathon tire blowouts were on 15-inch tires? I know people who went for 5 years on those tires. (Hope I don’t have to eat these words on the side of the road!)
You’re sweet to care, FR.
Do you have the water tank on bypass? If not, then the water inside has corrosives and the anode rod attracts them so they don’t eat the tank.
I just read in the forums that Marathons in general have a high rate of blowouts.
I don’t want you to eat your words either!
I don’t know if the tank is on bypass or not. Oh, gee, I just wanna have fun.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), I don’t have enough readers as yet to worry about making anyone mad with something I say. In my latest blog entry, I joked that with my current rate of readership I only need to write another 59-thousand posts or so to reach your level of page views. 🙂
By the way, those are some good looking campsites. They have me looking forward once again to the day when I can pull away from the house one last time, knowing I’m never coming back.
Hi, Walt,
Gee, thanks for the link to my blog and all that praise. I enjoyed reading your latest post! You can praise me all you want. There’s no limit on it!
One thing you might edit…. This blog has received over one million visits, not visitors. Wow, it’s popular, but not THAT popular. 🙂 Don’t feel bad. I made the same mistake next to the sitemeter and then changed it.
About numbers… You do see your statistics page, right?
Best wishes with your blog. Your writing is top-notch!
Thanks for the clarification. I’ll fix that when I get on a computer that will allow me to access my blog (can’t do it from work). I have seen my statistics page, which I think is how I came up with the astronomical number of posts I figured I needed.
Thanks for the writing compliment. I spent ten years in radio and television news, entering the field primarily because I enjoyed writing. I also trained to become an English teacher but quickly realized I did not have the personality or the patience to deal high school students.
I enjoy your blog immensely and look forward to each new “episode.” To borrow from the old NBC slogan, it’s must read TV (or in this case computer screen). 🙂
Wow, Sue,
Your desert photos are so welcome to a spirit surrounded by a drab winter pallet. Am in the process of seeking a fine and respectable PTV which will tow our little 12′, well-appointed, Sunset trailer (assembled by the Amish) to various Montana state parks and Montana forest service campgrounds this summer. Like your awakening desert, the mountain west is coming alive, but it takes a finely tuned eye, ear, and spirit to see hear, see, and smell the emerging spring. Thanks for the hope I see in your tremendous depictions, just south of here.
Hi, Diann,
Is your trailer a Sunset or a Sunray? I searched and all I could find was Sunray.
It’s a Sunset, a discontinued plan. I love it. For such small space, it is so well appointed and roomy, for me, anyway. I can camp for about 3 days max. Then, it’s time to go home, re-group, weed the garden, and plan the next week’s adventure. Thanks for asking.
I was curious because my first reaction to anything made by the Amish is “craftmanship.”
You are right…I dare this little trailer to leak! LOL
Good post. Love it.
Thanks.
Hello Sue you sure made me smile when you said the ground was firm at Kings Canyon!!! LOL After your other ordeal we know you and we like “firm ground” !!!
Yeah, I’ve added “firm ground” to my list of attributes for boondocks!
It looks like your conical hill might be a volcanic cinder cone.
Love all your pictures!
Hi, Morris,
There are several of these cones in the area. Yet I haven’t seen any calderas. Seems like there wouldn’t be one without the other. What the heck do I know about geology…. Pffftt!
I think if climbed the cone you would see a small depression at the top that you are unable to see from a low vantage point. Start early. Take plenty of water. ; – )
Sue, I usually do read the comments that everybody leaves and I’m learning A LOT! We may be going camping this weekend, or at least spending the day up in the mountains. Your blog is always entertaining and you have a great group of readers! 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend camping, Cheryl Ann!
I am certainly not a geologist by any stretch of the imagination. Having said that I am going to give you my thoughts on the conical hill formation.
I think the Kofa Mountains were formed by a fault rather than volcanic although there may have been some volcanoes erupting also. The conical hill gives the appearance of a little volcano but I have my doubts that it would have eroded down to its current size.
I think it is probably made up of the same materials as the Kofa Mountains and started out as a detached mountain that has been worn down by wind and rain for many thousands of years. The fact that it was isolated and stood alone allowed the elements to erode all sides equally which created the conical shape.
That is my story and I’m sticking to it. Until, someone that knows what they are talking about tells me where I am wrong and how the conical hill was formed.
Hi, Ed,
This is an interesting piece titled “The Geologic Origin of the Sonoran Desert.”
This line caught my eye… “Other centers, such as the Ajo, Kofa, Galiuro, and Gila mountains, ejected ash-flow materials from long, thin fissure vents.”
What you’ve written sounds pretty good to me. The one weak part IMHO is where you wrote “started out as a detached mountain that has been worn down by wind and rain for many thousands of years.” Erosion from wind and rain usually isn’t so uniform. These landforms are almost perfect cones. There are several in Kofa.
This morning I read through some of the article that you cited plus many more looking for some evidence to support my ‘wild asses guess’.
I think the biggest weakness in my argument was using the term ‘mountain’. What I had in my mind was a huge block of rock that was standing alone subject to being carved by erosion. My reading today provided a LOT of other alternatives that rest upon what ‘kind’ of rock is the hill made of. That kind of rock may be from the ash flow of the volcanoes millions of years ago that was then subjected to the stretching of the faulting that occurred. Or maybe it is made of limestone that formed during the time that the area was under the sea. But, in all cases it would have been wind and water that rendered the shape that you see now.
I’m going with ash flow, but what do I know . . . Interesting subject to research and ponder . . .
RVSue:
So what are you doing nowadays to keep the rodents away. I have this fear of them finding a home in my engine. Many posts ago I recall Rusty’s suggestion of taping a flash light to the inside of the engine area because rats don’t like light. Do you or readers have any suggestions that are very low maintenance.
I’ve also got to get my brake controller installed, I’m in the Oklahoma City area, any suggestions Oklahoma readers, Uhaul, Camping World, dealership, or ? My neighbor/handyman was going to do it but got coldfeet.
Thanks, Phyllis in Oklahoma
If possible, I would recommend having your tow vehicle dealer do the install. We did this time since last time we had UHaul, bad experience. They used 4 inch construction screws right through the steering colum and control board. I realize differnet dealers may be better, and this was in MN but you can imagine the problems that caused. I don’t let anyone but the dealer touch my vehicle anymore.
Thanks Mary in Minnesota.
Hi, Phyllis,
I’m not doing anything to keep rodents away. I should be doing something.
Re: brake controller installation…. I don’t know how tall you are. I’m 5’5″… The guy who installed my brake controller was considerably taller than me so when he did the installation he put it in a place that was fine for him sitting with the seat way back.
However, I sit with the seat a lot further forward and sometimes my knee hits the controller. I had told him where I wanted it installed, but it ended up about a inch closer to the steering column (on the right-hand side), just close enough to be an occasional annoyance. Something to be careful about . . .
Well RVSue I have a half an inch on you. The salesman showed me where most folks were getting theirs put on and it was on the right side pretty far down. I’ve gone to the Tundra forums, not any great options but I will come up with something. Thanks for the advice, I will insist on 5’5 1/2″ installer.
Phyllis in Oklahoma
🙂 Get in the driver’s seat with the seat in the position you drive in and make sure they put that controller where it’s comfortable for you.
Phyllis in OK…..
What works really well to keep the critters out of engines, and where there
are rubber coated wires is a string of lights under the rig and vehicle. The
critters like to eat the rubber off the wires! Most are rats…. The lights can
be powered by a couple or so of small solar panels…. Or…. maybe just using
a few of the solar lights that stick into the ground….around the vehicles…..
One year a rat nested in the battery compartment in my MoHo, another rat
chewed up all the wires under the hood of my Saturn and was making a nest
on top of the engine! This happened right here at my home base! ALL of
the residents here string lights under our RV’s and cars….. Some use what I
have described above and some of us plug into our electricity and use a timer
to have the lights come on at sunset and off at sunrise…..
Enjoy your life of full timing….. It has been the very best thing I have ever done for myself….. and becoming a member of the Escapees RV Club too…..
Be All You Are, Enjoy All You Do…. Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Taken!
Elizabeth:
I woke up at 2 am and read your comments. That’s such great advice. I will definitely pick up some solar stick in the ground lights. The string lights, what a novel idea, but I would have never thought about it. Thank you – of all things to worry about rats are at the top of my list. Appreciate all of the information.
And I have an appointment tomorrow at Auto Accessories Unlimited in Norman, Oklahoma to put on my brake controller, yeeeehaaa.
Phyllis in Oklahoma
I often find myself giggling at something you’ve written: “excuse me sir, your fly is open”…..
😉
Lacy
Hey Lacy, here you are at the bottom again. 🙂 How do you do that? 🙂
LOL! Mary, this time I suspect it’s where I belong because I was the last commenter?? We’ll see! I cracked up at YOU when I saw you wrote that. You and Sue have me giggling these past 2 days!!
Sue
I try not to eat to much fresh produce from foreign countries,I saw too many cases of hepatitis in Nam from the poop used as fertilizer.
Ron
I was a medic
Oh, yuck! Now I want to toss the rest of my grape tomatoes. Darnit!
I’m sorry, …….but ‘toss your tomatoes’ brought forth a belly laugh and I almost lost my laptop!
The ‘real world’ is a comedy sometimes!
I think we’re all getting “silly-punchy” from all the comments the past few days. LOL!
It might help if you wash all vegetables in a water and bleach solution. Doesn’t need to be a lot of bleach, if you get hepatitis from a vegetable it was actually the poop on the vegetable that you ate…that’s my understanding. Better washing should fix.
I’m doing that from now on!
Sue
Most of the produce out of Mexico is usually fine but I wont eat anything from China
Ron
So does that mean my grape tomatoes get to stay?
Hello dear Sue
I also feed my wee rat terrier Scout a raw diet, and we often go camping. One solution that I have found for those times when we are not near refrigeration, is dehydrated raw food. The brand that I like for scout is K9 Natural. another really good one is ZiwiPeak. Both these brands have webpages, and you can probably find them on Amazon. These are good for backup. Hope this helps!
Thanks, Cynthia. I’m going to search for them right now.
LATER… Here it is. Ooh, pricey, of course.
ZiwiPeak Real Meat Grain Free Air Dried Dog Food, Lamb, 2.2lb
I am going to have to decide on a nutritional supplement of some kind for finicky Bridget. Whatever I get, she’ll probably turn up her nose at it, but she’s gonna’ eat it!
Dang, Sue! Your post is giving me serious hitch itch & our trailer isn’t coming home until tomorrow. We’re going to name her ‘Mood Stabilizer’. Love your photos–what a gorgeous area!
And holy mackerel–check your count! You’re seriously close to 1.1 million! 2 million is not far away, especially if you keep posting about dogs, raw diet for same & Keens!
Hi, Dawn,
I’m replying to your comment on the 21st so I guess this is your happy day welcoming Mood Stabilizer home! Congratulations! I wish you many good moods in it! 🙂
Like that photo of you and Jim at the bottom of your most recent post. Reading your blog this morning has me yearning for Washington state again!
Love the “Mood Stabilizer” name!
Your posts are so enjoyable and the pictures are amazing. I usually read it while having my morning coffee; it makes my day. I appreciate the time and effort you put forth in each post. Thanks
You’re welcome, Sandy. I appreciate you acknowledging the effort it takes to keep this blog alive. Thanks for the compliments.
I’m having my morning coffee as I type this. Hope your day is wonderful!
Ok, now you have gone and done it…..I have hitch itch…I did not know what it was called until I started reading it here..it comes every April when I walk by my Pop-up trailer stored in our garage….We usually spend one weekend a month in the Sierra Nevada Mountains fishing and just enjoying the sites…about a 5 or 6 hour drive for us since we live at the beach, but worth every minute….Now I am thinking about the desert and how quickly we could get to some BLM camping spots…itch, itch, itch.
You have it pretty nice, Shirlene… beach to mountains and back to beach, rinse and repeat. Add desert as needed.
Hi All,
Here is another two cents about Airstreams, one of which we own. I know alot of people full time in them, but I wouldn’t due to the simple issue of corrosion which the manufacturer has never figured out how to stop. Just go on the Airstream Forum website and read the zillion pages on corrosion. Of course, that didn’t stop us but we bought ours when it was about 3 years old and it didn’t have much. It takes much diligence to keep it at bay. Just another point.
Interesting. I hadn’t heard anything like that, Terri. Thanks for sharing that for the benefit of everyone here.
I assume when you say ‘much diligence’ to keep the corrosion at bay you mean that you put in as much effort as is required for aircraft? You don’t buy an aircraft and do nothing to prevent corrosion, the same should obviously apply to an Airstream or any aluminum trailer.
There is some treated aluminum available but I’m guessing that Airstream does not use it because of cost. They could also use stainless steel but that too would add cost as well as weight.
I was catching up on the 210 responses from your previous post and a quote kept coming into my mind. It goes something like “Why are you always trying to be like others when you have so obviously been made to be unique?” I’ve never been like so many others that I have met and that has been both painful at times but mostly very fulfilling.
I think you should do whatever comes naturally to you. It can be stressful otherwise. After all, you would not have attracted so many readers if you were “just like the rest” and not so unique.
Hi, Rosemary.
I guess it’s because I’ve worked very hard to build this blog. I hate the thought of people getting bored with it because the crew and I have slowed down for our winter’s rest.
It seemed like the other blogs I browse were so dang exciting last week! Can’t help but wonder if “this little blog that could” would pale in comparison.
Sue,
Love your blog Sue…as always!
A gal friend of mine just came down with Shingles. 🙁 Percentage wise, 1/3 of us Seniors will come down with it. You can shave your chances of getting Shingles by half by getting the Shingles vaccine!! I don’t think she ever got the vaccination. I hope you’ve gotten your vaccination Sue!! Maybe you could urge your readers to get their vaccination against this TERRIBLE affliction. Thanks!
Yes, I agree with you, Larry! I wrote about the shingle vaccine last winter I think it was. I tried to go to the medical clinic in Ajo but that didn’t work out. You can’t just walk into a Walgreens or WalMart and get the shot. You have to have a doctor’s prescription for it.
I’ve had that in the back of my mind for several months, having seen what my mother and a friend went through with a case of it. I need to call up my insurances to see if they cover it and get myself to a doctor, one way or the other.
MESSAGE TO ALL:
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO…. GET VACCINATED AGAINST SHINGLES!
Thanks, Larry. Hope your friend has a mild case and recovers quickly.
In Washington State you can just go to a Safeway, no doctor involved, and get the vaccine. That’s what I did. I guess it varies from state to state. I would certainly do whatever it takes to get the vaccine! More info here: http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/29/5-things-you-should-know-about-chickenpox-and-shingles/
My wife got hers at our Safeway here in Arizona. No prescription. It is relatively expensive.
What? Without a prescription? Why was I told that? Sheesh… I’m pretty sure I asked in a WalMart in AZ.
LATER… I think I know why I was told that. I handed the pharmacist my insurance card when I asked. I bet a prescription is required by my insurance company.
I walked into Walgreens and got mine. No problem except for the wait.
when I was at my last job with full bennies; I had my vaccine done at a Drug Mart (Northern Ohio version of CVS or Walgreens). it would have cost $218 cash but my insurance paid every penny- I, too, had to have a scrip so I think you are right about the insurance company requiring the scrip.
Agreed, it is expensive Jim. Mine at a Safeway in WA State cost me $205. But, worth every penny in my book. What’s the cost if you come down with Shingles?
I don’t know the cost, but You Will Surely Pay.
Yay, I figured out how to get to the comments! Sue and crew, you’re an inspiration to try new things! Thanks!
You’re welcome, Audrey. Glad you’re here!
I appreciate you putting your last name because I have another reader named Audrey who comments. In the future you could use your location… like Audrey in AL or whatever. (Just a suggestion if you don’t want your last name up there.)
Sue, sorry for this disjointed post but I couldn’t reply above for some reason. I went back to your previous blog to look at the timeline for when you bought the BLT and when you got your SD drivers license. Did you not get an SD license for 2 years? Good to know I can do the registration of the trailer though AMB. They seem like they have a pretty good setup there. So, when did you register the PTV in SD? We will have just paid out 2015 registration in August 2014. I wonder if there is a way to avoid that?
Hi, John,
The blog is set up to limit the number of replies (because they get too narrow). It’s better that you started new here.
Americas Mailbox took care of the registrations for the BLT and PTV when I was at the Casita factory in Texas, having driven there from my former home in Georgia.
I bought the PTV in Georgia so the title and registration was taken care of by me in GA. Then while in Texas Americas Mailbox took care of getting me title and reg. both for the PTV and BLT for South Dakota.
The factory in TX set me up with a temporary license plate for the BLT and temporary registration (a document of sale actually). A person has 30 days before a temporary registration expires. Americas Mailbox asked me to fax a few documents relating to the purchase of the PTV and BLT and took care of securing SD titles and registration which I received in the mail.
All this was done in August of 2011, the month I bought the BLT. It wasn’t until summer of 2012 (almost one year later) that I drove up to SD to get a SD driver’s license. I didn’t have to go to Americas Mailbox in Box Elder for the license. Any DMV in SD will do.
All I had to do was get proof of living one day in SD (ranger gave me a receipt for staying in the campground) which classified me as a resident… A birth certificate and picture ID plus fee, and bingo, the DMV issued me a license with a picture of a gargoyle on it.
If none of this makes sense, the whole process is explained on their website. AM will send you a packet of forms and info to help you through the process.
I don’t know if you can get a prorated refund on your registration or not. I’d call the DMV and present your situation to see what they say. I’ve never heard of registering for a month.
Remember to get a refund on your homeowner’s insurance. 🙂
Thanks, you made it crystal clear. You may be interested to know and AMB is offering a $25 gift certificate for referrals to their service. Naturally, I will be mentioning you. Not sure how long this will last though…
Thanks, John. Every bit toward my exit plan (to be decided) is appreciated. Ha!
Hmmmm, I thought this was your exit plan…LOL!
Well, it is . . . or was.
Some people tell me I won’t last forever though. Pretty shocking bit of news . . .
😉
RvSue, I’m not so clear here. I understand you got your van and Casita registered in SD in 2011. Then in 2012 you drove to SD to get your license and at that time you stayed minimum of one night to establish your residency, right? Meanwhile, did you still have to pay your taxes to GA? Just curious. If you can recommend me to Americas Boxes then you can get one month of free service from them. I think
As to prorated registration. I don’t know in other state but in CO once you paid your registration and move to another state you cannot get a refund.
Did I still have to pay GA taxes? Not sure what you’re referring to.
The GA taxes for the PTV are paid at the time of registration. That’s part of the registration fee, so yes, those taxes were paid when I bought the PTV in GA several months before buying the BLT (Casita). I also paid GA sales tax on the PTV,, of course.
If I remember correctly, I could’ve applied for a South Dakota registration for the PTV at the time of purchase in GA, but I didn’t want to go to the trouble. Figured I take care of the PTV and BLT when in TX. It meant I had to pay GA sales tax. It wasn’t much. I only paid $8,500 for the PTV.
I didn’t have to pay sales tax on the purchase of the BLT (Casita) to Georgia because it wasn’t purchased in Georgia.
Now I see how unclear my question was. My goal was to ask you about state income tax
Sure. I paid Georgia state income tax for the last time for the year 2011, which was the year I retired (May) and began full-timing (Aug.). From 2012 forward I’m a South Dakota resident and South Dakota has no income tax.
Great to know. Thanks
John K from AL, if you’re planning to use Americas Mailbox mentioned RVsue’s name and she might get one extra month free. Maybe you need to know the last name or mail box number. Try to find out and let us know
Yes, you do need her name or box #. I would understand completely if she didn’t want to divulge either tidbit publicly.
I was going to comment on your prior posting about other blogs and the competitive urge. You got a lot of comment that said ‘be yourself’ or words to that effect and I was going to add my 2 cents and then forgot. I see that the issue was brought up again so I will add the quote that I like on the subject.
Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what I think of me. – Unidentified Vietnam Navy Fighter Pilot
Hi, Ed,
I appreciate the quote, although it doesn’t quite hit the mark in my situation.
I really don’t
give a rat’s asscare much what the general population thinks of me. I do care, however, what they think of RVSue. Big difference. 🙂In other words, I want RVSue to be interesting and entertaining because I want my blog to remain popular, which, in turn, is interesting and entertaining for me, a gal named Sue.
You are a HTML
showoffuser Missy….Would this bug ya?
Didn’t work…. 🙂
And yes, that bugs me when that happens!
RVSue, your previous post has now 225 comments. I just added one more about traveling to Alaska. 225 comments must be a record anywhere. You deserve a big shiny gold medal for making your writing so thought provoking.
Thanks, R.
I’m not sure my writing is responsible for generating 225 comments. My readers, for some reason I don’t understand and don’t want to over-analyze, seem to connect with each other and me. They love to write stuff on a wide variety of topics. Often the topics of discussion aren’t even started by my post. It’s crazy! And I love it!
Whatever is going on . . . Thanks for the compliment.
I am so curious about so many things! I just bought a park model home in an rv park in Tucson, so will be moving to your area. Curious about how you found health and dental care in Mexico; I will want to do that. Also, why did you choose Casita? What makes it the best and worth the high price? I’m hoping that, once I move to Tucson, I can save up for a tow vehicle and trailer I will use to camp and live in during summer months. You haven’t said (that I read) but I assume you are set up for solar power since you dry camp? And by the way I do very much enjoy your writing style. Humorous, precise, interesting, authentic. Good stuff.
Hi, Ginger,
Congratulations on your park model! I’ll try to answer your questions in this limited space. I suggest you go back to the archives under rvsueandcrew.com (com not net) and read those early posts. You’ll learn the answers to your questions in more detail there. Plus a LOT of other useful information, both in my posts and in the comments that follow.
Why did I choose Casita? Well, it’s not high priced when compared with many other travel trailers. Casitas do hold their value for resale. I wanted something lightweight, something small so I could boondock off by myself, something that came with high clearance axle for bad roads, something that didn’t have roof seams to spring a leak (a common problem with older tt), and a trailer made at a factory that I could drive to easily in order to pick it up. I sold my house in GA, spent the weekend with my sister and her family in MS, and the next day drove to the Casita factory in Texas. It would’ve been a real hassle to pick up a travel trailer in Michigan or Oregon or wherever….
I wanted new rather than used because I was starting a new chapter in my life, I’ve always put up with used stuff all my life, and, well, the BLT is my home, not a vacation trailer.
I believe Casitas are the best value for the money. Are there better trailers? Yes, of course. But they cost too much for me.
Plus a Casita is so damn cute. 🙂
Okay… I googled “dental and vision care in Los Algodones.” Then I studied the websites that popped up and went with my gut. I was only going for a simple extraction and cleaning plus glasses. If I were going for more extensive dental work, I would’ve obtained recommendations from others who experienced care in Mexico. (Do a search on bloggers who are in AZ.)
Yes, I have a solar panel. It’s on the roof of the PTV. Look in the header, click on Solar . . . and see old posts.
Please do me a favor…. I hope you will write again. When you do would you please use the name “Ginger in Tucson” or “AZ Ginger.” Another Ginger comments here and I need all the help I can get keeping readers straight. 🙂 Thanks.
Ha! Last night I found my way to the archives and spent the evening following your journey. Still have a way to go…you haven’t installed solar yet….just got your propane heater. Very interesting reading! I’m still in NY now trying to handle the same things that held you in Georgia. I’m sorting and packing, and trying to rent my house, and having knee surgery next Wednesday. But I’m moving forward! I’ll use DesertGinger in future.
Best wishes for the knee surgery. My late uncle had both knees replaced and was very happy with the results.
DesertGinger… great!
“the DMV issued me a license with a picture of a gargoyle on it”
I don’t believe it but you should see my passport picture.
Believe it, R. I could hold my drivers license photo up to an iron post and that face would bend it. I have to make the sign of the cross before handing it to a cashier.
Love KOFA, it is one of the magical places in AZ. The road you are on will take you to the King Of Arizona Mine, which gives the area its name, main attraction there is its graveyard, it brings the whole romantic idea of gold mining back to reality. The road will also connect to a other roads that you can drive all the way to Phoenix, not that you’d want to, but it is all BLM land and is wide open with no one around for miles.
IMHO there are 2 products needed for low cost RVing and boon docking, One is solar the other to reduce the use of propane. There are several on demand tankless water heaters on the market, the two most popular ones are by Atwood and Girard. They only burn propane when you use the hot water. They are a little pricey, but so is solar, but when you consider the cost of propane and the inconvenience at getting tanks refilled it is more that worth it. They take up half the space and since they don’t have a tank full of water they weigh a lot less, and no anodes to replace. If you are buying a new RV you should be able to get one as an upgrade, but they are really pretty easy to install. I am actually using the extra space created to house the liter box for my cats.
As to foreign food, there is just nothing like the FDA in foreign countries overlooking how the food is being cultivated. Every river in China is polluted and as such so is all the farmed soil. China now imports most of its rice. And the number of occurrences we have had of contaminated lettuce and such from Mexico is more than alarming. But there just isn’t any way we can produce all the food we consume here in the states. As they say “you pays your money and you takes your chances”.
Anyway, Love your blog, love your style, and I do love your photos. So take care and enjoy.
Hi, Alan,
Glad you’re loving everything about my blog . . .
Interesting and helpful information. Solar is a must, of course, for boondocking.
I personally don’t find keeping a supply of propane a nuisance at all. I have two tanks and they last me a long time. By the time I need more propane, I’m on the road to a new camp anyway and it only takes a few minutes to get the tanks filled.
As you know, I heat my water on the stove, rather than use the hot water heater. Everyone should figure out what works best for them. Many of the situations involving RVing and boondocking have more than one way to be accomplished.
Thanks for explaining another option.
Yeah, Kofa is intriguing, both for her beauty and her history.
Don’t come to WA yet, Sue, weatherman is talking about snow in places.
Yes, shingles shots can be gotten here at Safeway, Walmart, and Fred Meyer anytime without doctor. Also Flu, Pneumonia, Tetanus, and Whoop cough; all covered by Medicare.
Hi, Wickedlady,
I’m pleased to see you here again!
I’m going to stop at one of those places, show my brand new Medicare card, and see if I can get my shingles shot.
It’s best to call ahead for an appointed time to get your shot. At least that’s the way it worked at my Safeway in WA. Love ya Sue!!
Love this blog. I a not a person to actually laugh out loud a lot, but this blog does it. Love the drivers license gargoyle comment. I look at mine and think who is that old lady???
Thank you for all of the the work you put into this blog!
Have a wonderful day. Give the nutcakes a hug from me. 🙂
I busted out laughing too.
You’re welcome, Edie! The nutcakes got your hug.
Oh, so here’s what’s been happening in Sue & Crew Land! Fantastic! Lucky crew to be eating raw! Kofa was my back up plan if I didn’t like Ehrenberg. But, I never went back to Kofa because I had to camp closer to a post office and it wasn’t going to be in Quartzsite craziness, so, I used the Blythe post office. Bob and crew showed up, and we gave each other space, though we did enjoy a nice visit. I actually quite enjoyed the peace, quiet and solitude I was able to find at my Ehrenberg camp.
I thought Albertson’s prices in Blythe were too high for my “Walmart cheap” tastes, so, I scooted out two weeks ago to the southern entrance of Joshua Tree to be closer to serious shopping near Indio and La Quinta. I was 40 minutes close to capital shopping including a TRADER JOE’S! I LOVED my campsite in Joshua tree and made a fabulous new friend, another solo traveler named Barbara, with her dog, Chloe. My only complaint were the pokey, dry grasses that got all over the dog’s fur and thus the van and our top comforter. I was constantly pulling out the needle sharp twigs from my socks. But, we managed to live with it. I brushed her more and shook out our bed comforter more often. No big deal.
While at Joshua tree, I ended up almost running out of MiFi data, so, I had to actually do some city boondocking to take advantage of public WiFi. Ug. We went to La Quinta for our first night away from Joshua tree. But, it was just too hot in La Quinta, so, we left and boondocked in San Bernardino. Capital, of capital shopping!! I even got a Sam’s club membership there! Whoo hoo. Now I have “Sam’s Club Cheap” tastes. I stocked up for months at Sam’s yesterday, and today I’m sitting at Lake Isabella at the base of Sequoia National forest. And here I hope to sit and enjoy this perfect weather until spring sometime! I’ve gotta make time to get a blog done. If you’ve had the chance, to read my latest, I did put one up about two weeks ago. Ha ha! I just thought of something funny. I’m going to cut and paste what I’ve written to you into my next blog. He he! I’m such a doofus, I know! Oh, and I got sick with some weird mumps like virus which I’m trying to nurse now. Yeah, right…by running around the country and staring more at the computer. Okay, I’m going to go watch a movie now!
Wow, Gloria! You are tearing up this boondocking thing! Going places, happy faces (you and your one-dog crew). Sounds like some pretty intense shopping going on, too! Great to hear from you again . . .
Joshua Tree NP has some nice campgrounds, although I only saw the smaller ones. We stayed at Belle. If you stayed at the south end, you were probably in Cottonwood or you boondocked on the other side of the interstate. There’s a box canyon over there.
Did you stealth/city camp in San Bernadino or did you camp in the San Bernadino NF? Curious about that… such a populated area. And now you’re at Isabella Lake, northeast of Bakersfield. Girl, you’re all over the place! I’m happy for you. 🙂
Hope you’re over that mumpy virus thingy . . .
I’m pretty much over the “mumpy virus”. When I arrived at Lake Isabella last Friday, I treated myself to a big burrito at the local taco place. A very gregarious fellow spotted me and we ended up chatting for quite a while. He told me he had had a similar virus that lasted for 6 weeks. I’m pretty much over it, though I have occasionally felt my glands swell when I stare too long at the computer. It’s lasted about a week. I had to force myself to rest for a few days.
Yes, I’ve been all over indeed! Well, this traveling gal has to settle down for a while and build up financial reserves again. But, I have been planning this move strategically for months. Lake Isabella has the perfect weather Rochelle and I need for our dark colored van. It’s been a “warm winter” in the desert, as you know. The desert was just getting way too hot for us. Plus, my ceiling Maxx Air fan STOPPED WORKING after driving over 5 miles of washer board road up Painted Canyon road!! Painted Canyon and Box Canyon roads are drop dead gorgeous drives by the way. I’ve gotta get those photos up soon!
I have a back up fan, but, it’s not quite enough. I’ll have to find someone who can help me with what I think is a bad ground wire to the fan. Sigh. Always some new thing going on.
I did boondock for FOUR nights in the city. Once in La Quinta, off a middle class side street (kinda noisy with dogs barking sporadically throughout the night, but not bad), once at a medical center and twice at the San Bernardino Walmart. I think the medical center was my favorite. There was no one there but us and a hooting owl which lulled us to sleep. Walmart went pretty well and I had my own little “palm tree island” that I parked along side of. Quite lovely. I really enjoyed the lush vegetation in San Bernardino. BEAUTIFUL climate too, if I could just figure out where to boondock fairly closeby the city. I would have researched it further, but I was still feeling sick and itchy to get to Lake Isabella.
For Walmart, I called ahead of time to make sure they allowed overnight camping. Strange though how they still have those “no overnight parking” signs in the parking lot. I don’t get that.
Oh, and yes, I was on Cottonwood road, the south entrance of Joshua tree. I need to get my photos up on my blog for that. I LOVED that campsite. I even had my “own address”, as some previous camper set up a little fake mailbox and decorated one of the trees with a “junk garden” from everyone’s left behind trash. LOL. What a hoot!
Glad you’re over that virus. Sorry about your fan though. If it isn’t a ground wire, maybe it’s a fuse? Interesting comment, Gloria. You’re piling up good road experiences!
While you are near Yuma, Sue, you might be excused for occasionally thinking you are in the middle of nowhere. But as it turns out, you are very near the center of the world. Perhaps you should visit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/magazine/a-journey-to-the-center-of-the-world.html?hp
Been there, Bob! Uh-oh… Have you been skipping posts? 🙂 Thanks for the link. Our camp at Sidewinder Road is a stone’s throw from Felicity.
LATER…. Quite an engaging article, Bob. What a fascinating person! Now I want to pay the three bucks and actually visit the place, instead of driving by on my way into Yuma. (I’ll join the number of unintelligent RVers mentioned in the article.)
I can’t help but wish all that money had been spent on relieving suffering in the world, but, then, who am I to decide how someone spends their money? Every one of us, myself included, spends money on the unnecessary instead of helping the downtrodden.
Sheesh… where’d all that come from?
Sue, Being a member of the downtrodden I hereby officially apply for your generous contribution. Thank you in advance.
And what about the uptrodden? Nobody seems to care about them!
Let them eat cake!
We ARE the uptrodden.
Mmmmmm. Cake.
I guess I better do this since there is more than one Ron
Ron in Tx
Was just Ron
You mean there are two of you? All this time I thought I was talking with one Ron. Haha!
Yeah, “Ron in TX” is a good idea. Hmm . . . I wonder where the other Ron is from . . .
Yea I am the one that is about half smart a$$ and has a weird sense of humor .
He is the good guy
LOL
Ron
Re: Geology
Here’s a related link:
http://www.mindat.org/loc-33607.html
You are in the Basin and Range province, which means, of course, much of the topography was the result of linear rift-stretching, producing uplifted faults and massive alluvial bajadas. But you already know that. Any local feature is apt to have a complicated history of sedimentation, uplift, erosion and/or volcanism, and all over again. Any conical feature is most likely volcanic but often that means an intrusive, sub-surface plug, dike or Laccolith rather than a “volcano”. The resulting igneous rocks can be soft, “fluffy” tuft or ash all the way to extremely hard and glassy basalt.