On The Road

April 29th. (Happy Birthday John) We hit the road this morning. Accomplished quite a bit Monday & Tuesday, installed the slider shelf and freezer, got the trailer reorganized, everything packed, and ready to go. Freezer is an awesome addition, it will help greatly for extended times between shopping. Already, I was able to buy 3 1/2 gallons of ice cream! In the little freezer in our fridge there is only room for that much ice cream, so all that ice cream plus all the meat, etc is a bonus.





Our first night out, we are at Buckskin State Park. Situated on the Colorado River, a little south of the Parker Dam. The river is clear, and not as cold as I would have expected. We took Koda for a walk down to the boat ramp after dark, he was quite intrigued by the water. He is NOT a water dog, he doesn't care to jump in like other dogs, so having him near never concerns us. Well it must have looked different in the dark, cuz in he jumped. Out he climbed! It might have been dark, but he still doesn't like it.





Great dark skies tonight, stars very bright. Nothing like being away from a city to see stars. Big dipper, Orion's Belt, OK, that is it for my ID-ing. Need to study this a bit more.



So quiet here. After the time in Phoenix, just off a main street, with traffic, fire trucks etc, this is heaven. A lot to be said for the stillness of a night by a river.

Good night, I am going to sit and watch and listen.

Good Morning! Great Bargain!!

Been a week since the last post. In this past week, we left Quartzsite and set up in Phoenix. We are camped next to friends who have moved to Phoenix. Nice having friends around. This park is noisy! We are in the front row on a major road. Traffic all night. Plus is next to a friend, negative is noise. We are only here a few weeks, we can deal with it.

Been working at the main store in Arizona, filling in for the guys away at the big show in New Mexico. Not too busy, but enough to keep us going. Big advantage to being at the store is getting some things done. For instance, our freezer is very small. We can't really stock up on frozen items. So, we decided to get some sort of freezer, either a small home style and put it in the trailer, or get an RV style, runs AC or DC that will fit in a storage bay. As our luck (and you know who) would have it, the store had a 'take out', or an item that was in a coach being sold that the customer did not want, in the shed. A new, although some slight scratches, cooler/freezer. I was able to buy it at about 25% of the retail price. This will work as a cooler or a freezer depending on the thermostat setting. This was a major find. With grocery stores an hour away, a good freezer is invaluable.

We have a large shopping list to get items we will need for the summer. Items we didn't just naturally have or have with us. Hiking boots. Haven't had any for quite awhile, so a trip to Cabellas was in order. Sleeping bag. Need one for our courses, and a bag is always handy to have around. Got these items the other night, and had a really cool vsit to the store. Cabellas is like LL Bean up in Freeport, or Bass Pro Shop. Huge, every outdoor activity imaginable. Fun place. Hard to leave without spending a chunk.

Well, three more days on the sales lot, then quick fligt to Florida and back, a couple days hre and we hit the road!

Que up Willy Nelson, 'On the Road Again'.....

Blessed Easter

Easter morning, beautiful dawn and sunrise. Clear skies and promises of a warm day here in Arizona. Nice day for travel. Today we leave Quartzsite. We have been here since New Years Day! Some interludes away, but mainly here. It is a quaint little town of less than 2000 in the summer, swells to over 1/2 million in January. I arrived early December, flew back to pick up Jolene and the coach at Christmas.

We had rain about 4 times since Jan 1. This is the desert. However, Dec and early Jan there was enough ran to nourish the desert plants and the spring has been beautiful. Prickly pear cactus, ocotillo, suguerro etc. The prickly pear blossoms are brilliant.

Wildlife out here. Coyotes are unseen, but heard at night. Not every night, but what a chorus. Spooky but what a natural sound. Very different for an eastern boy like me. There are Mountain Quail hunting around for food. These are cool looking birds with a tuft on their forehead.

Road Runners on occasion so can the Coyotes be far behind? I keep expecting to see an Acme package lying open on the desert. Beep beep...

On to our travel. Today we move over to Phoenix to an RV resort. Pool, spa, laundry facilities within short walk. Grass, palm trees, real stores nearby. This should be different. Of course it comes with a price. Actual $'s, we have been in a free spot for the past 3 1/2 months. Lot to be said for that. We will be next to one of my friends from back in Florida. Ed moved out here after Lazy Days, now lives and works in Phoenix. Looking forward to hanging with him a bit. For the first week I will be working at the main store for the company I have been with out here in Q. Then a quick rip to Florida, and back. We will be at the park until the 29th, then get a real start on this next adventure.

Path Stays True, Route Changes

For the time being, no longer looking for a truck. Started actually seeing trucks in the range I am willing to pay, but not trucks we are willing to buy. Should have known, but they looked pretty good online. Didn't mind paying a bit more, but after outfitting it for the job it is intended to do, the cost just went beyond what we were willing to pay. Still need a vehicle for our work up at Yellowstone, so now looking at renting. We can get a car for the entire time we are there at a fraction of the cost of buying. No added insurance, no worries about an older vehicle and maintenance, no extra items needed to set it up. PLUS, we still have our enclosed trailer to use, this works as a garage for the motorcycle, transport for the extra "stuff".

Fly Fishing
I will be taking the novice fly fishing course with Rhea Topping in July. Really looking forward to this. Good old eBay, got a new rod, reel, line and vest at a very low buy in price. Everything for less than the retail value of the vest! I will wait till I get up in the area to get other items.

Native Plants - the Indian Store
Jolene will be taking this course. Identify and find the plants the Indians used for food, medicine etc. Learn how they were used, and customs of the native Americans. This is right up Jolene's alley, she is fascinated with what happened in history. Natural cures, herbs etc. She gets to take her class in June and stay in a log cabin!

www.yellowstoneassociation.org if you go to Take a Course, look these up. Really cool offerings! Come out to Yellowstone and take one.