Day 93, Tuesday, January 31, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 36

Sitting Around The Campfire

Tuesday, January 31, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 36, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

On my way back from picking up coffee, I was offered a bunch of firewood from someone heading out of Quartzsite, so we have plenty for a fire tonight.

After coffee & breakfast, I sat outside and read, talked with Mel while Linda made a run for propane & gas, then headed over to Dome Rock to see how many RVs were there, both early arriving fiberglass trailers, and larger RVs that we need to chase away to make room for the close to 200 trailers expecting to arrive over the next two weeks! There is already a group of Casitas, a Scamp & an Oliver parked along the upper ridge, and the lower main area only has one 5th wheel parked in the general area we set up. I'll probably head over to the lower area tomorrow.

Last night I took a couple of campfire photos, the first here at Quartzsite; it has been too cold to sit out nights until now. Also took one of the Moon and Venus. There is took much ambient light here at La Posa West for good night star photos; I'll try for some at Dome Rock. More photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Dinner was a "T" bone steak, and potato salad.

Until Tomorrow -

Dy 92, Monday, January 30, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 35

An Empty Tent

Monday, January 30, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 35, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

A beautiful day at Quartzsite. It hit 74F during the afternoon.

I had what will probably be my last breakfast at the Bad Boy Cafe this morning - Sweet Potato Pancakes & bacon. I will move to Dome Rock either tomorrow or the next day and will probably do the 3-4 mile drive into Quartzsite less often.

After getting back to the trailer I read my usual blogs & forums, then sat out with Mel & Linda for a bit. I headed over to the big tent to take a few photos of the end of the show. The vendors have until tonight to get their stuff out, but most of them are long gone. I also walked over to K&B to pick up a folding rake, and the sock shop for another package of merino wool socks. They are cheaper than I've found them on line, are very comfortable; much better than cotton socks, and, surprisingly, not overly hot in warm weather. I also took a photo of a 1 cylinder gas powered ice cream machine. I found one at one of our stops on our Alaska trip, but while the engine was there, it was powered by an electric motor. I only wish I had included the sound of this one - that one cylinder gas engine reminds you of the old John Deere tractors. More photos at today's LakeshoreImages post.

After getting back to the trailer I sat in the sun & read, then made dinner, which was chicken Alfredo & the last of the stringy snap peas. If my typing is messy, I can blame it on the wine - I usually divide a bottle into 3 or 4 meals, but somehow the last couple of glasses must have been a bit light. I don't have enough for two nights, but probably more than I should have for one. Oh well, I don't have to drive anywhere, and I'll post this before I finish the rest of the bottle!

Until Tomorrow -

Day 91, Sunday, January 29, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 34

Sunday, January 29, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 34, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Our group is getting smaller; Dave left this morning so there are only 2 Toyota Class C RVs (Linda & Mel) left. After breakfast I sat outside for a bit & read, then headed back to the show to see if there were any interesting last day sales. There were, but I didn't bite. I almost went for a $10.00 double LED panel light, but since I'm planning to sell the trailer & have already replaced the single panel lights with doubles in the areas where they make the most sense, I passed it up. By the way, last night was the largest display of fireworks for the week. Nothing tonight. The show ended at 5:00.

I made a run for propane during the afternoon - the 76 station where I usually get it didn't look like it was open on Sundays, so I headed to the Mobil station on the other side of town. $1.99 a gallon rather than $2.10 at the 76, but it was a bit tense - they were almost out of propane, and there were a bunch of people ahead of me with 30 lb tanks as well as a motorhome. The tank didn't run dry by the time mine was filled, so I made out OK. I also stopped at a couple of booths on the northwest side of town & picked up a couple of books & an interesting piece of obsidian. One of the booths at the Rock & Gem show wanted over $20.00 for the same size & type I purchased for $3.00. I guess it pays to shop around!

Back at the trailer I dug out the iPad & read the Syracuse Post Standard Sunday paper, catching up on the news back home. Mel, Linda & I sat around for awhile, then I broke to make dinner.

Dinner was a chicken Italian sausage, a salad, and my last refrigerated peach cup.

After dinner Linda & I sat around talking & checking out the crescent moon, along with Venus & Mars. A pretty night sky.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 90, Saturday, January 28, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 33

Saturday, January 28, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 33, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Another day without photographs. Naturally, because I didn't have the camera out, the fireworks last night were the largest display of the week. I'm guessing it was the finale for the show, but, since I'm not setting up the tripod & camera, they will probably do it again tonight!

It was laundry day - I had put it off long enough that I needed two of the large machines & two dryers, but even though it was Saturday, the laundromat wasn't very crowded so there was no waiting. As usual, I had a shower while my clothes dried.

Back at the campground I sat in the sun using the trailer to block the wind. It wasn't as windy as yesterday, but there was enough that you wanted to keep out of it. Most of the folks I'm camping with headed over to the tent for a last visit to the booths while I sat out & read. After they got back we sat around & chatted, then I took a break for dinner.

Dinner was a turkey burger & refried beans.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 89, Friday, January 27, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 32

Friday, January 27, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 32, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

I don't know what had so many people at the Bad Boy Cafe yesterday, but this morning at the same time there was no line. I had a huge ham & cheese omelet.

After breakfast it was back to the trailer & inside. While last night was warmer than the night before, the wind this morning is around 20MPH with 35MPH gusts. That makes it far too cool to sit around outside. Around 10:00 I got a call from a Casita owner I've "met" on one of the Casita Forums, and finally met in real life. Claire stopped by with some other Casita owners, Richard & Vicky who are in the process of buying an Escape 21. They (Richard & Vicky) lived in my home town of Oswego for a year or two before moving to Syracuse. They checked out my 17 & Greg's 21 for ideas for the build sheet they are putting together for their new trailer.

After that I headed over to the Big Tent for the last time to pick up more free stuff. More LED flashlights, some Jelly Bellies, and, after a spin of the dial at Progressive, a "T" shirt.

Back at the trailer I read for a bit, then headed to Sweet Darleen's for the Friday Fish Dinner. They still have not started back the "All you can eat" dinner, but there was plenty on the plate, and no wait for seating.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 88, Thursday, January 26, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 31

Fireworks!

Thursday, January 26, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 31, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

The plan was to go to the Bad Boy Cafe for breakfast this morning, but when I got there the line went all the way down the left wall & across the back. I closed the door and headed back to the stand across from K&B for coffee. They didn't have it ready, so I cut through the Big Tent, heading back to make my own coffee. One of the food stands along the way had coffee, so I finally managed to fill my travel mug.

Breakfast was a couple of Entenmann's donuts.

I spent most of the day sitting out talking to the crew. Eventually, I headed over to the tent to get a little exercise. I didn't buy anything, an just picked up a free koozie & LED flashlight.

While it warmed up a bit (to 60°F) the wind was strong enough to make it cool for sitting out. Still, we did for awhile, then I headed back to the trailer to make dinner.

Dinner was a grilled chicken patty, my last can of Bush Bourbon & Brown Sugar beans, and a few stringy snap peas.

They set off a few fireworks each night around 7:00, so I set up the camera to try for a couple of photos. We will see if it works...

Well, it wasn't the HarborFest Fireworks show that my home town puts on (Here is a link to some of my photos of the 2013 show) but, along with a nice sunset, there are a couple of shots at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 87, Wednesday, January 25, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 30

An Escape 21

Wednesday, January 25, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 30, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Another cool night; 37°F at 6:00AM. Tonight is suppose to be just as cold. After a walk for coffee & breakfast, I did my usual reading, then headed over to the Big Tent to purchase a $10.00 solar port to replace the one I installed a couple of years ago. The contacts are starting to fail, so while they are less expensive on the internet, they do have them in stock here at the show.

I asked the guy selling them if he had a 4" box mount TriMetric TM 2030A, the version of the battery monitor I plan to install in my new trailer. I have an older, surface mount version in my 17, the TM2025RV. I wanted to see how large a hole I would need to cut in the paneling of the new Escape 21 to fit the 2030A. So, of course, not only did I look at it, but I bought the kit, which includes the meter, the shunt, and a 35' connecting cable, spending $210.00 instead of $10.00!. Still a good deal, since they didn't charge sales tax & threw in the $10.00 solar port for nothing. Since the price was less than what I could buy it for on the internet, I made out OK.

When I got back, an Escape 21 moved in next door. Greg & his wife are towing it with a Tacoma, so I feel better about doing it with mine in the Fall. I toured their trailer, checking out some of the nice additions he has done to it. I also wandered over to the Vixen 21 crowd to take a couple of photos. Not as many as last year, and none of those with the pop up roof. Still, an interesting RV. They have a website with lots of information about them.  I have some photos of the Vixen 21's at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Dave & I went to the grocery stores where I picked up a chicken leg quarter, then, after getting back to the campground, around chatting. I drank my second to last Bear Naked Adirondack beer, then made dinner around 5:00.

Dinner was the chicken leg quarter, mashed potatoes, and snap peas. I got the Green Giant snap peas at Safeway rather than my usual ones from Walmart because the Parker Walmart didn't have them. Bad mistake - the Green Giant snap peas have strings, the Walmart peas don't.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 86, Tuesday, January 24, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 29

Tuesday, January 24, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 29, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

A bit cooler last night; down to 40°F. I even dug out my window inserts to keep the heat in. A very slow day. I didn't do much of anything, although I did get the 1099R's from my retirement, so I started my taxes. I can't finish until I pick up the 1099 from Social Security, which can't happen until after February 1st.

Other than that, I spent some time sitting outside. It was fine even at 59°F until the wind kicked up. Eventually, I called it quits & made dinner.

Dinner was a Bubba Burger, mashed potatoes, and snap peas.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 85, Monday, January 23, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 28

Selling Cookware

Monday, January 23, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 28, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Not a bad night, I even got a photo of a cheesy rainbow before the sun went down. The furnace only came on once at 6:00AM. Since I'm heading to Parker for an eye test this morning, I didn't walk for coffee. By the time I finished toasting an English muffin & making a pot of coffee, I was down 21 amp hours on the TriMetric battery monitor. There was enough morning sun that by the time I was back from Parker, the batteries were full. I passed the eye pressure test with flying colors, no higher than it was 2 weeks after my Laser surgery. I stopped at Mike's Barber Shop for a haircut, but they, like all the ones in Parker, are closed on Mondays.

After driving back to Quartzsite, I sat around inside the trailer since it is very windy outside, and not all that warm. The sun peaks out around the clouds, but even when it is out it isn't comfortable outside. I eventually got tired of sitting around, grabbed my camera and headed to the show. I went mainly to take some photos of the booths to give you an idea of what is here. While I only includes about 22 booths, there are hundreds, and, as I mentioned before, most are not directly related to RVing. I did stop to spin the machine at the Progressive booth, hoping for another aluminum water bottle, but won a LED flashlight. The bottles are nice, the same as the ones selling for $10.00 or so. The flashlight is exactly the same one (other than, like the water bottle, it is blue & says "Progressive") that Harbor Freight gives away for free...  Lots more photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

I headed back when the cloud cover got heavy enough to look like a storm was on the way (thunderstorms are predicted) but so far, just clouds & wind. I hope it dies down enough to grill a chicken thigh that has finally defrosted. I'll have that for dinner, along with the rest of the pickled beets.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 84, Sunday, January 22, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 27

Sunday, January 22, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 27, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Another cool day at Quartzsite. A short burst of light rain this morning, but there was enough sun to make back the electricity I used overnight. After my walk for coffee & breakfast, reading blogs & forums, I did some soldering to repair a 12V to USB adapter. Annoying, because it was $30.00. The good part is it supplied enough current to charge an iPad, which takes 2 amps (in fact, it will do two of them) but the wire to the ground fell off, and the plastic screw on front section came off in the trailer 12V socket. Blew the fuse, which is a pain because making the bed permanent makes it difficult to crawl under to get at the fuse panel.

After that I headed back to the Big Tent for a second pass. I bought a Dutch Oven lid lifter, and picked up lots of free stuff. I stopped at the Verizon booth to see if they had a better data service deal than the one I'm currently on, but they are still about $50.00 over what I'm paying for my 20GB of data, although if I went with their newer service, I'd be able to add a phone. Since data keeps dropping in price, I will wait until their new products get closer to what I'm paying.

I talked to Don & Anne, friends from Binghamton, NY, my son in Oswego where it is warmer than here in Quartzsite, and my brother in Nantucket, MA. While construction is brisk on the island, my brother's boss isn't getting much work so David, who is a cabinet maker, may have to start looking else where.

After that we stood around looking at Dave's new air conditioner (he now has the record for spending the most money at the big tent) and chatting. I took a break to make dinner, which was a turkey sandwich (the chicken thigh didn't defrost) and pickled beets. We chatted a bit more after dinner, but the cold drove us inside.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 83, Saturday, January 21, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 26

The Big Tent Show

Saturday, January 21, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 26, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Enough rain overnight to make puddles, but not fill the washes. It cleared enough to walk to the 76 gas station for coffee around 8:45 this morning. Lots of traffic turning into the parking areas for the Big Tent Show which opens today.

After breakfast I did my usual blog & forum reading, then headed over to the show. Not much different from last year; a few new vendors and a few missing, but other than that about the same. Around half the booths were RV related, with the rest the typical state fair type of cooking, beauty products & many miracle cure & "rest your tired feet & body" booths.

I got more than my daily walking miles by going up & down all the aisles in the tent, as well as a pass around the outsides. I used my iPhone to take a photo in one of the less packed sections of the center aisle.

After picking up a couple of data sheets on generators, and a $5.00 bag for my 9'X12 'mat, I headed back to the trailer. I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting & talking with Linda & Dave. The rest of the crew went to Parker & the Desert Bar for the afternoon. It was tempting, but I've been twice, and will be driving to Parker again on Monday, so I passed up the trip.

Dinner was a turkey burger, the rest of the beans, and a couple of Cape Cod Waffle potato chips.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 82, Friday, January 20, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 25

Friday, January 20, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 25, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Just a little rain overnight, but very cloudy all day. With all my 355 watts of solar I only produced 11 amp hours of electricity. Since I use 30 - 40 amp hours per day, I'm losing!

I drove to Parker to do some shopping at Walmart & Safeway, and stopped in at the Parker Vision Care to see if I could get a pressure test. Their doctor was only in for the morning, so I made an appointment for next Monday.

It rained off & on most of the day. By the time I got back to Quartzsite it was almost time for the Friday Fish Fry at Sweet Darleen's. Six of us went a little after 4:00. Very crowded; every seat taken when we got there. We waited around a half hour to find seating for 6 split between two tables. As usual, a good meal at a good price, but I'll be glad when the crowds leave.

There was a steady rain falling when we got out of Sweet Darlene's, but not enough to fill the washes, or even make puddles around the area. Since it is still going, we will see what it looks like by morning. There are a couple of trailers parked in some of the smaller washes. If they fill up like they did 3 weeks ago, it is going to be "interesting".

As mentioned, dinner was the cod dinner at Sweet Darlene's.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 81, Thursday, January 19, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 24

Ascending Hot Air Balloon

Thursday, January 19, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 24, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

A little after dark I took a few photos of the stars since I don't expect to see them for a few nights (rain & clouds predicted). The last image includes a rising hot air balloon. They sell them in a couple of places here at Quartzsite. They consist of a paper or plastic balloon with a "burner" on a wire frame below the balloon. The user lights it & it drifts into the sky. 

Unfortunately, they eventually the heat source goes out & it fall to earth, sometimes on a RV. Even worse, sometimes the balloon catches on fire & they fall to earth with the heater still flaming. They are outlawed in some areas, but evidently, not here at Quartzsite. There are times during the show that you can see a dozen of them in the air at once. Pretty, but dangerous. At least the desert doesn't have a lot of flammable ground cover, but you get nervous when you find one of the metal frames next to your trailer.

After breakfast I made a run to town for propane & to pick up my package at Quiet Times. Arizona/US 95 (they split at Main Street) was busy enough that a left turn, even with a turn arrow, took two or three cycles of the light. Only one ahead of me waiting for propane, and the small parking area at Quiet Times was empty. Not so for the streets! While there are not as many arrivals today as yesterday, it is still packed.

Back at the campsite I spent most of the day in the trailer ducking the rain. Right now it is trying to clear, but there are enough clouds that I'm only getting 1.8 amps of charging from my solar panels. On a clear day it would be around 15. I probably won't have the batteries back to full by the end of the day. I'm posting this early to use the solar panels to power the laptop as much as possible.

I'm not sure what I'll have for dinner - a sandwich inside if the weather doesn't clear, a grilled chicken patty if it does.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 80, Wednesday, January 18, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 23

La Posa West is Filling Up!

Wednesday, January 18, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 23, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

I made a short walk for coffee this morning, stopping at a food truck across from K&B Tool. While a shorter walk, at $3.00 for filling my mug compared to $.50 to $.65 at the 76 gas station, and about the same quality, I'm not sure it is worth saving the steps.

After breakfast I packed up the trailer & headed to the dump station. I could have gone another day or two, but the weather predictions are for rain (although only 50% - 60%) and we are parked between two washes. No problem with rain where we are, but if there is a lot of it, we might have problems getting out.

The line at the dump station wasn't too bad, at least for Quartzsite during Big Tent times. About a 40 minute wait for 5 vehicles. I really think they should have a "small trailer" line, like the 15 items or less at the grocery store. I dumped in 5 minutes, while some of the RVs took 20. I only had to wait for one vehicle at the water fill station.

Today was one of the nicest, clear skies & warm 70°F plus temperatures. We sat around watching many RVs driving by looking for space. The place has really filled up; we have reached the point where people are parking in the road when there are more than one way in & out, and much closer than the rules (15' minimum between vehicles). It will only get worst over the next couple of days. Glad I dumped today!

I took a photo of an Ultralight & the moon, as well as one of Linda's Sunrader Classic, one of the few Class C RV's that is built the same way as fiberglass trailers - an upper & lower half combined with a belly band. Much better than having a seam at the edge of the roof that eventually leaks. Unfortunately, they, like all the Toyota based Class C's, are no longer made. I also included a photo of the view from my trailer to the northeast showing how crowded La Posa West is & some Class A's & a 5er that are parked closer than allowed & partially blocking one of the roads into our area. We still have 2, so I guess we can't complain.  More photos at toady's LakeshoreImages page.

Dinner was Spaghetti, meatballs & sausage.

Day 79, Tuesday, January 17, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 22

Tuesday, January 17, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 22, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

After a cool night I made the usual run (well, walk) for coffee, ate breakfast, did some reading, then headed to the Laundromat. I expected it to be very crowded because of all the short term visitors for the Big Tent Show at the end of the week, but was just about normal. After folding everything & heading back to the trailer, I stopped at Quiet Times to see if DHL delivered my cables. Nope; because of the holiday they said they only got a small amount of mail from the post office & expect a large delivery tomorrow. I'll check back in a day or two.

Back at the trailer I put the laundry away, spent 10 minutes making the bed (good time for anyone making a bed that has walls on three sides), and sat out and read. Mel stopped by asking for some help finding out why a nearby trailer couldn't turn off their awning lights. We played around metering the switch, and were about to cut the wires to the lights since they were drawing a continuous 1.5 amps 24 hours per day when the owner dug out a remote. Seems the wall switch has a relay in parallel that is switched by the remote. After a bit of fiddling, we got the lights turned off.

We also discovered that the tires were at 35 lbs, and should have been at 65 lbs. Mel had a 120V compressor, she had a Honda 1000, so they are slowly pumping the tires up while I cooked dinner.

Dinner was the remainder of the 4 Cheese Ravioli with 5 cheese sauce, but instead of snap peas, a length of chicken sausage.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 78, Monday, January 16, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 21

Home of Crystal Hill

Monday, January 16, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 21, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

I got a call this morning from DHL in Phoenix, and discovered why my package from China was delivered to the Post Office rather than Quiet Times. It seems that DHL doesn't deliver to street addresses in Quartzsite, so they repackage shipments & mail them to the Post Office. The Post Office doesn't accept packages addressed to a PO box (unless it is one of theirs), so it is easy for things to get lost or sent back. So, just in case someone suggests paying extra ($30.00 vs $12.00) for a package from China to Quartzsite using "Expedited Delivery", don't, it only make delivery questionable, and if you get the package, takes longer than standard air mail. Hopefully, my new GPS to camera cables will be here tomorrow (no mail today - Martin Luther King holiday).

After breakfast, coffee, and computer time, I sat outside for a bit (still a little cool with a 5-10 MPH wind & 60°F) until 1:00 when I headed to the Kofa National Wildlife Preserve, and Crystal Hill. It is one of the few places where you are allowed to pick up rocks on BLM property. No tools or digging, even with your hands (although there are signs that plenty of people went at the veins of quartz with a rock hammer), but there are sections of the hill that are covered with pieces of quartz. I'm not sure why I went, since I did the place last year & never found anything better than what is here at Quartzsite, but I keep hoping to find an actual quartz crystal. I did find one piece that had two of the normal 6 sides, but that was about it for crystals.

After that it was back to the trailer and some sitting outside.

Dinner was fresh 4 Cheese Ravioli with 5 cheese sauce & snap peas. Enough cheese?

Until Tomorrow -

Day 76, Saturday, January 14, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 19

My Pillows - see the post for why!

Saturday, January 14, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 19, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Well, this is a bit out of order, but for some reason, yesterday's post didn't.  So, here it is:

A cooler than usual night at 46°F. There was enough sun today to get the batteries back to full by late afternoon.

I gave up waiting for Rite Aid to call & called them. My eye drops are ready & they apologized for not calling yesterday. I sat out & talked with Linda & Mel for awhile, then decided I might as well pick up the prescription today, rather than wait until next week. The eye doctor I saw at Blythe for a pressure test last year has retired, so I probably should go to Parker to have it done; I'll probably head there during the week rather than Blythe.

After picking up the prescription & getting back to the trailer I discovered that they had canceled all the refills. So, back on the phone, and they added them back into the system. I won't find out if they really did until the next refill in 50 days...

It is a bit cool & misty to sit out this afternoon or evening. In fact, I'll probably do an inside meal since, while it isn't raining now, there are dark clouds coming in from the West, and I know if I put something on the outdoor grill, it will start pouring!

Another day without any useful photos, other than my pillows I took for a post at the Escape forum. I'll probably annoy those that make pretty throw pillows for their trailers, but I can't stand them. I have a friend that covers the bed in their spare room with them & I spend half the night kicking them off the bed, then putting them back on in the morning. They would drive me nuts in the trailer. In any case, I have to admit that the ones posted at the forum thread are creative & beautiful. About as fancy as I get was to take a piece of upholstery foam & stuff it in a king size pillow protector to use as a back rest when reading. The photo of the back rest pillow is at Saturday's LakeshoreImages page.

Dinner was soup and a microwaved burrito.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 77, Sunday, January 15, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 20

At the Gem & Rock Show

Sunday, January 15, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 20, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

There was just enough rain last night to hear it on the roof, but only for a few minutes, and everything was dry by morning. I treated myself to a breakfast at The Bad Boy Cafe - had their special, a pair of biscuits stuffed with bacon & covered with sausage gravy plus a fried egg. It was OK, even real sausage gravy, but the coffee was still a bit weak.

Back t the trailer I finished my mug of coffee & did my usual morning reading. There is one more of us - Dave showed up with his Dolphin, towing an ATV.

After sitting outside for a bit I headed to the Rock & Gem Show. Hundreds of booths set up with rocks, both finished & raw stock (and merchants) from around the world. I spent most of my afternoon looking, but did purchase a couple of pieces of native copper from the upper peninsula of Michigan. Some photos of the show are at today's LakeshoreImages page.

After that it was back to the trailer for more sitting in the sun (73°F) and chatting. Around 5:00 it was cooling off enough that it was time for a break for dinner.

I had a Bubba Burger, potato salad, and snap peas.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 75, Friday, January 13, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 18

Friday, January 13, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 18, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

The rain we were suppose to get over night never happened. In fact, around midnight it cleared up enough to see the moon. After a walk for coffee & breakfast, I did my usual forum & blog reading, then sat outside for a bit reading a book under cloudy skies.

Around 11:00 I headed for Blythe to pick up a couple of prescriptions. No problem with the one I called in, but one needed a new script. They had a 2-3 hour wait to pick it up. Since I had the time, I went to the Social Security office to see if I could pick up my 1099 since I won't be home to get it in the mail before I do my taxes. After a 2 hour wait, I found that I can't get it until after February 1st. Since I never got the promised phone call when the prescription was ready, I'll have to go back for it next week. Still no call now at 5:30...

I also stopped at Albertson's for some rolls & other supplies, and couldn't pass up the packaged guacamole they had at the entryway. Of course you need some taco chips to go with that! Before I knew it I had a full basket, although it was only one of the hand carry versions so I could still use the 15 & under line. Strangely enough, there was no one ahead of me with 30 - 40 items! Very unusual.

Back at Quartzsite the sun was out so I did a bit of reading until it was time to head to Sweet Darlene's for the Friday Fish Fry. No longer all you can eat - it is getting too crowded this close to next week's Big Tent Sale. Still a good deal since they give you more pieces than the all you can eat plate.

Now it is back at the trailer. Still close to 70°F so after posting, I may sit outside until dark!

Until Tomorrow -

Day 74, Thursday, January 12, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 17

Thursday, January 12, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 17, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

A rather dreary day at Quartzsite. The sun never came out & it didn't get much warmer than 64°F. Still better than upstate NY. I spent some of the day sitting outside reading, but finally gave up and moved inside. I did make a run to the grocery store to pick up a pork chop for dinner. I'll have that with the rice & broccoli leftovers. That's about it for the day!

Until Tomorrow -

Day 73, Wednesday, January 11, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 16

Moonrise Over Quartzsite

Wednesday, January 11, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 16, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

On the way for coffee this morning I decided to try something different, and, instead of crossing I 10, I turned right at Kuehn St & headed to the Bad Boys Cafe. Very crowded, but good food. The menu is on the wall as you walk in - typical breakfast food served all day as well as the standard diner food (no pancakes after 11:00AM). You order at the counter, get a numbered table tag, and they bring out your food when done. I had a huge cheese & mushroom omelet & hash browns. The coffee was only OK; the coffee at the 76 gas station is better, but overall a good breakfast at a good price.

There has been a considerable deterioration of available listening for NPR & classical radio fans in Quartzsite. The closest (and only, at least for my radio) NPR station is KAWP in Parker, AZ, which is a sister station of KAWC in Yuma. Evidently, the link feeding KAWP is down - the station has been transmitting dead air for the last couple of days. KCNL, the strange, new classical station I found at 105.9 has gotten even stranger. It appears the music server crashed, leaving a loop that is about a tenth of a second long that is transmitted continuously. At first I thought it was a Phillip Glass tune, but even he changes the music after 5 minutes - the loop at KCNL hasn't changed in 5 days. It gets boring fast! Thank goodness for an iPhone with unlimited data & a good internet connection. I've been listening to the Phoenix stations here in Quartzsite.

Well, it is now 3:40 in the afternoon, and KAWP is back on the air. Unfortunately, KCNL is still playing pseudo Phillip Glass.

I spent the afternoon sitting in the sun reading, using the trailer to block the wind. A bit breezier than yesterday, but clear skies. The only photo for the day is the moonrise over Quartzsite.

Dinner was Chicken Parmesan, Saffron Rice & broccoli.

Day 72, Tuesday, January 10, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 15

Inside an Empty Big Tent

Tuesday, January 10, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 15, 0 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

Another nice evening, and although it did get down to 49°F during the early morning, it was in the 50's most of the night; the furnace only ran once around 7:00AM. Right now, at 3:00, it is 72°F with a light breeze.

I did my traditional walk for coffee this morning, and after breakfast, my usual forum & web page reading. Around noon I headed to town. The first stop was at Quiet Times to see if my package from China with the replacement GPS cables arrived. They did, but it cost extra because DHL didn't use the proper address & it was delivered to the Post Office. $3.50 instead of the usual $1.00. On top of that, the cables are the wrong ones for the Solmeta Pro 2 GPS. The Nikon end is OK, but the GPS end doesn't fit. I emailed them & hope it can get fixed. The delivery costs were more than the cables, so I hope they don't want them back.

After that it was over to the Post Office to mail my brother a birthday card. I usually send cards that make noise (I guess it is the old sound designer in me) and they require extra postage, so I can't just put a stamp on them. This one was $1.15 to mail to Nantucket, MA. Not too crowded yet - I only had 4 people in front of me; not much different from the Post Office home in Oswego.

I wandered around the booths next to the Post Office & took a few photos, then headed over to the "Big Tent" to take some "before" photos. I was hoping to get a completely empty photo, but they had already set up the dividers between the booths, although none of them are occupied yet. Still, it looks a lot different than it will in two weeks, and is a view you won't see again, at least empty! On the way back I took a photo of the large wash between the show grounds & La Posa West. It is a very short walk between my trailer & the show, although there are only a few spots where you can climb the steep bank on the show grounds side.  More photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Back at the trailer it was an afternoon of reading, chatting with Linda & Mel, & relaxing.

Dinner was a couple of Chicken things that I don't have the name of because I got rid of the box to save space in the freezer. Too bad, because I like them, and don't know if I'd recognize the box if I saw it again. They look like UP Pasties, but filled with chicken, cheese & rice with Mexican spices. While I've eaten one cooked in the microwave, it was a bit soggy, so this time they were baked in the Dutch Oven. I had my usually temperature adjust problems & overcooked them, but they came out better than when microwaved. I Can't wait for the Escape 21 with a gas oven!

Until Tomorrow -

Day 71, Monday, January 9, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 14

La Posa West, Take 2

Monday, January 9, 2017, La Posa West, Quartzsite AZ, Day 14, 68 Miles, 3,991.7 Miles For the Trip

A busy morning. After a walk and breakfast I drained the hot water tank for the second time, then finished packing up the trailer for the trip to Quartzsite. I stopped at the water fill station, added a 1/4 cup of bleach to the fresh water tank & half filled it. I also filled the hot water tank with fresh water, then drove over to the dump station to dump the waste tanks. They had a standard hose connection at the dump station, so I used it with my non drinking hose to run the flush system in the black tank.

On the way back to Quartzsite, when ever no one was behind me, I did lots of stops, starts & trailer swaying to slosh the water around the tank. I stopped after driving about 1/2 way & drained both the hot water tank & the fresh water tank. Once I arrived at Quartzsite I stopped at the water fill station at La Posa South & filled everything. Hopefully, all that will freshen the water system. There was light rain on the drive, but most of it stopped by the time I reached my site.

I pulled into La Posa West and discovered some friends (Linda & Mel) were set up near where we were last year. I'm parked just behind their location. We chatted for awhile, then I finished setting up the trailer. While I was gone, they set up the "Big Tent". The show doesn't start until Saturday, the 21, but it does take time to set up the hundreds of booths inside.

It was a nice afternoon. The sun came out & the temperature was in the mid 70's. My brother in Nantucket, MA said a couple of nasty words about my nice weather over the phone - he has 14" of snow on the ground & 20°F outside. I did remind him that the summers in Nantucket are far nicer than summers here at Quartzsite where the temperature is often over 120°F, but somehow that didn't make him any happier!

Dinner will be a turkey Bubba Burger & the rest of yesterday's Rice & Broccoli.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 70, Sunday, January 8, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 9

Sunday Jam at the Gravel Pit Ramada

Sunday, January 8, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 9, 0 Miles, 3,923.7 Miles For the Trip

I walked the garbage to the dumpsters & chatted with the golfers as usual (the flat section just above where I'm camped is a 4 hole golf course). A group of about 6 golfers play every morning. It must be interesting - they only carry one club, and on a long shot the ball often ends on a rock, bouncing in any direction. They have made "greens" around the holes - not actual green, but they did remove all the rocks.

After breakfast I read, including the Syracuse Sunday paper, then sat outside for a bit. I took a couple of hummingbird photos & one of the vault toilet. It is only fair to point out what lets me go for 3-4 weeks without dumping the trailer black tank!

Around 1:00 they started setting up for the Sunday Jam Session. A group of about 20 musicians, half guitar players, jam for a couple of hours. I took some photos. Many more photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

During the afternoon I made a run to Squaw Lake for a shower. This time I waited until one of the non handicapped showers was open just to see the difference. Less room, but you had a place to put your stuff. I waited for the shower to stop on its own, and it was about 2 minutes after I showered as long as I could stand it - at least 7 minutes.

I knew when I bought a bag of ice yesterday that I should have used a five dollar bill, but, instead, gave them my last pair of singles. At the shower token booth all I had was a five, so I now have 4 extra tokens. I hope they will be good next year since I'm planning to head for Quartzsite tomorrow!

Dinner will be a grilled chicken thigh, rice & the rest of the broccoli. After dinner I'm going to drain my hot water tank. The hot water smells musty or of algae. I'm going to try adding some bleach, refilling it and letting it sit overnight, then drain it again, along with the fresh water tank during the drive to Quartzsite. I hope that will be enough to clean it up. I don't usually drink the water from the tank, but use it to do dishes & use the hot water to fill my water pik (you don't want to know what cold water feels like in a water pik!)

Until Tomorrow -

Day 69, Saturday, January 7, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 8

Saturday, January 7, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 8, 0 Miles, 3,923.7 Miles For the Trip

Another day without photographs. Last night a little after dark a class A pulling a trailer pulled into the section I'm staying in. I met them this morning; a couple from Quebec. We talked for a bit, although my French is non existent, and their English is a bit rough.

After breakfast & some reading I headed back to Yuma to do laundry. I was hoping to make it back to Quartzsite before I needed to do it, but was down to my last pair of underwear (I know, too much information!) Probably a good idea since it was much cheaper than Quartzsite. I also stopped at Fry's for some bleach & paper towels, and found they had turkey Bubba Burgers. The only problem is when I tried to fit them in the freezer, I had to take out the pint of ice cream. As long as I had to eat that, I made a large lunch so dinner will be something simple.

I Facetimed Don & Anne in Binghamton and gloated a bit about the weather. While a bit cool at 60°F today & 47°F last night, last night's temperature here was 20 degrees warmer than their high today. I did discover that one propane tank is empty, but it must have just switched, so I can wait until I get back to Quartzsite & avoid paying $2.99 a gallon.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 68, Friday, January 6, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 7

Friday, January 6, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 7, 0 Miles, 3,923.7 Miles For the Trip

Before going to bed I closed the front window cover. The local Yuma NPR station (which I complained about last year, but is working well both here and at Quartzsite - the Parker transmitter) stated 25MPH wind gusts for Yuma & 30MPH for Parker. We had light clouds over night, but enough wind to rock the trailer.

By the way, there is now a Quartzsite & Imperial Dam Classical station, 105.9.  A strange station started in November that plays a continuous stream of so so quality classical music.  Every 15 - 20 minutes, a voice breaks in saying about three words, then back to the music.  Weird!

I did go for a short walk this morning, but called it quits because of the wind. The canceled both the Aerobics & Yoga exercise classes this morning as well.

I spent most of the day in the trailer, reading & updating some of the blog links on my website. I did take a break when the wind died down a bit during the afternoon to carry a bag of garbage to the dumpsters.

It is still too windy to cook outside, so dinner will be a couple of BLT sandwiches. Makes sense since I cooked extra yesterday since the bacon is getting on towards the use by date.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 67, Thursday, January 5, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 6

M60 Tank

Thursday, January 5, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 6, 0 Miles, 3,923.7 Miles For the Trip

A fairly warm night - the furnace only came on twice for short runs. After a long walk it was warm enough to enjoy cooking breakfast outdoors, so I had bacon & eggs.

I spent most of the day reading, but decided around 2:30 to drive to a "Farm Store" on US95 for some broccoli. While labeled as a farm store, they had no produce. Lots of jams, dates, and kitsch, but it sure wasn't a vegetable stand. Since I was half way to Yuma, I went the rest of the way to a grocery store for my broccoli. My GPS lied about the location of the nearest store (Fry's) so I eventually ended up at Walmart again. On the way back I found the Fry's...

By the time I got back to the trailer, I only had about a half hour till dinner time, which was the last of my NY strip steaks, and, of course, the broccoli.

Here are the photos of the guns & tanks at the entrance to the Proving Grounds on Imperial Dam road that I took yesterday. I tried to include the ID information in the images:

Until Tomorrow -

Day 66, Wednesday, January 4, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 5

Squaw Lake Campground

Wednesday, January 4, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 5, 0 Miles, 3,923.7 Miles For the Trip

Another beautiful day, with temperatures in the 70's and hazy sun. After a walk to the dumpsters to drop off a couple of bags of garbage, I made breakfast, did some forum & web page reading, the Syracuse newspaper, then sat outside for a bit.

I decided to check on my county taxes by phone since I had difficulty finding the amount on line. Of course, the problem is there is no AT&T service here at my site. I put the phone in the truck's amplifier & headed for a signal. I found one bar after driving about 100'. Unfortunately, not enough signal to make a call. I headed to the proving ground area to find a stronger signal, but didn't find one until I reached the gun & tank exhibit near the junction of Imperial Dam road & US 95. I called & got my bill, called my son Kyle to let him know I was still alive, then walked around the exhibit. I took a bunch of photos, although I don't think there are any changes from the ones I took in 2014. In any case, I'll post them tomorrow since I already have a bunch for today.

On the way back to the trailer I drove past the entrance to the Senator Wash area & continued on across a dam to the Squaw Lake Campground. This is a BLM campground that is essentially a paved parking lot with no hookups for $15.00 per night (1/2 with the Senior Card) and a maximum of 15 day stays, but with the advantage that it has hot showers. You purchase a token for $1.00 and get well over 7 minutes of running time.

The only one open when I got there was the handicapped shower, which is good in that it has plenty of room, but bad because the only bench is under the showerhead, and there are only two hooks to hold your towel & all your clothes. At least it is large enough that the spray from the shower doesn't hit the stuff on the hangers. It even leaves a section of the floor dry. I almost broke my neck trying to get my socks on balancing on one foot! The shower ran well over 7 minutes, and the water was hot. It felt good to do something other than a sponge bath or navy shower - one of the many things I will appreciate in my Escape 21 I'm getting in the Fall is a bathroom that is large enough to turn around in without bashing my elbows!

I took some photos of the showers, campground, generating station, and, on the way back, some more at the LTVA areas. I've posted some similar photos the last time I was here, but these will save you from going back to pages from 2 years ago.

Dinner was a microwaved burrito & the rest of the maple & bacon beans, with some vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 65, Tuesday, January 3, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 4

Sunset

Tuesday, January 3, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 4, 0 Miles, 3,923.7 Miles For the Trip

I took another sunset photo last night. The clouds were more interesting, with a bit more color than the day before, but there are still enough of them that I'm not going to get a chance to do any nighttime star photos.

After breakfast I headed to Yuma for some supplies. On the way I stopped by the Christan Center to get propane. I always feel a bit guilty getting my 1 gallon tank filled since the labor is the same for larger tanks, and the waste propane blown off connecting & disconnecting the tank is probably as much as goes in it, but since their price was $2.99 a gallon, I didn't feel too guilty!

I stopped at an RV store to pick up a couple of propane hoses. The last time I checked the tank to regulator hoses for the 20 pound tanks on the trailer, one of them had a few surface cracks. Since they are 5 years old, I decided it was time to replace them.

Back at the trailer I changed out the propane hoses, and as long as I was in a plumbing mood, replaced the pressure gauge on my water pressure regulator. I've been carrying around the replacement gauge for weeks, but since I haven't had hookups, didn't get around to replacing the bad one.

After that I tried sitting out under the clouds, but it was a bit too cool to be comfortable. There must have been some sun while I was in Yuma since I was down 24 amp hours when I left & was at plus 1 when I got back, but now there are fairly heavy clouds.

I met a new neighbor from British Columbia that moved in next door & chatted for awhile, then decided to do a major cleaning of my grill. Don (my former student and, with his wife Anne, my favorite traveling companions) has the same grill & manages to keep his looking like new. I am of the "burn the old stuff off" school of grill cleaning, but ever once in awhile you need to dig in and scrape!

Dinner was a chicken Italian sausage, and Bush maple & bacon beans.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 64, Monday, January 2, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 3

The Moon, Venus & a Sunset

Monday, January 2, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 3, 0 Miles, 3,923.7 Miles For the Trip

I took a sunset photo last night that included a crescent moon & what I believe is Venus. Too much cloud cover moved in for any nighttime star photos.

A dreary day with cool temperatures and heavy clouds. I finally climbed out of bed to the sounds of the Aerobics class in the Gravel Pit Ramada. I think they should do the Yoga group first - they are a lot quieter!

I went for a long walk around the area before breakfast, including a stop at the "Liberry" (their spelling) to drop off six books & pick up six more (the daily limit). The Liberry is a gutted Airstream trailer lined with books along the entire shell. Well labeled by genre, and sorted by author. They don't even ask you to reshelve the books yourself - there is a crew that does it. After that I spent the rest of the day doing nothing. Lots of reading, some outside wearing a sweatshirt with the hood up, and the trailer blocking a light wind.

I finally quit for dinner & started cooking my last Bubba Burger. About 1/2 way through I ran out of propane in the one gallon tank I use with the grill. I grabbed one of the 20 lb trailer tanks & used it to finished dinner. I'll try to get the tank filled tomorrow.

So, dinner was the last Bubba Burger & the rest of the coleslaw. I hope I can find the Fresh Express Coleslaw Kit again - I like the dressing that comes with the package.

Until Tomorrow -

Day 63, Sunday, January 1, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 2

Sunday, January 1, 2017, Imperial Dam, CA, Day 2, 0 Miles, 3,923.7 Miles For the Trip

Happy New Year! 2016 has been quite a year with some wonderful travels; I hope 2017 is at least as much fun for me & all of you.

While it was warm overnight, it rained off & on, and around 4:00AM the wind picked up enough that I had to go outside & close the front window cover - it was vibrating enough in the wind that I was worried about the support arms failing.

The rain & wind stopped by 8:00. I went for a walk around part of the Imperial Dam area since I wouldn't be doing my usual morning walk for coffee. After breakfast and a cup of drip coffee, I did some reading, both my current book & a few blogs & forums on the computer. I also read the Sunday Syracuse Post Standard, my hometown Sunday paper. Once the sun came out it was warm enough to sit outside. The Ramada was wet enough that they canceled the Sunday music gathering, although I talked for awhile with a Washington state couple that stopped by hoping the music makers would appear.

I didn't do anything for the rest of the day except enjoy the sun and read my book. No photos today. While there were long periods of fairly heavy clouds, there was enough sun throughout the day to completely fill the batteries.

Dinner was a grilled chicken thigh, mashed potatoes, and more of the coleslaw. There is still enough coleslaw left for one more meal.

Until Tomorrow -