August brings high humidity to Arizona

High heat and monsoon rain left a relative humidity beyond what’s normal or tolerable in Arizona.  So I’ve stayed inside and stayed busy spending too much time at the computer while watching wildlife with the help of a new toy, planning a journey, and thinking about a meetup.

All that lovely monsoon rain has turned the golden grasses to green and raised the humidity to Florida levels.  Really, 86% at 86° is almost raining, but not quite.  I use the AC just to get rid of the stickiness.  Did get a little rain, at least on the east side of the RV, but most headed northeast.  High humidity also brought out the bugs, including mosquitoes.  Also something I don’t normally see at high elevation in the South West.

There were some days with rain.  Clouds seem to split around this valley, moving over the mountains to my east and west.  As they rumble along I occasionally feel the thunder.

                    Gray-breasted Jay                                                           Gray squirrel

Spending so much time inside at the computer, I am glad to have wonderful window views.  Various birds and squirrels put on skits for my entertainment.  A much needed distraction while editing posts, photos, and especially videos.  Over the 12 days visiting Grand Canyon I took almost two hours of videos, plus 100s of photos, and then took three days to create a 8:30 minute final video project.  Don’t think I get paid enough for this. But it was a little more fun and I really like this one.  I continue to see improvement.

If I don’t spend enough time with photos and video, a new camera’s been added to the mix.  Thanks to a patron, I now own a trail cam.  It was surprisingly easy to set up and mount with a strap to the ladder on the back of the 5th-wheel.  Has solar panels to charge the built-in lithium battery, plus backup of four AA-batteries.

Mostly I have photos and videos of me walking on the berm.  But the second night out it caught a stray cat followed the next night by a fox.  Not the best quality photo even at 36mp, but it’s infrared after dark.  And, I can check it with an app on my phone.  I’m pretty excited.

And really glad it didn’t get mounted before a crazy Flicker visit to the same ladder.  That bird must have seen its reflection in the dark tinted windows.  It postured and danced for almost five minutes (which I only caught on video) yet never once touched the glass.

The trail cam hasn’t caught any birds yet and one morning missed a coyote that I saw probably too far away for its 65 foot range.  I look forward to taking it to the desert this winter, or anywhere else I’m lucky enough to travel.

But maybe not on the next trip.  Sadly, I had to cancel the summer road trip plan, first to the north, then east to arrive in Illinois for my 50th High School reunion mid September.  Of course I was bummed.  I considered flying yet need a cat-sitter.  Sierra does like sitting on laps that she knows but gets really stressed when there’s nobody around.  It’s a cat thing.  Problem solved when Joann offered to stayCATion at my place not far from her Prescott job.

Holy shit!  When did it get so hard to make reservations?  I travel, but not frequently by air.  Of course I’m a cheapskate budget conscious and found RT prices under $200 but do not include any luggage, even overhead carry-on.  A checked bag is almost the same price as the passenger.  All I need is a carry-on.  I got hot and stressed, even with AC, and would have gone outside in the shade if not for the humidity and mosquitoes.  After half a day, I managed to muddle through it for a week in the Chicago suburbs where I’ll happily being staying with Sandee.  Now to find a dress.

Travel plans reminded me of a need for new business cards.  I’ve designed my own cards for decades and am almost out of the last version.  I’d usually print them myself but the printer ink costs more than an order of 100 cards.  Plus I’d like to have them in-hand before next month.

One thing leading to another, I should have a logo.  So after I finally found some paper and a pencil, I started to draw.  And though it’s a fun concept, it’s also way to busy.

Instead I played around online until happy with a photo-to-B&W illustration of the truckcamper then used that to also design business cards.  Even with a bit of learning curve it was a much faster process than my old way.  Yet another work in progress.  Such is life.

While in Illinois I also hope to visit with some cousins still living in the area.  That plan is in the works.

Also in the works, is the idea for a Meetup somewhere in Arizona during October.  A Meetup includes me, you, and others.  This will be camping/boondocking in a beautiful place.  One possibility is the Kaibab National Forest near Grand Canyon’s South, or preferably North Rim.  (Also note the new tab under the header photo for Geogypsy Journeys.)

Or, maybe, here on the ranch in Skull Valley.  October brings golden color to Arizona.

Congress AZ

I am open to suggestions.  Check out my video invitation.  I’d love your feedback on this idea and hope you’ll join me.  You know, through 14 years of blogging I’ve met many wonderful people from around the world.  Yes, some are virtual.  But I’ve also met a lot of people in real time.  Some of you in fact.  And if we haven’t met yet, well why not?  Let’s not blame it on the humidity.