2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 59

Day 59, Tuesday, December 16, 2025 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 17 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

Another cool night at 48°F & only 50°F for my morning walk, although the sun was out with clear skies so it didn't feel all that cool even in shorts (I did have on an opened lightweight long sleeved shirt). On the way back from my walk I signed up to have the trailer tanks pumped out on the next scheduled pump out day - Monday the 22nd. While the black tank is still showing 2/3 full, it is close enough that it will be time to dump, and it is worth $32.00 to save packing up & hooking up the trailer for a trip to the dump station.

After breakfast I continued some book keeping, then did some reading outdoors. I finished The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and his Mother) by Rabih Alameddine and can understand why it was the National Book Award winner for fiction this year. A very well written & enjoyable book. I'm back to reading Ohio by Stephen Markley, another well written book. My problem with well written books is I have to eventually go back to my usual level books. They may be good stories about interesting things, but it takes awhile to get used to more typical & mundane writing skills. I know I could stick to the masters of writing, but I read so many books (233 so far this year, although that does include 46 audio books) that reading only the experts would be tough.

I took a couple of sunset photos over the last two nights with the iPhone.

A little after 1:00 I headed to the Kofa Laundromat. Busier than the last time, but no problem finding a pair of washing machines or 2 dryers. I'm glad I arrived when I did - while my clothes were in the dryers a guy came in and loaded up 6 of the 10 washers. There was only one left on the left side of the laundromat. I didn't check the right side.

After I got back to the trailer & put the laundry away I headed for a shower at building 9. While the mildew smell is still somewhat under control, the farthest shower had 1 double hook & 1 broken one in the drying area. Lots of shelves in the shower, dry dock on the floor of both the shower & drying area. Necessary since there is 1/2" of water on the floor of the drying area & the shower drains slowly. Good thing since the amount of water coming out of the 2" shower head is minimal. They should find a way to split the pressure between the two showers. The far one is too weak & the near one too strong. Anyhow, a C.

Dinner was steak tacos from the Roadrunner. Not as good as either the fish or shrimp tacos.

Until Next Time - 

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 58

Day 58, Monday, December 15, 2025 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 16 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

A little cooler at 48°F overnight & only 50°F for my morning walk. 

After breakfast I started the updates on my various banking & retirement spreadsheets for 2026. After lunch I made a run to Safeway for some fresh fruit & vegetables, bread & other stuff. I decided to check out Food City. More expensive for most stuff, but they had Zero Grape Gatorade in the 1 liter bottles.

When I got back to the trailer I sat outside and read until dinner time. It made it up to 78°F during the afternoon.

Dinner was a Boston Market Chicken Parmesan meal.

Until Next Time - 

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 57

 Day 57, Sunday, December 14, 2025 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 15 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

Only a little cooler at 54°F overnight & 59°F for my morning walk. The first day in what feels like weeks with heavy enough cloud cover that the sun barely makes a shadow.

I did go out last night from 9:30 - 11:00 taking many 20 second images pointing a 16mm lens at the Geminid and while I saw quite a few meteors, most were either out of the frame of the camera or too dim to register. I do have one that I caught. I also included one of an airplane, and one of Orion. While I could be wrong, in the first image (the one with the meteor) the bright "star" isn't one, it is Jupiter, and the red/orange star to the center of the image and to the right of the meteor is Betelgeuse, part of Orion. 

The Meteor

Orion

An Airplane

I split my morning walk with a stuffed waffle breakfast at the Black Pearl Restaurant. A little more crowded than last Saturday, but the same great service and excellent food. $17.00 with coffee. 

Back at the trailer I sat outside and read. I finished The Mirage by Michael C. Grumley (was not impressed) yesterday and started Ohio by Stephen Markley. While it is a bit different from my usual, it is excellent; hard to believe it is a debut novel. I had to put temporary hold on reading it because a long awaited hold came in for The True Story of Raja the Gullible (and his Mother) came in. Since it is from the North Country Public Library system, it is only a 14 day loan rather than the 21 day that the NYPL provides. The True Story of Raja the Gullible (and his Mother) is this year's National Book Award for fiction so I didn't want to miss it. I own Ohio so I can finish it anytime.

I moved into the Clam when the wind got strong enough to be annoying. Nothing more than a light breeze, but with no sun it was cooling.

I made my usual Sunday phone calls. Kyle does have hot water, and he has had multiple chances to use the snowblower. They got 4"-6" yesterday. 

Dinner was a salad.

Until Next Time - 

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 56

Day 56, Saturday, December 13, 2025 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 14 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

55°F overnight, 57°F for my morning walk and a high of 80°F outside. 

Last night I tried to get some of the Geminids meteorites, but nothing visible in the rather over lit park. I'll try again tonight.

The Northeast Sky

After breakfast I sat outside in the Clam. Too much sun without it and too much wind to be comfortable in the shade. The Clam wasn't bad. I finished Middle of the Night by Riley Sager which was OK, & started The Mirage by Michael C. Grumley which is a bit pat. 

After lunch I did much the same as the morning. The wind died down enough that sitting in the shade was OK. There were two of the unusual high engine seaplanes that took off this afternoon, but since I had the camera set up for night photos & a wide angle lens, I didn't get a photo.

Dinner was a Cholula Salsa Verde Chicken Bowl.

Until Next Time - 

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 55

Day 55, Friday, December 12, 2025 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 13 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

Another warm night at 54°F at 6:00AM & 56°F for my morning walk. 78°F at 2:00.

I did my usual morning web forums & journal reading, then moved outside to sit in the shade & read. I finished Robert Charles Wilson's Last Year, and recommend it. Current book is Middle of the Night by Riley Sager. I took a few photos of the bees, a brown headed cowbird & a hummingbird:

After lunch it was back outside for more reading in the summertime like weather. By the way, I do come to Arizona for the weather, but this week is exceptionally warm even for Arizona. Anywhere from 10°F to as much as 20°F above normal. 

Dinner was P. F. Chang's Chicken Fried Rice.

Until Next Time -