Before we leave Ajo, I stop at Belly Acres RV Park.
A friendly couple manages the place. The gentleman pumps propane into the one empty tank. I walk with him over to the little office to pay for 4.2 gallons of propane, as well as an additional $10 for the use of the dump station and the hose for potable water.
As I write a check for $25.05, the gentleman begins to inform his wife that I bought propane from them previously in order to let her know my check is good. His wife cuts him off. “I know who she is. I remember her. She’s the lady who knows what she’s doing.” We laugh. I’ll have to remember that the next time I do something really dumb.
Dumping is successful.
Considering the condition of my much-abused sewer hose, I’m surprised no catastrophe occurs. Over time I’ve carelessly twisted both ends loose. In fact, the end that goes into the sewer hole falls off as I set up. Oh well.
I put the end of the hose with no fitting on it in the hole,secure it with two big rocks, dump, and then throw the sewer hose in the trash. It’s a Rhino-flex, the best on the market, but I can wreck anything and without really trying.
After filling up the water tank, I walk next door to Kord’s Auto Repair.
In my hand I hold the connector for the cable that runs power from the PTV to the BLT. I ordered it online. It replaces the connector that bumped along for several miles on the pavement of an interstate several months ago. (See what I mean about wrecking stuff?)
I watch the repair guy carefully.
He discovers that it’s not necessary to do any soldering as I had anticipated from reading the instructions. I watch him remove the old and attach the new. The next time it needs to be replaced, I’ll do it myself and save $19.50!
I back the BLT out of the garage area.
To get out of there I have to back up through a one-lane-wide gate, and immediately turn, still backing up, to avoid the row of customer cars beyond the gate. While backing, I recall something I read recently. I think I read it on a blog or a forum.
Someone mentioned that they had their travel trailer for over a year and hadn’t backed it up yet. They always camped in campgrounds and had to find a pull-through site. That’s about the craziest thing I’ve ever heard!
The crew and I head north on Highway 85. My spirits are high.
I get a freedom rush.
I always enjoy that stretch of road from Ajo to Gila Bend, coming or going. The mountains on both sides jut up from the flat desert plain making strange and dramatic horizons.
I stop halfway to Gila Bend and let the crew walk around. Spike and Bridget were so good waiting for me to complete all those tasks back in Ajo.
We stay on Highway 85 through Gila Bend to Buckeye.
At Interstate 10 I take the eastbound ramp. Two exits later we go down the ramp to Wal-Mart. What a busy place! And a very big, Super-Wal-Mart, the nicest I’ve ever been in.
And I’ve been in a lot of Wal-Marts in the past few years.
Each one gives clues to the character of the region it serves. This particular Wal-Mart stocks up on the hard liquor. A LOT of booze. I pass an island of Jack Daniels on the way to the pet department! Whoa! An entire aisle on the grocery side is devoted to liquors and wines! Bottles of Smirnoff vodka beck0n at the check-out! Buy me! Buy me!
We return to the interstate and head west.
Our destination? BLM land at Saddle Mountain! I take the exit at Tonopah, pass a huge RV Park, and continue on into the desert on Salome Road. Salome turns onto Courthouse Road. 
Soon I see the BLM posts indicating 14-day free camping. There are four dirt lanes off to the left (south side) of Courthouse Road. I take the third road.
When it looks like I might encounter a no-turn-around situation, I park the PTV and let the crew out. 
Bridget and Spike have slept most of the morning and now they want to help me check this road. We walk past several campsites with fire rings. We discover that the road is good for quite a way.
Absolutely no one is here!
We walk up toward the mountain and back again.
I don’t want to camp too close to the mountain. It might block signal from a cell tower. The sky is very overcast, but the temperature is warm and comfortable.
I pick a campsite and do the basic set-up chores.
Later, as I sit at my laptop (two bars go to four bars with my antenna up!), I notice a dramatic change in the light outside. I rush out to see. The mountain that was dark when we arrived (see photo with Spike, above) is now glowing with light!
I wait and watch as the sun sets behind a hill. Bridget and Spike come out to be near me. I turn and look to the north. It is completely quiet, peaceful, serene.
This is a great camp. The crew and I are going to like this place!
rvsue
Thinking we might do some boondocking in Arizona next winter!
Great! There are many choices . . . wide open spaces and free!
As you notice other RV folks that have trouble towing and backing, you will come to realize that your towing and trailer handling is in the top 10% of the RVers on the road. Congratulations, it opens a lot of options when you handle vehicles as well as you do.
Thank you, Barney. I find it hard to understand why it is so difficult for some people to do. I suspect they defeat themselves (in their minds) before they start. It’s not that hard to do. Nice compliment, though. 🙂
You do totally rock the backing up thing RVSue! It’s basic physics too which some of us just don’t have basically, You might think we know some, sticking to the ground and all, but in some minds.. not sticking at all. 🙂
I remember you knowing that some people have reasons that make it not as easy as it is for you, not saying it’s easy. Thank you as always for knowing people are different. I’m very “hard of seeing” OK, new term? Visually impaired? No, I’ll stick with blind as a bat even with heavy bifocal glasses, have been all my life. Todd backed the trailer in the other evening telling me he couldn’t see a thing, relied on my voice, payed no attention to my hand flailing or anything else he could (or couldn’t) see, but it was fun for me. RV was 3 inches from me and that’s the most straight parking I have ever seen, anywhere. Maybe he could feel where I was? He did go very, very slowly though. I’ll do it later by the sound of his voice.. maybe, no, yeah!
In our minds and everywhere – anything is possible. What is up with this sticking to the ground stuff? 😉
So much love to you and the crew! “Keep on rockin’!” Can’t wait to see where we (you) end up next!
I love your friends here too and especially Rattlesnake Joe!
Go RVSue, go! YAY!
Hi Carrie . . . I do understand that backing up a trailer would be beyond what people with impairments would be able to do. I throw out these statements in my posts without stopping to consider that not everyone is as fortunate as I am or has the capabilities that I have. I appreciate the reminder.
I like your spunk! Yes, the people who enter this comment section are super. I’m glad you’re one of them!
Aaw thank you RV Sue! I’m glad to be one too!
Na, I don’t think you need a reminder at all, just commenting. We all know with a lot of people backing is a mental hurdle and though I have a good excuse even with perfect vision I think it would be intimidating. I also think you would definitely give me the courage to do it. 🙂 I don’t drive much. My 19 year old little car has 138,000 miles on it and they weren’t all mine. I hit curbs in it as if I get points for it but I swear if something’s taller then that I won’t hit it.
Take care and we’ll see you soon! Where oh where will you be? It’s so exciting! Of course I love your pictures too! Thanks again!
Reminds me of when you first got the BLT. I recall some friendly folks helping you back up into a spot for the first time somewhere. You’ve come a long way since then in terms of mastering the mobile lifestyle.
Yeah, that was Paul and Reine from Plano, Texas. They camped next to me and helped me with my first back-in, my first camp set-up and my first breaking of camp. Very nice folks. They even had me over for dinner.
Love your new location! Sure is going to be quiet. Don’t forget to take lots of saguaro pictures for me.
I will! I will! Once the clouds go, the light here is wonderful…
Absolutely stunning!
And I haven’t shown you all of it yet.
Looking forward to more!
Magnifico! Just had to put that last photo on my desktop!!
The desert sky is an endless source of delight. I’m happy to share it through my photos.
Arizona and California cannot be beat. BUT AZ does beat CA when it comes to fuel prices!
Unleaded gas (87) was $3.88 in Ajo and $4.03 in Gila Bend (Love’s truck plaza).
Sue, you are living in a National Geographic Calendar! So beautiful! Glad you arrived safely! Geri
That’s a good way to put it. This very instant I was answering an email and thinking… I bet Geri’s going to comment before I can answer her email! Lots of news from your end… I’ll write before going to bed tonight!
I love it when the sun shines and brings the life out of things that usually look dark and lifeless. I am learning a whole new appreciation for the desert. Especially if I sit quietly and just watch.
This is a quiet place where watching the light will keep me amused, camera in hand!
Sue, I have been planning to camp very near to you and will leave for there probably on Thursday. I am following a book that lists the best wildflower blooms in Arizona and he suggests there are two areas very close to you that are famous for their wildflowers. This is the only website I could find that talked about it:
http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/places/saddle_mountain.html
The picture isn’t very good but it can be spectacular in a good year. This should be a good year because of all the rain we had this winter. The name of the book is “Photographing Arizona’s Wildflowers–A Guide to When, Where and How” by Paul Gill and Colleen Miniuk-Sperry. You can get it on amazon.com.
I know you like your privacy so I won’t intrude, but I would love to get to meet you sometime.
Bob Wells
Sure, Bob, come on over!
I’ve seen photos of the yellow poppies that grow around here, usually in March. I believe they’re seen on the southeast side of the mountain and we’re camped on the northwest side. I’ve been planning a search for them. I need to research the roads on that side of the mountain to see if they’re passable by the PTV. The heavy rains have washed out a lot of roads in the desert.
I look forward to meeting you on Thursday. Hope the flowers bloom!
Sue, you have found another beautiful place! Love the pics. FYI….expecting a rain storm at the end of the week…watch for flash flood areas…can’t wait to hear more of your adventures.
Hi Joan… I’m warned and will be watchful.
Looks like a great place to be, and lots of fresh places to explore for the crew!
I’ve already found some places I want to hike…. stay tuned for photos! Ha!
I’m not a remote camper. I’m not much of a desert camper. We like different stuff. I read your blog a bit in the summer when I was in Oregon. Quit reading your blog … because we like different stuff.
Why? you ask am I telling you this? BEeeecause I got stymied. I decided I’d read your blog again. I needed prodding today. cold ~ windy ol day. A lot of people tell me about you ~ I say yes, I know of her and have read her blog. We like different stuff. she makes me tired! all that towing and todoing and walking and so forth ~ yes I know she does it like ringing a bell ~ still makes me tired.
I saw this post! gorgeous! love the way you caught the light on the mountain. that was one of the most wonderful sights in the desert …. the shadows and light. I’d be driving along and see the rain in the distance … a wall of rain … and a double rainbow in the desert? jeeeeeeeez that was gorgeous. I’m a sucker for double rainbows…. but in the desert ~ you can almost see the pot.
nature is spectacular and I consider it my pal. never lonely. the sunrises wake up that muddled ol brain of mine and the sunset reminds me that it’s been rising and setting way before I was born …
anyway … I went back to the beginning of your blog … I’m almost through with 2011. BUT just wanted to say thank you … you lay it all out there ~
AND you got my gypsyness on the move again. You’re really an inspiration. You get er done… I’m merrily reading along … let’s see you’re at Coyote Creek State Park! You love it… I’m reading to understand why… 😉
I love your spirit …
Carolyn….. Only YOU control YOU…. NO ONE in charge but YOU! NO ONe makes anyone else do anything…..
This is true, Elizabeth … However, I’m the kind of kid that needs a good prodding ever now and then. I get mucked down in the mire… Oh, the ever yucky mire … 😉
Sue’s a good prodder ~ I’m sure she doesn’t wish to be a prodder after having gone back and read her beginnings… laugh out loud …. BUT she is.
I’m happy to be a motivator for you, Carolyn. Enjoyed your comment. I disagree with one thing… I believe we are very much alike in one very big way. Your words: “Nature is spectacular and I consider it my pal” expresses what I feel also. Not that I live OUT IN IT or dig roots for my supper… I love to observe nature and see its beauty in many forms, just as you do.
So I say to you, “Go gypsy, girl!” and thank you for reading my blog and commenting here.
Looks like a great place to camp for a week or two !! And I think you should meet Bob. I love his blog as well ! So informative.
Yes, Bob writes a great blog with interesting topics and discussions. This is a great camp because there are many different hiking trails on the level Bridget, Spike, and I enjoy.. . Two-track lanes, not too steep. (No ropes needed! Ha!)
Oops, I just noticed the title of the book is “Wild in Arizona: Photographing Arizona’s Wildflowers–A Guide to When, Where and How”
Bob
Out walking with the crew today. The bladderpot are springing up but not at the blooming stage yet. I guess they need more warm weather. Maybe your arrival will bring on the flowers!
Hmmm liquor down the isle of Walmart might be because to the NASCAR race track not too far from there and close to UOP football stadium north on 101. AZ still has the mentality of wild wild west…we tote our guns, drink to excess, & party hardy during any sport events. During the superbowl, I saw mountains of booze stacked at Costco so apparently it’s not just Walmart.
Do Spike and Bridget get insecure when they arrive at a new & unfamiliar camp? My dogs do and they’ll stay close by me. I’m sure Spike will be so happy to return to soaking in water this summer. Take care and safe travels.
You might have the explanation for all the booze.
Bridget and Spike have become accustomed to new surroundings. They’re security comes from the PTV, the BLT, and me. One of the first thing I do when arriving at a new camp is put their outside bed on the ground. That signals them that we are staying.
What a lovely blog! Found you on the SKP Forum this morning…. Want to let you know that I am
a native of AZ…. Your pictures are wonderful! Now I know your blog is as well! I love knowing
women who are self-sufficient!
Twenty-nine years ago, in the Spring…about this time of year, I began my FT RV Life…out of
Sedona, AZ, in a sparkly metallic purple 1976 VW “House Car”….. Not a pop-up. On both sides,
“The Astrology Store; Co-Creating Cosmic Consciousness” was very artfully written in black
lettering….
That was my only home for about the next three years… Then a Class-C 25′ Suncrest with one of
the first diesel engine conversions… I had so much room…. for awhile! That was my home for the
next 15 yrs. Since then my home has been a 32′ Diesel Pusher that is still my only home….
At this point in my life, I am 81 yrs old and not wanting to travel in my MoHo… I will go wherever
I want to in my little car…
This is enough for now… except I want to tell you where my rig is parked.
In late October of 2000, I bought a leasehold lot in the Escapees Co-Op park in Lakewood, NM,
called “The Ranch.” It is located in S.E. NM about 16 miles south of Artesia and 26 miles north of
Carlsbad. The Ranch is located sort of in the middle of a ranch and surrounded by other ranches.
The end of this month, about March 23rd we are having what we call a “Spring Fling” to celebrate
the 30th anniversary of our park…. Check us out on the Escapees website…..
The Ranch has been my home base for a bit over 12 years…. I play an awesome arranger keyboard and love having other players visit and enjoy jamming. I play for our daily Happy Social
Hour from 4 till 5 p.m. daily…. except I do not play on Sundays….
Come on over for a visit “rvsu”….. I love your blog…. know another SU who has a blog… The Traveling Alchemist.” She is in Tucson, in a Condo now…no more rving…she plays banjo….Neat
lady!
Thanks for being out there in Cyberland! Hugs from Elizabeth aka E2/etwo…..
Wow, Elizabeth, you have had a very cool life doing what sounds like just what you wanted.
Hello, Elizabeth, and welcome to my blog! I am very pleased to have you with us. My little sojourn doesn’t come close to the adventures you’ve experienced in your life…. and you continue to be a “live wire” at the Ranch. I’ve driven by there and know where it is. Sounds like you have a lot of fun!
I know where you can get a new Rhino Flex pooper hose………..at the top right corner of this page there is a shopping link..click there and shop away! 🙂
Ever wonder why the pooper hose was designed with ribs in it? It’s not like you’re going to be “miles” from the dump hole. When you have full hook ups..it’s right there….and when you pull up to dump the tanks it’s right there! I think ours compacted to around 6 ft including the attachments (which was plenty)…then it went into the square bumper behind the rig.
For the longest time, we didn’t poop in our rig because we didn’t want the poop to get hung up in the ribs. Then we figured if we let the grey water tank fill all the way up…it would rinse away everything.
Walmart in AZ sells hard liquor? Cripes…we can’t even buy an avacado.
Once again………nice backyard!
CinandJules, Just FYI, Amazon Affiliates are not allowed to purchase via their own links. It violates the Amazon Affiliate Program terms of service…
WHAAATTTT??? Will I never!!
Not only are family not permitted, neither are friends. Anyone who emails me frequently is considered a friend. Amazon crawls all over my address book, my emails sent and received, and if there is a frequent pattern of emails from a party and they also buy through my links, it’s possible that Amazon will consider that a violation of the terms of service.
That’s one reason I’m glad I didn’t publicize my email address.
Err…uhh…gulp! Now you say something!
Jules’ and I share everything….two of each……..ya smell da smoke?
Remember… I have the UPS problem. I ordered one when at Ajo and it was sent back as “undeliverable.”
I figured you might head south to Organ Pipe NM but maybe you’ve already BTDT.
The Darby Well Road area is similar to Organ Pipe. I’m not done exploring Darby, no need to drive down to Organ Pipe yet.
Nice spot, again. Love the sun on the mountain in the one picture. I have a question and you might of answered it before on a previous post, but how do you lock up the Casita when you leave it and go into town? Do you ever have a fear that it will be gone when you come back?
Ginger…Las Vegas
I lock the door and the coupler lock is always on and locked. No, I don’t fear it will be gone. I don’t worry about things like that. Doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen.
Unfortunately nothing lasts forever, especially sewer hose. I always carry an extra for emergency back up. And I don’t back up well but can do it with enough time, patience and no hecklers. Just need more practice. Loving your new camp!
The trick with backing up is go slowly, correcting as you go.
My camp is nothing compared to yours!
I learned how to back atrailer with a horse trailer about the same size as your Casita, good length!!!
Towing horses would intimidate me. I’d be nervous about stopping too quickly.
So glad you like your new spot. We were farther down (up?) that road from your spot, closer to the mountain. The ‘fork’ up the road leads all the way around the mountain, but those deep gullies (dry creek beds) bout require an ATV to drive them. We’re at Snyder Hill BLM at Tucsan. Not too pretty but tolerable ’til Friday. Jeff shopped here today in the largest Wal-Mart food section he’s ever seen! Got to 80 today – under clouds & had to dig out some shorts!! Stay safe.
Glad you made it to Snyder Hill okay.
I don’t like to camp close to a mountain because of shadow and blocked cell signal. In fact, I may move even further away from the mountain because there’s a hill to the west that blocks the sunset.
Yes, it is warm, but the Southwest is great… walk into the shade and it’s cool with a breeze!
Your new spot looks fabulous, so open & peaceful. As always, thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, CT!
Your post sure looks good this morning…I was to head back to Arkansas today with the TC but put it off due to a storm moving in..Boy am I glad I did! It is snowing to beat the band here in Northern Virginia and not going to let up to late this evening..One of the benneys of being retired is that nothing is written in stone so I will just leave out Friday. I am wishing I was in the middle of the desert today!! Be safe and enjoy your new site..
Snow? What’s that?
Safe travel back to Arkansas, Ron.
I live in Montana normally but come down to Arizona to visit my mom and do some rockhounding. Just thought you might want to know you can find fire agate in the Saddle Mountain area. Don’t know if you are a rockhound but it’s kinda cool.
Thanks for mentioning that, Diane! I did a search on fire agate to see what it looks like. I found some small pieces that look like agate with hardened bubbles and is translucent, some have shell pattern. Also found a rock that looks like clear crystals.
The clear crystals would be quartz crystals. Fire agate looks like you described and sometimes you can see the color from the fire part in a layer under the bubbles. The shell and bubble patterns are typical of fire agate. When you look for fire agate look for the red, orange, brown, iridescent colors although sometimes they hide under the layers of white opaque chalcedony so they aren’t as visible.
I should come over and check the area out again, haven’t been there in a year although I have a lot of that material (though for a rockhound there’s never too many rocks in the pile…lol).
Thanks, Diane.
Hi Sue!! Beautiful new camp! I’m following everywhere you go on the atlas.(gathering ideas) Can’t wait till April 1st!! (1st day of retirement) We’ll be heading in your direction to check things out. I’m thrilled you are going to meet Bob Wells!! His blog is my other favorite that I follow!!! The two “BEST” vandwellers blogs !!!!! Hope you have a GREAT visit with him. Be safe, enjoy and hug the “crew” .Dixie
Hi Dixie… Not much longer for you to wait! Bob seems like a fine fellow. I’m sure I’ll enjoy meeting him.
I’m having difficulty responding to comments, ever since late last night. The signal is excellent. My computer keeps telling me it can’t find the browser… I’ve restored and done several other tricks, but every time I write a reply it’s dropped instead of posted. Frustrating! Thanks for your comments. I’ll let ol’ Dell rest for a bit and try later. In the meantime, you have a great day! The crew and I hiked all morning and now we’ve crashed… Lots of snoozing going on.
I don’t know if you already do, but it’s a good idea to delete your browser history and cookies every once in awhile.
Go to Start,
Control panel,
Network and Internet,
Internet options,
then under browsing history push delete button,make sure everything is checked.
(remembered password will be deleted, which they should be because it makes it easy if you get your hacked.)
Push delete then your done.
I usually do it once a week because so many sites put cookies on you.
Disregard if you already do this. Have fun at your new place Sue.
The browser history was set up to delete automatically once a week, but not all the boxes were checked. Thanks for the advice, Laurie.
Would the same apply to us who have apple pc, or just for the window users.
Not familiar with Apple pc Dominick it’s just for Windows. I do think a couple people on here use the Ipad so maybe they can comment.
Laurie … I have a Mac ~ using Firefox as my browser ~ select Preferences under Firefox then select Privacy … this screen enables you to select what you want Firefox to do.
I have Clear history when Firefox closes checked ~ pain in the patoo to reenter passwords and IDs as well as my Blog ~ I have to tell it not to track my own page views.
But I feel safer when I’m traveling with Firefox erasing everything after I log off. I do all my stuff online…
You can also empty the cache as well as limit the MB of space by again selecting Preferences then Advanced then Network … there you’ll see the cache clearing stuff.
If you don’t use Firefox but use Safari? it’s similar … I forget what Safari uses for Preferences … maybe the same
Also, Sue, thanks for your response to my comment 😉 ….We are indeed nature lovers … hA ~ I don’t do Euell Gibbons stuff either … you remember him?
A good program to use is LastPass. You can download it for free and it will remember all of your passwords for you. You only have to remember the one password for the lastpass site. That way if you delete your history and cookies all the time you don’t have to worry about entering all the passwords again. It can also help you generate more complex, less hackable passwords. My engineer brother and my computer savvy sons insisted it was a must to have and more secure.
Haven’t heard of that one, Donna ~ sounds good. I subscribe to Google Drive which has Keychain to store passwords. I just don’t want to store passwords electronically ~ I travel. I have a MacBook Pro laptop …. if it should get stolen or I lose it… oh, baruther! I just don’t want my passwords stored all together…
Should my CRSing increase … I have them and all the other stuff, stored in notes on my iPhone bearing no resemblance to passwords or IDs… I amuse myself being sooooo clever. Also on my Mac I use the little Stickies to store information the same way.
If a hacker could decipher my silliness … they surely have too much time on their hands as well as being pretty desperate to steal my paltry hundreds.
The other main reason is I don’t want CERTAIN family members to access a bunch of stuff. especially my private blog… oh, lord! and the main certain one is a former programmer. 😉
Beautiful morning in Sun City today. Can’t believe we are supposed to have rain tomorrow–oh, well, we sure as heck need it. In my 50 years of driving the only wrecks I have ever had are when I have been backing up. That is my main fear of RVing. The tow vehicle goes one way and the trailer goes another way–probably into some unsuspecting soul just sitting there, so glad to hear it is not a problem for you. I would imagine I could find a nice big parking lot and practice until I got it right. You remind me of the pioneer women from 150 years ago–I love to read books about these sturdy women who could do anything. Your blogs give me hope that I can do it, too.
Hi Pat…
That’s right… “The tow vehicle goes one way and the trailer goes another.” Simple solution… Drive the trailer the opposite of where you want it to go!
Oh, I’m not even close to being like the pioneer women. They were tough!
Yeah, rain doesn’t seem likely with this blue sky above. The desert often fools me though.
Batton down hatches and make ready for foul weather Matey!!!! Fri and Saturday thunderstorms (mostly Fri) and rain on Saturday. Watch those washes, when the H2O comes down those mountains the washes fill quickly and every year someone gets in real trouble or killed in the flood. Good day for reading.
Okay, Jim… We’ll stay on high ground!
Hi RVSue — I’m trying to get in touch with you via email, however, I can’t find any contact information on your page. I might have missed it completely! Would you mind connecting with me at logan.lloyd at goodsam.com?
Thanks!
Why don’t you comment in public GoodSam Logan?
Mick, that web address is for the Good Sam road side assistance he is probably going to ask that we don’t complain about bad service.
Exactly!
Thank you, Laurie and Mick. If Logan would like to defend Good Sam roadside assistance, I invite him to do so here as I’m interested, being a paying customer.
Lovely new location … always enjoy your desert photos. I look forward to some real stunners when the spring blooms appear. The pressure is on ! :>)
What is your primary resource for finding these boondocking locations ?
And a doggy question for you …. what kinds of little critters are you mindful of when walking the dogs? I don’t mean coyotes and animals, I mean scorpions, black widows, etc. Are they a big enough issue to think about? I lived in Vegas for 4 yrs and knew to be careful when I moved a board or rock but never thought of them in terms of walking dogs thru the desert. Thanks.
My primary reason for finding these boondocking locations is to be away from people. The second reason is I like free better than pay. The third reason is boondocks are places that are fun to explore. The fourth reason is civilization gives me a headache.
I don’t think about critters when I hike with the crew. Obviously I try to stay aware of where a snake might be and I keep out of snaky places. We don’t climb rock piles and such. I don’t think about scorpions unless I’m collecting firewood or Spike is nosing around in stuff lying on the ground.
So far Bridget and Spike have avoided any problems with biters, stingers, or cactus thorns.
Thanks… I was worrying about bugs; hadn’t considered snakes.
As for my boondocking, my question was what RESOURCE do you use to find these locations, … BLM web site? book? Perhaps you read Resouce as Reason.
Oops! Sorry about that… reading too fast. It’s hard to say what my primary resource for boondocking is. I found this place by looking at my Benchmark atlas, seeing all the BLM land in the area, then doing an online search for “boondocking Tonopah” and reading the sites that came up. Then I met Glenda and Jeff and they had just left Saddle Mountain and they confirmed it was a good place.
I don’t keep a list of boondocking websites. I rarely go directly to the BLM website. I don’t use a book. I search online as explained above and read the top websites, blogs, etc. that appear. I also pick up ideas from other RVers who boondock. I’ve called or dropped by a BLM office or National Forest office, too.
I wondered if it might be the Benchmark Atlas. Good to know.
I too admire the way you easily tool around in that large van AND tow a TT. My weakness is that I have to be able to see out the back window; if I have to use the side mirrors I’m screwed. I don’t know what it is but when I rely on the side mirror, I have no sense of distance or depth perception so I have no freakin’ clue how close I am to that post! Hopefully it’s a skill I will acquire … or else I’ll have to buy some large training bumpers for the back of the trailer !!
And congrats on your Feb financials. Sweet. You’re such a great role model for us fulltimers in training!
We stayed at Belly Acres last month and found it well maintained. The couple that manages it was quite friendly and the showers were hot. It was nice being 1/2 block from the grocery store, too.
It’s a handy place, clean and friendly, too.
Hey Sue,
Love your Blog and am sure to read everyday. I helped build and startup that power plant in the distance. At the time in 03 we stayed at the Destiny RV park near Goodyear. I used to drive by where you are everyday and always wanted to stay there, but, my wife is not the boondocking type. Tis a shame.
Keep on keepin’ on.
Tom
Interesting, Tom. It’s a small world! I notice the cars on Courthouse Road, buzzing along in the morning and late afternoon. It must be used by people going to and from work only, because by 7 p.m. no one is on that road.
Thank you for reading my blog and letting us know a little about you.
Wal Mart sells that sewer hose as I purchased one last spring in the Apache Junction store…. They also have booze in the aisles between the grocery part and the merchandise part…. We seem to like our booze in AJ.. Mesa on the other hand must have some stringent rules as their booze is in a little section between the checkout counters… Only one way in and its right next to a checker… Must be the city’s rules they are dealing with…. LOL…
I would love to consider a towable at some point, but I fear that I wouldn’t be able to learn how to back it. I do good to back my little red wagon (HHR)…. people tell me it can be learned and mastered, so perhaps I’ll find some kind and patient soul to teach me. 🙂
Excited about the relocation under way!! Safe travels.
Ms. Minimal
If you can get the fear and doubt out of your head, you’ll learn how to back up a trailer in a short time. Approach it with “I can do this” and you will!
Best wishes for your transition . .. .