Sunday, April 13
The Best Little Trailer is rockin’ and a-rollin’ here on a bluff in the Coconino National Forest north of Flagstaff, Arizona.
This morning the crew and I set off on a short hike.
A brisk wind blows, but we don’t let that stop us! All three of us need the exercise.
At the end of our road, I see a national forest marker which points out that I reported the wrong road number for our camp in the previous post.
We see no one and hear no one because no one is here but us!
Yesterday’s “whoosh” of the pines is now a low roar. We take a break in a sunny spot, then keep moving against the wind. It’s invigorating to be in the forest on a day like today!
Bridget, however, does not agree.
I turn around and see her several yards behind Spike and me, her gnome-like body in the middle of the road. I know what that stare means.
“C’mon, Spike. Let’s go back. I’ve had enough of this wind anyway.”
Except for brief lulls in the wind, we stay inside all day.
I can see the Painted Desert from the back window. As the day progresses the view shortens due to the wind-blown dust across the desert. I’m glad I didn’t try to move camp today.
What does one do when shut up in a tiny trailer all day?
Clean the bathroom, of course! I also go through the pile of receipts I collected for January, February, and March. I tally up all the categories, suffer a near-stroke at the total spent on raw meat for the crew, and start putting together the money reports. This takes a couple hours.
Then I take a backhoe to my purse.
Well, not really. Man, how does so much stuff end up in that black hole?
What else do I do? Let’s see . . . Oh, yeah, I eat about 137 salted peanuts. I take everything out of the food cupboard and put it back in again. I also open up my picture file and delete a few hundred duplicate photos.
I wash dishes and silverware and hang the damp kitchen towel on the antenna wire to dry. I write a postcard with a picture of a saguaro on the front to send to my aunt in New York state.
I react to Spike cuteness.
I roll him over on his back and rub his chest and belly until his lip curls ever-so-slightly into a grin. I clip the crew’s toenails which sends Spike pawing at the door to escape into the wind. Bridget doesn’t flinch. She acts like a lady having her nails done. I chase the kitchen towel over the hill.
See? There’s always something to do and there’s always something to blog about.
Why try to be relevant or opinionated or informative or exciting when the highest action of the day is chasing a dish towel in the wind? When the deepest thinking is wondering how far the PVC pole that holds up the Wilson antenna can bend without breaking in gale force winds? When the biggest thrill is seeing the bottom of my purse?
Time to close this post . . .
Actually it’s past time.
These next photos were taken during the crew’s last potty run before being tucked into bed.
This looks like a “wishing moon.”
What is your wish? Tell us. It’s okay to tell when wishing on the moon. It’s birthday candle wishes that you have to be careful with.
rvsue
NOTE: A wind advisory and a blowing dust advisory posted for Flagstaff tonight:
“A wind advisory means that sustained winds of 30 to 39 mph… or gusts from 40 to 57 mph… are expected. A blowing dust advisory means that blowing dust will restrict visibilities to between one quarter and one mile. Travelers are urged to use caution.” — wunderground.com
RVSue shoppers are the best shoppers in the world!
They know to go to Amazon from my blog.
Thanks.
Good night Sue. Goodnight Bridget. Goodnight Spike.
Goodnight R. Goodnight Colorado.
And Goodnight Mrs. Calabash!
What is that from, Don? I’ve heard it before . . . Jackie Gleason?
Jimmy Durante
“Good night Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.”
You can see who the oldies are around here. Jimmy Durante used to end his shows always with “Good night folk and Goodnight Mrs. Calabash wherever you are.”
Many rumors swirled around this mysterious lady but who knows by now, who she was.
Art Linkleter, I think.
Sorry, Sherry is right. I remember his show now.
God, I miss those shows.
Jimmy Durante… Haven’t thought of him in many years. What a unique character he was.
I’m not trying to make a sale here. Just thought this was interesting . . .
The way Durante sang that song gave me a lump in the throat.
Jimmy’s sign off was: Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, Where ever you are.
I remember Durante. He almost always had a fedora on. At the end of his TV show he’d sing a goodnight song, ending it with “and goodnight Mrs. Calabash wherever you are” then he’d walk off into the darkness where there were 4 spotlights. He’d stop in each one, turn back to the audience and doff his hat or wave.
How come I can remember all of that but can’t remember what the date is today? LOL
You guys are showing your age! 😉
I have the last movie he made on DVD, Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I always loved Jimmy. Loved Carol Burnett also. She always pulled her ear at the end of her show for her Grandmother. Love the good memories. ya’ll. Great way to start my Monday morning.
Cleaning my RV is a lot like playing house when I was little. Very enjoyable [unlike cleaning a real ‘house’]. BTW, I listed my ‘real’ house on Friday. Hope to hit the road again full time very soon. 🙂 I told my sister yesterday, ‘If I ever even think about buying another house, please shoot me!’ 😉
Hi, mockturtle,
It is like playing house! Speaking of house… good luck selling yours. You are going to be one very happy woman when it does!
Go make your wish on the moon!
Wow..gorgeous pics of the trees & sky! Sounds like a fantastic use of a day to me!! We are so looking forward to doing the same within the next year and a half, in the meantime..will keep reading your stories, links, and comments – better than any novel I have read lately! (and true)
Thanks for the compliment, Susan. It’s especially appreciated when the post is about a day cooped up inside. 🙂
Soon you’ll be living your own novel, the best one ever!
Wow, you were very busy and got a lot done! A clean bathroom and an organized purse are great rewards for all your work. I just finished sorting through the last of my “teacher stuff” that I brought home when I retired. Why I thought it was a good idea to bring that stuff home sure escapes me now. I’ve found a computer teacher friend who is still working and will make good use of it. All’s well that ends well! If I can’t eat it or use it up I don’t want it coming in my house!
Hi, Susan,
Isn’t it wonderful to be shed of all that teacher stuff? My last day I put all the stuff on classroom tables and invited teachers to come to my room and take whatever they wanted. The math stuff I put in a cabinet for my replacement.
It was great to walk away with nothing in hand except my purse… no papers to grade, no lesson plan book… just a few retirement gifts. Hallelujah!
Love your last line… 🙂
Me too. That’s what I’ve always told people about gifts. 🙂
Me three!
Wonderful post and my wishing moon wish is that I sell my property so I can hit the road!
Consider it done soon, mk. The wishing moon does not disappoint. 🙂
Now I’m wishing that for you too! 🙂
Ohhhh how I hope your right!
The spring cleaning bug strikes even when living in an RV, I see!
This afternoon, I went Krogering (everyone in the South knows that’s a verb, not a noun) and saw a daddy in a yard with his 3-year-old kid, trying to fly a kite. It’s so windy here that the daddy could get the kite to go only about as high as his head! We’re expecting storms tomorrow; not sure how severe they’re supposed to be. Gotta love springtime in the South!
I was wondering about the wisdom of hanging that kitchen towel outside when you first posted about it….
Ha! Ladybug! You anticipated the flying dish towel!
I can tell you’re from the South where a man is never a father or a dad… He’s DADDY!
(I added a note at the end of this post about our weather advisories.) My windy day post was well-timed for you!
Beautiful photos as always. I laughed about you having to chase the towel. 🙂
I look out the window and there it goes, headed for Tuba City and beyond!
Gusts here up to 60 mph. So I continued knitting a blanket for g’son,made sure the coach was all shut up did some laundry, took a walk, read blogs, played some games on internet, thus running my gigs up. Life is so exciting on windy days.
Sounds like you had a great day, too! I forgot about computer games… I played a few Spider Solitaire games myself.
Where is here? (My connection is too slow for me to look at your blog to refresh my memory.) 60mph gusts, huh? Hold on to your hat!
Have you tried to puzzle on line. Pure addiction.:))
Do you mean jigsaw puzzles? I’ve done a few of those.
Here is Anza Borrego, CA. I believe you were here last spring. As soon as John’s medical supplies arrive, we are hi-tailing it up to Blair Valley to cooler temps.
Thanks, Nan. I think we were at Anza the winter of 2012-13. It was nice there for us …. until the winter winds arrived.
Bridget does not have a gnome like body! She’s a lady of course she like her nails done!
Beautiful pictures.
Cleaning….my favorite past time is cleaning….seriously! I use a flashlight when I vacuum the hardwood floors or I miss half the dust bunnies. Two minutes later…they are back!
The crew is worth every penny er uh dollar spent. How is ms Bridget doing on her organ meat? Have you noticed change since they started this diet?
Never heard of a wishing moon…. Let’s see….I wish AO’s baby razor teeth were gone….like yesterday!
Maybe the wind will rock you all to sleep! Nite nite sleep tight! Zzzzzzzzzzzz! Sweet dreams! Have you tried letting him sleep thru the nite?
Hi, Cinandjules,
No, I haven’t tried letting Spike sleep through the night. Now that I’ve trained him, he insists on two potty breaks every night.
Bridget isn’t doing well with organ meat. I’m giving in . . . I vowed I wouldn’t cook liver, but tomorrow I’m going to try some with her. And she is a gnome. Believe me, I know. End of discussion. 🙂
There’s no such thing as a wishing moon. I made it up. Hahaha! Go ahead and wish on it anyway. What the heck.
Have I noticed any change since I switched the crew to raw meat. Yes, they want to eat all the time.
RV Sue, there is no such thing as “making it all up.” If you believe it is so, it is so!
I like that philosophy, Gayle. That’s why I’m accepting all wishes on behalf of the moon!
Not the moon….it’s a star….Disney says so…..
When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you
If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do
Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing
Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing
Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
I hope the moon has room for another wish to sell a house! When it’s gone – I’m out of here! I just need to figure out what I’ll be traveling in. So many options out there to choose from. Thank you for all of your information and inspiration! I hang on your every post to get me through until it’s my time to travel.
Hi, stampr in Indy,
Yes, this wishing moon starts out very small (see photo) and it gets bigger and bigger as it receives wishes. Your wishes are hung on the moon! You WILL sell that house and you WILL find the right rig . . .
I’m happy to be here as you dream of your own travels to come.
When wishes become global and many are thinking “stampr in Indy’s” house will sell, it will. Welcome to the road friend.
Full lunar eclipse on Monday night, actually very early Tuesday morning. Begins at about 2 a.m. Eastern time. They say the peak will be at about 3 a.m. I doubt if I will see it but you may have a better chance, with the difference in time zones, especially if you have to get up with Spike twice a night.
I love how you make the most of a day when there’s tough weather. That’s exactly why I must have my craft supplies when I’m ready to hit the road. Plus I’m hoping to use crafts as a way to earn a little extra money.
Again, I really appreciate that you list your finances. It makes me realize that I can manage to fulltime.
Thanks for telling us about the lunar eclipse.
I wish I were more timely about posting the monthly money reports. I would’ve posted January’s today but the connection is so slow that I gave up. The first quarter is ready. All I have to do is write the travel synopsis, update recurring expenses, and insert the monthly figures. Thank you for the feedback. It motivates me to get this done.
I’m glad you can apply my financial numbers to your situation. When I sold my house and hit the road, I had little idea what it would cost.
I really don’t have a good idea about what it’s all going to cost either, that’s why your lists are great references. I’ve done a LOT of research so I have a general idea but even so, I’m pretty much going on faith that it will work out. Thanks again.
It should be near full eclipse by just after 1:00 in the morning Arizona time on Tuesday. I will be up to see it. Time Spike’s potty trip to match so that you can see what looks like a fat red marble hanging over our heads. Get some photos out there where you don’t have the light pollution!!
Thanks, Connie . . . I’ll try to remember!
The whoosh of wind sound becoming a roar-I love it!I just left the longest comment on the previous post,clicked on my mail and saw new post,clicked back here and laughed.The wish on the moon will take some thought,and my last comment will take up enough of your time as it is,so for now,thanks again,altogether great post.
I read, enjoyed, and replied to your previous comment. You have time to make a wish on the moon. The eclipse isn’t until Monday. 😉
It’s just past 10pm Monday night and anxious to get my wish attached to the Maker of the moon I searched my mind for a wish there,nothing.Kept trying,nothing.Then I thought of searching my heart instead,instantly I knew ,it’s
for everyone here who is looking at the time before they can finally get in the rv ,or whatever their dream is to know this:
whatever we go through in life that’s hard ,while we’re there
we’re building the strength we’ll need for what’s ahead.
It may seem that’s not true,that we’re only being worn out.
It’s our endurance and inner strength that’s growing
at our core, we become more capable of seeing the positive,so each new part of our journey is lived with more happiness.
Try saying it out loud-“I will come out of this stronger and happier than I’ve ever been”
feels good,doesn’t it?
I opened my laptop after running outside (It’s about 22 degrees F) to take a photo of the eclipse. Your moon wish is very special as it is hung on the red moon.
🙂
That certainly elevates it!
I declare,now it’s an auspicious prophecy
I wish I were camping! – instead of cleaning MY purse, or paying MY bills, or cleaning My desk, or making a grocery list, a chore list, an errand list (yes it’s true, I’m a list person).
Apparently staying inside all day can be a good thing – look at all you accomplished!
Sweet Dreams,
Lacy
Hi,, Lacy,
Chores don’t seem like such a chore when camping. And being stuck inside due to weather isn’t so bad when the view out the windows is new and interesting.
I’m a list person, too. Well, I guess I’m half-listing… I write the list very carefully and when I get to the store I realize I left the list at home.
Have a wonderful day . . .
I’m not a list person (although my wife is), but you could say I list from one side to the other depending on which part of the body aches that day. 🙂
I spit coffee all over the keyboard when I read this post.
You are a trip girl.
Ron
I aim to destroy keyboards all across the globe . . . . Bwa-ha-haaaa!
You know one of the great things about you Sue… you clean the bathroom when the weather is crappy. 🙂
Love the post and pics always!
My wishes on the moon, good job making that up by the way, other than world peace, I wish we didn’t have the financial burdens.
Hi Carrie,
Crappy weather — cleaning the crapper. . . very cute. 😉
Your wishes have been sent to the moon!
Hi Sue! Thanks! 🙂
I love the wishing moon idea. Of course my big wish has been granted, as here I am in my new Arizona home. My friends have been a godsend, and my new floors will be done in moments. So my place is freshly painted (pale buttery yellow with white ceilings and trim throughout, except the bathroom is light lime green with white trim), and has a new lovely oak floor throughout. Very clean and fresh looking. So my next wish is that my knee gets better and I can walk more. Hope your moon can handle that!
And I agree…Bridget is quite ladylike and dainty…just a little plump.
Your new camp looks awesome. Stay warm.
Ginger, your colors are lovely! And brand new flooring along with fresh paint. . . I can imagine how pleased you are to be in your new home in the Southwest after a winter in the Northeast.
Our wishes on the moon are like prayers. . . .
Whatever the faith, I ask readers to join me in wishing and praying that Ginger’s knee shapes up quickly. Walk on, dear lady!
How on earth Sue can you still be sooooooooooo funny when chatting about such mundane things. You truly crack me up!!
Hi, Glenda . . . It warms my heart to think someone got a laugh out of my mundane activities. 🙂
BTW, What’s the weather like where you are?
Its beautiful…………lovely warm days sunny skies and lovely autumn colour wherever you look. We had big rainfalls in February which is very unusual which meant the area greened up really early. Usually we would still be looking at parched dry landscapes waiting for the Autumn rains. Nights are now cool and on cooler days thinking of lighting the wood fires.
Very pleasant indeed.
It’s trying to be Spring here, so in the spirit of wanting Spring, I also went on a housecleaning frenzy on Saturday. I clean my purse by dumping stuff I don’t want in it (grocery lists, receipts, business cards, etc.) on the dining room table, which we don’t use to dine on 🙁 so it was time to straighten that up too.
Wow – I had forgotten about “Krogering.” Did it when I lived in Arlington, TX. We had a Kroger in Milwaukee, WI when I was growing up, but they left town for whatever reason.
And my wish upon the moon/star is that all those desiring to get out there and fulltime get their wish. Even if it’s a made up wishing moon.
Hi, Marsha,
Michigan, Wisconsin…. brrrr… How do you stand the cold? I’m in Arizona and it’s too cold for me today!
Ah yes, Krogering… I used to go Krogering in Athens, Georgia. On game days it was a mad house with Georgia fans buying BBQ pork, chips, beer, and wings. I never have had any interest in football. So what do I do? I show up at Kroger on game day wearing green when every single person, including the cashiers, is wearing University of Georgia RED! The pre-game commentary was being played. Boy, did I slink out of there . . . and I’m a graduate of Georgia!
OUR GROUP WISH… Everyone wanting to become a nomad will realize their dream!
The group wish is much appreciated. I like to think of myself as a temporarily stationary nomad. Both my wife and I had truck-driving fathers, and I moved around quite a bit when I worked in radio and television. I guess you could say I was born to roam.
LOL I went Krogering just this AM, I used to have to go all the way into Athens to shop and now there’s a Kroger 4 miles from my house!
You’ve painted such a great word picture for me in this post, Sue, especially of you chasing your towel down! I envision it stuck in a tree. Ari hates it when we use the dremel on her nails–it takes two of us to wrangle her into position & keep her there! Ari would definitely understand Spike’s reluctance to get clipped! Glad you’re not traveling!
Hi, Dawn,
I should get a dremel for Spike. He’s deaf so the sound wouldn’t bother him. We have a major fight at nail-clipping time.
I’m glad, too, that we didn’t get on the road yesterday (Sunday). As the day progressed the wind and dust worsened. It may get down to 28 degrees by tomorrow morning here. The cold is widespread across northern Arizona. It’s grin-and-bear-it time!
Always good to hear from you, Dawn. Take care . . .
I kinda wondered why you headed up to the high country so early. It was a nice, somewhat breezy 88 here yesterday. Just right. Go down to 54 last night. It won’t be long though and escape or the A/C will be our way of life. Still, even then the nights and mornings will be nice. Safe travel Missy…
Hi, Jim,
Too early, too late . . . One has to cross the high country to get to the other side . . . unless I’m missing something?
I reckon you’re right. Be safe.
Just don’t waste your money on that contraption called pedi paws.
Dremel use has to start at a young age…even though Spike can’t hear he can feel the vibration.
AO gets her nails trimmed every Sunday….right now it’s a task so I try to do it while she’s sleeping. She’s a biter!
Dawn, have you tried treat rewards? We started with a couple small treats per toe. Then one per toe. Now one per foot. No resistance when the dremmel comes out now. Before we lost our Rosie the two dogs would nose each other out to be first in line.
Good luck 🙂
I’m homesick! Flagstaff, the Coconinos all that area hold some great memories from a special time. Got married 8/18 eons ago. Short honeymoon, then packed the little Horizon to the gills and drove cross country. New hubby was going to work on his masters at NAU (Northern Arizona University). It was a whole new world for us Easterners, plus being newlyweds. And pretty broke much of the time. We got forestry maps and spend weekends trying to follow them. He was a teaching assistant and led field trips to Sunset, Meteor Crater and other neat places and would take me back later to share the amazing sights.
Someone mentioned the pine pollen – oh yeah. I’d never experienced an allergy despite all the dairy farmers (and hay mows) in my life until my first AZ pine pollen season. Plus the dust when we moved to Tempe.
But it was worth it. What an amazing place to live. My girls are grown now but I still want to take them out there to share.
Have you ever read Tony Hillerman? It’s an older series, and he has passed now, but those stories sure would make me homesick for that world. It involved the Navajo Tribal Police, plus many other characters. I’d start with the very first book in the series and work to the end. It’s funny – Hillerman and his characters are all time favorites of mine. But others with whom I share books back and forth weren’t that excited. My theory is you have to have experienced that environment, and then you just get sucked deep into the stories.
Hi, Pat,
I did read one of Hillerman’s books and I saw a movie made from one of his books. I don’t know why, but I didn’t care that much for either of them. I know he is a favorite of many. I guess he’s one of those authors who is held in high esteem by some and the rest of us don’t “get” him!
Whether or not one enjoys a certain book or author has a lot to do with where one’s head is at (to use a 60s phrase). Books I wouldn’t read 15 years ago I find myself enjoying very much at this point in my life.
Rochester, NY… . If it’s not cold enough for you, you can always rely on the wind chill factor and the lake effect to make up the difference! (Ooh, that wasn’t very nice of me!)
Stay warm, Pat, and have a great day!
Pat – I love Hillerman! Did you know his daughter is continuing the series. Her name is Anne Hillerman and the first book is Spider Woman’s daughter. It has Chef, Bernie and the great Joe Leaphorn.
Sue – I get that not everyone is a Hillerman fan, but he was a huge fan of the landscape you are traveling in. We have been having the same weird weather changes here in N. New Mexico. Saturday was beautiful and in the high 60’s and today we had rain/snow and 30’s. Up waiting for the eclipse.
Love, love, love your stories!
http://www.sockmonkeytrekkers.blogspot.com
Karen . . . I took photos of the eclipse a few minutes ago! Hope you saw it, too!
RV Sue
Yes I set the alarm and had an excellent view as our skies were nice and clear. I took a series of pictures as it went from about 1/2 to full eclipse. It was spectacular! Glad you got to see it too.
-Karen
http://sockmonkeytrekkers.blogspot.com/
One of the best parts of living in smaller quarters is having so little to clean. I love that all can be cleaned in no time at all. I have no desire to ever live in anything bigger ever!
I feel the same way. If I have to leave life on the road and I can afford a home, I want a very small one in a warm climate.
I saw an adobe, Spanish-style, one room (maybe two room) house with a low porch across the front. I fell in love with the design and simplicity… I wanted to take a pic for future reference, but every time I passed it the traffic was too pressured for me to pull over… It’s near Wickenburg.
I like the area around Wickenburg. It has just enough but lots of nothing along with lots of exploring.
That’s exactly right. And Wickenbug — downtown — has character and charm.
Agreed. Tony Hillerman books are great reads while exploring the 4 corners states. Maybe you can get them on Amazon Prime free or low cost. They have been out for quite a while, but still very timely.
Stay safe up there in those winds. Foothill winds in the spring are amazingly strong and exhilarating, like you said. Hold on to yer hat (antenna, dogs, furniture, rugs, dish towels and everything else not nailed down). LOL
Hi, Diann,
Apparently you know mountains and hills. . . The cold air that blows through here on this bluff comes from the snow-capped San Francisco Peaks. For someone who has been basking in temperatures in the 80s only a few days ago, it feels mighty cold!
This morning is calm but a lot colder than yesterday. If the usual pattern continues, the wind will gradually pick up throughout the day. The Painted Desert I see out my back window is still obscured by dust.
Bridget and Spike are little mummies wrapped in the comforter, one on each side of me. I lightly browned their ground turkey breakfast so their bellies are warm. 🙂
It sounds like you are camping mountain woman style! Penned up in the tent (BLT) waiting out the storm and having a good ole warm time inside with your Best Friends! Love it! Stay warm and happy!
I wish I lived a life so attuned to the cycles of nature that I clean my bathroom when the wind blows.
As always thank you so much allowing us to share this journey with you. Your posts have helped to keep me sane (kind of) through a tough winter. And as I wake up this morning to yet another day with snow on the ground, I snuggle up with my own little Rat Terrier/Chihuahua. (Dexter, who reminds me so much of your little Gnome I can’t tell you.)
I’m looking forward to see what the warmer summer weather brings you and the crew. I your know plans might change but one of the best times of my life was a week I spent mountain biking / camping in the backcountry at Arches N.P. – Safe travels.
Rick
Sorry, “Here” is Madison WI
Thanks, Rick, for the footnote. . . Now I can fully understand the hardships you’re under in Wisconsin!
I appreciate your gracious comment. My greatest satisfaction in writing this blog is reading how my posts help people get through the “dreaming years.” My own days of near-insanity are still fresh in my mind.
I wish you a warm and beautiful spring and summer. It’s nice to know you plan to ride along with Bridget, Spike, and me.
Wow did the wind ever blow here last night, not so much yesterday but when a 40 foot motorhome is rocking HARD, you know the wind is blowing. Hope it stops so we can travel tomorrow.
Where is here, Janna?
Jodee tells me you’re in Congress. That’s lower elevation that Flagstaff, yet you’re getting the wind also.
It isn’t as windy today but we aren’t traveling. I hope to explain my reasoning for the pause here in my next post.
I plan to post today. If I don’t, it’s because of a problem with internet access (DNS server error?). I’ve had a devil of a time replying to comments today. Oh well, it keeps me occupied while it’s cold outside!
I didn’t think 40 foot motorhomes were prone to rock. That must’ve been some strong wind!
Hi Sue and Crew,
Hope you all had a peaceful night, thinking about that “wishing moon”.
I had to laugh about you cleaning the bathroom because the weather was less than great! When it is rainy or otherwise cruddy here in Richmond, VA (RVA), I do the same thing! I would much rather be outside, “playing in the dirt”….working in my flower beds or doing other chores in the yard, just to be close to nature, listening to to the birds sing! Or, better yet, just sitting on the patio on the swing with my Westie, Gracie. We love to sit and watch the world go by!. So much more fun than housework! Needless to say, housekeeping takes a backseat in the Spring/Summer/Fall months! At least a minimal amount of time is spent cleaning your trailer….another bonus of keeping things simple and manageable!
Side note: The Crabapple, Redbud and Dogwood trees are now blooming in all their glory – so beautiful!
Full-timing and downsizing did not eliminate that “black hole” in the purse, eh?! I think we women all suffer from that phenomenon! Unload the receipts and such onto the kitchen table, which is another catch all….the cycle continues. Shred, shred, shred! lol!
Thank you again for sharing your adventures with us! Looking forward to your next post!
Best wishes to you, the crew and all your followers!
Denise
I forgot to mention….It has been so refreshing to find your blog, Sue, and your like-minded followers. Trying to downsize, simplify and get out of debt is the way to go. I work with so many people who are all wrapped up in getting the latest, greatest car, house, etc. I get grief all the time because I don’t buy what I don’t need.
YES!!! There are folks out there who GET it!!! More “stuff” does not equate happiness. More debt, more to dust, and less $$ to put toward travel and experiences! Thanks, Sue!
Denise
Hi, Denise,
Your comment was fun to read! I can picture you watching the world go by with your precious pup. I remember what a joy it was to be around flowering trees in spring after a long and harsh winter. . . The three you mention are my favorites. I’ve had all three around my home (one at a time in three different homes.)
Yes, more and more people are starting to see that the pursuit of possessions is slavery and that freedom can be found by living “lightly,” whether one travels or not.
Thank you for entertaining me this morning. BTW, where are you that redbud, dogwood, and crabapple are blooming?
Hi Sue,
I am in Richmond, VA. I changed my “name” from RVA Denise to Denise from Richmond, VA. RVA is shorthand – around here, at least, for Richmond, VA.
If you are not in the mid-Atlantic area, it would mean nothing to you – a “duh” moment on my part! Enjoy the rest of the day!
Denise
Oh, I was totally confused. I have “RV” on the brain so I thought RV America? RV Always? 🙂 Thanks for clearing that up. The new name is better!
You might think it’s mundane to blog about your cleaning up/out day – but we are all compelled to comment on it so what does THAT tell you 🙂 ?! I know for those of us planning to hit the road in the near future, having a glimpse into a windy day in the forest is helpful, even exciting. Much less exciting is the prospect of vacuuming the house and cleaning the large refrigerator – the moon can add us to the list of wishers looking forward to smaller digs on wheels!
P.S. In case she doesn’t get back to the Comments here, Janna is in Congress, AZ.
Thanks, Jodee, for answering my question to Janna. This morning I’m having difficulty posting comments or opening up sites. The connection on my air card is excellent, but I keep getting “No Internet Access”. . .
I say all that to say this. . .
READERS. . .
Please state where you are located, especially if commenting about “here.” You don’t have to be specific. The state will do. Many of us cannot click your link to find out where “here” is because opening up too many sites gets us slapped with overage charges. “We’re under a tornado watch” or “At last the snow is melting here” doesn’t mean much when we don’t know where “here” is. Thank you!
Hi Sue – The only bad part of cleaning on a windy day is the dust blows back in as soon as you remove it!
It’s been a long time since I met you the Grant Village store in Yellowstone two summers ago. I read frequently but just now saw that you are nearby; we are at the Grand Canyon. Holy Cow!! Did it blow yesterday.
We hiked down on the Kaibab trail and had to stop frequently due to huge gusts with intense dust. A couple times we were a little unsettled in our footing the gusts were so strong.
I’d love to catch up with you but we are heading out – off to Yellowstone for another summer. Take care. May we cross paths again…
— Kevin
Hi, Kevin,
This is so weird! I was thinking yesterday about readers writing and me not realizing I’d met them somewhere along the way. You and your wife came to mind and I wondered if you still kept up with my blog. And here you are! 🙂
I’m not surprised that you were dealt lots of wind and dust. You may have had similar advisories as here in the Flagstaff area. Safe driving on your way to Yellowstone!
The crew and I are going back to Wyoming this year. Who knows? Maybe we’ll drive through Yellowstone again and stop by the store. I wouldn’t recognize you but you can recognize me by The Hat.
Best wishes to you both . . . . Thanks for keeping in touch.
A wish for all to respect the public lands, and not tear them up, and leave campsites, cleaner than they found them. A wish for another great summer season.
FABulous wish, Linda! My heart breaks every time I see the land freshly scarred or littered with trash.
One person can make a big difference — for good or for bad. If you ride a quad, ATV, OHV, motorbike, whatever– stay on designated roads! Don’t take shortcuts at an intersection. At Congress BLM I saw where shortcuts were taken regularly so that the intersection is now a huge area of bare ground where once there was a camp site. At Willard Springs near Flagstaff I saw wildflowers smashed by vehicles taking shortcuts. At Palm Canyon, Kofa, I saw the edges of washes smashed (where plants thrive).. . At Sawtooth Canyon I saw access by regular vehicles ruined, cacti smashed, and serious erosion started in an area of diverse vegetation . . . I could go on . . .
If you walk in the woods or across the desert or along the beach, take a bag with you (and hold on to it so it doesn’t blow away!) and pick up trash as you walk. As Linda wishes . . . clean up campsites, leave them better than when you found them.
Teach your children and grandchildren to do the same!
Thanks, Linda, for bringing this up.
The first thing we do when we hit a campsite is pop open a plastic bag and everyone has to find at least 10 pieces of trash before the tent goes up. So when our son was young it was like a game (sort of). He is married now, but we still pick up trash before anything else. Even at a “clean” campsite there are invariably twist-ties and the like. It’s a good way to start the making of a camp.
Excellent habit to instill in children!
We stayed at a campground in Idaho where I chatted with the camp host. A large family reunion was gathered in the group site. The camp host told me he had to have a little talk with the adults. They were giving the many children (I think it was a Mormon group) drinks in those cartons with the straws you punch in. The children ran off in all directions and left their drinks wherever they happened to be when finished. The host was finding cartons and straws all over the place. He said the adults had no idea. They gave the children bags and sent them out on a trash hunt.
Unfortunately, judging from the beer and liquor bottles, many of the people who litter our national forests and BLM lands are alcoholics who couldn’t care less.
Good for you, Linda. You have started a good practice that may extend for many generations.
Hey Sue
I guess all the wind here in Alpine Texas is coming from your direction. If you were traveling it would be a sway bar day for sure. I have a popup camper and know a swaying trailer can ruin a person’s day bigtime. When the posts mentioned veggies dogs like no one talked about green beans. I’ve never had a dog who didn’t love them. Give em a try. I love northern Arizona, have a great day!
Hi, WTX Cal,
I tried to make the wind stop but it kept on going all the way to Texas. 🙂
Love my anti-sway bar! I put it on every time I hitch up and I forget to put it on, I pull off the road and put it on. I use it on dead-calm days. It has happened on a calm day that we’ve been on a highway that goes through tall boulders on both sides. When we come out the other side, whooooosh, a gust of wind hits us broadside! That’s when I renew my vows to the anti-sway bar… “I will always remember you, sweetheart.” Haha!
Gee, I had fresh green beans! Did I share them with the crew? Nooooo. I cooked ’em up and ate them all myself. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try them on the crew next time . . .
You have a wonderful day, too!
Another great post! I’m here in Illinois wishing on your wish moon, to be doing what your are doing cleaning black holes, bathrooms, enjoying every moment with someone or something special. You are my mentor, my teacher, my dream, Just like Tioga George was to you. I remember looking up used rv’s to camp seasonally, and started to find different websites & blogs which I don’t remember exactly who’s but I came across your blog and seen it was your third post so I was like hmm she’s just starting out let me keep an eye on this one so I went back to your beginning and read through your three post and lets just say you opened my eyes to something I always thought about but didn’t think people actually did it besides bums as people around me would say! I want to say thank you for blogging yesterday, today and tomorrow! My wish is to one day be the mentor, teacher and help those after me become dreamers. It will be years before this happens unfortunately I still have my only child at home, waiting for him to process the growing up part but not rushing him he is still only 20 yrs old and me being 39 I still got some years to dream. Wishing it could be sooner rather than lather. Thank You for sharing your daily life with us dreamers.
Hi, Wendy,
You’re welcome. Love your comment! What an honor to be put in the same category as Tioga George. Thank you. I’m glad to help you find your wings (or wheels!).
Yes, we full-timers are a bunch of bums. Haha! A bunch of bums having a FANTASTIC time seeing this beautiful country and living each day to the fullest. It’s a secret some people will never know.
You are fortunate to have this dream at such a young age. Responsibilities come first, of course, but you can begin saving and planning for the day when you are in a position to act upon your dream. It’s never too soon to take action on a dream. Reading RVing blogs will prepare you well. I’m glad you read my blog.
We hope to depart from Missouri in about 3 weeks, heading toward Oregon on our initial MH tour. We will be making several intermediate stops in Nebraska and Wyoming to visit relatives, buffalo, Elk, Moose and whatever wild game and scenic views we can find. As was mentioned previously, the Red Buds and many flowering plants have just started to bloom. Unfortunately, with this hectic weather, they are going to get nipped in the bud. Morning temperature tomorrow is going to be 22 degrees. My wife seems to be back sliding on the idea of becoming full-timers, but hopefully she will see the light once we hit the road. Hope to meet you some day, somewhere out there in the West. You have been, and continue to be, an inspiration to us.
Len
Hi, Len,
Welcome! Glad to see you here!
Best wishes for your upcoming trip. I hope it is enjoyable both for you and your wife. One of my readers — can’t remember which one — wrote about coming home after a long time on the road. She and her husband wondered why they had a house and property when everything they needed was with the RV.
Thank you for the kind words toward me. Have a safe and inspiring trip! I hope to hear from you again.
Windy here as well was in the 70’s dropped 20 degrees today. White frost under the sprinkler line last night.
I’ve also thought about what to do on bad weather days in a small area with two larger dogs. I like reading your activities, helps with the mental picture for my travels as at present I am rarely able to sit still. I’m thinking it may take awhile to relax to traveling. Did you find that?
My wish is to get the final touches done to the house this month and for it to sell this summer so I can be somewhere warm this winter.
Looking forward to reports on your trip to Moab, one area I really want to see
Take care
Hi, CheryLyn,
As I type this, the weather widget in the sidebar says it’s a “sunny 44 degrees F” so I can truthfully say, “I feel your pain!”
I’m not sure I’m understanding your question about relaxing to travel. If you meant when I transitioned from a stationary home to vagabonding . . . hmm. . .
I never camped before starting the nomad way of life. Everything was — and still is — new and exciting. When we paused for three or four weeks in the Elephant Butte, NM, area in order to have the Wave 3 heater and solar system installed, I enjoyed every day even though staying in campgrounds. I was (and am) thrilled to be living my dream.
We’ve traveled a lot in the past 2+ years. A pattern is emerging. I enjoy moving around a lot in the warm months with plenty of relaxation time squeezed in between moves. (I’m not the frenetic-tourist type).
I don’t get restless during the winter when we slow down because I’m ready to relax, reflect, do maintenance, shop online, etc. after several months of travel. When spring comes, I do get restless to move to new places again. It’s all good.
I wish (on the moon and on High) for your “final touches” to go well and for your house to sell quickly.
I’m not sure what kind of experience Moab will be, but I want to find out and share it with you! Thanks for writing . .
And that is when we met you, when you paused a moment in Elephant Butte! LOL!
Hello
Just wanted to let you know it’s currently 72 degrees in the Adirondacks! Snow in the forecast for Wednesday!
Remember when someone’s dog was having problems peeing in the sand of the desert? Ms Annie Oakley’s snowbanks are melting and she doesn’t know to go on the dirt. She keeps dragging me to the snowbanks, climbs them like a dall sheep to pee!
I never heard anything like that before! Too funny. Well, at least you know your Annie is a particular young lady. Sounds like she shares some characteristics with Bridget.
72 degrees is pretty darn nice for a place that’s been in the deep freeze for many months. And then 2 days later it snows again. Ah, New York. No wonder its people are tough.
Sadie was her name and she wasn’t used to the gravel of Quartzsize. Can’t remember Sadie’s owner’s name.
Gravel and snow are to be pooped upon. Grass and dirt are too nice to mess.
You really make me laugh! I can just see you hightailing it down the trail chasing your kitchen towel! Bridget looks great and maybe it’s just the lighting in the photographs, but I swear Spikey is whiter than usual! Weather here is beautiful! Today it’s sunny with some floating white couds a decent breeze, the temp is 85 with the humidity at 45 ! Supposed to get scattered showers tomorrow! Today is another scheduled workday where we didn’t have to work… no one checking out of the cabins! YaY !!!! You are now in one of my favorite spots in Arizona !!! Hang tight Sue, the winds will eventually die down and set you free!
Hi, Geri,
Both Bridget and Spike are doing well in the cooler temperatures. I don’t want to premature in saying this — The last two days Spike has been walking much better, not as lame, not as stiff-legged. Also he “patrols” more, another good indicator of improved well-being. Gosh, I hope this lasts!
I decreased the Cetyl-M to one-half tablet a day after an initial run of two tablets a day for about 4 weeks. I suspect the raw meat diet is responsible for the brightness returning to his eyes. It can’t remove cataracts but there definitely is more sparkle.
Your recent blog post about workkamping at Myakka River State Park is a gem! The photographs of wildlife are outstanding, including Chuck eating Mexican food. 🙂
The two-month gig is about the right length, it seems to me. Enough time to get to know the area, meet some friends, and establish a routine, but not so long that you hate the sight of the place. I’m very happy you’re happy!
Wow! The snake pic . . Great job!
What?? I am ‘wild life’ now????? But it was soooooo gooood!
woof to Bridget and Spike from the boyz
What a kick, reading about you cleaning your bathroom and chasing teatowels…don’t you love the challenges of weather?
You have inspired another reader, as usual…I think I posted before that my husband wasn’t interested anymore to travel, so I have been chatting up my best friend..so far we are planning to go down 395 on the east side of the Sierras, just want to see the area, and now are planning to go to Yellowstone! We are going to use her truck and my Casita aka Rose Bower, and just mosey along! Usually I just go alone, but my friend and I have been BFFs and former business partners for about 40 years..so we know we get along, lol.
If we see you along the road, we’ll wave!
Great camp site. Add a mountain stream and it would be perfect. I’d love to sit by a stream and just dream. Saying that makes me think about Spike loving the water. I pictured him laying in an inflated baby pool on your patio dreaming away. But… me too… when I head out in June… I want to find camps with water… streams, waterfalls, or lakes… just cuz. Can’t wait.
Hi, Starlight,
I’m not missing a mountain stream on these cold days!
I’m like you and a lot of other campers — camping near water is the best. The trick is to find a waterside camp that isn’t overrun with people.
My favorites so far are camps along the Tieton River, Rogue River, Delmoe Lake, Upper Kent Reservoir, Madison River (before Red Mtn. Campground was degraded), Pinnacles Campground on Brooks Lake, Falls View (robust creek with waterfall!), Eagle Lake near Susanville (the dispersed campers get to be lakeside!), Fairview Campground on Crescent Lake (off-season), Fremont Reservoir near Craig, CO, Mora Mora Campground (Rialto Beach on the Pacific a short distance away), and Kalaloch Beach Campground. I’ve probably left out more “favorites.”
In June you’ll add to YOUR list. 🙂
Interesting list of favorites. Only been to a few. Will have to check out the others. Thanks for sharing!
http://www.sockmonkeytrekkers.blogspot.com
Karen… If we click on your name, it takes us to your blog. No need to include the link in your message, okay?
Hi, Lee,
I remember how tickled I was when you wrote you were taking your Casita out on the road even though your husband didn’t want to go. You are going to have a wonderful adventure.
I’m curious what route you will take to go from 395 to Yellowstone, or are they two separate trips? However you go, I’m sure you both will have fun and make great stories to tell when you return home. Free to roam… gotta’ love it!
Two trips! Yellowstone this summer and the 395 trip in the fall to see the color.. Today I was talking to my friend and we are also planning to visit our very own California ‘Yellowstone’… Lassen Volcanic National Park. I have only been there in the winter, so a summer trip is in order!
To get to 395 from here in central California we will go east on HWY 80 then south on 395. I haven’t done that trip in ages! Did you know that Bishop has Mule Days Memorial day weekend? What a wonderful event with lots of long ears!
The Yellowstone trip is one she planned to do with her husband, but he passed and she has waited 8 years..didn’t think she wanted to do it alone..so she was so excited to revisit her plans now..as am I.
See what you started?
I get credit for all this adventuring? Great! I’ll take it!
Hmm… that didn’t post like I thought it would. Ah well
No problem… 🙂
Sue,
I came across a product that, as a boondocker, you might find interesting and useful. It is the Nemo helio pressure shower. I could see you using it to wash Bridget and Spike, the dishes, or for hairwashing outside on the nice (non-windy) days. It has received good reviews and I may get one for my future camping days.
Hi, Suzanne,
Interesting…. Thanks for telling us about it. Here’s a link:
Nemo Equipment HelioPressure Shower
I used and like much better Pocket Shower. It takes a little space and has plenty of water and a decent pressure. You have to remember to dry it out. I just turn this thing inside out. I did not check but if it still exists Amazon must have it.
Moab, the best little city in Utah. I started going in 95 and then every 2 or three years or so. It was my vacation spot to get the batteries recharged, my personal batteries. It is just big enough to have what you need. However, yes it is getting a bit Jackson Hole-ish. It is the “IN” place to be. But Arches is worth it, Island in the sky is nice. But you might look at the Needles section of Canyon Lands. It is just past Monticello about sixty miles before Moab. The way into the needles section goes thru beautiful areas of cottonwoods glades and creeks. There is plenty of boondocking in these areas, and it should be pretty much people free till May or so. But just the same the anywhere south of Moab is great for no people, and plenty of places to camp. Watch for Bicycles though, they are everywhere, Moab is mecca for them. There are several bike races thru the year here.
Here is a link to the Moab calendar of events: as you can see something going on all the time.
http://discovermoab.com/index.htm
Thank you for all that helpful information, Alan. From looking at my map I was hoping south of Moab would be a good place for boondocks. I would like to camp along the river… as would hordes of others, I suppose.
Handy link! I bookmarked it and will refer to it again, I’m sure, as I get closer to Moab.
They say that all the missing socks in the world will be found one day on the dark side of the Moon. My wish is for everyone on Earth to get their missing socks back. Ever wondered who took them and why?
And all this time I’ve been searching the ring around Saturn!
They’re all in the hose-zone (like ozone for hose?)
Oh, Marsha, dear, dear Marsha.
Hee!