Busy, busy, busy today!
The crew and I will leave Congress Camp in the morning. We’ll be off to find another desert boondock. All day my feelings vacillate between wistfulness at leaving and excitement at what we may discover tomorrow.
Before hitting the road, I always evaluate our situation.
Well, we’re stocked with groceries and drinking water. The fresh water tank and the waste tanks are about half full. One propane tank is empty. The crew has a spare bag of kibble. Lots of clean clothes because we went to the laundromat yesterday.
I perform the tasks that have become routine before breaking camp.
I check the engine’s fluid levels, the condition of the air filter, and the inflation of all six tires. I wash the windshield, windows, and side mirrors. The front half of the PTV’s interior is put in order for our comfort. I make sure the awning is secure.
I dump the ashes out of the charcoal grill into the fire pit, brush the grill clean, and put it in the back of the PTV. The lounge chair, camp chair, and side table go behind the side door. I pull up the four stakes holding down the outdoor rug. I sweep and fold up the rug, wrap it with bungees, and stow it behind the other side door. I slide the rake, broom, and awning supports into the back of the PTV.
Inside I put away clutter and tidy up the kitchen, placing a small bag of trash in the PTV.
Now there’s not much more to do in the morning!
Since we’re leaving tomorrow, I’ve compiled a slideshow of photos I took in and around Wickenburg. Of course, I can’t help but include desert plants! [slideshow]
Oh boy, tomorrow we’re off to a new camp!
rvsue
P.S. I want to mention that I met reader Ron from South Dakota as he was pulling into this BLM camping area the other day. He and the lovely lady with him are camped up the lane from us. “Hey, Ron! The best campsite is yours tomorrow! Enjoy!”
Wonderful slide show, Sue. Happy trails wherever the road takes you and the crew!
Glad you enjoyed it, Marcia. I’m always happy when on a trail to a new camp!
dont know if the desert land around lake pleasant is the type of place to set up your camp-miles and miles of rocky dirt roads-there once was a spa out that way where alot of big important use to reside.-cant remember the name of that place
Hi Beryl,
I took a look at Lake Pleasant online. When I read there are 148 sites, I decided to pass. Nice of you to mention it though. If I can find a secluded spot, that’s always my top choice.
Castle Hot Springs??
I so enjoy your photo’s and comments.. thank you for the lift it gives me along with a kick to remind me I think this lifestyle is terrific!
Hi Sally… It is a terrific lifestyle. It’s great that you can make it suit you… lots of neighbors and activities or off by yourself or somewhere in between.
Can’t wait to see your new site! I know you’ll miss this one, but there are always new adventures, right? Nice slide show! 🙂
Hi Cheryl Ann,
I can’t wait to see our new site either! I’m not exactly sure where we’ll roost tomorrow. I have some places I want to look at, but I’m totally unfamiliar with the area we’ll be going through. That’s part of the fun!
Your great with the camera and the pen; now please show us your brush and canvas.
Hi Mick,
I don’t know what it is… I haven’t felt like painting at all this past winter, which is when I thought I’d have the slow pace to allow it to happen. Maybe photography has replaced it.
I have a great camera that a friend gave me.
Photos are such great windows into the world you are standing in… and a quick result of ones efforts to capture it… I have also gone to the photographs to capture and share what I get pleasure from. I love to draw and paint- but it takes time and set up etc.. a photo is so quick and on to the next idea.
Yeah…. short attention span!
and the 4 footers also move quick for good pictures! I have not found the secret yet to get Violet or Music to “hold that pose!” except for a quick photo shoot! 🙂
I think the others are correct, it is time for “Spike and Bridget” to write a book, that will allow you to er…focus on the photography aspect of the book. Sometimes reading your posts and looking at the pictures makes me want to chuck it all and just go do it now. But the money issue always gets in the way! (Drat!)
I know how it is, Bee. You want to have all your ducats in a row before chucking it all. It took me about 7 – 8 years before I was financially able. That’s from visualizing my dream to realizing it. Those years were so long! But the big day finally arrived. Each day you’re closer, right?
Got yourself some mighty fine photos in your slide show. Was great to see you last week & I’m sure our trails will cross once again next winter. We’ll pick up that conversation right where we left off. Didn’t figure you would make it over to the house. You & I are so much alike that way. You & the crew stay safe & we’ll be following your travels from afar. All the best from AL & The Bayfield Bunch:))
It was great to get together! We are so very much alike, Al. I had every intention of visiting you at your place. For heaven’s sake, it’s just up the road! The day would be beautiful and I’d get started on something, and there the day would slip by. “Oh, well, I’ll go tomorrow.” And then that day would go somewhere… I don’t have a Kelly to point me where I should go!
Safe travel back to Canada. I’ll continue to read your blog every day. Love you guys, including the delightful Miss Pheebs.
All kidding aside, you do have a great eye for photography. Maybe if you know where you will be next winter you can take a course in photography. I know you don’t want to be tied down, but this might turn into a good source of extra income. As my youngest tells me, “Just sayin'”.
Hmm… “a good source of extra income.” I’m hoping my Amazon links will be that for me.
Thanks for giving me another chance to remind people where to shop, Bee!
Sue,Have you ever made your way through California,Oregon and Washington? It is so beautiful there and the people are friendly.
Hello, R.J.!
I invite you to go back through the archives and read about our travels through AZ, UT, CO, WY, SD, MT, ID, NV, and, yes, California and Oregon. We didn’t make it to Washington.
We saw the Oregon coast and camped along the Rogue and near Crater Lake. And California… Mono Lake, Alabama Hills, Owl Canyon, Sawtooth Canyon, Joshua NP, Salton Sea, Borrego Springs, to Yuma, AZ. I know there’s a lot more of both states I want us to visit. Yes, I agree. Both beautiful states and friendly people.
Sue, for some odd reason, seeing all your cactus photos has made me want a small one for the RV. I saw them in Walmart one day and they all had little flowers on them blooming, so cute.
And…I wanted to tell you we made the Chicken and Green Chilies dish you had on your blog I think Nov or Dec 2011, and we all loved it. Will definitely be adding that to my recipe book.
Gee, Tammy, thanks for reminding me. I forgot all about that Chicken and Green Chilies dish. I can’t remember the recipe. I’ll have to look it up. I’m glad it was a hit!
I found the recipe! I got it from my NM friend Kathy. Here’s the post for anyone interested in an easy dish: http://rvsueandcrew.com/2011/11/09/campground-people-propane-and-an-easy-recipe/
Enjoy your blog very much, Sue ! Hope your journey on down the road finds a great location to relax and explore…. Enjoyed your list of “to dos’ before hitting the road ….. Admire your get up and goooooo attitude…. My best pal Duke and I are following you and the crew from Sarasota, Fl… All the Best….
All the best to you and Duke, Sally. Great to hear from you!
Posse up………we’re moving in the morning!
You have a natural gift when it comes to capturing whatever you point your camera at.
Don’t forget the bird feeder. Safe travels.
The bird feeder was the first thing I took care of. I wouldn’t want to go down the road with that hanging off the back. Of course, I’d probably see it in my final walk-around check, but then maybe not. I get so excited about folowing the road!
would be ease to follow you on a map if you would mark it. good web site. john in ocala,fl.
You’re right, John. I’ve tried to insert a map with no success. I’d love to have one. I think it might not work for the same reason I can’t put ads on my blog. WordPress doesn’t support it with Java or whatever.
Thanks for reading my blog and for suggesting an improvement. If anyone can help me with a map, I’m willing to set one up.
Wonderful slide show Sue, the desert flowers are so beautiful, guess we will never see them so I appreciate your photos.
Hi, Jean and Skip!
Thank you. It’s a pleasure to share the desert. The desert flowers are stunning. Those pink cactus flowers look unreal, like they’re made out of tissue paper. I was driving down a road, glanced into a subdivision and saw a flash of bright pink. Made a U-turn and went back. There they were in the landscaping of a gorgeous home for sale.
Hey, Sue! Enjoying the blog & your pics …. I love the way you talk about all the nuts & bolts of your lifestyle along with philosophical, artistic & intellectual commentary.
Just wanted you to know, I hope you don’t mind, but I shared the recipe you detailed above with my Facebook Recipe group & I certainly made sure to credit it to you …. I’ve made something similar before & I remember it being delicious.
Just for fun, I may try to fancy schmancy your recipe up a little bit with some sour cream, maybe layer in some tortillas (which I think I’d prefer to using bread & the tortillas would be baked into the sauce) , add some sliced olives, that sort of thing. I’m a “what’s in the cupboard I can add in” kind of cook.
Cheers to you and I’ll be awaiting the report (human AND canine) from the next camp!
That’s fine with me, Sherry! If you can, change the credit to Kathy Redding who shared it with me. Good luck playing with the recipe. Your ideas make my mouth water as I haven’t allowed myself sour cream or any kind of bread for many moons!
The green chili/chicken recipe I made for you when you visited us in Zion was layered with flour tortillas and lots of cheese! EZ to make ! Safe travels and great adventure on the road ahead! It’s always exciting to end up somewhere unexpected!
I remember that dish! Scrumptious . . . I think I had three big helpings.
Hi Sue,
Good luck on your newest adventure. I glanced at the numbers this morning and I see you have over half a million views and almost a thousand followers. You have a wonderful writing style and a life style many of us envy. The daytime temperatures here are reaching into the high 40’s and the snow is melting fast. I checked the furnace in the trailer yesterday and it’s working like a charm. It won’t be long now that I’ll have my pickup truck pulling my sweet mobile home down the road again. I look forward to reading your blog daily.
All the best,
Barrie
Hi, Barrie,
Great to hear the snow is melting. Before you know it, you’ll be on the road to adventure!
I appreciate the kind words about my writing. As soon as I finish replying to comments this morning, the crew and I are off to find our new camp. Not only is settling in a new area fun, but also writing about it is, too!
Happy trails, Sue! About the pics – who is the gent kneeling beside his horse (statue-wise)? I apologize if you’ve mentioned him before and I further apologize if I’m ignorant and should know b/c it’s well-known! Enjoy the drive!
Got it. For everyone: http://www.azcentral.com/travel/articles/2009/12/31/20091231wickenburg0103.html Fascinating! 🙂
Thank you, diaryqueen, for setting up that link for everyone. The “praying cowboy” is especially poignant at Easter time.
My sister was right you do take great pictures….Have a safe trip where ever you going. I am in Deming. NM It is starting to get spring here….
Hi, Barry!
I’m happy to see you’re here. Enjoy springtime in Deming. Right now it’s lovely! Regards to your sister . . .
Safe travels!! Can’t wait to see where you land!!
Time for me to find out where it will be . ..
Another beautiful camera shoot!!!! There are lot of us awaiting the first coffee table edition! And for the travelogue by the “Crew”! Drive safe. Chuck, Geri n the Boys.
I’m having too much fun to write a book. That sounds like work, something I don’t do anymore! I appreciate your encouragement.
Well, now that we’re back home (boondocked and camped from November of 2012 till just recently)
I get to live vicariously through you till we “snowbird” again next year. I’ve been reading the whole trip long about your adventures as we moved around. Were in Quartzsite, Wickenburg, Phoenix, as well as the Imperial Sand Dunes, and got a kick out of reading of your experience with that 🙂 Look forward to seeing and hearing about where you are next! Take care 🙂
So you read about the dust storm on Ogilby Road! It sounds like our paths were very close at times. I hope to have many adventures this summer with my crew, enough to keep you reading!
I’m writing this while pulled over for lunch. I forgot to mention that we may end up camping where there is no signal for internet. If you don’t hear from me, don’t worry!
Yay! I can’t wait to see where we will go next. I feel your enthusiasm vicariously. Oh, the places we will go!
We’ve arrived at our new spot! It took a lot of searching but we made it and I’m very happy with it. Trouble is I’m worn out right now. I’ll be sure to post in the morning, if not tonight. Great signal strength here.
Don’t forget to check that spare tire on both rigs from time to time…
There’s not much point in me checking the spares as I’ll never put them on. I’m not strong enough to lift tires. I have to use fix-a-flat or call emergency road service. If road service comes out, we can add air then if they need it.
Your pictures of the cacti have been most refreshing, sitting here looking out at the slags of melting snow and brown vegetation under them…but spring is coming.
Love the pictures! We are going to either Cedar Key Florida or Santa Fe in September. Do you or any of your readers know of good campgrounds(not ready to boondock yet!) around these two areas? Have a safe trip to your next destination!
Hi Sue, is your Wickenburg slideshow still available anywhere to check out?
Thanks Diane
Yes! To see slideshows, you must be at rvsueandcrew.com (dot com, not at dot net). Check the URL in the address bar. When looking at posts prior to June 2013, always go to rvsueandcrew.com which is before my blog was self-hosted. WordPress provided the slideshow feature up until June 2013.