La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 58

Friday, January 15, 2016, La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 58, 0 Miles, 4,046.3 Miles for the Trip

I ended up sleeping in until 9:00 this morning. Not sure why, but since I don't use an alarm clock, I get up when ever. After breakfast I sat outside for a bit. It is warmer than yesterday, although a bit windier. Still more RVs coming into the area. They are now parking in the wash next to the road into our area. While it isn't a major wash, and heavy rain is not predicted, it really isn't a good place to set up. If nothing else, when it rains it is were most of the puddles form.

I drove into town looking for an adapter plate to mate my Blue Sky controller to the hole left by the GoPower controller. Blue Skies makes one, but the solar place I checked didn't have one, and it sure sounds like they won't be able to get one. I checked with the other solar dealer (Solar Bill's), and they say they have one so I drove over to pick one up. Town is pretty much a madhouse. Long waits at the traffic lights, getting out of driveways or making left turns, etc. The Big Tent doesn't open until tomorrow, but there are lots of people moving in & getting ready!

Other than that, I pretty much did nothing but sit outside hiding from the wind reading & talking with neighbors. I'm attempting to grow a beard for the first time since the 70's. I'm not sure I like it since it is pretty much all white, which the last time I tried starting one my wife decided it made me look too old , but I'll let it go for a couple weeks before I decide to keep it or not.

Since I enjoyed the salad for dinner last night, I might do the same tonight.

Until Tomorrow - 

La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 57

A Motorhome in the Road

Thursday, January 14, 2016, La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 57, 0 Miles, 4,046.3 Miles for the Trip

I went a little further than usual for my walk for coffee. When unloading the dryer yesterday, I set my book on one of the machines, and ended up leaving it there. Since I was only 50 - 60 pages from the end of Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, I really wanted to know how it ended, so I walked over to the laundromat/restaurant to see if it was still there. It was, complete with my bookmark. Since I was already at a restaurant, I decided to stay for breakfast. Had eggs for the first time in a long while - Philadelphia Steak Omelet (pretty good, although different) weak coffee & good orange juice.

After I got back to the trailer I read my usual forums, then drove into town to pick up a ladder my neighbor bought. He has a Class C motorhome & an electric powered bicycle, neither of which was practical to go get the ladder.

Lots of new arrivals, including an idiot in a large motorhome that decided to set up in the middle of the road that runs east from this section of the campground. Since there are lots of routes out of this end of the campground, we can still drive to the main road, but now have to go through a lumpy wash. I'm glad I don't have to move for awhile, probably until after he leaves! I took a photo of his RV as well as views in a couple of directions. Since I'm now near one of the edges of the camping area in between two washes, there is a fair amount of empty space to the west & southwest. More photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

By the way, when I walked for coffee & breakfast I went through my old site - there are 3 RVs parked in the space my little trailer was in!

The rest of the day was spent finishing my book & starting another. Nice and warm in the sun, although, as usual, a bit cool in the wind & shade.

I had a good sized lunch as well as a large breakfast, so dinner will just be a salad.

Until Tomorrow -

La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 56

My New Location

Wednesday, January 13, 2016, La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 56, 0 Miles, 4,046.3 Miles for the Trip

After breakfast I headed to the Laundromat to do three loads of laundry & a shower. Very busy, like last time, I had to wait for a pair of dryers. When I got back to the campground there were even more RVs blocking my view. I did have enough sun for my solar panels, but I had an invite to another part of the La Posa West where there was a bit more room & a better view of the mountains rather than the Class A next door. So, I packed up & moved a couple hundred feet.

There are a couple of small class C RVs here as well as a 19.5' Bigfoot a short distance away. There is a 5th wheel next door, but far enough away not to block the view.

I sat round and talked with my new neighbors, then as the sun ducked behind the clouds it got cool enough that we headed back to our RVs to make dinner.

Dinner was a couple of chicken burritos & a salad. I believe I'm getting using the Dutch oven as a standard oven fueled by propane under control.  It still takes a watchful eye & adjustments of the burner, cover & lid, but I can keep it at 350°F.  The true test will be baking a blueberry pie!

Until Tomorrow -

La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 55,

Tuesday, January 12, 2016, La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 55, 0 Miles, 4,046.3 Miles for the Trip

I traded in my "winning" Powerball ticket (I got the Powerball # right & none of the others) for $4.00 when i went for coffee this morning. After breakfast I drove to Parker to get a couple of birthday cards & some supplies. By the time I got back to the campground there were another 10 RVs in the West area. Things are getting crowded!

I met another Casita owner that is currently staying out at Dome Rock, and may join us in a week or so. I didn't do much else other than a bit of reading. I did do a "Facetime" session with Don & Anne - they had their first snowfall in Binghamton. I don't know how much fell in Oswego, but I got a Lake Effect warning on my iPhone weather app, so my son Kyle may be doing some shoveling or snowblowing. Here it is pretty much as usual - temperatures in the high 50's by afternoon, but very cool in the shade. Tonight is it suppose to go below freezing, but each day is a bit warmer than the day before.

Dinner was a couple of cheese brats, and sauce pan beans.

Until Tomorrow -

La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 54 & the Gem & Mineral Show

My Meteorite

Monday, January 11, 2016, La Posa West LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ, Day 54, 0 Miles, 4,046.3 Miles for the Trip

Continuing yesterday's post -
Since I had time to kill before going for my steak, I stopped again at the gem & mineral show to take some photos of the booth. I also bought a piece of Malachite for $10.00. A very pretty lump of rock. So, my two Quartzsite mineral purchases are a Meteorite & the Malachite rock. Photos of the show & my chunk of Malachite at today's LakeshoreImages post.

I had my Chicken Fried Steak dinner at Sweet Darleen's for dinner last night. While not the best (which, strangely enough was at a tourist trap - The Calico Ghost Town in California), it was well above the worst, which was at the Two Sisters near Babb (that is what it says on my "T" shirt), MT (just outside the east entrance to Glacier National Park). I fully believe that the cook ran out of steaks & used one of his shoes to make my dinner. The steak at Sweet Darlene's was tender enough, but the mashed potatoes tasted like they were made from powdered potatoes, and the vegetables from a can. Still, at $8.95 for dinner, the price is hard to beat.

When I got back to my site after dinner I found a large class A parked right next to my trailer. The woman complained that I was in her spot & that 4 more RVs were on their way. I explained that I'd been here since November 17th, and while I do think she expected me to move, I didn't. I sure understand why owners of fiberglass trailers call the big class A motorhomes "sunblockers". I'm still OK for the morning & afternoon sun, but my portable panel isn't going to see any late afternoon sun, and my view of the mountains from my front window has been replaced by the passenger side of their RV. Sure hope I'm not surrounded by the rest of them. The rules for the LTVA require as least 15' separation between RVs, but no 50' minimum that I've seen for most BLM areas. While they are a little more than 15' from my trailer, their shadow isn't!

While talking with the Class A owners, a SUV pulled up. Clark & Nina have a Trillium & built the Rikki-tikki-tavi, a 41' 10" tri hulled sailboat. I first met them at Cattail Cove State Park during a 2014 trip around the country. I recommend reading their "Building Rikki-tikki-tavi" pages for the fascinating story of the birth of the boat. We talked a bit, then they headed back to the Roadrunner camping area 5 miles south of Quartzsite.

Anyhow, now to today. So far no more class A's (at least part of the group who's area I "stole"). I walked to the gas station for coffee, bought another Powerball ticket (I just don't understand why the one I bought last week didn't win me $800,000.00 (I did win $4.00 by having the Powerball # correct); maybe I'm suppose to get $1,200,000,000.00 this week?) I don't usually buy lottery tickets, but when they get worth that much I can't help it!

Nice clear skies today, although a bit cool. I spent most of the afternoon talking with neighbors, reading, and hanging out around the campground. Glenda (in the Casita next door) suggested meeting another Casita owner at Silly Al's for a late lunch/early dinner, but had the dates mixed up - she is coming tomorrow.

So, I'm back at the trailer with a full stomach at 3:30. It has warmed up reasonably well to 56°F & the sun is strong enough so it feels warmer (as long as you are out of the wind) so I'm heading outside to finish my current book after posting.

Until Tomorrow -