This post begins with RVSue and the crew camped on Sand Mine Road Mesa, Overton, Nevada. It includes photos taken one evening during a full moon. The photos don’t match the text.
Oh, well.
~ ~ ~
For twenty days the crew and I happily reside on the mesa.
Our first night a powerful wind sweeps up from the badlands and slams into our home. All night long the wind jolts and jounces the Best Little Trailer. This is the most violent wind I’ve experienced in over six years of living full-time in the BLT.
Quite a thrill to be a part of this tremendous force of nature!
I don’t sleep at all. This is not a problem when retired.
I’ll sleep after the wind passes . . . .
By morning calm returns.
Reggie, Roger and I wander around outside.
Good thing I keep a neat camp. Stuff would be all over the place . . . . The mesa is clean and fresh from last night’s wind blasting.
We take naps throughout the day.
~ ~ ~
Twenty days later, Friday, November 3
I’d like to stay at least another twenty days . . . The weather is perfect. We have the mesa all to ourselves. Only three vehicles in over two weeks . . . . It’s beautiful here, especially at sunrise and sunset.
I flush the toilet.
I get the message: “Oh, RVSue? It’s time to dump the waste tank.”
(The BLT’s toilet talks!)
If I’m going to hitch up to dump tanks, I might as well move camp.
Last time we camped on the mesa, I took the BLT to Valley of Fire State Park and used the dump station there ($10 fee). I could go to the RV park in town but I heard the management prefers one spend the night to use their facility. These and other choices don’t appeal to me.
“Guess what, boys. We’re on the road today!”
I fly into action.
In town I load up on supplies and gas up the Perfect Tow Vehicle. I don’t bother to fill up water jugs at the park because I know we’ll have access to water at the next camp.
Back on the mesa I secure the inside of the BLT, take up the blue mats, ladder, chairs, table, etc. and put them in their places inside the PTV,
I hitch up, remove the wheel chocks, and away we go!
Hey, wait a minute! What about the waste tank?
Well, the new camp has a dump station!
~ ~ ~
Las Vegas Bay Campground, Lake Mead Recreation Area
Only sixty miles or so to Las Vegas Bay from the mesa at Overton.
Upon entering the campground I stop at the pay station and pick up a pay envelope. The camping fee is $20 regular/$10 with senior discount.
I drive to the No Generator Section and choose a site.
I fill out the stub of the pay envelope and hang it from the campsite post. For good measure I set out a camp chair.
Then we return to the pay station and I deposit the envelope with cash inside (no checks allowed here). Next I park the PTV and BLT at the dump station and take care of that task.
“Now we can set up our home!”
Our site is one of the best at this campground.
I’ve used this campsite before. See post: “Return to Las Vegas Bay” — December 2016.
From our door we can see Lake Mead, or maybe more accurately, Pond Mead. (Las Vegas Bay doesn’t exist any more.)
I feel like relaxing but I know better than to try.
Reggie and Roger want to explore!
As we walk around the campground, I keep a tight rein on the crew.
Oleander bushes line the roads through the campground and also the perimeters of campsites, including our own. Oleander is poisonous to dogs. The danger is increased by the automatic sprinkler system that leaves puddles at the base of the bushes. This water can be toxic to dogs also.
Not a problem for Reggie because he won’t drink it.
He has to be very thirsty to drink water from a source other than his water dish. Roger, however, likes to sample water any time and wherever he finds it — streams, lakes, drainage ditches, dripping faucets, puddles, whatever.
For this reason we stay at Las Vegas Bay Campground for only one night.
rvsue
NOTE: Read more about oleander at “Oleander” — Pet Poison Helpline.
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Oleander bush and eucalyptus tree. Oleander is in the fifth and sixth photos, too.
~ ~ ~
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First?!
WOW! YOU’RE FAST, DAWN! GOOD JOB! 🙂
Way to go, Dawn.
Gorgeous Mesa!
Yes, it certainly is, Joy.
You almost made first again…. You’re tough competition!
Love ❤️ the pictures Sue! The moon over the desert, the beautiful mesas, and of course the always adorable Reggie and Roger. Weren’t you camped here when you adopted Reggie? 🐶
That’s right! You have a good memory…
Las Vegas Bay Campground isn’t one of my favorites but it’s location is perfect when traveling north to south or in the opposite direction. It’s halfway between two other camps that I like.
BTW…. I worked on the pages introducing Reggie and Roger (from the header).
I wrote that wrong… Las Vegas Bay cg isn’t “halfway between two other camps.” What I should’ve written is “Las Vegas Bay makes the next leg of our journey south shorter and more manageable for me.”
Well, top ten again! I better be faster!
Hi, Renee,
It looks like this post was transmitted very slowly this time. Unless everyone is busy with Saturday errands and fun….
Hi Sue! Well, it certainly was in my favor!
Talking toilet, eh? Is it time for the men in the white coats? ROFLOL. As Thanksgiving approaches, do you mark the day in any special way? Maybe a piece of pumpkin pie, perhaps? Knowing you, I’m sure you mark it by being thankful, but then you are a thankful person in general.
We just finished our Thanksgiving shopping and got home right as thunderstorms hit. We’re currently under a severe thunderstorm warning, so we’ll just stay home for the day. Hope you are enjoying great weather today!
Hi, Rochelle,
Sounds like a good day to stay in the coziness of home!
My thanksgivings are simple. I usually have something to eat that has to do with thanksgiving feasts. One year I went to a drive-thru and bought a turkey burger. Yeah, pumpkin pie might be just right for this year… 🙂
We have a local lady making us a pumpkin cheese cake for $10! Sounded very good, I will let you know!
That does sound very good. I’ve never met a cheese cake I didn’t like. 🙂 Are you cooking turkey dinner this year?
We have a turkey breast in the fridge. Gonna try a crock pot turkey this year. My toaster oven just isn’t big enough! Pintrest had some good crock pot turkey recipes to try! Wish you were here!
Crock pot turkey — Smart idea! Easy to cook, easy clean-up. I wish I were there to help you eat it. I’m sure Rog and Reg would help, too. 🙂
💜💛💙😀💙💛💜👍
Hi Sue and crew. As always I love following your travels, your wonderful for allowing so many of us to live vicariously through you.
Stay safe out there my friend, judy
Thank you, Judy. You stay safe, too. I’m glad you are a part of my blog. 🙂
Lovely, just lovely! I’m prepping for a few days camping, whenever I go, I always think of you and your crew. I think one of your lifestyle benefits, is little housework…or at least on a smaller scale. At this point in my life, that is so appealing….sigh.
Beautiful photos….you have inspired me to go to the desert this winter…. now I need to get my husband onboard, if not….it’s me!
Hi, LeeJ,
Recently I was thinking about the housework required for the BLT. I “mop” the floor in about five minutes. I have runner rugs on the floor during the colder six months. About every other visit to the laundromat, I wash those rugs. They look so fresh and new. Much easier than vacuuming again and again the carpet in a regular house.
I look forward to hearing about you in the desert. 🙂
I always love the photos of Reggie and Roger peering out of the PTV window. I can really feel their interest and excitement.
I am surprised the campground is so lush, such an oasis given the bare desert beyond. Yes, “Lake” Mead is a ghost if its former self.
I had no idea oleander was so toxic that puddles beneath it would be poisonous. That’s scary, for sure!
Hi, ValGal,
The “campground is so lush” because it has an extensive watering system. During the night the water is turned on and you can hear it hissing out of the sprinkler heads. (They aren’t really sprinklers — it’s a fast drip system.) I had the windows open and when the water came on, Roger woke up with a start and began barking furiously. He probably woke up our neighbors…. 🙁
I picked him up and took him outside while in my nightshirt. I held his face close to the nozzle so he would know what was making the noise. That took care of the barking.
Oh, I love the photos, especially that first photo, Sue! That little road … has me wondering what is over the hill… Where does it lead? I know, More Adventures ! The mountains and moon in the background…mysterious and lovely!
Hi, Paula,
I’m pleased you like the photos. Scenes that include a road curving up and over a rise are the best for “pulling” the viewer into the landscape. 🙂 I liked how the road seemed to be The Road To The Moon.
Where does that little road lead, really? To our camp! 🙂
🙂
Heavy wind is a nemesis for us RVers. I can never sleep in our RV when the winds are high. It is to bad about the Oleander bushes; and thanks for warning folks about them. A lot of dog owners have no idea they are poisonous to our pups. Beautiful photos as usual.
Thank you, Lisa.
I’ve camped at Las Vegas Bay a couple times with my crew — Reggie, Bridget, and I think Spike, too. They didn’t bother with the oleander so it wasn’t a worry. Roger is so impulsive and he eats and drinks with very little caution. It was necessary to keep control over him every second he was outside. I didn’t feel like staying there long anyway. Too exposed to drive-bys.
The Road to the Moon sounds like a title to a book! It beckons ones interest to travel! Enjoy the nice weather Sue. Love,peace and dogs ya’all!
Thank you, Karen. I hope your Saturday is super!
Nice job on the new and old crew pages, Sue! The one about Reggie and Roger is great.
I instantly recognized the photo you used of Bridget as being from your “Last day at Davis Lake boondock” post. Had I ever told you that was my favorite photo of her? I have that post in my favorites list, retitled as “Bridget photo on hill!”
My favorite photo in this post is the 2nd one with the full moon above the mesa. Oddly, (or maybe not…) this morning I’d been wishing you’d show a full moon soon. I’d been watching a you tube video by Randy Travis, A Labor of Love. A lyric from that song “…the baby in her womb, was the maker of the moon…” moves me to tears of awe and gratitude every time I hear it.
It pleases me ever so, yet doesn’t surprise me, that you included that picture in this post, though it doesn’t match the text. And that your reaction to experiencing the most violent wind in six years is to find it a thrill to be part of a tremendous force of nature.
Las Vegas Bay Campground has served you well many times, I’m glad you got one their best sites again. Hopefully, someday Pond Mead will expand back into lake size, and the bay will exist again. I really believe good things and dreams really do still come true. Just look at Roger, he once needed to find water from puddles,dripping faucets…- before the wonderful life he now has with you and Reggie 🙂
Thank you, weather, for the compliment on the Meet the Crew (original and present) pages. Yes, that photo of Bridget is one of my favorites, too. She loved being the leader, having the responsibility of taking us back to camp. You can see the pride in her face. Gosh, what a unique dog. Well, they’re all unique.. .
I’m happy you like the full moon pics. Perfect timing for you, eh? That happens a lot between us!
Yes, Roger has many habits that reveal his former life. I believe he was living wild for quite a while and learned many survivalist techniques. I probably mentioned this before — It amazes me. Roger will dig down 5 inches or more until he reaches a tender root. He pulls the root up and proceeds to gnaw on it. First of all, how does he know the root is there? Secondly, how does he know it’s the kind he likes to eat?
It would be wonderful to see Lake Mead at high level.
That moon shot is a stunner, no matter when you took it! The mesa sounds like a wonderful place, and glad the wind moved on after one night.
Growing up in the desert we had so much Oleander around us. Never heard of dogs or cats being poisoned, but there were often dead birds found nearby 🙁 Good advice to keep the pets away from nearby puddles to be safe though.
Lake Mead is such a sad sight – especially when you see all the golf courses and green grass lawns “down river”.
Hi, Jodee,
In the next post I’ll show photos of Lake Mead. It’s a shame what has happened to it.
Thank you re the moon photo. I’m glad you liked it. The mesa is “a wonderful place” to me. I don’t doubt there are others who would look at it and go, “meh.”
Hi, Sue,
Thanks for the heads up about the oleander! I’ve always known it was poisonous but it never occurred to me that the puddles might be too. Riley doesn’t usually drink from puddles, but there have been times… you just can’t always know what they are going to do!
Enjoy!
Kitt
You’re welcome, Kitt.
I don’t mean to be alarmist about the campground. The chances of a dog becoming poisoned from the oleander are slim, but dog owners should be aware.
Loved The Road to the Moon image too! Actually, love all the photos, especially those with the full moon!
I knew oleander was toxic, just didn’t realize HOW toxic!
Happy Thanksgiving to Sue and Crew!
Thanks, Geri. Same to you, Chuck, and your crew!
Twenty days on that mesa had to be a great rest stop. I know what you mean about those winds. We got caught in a big windstorm in Albuquerque that shook our RV all night. It came up so fast that a lot of folks still had their awnings out and paid dearly. Love your journey.
Hi, Joe,
Interesting about the windstorm and people caught with awnings out…
People do things in the desert that I don’t understand. For instance, most (I think it’s safe to say “most”) people when boondocking/dispersed camping will park their rig so that their door side is facing south in the winter. That means the sun smacks the side of their RV for most of the day right where they want to sit, so then they have to put out their awning and sit there squinting into the sun. The sun is lower in the sky which makes the awning very ineffectual in making shade. I guess they park that way in order that their back window faces the sunset? I don’t know.
Anyway…. All you have to do is put the door side of the rig — the place where folks usually want to sit — facing north in the winter. That’s how the BLT is positioned right now in a boondock. The outdoor room is in shade all day long. I don’t have to put out the awning every morning and I don’t have to monitor the wind. I hardly ever use the awning in the winter because the BLT can block the sun rays.
Keep loving the journey along with us, Joe! 🙂
Sue, the reason with many RVs parking door south is, in many RVs the fridge is on the other side so it helps use less propane to have fridge side shaded.
Ugh. You have to face the sun in order to keep the fridge on the cool side. The BLT has the fridge on the door side, which is another reason I face that side north.
Beautiful full moon pictures🌝
Thank you, Ronda.
Hi Sue- Thanks for the info about oleander. I will have to watch my little girl.
I am TX and the wind is rocking me! Drove in it all day but is supposed to subside tomorrow. I am boon docked tonight then heading to Austin to spend Thanksgiving with my in laws. Dawn from Asheville and I hope to meet up in New Mexico now.
As always, love the pics and the adventures!
Thanks, Linda,
How nice that you and Dawn will be getting together! Isn’t it great to be able to visit your in-laws and bring your home with you?
Happy boondockin’ while you’re rockin’ in the wind!
Hello, we love yoir posts, we are headed that way in February… and had looked at staying around Lake (pond) Mead… read your post about Oleander… and did some research. Why on earth would they plant that in a campground????? Or keep it… wondering if Oleander is in other camp sites around Lake Mead???? We have golden retriever, Lexie, would not want to spend time around there… Echo, Stewart Bay, Temple Bar all look inviting but not with that plant!!! Thanks all…
Hi, Donna,
Oleander sounds like a terrible threat in this post. It really isn’t because dogs don’t generally eat the leaves off strange plants and the puddles at the base of the oleander don’t last long.
As best I remember there isn’t oleander at Stewart Bay, might be some at Echo, and I don’t know anything about Temple Bar.
I’m glad you love my posts. 🙂
Hi, Sue,
I love the pictures with the moon in them…so tranquil. I smiled when you divulged your camp to be LVB! Such good memories! You and Bridget were there hoping to add Reggie to your crew. 🙂 I love the pictures you chose for the Crew section. It was so nice to be reminded of our dear Spike and beautiful Bridget. 💕
Thank you for sharing the link regarding the oleander. At one time, I liked the look of the shrub when I was adding plants to my landscaping. After reading it was poisonous, I decided against it.
Have a good evening, Sue! Sending you, Reggie, and Roger love and hugs from me and. Gracie pup! Take good care of yourselves – safe travels if you are relocating during Thanksgiving week. 🙂
Hi, Denise,
I hope you and Gracie pup are enjoying this beautiful Sunday! I bet you’re cooking today, stuff to put in the freezer for your Thanksgiving guests. 🙂
I always seem to go offline right before you post a comment. Thank you for your kind words about the photos of Spike and Bridgie.
Stabilizers on a piece of plywood helps the rocking! Get on your belly and low crawl under the BLT! The boys will be in stitches! Whatchadoing RVSue?
Oleanders are used in CA in the center divide of a highway. The height of the bush helps obscure oncoming headlights at night. Deer don’t eat it so less get hit trying to cross the busy freeway.
The crew update…isn’t that a precious photo of HRH and Spike being Spike. My favorite of Spike is him with mud boots. Isn’t it something..how we all can look at photos…and end up smiling!
Wonder how Rog knows there is a root… hmmm.
Enjoy the view!
Hi, Cinandjules,
Stabilizers? Naw….I like the rocking! 🙂
Yeah, Spike in mud boots is one of my favorites, too. The one I used isn’t that great. I’ll replace it sometime.
I guess Rog can smell a yummy root through 5 inches of dirt?
Oh my, those shots on the mesa are just stunning. I wouldn’t have wanted to move either! Absolutely beautiful!!!
Thank you, Dawn!
A word about Thanksgiving, or more specifically one of the most vital components of the feast that celebrates it. Now, I know many believe I refer to turkey but maybe surprisingly to you I am not. Don’t get me wrong, turkey (or ham) is also required for success but I am talking about homemade pumpkin pie.
I grew up with “punkin” pie. Ok that hints of the reason for this little note. As a kid we all loved “punkin” pie, and why not as it is a wonder to savor. I believe if we all pull together we can effect a change in spelling that would better match that delicious pie. All kids and many adults refer to pumpkin as “punkin” so let’s make that the proper spelling and pronunciation.
Write your congressperson, some of them can read, and get behind this movement so we can rescue a special word from condemnation by the know-it-alls!
Roger and Reggie can sign their letter with paw prints.
Happy Thanksgiving fellow blogorinos especially Missy…
😄
Hi, Jim,
Thanks for the chuckle…. I say punkin, too, when talking about the pie. It sounds tastier. 🙂
My parents had a dog named Punkin.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Detta from Missy!
Just catching up on all the comments. I am looking forward to a two day work week next week! Still have to go in tomorrow 😢. I should practice being grateful for the job that I have.
Ha. That is a challenge , though 🙂 I sympathize. I felt like nails being pounded in my coffin prior to leaving.
Although I will say now that I’m on the road, not so sure this is my cup of tea – many days I would click my heels to get returned home and for a nice safe predictable routine – grin. It’s all relative I guess.
Enjoy your holiday. Hope you get to put your feet up and relax.
First, thanks MUCHO for the reminder about the Oleander. Worried about rattlesnakes too once I get further south. Right now it’s been tooooo cold. Up in northern NM.
Also that photo with the moon – just amazing. I’ve been trying for moon shots as there was a beautiful full moon when I was still up in Denver but no luck so far. Was cold and I was sick so didn’t try too hard.
Found a great little casino here for $11.38 a night (inc tax) for full hookups, laundry room, strong wifi and shower vouchers for the travel center (err – truck stop) across the street. It’s not pretty but I’ve been fighting the flu for I guess almost two weeks now and I just needed some place cheap to try to recoop for a few days before a last push. Also, never been to a casino so think I’ll wander over there today and just check it out.
Mostly need to be around people. Linda from NC and I have talked about our challenges on the road – one of mine is it turns out I am not a fan of my own company! ROFLOL! I am not going to be an RVSue. Grin. I decided for me it’s best to get to my destination so Thursday I plan to be in Quartzsite and I am hoping Linda from NC and I will meet up there.
Had such a laugh over the toilet – yep – it does, doesn’t it!!!!
Safe journeys!!!