Friends leave and a catch up post…..

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

I lost my entire post, and have to start over, thank you Blogger! I see the font is changing sizes now too. Oh well read on if you are brave, or maybe just bored. 

I have been lazy about posting and I apologize for that. My brain has been too busy to think about reading or writing posts. I promise to try to do better in the future.

The moon is leaving.

Sunrise is coming.

The saguaro and sunrise.

Some colourful flames at the campfire.

Tuesday, Nov 23, our good friends Lorne and Sue left in a cloud of dust as they head on down the road for their winter spot. It was wonderful meeting you folks finally. We had such a great time getting to know you in person, we look forward to more meetings in the future.

Archie looks sad.

One final coffee hour. Ken was missing but said goodbye earlier.
Sue, Tom, Deb D, Kim, Riley and Lorne.

The last pic before they board.

Safe travels, see you in down the road friends.

The past number of days and weeks have found us with cool weather here at Quartzsite. My morning walks have been chilly with very heavy sweaters, long pants and a hood. The daytime breeze is chilly as well but the sun does help. We will soon be moving to warmer temps and we are looking forward to it.

Sunrise on a different day.

Our days have been filled with friends, laughter and good times. We are grateful for each and every one of them. Thank you folks. 

Seen on a morning walk.

The pink is beautiful,

This paragraph is for me and my future reference, feel free to skip it. A month ago we traded in Igloo 1.0 for Igloo 2.0. It has been a very trying month. We have fixed the battery cable issues, the leak issue, the electrical issues but still have a slide issue to deal with. We have not yet tried the hot water heater or the awning. I don’t think I could take another issue at this point. The positive battery cable fell off our first day out, we had an intermittent tail light issue, we discovered 2 leaks in Texas when hooked up, a slide wouldn’t go out and upon arriving here at the BLM in Q we discovered a battery drain, which then lead to a non functioning on board generator, a non working fridge and a holiday weekend. RV Lifestyles repair shop was our fix it place for everything except the battery cable, the now miraculously consistent full functioning taillight and the slide repair. (They don’t work on this slide issue). The end result was a mouse nest in the on board generator which resulted in chewed wires, arcing in the generator and resulted in the converter needing replaced, a new breaker for the fridge in the fuse panel, a new motherboard for the fridge, and we need to have generator rewired. We have paid approximately $2500 CAD so far, we have not had an estimate yet for the slide, nor the generator. I have heard nothing from Outdoor Travel regarding our troubles. I contacted them before we left Wapakoneta, Ohio our first day out.

On my morning walk I often cross this was.

To make life even more interesting we are having trouble finding an insurance company to cover FULL TIMERS IN ONTARIO. Wayfarers/Orbit our broker informed me the end insurer being Elite Aviva no longer offers this coverage. I have spent the last 30 days looking for another company. I can honestly say it is an extremely frustrating search and I am coming up empty. Any other ONTARIANS out there that FULL TIME? 

And this one too.

Our friends have rallied around us, doing everything they can to ease our worries. We appreciate you folks more than I can ever say. We are truly fortunate.  We have spent happy hours, coffee time, meals, campfires and a trip to Mexico with various groups of them. You can find pics, details and confirmation at Deb and Tom’s (Celebrating the Dance) Ken and Kim’s  (Journey with Ken and Kim), Lorne and Sue’s ( A place called away), Bill (On our way ) and Patsy’s (  Chillin’ with Patsy) blogs. Although only the 6 of us left here at our little desert patch went to Mexico, Deb and Tom, Ken and Kim and Riley and I.

Los Algodones is a vibrant, loud, and bustling place. We love it.

Back on the Little Rock, the hunt was successful with brother Rick bagging the only deer. Congrats Rick. It did look a little small in the pics though. Hudson looked almost as big as the deer! A number of inches of snow have also fallen there requiring two visits from the snow plow in one day. It seems too early for snow. Other than that there has been no news from the place. Stay warm folks.

So you are now caught up with our happenings. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time…..

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

A night out….

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

A lazy start to my morning yesterday , I didn’t head out for my walk until after the sun was up. It was just too cold. 

We were off to the races!

Riley and I headed off for town to do a few errands, bumper stops for the kitchen island, fuel for the Dogsled, a quick stop at Park Place Rv to drop something at Bill and Patsy’s ( we even managed a quick hello with Bill), and the last stop was ice at one of the grocery stores. After that it was back home.

These were the little guys.
The track was very small but they had a great time.

Deb (Celebrating the Dance  )dropped by for a visit around noonish. Shortly after she left Riley and I headed over to see Lorne and Sue ( A place called away )for a few minutes. Riley and Archie were staying home alone and she wanted to know a few things. Satisfied that she knew what to do, it wasn’t long before she headed home and Lorne, Sue and I climbed into the Dogsled and headed off to the Yuma area. 

A little blurry but they were moving fast.

Drifting on the turn. The spin outs always happened
at this end and on this turn. 

We managed to do a little shopping for some things that could sit in the truck for a few hours. A stop a Cracker Barrel for some food, and it was off to the races. Thanks folks for your generosity in paying not only for my meal but my entry into the track.

The two at the bottom were soon lapped by the leaders.

The night air had a bit of a bite but overall the night wasn’t too bad. We had coats and blankets, hoods but no mittens. We are Canadian after all!

A later race, with a large number of cars.

The races were fun to watch, some pretty close ones, a few spin outs, one roll over, but no injuries of any kind. Ironically the roll over was in the kids race as he headed off the track, over the berm and toppled over. He was unhurt and waved to the crowd after crawling out. A few of the later adult races were jammed with cars and the action was fast, lots of drifting and even some lapping of the slower cars. It was a great evening.

I don’t recall on spin outs at this end but the drifting was higher
and higher as the night went on.

Lorne handled the Big Dog on the way home, night time driving for long distances is difficult for me and I was happy to pass the keys over. We were home before 11:30 pm! A very good time, thanks again for including me.

It was the last race night for this year at this track before they 
switch to the winter circuit.

Until next time….

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

More fun days….

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

I must apologize, I have no photos to post today. 

Thanksgiving was a wonderful day, good friends , good times and good food. We ended up having 10 people around our circle for a meal with another one coming before dessert was served.  For an American Thanksgiving there were only 2, with the remaining 9 being Canadian.  Our wonderful host and hostess of course were Deb and Tom (Celebrating the Dance  ).  Thank you for including us in your day. Everything was wonderful.

Other attendees were of course Lorne and Sue ( A place called away ), Ken and Kim ( Journey with Ken and Kim), Bill (On our way) and Patsy ( Chillin’ with Patsy) with Ivan (Roadtrip) being our surprise visitor, as well as Riley and I. Lots of laughs, chatter and good times were had by all.

Friday of course was a very quiet day here at home dirt. Coolish temps for the most part all day. A relaxing day with all the ladies gathering at Sue’s front yard for coffee time and most of the gang at the Stinger Bee for happy hour. 

Some plans for the afternoon today so hopefully I remember to take some pictures. Thanks for stopping by. 

Until next time……

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

Happy Thanksgiving America….

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our American friends. May this day bring you love and peace. 

It’s been a busy few days. An electrical issue that keeps growing, Lorne and Ken are helping me with it, even a call to nephew Jason didn’t get us any closer but we shall try RV Lifestyle as soon as possible.

Lorne drilling a hole for wires in Percy’s roof!

Most of us have been gathering for coffee time and happy hour most days. Sometimes we just can’t all make it, but it is always fun. It has cooled down significantly here over the past few days. We are pulling on heavier clothing now. 

A hint of pink in the morning sky, Nov 21.

Sunrise, Nov 21.

We had a movie night courtesy of Sue and Lorne (A place called away) We all gathered in front of a big blow up screen and watched TheLong, Long Trailer with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. Deb and Tom (Celebrating the Dance  ), Ken and Kim ( Journey with Ken and Kim ), along with Bill (  On our way)and Patsy ( Chillin’ with Patsy ), Riley and I.

Sunrise, Nov 22

The hunt back home is not bagging any prizes according to Jason. However they still have a few days left. 

The early start of sunrise this morning before 7 am.

Sunrise this morning while on my walk.

A mixture of pics over the last few days. I have successfully managed to move my feet a distance of 6000+ steps for 8 days. Most of these photos were taken then

Until next time…..

Take care, stay safe, 

Deb

A quiet Sunday….

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

Up and out the door around 7 am, my feet once again carrying me over the desert floor in search of some pics for this blog and to watch the sunrise from a different spot. I was successful in doing those things as well as managing to get my 6000 steps in again today.

Various rigs parked in the desert.

A few issues with battery power but our wonderful neighbours came to the rescue and I have no doubt we will figure out the issue. Thanks Ken and Lorne. It being Sunday Tom was off to church before we even knew we had a problem or I have no doubt he too would have been here.

These pics were taken before the sun came up.

A nice visit with Sue here in the Igloo today as well. We are enjoying getting to know her as she is a bubbly lady. Her smile lights up a room and the excitement for life shines in her eyes. 

A small sampling of what people live in while here in the desert.

Lorne came by and ask for some help pulling wires, I was happy to help, getting to know him better as well. He is a happy fella, and tries hard to hide the fact that he knows much more than he pretends. Thanks Lorne, I enjoyed learning a number of things and using my brain. I am happy to help you anytime.

The sun will soon pop over the horizon.

It is shining on the mountains behind me already.

Eventually, except for Riley, we all joined up for happy hour. Lots of laughs and chatter could be heard across the desert I’m sure. Once again darkness and the nightly chill drove us all home.  It was another good day here in the desert. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time….

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

Another quiet day….

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

A sleep pattern of sleeping a few hours, awake for a few hours and another hour or so of sleep seems to be the new norm for me. It’s not one I like but it seems to be the one I’m adjusting too. This is the third night in a row. 

Water hanging from the branches

A hint of colour off in the distance…

A little pinky over there…

Awake, dressed and out the door before 7 this morning I watched the sun come up as my feet carried me across the desert floor and I managed all of my steps again today. Back home before 8 am, a bit of breakfast before we headed off to town to do a few more errands that we some how managed to forget yesterday.

Water puddles from last night’s rain.

The sky is getting a little more colour…

Happy hour found us all sitting at Ken and Kim’s ( Journey with Ken and Kim ). We managed once again to have some chuckles, tell some tales and enjoy the company. We headed home at various times toward nightfall.  We of course being Deb and Tom (Celebrating the Dance  ), Lorne and Sue ( A place called away  ), Riley and I.

The sun lighting just the very tops of the clouds.

You can see where it will top the clouds very soon.

I chatted with dad, the retirement party for brother Rick was a success with a lot of people in attendance. The weather is warmish there, the start of the annual deer season is Monday, otherwise all is quiet on The Rock in Lake Huron.

It is easier to see now….

It has already kissed the mountains behind me.

Until next time…..

Take care, be safe,

Deb

A chore day..

 

Our Location:

Road Runner BLM, Quartzsite, Arizona 

I watched a cute sunrise this morning as my feet took me out for a stroll. I stopped here and there to take pics but was home within the hour getting my 6000 steps in two days in a row. 

The first ray breaking over the Kofa Mountains.

This morning was taken up with chores. After changing the linens, we piled the backseat of the Dogsled full with dirty laundry and headed into Q. I think we used a whole row of machines to wash everything. It was two and a half hours later before everything was washed, dried, folded and back in the truck. We managed a drop in at a few stores for a couple of quick purchases before heading back home. Little did we realize but we forgot the drinking water jugs and a propane tank until we noticed the water filling station. I can see another trip to town tomorrow.

The dried out pulp of a saguaro.

There are many dead and dying saguaros here.

Back home we emptied the truck, put away the laundry and managed a light snack before happy hour. We gathered in the shade beside the Igloo, Deb and Tom ( Celebrating the Dance ), Ken and Kim (journey with Ken & Kim) and Lorne and Sue (A place called away)and myself. Riley opted out of happy hour. We chatted and laughed the afternoon away, darkness and the desert chill finally drove us all home. 

Our neighbourhood this morning.

The Ocotillos are not showing any green yet.

Back in the desert washes again.

A view during my stroll.

Thanks for stopping by and checking our day here in the desert.

Until next time….

Take care, be safe,

Deb