We are in California….

 

Our Location:

BLM Ogilby Rd, Winterhaven, California 

 We had the wheels rolling this morning at 8:07 am, and finished dumping the tanks and depositing the garbage at La Posa South LTVA ( long term visitor area) by 8:38 am. We took AZ 95 south all the way to I-8 west in Yuma and it was shortly after 10:00 am when we entered California. Within 15 minutes we were searching for a place to put feet down. The two spots we had in mind are both occupied so we checked out a couple of others before settling into this one! We had everything completed for a quick setup inside and out by noon. At 12:15 pm I was chatting with Dad’s answering machine.

The Guns of the Proving Grounds.

Crops are just coming up here.

The roads were excellent, no slow downs or construction disruptions of any kind. Some new hardtop for a long distance, with only one very rough patch in the whole trip, 10 lengths of the rig at the beginning of Ogilby Road coming down the off ramp. It is always the same there. Ogilby Rd is getting a bit rougher as well but overall is good.

This one is closer to harvest.

It was a bit breezy when we were setting up. In Q the wind was steadily coming from the north, northwest since our arrival a few weeks ago. Today’s winds were from the south, southwest. Can you guess which direction we were heading? It was a slight breeze but really!

I never tire of this view.

Familiar views.

A very basic setup but we are relaxing, we both had a nap already.

We have a few plans for the next couple of days but I will not be posting for a bit. I do promise to give an update by weeks end.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Until next time…….

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

Staying put a little longer, or back to one of our original plans…..

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

When we first started making plans for this winter we had a number of ideas for our Q stay. The ideas have flitted to longer and shorter times with the weather playing a big part. Temps and wind being the factors of course. We were planning an early departure due to the coldish temps here but the high winds in the Yuma area have us putting long pants and sweaters on instead. We think Monday or Tuesday is the day but we shall see. Oh, something to share, I believe RR BLM has a camp host this year, it looks as if it is set up for business at least.

A dead saguaro.

Even in death they hold their spines
waiting for flesh to spear.

One of the things on our list was to visit with Bill and Patsy, and we are happy to say we have managed that twice! We enjoyed our visits greatly. Another item on the list was a repair or 2 at Lifestyles but that wasn’t in the cards. Purchasing some jerky from Daniel’s was also on the list, we checked it off yesterday. A few other little things have also been checked off. Overall it has been a great stay.

Ribs from a dead saguaro.

Stamps, post office saga, I have news. Yes, yes, yes, I have stamps. I did however read the sign wrong, the post office is open from 9-12 as per the large sign, but also from 1-4 pm, which I managed to miss somehow. General package pickups are in the afternoon hours only. On a busy Friday morning only one very busy but extremely efficient worker. He must have walked at least 300 steps while I stood in line for 10 minutes.

This Teddy Bear Cactus is struggling to survive.

We also checked out the new DG Market, very clean, but of course it’s very new. DG I am assuming means Dollar General. We didn’t find any bargains other than some Brisk for a buck. Pink lemonade for me and Blood Orange for my side kick.

Ocotillo, also called Devils Walking Stick.

My crafty sister and her equally crafty daughter are at a craft show this morning, and apparently will be at one every week for the next 4 weeks. I wish them success! They are both very talented and I believe that is why I have no craft talent, they have it all. Mother was very crafty as well. 

It is hard to believe this saguaro is hundreds of years old.

Do you think he’s being robbed?

Deer season will be opening soon (gun), so hunters are once again invading the Rock in Lake Huron. SIL Barb is busy cooking for the Fall Fowl Supper tonight in the Senior Centre in the hamlet of Tehkummah (Tac-a-ma). She is an excellent cook, as are the other ladies that work in the kitchen. We wish them a very successful night.

That is us back there.

For Jim, the tractor tear down is about complete now, all of the steering parts from the scrap tractor are off, all hoses, cylinders, the whole steering assembly including the steering wheel have been removed, cleaned up and inspected. Dad has sprayed his DB down with gas a couple of times to get rid of the debris, dirt and grease. I suggested another couple of times with hot soapy water to help with the grease factor.  Since the hunt is on this week, I believe there will be no work on the tractor for a couple of weeks.

So there you have it, all of our news. We have been enjoying the lazy days watching the sun and clouds dance on the mountains around us, we cuddle into our flannel bedsheets at night and leave a window or vent cracked open, wishing in the mornings chilled air that we had closed them, we run an errand here and there but mostly we are just resting. It is a good life, we are very fortunate.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time…..

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

The past few days….

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

I found my stamps and I went to the post office to get more! Isn’t that a surprise? The post office window closes at 12 pm. Yeah, I read the sign. I was there at 4:30 pm. Oh well, maybe I will make it back before we head to Ogilby Road. 

We were to meet at 5 pm, and we are never late, 
But I thought I would longer at the post office.

Tuesday evening, after the PO stop, we headed to Mountain Quail Cafe to meet up with Bill and Patsy  We enjoyed our visit a great deal, lots of laughter and smiles. We never had a pause in the chatter.  Mr. Gibbs was working of course, guarding their home while we were out having a great time. 

Deb, Riley, Bill and Patsy.

Our plan was to leave Friday but the Yuma area is calling for some pretty gusty winds on that day, so we are delaying our departure by a day or two. I will keep all informed.

My sister gave me a Sister blanket.

Things are quiet back on our Rock in Lake Huron. Manitoulin Island has said good bye to the summer folks but are welcoming the hunters with many Fall Fowl Suppers being advertised. These meals would be of the same table groaning nature as American Thanksgiving. I can almost hear the buzz of the folks working in the kitchens already, the chatter and clanging of pots, pans, dishes, silverware and that tell tale crash of something meeting its death upon contact with floor after dropping a couple of feet, and then that 5 seconds of absolute silence before everyone takes a breath and chatters again. 

I think my sister is from the out side of the fence
near my garden!

A birthday wish goes out to my Brother in Law, Dennis. He turns 80 in a few days. Dennis and Janet are the folks we visit in Indian Wells, CA every year. It is their beautiful farm, Buttercup Ridge that we often visit coming and going on our winter journey.

Also happy birthday to sister’s partner Rick. He turns 65 today. We hope you have a fantastic day Rick!

I’ve been chatting with dad every night, he and brother Rick are working on the DB tractor, replacing the entire steering assembly. This  particular tractor had a steering assembly that was only manufactured for one year and there are just no parts to be found. They are taking the entire assembly from an old scrap tractor, putting it on the DB. Dad’s other tractor is too light for working in the bush, so the DB needs to be ready for the freeze after Christmas, when the wood cutting starts. The ‘little’ tractor has the cab and blower and is patiently waiting for the white stuff to come. Otherwise it is very quiet there.

A few morning coffees with my sister, keeps me caught up on other news from the Rock in Lake Huron. Of course since she is only 15 minutes from dad, the news is pretty much the same!

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time,

Take care, be safe,

Deb

Thank you for your service….

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

Remembrance Day/ Veterans Day, to all that serve, have served and will serve, this day is a reminder to all of the sacrifices you make, have made and will make. It is but a few hours out of the year given in your honour but this day is filled with dignity, love and pride. It is a way of insuring that we never forgot those who have died, those that cope with injuries and losses that we can never imagine. It is to honour those that have no families left to remember them. It is a time to reflect on the fruits of your sacrifices, the freedom, the choices and the liberties you provide for us. We are forever in your debt, and so into this one day we pour all of our love and pride, to honour you and remember you! We all choose to remember you in our own ways, some with pomp and ceremony, some with family gatherings, and some quietly on our own, but no matter how we choose to show this honour and respect, we do honour, respect, miss and love you. 

It is not that we only remember, or think of you on this one, for that is far from the truth, you are in our hearts and thoughts every day but is the one day a year when we all join as one to show you that we appreciate, honour, value and remember all that you do, have done and will do for us.

Thank you for your service.

Deb

It just wasn’t meant to be…. Or maybe it was..

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

It has been quiet here, well except the wind. It is a very constant sound some days. I can see how it could drive a person to lose a solid foothold after a while. Don’t worry, we aren’t in danger of that happening. If you have never been to the desert to hear this wind, perhaps the tick, tick, tick of a clock in an otherwise silent room, or the steady drip, drip, drip of water from a leaky faucet, sounds that never cease but beat a tattoo into the brain so that we hear it even if we step into a silent room that does not have those sounds would give you an idea. Like muscle memory of the brain. The wind in the desert is often like that, steadily humming along, a few gusts here and there changes the sounds on occasion but the steady hum is there. It caresses the thorny growth giving slight movement but no rustling noise, some dust in the air maybe, but just the sound of the wind. It is not everyday, but I wake up listening for the tell tale signs of it every day in the desert. The desert winds sounds nothing like our Island winds back home, there is a lonely, haunting quality to the desert winds, almost like it is softly whispering tales of long ago. The Island winds are different, there is business to them, they move leaves, branches, make the trees creak, it howls through the tree limbs, it causes the water to gently lap the shore, it sends endless waves crashing onto the rocks, sending spray many feet into the air, it tells a story too but not the same kind as the desert winds. How can the wind be so different?

Heading toward Blythe, California 

Albertson’s parking lot.

A few days ago we decided to dump the tanks, fill with water and dump the garbage. Since La Posa south is close by it is where we went.  The office to buy the permit sticker doesn’t open until nine and it was a few minutes before that time. A fella comes from behind the building telling me the office would be late opening, some emergency was holding up the opening, at least an hour he said, but cross the road to Tyson Wash and get a permit from them. Across the road I walked, it took 5 minutes to explain my rig was across the road, I can apply the stickers myself, no I’m not staying in the LTVA, but still want a sticker. Eventually after about 15 minutes, stickers in hand I cross the road to find them selling permits, their hour is much different than mine. We did our business and were home, set up and enjoying the day after only about an hour and a half, from start to finish.

We had few things to accomplish and decided to divide them over two days, Thursday and Friday. Sounds good, right? On Thursday we needed to get rid of garbage, get bread, water, and wanted to fill a propane tank, oh yes, and stamps. We decided we go to Blythe, CA to get bread, have a look around and just enjoy some different views. We dropped the garbage at La Posa south, stopped at Lifestyles for propane, and off to Blythe we went. Bread is really expensive in Blythe, we spent about $100. No it wasn’t just bread, but that is all we needed! We checked out a number of stores before heading back to Q. Remembering we needed drinking water, we popped off at the Riggles Road Exit, filled our jugs, looked at the long lines at the One 9, opted to get fuel on Friday. We completely forgot about stamps but not worry we can get them Friday. So Friday morning we load up the laundry, the gas can and into town we go. First stop is Laundromat on Main Street, not many vehicles in the lot, it has a lot of machines, this will be good right? Not! One whole row (both sides of the partition) is empty, that cuts the available washers down by at least a third, maybe more. It looked like the wait would be long just to get enough washers. So off we headed to the other laundromat, same thing, full, lots of waiting. Back in the Dogsled we headed off for fuel while we discussed if we wanted to wait or not. Back to the One 9, pumps didn’t look very busy, yeah. Looking around I realized all of the diesel pumps are covered, no diesel, but we did fill the gas can for the generator. The big trucks were  stacked up at the truck pumps and we don’t need diesel that badly. A stop back at the big laundromat showed a fuller lot than before and so we just came home. Damn, forgot the stamps again. So we will try again another day to do laundry, get diesel and oh yes, stamps.

I always enjoy these views.

For some reason I forgot to publish this post, so I will add to it. It is Sunday and we have completed the laundry, gotten diesel, some more water, a few items of groceries, but not stamps. Oh well, we will eventually get some and I keep thinking I have some but I haven’t looked for them yet, explains why I haven’t found them, doesn’t it?

They are replacing with new and bigger capacity front loads.

I thought this was interesting, it’s in the laundromat.

I have talked to dad every day, keeping caught up on all the happenings. I have chatted with my sister a few times, as well as my friend Linda. I think we are caught up on the news from back home.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time…..

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

We nailed ourselves down…

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Az

If the blog looks blurry it’s due to the wind shaking the Igloo. The winds have been relentless for 24 hours and we are looking at another 10 hours at least. The winds are coolish, out of the north, and make it uncomfortable to be outside. It has been partially sunny with temps hovering around 70-72 F/21-22 C during the day, around 50 F/ 10 C over night. 

Three views of this beaten up Saguaro.

On Saturday while we were continuing our resting from the day before, I noticed a very big, shiny black truck pulling into our yard, our friends from Ontario came to visit. Bill, Patsy and Mr. Gibbs all climbed out and visiting commenced. Time slipped by so quickly as it does with friends, we have no idea where the couple of hours went. Soon our guests were climbing  back into BB and heading off. We will visit some more before we leave the area.

Not the best photo but you get to see their happy faces!

Sunday morning we were up and headed off to Parker for groceries and took only cash as we have had so much trouble with the card machines in Walmart there. In fact the couple ahead of us were having trouble trying  to use their card, she held the card with two hands while  he punched in the pin, it was the only way it would work. Cash payment had no issue! 

It is easy to see two of them are related.

Deb D, I looked down and found this ancient being at my feet.

I’ve been in touch with folks back home, Dad, sister, SIL Barb. All is well, rain is in the forecast for a number of days. Jason and Leah’s house is moving right along, it sounds as if a move in date is coming closer. We are excited for them!

Can you see the sleeping Indian?

1- forehead
2- nose
3- chin

The road to Parker is vastly improved with a new surface most of the way. Kuen Street here in Q is also vastly improved but Bill informed me it was fixed last spring, which we didn’t know.

The road to Parker.

We always like to this RR car!

As I typed this I thought I could see a dog running loose but I think it may have been coyote, a black tipped tail was visible and no one was visible in the area.

Taken from inside the Igloo, he is definitely a coyote.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time…

Take car, stay safe,

Deb

Some errands……

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Az

Since our arrival I have said we were going to just rest for a couple of days and we kinda did but not completely. Today however the Big Dog did not move.

We have been to Q twice since our arrival for a few reasons but now we are going to stay put for a couple of days. I truly just want to sit for a bit. This morning we went for a short stroll, I worked outside for about a half hour and then we just rested for the day. I’m certain we did not finish our resting today and so will be forced to continue tomorrow. Such is the hardships of life.

I have chatted with Dad every night, staying caught up on the news back there. He had no tricker treaters at all but I don’t think he expected to either. I have called my sister a couple of times and had coffee, it was a nice way to pass an hour. Today I called my friend Linda to get caught up with her and her family. Due to busy lives we just didn’t get a chance to visit this summer. 

While we are sitting I will blog occasionally but not every day, I don’t do anything interesting enough to do so, some times they will be photo blogs, and since a picture is worth a thousand words, if you view the pictures slowly enough it will be as if I have produced a novel for you to read!

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time,

Take care, stay safe,

Deb