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Still here

I’m still here in Yarnell, and so is all my stuff.purple Bee flowers Berta's Yarnell Arizona

May Day brought a little rain to us in Arizona.  Petrichor.  I love it.  Oh how we need so much more.  A few more blooms appeared like out of nowhere.  That’s one of the magical things about the desert.  Only a wee bit of moisture brings on life.

There was snow on the ground as we drove the Spar Road over the Bradshaw Mountains to Prescott for a doctor appointment.  The next day along the same drive it was gone.  That was when Berta’s daughter flew back to Portland.

 

 

old train depot Rhyolite NevadaTrain depot Rhyolite Nevada

So now it’s back to the two of us.  Berta is sleeping more which gives me plenty of time to label photos.  What the heck, I’m not traveling or taking many photos right now.  Just finished labeling November 2017 (above).

last light Wotans Throne Wedding Site Cape Royal North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaNo news on my lack of a job at Grand Canyon.  Still waiting for a review on the audit which determined I had worked too many hours to be a rehire.  I struggle daily with the thought that I don’t work there any more.  It’s hard to let go of the canyon because the Grand Canyon has a hold of me.

Saw a notice on the community board by the post office for a talk about the geology of Yarnell.  A local friend said he’d go along with me.  But I messed up on the date for last Thursday so when we got to the community center and no one was there I checked back on the notice and it’s this week.  We laughed all the way home.  So, maybe this week give it another try.

5th-wheel Berta's property Yarnell ArizonaLast Friday my 5th-wheel was delivered from Utah and is parked next door on Berta’s other piece of property, where her house was before the fire.  It looks huge compared to the truck-camper I’ve lived in for the last six months.  Sadly, I can’t live in it here because there’s no hookups and the county says no (eventually).  I thought about emptying, cleaning, and selling it until I looked on Craigslist at alternatives and saw nothing I like better than what I have.

trees boulders full moon rise Yarnell Arizona

artistically tweaked moon rise

Getting warm here.  At 88°F it’s imperative to run at least the fan and, so far, occasionally AC.  Not sure I can do a high temperature summer in this camper.  Although the AC works I don’t do well with the cold/hot switch bait and AC often makes me ill.

Weaver Mountains sunset clouds Yarnell Arizonasunset over the Weaver Mountains

So, I’m still here.  And it’s still one day at a time.

life , , 15 Comments

Hangin’ out in Quartzsite with friends

truck camper LaPaz BLM Quartzsite ArizonaLeft Yarnell about 11am and after a grocery stop in Wickenburg pulled in Thursday afternoon and am currently hangin’ out in Quartzsite with friends.  Lots of friends.  Hundreds to Thousands of people with RVs that I don’t know and five (so far) that I do know and even like.  Most of the folks I’m hangin’ with have worked at Grand Canyon at some point, mostly for Grand Canyon Association (nonprofit partner with the park), the concessionaires, and a couple National Park Service folks like myself thrown in.  Started out with day time temps a pleasant mid 70s and night only down to high 40s. Sadly, that changed.

Dome Rock Mountains sunset clouds sunrays LaPaz BLM Quartzsite ArizonaLots of shows happening in town.  Starting this weekend the Big Tent full of RVs for sale.  I’ve never been to this show as I already own two RVs and don’t need another.  Would be fun to look I guess.  Friends here want to see their “used” stock of small tow trailers as an upgrade from their 8 foot slide-in truck camper.  Seems they frequently have company.

RVs storm clouds LaPaz BLM Quartzsite ArizonaFriday night the wind blew in, probably the southern edge of a big storm moving east.  And Saturday’s southern wind made the low 60s barely tolerable so most of us hung out in our respective “homes”.  My signal is weak and iffy so I spent windy time inside labeling more photos, of course.  Finished with June 2017.  Open-mouthed smile  The sky to the north looked ominous but only a few drops of rain fell Saturday afternoon.  I counted them, seven on the window.  Enjoyed the show of clouds racing across the sky from west to east.

Newmar RVs Dome Rock Mts LaPaz BLM Quartzsite ArizonaThe organized groups of RVs, ie: Newmar mega motorhomes and some other groups, park in lines and rows so close together they can barely get their slides open, and forget the awning.  I don’t get it.  It’s a huge desert.  Single RVs seem to find an open area as far away from others as possible.  Small groups like ours, currently four units, kind of circle up to create some sense of privacy around a large rock fire ring.  I’m on the outside of the circle.  More will be joining us.  Gravel “roads”are grided across the land in an attempt to avoid the sparse vegetation of creosote bush, palo verdes, and a few saguaros.  It is easy to get lost.  Or at least misplaced for a while.

Dome Rock Mountains sunset sunrays LaPaz BLM Quartzsite ArizonaGorgeous sunset as we enjoyed dinner around the fire with newly made friends from Canada invited over with their dog Zues because they parked their Pleasure Way van nearby.  RVers are usually a friendly bunch.

As usual the wind blows in Quartzsite, and much of the southern desert, during the winter.  Temperatures can be in the mid to high 60s and sometimes even low70s but is cool to uncomfortable outside when the wind blows.  Still, many of us will bundle up in the afternoons and gather around the fire, the leeward side of a large RV, or even inside the largest RV to chat away until it’s time to eat dinner.  We eat often and well with this group.  Everyone takes turns to cook one night for the group plus there’s always leftovers available.

RV sunrise clouds LaPaz BLM Quartzsite ArizonaI caught a sunrise

By Sunday, night time temperatures dropped to high 20s and that’s really too cold for me.  I sleep warm enough but it’s very difficult to get out of bed in the morning at 40 inside the camper.  Yet nature calls so I turn on the heat on the way.  It’s only two steps apart in this tiny house.

Blogger-fest 2018Friends and visitors come and go.  It’s a great place to meet with people from far away who are traveling in the Southwest.  Berta may come down this week and Tom by the end of the week if he can get out of Santa Barbara.  Plus Saturday is the 4th Annual Bogger-Fest.  Hard to say who’ll show up for that.

Dome Rock Mountains sunset clouds LaPaz BLM Quartzsite ArizonaRVs are on the move all the time, coming in, going out.  All shapes, sizes, configurations, and value.  Plus sadly also lots of generators running at all times of day and night.  Really, someone spends around $100,000 on an RV and can’t live off grid for a day or two.  Yet I know that many of these mega-motorhomes have household refrigerators that need power.  My 5th-wheel is like that and so it doesn’t boondock.

lighting lantern LaPaz BLM Quartzsite ArizonaMonday the group size increased by five but two others left.  I cooked dinner that night for 10 and only needed to borrow one oven to bake the second pan of sausage, beans, and greens casserole.  That evening’s entertainment was a paper lantern sent off, not particularly my thing, but boys will be boys even once they grow up.

rock butterfly LaPaz BLM Quarzsite ArizonaDuring the day people drift in and out of camp, going for walks or going to town. I’ll be honest, I still haven’t walked a whole lot.  But I do have a list for going to town.  Some miscellaneous RV parts and whatever else catches my eye.  That’s where I am this morning.  Signal has been the shits out in the desert and I wanted to get this posted.  Plus I knew if I wanted a place to park in town I’d have to be in the lot early.

Arizona, Places I've been, Quartzsite, RV lifestyle, United States , 18 Comments

A winter visit to the South Rim Grand Canyon National Park

Snow on San Fransisco peaks Arizona

San Francisco Peaks

All it took was a phone call for a winter visit to the South Rim Grand Canyon.

Amanda South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Amanda, a special friend and fellow Park Ranger from Oregon Caves days has made her way up the NPS ladder and works at Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Alaska. She was in training at the Albright Training Center located within GRCA NP. Wow, only a four hour drive away.

Afternoon view of North Rim from South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

I took a short walk along the rim then met up with Amanda for dinner and made a plan for Saturday.

The Village from Rim trail South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

We walked about 4 miles (6.4 k) along the rim trail stopping to gaze at the canyon and chatting away as if it hadn’t been three years since we’d seen each other.

Afternoon shadows from temples South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

The sky was clear so we didn’t expect a very colorful sunset but the light and shadow show never disappoints.

Hopi House South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

We ended up across from Hopi House (above) at El Tovar (below) for drinks and appetizers.

El Tovar South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Then back to El Tovar for breakfast along with another friend who works on the South Rim.

Morning shadows on Cheops Pyramid South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Windy and too cold for me so went back to camp while Amanda walked the rim trail from Hermits Rest back to The Village.

Desert View Watchtower South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Later in the afternoon we all reconnected and thanks to our friend loaning us her car we drove out to the Desert Watch Tower without having to move the truck/camper.

Cedar Mt, Navajo land & Echo Cliffs from Desert View Watchtower South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

This far eastern view from the tower shows Cedar Mountain and across Navajo land to the shadowed Echo Cliffs.

Colorado River upstream Lippan Point South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

We drove back towards The Village stopping at Lippan Point which juts out far enough to offer an almost 180 degree view.

Sunset over canyon & Colorado River Lippan Point South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Amazing views of the Colorado River up and down stream as the last light slipped under the low building storm clouds…

Last light on canyon walls & Co River Lippan Point South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

…turning the canyon walls to gold.

Last light on canyon walls Lippan Point South Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Cold wind increased as the last light faded. Time to head back to camp and say our goodbyes. In the morning we left the canyon under cloudy skies and a light bit of snow.

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, National Parks and Monuments , , , , 16 Comments

Lijit

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