Peace in the Desert...Anza Borrego SP

It is late afternoon when we arrive at the Visitor Center in Borrego Springs.  Our trip from Yuma is uneventful except for seeing boon docking places, Ogilby Road and Salton Sea, frequently mentioned by a famous blogger.

As it is late, we are concerned about finding a spot to land for the night.  The volunteer at the Center is helpful and directs us to one of her favorite areas, but on the way we spot a huge expanse of land between two mountains with RVs sitting spaciously from each other.  And there is a cell signal!

That's us, the red dot in the middle!

Turning the camper door away from the setting sun, we think this spot is perfect for the night, not realizing that it will be perfect for the next four nights!

It's difficult to see from the photo, but there is no one close to us!  I can yell at Sylvester, David can yell at me, and no one can hear!

We want to see the pictographs that LuAnn  (http://paintyourlandscape.com/2015/01/25/natures-history-lesson-anza-borrego-desert-state-park-ca/) recently wrote about in her blog.

To find the trail we must take the truck for miles on sand roads...our little baby really got a work out, but it was worth it!

The photo is morteros.... holes made by the native people, Kumeyaay, used for grinding pinon nuts, mesquite beans and desert agave into meal.

There is a stunning view on past the markings where a wall of rocks opens up to this panorama.

The Palm Canyon hike is also recommended by a friend.  This time I set off alone as the hubby declines the exertion two days in a row.
This will be my 3rd hike into a palm canyon...one two years ago and another, recently, in Kofa. But this is different!

I am able to go right up into the trees!

Our time at Anza Borrego is special....relaxing with nature surrounding us.  Coyotes serenading us at night after the light shows are over.

All is well in my world....no cares, no frustrations, nothing that must be accomplished!  Each night I enjoy the solitude, sitting alone,  watching the clouds float over the moon while hubby spends his time inside reading.

Little did I know that my world would turn upside down, temporarily, a few miles down the road.

The call came as we were on our way to Joshua Tree NP.  My friend, staying at our house, called to let us know that sewage was coming up in the sink downstairs!!!

She is rightfully traumatized and so am I!  I tell her I cannot talk...must get off the road!

After 24 hours of stress, the situation is resolved.  My dear 87 year old mom met the septic contractor who pumped the tank..and she paid him!  Very important as he did not like dealing with his customer being in California.  

And there is always a lesson to be learned!  So ready to get rid of the house!!!

While on the road, we feel alive and happy!  Not so much at home.

Currently posting from the library at Quartzsite....not sure were we will be tomorrow.  But all is well, again!

The Rest of the Story...Q and Yuma

YUMA...Yearly Unorganized Migration of the Aged!  

This was printed on one of our pamphlets from the Kofa Ko-Op.

Don't know why I could not add more photos to the last post!  I'm not accustom to using the Blogger format....normally use Windows Live Writer but also been having problems with Live Writer.

Sylvester in his new harness.

Our spot just off Dome Rock Road.

David and Duke.

These are the same sunset..about 30 seconds apart! Dome Rock

David just informed me the refrigerator's off!  I must have washed too vigorously around the vent...fingers crossed I can get it going again!!

Boondocking at "Q", Clean in Yuma

It's Tuesday afternoon and we are in Yuma, AZ, hanging out at an Escapees park, Kofa Ko-op.  Not really hanging out....should have said "working our buns off".  Since our arrival on Sunday afternoon we have washed 3 loads of clothes, bathed the Casita and the truck, bought groceries, found a lab and got David's INR level checked.  Also cleaned our bodies and walked several miles doing loops of the park.

This is a first for us...the Escapees thing!  (Just joined but more about that later.)  Got a chance to see inside  our neighbors' park model.  This is probably boring stuff for those who live in the west or Florida, but we were fascinated with the tiny houses that dot many of the RV parks here in the southwest.

Our lovely neighbors have had their winter home for 20 years.  It has two bedrooms and felt much larger than 800 sq ft.  They explained that a lot in the park would cost $6,000 to $10,000 and one of these tiny houses would be another $10,000 or so.  Considering that winter residents stay here at least 6 months of the year, it did not sound too extravagant.

But there is a waiting list for spots and one might need to wait two years.  Providing this information as we are thinking of our dear New England friends who are currently dealing with the Blizzard of 2015.

Need to back up.....

We arrive in Quartzsite, AZ Tuesday, after spending one night on the road at a PA park in Tonopah, Saddle Mountain.  Its palm trees are lovely.

This is our third trip to "Q"so easily found our fiberglass buddies on Dome Rock Road.

Set up camp just across a service road close to Glenda and Jeff of CasitaEscapes.

Glenda and David staring at the mtns.

This is called boondocking.....camping without any hookups or other amenities, totally dependent on your rv to provide for all your needs.  We love it!  But it does get tiresome after awhile... when the holding tanks get full!

And it's mixed pleasure and pain....camping with so many dear people.  Love them and want to spend lots of time visiting but just getting so worn out from the massive amount of visiting.  Still trying to find ways to tweak the social and the alone time...do not want to give up either!

We spend 5 days boondocking here.  Brief highlights of the week include:

An RVillage social gathering at the Quartzsite Yacht Club where  Cherie and Chris of Techomadia and Jim and Chris of Geeks on Tour were in attendance.  Also met many who were SKPs... leading to us joining.

Spending a morning at the big tent...always an exciting event.

Hiking around the Dome Rock area, hiking down in Kofa Wildlife area.

Attending the first annual blogger fest and meeting so many others...specially Kim....another snowbird from the South!

Random desert photos.....

Blogger is beginning to get hateful with me.  I just want to put in a few more photos before I quit! 

But it will not let me!!!!

So Sylvester's new harness photo will have to wait.

We plan to head out tomorrow for Anza Borrego State Park in CA!

  

Food and Friends in the Mountains: The Cherokee Rally

It is raining hard with sheets of water pouring over us as we start our 150 mile journey to Cherokee, North Carolina.  This is our fifth trip to the rally at Happy Holiday RV Park.  And this time I am “in charge”!  (What was I thinking!!)
We had just spent the previous night waking to the weather radio sounding alarms.  Now we are driving back into the storm and more tornado watches.  Thought about stopping and trying to find a safe place to camp.  But didn’t…..just kept on plowing through the bad weather.
We set up in the pouring rain, a miserable experience!  But a warm meal, cable TV and the electric heater get us through the first night.
Wednesday and Thursday provide more rain….everyone is waiting patiently for the promised beautiful weekend weather.  And it finally arrives!
Thursday night we attend the Meet and Sweet.  Too busy to take any photos……hubby says he has never eaten so many deserts!
Friday we participate in the Dutch Oven demo….my new camera got a workout!  More on the camera later….



Donna outlines  Dutch oven basics.

Chocolate and cherries!

Samples going fast!
Saturday morning it is time to get out of the campground!  Socco Falls is on the way to the Parkway and the new camera needs some use!  (Last week after trying a Nikkor 18 to 200 lens, just could not handle spending that much money!  Decided to buy the Nikon 3200 two lens bundle.)
Now I have two cameras with two different lens….which presents a learning curve.


This is the same waterfall…..should have had the wide angle with me instead of the telephoto.  Oh well….guess that’s part of learning.

There is lots of color the first mile or so going up the Blue Ridge Parkway but soon all the trees are bare! 




My spirits restored by the solitude, it is time to rejoin the rally….egg parade in progress!




The maroon and white trailer repeats the color scheme inside.
The below trailer is a home built…this couple had brought their 16’ Casita all the previous years.


Inside shot of the home built!  Very creative couple!

Some of our buddies chose a quiet spot on the back creek.  And we got a primo site on the front creek…unfortunately our expensive neighborhood was full of mud!

Like all rallies, it is over way too soon.  We join our friends on Florida row to enjoy one last campfire.


Rallies are just a good time!  Lots of love, lots of laughter and after meeting the same people over and over…..a real feeling of family.  Love the diversity in the fiberglass community! 
My experience as a rally host is mostly positive….but turning it over to someone else next year.  Dates are set and reservations have been made…more good times in the future!
What now?  Planning on Arizona after Christmas and maybe a short trip to the Gulf next month….want to see Gulf Shores and eat seafood!

Apologies and Summer Recap

 

Although shame would run through me when I realized how long it had been since I posted, the guilt was not great enough to get me to write.   At times I would think of my loyal readers and try to heap coals upon my head, but it did not work!

For my lack of discipline….I am sorry!  I am vowing to do better in the future.

My last post, the end of July, praised the campground at Mt Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We returned home with good spirits ready to tackle more painting of the paneling.  (For those not following our adventure…..after touring Alaska and the West last summer, 2013, we decided to sell the house and move into something smaller.  This summer has been about downsizing and getting the house ready to sell.)

(Hubby working.)

(Done….photo makes it look more narrow than reality.)

After completing the painting, our house took on a new energy!  Our de-cluttering and lightening the dark walls made the space so much more enjoyable.  I could sit in the kitchen and watch the morning light move across the walls.

(Photo taken before clutter removed.)

David’s grandson arrived around this time with a U haul trailer, taking away many of the old family heirlooms and almost all of hubby’s woodshop!  Between the new energy of our home and absence of old family pieces, I began to feel happy!   Have not been very happy since we came off the road in March.

We managed to attend a brief fiberglass rally at Fall Creek Falls State Park.  It was great to see old friends but constant thunderstorms got in the way of photography.  We were there less than 48 hours!

About this time we started reevaluating our plans to sell.  It’s so important for us to spend the winter in the southwest…more a priority than selling the house!  It was decided to put our home on the market next spring after returning from the winter trip.  What a relief!!!

Since that decision was made, we have been enjoying ourselves!  The photo of the water and crepe myrtle is at Chester Frost Park where we spent several days last week.  Our kayaks have been neglected this summer….now we can justify keeping them!

 

This is Chickamauga Lake with Signal Mountain in the background.  We are in the middle of the Tennessee River during this photo.  (We are 12 miles from home!)

Neighboring site.

Setting sun.

My attempt of the super moon...

It has taken 6 months but we have learned (or relearned) how to enjoy life at home!  We are biking and hiking….not much, just  a little, spending time with friends, listening to bluegrass on Thursdays, going to movies and I have seen Seasons 2, 3, and 4 of Downton Abbey, DVD’s from our public library!

In two weeks we will be heading to another fiberglass rally at Land Between the Lakes….after that comes the Cherokee Rally, one of my favorite events!   And we may squeeze in a trip to the panhandle of Florida before Christmas!

And we are still downsizing……I have never been so sure of something.  For everything there is a season….and this is my season to let go of all things without purpose or beauty. 

One of my inspirations is a blog that was mentioned by my blogging friend, Kim.    I found the Be More With Less blog from her….thank you!

And thanks to you readers who have not abandoned me. Love!