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Comfy in camp Congress

desert Weaver Mts clouds BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZCamp Congress is a comfortable place to spend time, not far from my Skull Valley home but at least 2000 feet lower in elevation and thus warmer without yet being HOT.

desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZI hid out for five days over Easter weekend hunkered in at one of my favorite camps looking at the Kofa Mountains and chasing shade as the temperature pushed past 95° it felt like time to head a little further north.

napkins & magnet happy camperAfter a couple hour drive I settled into camp Congress and was soon joined by a local friend.  Gypsy brought banana bread, a cute magnet, camper napkins, some magazines, and best of all her company along with the lovely four-legged Sandy.  Don’t ask why I don’t have a photo.

Date Crk Mts sunset BLM Cemetery Rd Congress AZSadly the air was heavy with smoky haze from the Tunnel Fire northeast of Flagstaff and the Crooks Fire south of Prescott, both human caused.

truckcamper BLM Cemetery Rd Congress AZAfter a move, long drive, and shopping I like a down day where I don’t have to go anywhere.  So even though the signal is worse than iffy at this camp Congress off Ghost Town and Cemetery Roads on BLM I stayed in place.  I made a 360°-video of camp, wrote a blog post, sat outside reading but mostly listening and watching birds.

Cactus Wren bird Cemetery Rd BLM Congress AZCactus Wren

I love this location for birding.

Date Crk Mts sunset BLM Cemetery Rd Congress AZThe next day I thought about doing laundry, not.  OR, just move to the other camp Congress site where I have strong reliable signal and keep working. Hmmm… OR, not move at all. The last seemed the right choice.  I am lazy sometimes.  So it was much a repeat of the previous day minus the 360 video.

desert Date Crk Mts sunrise clouds BLM Cemetery Rd Congress AZSunrise

Friday morning felt cold at 58° so when I couldn’t get online at all I battened down and left camp Congress.

truckcamper BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZFilled propane in case the predicted cold snap lasted then went to Stanton Road looking for camp Congress 2.  The main reason I didn’t just drive the hour home was the overnight low close to freezing.  No thanks.

tree hole in camper BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZSadly, when considering one site I backed into a tree and now have a hole through the aluminum skin that will have to be patched. One more thing for the growing RVs’ repair list.

desert Weaver Mts sunset clouds BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZMade another 360°-video of camp Congress 2 fighting the wind.  In fact wind with blazing signal kept me indoors working on the computer.

desert mt haze BLM Stanton Rd Congress AZSmoke obscures Vulture Peak to the west

And that’s what I did over the weekend, worked on the computer.  I took 55 minutes of video driving from Kofa to Congress, edited and cut it to 31 minutes for my first Rambling Road Trip video.  My brain never stops while I’m driving so I can always find something to talk about.  Hope you’ll check it out.  I am totally experimenting with this new medium of video.

desert Weaver Mts Crooks fire smoke Stanton Rd Congress AZAfter a two-day video editing marathon, brutal wind, smoke filled sky, and temperatures rising, I finally felt like completing this five month road trip and heading home.  Time to leave camp Congress.

Weaver Mts SR89 Yarnell Hill AZThe drive north along SR89 is familiar.  I did something I’ve thought about for many years, took video of the entire four-mile drive up Yarnell Hill.  Then I continued to film the rest of the drive home through Peeples Valley, Kirkland, and onto Iron Springs Road to Skull Valley, and made another Rambling Road Trip video.

Note on box

blown glass sea turtle from B HoskinsBlown glass sea turtle suncatcher (sitting on an envelope for scale)

Made a quick stop at the post office where a birthday present awaited.  The son of a long-time friend blows glass under the name Wildfire Productions (please check out his website and work).

Two RVs Skull Valley AZAnd, finally, home to my other wheelestate.  I took another 360°-video and a short walk before even looking inside the 5th-wheel/Big House where, as I expected, there was mouse poop which meant cleaning before moving back in.

grass trees mt sunset clouds Skull Valley AZ

5th-wheel from inside truckcamper Skull Valley AZYet I was in no hurry and simply enjoyed the sunset before making dinner in the truckcamper.

Lesson learned this winter as I readied for retirement, slow down.

Arizona, Congress, Places I've been, RV life, United States , , , , 23 Comments

Headed northward from Yuma Arizona to boondock

01 DSL_1056lewfbr moon clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2I happily headed northward from Yuma returning to a favorite landscape to shoot April’s full moon over Easter weekend and the clouds beckoned me to stay just a little longer.

I’ll be honest, I won’t miss the noisy camp near Yuma, but I will miss Gayle.  She’s slowly recovering from her dental work in Mexico but staying nearby for a while longer.

03 DSL_0906lewfbr Palo Verde tree sunset BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2Palo Verde sunset

After shopping in Yuma I headed northward and less than an hour away to my next camp (where I took a 360° video), a favorite place, the BLM adjacent to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.  Not many people out there so really lots of peace and quiet guaranteed.

04 DSL_0896lecwfbr desert Kofa Mts moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ azb g-2I sat outside in the welcomed afternoon shade of the truckcamper.  Set the camera on tripod and the moon snuck up on me faintly and not yet full.

05 DSL_0936lewfbr desert mt wave clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ npfb g-3Unusual Wave clouds

Still struggling with autofocus on the Nikon so after some googling I took the polarizing filter off, not an easy task.  That filter also reduces light so now I have to think differently when shooting in Manual.  Bumping up the shutter speed is a bonus for hand-held shooting as I’m not very steady and usually too lazy to use the tripod.

06a DSL_0994lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-24:53pm

06b DSL_1034lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g6:29pm

Photography is all about the light and I love watching changes on the land throughout the day.

07a DSL_1053lecwfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

07b DSL_1050lewfbr Kofa Mts moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ fb g-3

07c DSL_1080lecwfbr desert Kofa Mts sunset clouds moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ mss g-2I think the focus improved and some of that night’s moon shots were better. Sadly, clouds were low on the horizon so I once again didn’t catch it until above the clouds.

08a DSL_1110lecwfbr Saguaro sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

08b DSL_1105lewfbr Palo Verde tree moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ fb g-2I woke at first light to pee and stepped outside with the camera for sunrise and saw the moon setting behind the Palo Verde tree. Score. Then went back to bed.

09 IMG_20220416_160443863lecwfbr truckcamper desert Kofa Mts BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-3After processing photos all morning, I went outside to read and enjoy the view.  Then, about 4pm got a bug to move camp.  Not far, just down the road a bit, to a place I camped this winter.

10a le photopills-ar-8PhotoPills Augmented Reality usually out of calibration

10b DSL_1113lewfbr desert Kofa Mts BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2Would it rise here or…

10c DSL_1126lewfbr Kofa Mts BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2…maybe here

Time for a different moon rise view.  Then I speculated on where the moon would actually rise almost 30 minutes after sunset.

11a DSL_1196lewfbr Kofa Mts full moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

11b DSL_1210lecwfbr Kofa Mts full moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2It would be very dark and that’s when I struggle the most shooting the moon, even using the tripod.  That night was no different.

12a IMG_20220417_173737934lewfbr sitting in shade desert Kofa Mts BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-3

12b IMG_20220417_190526009lewfbr Ocotillo Chocolate Mts sunset BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-3Easter Sunday, very quiet and found no eggs.  However, I did wear a summer dress to nature’s cathedral.  That could have had something to do with the 91° day.

13 DSL_1243lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2The next day reached 96° yet the cloudy skies begged me to stay.

14a DSL_1246lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

14b DSL_1249lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2One minute later, changing light

I just can’t resist the light and shadow play across the landscape.  I told myself to get to work on the next blog post, but instead spent a good part of the day outside just taking in the views.

15a DSL_1251lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

15b DSL_1254lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

15c DSL_1256lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2Five minutes later

Amazing what just a few moments in time will do to change the scene entirely.  Though I took lots of photos, I also wanted to imprint this image on my brain knowing I’d not be back to the Sonoran Desert again until winter or at least fall.

16 DSL_1263lecwfbr desert Kofa Mts reverse sunset anticrepuscular rays BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2As much as I prefer warm to cold I honestly can’t envision living with daily highs consistently over 100° all summer long.  A true bonus of wheelestate.  Don’t like the weather then move.

I spent the evening watching way too many RV-people videos.  So many just record themselves talking and even while driving. Is that interesting? I could talk forever doing that.

18a DSL_1272lewfbr Ocotillo desert Chocolate Mts Palm Canyon Rd BLM Kofa NWR AZ-Enhanced yt g-2

18b DSL_1273lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ gHonestly, after the previous day I was ready for cooler weather. Only supposed to be high 80s in Congress about two hours northward.  So even though the clouds invited me to stay, I hit the road and took video along the way.  Driving this route over 20 years I’ve become familiar with the small towns along the way, so I chatted about that.  The loud Mexican music drew me into Agila’s Tuesday market especially for produce and I found a little treasure.  Also grocery shopped in Wickenburg and had lunch at my favorite fast-food joint before headed northward to camp Congress.

19 DSL_1278lewfbr desert Date Crk Mts sunset clouds Cemetery Rd BLM Congress AZ g-2I planned to spend only a few days before continuing northward again and return to my Skull Valley home.  But the overnight lows still hovered just over freezing further north so I didn’t rush off.

Arizona, Kofa NWR, Places I've been, United States, Yuma , , , , 24 Comments

Helping a friend with Dental in Mexico

breakfast Los Algodones MexicoI was glad to have somebody with me when doing dental in Mexico many years ago.  The work is professional and good, the English was better, but communications were still lousy.  Maybe it’s cultural.  Manana…

Gayle & Gaelyn RVs Quechan lot AZ-Mexico borderWith a Thursday 7:30am appointment for dental in Mexico, Gayle and I moved our RVs to a huge parking lot at the Arizona/Mexico border the afternoon before.  This is actually run by the Quechan Native Americans and they also have a casino/hotel just up the road.  Not the most glamorous camp this winter but convenient, and fenced with security.  We parked for least sun on windows and most breeze in preparation for several 99° days.

parking lot sunrise border AZ MexicoI set the alarm so we’d have plenty of cool time in the morning.

crossing Mexico border

reception detal office Los Algodones MexicoTook off walking at 7am and were across the border to Los Algodones, Mexico, and in the dental office in 15 minutes, and before most of the staff as they actually opened at 8am.  By 8:30 Gayle was whisked away and I was told to return at 1pm.  However, I didn’t have any plans to leave and even packed snacks and a book.  Was shown to a waiting room where I had a phone signal and messed around online.  (Verizon doesn’t charge extra for being across this border.)

cow plaza Los Algodones MexicoAvoiding the crowds

After a couple hours I ventured out looking for breakfast.  Unfortunately, that means wandering the crowded sidewalks lined with vendors selling hawking jewelry, clothes, dentists, leather belts, jewelry, medications, hats, jewelry, eye glasses and more.  Lots of things I neither need or want and many “No gracias.”

restaurant Los Algodones Mexico

menu Los Algodones Mexico

singers at breakfast Los Algodones MexicoBreakfast was cheap and delicious including a serenade by two men exquisitely crooning with a synthesizer for music.  I took video and will try to share some of it somewhere.

By noon the dentist was done pulling 23 teeth, and completed a small area of bone graft.  It did take about 1 ½ hours more before Gayle was ready to leave.  She had been told a free shuttle service would return us across the border to our RVs in the parking lot.  In reality, the free shuttle took us 1 1/2 blocks to the waiting line to cross the border.  Ah, dental in Mexico.  Thank goodness for shade cover and benches because it took another 1 1/2 hours to actually cross the border.  From there we could have called a taxi but instead walked the block back to our parking lot camp.  What a trooper.  It was HOT!  Especially being parked on asphalt.  Yet Gayle was able to eat some ice cream and take a nap.  I sat outside, moving my chair around the truckcamper to stay in shade.

Sadly, we had to return the next day for her temporary dentures.  Another miscommunication as she’d been told she would leave with those the first day.  Dentures are made somewhere in town, and I’m sure orders come from many of the over 350 dentists in Los Algodones.  We were told the dentures would be there at 11am.  Nice that we didn’t have to rush that morning.  When we arrived at 10:45 we were told her appointment was for noon.  So we went to the air-conditioned waiting room, for over two hours.  Once the dentures were “fitted” in Gayle’s poor swollen mouth she took them out and we returned to the border, with no waiting line, and back to the RVs.  No way she would be driving anywhere that day so paid for another night and I chased the shade again that afternoon reading until too dark to see.

empty parking lot Quechan border AZ MexicoI really wanted a photo from the far end of the parking lot but it was too hot to walk there.  Part of that Friday evenings entertainment was watching hours of cars in line to cross the border to Mexico.

line of cars SR186 S to MexicoSaturday morning at 62° almost felt cold.  I’m kidding of course.  But it certainly was an improvement over 99° outside and well over 100° inside.  I know, it’s a dry heat.  But a RV is sort of like a sauna without the water.  We left the parking lot around 10am going opposite the over mile-long line of traffic headed to possibly dental in Mexico, but more likely going home or vacation.

truckcamper VFW BLM camp Yuma AZI returned to the BLM camp adjacent to the VFW along AZ95, north side of Yuma and Gayle shopped along the way.  Fortunately a RV had pulled out of a place with a little more shade and space for us both to park for who knew how long.  I wouldn’t leave until Gayle felt good and knew she didn’t have to return for more dental in Mexico.  Actually, she will return next fall for implants and click-in dentures, but that will have to be a different story.

shade camper VFW BLM camp Yuma AZShade under an invasive Tamarisk/Salt Cedar tree

I looked forward to a slight cooling trend.  Yes, I said cooler not cold, because you know I hate cold weather.  But there is a fine line for comfort, especially living in a RV off grid.  I plan on adding at least one 12 volt fan to move air around inside the camper and that would also help move heat when it’s cold.  But with a high predicted for 92° and no breeze it was unbearable to sit inside at the computer by 10:30 Sunday morning.  I’ve tried a couple times to use the laptop outside but the light is awful on the screen.  Besides, birds are frequently distracting.

Early evening found Gayle—with her teeth in—and I visiting with a neighbor who had been parked in the same location for several months.  We also met Olaf from “USSR/Ukraine” but has lived in the US for many years, whose English is not great. He didn’t stay long then Scott came over for a break from his packing to leave in the morning after many months here also. Far too social around here.

Gayle wore her new teeth for about two hours and they look great. Then she had a little trouble getting them out and removing the too much glue. We laughed like crazy, because what else can you do.

late light Tamarisk tree VFW BLM Yuma AZ(as above)

The next day was at least 10° cooler so I could work inside on the computer processing photos and writing a blog post.  I gave thought to another video and will share more about that.  Plus it’s almost time to make a plan for the next move.  And because I was running low on ice cream, it wouldn’t be long before I HAD to go to town, not a favorite activity.

Besides, Gayle needed to go to town the next day and spared me the chore by picking up a couple things.  Thanks girlfriend.  Another reason I didn’t want to drive to town was predicted high winds, and they blew dust around so thick I could barely see the nearby mountains.

That afternoon I started to smell propane, a sure sign one tank is about to empty.  So I switched to the full tank and immediately noticed a leak on the hose to that tank.  Not good but is repairable.  Turned it back off and switched the good hose to the full tank.  As many of you know, I’ve struggled for almost three years now with the “new” propane tank style with only part of that problem being the hoses too long.  And that will be fixed after I get home.

Mesquite tree flowers VFW BLM Yuma AZMesquite catkins

With Gayle’s mouth healing and feeling better, not 100% good, I started thinking more about my next move.  But with Easter weekend approaching I wanted to be in a comfortable place as I don’t like to travel on holiday weekends.  Plus after over a week in noisy camps I wanted peace and quiet.

Denny's menu Yuma AZ

Goodwill Yuma AZYogis Grill Yuma AZ

Couldn’t resist

thrift store globe from Yuma AZSo, Thursday morning I packed and rolled to Yuma for groceries. But first breakfast and a thrift store fix where I bought a globe that presumably lights up.  Not as old as the globe borrowed from Berta many years ago and later lost in the Yarnell Fire.  When I get home, we’ll see if it works.  Then better to buy groceries when not hungry, and found diesel fuel at $4.79/gal.

desert haze SR95 N AZFinally on the road by 1pm headed north on AZ95 to…

Kofa Mts Palm Canyon Rd AZ…where else, the BLM adjacent to Kofa NWR, my go to south of Quartzsite.

Kofa Mts moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZAnd a marvelous place (watch the camp video) to watch and photograph the full moon.

And that meant using the big camera again as that didn’t happen for almost a week.  I just wasn’t motivated in the Yuma camp and the phone worked for going to Mexico.  Plus I’m trying to take video.  That’s still a huge learning curve and I really don’t want to just rehash what I’m writing here on the blog.  I’ve watched more RV traveler videos in the last month than my entire web-life.  I need a niche, a grabber, logo, and introduction.  Plus probably more that I don’t know about yet.  So right now, I’m just trying a little bit of everything.  Please, let me know what you think.

HELP!  What do you want to see?

Arizona, dentist, Mexico, Places I've been, United States, Yuma , , , , 19 Comments

Lijit

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