Watching the sky for sunrise, set, and the moon plus campers that come and go provided the week’s entertainment.
Some days’ entertainment starts by watching the sky for a colorful sunrise. Now happening at a respectable hour when I’m likely to be awake.
Then later watching the sky as the waxing moon peaked over an invasive yet beautiful Tamarisk tree.
Not always easy to avoid the many RVs parked nearby. Sometimes it’s a huge motorhome towing a SUV on a trailer, school bus or ambulance conversion, a 5th-wheel, tow-trailer, van, car, or a motorcycle. People come and go. I went out for propane and groceries plus found a strong enough signal to put out the last blog post. I’ve decided not to call these things “chores” anymore because of the negative connotation.
Watching the sky for storm clouds that did drop some light rain for most of a day. Thank goodness not a gully-washer storm or there would’ve been mass exodus because most of us RVs are parked in a huge dry wash. Also not a lot of solar charging going on. But did have enough to charge my phone and laptop plus start the fridge most of the time.
The next morning I was watching the sky drop over the eastern mountains. The 1% chance of rain held off and the day warmed to a partly cloudy 71°. I was actually able to get online briefly and check emails. Yippee, Social Security is giving a cost of living raise starting in January. Might be enough for an extra tank of fuel, if I didn’t drive a diesel.
Low clouds that evening meant no moon on the horizon but it did show at sunset.
Awoke to fog so thick I could barely see the neighboring RVs. Watching the sky over the next three hours the sun began to burn off the fog, then it came back and hung for a while before clearing completely.
Which allowed for the almost full moon rise on the horizon.
Waking to the sound of yet another freight train roll by got me watching the sky for another pretty sunrise. In fact I was up early because Joann was coming to get me.
From her place in town I was able to load the Verde Canyon train video. I know, I never got a blog post out about the train ride, and I might not. But the video is fun and I hope you’ll check that out. And please subscribe if you haven’t already.
Joann’s home is well decorated for Christmas and she gave me a present to unwrap saying it’s gag gifts and part of a tradition. We don’t usually exchange gifts, however we decorated the small tree together last year then took turns hanging it in our respective campers and a friend in a nursing home had it for a while also.
I now have an elf on a sort of shelf but it keeps moving to different places.
And who can resist chocolate? Not me.
I was a little late watching the sky for an almost full moon.
I was back to Joann’s on Wednesday picking up the box of calendars on my way to the Mexican border. Gayle had a dental appointment in Algodones the next morning so we camped in the parking lot on the US side and I was watching the sky for moon rise.
Calendars will be shipped this week. Still a few left if you’d like to order, $25 each includes shipping in the USA.
Nice post, amid a crowded camping situation. Making the best of it I can tell. I hope your spirit is strong and you can soon move back into the Kofa to refresh and renew. Weather is descending on AZ tonight, so it might be best to stay south for a bit. Im on hold in a pretty spot near Mesa, to be near family. Next month, I will be in the kofa, if the weather cooperated. Take care. -kevin
Thanks. Not my favorite place to camp but I will move this week, maybe west a bit for a while. I’ll be back to Kofa for sure after the holidays. Been a cold winter here so far. Glad you are visiting family. Hope our trails cross next month.
Good to see a post with no issues you have to deal with as it makes for a more relaxing time.
How far south can you go to stay reasonably warm. I have been snowed on in Baja this time of year. Our lows near the 42nd parallel will be in the 20’s for the week The deluge from the atmospheric river we experienced the last few days has the river in the backyard rising assertively with the side creeks gushing white water.
I love shooting in the fog especially first light Skamokawa;* Wakashan/Chinook for ‘Smoke on the Water’. Makes one glad they loaded the kayak the night before.
Stay warm, and in scenic places and work the light.
*Chinook; A 19th century Pidgin trade language based largely on Wakashan with Indo-European influences that developed along the Columbia River and spread around the areas beyond. Widely used by First Persons*, trappers, traders, missionaries, and pioneers
Wakashan; Language of the ‘First Persons’ who lived along the Columbia River for thousands of years before Europeans.
It should be noted that the terms Native American and Indigenous* Americans are arguably inappropriately used terms. There are no Humans/peoples native to North America. A situation that applies to other ‘invasive’ species around most of the world.
*In the past few years, Indigenous has interestingly taken on another, suspect, definition. One that doesn’t exist in some of my old dictionaries.
Thanks. Nice to be a no drama time. I hate stress. Also don’t like cold but hasn’t been too bad lately. I won’t be driving across the border this winter for various reasons. But I should soon be at a more scenic location. Humans are generally an invasive species.
WOW Fantastic photo’s Gaelyn Those sky photo’s are exceptionlly dramatic. Hope you have a great Xmas and good luck for the New Year.2023
Thanks. Glad for something scenic to shoot around this noisy and busy camp.
Always enjoy your photos of the ever changing sky. Are there more folks settling in for the happenings at The Q?
Thanks. I suppose it will be getting busier around Q but the real bulk of visitors shows after Christmas.
Hmm..reading comments…how do we refer to Native Americans now I wonder? By their individual tribal names? I have no clue. At least we don’t call these people who were here before us Indians any more. OK. Lots of sky photos and my goodness that looks like a very crowded space. Hard to get any privacy, but I guess hanging out on the shady side of the rig with a book isn’t necessarily something to do with the chilly weather this time of year. It is chilly no matter where you go I guess, but it is all relative. Mabye in Quartzsite around Jan 18 to 20 or so. Or boondocking on that old side road on the south side of Joshua Tree between the interstate and the railroad. Who knows if it will be all jammed up as well this year. I thought maybe the RVing thing was slowing down a bit but it doesn’t look that way. Although we did get a front row space at Harris Beach this week for a few days reserving just a couple of weeks ago so that is encouraging in spite of the heavy rain predicted.
I like “first people” generally but tribal name for specifics. It’s complicated. In this day we don’t introduce ourselves with lineage as a rule. This is a crowded place and when I sit outside in the afternoon to read I’m seeking sun out of the wind. I’ll be moving on this week. Keep me posted about your journey south. I doubt I’ll make it into the JT area, but would love to catch up near Q. Still lots of RVs out here including vans and cars.
Love your full moon photos. The moon rose here in the dark and there were a lot of clouds as well so I did not even try.. Love the rain with the bald eagle painted on it. When I have time I will try and look at the video but 14 minutes is not going spare at the moment. So much to do and time seems to keep getting shorter!
Have a good week and take care. Hugs Diane and Nigel.
Love the train not the rain!!!!!!
Thanks. Because actual full moon comes up in the dark I try to shoot several nights before, but sometimes clouds get in the way. Train was fun.
Man you got a lot of neighbors parked out there with you and I suspect that that is just part of the deal with camping in a convenient spot with warmer temperatures.
I love how you show the moon in the sky complete with powerlines and poles and all that. I do the same thing, it’s all part of our environment good or bad.
You and your friends are so sustainable sharing a Christmas tree!! I love it. The past three Christmases my wife and I struggle to buy each other anything for Christmas. Not really into stuff except that the heated vest that Heather bought me last year is wonderful. Heather bought her own just as the weather turned this year. By Christmas the cold season is 1/3 over so why should she wait?
Looking forward to getting my calendar!!
Thanks. Wasn’t going far to get out of sight of the power lines, trains, and cars for the moon this month. Hopefully next month at a less crowded camp. I believe in buying something for yourself that you really want if you can find it on sale. Heated vest sounds divine. Calendars should be shipped today.
I would never have imagined a crowded desert. I can certainly see why you want to be there with those gorgeous amazing skies. Your pictures are fantastic. I think I’m going to take your advice about the word chores. It does have a negative connotationBut it’s hard to think of medical appointments as anything but. Hope your friend’s went well.
I’m not usually in a crowded desert but this place is very close to Yuma town so convenient for many. Looking forward to getting back to middle of quiet nowhere. Medical appointments are for our well being so shouldn’t be considered a chore. Gayle is now in healing mode from her last dentist appointment.
The skies there around Yuma are beautiful! Crowded situations like this never bothered me occasionally — a good trade off to be near to where you need to accomplish those ..Umm … ?things to do that are necessary to live a healthy and fulfilling life? (I never really thought of “chores” in a totally negative light anyway and that one word is definitely easier to say than any substitution I can think of ). Especially when we old retired people can stop to appreciate and maybe photograph the scenery and skies and flowers and animals that you see on the way to and from accocmplishing those things!~
There were some pretty skies to offset the crowd. I do like to see places and things along the way to getting necessities accomplished. I’m spoiled by dark and quiet.