Finding space can be physical, digital, and in my head. Living in a tiny house (camper 12×8 feet plus bed) finding space can be a challenge, one thing in often leads to one thing out. Yet I survive comfortably without a whole lot of stuff.
Sunrise Kofa Mts
When out boondocking on public lands, finding space to park the RV includes a beautiful window view preferably without other RVs in sight, and a strong enough signal to get online. Once there, I’m in no hurry to move. Takes time to get to know a place.
Sunset Chocolate Mts
The desert and mountains are a spectacular part of the Sonoran Desert I dearly love, during winter. Wonder how long I can stretch before needing supplies?
Sunset New Water Mts
I put off moving until the next day.
But that didn’t happen either. After the fridge giving some grief and not wanting to start the night before I woke up with it humming right along. Good thing or I would have had food on melt down and eaten more ice cream than usual.
Tomorrow will be soon enough to shop.
Sierra is happier when we don’t roll but she has no problem finding space to crawl under the covers when we do, after several complaining meows.
My decision not to move paid off. The afternoon was filled with clouds and marvelous light.
Sadly, a new neighbor pulled in finding space right at the western edge of my sunrise view. But even that didn’t make it easy to leave this gorgeous place.
Alas, I needed groceries so really did have to go.
But I didn’t hurry too much as I was enjoying the cloudy show.
Kofa camp rocks
I took an extremely slow drive the three miles back to the highway trying not to bounce the camper too much. I’m thinking part of that problem is the truck itself needs beefing up with some new shocks and possibly overpriced airbags. Ideally, the camper could come off the truck this summer for its own repairs and then the truck could be worked on much easier. Had to stop along the drive because the pickle jar in a trash bag leaked and now my truck cab smells like dill pickles. I didn’t want to put the liquid in my tank or pour it outside as people-food. But then I did pour out the small amount left in the jar and the trash bag. Yes, finding space for garbage means the front passenger seat, extra water jugs sit on the floor. At first I was mad. Then I heard Berta’s voice about finding space in my head to laugh, and let it go. Good thing I like pickles, and that nobody could hear me LMAO!
After grocery shopping in Blythe, I struggled finding space in the refrigerator and freezer. Found a really good sale price on ice cream. Then there’s dry goods to cram in a small cupboard. And large supplies of paper products go in the truck’s back seat/pantry/closet.
No problem finding space to park overnight at Shady Lane RV Court. Yup, time to dump and fill again. Always nice to see Breezy and Finius who own the place. And a treat to have unlimited electricity to work on photos. Except for a problem finding space on the laptop’s hard-drive. So full, I couldn’t add even one, more, photo. I’ve been backing up to external drives in order to free-up some space. Not easy when I’m behind labeling photos by just over one year. The new camera definitely takes larger size photo files than the previous one.
By morning I realized I would need another external drive. Good thing that digital space is small and doesn’t take up much physical space. This would mean another trip to a town bigger than Quartzsite. If it wasn’t going to be super windy near Yuma I’d head south and possibly replace the old laptop, but it will have to wait longer. Instead I took the shorter drive north to Parker for a WalMart. Their computer selection didn’t entice me but I did buy another 1TB external drive.
Finding space to boondock near Parker isn’t easy so I returned to Plomosa Road and didn’t drive far as I only planned to spend one night. The place is too noisy for me, close to the road, OHV dust, other people, generators, and barking dogs.
That turned into two nights as I like at least one down day after two town days. Still had 1/4 tank of propane. A storm blew through and dropped some hard rain with wind so strong I could barely open the camper door. Later the sun came out and I went for a short walkabout finding space in the curved branches of an Ironwood tree.
Then sunset left a wide band of orange across the horizon with a sliver of moon hoovering above.
Winter winds in the desert southwest can be brutal but I couldn’t let them stop me completely. Besides I needed to return to Quartzsite to do laundry and fill both propane tanks before finding space to park in the quiet desert once again.
Loggerhead Shrike
Instead of the usual Palm Canyon Road I took the MST&T Tower Road towards those lovely Kofa Mountains so my angle of view is different. There is a delightful Palo Verde nursery-tree to at least 3-5 Saguaros out my door and plenty of desert in sight.
Dusty sunset
With wind gusting 30mph and clocking from the southwest to northwest I parked pointing north so the camper is rocking a bit but down wind for the fridge that is playing games with two full propane tanks and fully charged battery. Once again it lit sometime after I went to bed.
The wind blew brutally on Valentine’s keeping me inside but the day ended with gorgeous colors.
The signal has been on and off iffy. That could be the deal breaker requiring me to move once again and finding space that meets all my requirements. Now I could really use motivation finding space in my day for more exercise. Anybody else struggling with that?
Absolutely gorgeous, gorgeous photos…again. I can see why you love that area for your home.
Thank you. Great place for winter, not so much summer.
Wonderful photos as always. I have often looked at camping over on the MST road, its less busy than Palm. The only issue is getting on the south side of the power line so that is not in the view of Signal Mtn. Alas, we were lazy and stayed in our spot in the LTVA.
Thanks. I am almost under the wires because I wanted a clear shot of the Kofas. Much less traffic. You should come for a visit.
I’m glad the snowstorms missed you. My friends in TX are not having fun with the amount of snow dropped on their usually balmy doorsteps. It sounds like you’ve got a good thing going for you and have worked out the best way to boondock.
I’m glad that storm missed me too. I’m hearing from people all over the south about cold, snow, and loss of power. We’re not prepared for climate change.
Those views are spectacular all around! Such a pretty sliver moon shot. The winds have been brutal even in the house so I can only imagine they’re keeping you rocking.
Thanks. Typical SW winter wind. Glad I don’t have slides. Hang on tight.
Love that area during the winter.
Have you considered a Travel Trailer to replace your slide-in or even both units.
Be Safe and Enjoy taunting us with those beautiful pictures.
It’s about time.
Thanks. I’m still loving this winter desert. I have considered a TT but really don’t like to tow, or back up.
Space during the day for exercise is never easy, If I go for a 3 hour walk then I find I am struggling to catch up with everything else but I do enjoy my walks.
I would never want to move from the views you see on a daily basis, but today I had the excitement of seeing my first butterfly this year and also the first day almost of sun! That last photo, I thought it looked like you had found an elephant hiding behind a tree 😊🐘 trunk off to the right!!
Take care and enjoy while you can. Diane and Nigel
I like that I get paid to exercise when I’m working. But this wind keeps me indoors. Maybe spring is on the way if you’re seeing a butterfly. When it gets here I’ll have to move to a higher elevation.
I love this almost stream of consciousness post. Your are living your life, not just surviving. Your photography just keeps on getting better and better as does your writing.
Now is a bad time for computer shopping as the home schooling and Bitcoin mining have driven prices up. External hard drives areaway to go.
Keep on geotrucking!!
Thanks. Lately I feel like living is just surviving the best we can. You seem to do that quite well. Now that I figured out I have a lens that no longer auto-fucuses I’m hoping for more improvement on photos with other lenses I have. I’m holding out on the computer as long as possible.
Love your photos of such a pretty place! And it’s nice to know I wasn’t the only one with a fridge that didn’t like the high winds.
Thank you. Even parked down wind my fridge seems to give grief every few days then clears up.
I have been following your blog for a long while and enjoy reading your blog posts. Thank you for sharing your life through your blog posts. Luckily, your cat seems to adapt to traveling way better than our cat. Our cat has an anxiety attack when she thinks we will be put her into the car even though we are just leaving to run errands. Please continue to keep safe in this unpredictable winter weather.
Sierra does much better in the camper than in a carrier or the cab. I’m glad she adapted so well. Thank you for leaving such a nice comment. Other than wind, the desert weather has been pretty mild so far this winter.