Wednesday, February 7
The crew and I return from another exploration in Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.
We’re hungry from a long walk!
Immediately I pull out the ingredients I need in order to griddle my main meal of the day. The boys munch at their bowls of kibble. Then I put them outside on the tether so they can be with me while I cook.
I’m almost finished preparing the meal when a truck towing a fifth wheel drives by our campsite. By the time I sit down in the camp chair with my plate on my lap, our new neighbors fire up their generator.
It’s one of those really noisy, cheapo generators.
I clean up and close up the outdoor kitchen, put Reggie and Roger inside, and carry my plate to the table inside the Best Little Trailer.
I close the door, the ceiling vent, and all the windows. This brings the noise down to a drone in the background.
Oh well, no sitting outside to watch the sunset tonight . . . .
Thursday, February 8
I awake to the drone of the generator.
There goes any chance of seeing wildlife around here . . . .
Rather than stay at camp cooped up in the BLT and feeling grumpy, I toss the crew into the Perfect Tow Vehicle, along with two bags of trash, and we head toward Arivaca.
On the way the Arivaca Road crosses a wide wash.
I glance up the wash to my left and spy the silhouette of a pronghorn’s head. The curve of his/her horns makes identification easy. The pronghorn is lying in the shade of the wash’s cutbank.
If I back up for a photo, he/she will get up and run . . . .
Further along, I see a deer.
It’s far away in a field and among some mesquite trees. I park the PTV and zoom in for a photo. It isn’t until I open the photo in my computer that I discover that there wasn’t one deer. There were two!
Nothing like a few sightings of wildlife to lighten my mood!
I’m singing out my open window, into the warm breeze (to the tune of Frere Jacques):
“Arivaca, Arivaca, Dormez vous? Dormez vous? Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines, Ding, ding, dong. Ding, ding, dong ”
Reggie and Roger perk up.
“You like that, boys?”
Funny how the most appreciative listeners of my singing are canine. Actually they’re the only listeners appreciative of my singing.
Oh, well . . . .
A few miles before town we arrive at the waste disposal station.
Continuing into town . . .
Arivaca Mercantile is a tiny store.
Nevertheless, it possesses a surprisingly large variety of inventory.
I remark to the woman stocking shelves, “I visit a lot of small town grocery stores and, I do believe, this one is better than most . . . by far. You rival Wal-Mart with the choices you have.”
“Thank you. And our stock tends toward higher quality but still reasonably priced.”
I buy more flour tortillas. These are from Triunfo Bakery out of Tucson. At this rate I’m gonna’ become an expert on tortilla brands.
As I’m checking out, I ask the cashier where I might obtain water from a spigot. She invites me to use the one behind the store.
“Just don’t pump out a thousand gallons,” she adds, smiling pleasantly.
I remove the hose and fill eight, one-gallon jugs.
By the time the crew and I return to our campsite . . . .
More RVs! The Generator from Hell starts up again, right in time for my main meal of the day.
Gollee. If I wanted to listen to city noise, I wouldn’t have driven all this way to camp in a WILDLIFE REFUGE. I could’ve grabbed a camp chair, taken my plate, and sat down to eat under somebody’s window air conditioning unit.
Friday, February 9
Reggie, Roger and I are outside when a truck towing a toy-hauler moves in to the site next to us. I know darn well what’s going to come out of the maw of that beast.
“That’s it. Guess what, guys? We’re moving camp today. Did you hear me? We’re leaving.”
During our daily explorations we found several, very nice campsites.
However, they are on roads parallel to this one and every one has an entrance on Arivaca Road.
If we move to any of those sites there’s a real possibility that weekenders will move in nearby or they’ll be driving by in their ATVs. No, we need to leave this area entirely, find a campsite on a road that has no place for neighbors and no place for ATVers to congregate.
Checking the map in the refuge’s brochure, I find such a campsite on such a road.
Off we go to investigate!
There’s no time to waste because it’s Friday and weekend fun-lovers will arrive through-out the day.
Oh my, do we find a great campsite and it’s empty!
I hurry us back to the BLT, throw all our outdoor crap into the back of the PTV, toss interior stuff into drawers, shut the windows, hitch up, hook the chains and cables, remove the chocks, and . . . .
“We’re outta’ here!”
As I pass our neighbor-no-longer, he’s preparing to set off in his quad for some rollicking fun out in nature.
“Arrivaderci, amigo!”
Turns out the arrival of the weekenders was a good thing.
Our new campsite is better than the one we left behind!
rvsue
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Hi Sue and Crew
CONGRATULATIONS, CAT LADY! YOU’RE FIRST TODAY!
Hello Sue and crew!
Aw, Ken. You almost made first place. If you had said hi, instead of hello…. 🙂
Tee-hee. Next time , I’ll say hi first and THEN read the blog. I am sorry you were routed away from your camp by these inconsiderates. It’s a challenge for me to get away from them too. You do have an advantage however. You can get your rig in places those toy haulers can’t. That doesn’t mean they won’t ride their ATV through your camp in the middle of the night (actual experience). My next door neighbor brought home one of those things that was so tall, he hit every mesquite tree on our street on his first outing. You are very positive. I love your outlook on life and your ability to not let these things bother you so much.
When I started out boondocking, a fellow camper told me something that has turned out to be true….
The crummier the road, the better. Even turning off the paved road onto a dirt one eliminates half the RVers… I remember that when the PTV works her way over a rocky, hilly road.
And yes, smaller rigs have more options.
wow…top 10…..
chuck and pookie
Hi, pookie and chuck!
When one door closes, another one opens.
Very true, Sarvi!
What beautiful countryside…God sure knew what He was doing with sunsets.
He sure did. 🙂
So close!
Hi, Renee!
Hi Sue! I just finished reading today’s blog. Yeesh! I too would be aggravated by that generator and we have one, a Honda eu2000, but rarely use it since we have solar. Nothing beats the peace and solitude of peace and solitude, eh? Some people are so used to their own little world that they are totally oblivious to others and then maybe they don’t care.
I liked your comment too about soon being an expert on tortilla brands!
Mostly the incoming were working folks, not at retirement age. They aren’t seeking peace and quiet. I doubt they’re birders or into photographing wildlife. Since they’re in the rat race, noise is acceptable and, with some young people, noise, commotion, speed, and excitement are craved. Different worlds that are worlds apart.
One thing for sure…. Leaving that makes what we have now all the sweeter.
Glad you were able to quickly discover a wonderful addition to your list of beautiful sunset sites…Hi Sue, Reggie and Roger
Take Care
You know, that was the second time we camped on that ridge. It was time for a new location anyway. The noise makers were what I needed to get off my duff and find a new campsite.
Errrr i hate generators!
It’s the cheap ones that are the worst. The best thing to do when unhappy in a camp, whatever the reason, is to leave.
That is the best advice I’ve heard in a long time!
I liked the first two pictures and the sunset picture. Okay, I liked all the pictures, but the one looking down the road touches the deep wandering spirit in me. I understand leaving a great place when the people move in. You were rewarded with that beautiful sunset.
Hi, Calvin,
I’m glad you enjoyed the photos and thank you for letting me know. A road that curves off into the distance pulls us into the scene. We want to know what’s over the rise, what’s beyond the bend. 🙂
Absolutely
I am currently at a place that I call My Little Hill, it is a gated community, out here in dispersed camping, and there’s only enough room at this little spot for me. 🙂 Peace! a wonderful thing! 🙂
I’m happy for you, Rachel. I’m intrigued by your “gated community” that’s dispersed camping. I need to take a look at your blog. 🙂
Hi Sue,
What a great post! Glad you found a better campsite with the peace and quiet you enjoy. As they say ” Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining” Before we hit the road I was going to buy a small Quiet 2000W generator. My thinking was if I ever needed power I would have it. Instead, I decided to try solar first and see if that would satisfy our needs. So I bought a 200W suitcase from Renogy. I don’t understand why people buy the noisy generators when you can get a quiet one for not much more. And why do they run them at all hours? How do they stand the noise? If I had a quiet one I would only run to power things for an hour or so a day. Maybe their using it to charge their batteries? Be Safe, Be Happy!
Hi, Scott,
Yeah, there’s the compulsion to make sure the batteries reach full charge every day so they last longer. I’ve ignored my batteries for going on seven years. If they get “topped off.” it’s not because I did anything.
Good for you going for the Renogy suitcase instead of assuming you need a generator. Are you pleased with the Renogy suitcase set-up? Several folks have bought them from Amazon through my blog and I’ve wondered whether they were pleased with their purchase.
200 watts is what I have. That’s plenty for my usage. I discovered one can cook without a microwave and hair dries in the sun or even in the shade without the assistance of a blow dryer. Ha!
Yes happy so far. I have only used it to charge my car battery and it worked great. Were still a couple months from our launch so no real boondocking experience with the solar yet. I bought a reconditioned one and it came looking like Brand new. I was wondering, are you able to watch TV/DVD and for how long or does it drain the batteries too much?
It’s been a very long time since I watched a DVD. I can watch one all the way through if I time it right. A mid-afternoon DVD is better than waiting until dark to start one up. It’s hard for me to say because I tend to watch a DVD in segments, not in one sitting.
If it does drain the battery, well, you go to bed after the movie anyway. If my laptop is charged, what do I need power in the morning for? I cook with propane. I don’t need lights. It all works out with a little common sense.
We have solar & a couple of house batteries.
We use that 12vdc to run the led lights, watch TV on the laptops (with a Hauppuage USB dongle & an antenna) & watch DVDs on the same laptops.
We use the 12vdc to keep the Kindles charged up too!
I want solar so bad!!!
I had a situation where the power went out at a campground for several hours and my little plug in Pixie was hot a hades! I had a battery operated fan (one of those misty things?) that I kept using all night… It was in the 90s and I just couldn’t. Ended up leaving… 🙁
One of the great things about not being dependent on electric hook-ups or generators, is you can go off to special places and listen to the birds and the wind through the trees….
My ceiling vent fan does a pretty good job of keeping us cool, along with the carpet insulation on the walls and ceiling of the BLT. Even so, there are times when I want to run the A/C.
Howdy Sue
I am glad that you were able to shed your rude neighbors. What do you use for a power source? Generator, solar, wind?
Hi, DJ,
I don’t think the people were being rude, clueless is more like it.
My power source is a 200w solar panel on the roof of the Perfect Tow Vehicle. Inside the PTV are two AGM batteries storing power which goes to the Best Little Trailer’s house battery. Once in a while we stay where there are electric hook-ups, usually so I can run the A/C off electric power. See “Solar Power” in the header.
I don’t own a generator. If I had one, I’d sell it.
Something is just wrong with generators, 4 wheelers, etc. being there. A refuge for wildlife isn’t meant to be a place where noise runs them off and tires destroy their habitat. I know people want to get away from the city and just play, but, sheesh, there has to be some consideration given to preserving the peaceful existence of what lives there.
Okay, mild rant over…I’m delighted you found an even nicer camp! I imagine you and the boys were happy to have a new place to explore and enjoy. You really have learned well the lesson you teach us all – roll with it, don’t let it steal your joy.
What a fun treat discovering you had photographed a fawn with the deer! I love that picture 🙂
I agree with you, weather. I’m going to have readers mad at me for saying this… There are places set aside for people to ride their toy vehicles. Yet they have to come to places like a wildlife refuge and run off the wildlife. These grasslands are huge. Herds of deer and pronghorns range widely. They have trails they use to visit the water tanks each day. I’m sure the noise disrupts their journey. They are filled with terror. I’ve seen it.
Sure there are places where OHVs aren’t allowed and I’m thankful for that. It seems that there are more places though where they are allowed.
At our new camp we went the entire weekend with no ATVs except for two boys, each on his own ATV, that roared through here late Friday. The next morning I picked up the trash that they left along the roadway, whether intentionally or not. Their noise could still be heard when they were miles away. If girls can find something else to do, why can’t the boys? I know, girls ride ATVs, too, but overwhelmingly one sees boys driving all over the place, unsupervised, destroying the peace and driving where they shouldn’t ….
You had your mild rant and I piled onto it! Ha! I feel better now. 🙂
I absolutely agree with you about generators. Unless it is powered by wind or sun, I don’t want it.
Hugs from Hoquiam by the way!
Way to go, Barb! Hugs to you, too!
Oh, Sue, I’m so sorry you witnessed those creatures’ terror, there’s no erasing such memories. Sadly,we’ve both seen far too many (ONE is too many!) animals suffer because of inconsiderate people.
Yesterday I read your reply and didn’t respond because I was too focused on the negative in the whole topic to see the balance or good about it. Hopefully your morning has been as lovely as mine today, and you’re looking forward to a bright day ahead .
As I look back at how many animals we have personally been able to help, there have been more successes than failures in terms of their being given comfort, long or short term.
And on the broader subject of wildlife refuges, they have accomplished most of what Teddy Roosevelt intended them to when they were established – species of plants and animals, grasslands, marshes, forests, bodies of water etc. preserved/restored by good management of resources, land, herds and flocks.
Yes, that involves hunting, roads for access to that and for viewing of wildlife by the public, and that can by upsetting. Still, with the money collected from permits to do those things they are able to buy more land that animals and plant life need to thrive.
The trend with manufacturers of rv’s, motorized and trailers, is to now include set ups, wiring and plugs for easy installation of solar power.
So, today I do see reasons to hope that the things we care about have a good future ahead 🙂
Good morning, weather,
Thank you for the hopeful message. We blogorinos fussing about our concerns and irritants gives the impression that “Woe is me! All is lost!” I appreciate you sending light into dark.
Something I’ve grappled with in writing blog posts is how to write posts that give an honest view of what it is like to live as a full-time vagabond. When I include the things that are less than stellar, the very mention of them gives more importance than they hold in my real life. I’ve learned not to mention stubbing my toe in order to avoid an online panic. (A bit of exaggeration there to make my point.) However, if I only write about lollipops and roses, that gets old fast and isn’t true.
We had a good vent, a purging, a cleansing…. Whatever one calls the times we grumble and spew, I think that’s healthy once in a while.
When I look at the totality of this stage of my life, I have much more to celebrate than to gripe about! All of us have our struggles. So, too, do the wildlife. Like you, I appreciate that there are places such as this refuge.
Thanks, weather, for reminding us to be aware of that which is good.
I agree weather. I have never understood why hunting, fishing and off roaders are allowed within a wildlife refuge boundaries.
I agree as well. I thought wildlife refuges we just that, a refuge, where the animals could roam freely without endangerment disruption from the loons of the world. Where are the authorities?
The “authorities” have no authority to restrict the use of generators or ATVs.
Thanks for sharing our concerns, DJ and Barbara, see my reply to Sue (above) for a more hopeful outlook . I’m wishing us all a nice day 🙂
I’m guessing the guy with the ATV could have used some exercise.
Hi, Lisa…. Good guess.
Good move. I’m glad it turned out even better 👍
Yeah, me, too. Even the view is better here. 🙂
Bonus!
You have have the perfect knack for making lemonade from lemons. Glad you found a nice new peaceful site.
If I ever get to RV, I plan on using solar. If I feel I can only do a small van type RV, I will probably go with a LP generator. I think they are supposed to be quiet.
Love the photos.
Thanks, Barbara. The wonderful thing about solar is there’s no gas can to fool with. Besides the quiet, of course.
Aren’t LP generators connect to the propane tanks? do you know if they are quiet when running? What about the micro-quiet generators? I do still prefer to have solar.
Yes Barbara a LP generator is run by your RV propane tank. There are gas and diesel generators as well. My Leisure Travel Van has a 2500 propane generator installed at factory. Enough so if needed I can run AC or microwave or if it’s been cloudy I can bring batteries up so I can run my Cpap all night on battery.
You always seem to find a better spot….thanks to mr cheapo generator….you’re all set.
Photos of your grill creations please.
At the lake…locals always looked forward to the day after Labor Day. Ahhh peace and quiet….until the snowmobilers usually from Jersey arrive in the winter.
I’m a firm believer that the weekend warriors absolutely lose their minds during that time only to contract Sunday grumpies…realizing Monday they are back in the ratrace.
Have a great relaxing evening…boy the sunsets are amazing!
Thank you, Cinandjules.
You want to see my griddleworks? I tell you, some of my tostadas are disgusting to look at and oh soooooo good! I made the crispiest, little cheese quesadillas this morning. When I was done eating, I said to the griddle, “You have changed my life!”
Yes, I talk to the griddle. I’m in love with the griddle. Try to take it away from me and you DIE.
Well, they say there’s a silver lining in every cloud! I like neighbors, but not noisy ones. When I was a member of National Campers and Hikers, I wrote a poem comparing tenters to rvrs. I wish I could find it now.
I wish you could find it, too, Pat. I hope you weren’t too hard on us RVers. 🙂
I agree with you, Sue, that gensets, for the most part, are aggravating. The newer Honda/Suzuki generator/inverters are really quite – sitting in a pickup bed, they are not heard until till just a few feet away. We run solar panels, but sometimes, even in the summer, we have too much cloud cover to make much juice…
What rips me is the RV (toads) that open the black water tank valve as they drive off down the road out of the campsite. Had that happen to me twice, once at Summit Lake and another up by Denali Park. I have to figure it is out-of-state tourists that simply do not care as they think they will never be back.
Eons ago while in college, I was camping at a FS campground outside of Phillipsberg MT when one of these behemoths pulled in (right next to the tent camping area – of course) – fired up the genny and started watching the TV. If that wasn’t enough, they left early in the next morning (no generator) but did dump the black water tank. If only I had thought to get a license plate…. I was lucky that the waste didn’t invade my tent.
On the plus side, we have met many nice folks that understand that the outdoors has to be ‘heard’ (cue wind in the trees) to be enjoyed. Many campgrounds here have really cracked down on noisy generators, with some banning their use altogether.
As always, loved the images.
Hi, Don,
Interesting comment. That bit with letting the black waste out when leaving has got to be the worst thing I’ve ever heard. Fortunately I’ve never seen that. And in such glorious places to defile for others… Denali Park, for heaven’s sake. Some people make me sick.
When I was camped with my crew in Ashley NF, a young boy was racing his ATV in the woods behind my camp, a definite no-no. His parents were camped nearby and were aware. Well, I walked back there and took a series of photos of the boy tearing up the ground, doing jumps over a mound of earth (animal home) and just generally disregarding and disrespecting the environment. He saw what I was doing and roared away to get Mommy. Mommy shows up and asks why I’m taking photos of her son. I explained. I also added that his behavior is the kind of thing that leads to whole sections of the forest being closed to ATVers. The mother told her son to apologize and she assured me he would not be doing that any more.
I responded, after the boy apologized, “In that case, since you show a good attitude, I won’t forward these photos to the rangers at the district office.” That was the end of that episode!
Now I’m ready with a camera when anyone disrespects nature or the people trying to enjoy it. I’ve forwarded photos of ATVers tearing up a beach and busting picnic tables. The rangers and campground hosts can’t be everywhere. They appreciate our help.
Every time I see someone start up a generator next to people in a tent I get upset. It’s so inconsiderate!
There are sooo many people out there that don’t have the sense that God gave a goose and expect others to watch their kids. But woe be unto them if the kid wrecks the ATV while running around unsupervised and hurts or kills him or herself. The lawsuits will sure fly then!!
And dumping the tanks going down the road!!! Perfect time to tag someone with a hazardous waste citation!!!
People never cease to amaze me with their idiocy!!
OK! My rant is over now.
Thank you.
You’re welcome, Don. I was with you as I read every word you wrote! 🙂
Wherever we stop to choose a boondock camp, I look around at the neighbors to see if they are equipped with solar. If not, I keep looking and find what I hope is a quiet spot. Here in Tyson’s Wash LTVA, there are spots that I like.
In your case, you were there first and the new arrivals did not look and be considerate. Pretty normal, I must admit from my experience. However, life it too short to get angry, as you did, better to find a new campsite and leave the inconsiderate behind.
Wonderful that you are seeing wildlife, we are jealous.
Travel Safe…
It’s funny how we develop these skills — How to determine whether a camper is going to be a PITA simply by looking at their rig and campsite. Profiling? Oh, yeah. Ladies camping solo in vans don’t tend to keep us awake at night. 🙂
Let’s see… Tyson’s Wash is by Quartzsite, I think. ??
Yes, Tyson’s Wash is one of the LTVAs near Q. South of town, west of the highway.
Excellent luck finding an even better spot to camp. New sniffs for your co-pilots.
Reg and Rog were thrilled to find a few bones, probably from a deer or pronghorn, as people camp to hunt in the refuge. They were such big shots carrying their found treasure.
You’re not alone in your desire for peace and quiet, Sue. While on a recent vacation, I had a disturbing incident with very noisy neighbors; unfortunately, there are people who think only of themselves with no consideration whatsoever for others around them.
Hi, Eileen,
I’m sorry you had your vacation disturbed unnecessarily. It’s not just the noise that’s infuriating, it’s the vulnerable feeling that you’re at the mercy of a stranger for no good reason.
I will never understand setting out to ostensibly enjoy nature and then riding around on noisy machines and running noisy generators. That’s why I’m sacrificing house quality to buy a mobile home on five acres in the country so that I can have some peace and enjoy the nature around me.
I have been labeled a hermit and antisocial, accusing me practically of child abuse because I worked from home and homeschooled my kids. But the laugh is on them because our school day consisted almost always of walks in the woods and visits to every place we could find in this metro Atlanta area that had areas with no people! My kids love being outdoors while many of their friends hardly ever go outside and have no appreciation of nature. It’s sad.
It is so beautiful there! Those photos make me hope I can get out west one day, an overwhelming thought with heart failure and other health issues, but I have seen so little of our beautiful country, only hitting California to travel to China for my children. It’s so different there from what I see here!
Hi, Jan,
As no doubt you are aware, you have been greatly blessed, being able to homeschool your children. And you have brought countless blessings to your children’s lives by doing so.
About being called “a hermit and antisocial.” There must be some kind of tribal rule, something about the majority being superior to the minority, or at least that’s what the majority believes. I never hear negative name-calling of people who can’t be happy unless they’re in constant contact with other people. They are called “social butterflies” while the rest of us are called “hermits.”
From what I’ve seen of butterflies, not all of them flutter in groups. Some of the most beautiful ones do well by themselves, flying where there is peacefulness and beauty.
I do hope you can get out west one day. Whether that happens or not, I thank you, Jan, for choosing to join us here.
So happy you found an even better spot!
Good morning, Dawn! 🙂
Hi Sue and Blogorinos,
Wanted to give you a head’s up about the wildfires burning in southern AZ. One is the Alter Valley Fire near Sasabe, AZ. Grasslands burning but brought under control overnight. BUT there are Red Flag Wind warnings for today and crews have been pulled from there to fight the larger, more threatening Knob Hill Fire fifteen miles east of St. David, AZ in the Dragoon Mts. This is growing and plans for mandatory evacuation are in place. Knob Hill is also a grassland, brush fire.
Please be alert to these conditions. AZ wildfires were predicted to be a greater problem this year because it has been so very dry without substantial rainfall since last July. It’s an early start to what will likely be a very active season for firefighters. We desperately need some decent rainfall.
Blogorinos, if you need information about fire status, InciWeb is a good sight to use on the ‘net. It’s updated routinely and serves all the national forests in the US.
Travelers in southern AZ and using I-10 please know that when the NWS issues a Red Flag Warning (excessive winds) driving conditions can become dangerous (especially high profile vehicles) and blowing dust may result in zero visibility. I-10 travel can become restricted or even closed under these conditions. Smoke from the grassland fires will compound the problem. Monitor road conditions for alternate routes/closures. These winds can toss around semis like they are Matchbox toys so take the warning very seriously.
Okay folks, this concludes my PSA. Be aware of your travel conditions and stay safe out there!—Audrey
I appreciate your warning, Audrey, but, darnit.. You upstaged my post! Hee-hee.. That’s okay. I figured someone would.
I have a quiet Honda 2000 so I don’t have to use the noisy one in the Class C but I still take steps to not offend neighbors.I have 2 extension cords that I can use to get it 150 feet away behind boulders etc.Also, I have a folding plywood box with foam padding that can muffle it.However, I avoid using a generator unless it is critical.
There is room for everyone if we are all considerate.After all, there are those who would ban driving on the desert floor period established campsite or not,
Hallelujah, chas! At last I know of someone who makes an effort to muffle the sound of a generator. Many a time I’ve wondered why people put their generator facing other campers. I’ve also wondered why there isn’t a baffle available to purchase for one’s generator. Maybe there is, but I’ve never seen one in use.
I applaud your use of extension cords and an insulated box! You set a fine example for considerate behavior while RVing.
And yes, we all have an impact, no matter how hard we try not to. The best we can do is stay on the roads, don’t cut corners when entering and leaving a campsite or turning from one road to another, don’t leave trash, pick up the trash of others, try not to disturb wildlife and their homes, be reasonably quiet, control our pets, etc.
Hi Missy! Smile, I bear no generator! Maybe this will get that smile..
My latest Prose…
A whisper not heard
A promise not kept
Steps not taken
Too late, too late
Still one must ask…
“Paper or plastic”?
Hahahaha! You silly boy, Jim! I’m smiling! 🙂
Howdy from Missy to you and Detta….. 🙂 I have a new post ready….
Hi, Sue,
Of course, your post was great and they always are! All of the noise/generator stuff made me think of one of my “to do” list items when I leave MI and get to AZ. That is, to have an RV or Solar RV person check out my little Aliner and help me figure out what I need for solar. One yr. ago I relpaced the awful battery it came with and had a lithium ion 12V 100A battery installed along with a new converter. Works really great and I’ve never run out of juice once the kinks were worked out….long long story which included ME being the only one to figure out why the new battery wasn’t communicating with my camper. Good Grief! It happened to be an inline fuse that kept blowing as my new super battery was sending the camper so much power.
Anyhow, now I want a solar suitcase but am really, REALLY gun shy about having anyone near me, in MI, show me what will make it work with my set up. If you have any RV solar business you would suggest out west (AZ, or close) I’d really appreciate it. I want solar….
Hi, Kathy,
Thank you for the kind words about my blog.
The only solar place I know to recommend is Starlight Solar in Yuma. They are excellent. They will let you camp overnight in their lot. You can find more info on them by searching online for their website.
BLOGORINOS: Any advice for Kathy to set up a solar suitcase with her Aliner? Any recommendations for RV solar businesses?
You are the BEST, Sue! Thanks for the recommendation!!!!!
Hi Sue and Blogarinos
I’m a long time reader but rarely post. I so enjoy the pictures and the antics of the pups as well as the writing style. I had planned on spending a good deal of my older age traveling this great country with my Special needs son. Then life got in the way and 2 great grandsons, now ages 6 and 10, came to live with us; a different type of joy. For regular (RV type) generators I have a genturi which is a pipe which takes the exhaust up above the RV. This muffles it a lot. Unfortunately my son can’t handle much heat or cold so we use the generator a lot to run the A/C. We do try to be courteous to the area and people and understand these places are for enjoying nature.
Hi, Jim,
Great to hear from you! Thank you for being “a long time reader.” I also thank you for the reminder that a generator may be necessary for an RVer’s health and comfort, and, in fact, to make it possible for a person to get out into natural surroundings. You are thoughtful to use a genturi (a word I never heard of before!) to muffle the noise.
I like your description of raising great grandsons — “a different kind of joy.” God bless you, your son, and your entire family.