Stellar Day!!

27 Jan, 2018; Quartzite AZ

Singing my happy song!

For 2 years, I have been dealing with ‘grabby’ trailer brakes.  When I originally had the brake controller installed, they installed a different one than I wanted (long story, incredibly rude if not borderline fraudulent behavior by shop) – but I only had a week before picking up my Escape – so I let it go.  But, the brakes have never been right.

So, I took the rig into Redlands Truck and RV set up in Quartzite temporarily during the big RV show.  They are highly recommended so I thought that now would be the time to resolve this annoyance.  They take one look at the controller and tell me ‘this could never work; this brand was OK 20 years ago, but needs to be mounted horizontally in order to work – it’s been mounted at an angle (well, SUV’s are difficult this way) and can’t be adjusted to horizontal'.  They install the brake controller that I wanted originally (Prodigy 2) and – amazingly, wonderfully, I have smooth braking!!!!  All before 9:30 am!!

Since I’m in town, I go dump and refill my fresh water tank and head back to my campsite.  I’m all settled back at ‘home’ by 10:30am. 

I’m dancing my happy dance!

Then, it’s back into town to do some chores.  YAY!!  I find a parking spot right away and find an Awning Deflapper and my favorite back tank cleaner immediately.  Then, I’m off to my next chore.  Anyone (well, any woman anyway) knows the stress of getting a haircut from a strange person on the road – will it be a good haircut – or will I be wearing a hat for the next month?  Sherrie, at Cactus Curlers, does an amazing job (truly, it’s like she’s a mind reader) and I leave with a GREAT haircut. 

I’m humming my happy song by now.

After finding a desert golf course on my desert ramble a few days ago – I’ve been wanting to pick up a couple old clubs so that I can hit some balls.  I head over to the main street flea market.  Found some relatively nice clubs, but the guy wanted $35 for 3 clubs (hybrid, wedge, putter).  I thought that was way too much – but, he wasn’t open to dickering. So, I went a few vendors over and found 3, not quite so nice clubs (but how good do they have to be when I’ll be hitting off rocks?) and the guy only wanted $3 per club.  He threw in 10 range balls for $1.  $10 and I’m ready to play some desert golf!!!

Bloggerfest!!

On my way home, I realize that I might just be able to catch the tail-end of Bloggerfest – a fun gathering of traveling folks who blog about their travels.  I did get to chat with a few bloggers I know, and met a few new bloggers to check out. 

Needless to say . . . .

I was feeling pretty high on life by the time I got back to camp – problems solved, easy parking (in January in Quartzite no less!), items found, good haircut, good socializing – I love my life!!

2017 - By the Numbers

25 Jan, 2018; Quartzite,AZ

Year 2 of full-time living in my trailer

I haven’t included costs for groceries, entertainment, internet, phone, clothing etc because I think these costs are not unique to full-timing and should follow pretty much whatever I spent when I had my home.  The one exception is groceries; I find that the food selection is poorer and the grocery costs can be significantly higher outside of big cities.  So, stock up on your favorite foods before you head out for those scenic locales.

So, in 2017, this is what I tracked:  (If you don't care, just enjoy the pictures)

• Trailer Miles: 6,478 – A little less than last year's 6,775 but in the same general ballpark.  I'm finding that I like traveling less and enjoying each stop more.

• Gasoline: $2,227  -  Gas last year was a little less $2.014 - probably more sight-seeing this year. I get about 15 mpg while towing – so fuel is a major expense.  While camped, I have the car to drive around for errands and sightseeing, so I go through some gas that way too.  When I’m not towing, the Honda gets about 22-27 mpg.   Gas prices vary from place to place – I use the Gas Buddy app on my phone which really helps me avoid stupid errors (I try to be careful about where I gas up – especially near state lines where prices can vary by $.75/gallon from one state to the next!).

• Total nights: 365;  My first complete year in the trailer (last year was 10 months).  My percentage of dry-camping and boon-docking is still less than I had imagined.  Mostly this was due to spending several months in an RV park near Portland while I took care of business and visited friends and family.  Also, I spent a few weeks in Santa Fe and a month in Tucson.  RV parks are pretty much your only choice near cities.
• dry-camping nights(no hook-ups): 162 (about 44%);  This metric really tells me how well my solar solution is working - I stay warm, everything works and I can still keep all my electronic devices powered.
• Boon-docking nights (free -  or under $5 -  on public lands): 127 (if I include the LTVA's, where the cost is minimal, otherwise 90 days for truly zero cost).  

Made from beach litter

• Length of stay:  My preferred method of travel is to have short travel days with multiple nights at one location (ideally 1-2 weeks).  I like time to really explore each new area.  I'm still spending more days traveling than I'd like - although maybe that's just because, so far, my migration goes from British Columbia to the Mexican border.
• 1-3 days: 10%
• 4-7 days: 28%
• Over 7 days: 62%

octopus tree on the Oregon Coast

• Campground Fees:  $5,590, for an average of $15.20 night.  Luckily, I had budgeted $20/night, so all the days with full hookups didn’t break the bank.  This is still higher than I'd thought it would be  - those months in RV parks really add up!!  Several months in the desert drive the cost back down. 

• “Utilities” (propane, sewer dumps, fresh water, laundry) – My costs for propane and laundry were just about what I had expected; but dump fees and fresh water costs were much lower than I had expected.  Primarily, this was because I spent so much time at RV parks and campgrounds that included dumps/water in their camping fees.
• Propane and electric: $162 (usually $10-12 to fill a 20# tank)
• Laundry: $150 - wow, this seems like a lot (usually only a load or two, every 2 weeks)
• Fresh Water and Dump fees: $64.  Dump fees are anywhere from $5-10 every 2 wks if not included in campground fees.  Usually, in the Southwest, you can buy 5 gallons of Reverse Osmosis fresh water for $1.00.  Deep well filtered water is available for 5 gallons for $.25-.50.  Sometimes I get the Well water (it tastes OK but has minerals and salts that I’m not too sure about) but usually I spring for the RO water.  I think I use between 30-40 gallons every 2 weeks.

• Misc Full-time Costs:
• Mail service and mail-forwarding:  I have a UPS Personal Mail Box that costs $120/yr.  They will forward my mail to wherever I happen to be.  An envelope or a box and USPS priority mail usually cost around $20-25 and I try to get mail forwarded monthly.  I was on the road traveling so much, I got my mail forwarded only about 4 times last year – I was back in Portland a few times throughout the year and picked it up in person then.  So, I only paid about $200 total for mail forwarding and box rental.

• Storage Unit:  When I sold my house, I put some things into storage.  I have a 10x10 locker and paid $216/month for it.  One thing about storage units – the monthly rental fee just keeps going up!  Mine went up 22% in the first year!! 

Last full moon of the year!

Desert Ramble

24 Jan, 2018; Roadrunner BLM, Quartzite AZ

When sunrise gets me up early . . . 

I usually peep out my window in the morning to see if the sunrise is going to be super special (it has to be dynamite to get me up in the morning) - today, I had to get to get up!

And after a beautiful morning, a nice long walk is in order!

I started out on a gravel road - Pipeline road and ambled west.  El Paso Natural Gas has markers all along this road announcing the buried lines.  Along the way, I saw some creosote bushes that looked like they had just bloomed - they sported little puffy balls about the size of a Q-tip point.

This big Saguaro, very thick and healthy looking, is clearly  benefiting from the 'nurse' tree providing it's shade and protection.  

As I walked along, I could see a community ahead of me (Rainbow Subdivision - near La Paz Valley community) - and, as so often happens to me, I couldn't turn back before seeing it.  Even though the neuroma (nerve problem) in my foot started to hurt.   Even though my sock slipped down inside my shoe and I rubbed a blister on my ankle.   Even though I knew better . . . 

Pipeline Road through a big wash

Finally, like a mirage, a bench appeared out of the desert and I gratefully flung myself down on it.  Surprisingly, the bench marked the 8th hole of a small desert golf course.  Desert golf courses are unlike any golf course you are likely ever to encounter.  There is no grass.  You're hitting directly off gravel and sand.  

Never have I welcomed a bench more!

When you get to the flag for the hole, you will find that there is no actual hole.  This is kind of good news, because I, for one, would not like to put my hand down a hole in the desert (finding spiders and scorpions who would be somewhat ticked off to have suddenly been bonked by a golf ball and now aggravated further by someone mucking about in their home looking for the offending golf ball).  

Instead, there's just a general area, marked by a small trench in the shape of a cross, presumably to keep your ball from continuing to roll into the next county.

After resting a bit, I look closely at the buildings - probably only a quarter mile further on - but, since I can't see a big sign 'Refreshing Cold Lemonade Here', I turn around and head back for my rig, limping slightly.

Along the way, I watch several ATV's cross the big sandy wash.  I'd hate to try it in my SUV - the gravel is very loose and deep.  It's hard to get a good picture in this light - trust me, driving through this would be a challenge!

Some Canadians in a big pickup stopped to give me kudos for walking and to ask if I needed any assistance (apparently, I'm limping more than I thought).  By then, I could see my rig in the distance so I kept going - and was rewarded by my Fitbit erupting in a little digital celebration telling me that I had hit 10,000 steps (and it wasn't even noon yet!!).

Back at the rig, I was happy to spend the next couple hours sitting in the sun and watching the hummingbirds.

More Rallies - RV'ing Women

22 Jan, 2018; Roadrunner BLM, Quartzite AZ

RV'ing Women - Arizona Chapter Rally 

Every year, the Arizona Chapter of RV'ing Women puts on a lovely weekend near Quartzite.

In addition to potlucks, campfires, breakfasts, walks, etc., this year the wonderful folks from Redlands Truck came to visit.  They are a premier RV maintenance and repair shop in California - but during the big RV show in Quartzite, they set up shop and fix problems for folks here.  They talked about their business, answered questions and scheduled appointments.  My appointment is for this coming Saturday - to diagnose and fix my grabby trailer brake problem.  Getting the problem fixed here will be very convenient - but if I have to go to their main shop in Redlands, CA, they have a full service campgound and free laundry to help make your stay comfortable.

The only way to accommodate a bunch of women around a fire is to have a bunch of fires - this extra long fire pit has 4 fires and a volunteer 'fire tender' to keep things warm and safe.

Celia's Memorial Garden was set up to honor the daughter of the Winer's (owners of the Oasis Bookstore), who died quite young. Since then, the site has grown with many memorials.  RVW has a memorial space honoring members who have died.  This year saw the passing of 14 women whose names (brass plates) were added to large rocks in this area.

Lots of variety in rigs here too. From this minimalist approach (she didn't want to haul her trailer all the way to Quartzite for a long weekend), to very big coaches, to the small rigs like mine - it's fun to see all the different camping styles.

Definitely an over-the-top option  - oh so pretty!!

My little rig

Rally Season!!

20 Jan, 2018;  Roadrunner BLM, Quartzite, AZ

Boomerville

Boomerville is an annual gathering of Escapee RV Club travelers of 'a certain age'.  Last count (and folks are still arriving), was over 150 rigs.  This sounds impressive until I think of our neighbors (RTR - Rubber Tramp Rendevous) whose count is up around 300.  The desert is crowded here - we're at Scadden Wash, a 14-day stay BLM area south of I-10 and a few miles east of Quartzite.  Easy to find - just follow the frontage road east (Kuehn in town, Dome Rock as you leave town) until you start seeing signs.

Julie and I were overwhelmed by the crowded 'streets' of lined up motorhomes, the crowds, the generators, the noise!  Fortunately, we found a quiet spot in the last row at the end, facing empty desert - great walking area, and my required unimpeded view of the sunsets.

The Boomers are a busy group - generally there are activities one could join scheduled for every half-hour or so all day - then happy hour around a giant campfire at 4.  Campfires and laughter throughout the area until well after dark (and the chill that accompanies night in the desert).

One of the Boomerville activities was a dog show - prizes for big and little dogs in the categories of Best Costume, Best Tricks, and Best Showman/most Popular.  Many dogs showed up and they were all really cute.  Julie's dog, Scruffy, won Most Popular/Best Showman, in the little dog category.  I think this was largely due to a huge cheering section - a result of his dedicated campaigning during his walks.  This dog never saw a campsite he didn't want to visit.

Hula hoop jumping dog!

Bella in costume - her trick is apparently sitting on top of firewood

This dog would have won everything in the large dog category except that the judge decided a full sweep was unfair to the other dogs.  If the audience could have, we would have made up several other prizes on the spot just because this guy was so impressive.

RTR is a much bigger and more diverse group than the Boomers.  Diversity in all ways - people, circumstances, and rigs.  I was especially interested in the conversion vans - great for a quick trip with all the comforts.  I wandered through their encampment one day and got some shots of some great vintage campers.

A weather system moves thru!

9 Jan, 2018; Dome Rock Rd, near Quartzite, AZ

Living so much outside makes me much more aware of the weather.

First, the breeze switches direction.  Then, suddenly, we're all scurrying around collecting chairs and door mats as they try to fly off across the desert in the 35mph gusts (Roz has a wind gauge).  Awnings get cranked in, windows and rock guards get closed and the trailer rocks.  The door is almost impossible to open and then rips from my hand to smash (alarmingly!!) against the side of the trailer.

Dome Rock Yesterday

Dome Rock - today!

Julie and I decide to head into town and get some errands done.

As we drive around town, (dropping trash off at the transfer station, filling up 6 gallon jugs of fresh water, doing laundry) heavy rain clouds roll in.  A few scattered raindrops are followed by strong wind-driven rain just as we finish up with our laundry and head back to camp.

Back at the trailer, cozy with a mug of tea, I listen to the raindrops on the roof (always a lovely sound) and the heady scent of the damp creosote bushes fills the trailer.  Desert rain is the best!

The wind has upset the hummingbirds

The hummingbird feed is empty from flipping around in the wind.  The hummingbirds are frustrated as they return again and again risking injury from the blowing plastic feeder only to find it empty!

So, I remove the big feeder, fill a small one, and tape it directly to the feeder pole.  This keeps the feeder from moving around in all the wind.  I have had 2 hummers fighting over the big feeder in the last couple of days.  In this bad weather, they'll just have to share - the little feeder only has one opening.

After the rain, a beautiful rainbow (and it's much lighter friend)

The second rainbow is barely visible and my camera doesn't really pick it up.  As we watch, the rainbow grows in intensity and then fades as the setting sun and background clouds move to reveal the more distant hills.  

We even get a nice sunset!

Different Strokes for Different Folks . . .

1/9/2018; Dome Rock Rd, near Quartzite, AZ

Some folks decorate; others trash

I usually take a trash bag along on my walks so I can pick up trash along the way; there's always some (plastic, rusty cans, nails, glass, more plastic).  Also, I take my camera - because I love the desert intaglios that people leave.

In addition to trash just blowing around in the desert, for some reason, some folks think its OK to leave garbage in a fire pit.

Some folks like their space; Others cling together . . .

I guess the clingers find it easier to visit with each other - but for me, I like my views without other trailers in the picture and as much privacy as possible (while still hanging out with my friends).

A group of coaches clinging together.

3 of 5 rigs belonging to friends I'm camping with; the others are too far away to get into the picture.

It's early in the year in Quartzite; soon we'll all be camping a lot closer!

Folks are starting to pile into Quartzite for the big Gem/mineral show and the big RV event.  Soon, there will be close to 200,000 folks out here (as opposed to the summer population of about 7,000).  Already, one much practice a lot of patience in town as the lines for gas, groceries, etc. are stretching longer and longer.

A few desert shots - the Sonoran desert can be a pretty place.