Although I’ve been feeling real lazy, cold mornings motivated me to head to the desert. So over several days I slowly prepared the truck and camper for my winter months further south, where it’s warmer than Skull Vall
The day after the train ride—that I promise to share soon—I felt tired and took a nap. Four hours mostly standing outside rocking on the rails in beautiful weather challenged me physically. I loved it! Yet as morning temperatures drop below 50° I’ve been thinking it’s about time to head to the desert. Also time for an oil change at my favorite shop in Congress, a 2000 foot drop in elevation and 15-20° increase. Frequently my first fall/winter boondock camp area of the season.
Waking up to mid 40s and cold house made me feel unmotivated yet I managed to post a video from the trail-cam. Also made me think about my winter destinations as I head to the desert. I don’t spend much time in the town of Quartzsite, but it’s a place to get some chores done. For many years I’ve used the affordable and friendly Shady Lane RV Park as my overnight place every 2-3 weeks to dump and fill camper tanks, do laundry, and shower longer than a solar-bag. I don’t know what to expect as the ownership is about to change. I considered buying a BLM LTVA (Bureau of Land Management Long Term Visitor Area) for $180 to get access to dump and fill plus camping with too many people from September 15 to April 15, the winter season near to Quartzsite or west of Yuma. Either way, still have to go beyond Quartzsite—Parker, Yuma, or Blythe CA—to stock up on reasonably priced groceries.
But I wasn’t there yet and ended up lucking out with an almost 80° day in Prescott that included laundry, shopping and fun with Joann at Fain Lake Park.
Wasn’t quite as Autumn colorful as another visit but still very pretty.
Dusk by the time I got home and unloaded the groceries.
The day after a town day is often a down day, and this no exception. I managed to get a long overdue blog post out. Then decided to move the trail-cam closer to the water bowls. I downloaded the previous images of skunk and racoon visits before tying it to a tree. That night Skunk came for a visit. The next thrift store visit I’ll be looking for a convenient traveling container for wildlife water.
I saved room for rocks
With the next mornings bout of ambition I reorganized the backseat of the truck, also known as the closet when I head to the desert. I keep a decent sized 12v/110 cooler for a pantry to store back-stock of liquid products so they don’t explode from heat or cold. I added two plastic tubs for craft supplies that don’t need constant—if ever—access for the “when I get bored” projects.
Then the wind picked up and I returned to lazy mode with good intentions.
I woke to 33° and took hours to thaw out then wrote and scheduled a blog post. I had every intention of writing the train post and maybe even revive Foto Friday Fun, if anybody is still interested. Instead the gray sky day made me sleepy, so I took a nap.
When I awoke to 32° outside and less than 50° inside my mind was made up. Time to head to the desert. I looked at the 7-day weather forecast here and in Congress, 15-20° warmer at the later. Time to go south!
Once I make up my mind, I am ready! Unfortunately the camper wasn’t ready and I wasn’t packed. It took over an hour just to make the bed. Not so easy when basically in a hole, surrounded by walls, crawling on the mattress, and struggling with a fitted sheet. Like they aren’t bad enough just to fold. I also put up curtains in the “bed room” and cleaned the freezer and fridge before turning them on. I made piles in the big house and worked more things out to the camper throughout the day.
Eventually my shoulders gave out and I called it quits.
Until the next day when the morning started at 35° and barely 50° inside. I put together clothes that cover from high-heat of summer to yes-it-can-get-freezing-cold during winter as I head to the desert. Frequently the wind makes a cloudy 50° day feel like Alaska. Well, at least to this Arizonan it does. Because both kitchens are stocked with dishes, utensils, pots and pans it’s just food that gets moved, dry goods, fridge and freezer. Thank goodness my food storage space is comparable in both RVs. I fill reusable grocery bags and move two at a time making several trips. Joann stopped by for a timely visit that gave me a break.
There’s always last minute moving like the coffee and breakfast stuff. Plus I showered before winterizing the 5th-wheel/big house. I didn’t need to rush, especially at 36°. But I was looking forward to a high of 75° instead of 65° plus waking the next morning to 50°. Said goodbye to Skull Valley around 1:30pm after dropping off my ballot. Within an hour I parked at my first of this season temporary home boondocking on BLM in Congress, Arizona, and here’s a 360° video from camp.
What a huge surprise as I watched the orange glow sunset with crescent moon and saw what turned out to be a Falcon 9 SpaceX launch. I’ll probably be here for the lunar eclipse, if I get out of bed, or maybe head to the desert further south.
This & That
Opened a Geogypsy Community on YouTube. Hope you’re subscribed. Will put up a video to introduce the Community. Please stop by and drop a comment.
Join me in the desert of Congress, AZ to watch November’s moon. I’m sure to be awake for the rise and set, and maybe for the lunar eclipse.
Still have to write about the train. I hope being warm will continue to motivate me to write and create a video about the train. How do you all feel about Foto Friday Fun? Yea or Nay?
Don’t forget to order Geogypsy 2023 calendar https://geogypsytraveler.com/2022/10/14/time-to-order-geogypsy-2023-calendar/ .
