Kofa feels like home for many reasons. I soak up the desert apricity on sunny days while I wander into my “yard” and get better acquainted with the plants and animals who also call Kofa home.
Sunrise for a Woodpecker, and me
After Joann left Saddle Mt the flies chased me away as well. I had choices to make for chores, 30 minutes east to Buckeye for shopping, then an hour west to Quartzsite for an overnight before south to Kofa. Or, 30 minutes west to Quartzsite, same north to Parker for shopping, and back to Q for the night before Kofa. I opted for the second choice, in a different order.
In the morning I called Shady Lane to see if I needed a reservation for the night. Nope, my usual space would be available. I hit the road early and drove freeway west to Quartzsite. Early and freeway, both unusual activities for me.
I wanted to check out the vendors at Tyson Wells and wasn’t sure how parking would be. February isn’t as crowded as January so I had no problem in the lot that morning. I walked, up and down the isles, just looking, don’t really need anything. A stack of five collapsible mixing bowls, screwdrivers, sink strainers, jewelry, rocks, dog sweaters, CBD oil, beads, old license plates, you name it. I bought none of those things. Was hoping the Greek food cart would be there. But a lot of vendors were already packed up and gone.
Then I saw a jewelry carrying case similar to one I have and love, so got that and a couple extra trays that fit inside it. Took it back to the truck and returned looking for something to eat with limited choices and had a sloppy and just OK pulled pork sandwich. Finally the RV-stuff store for toilet chemical, a kneeling pad and a couple of LED light bulbs. There’s always something on the RV needs list.
Filled both propane tanks after almost three weeks and went to Shady Lane for the night, dump, fill, and long shower. My reputation precedes me as my neighbor in a classic 1980s Alaskan popup truckcamper had been told I’d be there at some point during his month-long stay. Finius and Breezy always make me feel at home.
The next day’s drive to Parker took a bit longer than expected with a 25 minute wait for road work. Filling pavement cracks with hot tar is a labor intensive band aide fix. I ate lunch at a fast food joint I don’t typically frequent, and seems the employees don’t really understand the “fast” part. Not that I was really in any hurry, but, one young man at the register was on a cell phone with presumably a boss and said rather frantically it was a rush. There were four people waiting, three tables full, and not even a line at the drive up. Two stores for shopping and back south.
Sunset view south
Pulled into camp after 4pm. It took two tries to find the correct turn off along Palm Canyon Road. Not like there’s street markers. About a mile off pavement, take the second left after the red tie on creosote bush, then immediate right and a little ways to a left towards a Palo Verde tree and last seen a trailer, immediate right, follow two-track to my Kofa home, and park to the right out of my sight please. Don’t get lost.
Sunset view west
Sunset view east (my driveway in both shots)
Got a good spot a little further east than the last visit complete with Saguaros, Ocotillos, Palo Verde and Mesquite trees. Best of all, nobody in sight between me and the Kofa Mountains. Sigh, Kofa feels like home. Lovely, quiet and dark again, unlike the previous night in Quartzsite.
Early to bed tired after a full day of shopping and driving paid off for an early rise to catch the sun. No luck with those sun rays I caught last year like the header shot (until that gets changed). First day was plenty warm and sunny and lazy. I worked on the last blog post and just sat outside enjoying the desert apricity.
Besides the signal often being weak and iffy, I am bored with my social media choice of FB showing way too much BS and advertising. All I really want is friends’ updates and photos plus a few group activities and news outlets. I belong to Instagram and LinkedIn but am not active. Can only spend so much time online. Yet in the last many years, social media has become my entertainment and connection. Is there a FB alternative anybody uses and likes?
I did have a night-time visitor who didn’t wake me up. In fact it wasn’t until I went outside in the afternoon that I saw its calling card. Could be a small piece of Coyote scat, they are certainly around and my camps have been marked before by them, yet their poop frequently contains fur and small bones. Also could be a much smaller Kit Fox who also live in the area though never seen by me. This piece of scat was only about 1 inch long and 1/4 inch across. Dog-like mammals usually show tapered tips on the scat and tend to mark their territories. The ground is way too hard and dry for tracks. I don’t see a lot of wildlife, but Kofa is home to many animals who sleep underground during the coldest of winter and often the heat of a summer day, coming out at night to find food.
And it’s been warm during the day, reaching 80°. Had to dig out lighter weight clothes and even sat outside wearing shorts. Have to be careful not to sunburn my lily-white legs. I am rather a sun worshipper which shows with my tanned arms and face. Spending a large portion of my summer days outside in a uniform with long pants I have a “farmer’s tan”. I’d like to work on tanning my legs slowly but then the necessary compression stockings cover from the knee down.
I usually work on the computer in the morning and have opened door and windows by 10am lately. Lots of sunshine for the solar panels to charge the battery and the system has been working great and even allows for use after dark. Except for the 12v socket I plug an inverter into to charge the laptop. Why are 12v wires so flimsy? Anything electrical that gets plugged and unplugged regularly will ultimately have cord or plug problems. I checked fuses, tested the 12v socket, tried a different inverter, and watched videos before disconnecting and reconnecting the wires. But things still aren’t making a constant connection. I suppose it would help it I had all the right tools and extra connectors. I don’t like to mess with electricity but 12v is only two wires. It’s not rocket science. Next time I’m in town I’ll get more parts and pieces.
I am loving these warm days but without clouds those blue skies make for rather boring photos and soft sunsets. I’ve been tracking the moon rise in the afternoons when it is soft and difficult to see in the pale blue sky.
I took a short walk into my nearby “yard” and became better acquainted with the Mesquite tree. No tree hugging as it has spines. Yet I love its crooked branches and rough thick bark.
The wood is prized for fence-posts and fuel. I’ll bet you’ve heard of Mesquite BBQ. It produces bean-like pods in the summer that were gathered by Southwest Native Americans and ground into flour. Fragrant yellow flowers attract honey bees. I have some Mesquite jelly that hasn’t been opened yet.
I sat outside with a book and found the landscape distracted me from reading. I finally reached decompression from the summer of working. Only took four months.
Two-years old & Grandpa
Then I got a call from my sister-in-law. My brother died. He’s been unhealthy for many years and was in a hospital with complications and COVID. This news was both surprise and not. We weren’t terribly close with lousy history from our youth, him seven years older. I feel sad for her and especially the grandchildren. This year would have marked 27 years married. He’s been the stay-at-home step-Grandpa/babysitter for many years. The biggest shock for me, I am the last of my parents line.
It is now I am glad to be embraced by my Kofa home. I returned to child-like comfort food. He would know.
I have spent much time with a new-to-me adult hobby, coloring with pencils, in a zen-like state of mind.
Sierra also calls this place home, at least for now