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!

Those Dang Javelinas!!! Southern Arizona can be a harsh place to live

 Vail, AZ

15 Dec, 2022

I'm not much of a gardener . . . 

About 18 months ago, I saw some discarded single pads of Indian Fig Cactus and brought them home.  I planted them in my back yard and have been carefully nurturing them.  They have been thriving and growing like crazy!

This month I decided that they were big enough to release into the wilds of my front yard.  Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to fence them in - and my local marauding squadron of javelina destroyed 3 of the 4 I planted!!  

The broken off part is back in the raised beds - hopefully, it will survive!

I fenced in the chewed up cacti - perhaps with protection and care,  they will survive.  But, I'll be asking friends for more cuttings!

I guess that this is the downside to having all the lovely wildlife surrounding me.  I talked to a neighbor who said that they estimate that they lose about 50% of their planting - to the harsh desert climate or animals like javelina, bunnies, and pack rats.  Some critter dug down below my new saguaro right after it was planted - I know some critters dig down and eat the plant roots.  

Thanksgiving in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument 

25 Nov, 2022

Thanksgiving with friends at Organ Pipe

This trip has become somewhat of a tradition.  Not too far from Tucson, it's a nice drive and a lovely place to hike.  We've become quite versatile camp cooks and our mostly vegan thanksgiving dinner couldn't be tastier.  Last year I started bringing sourdough starter so I could make sourdough pancakes for breakfast on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  

 

This year was extra special

My friend Julie (met many years ago when I first started to snowbird in the Southwest), joined us for the week.  Julie and I traveled together off and on about 6-7 years ago.  She has been living on Whidbey Island in Washington for the last few years and we haven't spent much time together.  Phoebe and Julie's dog, Scruffy, had fun getting reacquainted - in their 'you do you,I'll do me' sort of way.

Scruffy stayed with me for a week while Julie flew off on some other adventures.

Phoebe eats much better when she has a little competition for her dinner - Scruffy made it clear that he'd eat it if she didn't!  Phoebe gained a whole pound during Scruffy's visit 😆

San Antonio Missions National Historic Park

 San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, TX

15 Nov, 2022

5 Missions along the San Antonio River in San Antonio

The missions established in the 1700's as the Spanish colonized the Southwest have always been special for me.  While the stories of colonization and subjugation of indigenous populations are sometimes difficult, the missions themselves are very beautiful window into a time in our history.  

Part Church, part community, part fort, the missions had very large forecourts surrounded by walls. The walls often contained small apartments built into the fortifications for the indigenous laborers.  

 

Small living quarters built into the walls around the mission with small ovens outside for cooking.

 

 

 

Driving through Texas during a cold snap!

Temps were unusually cold this trip.  Usually I boondock and just use a Little Buddy propane heater to warm up the van at night before bed - but this trip, I stopped in RV parks so I could plug in an electric heater overnight.  Even with my 'big coat', it was a chilly drive!  My time for this trip was constrained by some medical appointments on the front end and camping plans for thanksgiving on the back end - so, I had to take the highway (I-10) route to San Antonio.  There really isn't much along I-10 but lots of semi-trucks and way too much of the boring parts of Texas.