2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 91

Day 91, Saturday, January 17, 2026 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 49 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

47°F overnight, 55°F for my morning walk. 73°F by noon, with the high for the day at 77°F.

I stopped for breakfast during my morning walk at the Black Pearl restaurant (bacon & eggs, hash browns toast & coffee for $14.51). Sitting outside the restaurant was a Belted Kingfisher on one of the posts for the outside portion of the place. iPhone through a glass window, so not the sharpest image in the world, but a larger & different Kingfisher than the ones we have back in NY. I picked up an onion & pepper as well as some Japanese peanuts at the vegetable tent that is now part of the Saturday Swap Meet. The vegetables look great but I don't think I'll ever buy the Japanese peanuts again.

Belted Kingfisher

Back at the trailer I read for a bit. I finished The Time traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, and was glad to switch from the bulky iPad to the Kindle to start Alan Bradley's latest Flavia de Luce book, What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust. The Time Traveler's Wife was recommended as a re-readable book by someone that I trade reading lists with & I have to agree with his suggestion. An interesting and well written book.

A called my brother David to wish him a happy birthday. He is sitting in the house in the Catskills watching the snow fall. While there is plenty of sun here, it is almost too windy to sit outside. I switch between the trailer, the Clam & a chair at the picnic table. The park was almost filled, but someone left in our section so there are 2 empty slots. 

My black tank monitor just changed to full, so I signed up for a pump out Monday. There is a sign up list at the park office and it is completely filled. It is going to be a busy Monday for the pump out truck.

Back outside for some reading. 

Dinner was a steak and pepper & onions sandwich.

Until Next Time -

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 90

Day 90, Friday, January 16, 2026 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 48 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

47°F overnight, 49°F for my morning walk. 70°F by noon, with the high for the day at 82°F.

I discovered I didn't update the day for yesterday's post. Hope it didn't confuse anyone. That is what comes of these days doing nothing.

I spent the morning reading, and after lunch headed to Safeway for a bagel. Of course I ended up getting far more, including a Porterhouse steak for dinner. We will see how my stomach holds up. I love steak, but it tends to bother my gut. 

Back at the trailer I read some more, then cooked dinner. The park is almost filled. I found only 2 empty sites during my morning walk around the park. A couple of sites across from my site that have been empty all winter now have trailers in them. Even the group area that they chased me out of is full of trailers & motorhomes. 

After dinner it was off to building 9 for a shower.

Dinner was a steak, baked potato & broccoli.

Until Next Time -

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 89

Day 89, Thursday, January 15, 2026 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 47 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

42°F overnight, 56°F for my morning walk. 70°F by noon, with the high for the day at 77°F.

During my morning walk I finally got a chance to photograph a water skier on the river. At 56°F and winter water temperatures I noticed that he is wearing a wet suit.

Water Skiing at 56°F

Back at the trailer I read for a bit inside, then moved outside. I finished Ann Pratchett's State of Wonder, and while it wasn't in my database of read books, I'm sure I've read it before. I started The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, a book I know I've read before. One annoying thing about it is it is not available from the library as a Kindle book so I have to read it using my phone, which is too small or my iPad which is too large.

I stopped by at the dry camping area to meet some friends of Lorraine's who will be in the area for a couple of days.

Dinner was left over shrimp broccoli Alfredo.

Until Next Time -

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 88

Day 88, Tuesday, January 14, 2026 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 46 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

46°F overnight, 52°F for my morning walk. The high for the day was 82°F.

After breakfast I read my usual forums & journals. A post on the Escape forum mentioned that a couple of the members got an email from Starlink announcing that their 50GB limit per month was raised to 100GB per month with no additional charge. Since I didn't get a letter, I wondered if it was a regional increase since Starlink often has different offers in different parts of the country. I checked my account, and even though I didn't receive a notice, my allotment is now 100GB, so now, if you disregard the purchase price of the antenna it is cheaper than my Verizon data (for which I had to spend as much as the Starlink antenna for a modem) but still more expensive than my unlimited AT&T. 

While looking at Facebook I saw lots of complaints about Verizon phones only showing SOS service. No problem with the modem.

A little before lunch I headed to Walmart to pick up a new batch of Mandarin oranges & some broccoli to make shrimp & broccoli Alfredo for dinner.

Stopped on the way back for some gas at the Running Man gas station - $2.60 per gallon.

Back at the trailer I read for a bit, then started an early dinner. While I wanted to cook outside to keep from making the trailer any hotter inside than it already is, I had to stand in front of my Coleman 2 burner stove to get the water to boil because of the wind. I made enough for 3 meals; I'll eat one tomorrow and freeze the other. Unlike stew & chili, Alfredo does not get better the next day or frozen, but it is difficult to make one shot meals without throwing too much away.

So, dinner was Shrimp Broccoli Alfredo.

Until Next Time -

2025-26 Trip to the Southwest, Day 87

Day 87, Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - La Paz County Park, Parker, AZ, Day 45 - 0 Miles, 3,449.7 Miles for the Trip

Cooler overnight with temperatures down to 43°F, & 51°F for my morning walk. Another clear morning sky with a few light clouds throughout the day. The high was 76°F.

Another do nothing day. I spent it reading both on the computer & on my Kindle. I finished Nick Russell's Big Lake Parolee, and started Ann Pratchett's State of Wonder. It was nice enough that I spent the day sitting outside hopping back & forth between the sun & shade.

I switched back to Verizon for awhile for my internet connection. For some reason my Mini decided to use 17GB today. I did do an iPhone update, but it sure wasn't anywhere near that size. Since I may need to use this month's allocation for the first couple of days at Quartzsite and I haven't used any Verizon this month it probably makes sense. While I don't expect to get 200 - 300 Mbps out of Verizon like I've been getting with the Mini, when I was using it it was fast enough. I only switched because I ran out of my 50GB allotment towards the end of December. Between the two I should be fine. Worst case, Starlink sells 1GB for $1.00 once you go over your 50GB allotment.

I did decide it was time for some shrimp tacos & headed to the floating Roadrunner Bar & Grill. They have an excellent bartender. I've only been there 3 times, the last over 2 weeks ago & she remembered my name and my last order and that it was to go. I'm impressed.

Dinner was shrimp tacos.

Until Next Time -