NEVER Trust Your GPS!!

Sharp Creek Campground, Payson AZ 

25 May, 2023

My GPS added a waypoint that took me off route!

I had checked out all the steps along the route and made sure that the end-point was the campground; but I wasn't really paying attention to anything but the scenery as I drove.  By the time I realized that I was off-route, there was no easy place to turn around with a trailer.  Checking the detail on the GPS, I realized that somehow it (or I) had added a way-point that took me off the main route and onto some hairy little county road winding through the mountains.  It started to pour - making the dirt road even more problematic for turning around - then the county road turned into a forest service road.  Checking the road atlas, I thought it was shorter to keep going than try to backtrack (once I got to a turn-around spot) - but, boy howdy! was that an afternoon that I don't want to repeat!  From now on, I will have a paper copy of the route in hand to double check along the way!!

Sharp Creek Campground

Just outside Payson, AZ, this is a small Forest Service Campground with a large group area and 3 small loops.  There are other campgrounds nearby, as well as lakes, a trout fish hatchery, the Mogollan Rim Visitor Center - fishing, hiking, boating - a real camping destination area!!

I was camping in one of the group areas with RVW (RV'ing Women) and, after a very strong drink when I arrived (even with the detour, I got there before dark) and some rain on the first day, it was a lovely weekend.

Willow Lake Paddle

Willow Lake was lovely to paddle - only electric motors allowed, so it was quiet.  We got an early start so it wasn't too crowded (the boat ramp was getting crowded as we finished up).

Chiricahua National Monument

 Bonita Canyon CG: Chiricahua NM, Wilcox AZ

8 May, 2023

I-10 Was Closed!!  But the detour was prettier . . . 

It's rare that an interstate is closed for days on end - but in the days leading up to this latest trip, there was a big accident that closed the highway both directions and the west-bound exit by Wilcox will be closed for awhile because the overpass was compromised.  But, I detoured on county roads to get into the Chiricahua NM and my campground.  By the end of my get-away, the highway had re-opened.

Bonita Canyon CG is an old CCC campground

There are 26 campsites mostly very small tent sites;  There are maybe 6 sites suitable for a trailer.  My site was plenty big enough but, like a lot of older CG, the 1 way loop made for a very difficult back-in.  I ended up going the wrong way around the loop in order to back into the site.  

The campground is at about 5400' so the temps were just lovely!  The air smelled like juniper, pine and oak and wild turkey and white-tailed deer were everywhere.  While I love the Sonoran desert, a brief get-away to the mountains was pure joy.

Camping on the surface of the sun

 Pleasant Lake Regional Park, AZ

2 May, 2023

This trip was WAY hotter than expected

Daytime temps for most of the trip reached the high 90's (36C) which would have been unbearable without the breeze.  My campsite had a beautiful view of the canyon - as well as occasional views of the resident Burros (often heard braying).  The lake is one of biggest in Arizona it was very pretty with a couple of small islands.  I would have liked to get out and paddle - but it was too hot to leave Phoebe in the trailer.

Learning how to camp in Frijole

Each camping vehicle brings new challenges in camp set-up.  My moonshade easily attached to the van with the super-strong magnets - but Frijole is fiberglass and doesn't have a level surface anywhere!

But, the moonshade is nothing if not versatile.  Some gearloops and the suction cup attachments worked well enough (I'll probably get the larger suction cups to offset the SW wind).  I think I need to add a pool noodle the top pole to ensure it doesn't rub on the fiberglass roof.  Over-all, once I got it staked down really well, it handled some pretty breezy conditions.  

My cute little campsite

Luckily, the nights cooled down very nicely.  However, I think I'll have to consider leaving Phoebe behind when I want to do any paddling.  Without AC, leaving pets in the trailer while camping in Arizona is only reasonably safe in the winter.

"Frijole", the Teardrop!

Vail, AZ 

29 April, 2023

I sold the Van!

I just couldn't see keeping it and not traveling more than I do these days.  A hard decision because it was such a spacious and comfortable camper.  Selling it cut my insurance almost in half.  Congratulations to new owner, Pam, who flew down from Montana to drive it home.

Happy Birding, Pam!

So, what's next??

Something that would have all of the following:

• Fit in my garage (max; 80")
• Be fiberglass, cause I hate leaks
• Enough headroom to comfortably get dressed (even if I can't stand up totally straight)
• Enough room for Phoebe to have water (not on the bed)
• Pass-through cabinets to maximize storage flexibility
• Solar
•  Furnace and a 12v fan
• Within relatively easy travel distance

The Bean Trailer Classic fit perfectly!!

They even had one in inventory!!

I drove up to Salt Lake City in between winter storms (early March) and picked up my new Bean teardrop.  The first couple nights I was SO glad I had a furnace!

Just outside Provo UT; my first very cold night!

Soon enough, we were  back in the warm Southwest

Before coming home, I spent 4 days at Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction AZ.  The factory had winterized Frijole, so I didn't have access to the on-board water, but that wasn't really a problem.

My solar panel was in the shade; but Phoebe was recharging her batteries!

Sunset is always pretty here

Learning to play Texas Hold-em

And, yes, it DOES fit in the garage

Despite measuring a million times and making sure I had a Plan B, I was still very anxious that I would have a hard time getting Frijole into the garage without incident.

First, check the side

Prop up the garage door to provide maximum headroom

SUCCESS!!

Back home to ???SNOW??!!!!

 Vail, AZ

16 Feb, 2023

Sometimes I forget that February is still winter

My pipes were frozen for about half a day when I first got home on the weekend, and then I woke up this morning to THIS.

Snow is lovely when I don't have to shovel it; this was all gone by the afternoon.

17th Annual Molded Fiberglass Trailer Rally in Quartzite AZ

 Quafertzite, AZ

6-12 Feb,2023

Like a pioneer fur trappers rendezvous!

Once a year for 17 years now, owners of small molded fiberglass trailers have been coming to Dome Rock BLM to share travel stories, modifications, tips and techniques, make new friendships and renew old friendships.  It's really a lot of fun - even when the weather doesn't entirely cooperate.  This year was cooler and windier than most, but still really, really fun.

My windsock was a great landmark when trying to locate my white van in the sea of white trailers.

My windsock got quite a workout! 

Just when I thought I had seen everything!

I'm always amazed at what folks can bring along in such tiny trailers - entire sets of cast iron cookware, insta-pots, etc.  This year there was a coffee lover who has taken this hobby to an entirely new level.  In his 21 foot trailer, he manages to not only grind and brew each cup of fresh coffee - but he brings green beans and ROASTS THEM ON THE SPOT!  Apparently, there is an entire sub-culture of people who modify old steel air-poppers (popcorn) and roast, then grind, then aero-press fresh coffee all the time!  He was offering free samples, demonstrations and a $10 class (you got to roast some coffee and leave with a pound of custom roasted coffee and some supplies).

I have to say, the coffee was exceptionally smooth - none of the bitterness I usually associate with hot coffee (I only get such smoothness with cold-brew).

Green beans in the bag, roasted beans (it only took about 7 minutes) on the tray, and modified air-popper.

Warm enough out of the wind and in the sun!

Phoebe loves to soak up the sun.  

She likes being able to hang out with other dogs - here she is with her friend Scruffy and new friend Sunny.  The hooman in the picture is Mary, only wearing shorts because she's down from the Yukon and probably thinks it's warm :)

I really enjoyed this opportunity to visit with some of the friends I made while full-timing and snow-birding.

Oh Oh - I hope that there was no drama off-screen!

 Vail, AZ

09 Feb, 2023

I love seeing what shows up on my game camera.

I have a game camera set up in my side yard and it catches all sorts of wildlife that wanders through the area.  Usually coyotes or javelina, but this is the first time I've seen them together.  I'm hoping that the coyote was just curious  -  I wouldn't think a single coyote would take on a full grown javelina (and truthfully, the javelina doesn't look too worried), so I'm hoping that nothing dire occurred off screen.

WOO HOO! Gifted some great Cacti cuttings

 Vail, AZ

06 Feb, 2023

I've wanted some of these for many years!

While staying in Apache Junction several years ago, I had seen these cacti in bloom.  They are some kind of 'Queen of the Night' and have the biggest, most beautiful blooms that only come out after dark.  I can remember watching the cacti bud out and then going out with neighbors with flashlights on the night we expected them to bloom.

You can see a post of when I first saw these beauties here

Recently, I was back in Apache Junction and was gifted some cuttings!

Needless to say, I am thrilled!!  I know it will be years before I can hope to see any blooms, but so is the nature of gardening in the desert - I can dream and future generations may get to enjoy.

Two Successes and One Failure

 Vail, AZ

03 Feb, 2023

I can't stop tinkering with the Van!

Getting in and out of the Van with my tiny step on uneven desert ground seemed a bit problematic - so, I added a grab handle.  This was a pretty straightforward mod with a kit from ProMasterWorld.com - came with tools, good instructions and except for a couple holes through the plastic column - no drilling holes.  The grab handle made use of existing holes in the Ram frame.  It's very sturdy and just the right height.

The second project was to add some rain gutters over the front and cargo doors.  I hate that rain comes into the van when the cargo door is cracked for ventilation.  This project was also pretty straightforward; the rain gutters came in a long roll with adhesive backing.  We'll see how the adhesive holds up to the brutal summer sun.

The 3rd project was to add some light to the bins - at night, the bins are very dark and it's hard to find anything without a flashlight.  I had found a bunch of very bright, very small (size of a quarter) LED battery lights with adhesive backs.  I stuck one in each bin and was very pleased with the amount of light they cast.  Unfortunately, the adhesive lasted less than 24 hours!  Every one had come loose and disappeared into the bottom of the bin.  I could try glueing them in; I checked and could still unscrew the tops to replace the tiny, flat batteries.  But, I hate doing something permanent until I'm sure of the location, and that the placement won't interfere with getting stuff in and out.  Of course, even glue isn't necessarily permanent in the Sonoran Desert heat.  Guess I'll wait and see on this one.

So very bright - I do like them a lot.

Very COLD trip to Quartzite AZ!

 Quartzite, AZ

29 Jan, 2023

Annual RVW Rally in Quartzite

This rally for RVing Women has been taking place for 30 years! and is timed for the opening of the big Quartzite RV Show (and all the amazing shopping in the 'Big Tent').  As usual, there were a lot of interesting discussions and presentations by various RV maintenance guys; including, if I may boast, the discussion group that I led on 'Converting a Van for Personal Use'.  We talked about Van Conversions ranging from professional conversion RV's like the Solis and Trevado, to partly professional, part-self conversions like my rig with the base Wayfarer Van conversion, to completely custom personally constructed Vans.  This last category was especially interesting and I viewed several completely tricked-out vans that left me just in awe of the mad skills demonstrated by the women who have made these vans.

My campsite - finally figured out how to put up my windsock!!

The sunsets behind my rig were really pretty!

Although it was too cold to stay out for very long, my Fire Dancer adds a lot of ambiance.

Almost 20F below normal temperatures!

This was one of my coldest trips to Quartzite - getting down to the high 30's at night, and even though most of the days got up into the high 50's/ low 60's, a brisk wind kept it feeling pretty cool.  The final 2 days were cloudy, windy, and temp's only in the high 40's - so, just cold!

My shy little dog Phoebe was so cold (even in her sweater), that she overcame her shyness and sought warmth in every available lap - even complete strangers!!

"Mom, get my sweater!!"

"I don't care that she's in a t-shirt, I need more warm!"

"Yes, we're inside, and I have my coat on - but dang it, turn on the heat!!!"

Next Stop, Lost Dutchman State Park 

On my way home, I took a longer route to visit friends in Apache Junction.  Very near to the very pretty Lost Dutchman State Park.  I couldn't remember whether my site had electric or not - I was so very happy to drive in and find that I had a hook-up!!!  My boondocking heater is a non-vented Propane heater - so I don't sleep with it on, just use it to warm up the van in the morning/evening.  But, for this very cold trip, that meant waking up to temps in the van that were colder than the inside of my fridge!!  Kind of unacceptable (certainly for one very thin-skinned little Chihuahua).

We were both thrilled when I could plug in my electric ceramic heater with temperature controls to keep the Van nice and warm all night.

Puttering around and visiting critters

Vail, AZ

12 Jan, 2023 

Putting up a new birdfeeder

I'd been patching up the old birdfeeder for about 6 months; one of the plastic sides had broken in the sun (both plastic sides had dried out, yellowed and become brittle - the fate of plastics in the desert), and the wood had warped to the point that I had to wire the feeder together.  Finally, I broke down and purchased a new, and bigger one.  

This Roadrunner wasn't afraid at all!

I kept expecting it to notice me and run away - but, it came up to within 6 feet and wandered around for a bit, only casually jumping to the wall when I moved to get my camera.  Still, it didn't flee, but took a long look around before jumping into the back yard.

The javelina were more shy

I was doing some pruning of the mesquite in my back yard and saw this small family on the other side of the wall.  They knew I was there and were nervous - the boar kept snorting and scaring the baby.  But, they stayed very close (again, just about 6 feet away, just on the other side of the wall) for several minutes before taking off into the underbrush.

Flew into one of my big mesquite trees and hung out for awhile

Huge!  Along with the great horned owl that occasionally visits, this is the biggest guy I 've seen here.

Always interesting critters to look at while I'm puttering around outside - and sometimes I'm even up early enough to catch the sunrise!